Yuma climbed the stairs.
Before he knew it, he was heading for the top of the stairs.
It wasn’t just a walk.
The questions of cause and effect still crashed into him. And the divine presence of God Incrinew, who served as his shield, was blocking those questions of cause and effect.
Yuma concentrated all his mind to let the waves of cause and effect wash over him and pushed through the gray mist as he continued to ascend the stairs.
It was in an instant.
Yuma’s body was engulfed in a bluish light.
Zzzt—
Yuma felt a change in his physical body rising from his toes.
He heard someone’s voice in the air.
– You must keep walking. Don’t stop.
It was the advice of Ardorlac, a member of the Join Tribe who had lost his physical body and most of his soul, now wandering as a mass of death thoughts in the Transcendence Altar.
– If you get past this hardship, you’ll be almost there.
Taking those words as a guideline, Yuma kept walking. He felt a floating sensation as if his body wasn’t his own. Nevertheless, he continued moving forward.
Before he knew it, Yuma’s body was completing its total shedding.
– You can do it.
– And it would be even better if you could bother those evil gods who destroyed me and my people. Well, it’s not like I can say much to someone who’s already killed two gods…
It was a shedding based on the divine presence of Barbatos, the God of War and Struggle, who ranked among the most powerful in the divine realm.
Thud—
Yuma kept moving.
Toward the top of the infinitely extending stairs.
*
In the Gehergen continent, the defensive barrier above the Astes Empire trembled.
It was a barrier made of the heavenly energies of the Great Angels.
The shockwave from the attack hitting the barrier spread chaotically.
Bell’s blue hair was swept back.
“….”
Her pink eyes shone coldly.
The bluish aura blossomed from her toes and quickly enveloped her body.
Bluish flames flickered on the sword she held.
She wasn’t the only one reacting to the warning sound resonating from the ground. The celestial beings and elves waiting in the empire emerged in droves.
From the rear, a number of lycanthropes also appeared.
They were all part of the preparations Yuma had made in advance.
Various races gathered in front of the imperial palace.
Boom────!
The defensive barrier of the celestial realm, lining the sky, shook violently. A massive and hideous entity fell from above. It was a gigantic cocoon spotted with black splotches all over.
“…What the heck is that?”
One lycanthrope squinted at the appearance of the giant cocoon.
“Looks like some bug’s cocoon.”
The lycanthrope let out a loud sound and strode towards the giant cocoon that had simply landed on the dome-shaped barrier.
Someone rushed up to him and firmly placed a hand on his shoulder, halting his movement. The lycanthrope quickly stopped.
The one who restrained him was a Great Angel.
“…I sense an immense divine power coming from within that cocoon. It appears to be one of the gods’ minions. We don’t know what might happen if we disturb it.”
The lycanthrope, with a wolf’s head and a human lower body, stepped back one step at the Great Angel’s words.
Zzzt—
A crack appeared in the cocoon. What emerged from it was a colossal giant. The minions of the giant scattered black smoke.
The dozens of giants that broke free from the cocoon stared intently at the dome-shaped barrier for a moment. Raising their arms and clenching fists, the giants swung their arms towards the barrier.
Boooom!
Dozens of giants simultaneously.
A massive fist came crashing down towards the defense barrier in simultaneous strikes.
KAAAAAAM!
The vast defensive barrier of the Celestial Realm trembled, and then, with a deafening crack, it shattered completely, leaving the Astes Empire exposed above.
Shards of the barrier scattered in all directions. The broken shield meant there was now no way to fend off the enemy from the sky.
The ceilings that had blocked the heavens came crashing down.
Strange beings plummeted, headed straight for the Astes Empire’s palace.
Gargoyle-like beasts, red as blood, ripped through the space.
The crimson flying beast spread its massive wings and landed atop the crumbling defense barrier.
Black giants, the ones who just shattered the barrier, climbed onto the back of that gargoyle.
Clouds of darkness blanketed the sky, splitting apart and coalescing in the hands of the black giants. The dark energy transformed into various shapes of weapons.
The black giants on the gargoyle charged straight into the heart of the palace.
But the enemies that seemed like followers of the gods were not all of them.
Gigantic insect-like followers descended from above.
Each one was a massive insect, approaching a minimum size of 3 meters.
“Get out of the way for now!”
Bell shouted as she moved forward. Being a Grand Master, she could sense the overwhelming energy of the approaching followers—their strength was palpable.
They were at least Master-level beings.
The number of Masters residing in the palace was minuscule.
However, there were many knights who, even if they were not Masters, had achieved the rank of Sword Expert at a high level. They had tirelessly sought ways to confront beings stronger than themselves.
“Form up—!”
A colossal shout rang out.
The knights raised spears instead of swords. They lined up in a long row, hoisting their spears forward.
“Protect this great land!”
All the palace mages raised their staffs high to cast defensive magic.
Various beams of light scattered from the wands of the royal mages.
[Rising Fortress]
[Steel Ark]
[Endless Barrier]
All-encompassing defensive magic unfolded in layers.
The gargoyle and the black giants charged simultaneously.
KWAHAHAAAAK!
Lycanthropes opened their maws wide, rallying each other’s bravery.
The massive-winged Great Angels clashed with the black giants. The giant spears in their hands faced off against each other, rippling gray waves spreading in all directions.
Boom!
Countless exchanges of attacks ensued. Arms and legs fell to the ground, drenched in thick blood across the Empire’s land.
Not just the followers of the gods, but even the limbs of the Lycanthropes tumbled about.
Gargoyle-shaped black demonic followers faced off against pristine white Great Angels. Thick, red blood flowed slowly from their gigantic wings.
White feathers soared alongside the gargoyle’s head.
The chaos continued. Even if the knights established a perfect defense, how could mere human bodies withstand the onslaught of demigod-level followers with abilities beyond human reach?
Heroes.
They weren’t trying to become heroes; they simply advanced with the fervent desire to protect their Empire, and now their bodies lay scattered on the ground.
Guts spilled out.
Heads and blood stained the palace floor.
Princess Brigitte stood on the platform, her white hair flowing in the air.
The sight of the knights’ corpses chilled her mind. It was an unnecessary loss. Her heart ached all the more because of it.
A golden halo erupted from behind Brigitte, shining like the sun.
“The light above the crown embraces the warriors beneath.”
“Warriors of the Empire, the radiance of Astes blesses you.”
“Lift your swords.”
The royal anthem echoed through the air.
Since the royal anthem only targeted the humans standing on the land of the Astes Empire, it provided no advantage to the Celestials, Lycanthropes, or High Elves.
The warriors of the White Night tribe, including Bell, prepared for battle.
“Slay the enemies!”
And it shone upon the Dawn Knights under Duke Yuma’s command.
Cassiela, the leader of the Dawn Knights, shouted with her red hair flying in the wind. The knights followed her closely.
Whoosh!
Bell’s sword embedded itself deep into the body of a gigantic crustacean beast.
Flames flowed over its entire body like a protective aura.
Boom!
The ground shook with her steps.
She pushed her physical abilities to the limit, her whole body screamed, but it wasn’t a moment for aftershocks.
Bell leaned slightly and glided forward.
Swish!
Her movement transcended that of a mere human at a blinding speed.
Bell’s eyes shone fiercely. The long, serpent-like beast opened wide. Its flesh and bones split at an angle.
From the corpse of the fallen creature, crimson smoke poured out endlessly.
Bell cut through the remains of the gigantic serpent beast with her sword and stepped outside.
Even after slaying the creature just moments ago, she didn’t stop moving. Ignoring the flesh and blood smeared all over her, she hurled herself forward again.
Her sword became not just a weapon, but the very essence of her protective aura that enveloped her entire body.
In her sights was the crimson being that had killed two Celestials and two Imperial knights.
Twelve arms stretched out, each unleashing intense sword strikes.
The body was as large as Ades, the king who had bound the White Night tribe for centuries. The energy emitted by the crimson being, the Crimson-Haired Cat-Folk Swordsman, resembled the vicious aura that emanated from Ades.
Clearly, a demigod-tier creature.
Yet Bell found herself undeterred by the ferocity of the Crimson-Haired Cat-Folk Swordsman.
“I will break you.”
It was time to prove herself by toppling an existence on par with Yuma, the one who had turned the king of the giants.
A pure white heat surged passionately from Bell’s entire body.
She bent her knees.
And propelled herself like a bullet.
Red flashes shot out in all directions.
The twelve arms of the Crimson-Haired Cat-Folk Swordsman accelerated to deliver countless slashes.
But it didn’t end with just twelve.
The Crimson-Haired Cat-Folk Swordsman moved its arms ceaselessly.
With the intent to annihilate everything in sight.
Slash!
The gray fortress of the imperial palace was brutally sliced in diagonal lines.
Long scars were drawn on the ground.
In the midst of that chilling chaos, a blue flame leaped into the fray.
Crack—
The red slashes were torn asunder by the azure flame’s sword path.
Swipe.
The red trajectory warped grotesquely.
As soon as Bell’s right foot touched the ground, her form continuously blurred.
Blink.
Unlike Yuma’s skill, this was the result of focusing all her physical ability, footwork, and mana.
Whoosh!
Bell’s blue hair flowed like a lion’s mane as she shattered the red slashes and reached the crimson beast.
Crunch!
She concentrated the protective energy that expanded throughout her body into a single blade.
It had to be crushed.
With the azure flame gathered on her sword, she faced the red monster before her.
Huangtian.
A horizontal slash that swept across.
Six of the Crimson-Haired Cat-Folk Swordsman’s arms were torn away by the Huangtian. Crimson blood splattered across the clouds above.
In that moment, the red slashes aimed at Bell’s right shoulder descended.
The blow shattered her armor and pierced through the faint protective aura, digging into her shoulder.
Though she quickly parried with her retrieved sword to mitigate the damage, it was certainly no light wound.
It wasn’t a fatal wound, but it was certainly no light one.
A terrible pain shook my mind.
But I held onto my consciousness.
-You will become a great swordsman.
Those words had become a curse at some point.
I thought it wouldn’t happen.
‘It will.’
Even if it was out of injustice.
It felt so miserable to stop like this.
I reconsidered those words I felt as a curse as a prophecy.
Veins bulged in my neck.
I opened my mouth.
“U─Aaaaaaa!!”
I unleashed my battle cry.
I poured out every sword strike I could muster.
I obliterated the crimson blade light.
Of the remaining eight arms, six sprang into action. Claret blood drenched every part of Bel.
In an instant, all the strength drained from my body. Bel’s feet came to a halt. My vision blurred.
Screeeech!
The [Crimson-Haired Cat-Folk Swordsman] swung the two swords he held in his remaining two arms.
Just before the two swords reached Bel’s neck and waist.
Brrrrrrr──!
A thunderbolt fell vertically from the sky.
Zzzz…!
Cloney’s black hair fluttered as she stood on the cliff, her golden eyes glowing with light.
6th circle.
The thunder was unleashed from Cloney’s hands as she reached the area known as the Graveyard of Wizards.
The 6th circle lightning magic, Thunderclap, didn’t just burn half of the [Crimson-Haired Cat-Folk Swordsman]‘s arms.
Crack!
It also jolted Bel’s consciousness awake.
The [Imperial Family] of Empress Brigitte solely targeted Bel. Radiance shimmered behind Bel.
A diagonal, all-out sword strike.
The air screamed. The body of the Crimson-Haired Cat-Folk Swordsman tilted diagonally.
Kill and destroy.
Bel knelt on her right knee and sat on the ground.
Brrrrr──! Brrrrrrrr──!
Thunder fell repeatedly wherever Cloney pointed her staff.
Each time, the knights of the empire survived from that angle.
Hope.
The battling Celestial Beings, High Elves, and Lycanthropes. And the empire’s elite forces.
That’s why the people of the palace could hold on to hope, even with the bodies of the fallen knights and soldiers trampled on the ground.
It was then.
A black lightning bolt descended from the sky.
It was a massive gate.
Th-that gate…
Something came down from within.
Four of them.
They descended slowly, chatting among themselves.
“You’re holding out longer than I expected.”
“Filthy bugs.”
“One thing is certain, Yuma. That assassin has not been seen anywhere since the battle began.”
“It’s clear he’s not here.”
God.
The Eight Evil Gods.
Among them, two had perished in this world. Now, the Six Deities of the Eight Evil Gods began with [The God of Flames and Sorrows], Omertha.
Three gods descended together. They were combat deities of various ranks.
“That girl who killed my kin will be torn apart by my hands.”
Though not an Eight Evil God, the 1st rank god [The God of Revenge and Courage], Cryos, fixed his gaze on Bel.
The god at the forefront, Omertha, opened his mouth.
“First, kill all of them. Then, find out whether Yuma is inside the empire or not.”
“Even if he exists, he won’t be in good shape. He must be killed. Then, we’ll annihilate the entire Gehergen continent.”
With the goal of slaying a single human named Yuma and destroying the continent.
Four gods descended from the Divine Realm.
The presence of the gods pressed down on the Astes Empire, a level unlike anything the kin had ever unleashed.
A shadow loomed over the faces of the empire’s citizens and various races.
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