Chapter 117 Devil (3)

Elle said if he saved Cheon-ma, he would lose a precious opportunity. At that time, Yoon-seok had this question: was she a person to be trusted?historical

—If you have any questions, face the trial in the 14th-floor mission.

A spark of doubt arose inside him. To solve this issue, he tore the mission order as Kanna advised in the past. As a result, he learned more about Elle’s past, but the biggest question remained yet to be resolved. Why did Elle hire Yoon-seok as a contractor and give him everything she could?

Just because Rick and him looked alike? Well, maybe that was the reason. However, what was said back then bothered him.

—..Because it’s you. Because I’ve been waiting for you.

What did she mean? The clues gathered in his mind weren’t organized. Therefore, Yoon-seok questioned. Did he know about the Tower? If Rick had something to do with it, the fog would clear.

“I don’t know why you’re asking so nervously..Tower? I’ve never heard of that before.”

Rick shook his head. He knew even without the Eyes of the Executor that the answer was not a lie. After Rick said he was sorry, Yoon-seok gulped.

‘He has nothing to do with the Tower?’

Rick Gerssey. Who was this man? Why did they have the same face? Was it just a coincidence that Yoon-seok used his name in the last mission? Yoon-seok sighed deeply.

‘We still have a lot of time left. Let’s not be impatient.’

The more he tried to see, the more he couldn’t. Yoon-seok decided to stop here and listen to what he said earlier on how to save Elle. The method was indeed simple.

“The problem is the space in the wide vessel, so filling it up will solve everything.”

Infuse the space with divinity. In short, it meant to complete the once suspended ceremony. Kanna joined the conversation as if she was frustrated.

“I heard of holding a ceremony; a heathen sorcerer must be present. You’re not going to let them go just to save this kid’s life, are you?”

Rick shook his head and unbuttoned his top, revealing a strange stamp pattern engraved over his heart.

“It’s a sacrifice stamp they left on me when I was held captive.”

Rick said that if they had this, they could infuse divinity into Elle’s body by themselves. Originally, about a thousand sacrifices were needed for this ceremony, but..

“The soul of the offerings with stamps grow darker over time. And it’s been years since then.”

Kanna expressed doubts about Rick’s explanation.

“It’s possible when it’s been years? Then why don’t heathens use that method?”

“Because when imprinted, they usually lose their lives within a week at most.”

Malnutrition, acute shock, cerebral hemorrhage, heart attack. The cause of and if they had freedom of action, they would all commit suicide, Rick said.

“Three times a day, pain comes as if the soul is being gnawed away at. That’s when you think about it. Wouldn’t it be comfortable to just die like this?”

Rick was like that, too. He felt suicidal impulses several times a day. However, he had endured desperately so far, only for one goal. He forced food down his throat and learned how to protect his heart using magic.

“Maybe I’ve endured the pain for this very day. I’ll be the sacrifice. Save Elle with that.”

Rick looked rather relieved. In the end, Yoon-seok couldn’t help but ask.

“Why.. are you going to such lengths?”

“As expected, I knew you wouldn’t understand.”

He wasn’t blaming him. There was even a faint smile around his lips.

“I found out when I was saved by that child. It is my duty and reason to protect this child and live only for this child.”

“Elle said to save you.”

After a little consideration, Yoon-seok talked about the last request that Elle begged for. However, it couldn’t affect Rick’s resolution at all.

“It was said that the Lady can see the future, so it is true. Even if Elle wakes up, don’t tell her.”

Afterward, Rick left the barracks, saying it was time for the pain to come, and he didn’t want to show it to anyone.

“What are you planning to do? You can stay here. If you want, I’ll provide you with a particular place.”

Yoon-seok chose the latter, and Kanna nodded bitterly as if she knew he would. After that, Yoon-seok, who laid Elle in the barracks she prepared, remained still and organized what happened today in his head. In the meantime, there were no visitors, and as time passed, evening fell. It was then that Rick came back.

Slideeee.

He doesn’t know what strange abilities he possessed, but he rose out from the shadows under the bed.

“Don’t be surprised. It’s me.”

He thought it was a bit fascinating.

“Why are you here at this hour?”

“This place is dangerous, so be ready to leave.”

Rick quickly offered an additional explanation in a quiet voice, perhaps because he sensed Yoon-seok’s trepidation.

“We don’t have time. Kanna Blitz, she’s dangerous. She’ll save a Lady of the heathens? There’s no way she would tolerate it. I’m sure she’ll come up with something.”

“..Then why did you say that before?”

“If I had a few days, I thought I’d get through tonight safely.”

He understood exactly what Rick was saying. Just this afternoon, Kanna was hell-bent on killing Elle. But there was one thing he didn’t know.

“People change.”

Rick also didn’t deny what Yoon-seok said.

“Yeah, people change. But they don’t change that easily. Do you think the hatred that has been accumulated and rotted for many years will disappear in just half a day?”

“..”

“In addition, she is a Saint of the Holy Trinity Cult. Even if it’s not personal, the reasons for her to kill Elle are overflowing.”

The moment he tried to refute what he said, Yoon-seok suddenly bit his lips. He could feel the sense of hostility emanating from countless people outside. They couldn’t have been the heathens; this was in the middle of the Holy Trinity Cult’s camp.

“..Shit, it’s too late. I didn’t know they would act this fast. It’s my mistake to think that today would be okay. I’ll open a path for you, so you can carry Elle on your back and follow me.”

Rick drew his sword solemnly. Yoon-seok appreciated it as much as his confidence, but they were two separate things.

“No. You’re the one following me.”

Unlike him, there was no need to ask for Elle separately.

Swoosh.

Yoon-seok, who drew his two swords silently, used Skywrath Energy to levitate Elle’s body and make it stick tight to his back.

“I don’t intend to let you die here right now, but just in case, follow me.”

“W-what does that mean?”

“Nothing special.”

Yoon-seok went outside after closing the tent. There was an endless line of soldiers holding weapons before them. He already knew, but his mouth tasted bitter.

‘That’s why she gave me the barracks in the middle.’

Yoon-seok saw it, the distant future in which she became an admin. Innocent, old days when they knew how to sacrifice themselves for their loved ones. Maybe that was why he thought Kanna would change her mind if there were an opportunity.

But in the end, Rick was right. People didn’t change, at least not in a day.

“I don’t want to kill you. Pass that child on.”

Countless troops. Kanna, who took the lead, spoke to Yoon-seok. If he had the heart, he could’ve smashed her head in one breath, but Yoon-seok remained still. It was useless anyway. That was just a magical illusion.

“If you’re going to say that, why don’t you come in person?”

“..So you’re still choosing the poisoned chalice until the end.”

It was difficult for Yoon-seok to affirm. So, he gave her one last chance.

“Many people will die. Don’t you want to stop? Don’t you know anyway? That the child is innocent.”

“Surely, as you said, the child may not have done anything wrong. But the child has to die. If she falls into their hands, more people will die.”

Kanna brought up a reason from a Saint’s perspective. Even if it were rough and ugly, it would have been better if she’d expressed her sincerity.

“Do you hate this kid that much?”

“..”

Kanna didn’t answer. Instead, she prayed with her eyes closed and hands together. Then, a line stretched out like a spider web on the ground around her feet and began to emit a white glow.

「You are defined as the evil of the proclaimed sanctuary.」

「All abilities drop by two levels.」

「Suffers 40 times more damage from sacred attribute attacks, and a non-regeneration effect is added.」

Yoon-seok used the power of Lady’s Commandment on the condition that the sanctuary was neutralized, but it was impossible to cover the whole 50m radius. He decided that if he tried more than that, magic consumption would increase exponentially, interfering with the battle.

‘It’s better not to use this.’

Yoon-seok ended Lady’s Commandment. If it didn’t cover the entire area, it didn’t matter. If he had to run in one direction quickly, it wouldn’t mean much. However, a helping hand arrived from an unexpected place.

「Body adapts to the new environment.」

「All geographical penalties are reduced by 50%.」

The Environmental Adaptation skill was born from useless abilities he synthesized. Thanks to this, the penalty was halved. Well, it was still dangerous.

‘It’s a counter skill.’

It was good enough to lower his stats. But he was vulnerable to sacred attributes because of b Immortality}, which increased by tens of times. It even had a non-regeneration effect.

‘It’d be dangerous for me if I get hit.’

Yoon-seok felt the tension rising a bit. However, he wasn’t afraid. Of course, it would be dangerous if it hit him by mistake. But, in other words, didn’t it mean that there was no problem if he didn’t get hit?

‘The problem is I can’t do it half-heartedly.’

Yoon-seok wasn’t the only one. He had to protect two other lives aside from his own. Due to the presence of those allies, Judgment of the Ruined Monarch, which was his secret weapon, could not be used. Yoon-seok slowly looked up to the sky. Thousands of angels with white wings flying in the sky were watching from above.

That was why it was better to attack from the ground.

“I’ll go west, so get ready.”

Yoon-seok, who made a quick decision, made a small announcement so that only Rick could hear. Even before he could respond, he sent gray energy over the two swords and swung them in the air.

Whikkkkkkk!

The gray energy swirled and shot in a straight line, casting a brilliant light.

Swaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

All beings in their path were erased with an overwhelming power that seemed impossible with human strength. Silence fell in this place where tens of thousands of people gathered. Everyone was mesmerized by that sword skill.

It was a good thing for Yoon-seok, but the problem was that Rick was in the same boat.

“W-who the hell are you?”

“Let’s speak later and run for now.”

When Yoon-seok sprinted through the open road, Rick came to his senses and followed suit. He said he saved Elle from the heathens alone, but Yoon-seok was relieved because he thought it wouldn’t be too much for him to catch up.

“Stop them!”

It didn’t take much time for the straight path to be filled with soldiers again blocking them. Everything that could kill humans flew toward Yoon-seok, from arrows to divine magic. However, even in that situation, Yoon-seok checked all the attacks and blocked only the threatening ones, continuing to break through.

As he said earlier, he had no intention of doing it half-heartedly. Yoon-seok generously displayed all his cards.

「Seventeen swords are being used. The Phantom Energy ingrained in the sword increases.」

The levitating gray swords danced in the air. Perhaps it might not be the case if he was going one on one with a pro like Cheon-ma, but in this situation, it was a very efficient technique.

“I-is he the Devil..?!”

“Don’t run away! Are you going to swear at God’s name?”

Some people lost their fighting spirit, while others were burning. However, Yoon-seok killed without distinction if someone was in the way.

Swaaaaaaaaaaa-!

Heavenly Reigns. A tsunami broke from the tip of his sword and swept across the battlefield.

Slashhhhhh!

Traverse. Dozens of heads were sent rolling. The many angels in the sky didn’t actively rush in, wary of Yoon-seok’s escape, but the number was still decreasing.

“He’s not human..”

Countless bodies piled up on the path he passed through. A translucent bead appeared in his sight and was absorbed into his body.

Swishhhhhhh!

They were spirits harvested by {Predation}’s Rank A effect. Yoon-seok had no idea what it meant, so there was no way anyone else did. However, the understanding of the phenomenon and fear of it was unrelated. Those who witnessed the sight trembled.

“Damn it! Don’t lose them!”

Soon after, Yoon-seok breached past them and reached the plain. In other words, he was free from their siege. The chasers didn’t rush in as desperately as before, perhaps knowing that this type of formation wouldn’t work. Yoon-seok, who was running through the plain, stopped in the center.

Rick shouted.

“Why are you stopping!”

It was a simple reason. Anyway, Yoon-seok couldn’t leave the mountains and plains due to the setting of the Tower. So, he’d rather come to the center where he was free to move. However, Rick, unaware of that fact, stopped trying to shout as if he couldn’t understand and stared blankly at the sky.

“Oh my God..”

Was it because the army of the Holy Trinity Cult advanced to the plains? Or did they just send the troops here after checking Elle’s location to reclaim her?

Hundreds of meteors were streaking across the night sky.

Whikkkkkkkkkkkkk! Booooom!

The Holy Trinity Cult’s military strength was not enough. Even the monstrous legion of the heathens had arrived.