=================
Holding Zebeline in her arms, they kicked off the ground to create some distance.
At that moment, hundreds of firearms that had been waiting to fire all unleashed a barrage.
Tatadatadatadang──!!
Bullets rained down in a fan-shaped pattern.
The distance to the target was about 30 yards.
No matter how superhuman one’s reflexes, dodging a hail of bullets was impossible.
How would one block the bullets?
It was already too late to evade.
I stared at the Black Cardinal, who appeared unfazed despite the countless bullets approaching right before my eyes.
“I’ve heard the news… Quite an impressive ability.”
The swords of the Cardinal, hanging loosely in both hands, shimmered slightly. Then, hundreds of bullets that pierced the air bounced off and fell to the ground with a Chwaurrrk.
He merely swung his sword broadly.
It was just an ordinary iron sword anyone could see in a smithy.
Not even a trace of the Golden Slash was visible.
Edanant, witnessing the sight before him, widened his eyes and swallowed hard.
-… What a monster.
Maximilian had trained him to be the strongest hero of all time. Thus, I expected him to be a difficult opponent.
But to think he was a monster capable of countering the Disaster of Innocence with an ordinary iron sword. I had never seen a creature like this.
-Then how about this?
Pheerng!!
A black haze wriggled as siege weapons unfolded. The siege weapons then unleashed a volley, assaulting the Black Cardinal.
An overwhelming display of destructive power.
Even with the swordsmanship shown just now, the barrage would likely be too much to handle.
There was no choice but to create distance.
Edanant gathered matchlocks, aiming for a moment of weakness.
-What the hell!
However, Ilkeron made an extraordinarily audacious decision, smashing through the front lines where the bullets rained down fiercely.
His image of slicing through bullets and tearing through flames was reminiscent of a starving wild dog. Despite his whole body being scorched by the scorching heat, he charged forward fearlessly.
The distance was closing.
In the end, he must be thinking of engaging in hand-to-hand combat.
Seeing this, Edanant stepped in front of Zebeline and drew Aldebaran.
-Urk!
“Excellent counter.”
Kagagak!!
The furious strikes of the Cardinal collided with Aldebaran.
Though it was a brief moment of counter, Edanant quickly blocked it. Ilkeron replied with a meaningful smile.
“It’s Maximilian’s swordsmanship. Did you learn it from your brother?”
-That insensitive guy? Did he teach me kindly? Naturally, I learned it on my own.
By merely exchanging a blow, Ilkeron realized that Edanant’s swordsmanship was emulating Maximilian. The energy contained in the swordplay was far too familiar.
Learning it by oneself…
Indeed, it was a testament to Maximilian’s innate talent as his brother.
It was truly lamentable that he was a vessel containing the Disaster of Innocence. If he had been a hero loyal to the Creator Deity of the Holy Kingdom, he would have surely been appointed as a successor.
“Edan!”
The clash of swords created a discordant symphony, stirring up a violent storm. The ground swept away by the tempest was torn apart as if it had been bombarded.
A moment’s negligence could take a life.
The dangerously glinting blades swirled mercilessly, slowly threatening Edanant’s life.
Watching with anxious eyes, Zebeline shouted.
“Truly a hero who saved the Valtarian Empire, with innate talent rivaling Maximilian’s and instincts honed through countless experiences…”
-Can you stop blabbering, old man? Do you always fight with your mouth?
“Isn’t it natural that feelings deepen with age?”
-If you’re old, you might as well head to a nursing home.
Kagak-!!
The clash of Aldebaran and two iron swords rang out, grinding metal against metal.
Simultaneously, Edanant and Ilkeron stepped forward and exchanged strikes.
In the struggle of strength, Edanant emerged victorious.
Ilkeron, who had blocked the fierce strikes, momentarily stumbled backward, unable to completely offset the force.
There was no way Edanant would let this brief opening go to waste. He immediately converted the gauntlet on his right hand into a weapon equipped with a high explosive bomb, targeting Ilkeron’s body.
Kwaaaang!!
Gripping tightly, the trigger of the explosive was activated, resulting in an explosion.
Yet, the attack amounted to nothing. Just before his grip tightened, Ilkeron instinctively sensed danger and created distance in an instant.
“That attack just now…!”
With a fist equipped with a high explosive bomb, he charged rapidly toward his opponent, aiming to vaporize those on par or stronger than himself.
It was indeed an extreme attack.
If it had struck, his upper body would have been obliterated without a trace.
Barely dodging, Ilkeron showed the first signs of panic since the battle had begun.
-Originally, it’s a technique devised to turn that damn hero into a corpse, but I guess it can’t be helped. Now, the hero who raised the Hero of All Times must take the hit instead.
“……”
If I recklessly attempted an attack, I risked being caught in the explosion of the high explosive bomb. However, it was just as distressing to create distance given the hundreds of muskets set up in the air.
I was in a deadlock.
Truly a fitting technique to take down Maximilian.
Ilkeron, gripping twin swords in both hands, let out a heavy sigh, calming his chaotic mind.
‘There’s only one way. It won’t be easy, but… I must finish it with one strike before the bomb goes off.’
If I unleashed the Golden Slash from a distance, Edanant would certainly block it.
Closing the distance at supersonic speed.
And if I could strike before Edanant sensed the danger, attacking from the blind spot.
As a seasoned hunter, Ilkeron quickly devised a countermeasure. But it was no easy method, so he gripped the hilt firmly, displaying a cautious demeanor.
“Cardinal Nebiacus!”
“We will join you!”
At the moment of impending victory or defeat,
Holy Knights in black cloaks rushed forward, drawing their swords.
They were the top-tier warriors of the Holy Kingdom.
If Holy Knights, whose short-term power rivaled that of guardian knights, joined the fray, Edanant would undoubtedly find himself on the defensive. Zebeline unleashed a lightning bolt, blocking their advance.
“First Saintess…! A filthy witch bearing the Disaster!”
“Slay the witch! She is the cunning witch who has deceived the Holy One and the believers until now!”
As the Holy Knights cried out, stained with contempt and hatred, Zebeline smiled coldly.
Indeed,
If you call me a witch, then I shall become one.
But the backlash from that will be something you’ll have to bear.
Having resolved to sacrifice anything to protect her loved ones, the Saintess of the White Dragon paid no heed to the ugly name of a witch.
Jjeojjeok!
The bolt of lightning resting in Zebeline’s hand flickered and transformed into the shape of a staff. The artifact summoned through lightning was the Scepter of White Night, the holy relic of the Second Saintess, Beatrice.
When the scepter, adorned with blue gems and pure white ivory, appeared, the Holy Knights gasped in shock. Zebeline raised the Scepter of White Night, which unleashed the lightning of the White Dragon, coloring the surrounding area.
“……!”
As the Saintess of the White Dragon held back the Holy Knights’ intervention, the tense standoff between Edanant and Ilkeron was spiraling toward catastrophe.
The Black Cardinal moved.
With sharp blades hanging down, he kicked off the ground, unleashing a charge of destruction.
Divine speed.
No one dared to challenge this realm of speed.
The speed achieved by the Cardinal had even eclipsed Edanant’s line of sight. The seasoned instincts that had previously warned him of danger could not even detect this level of swiftness.
Chwaaaak-.
In an instant, the shadow that had vanished reappeared.
Breaking through the area of swiftness, Ilkeron reached Edanant’s back in a flash. Approaching without a hint of presence, he raised his blade.
‘Sleep for the eternity of the Creator Deity, Disaster of War.’
The sharp blade aimed for the gap in Edanant’s armor. He intended to use the tiny opening to take Edanant’s head.
But—.
The Cardinal’s strike surged forth as if ignited, causing a change in Edanant’s explosive armor.
The armor, as if pressing a trigger, erupted into high heat, becoming a catastrophic overload. It unleashed an overwhelming energy sufficient to incinerate the surroundings.
“W-wait…!”
Ilkeron, who had activated the area of swiftness, lost sight of Edanant. Edanant’s gaze remained fixed ahead, seemingly oblivious to the situation.
But it didn’t matter.
No matter where he aimed, it would eventually come for him.
The moment Ilkeron’s form vanished, Edanant activated the trigger. Like a suicide attack, all the high explosive bombs mounted on his full plate armor belched forth flames.
───!!
────────!!!!
With an earth-shattering roar, the punishment of disaster exploded. Ilkeron, who had aimed for Edanant’s back, was swept away by the punishment without having any means to respond.
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