A Decision Must Be Made (2)
Iraniel gradually began to feel that she was gaining the upper hand.
Of course, the advantage was paper-thin. If she let her guard down, it could be overturned at any moment.
But for Iraniel, even falling alongside her opponent wouldn't be a loss. As long as she drained her enemy's strength, victory would be certain on her side.
The human intruder named Astion had done something tremendous. At this rate, even just dragging out time would ensure victory.
Boom! Boom! BOOOOM!
Still, she had no intention of fighting for days on end. Iraniel unleashed her energy even more fiercely.
She intended to exhaust her opponent's strength as quickly as possible to end the war.
As the fierce battle continued, four priests who had been watching from behind Lahamod suddenly ascended into the sky.
Soon, they began to approach slowly, as if preparing to join the battle.
'A pincer attack, is it?'
Even while fighting, Iraniel tracked their movements. If they joined in, she'd be at a disadvantage.
She had no choice but to summon the Elders to stop the priests. Or rather, the Elders were probably watching and would come on their own.
Just as Iraniel refocused on the battle with Lahamod—
Suddenly, Lahamod spoke in a low voice.
"…Become a martyr."
'What?'
Sensing something strange, Iraniel quickly stepped back and looked up. A terrifying energy was closing in from all directions.
"No way…"
KRAAAASH!
Before she could grasp the situation, the four priests unleashed all of their life force and detonated their own bodies.
The immense energy poured out, twisting the sky and making the very air wail in agony.
The energy left by the priests surged upward like a massive curtain—
FSSHHHH!
—And then turned into black rain, pouring down on the battlefield.
The sheer pressure felt like the blackened sky itself was collapsing.
"…This is…"
Iraniel's eyes wavered. She hadn't expected the Salvation Church to possess such a technique.
That energy wasn't just targeting her. It was also heading toward the elves who were on standby behind her.
'I have to stop it!'
This was the power of four high-ranking priests who had given their lives. And not just any high-ranking priests—they were stronger than ordinary superhumans.
If left unchecked, the damage would be catastrophic. Anyone less than incredibly strong wouldn't survive.
Iraniel hastily gathered all her energy. The spirits and natural forces nearby lent her their strength.
FWAAAAAASH!
The enormous energy Iraniel released spread out, filling the sky. All she could think about now was protecting her kin.
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE!
The black energy rained down like a storm, colliding head-on with the barrier she had deployed.
It was destruction fueled by life-force burned by superhumans. Even for Iraniel, the impact was overwhelming.
Despite enduring the immense pressure, she maintained the barrier. The cost of pouring out such power was a heavy toll on her body, but thanks to her efforts, the other elves were spared from the deadly rain.
Her will to protect her people was admirable. But on the battlefield, such noble resolve ultimately became a weakness.
"It's over, Guardian of the World Tree."
SHLUK!
Lahamod's blackened hand pierced into Iraniel's abdomen.
She twisted her body at the last moment, avoiding a direct hit to the heart, but that alone wouldn't change the outcome.
At this rate, Lahamod's attack would fully impale her abdomen.
Lahamod tightened his grip.
But the attack did not go any deeper.
"…Huh?"
Ghislain had appeared behind Iraniel and swung his staff hard at Lahamod.
CRASH!
Lahamod was struck square in the face and stumbled backward. It wasn't a fatal blow, but the mere fact he had been hit shook him.
'What? Why didn't I sense him?'
He had been completely focused on Iraniel. That had left an opening—but still, for an opponent to get that close and land a hit without being noticed?
'That makes no sense.'
He had seen this man on the battlefield and knew he was strong. But not to the extent of being comparable to himself.
His mana seemed depleted, so Lahamod hadn't paid much attention. He figured he'd kill him after finishing Iraniel.
But this human had just succeeded in attacking him. Unease burrowed deep into Lahamod's chest, sending a chill down his spine.
'…It must've been a coincidence.'
Lahamod steadied himself and began gathering energy again.
Black energy spread out, tearing through the surrounding air. He now intended to kill both Iraniel and Ghislain immediately.
Ghislain grabbed Iraniel and hurled her backward with all his might.
"Catch her! Treat her now!"
The Elders caught Iraniel's flying body. They looked startled as they poured all the natural energy into her wounds.
Ghislain could no longer worry about her.
Lahamod's fist was already flying toward him.
BOOOM!
The punch barely missed Ghislain's head, grazing past it. He rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the shockwave.
Lahamod briefly looked at his own hand.
'It wasn't a coincidence.'
He had intentionally tried a close-range attack to confirm it.
The odd feeling had lasted only a moment, but he was now certain. This human had reached the same realm—one where willpower shaped power—as he had.
A level that only four prophets of the Salvation Church had attained.
"…Who are you?"
Ghislain grinned.
"Every guy who asked me that during a fight is dead now."
"…Insolent."
"Pretty sure all the ones who said that are dead too."
Lahamod extended his hand. Black energy burst from his palm.
CRACK!
Ghislain raised his staff to block it, but the shock sent his body flying upward.
Failing to fully deflect the force, a searing pain shot through his arms as if his bones were about to snap.
And it wasn't over.
The energy Lahamod had fired didn't vanish—it pursued Ghislain like a venomous snake.
FLASH!
Suddenly, Ghislain's body was cloaked in darkness and scattered into the air. Lahamod's brow furrowed at the sight.
"This bastard…"
To pull a trick like that in front of him.
Lahamod immediately extended his palm toward the center of the air.
BOOOM!
Ghislain, who had reformed from the shadows, was blasted back. Lahamod surged forward with power.
BOOOOM!
Just by slamming his foot into the ground, Lahamod tore open the earth in a deep rupture.
If Ghislain hadn't leapt and twisted in the air, his spine would have been shattered. He rolled along the ground and regained his stance.
'Phew… As expected, he's too much for me to handle right now.'
He was barely holding on by absorbing the surrounding death energy, but it wasn't nearly enough to take on Lahamod.
Worse, the energy he was taking in now included the black mana of dark mages.
Ghislain only used pure energy. Absorbing such mixed forces reduced his efficiency.
Even so, he had no other choice. He had to replenish at least a little mana to keep moving.
'I need to buy time.'
The Elders were currently healing Iraniel's wounds. He had to hold out until she could stand again.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Lahamod unleashed waves of black energy, relentlessly attacking Ghislain. Even his simplest strikes caused the ground to tremble and rocks to surge skyward.
Ghislain narrowly avoided the blows, scattering his body into shadow again and again.
At the same time, he searched for an opening to counterattack. Even in those brief moments, he launched surprise strikes and transformed into shadow to target Lahamod's blind spots.
But nothing worked against Lahamod. Ghislain had already used up too much power saving the elves.
His goal was only to stall for time anyway. Ghislain didn't despair, continuing to narrowly dodge Lahamod's attacks while provoking him.
Lahamod's fury burned hotter by the second.
'Why someone like this…'
His opponent's technique was shockingly impressive—even to Lahamod. Especially the art of dispersing into shadow was so refined and perfect, it was almost tempting to learn.
Still, in strength and speed, he was superior. He should have easily overwhelmed and captured the enemy already.
And yet, something felt wrong.
The opponent evaded every decisive strike by mere inches, as if he had predicted them.
Ghislain wasn't wasting his willpower. He was using it with precise calculation, reserving it for one escape, for one counterstrike.
'He's not normal. How can someone like this exist?'
He didn't mean Ghislain had lost his mind. He meant that the very existence of this man defied normalcy.
The longer Lahamod fought, the more he was gripped by a strange sense of unease.
His opponent had clearly reached the same realm as himself. To wield willpower to this extent meant Ghislain's mind and soul had been trained to their peak.
Yet his body couldn't keep up. His mana was depleted, and his physique was clearly at its limit.
'It's a contradiction.'
How could such a fragile vessel handle the weight of willpower and execute such a technique?
Moreover, his combat skills were astonishingly refined.
The timing of his spell assaults was so sharp and precise that even Lahamod was impressed in the middle of battle.
His strikes, aimed perfectly at vital points, weren't something one could master through experience and long training alone.
And it wasn't just magic. The way he used his body bordered on art. He seemed to be compensating for his lack of power with extreme technique.
Lahamod didn't want to admit it—but he had no choice.
If his own skills were even slightly lesser, he might have been taken down by this incomplete existence.
'…He's dangerous.'
Lahamod was sure of it now.
This opponent was unnatural.
His realm and body were mismatched, his mana and willpower out of sync. And yet, he was pushing every aspect of himself to the absolute limit.
'I have to kill him here!'
Despite being physically worn out and mentally strained, the man was still standing against him. Lahamod began to fear what might happen if this human grew any stronger.
No matter the cost, he had to eliminate him here to avoid future threat.
CRAAAAAASH!
Lahamod drew out even more power. He now saw Ghislain as a threat on par with Iraniel.
The energy he released seized control of the surroundings. Ghislain felt the immense pressure weighing him down.
CRACK!
His speed in dissolving into shadow slowed. Lahamod, finding his techniques ineffective, now relied on sheer overwhelming force to crush Ghislain.
Having taken control of the space, Lahamod struck at the dispersing shadows.
THUD!
"Gah!"
A hit to the chest made Ghislain cough blood as he was flung back. Yet he immediately vanished and scattered once more.
Lahamod's lips twitched in frustration.
He had landed a clean blow, yet it felt like striking a dull cushion. Even as he was hit, the man had somehow dispersed the impact.
Lahamod, who had been about to obliterate the entire area, hesitated.
'The Elf Grand Chieftain…'
He hadn't confirmed Iraniel's condition yet. He couldn't afford to waste energy recklessly.
'The Elders are still here, too.'
Now, objectively, their side was outnumbered. All the Arbiters and dark mages had been lost—save for Munareff.
If Lahamod fell, the tables might turn. He had already consumed considerable power fighting Iraniel.
'Today, the elves must all die, and the World Tree must fall!'
To fulfill the doctrine's long-cherished wish, this had to be done.
Thus, he couldn't let emotion cloud his judgment. He had to crush them steadily, one by one, with certainty.
Lahamod turned his head and shouted.
"Enforcer!"
FWOOOSH!
Munareff, cloaked in black mist, appeared and knelt before Lahamod.
Though he had been observing until now, he hadn't dared to act. There had been no order.
To act on his own judgment would be to disregard a Prophet.
Lahamod looked down at Munareff and spoke.
"I will finish off the Elf Grand Chieftain. You must kill that human."
"I obey."
BOOM!
Lahamod shot off toward the Elven Elders. At the same time, Munareff flared with energy, dominating the surroundings.
He had already fallen for Ghislain's tricks once, so he was now ready to counter immediately.
CRACK!
Munareff had far more power left than Ghislain. His energy spread out like spiderwebs, locating Ghislain's presence.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Munareff launched his attacks without holding back.
He knew his opponent's skills were formidable, but in his exhausted state, Ghislain wouldn't be able to land fatal strikes.
Just as Munareff expected, Ghislain barely endured by absorbing ambient energy. Even dodging felt increasingly burdensome.
Slick.
Blood began to drip from Ghislain's nose. It was the cost of using willpower repeatedly with a broken body.
'Not yet.'
The clash between him and Lahamod had been brief. Not enough time had passed for Iraniel to fully recover.
But she had to move now. If not, the war would end in an elven defeat.
Ghislain's gaze deepened. He could neither chase after Lahamod nor defeat Munareff now.
In the worst case, he would have to escape with his companions. They must not die here.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
"You rat bastard!"
Munareff roared as he launched attack after attack. Ghislain, blood trickling from his nose, focused solely on evasion.
But he couldn't do this forever. His body was steadily breaking down.
'I have to decide.'
Should he accept that they could no longer turn the tide and retreat, or trust that Iraniel would recover and try to hold on a little longer?
BOOM!
In the moment his focus slipped, Munareff's strike hit him directly. Ghislain barely blocked it, but couldn't withstand the shock and was knocked backward.
Blood surged up his throat, and his insides felt mangled. Even blocking was becoming difficult now.
Ghislain clenched his teeth and turned his head toward where Lahamod and the Elven Elders were.
In that instant, Ghislain's eyes widened.
From that place…
FWOOOOOSH!
A divine radiance unlike anything he had seen before was erupting.
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