"So, do you have any countermeasures?" At this moment, Altrouge cast aside the nobility ingrained deep within her, revealing a gentle smile as refreshing as a spring breeze.
This smile stunned everyone present; her subordinates hadn't seen their Princess so gentle in a long time… As for Ryougi Raku, the sudden transformation of the aloof Princess into this gentle demeanor made her seem quite adorable… However, he quickly composed himself, shrugging self-deprecatingly: "What countermeasures can there be at this point? The enemy has clearly set a trap for us to walk into… In a rush, we can only follow their rhythm… Now, it's a matter of meeting force with force and adapting to the situation…" After a pause, he added, "Given your combat experience, improvisation should be your strong suit, right?"
"Indeed! So, you just take care of yourself…" It was Bremet who spoke; her voice, upon closer listening, was actually quite gentle and pleasant.
"Well, are you done talking?" A voice, amplified by the 'miracles' of either magecraft or the Church, resonated throughout the entire canyon.
That single sentence made Ryougi Raku, Altrouge, and the others look up toward the figure overlooking them from the highest point of the canyon!
"Nrvnqsr Chaos, Coordinator of the Burial Agency!" Altrouge softly uttered the name, as if informing Ryougi Raku who they were about to face.
Hearing that name, Ryougi Raku's heart tightened; Merem Solomon, one of the Twenty-Seven Dead Apostle Ancestors he had fought before, was also a member of the Burial Agency!
"The Heretic Inquisition, the Twenty-Seventh Ancestor 'One-Bladed Sword,' the Burial Agency's Rudolf and Ciel, oh… and Barthomeloi…" Like a connoisseur listing treasures, the Black Princess told Ryougi Raku one name after another, using this method to convey the formidable strength of their adversaries.
With each name he heard, Ryougi Raku felt increasingly helpless, eventually becoming somewhat numb… These were all formidable foes, and with them all appearing at once, even someone as bold as Ryougi Raku found it a bit tricky… 'First priority: find a way to escape…' Ryougi Raku set his objective for this battle. As for going all out and defeating all of them… he hadn't even considered it… 'If it doesn't threaten my life… I'll lend a hand…' Looking at Altrouge, who had just provided him with the information, Ryougi Raku thought to himself.
Altrouge could have completely withheld that information from Ryougi Raku, letting him enter the battle completely unaware of his opponents. At that point, it would have been difficult for Ryougi Raku to withdraw, but Altrouge had so easily revealed the strength of their adversaries, doing everything a comrade could. Ryougi Raku would naturally repay this kindness.
Of course, everything was predicated on his own safety… Nrvnqsr Chaos was different from typical villains; there was no cat-and-mouse game. Though her behavior was atrocious, she was incredibly reliable when it came to important matters!
She glanced at Lorelei, who immediately understood her meaning. Lorelei nodded slightly, then made a gesture. The next moment, the magicians of the Clone Squad, ambushed all around, simultaneously chanted the incantations of their spells.
If a natural gale was vast and grand, then this magic, cast simultaneously by dozens of magicians, was a sharp, urgent blade!
The air, influenced by the magicians' magical energy and following the magic circuits etched into the world, seemed to gain consciousness, howling! It swirled freely, carrying a sound that tore through everything, like numerous razor-sharp surgical knives, slashing at Ryougi Raku and the others from all directions!
Sensing this power that could tear even metal into powder, Ryougi Raku, Altrouge, and the others instinctively dodged!
However, this was precisely Nrvnqsr Chaos's objective!
With a slight push of his foot, Ryougi Raku used Instant Movement, swiftly evading the attack of the sharp winds.
Then, he realized that although that strike had not caused them any injuries, it had completely separated them!
'Looks like they're planning a focused assault on one point!' Ryougi Raku immediately understood their intention. And the next moment, as expected, a figure appeared before him!
Her profound arrogance, her slightly swaying ponytail, and a whip casually flicking in her gloved right hand.
Her tight-fitting attire highlighted her curvaceous figure, and her face was stern and noble, but even with her beauty, Ryougi Raku could not relax.
That was an existence at the pinnacle of mages, an existence named Barthomeloi, capable of confronting the Twenty-Seven Dead Apostle Ancestors in human form! Her existence, like Ryougi Raku's, was one that appeared human but was essentially a monster!
"Ryougi Raku?" Like an arrogant lord addressing her subjects, Lorelei asked in a naturally commanding tone.
"Indeed, that would be me…" Ryougi Raku replied with a smile. He didn't mind Lorelei's tone at all; mages were inherently an arrogant bunch. If this person at the pinnacle of mages wasn't arrogant at all, it would make Ryougi Raku even more wary.
Like inspecting merchandise, Lorelei scrutinized Ryougi Raku from head to toe, "The Mage's Association is truly declining… to be insulted by someone like you." Speaking sarcastically, Lorelei mercilessly taunted him verbally, but in reality, she was extremely cautious.
Because she couldn't perceive Ryougi Raku's strength at all, yet Ryougi Raku's battle record was undeniable.
'It seems he has some method of shielding his presence,' Lorelei thought.
"My apologies for being insulted by someone like me, Lorelei!" Spreading his hands, Ryougi Raku chatted as if facing an old friend.
"Who gave you permission to call me by that name!" Unexpectedly, Lorelei became extremely furious!
"I am the head of the noble Barthomeloi family. When I inherited this position, my name became one with the family! From that moment on, my name is Barthomeloi!" Declaring arrogantly, Lorelei pointed her finger at Ryougi Raku.
"Alright, alright, then, my noble Lady Barthomeloi, I truly apologize." Ryougi Raku apologized without any sincerity.
"Hmph, speaking to someone like you, who has no honor, is simply a waste of my time." Lorelei said coldly.
While Ryougi Raku was casually conversing with Lorelei, he also glanced at the other battlefields with his peripheral vision. The other battlefields were not as harmonious as this one…
---
"So, you are my opponents this time… I have fought your predecessors countless times, but I wonder if you are as formidable as they were…" White Knight Brad said, facing the Heretic Inquisition and the ascetics.
He knew the Inquisition and the ascetics well, but only their predecessors. He didn't know much about this generation of knights.
However, each generation of the Inquisition was a formidable force, and now that the Princess's fate was at stake, he dared not be presumptuous.
The magical energy around him began to surge, vast amounts of it unleashing without reservation.
The Heretic Inquisition maintained their silence, standing in formation, while the ascetics in their tattered robes, positioned at the rear, chanted in low voices. If one listened carefully, they would realize they were reciting the Bible.
"Come! Reality Marble: Army of the King!" As Brad's words fell, his inner world began to encroach upon reality. The dry canyon gave way to a humid atmosphere, and the vast mountains miraculously transformed into a sea, where numerous ghost ships vaguely lingered.
The Inquisition and ascetics, empowered by 'miracles,' floated on the sea. Within the Reality Marble, Brad had transformed the battlefield into the most advantageous terrain for himself!
Among the vast ghost fleet, a flagship drifted at the forefront. Brad stood at the bow, facing the colossal army ahead. Like a naval admiral, he swung his longsword, and endless ghosts began to emerge one by one from the fleet, without formation, yet obeying Brad's command like soldiers!
"Form ranks!" A muffled voice came from the Inquisition. Facing the endless ghostly army, with the Captain of the Knights absent, someone naturally took on the heavy responsibility of command!
With a "Clang!" all the knights uniformly drew their longswords. The ascetics' chanting suddenly intensified, like the descent of an angelic host, countless holy lights shining, bestowing the swords and knights with the power of 'miracles'!
When it came to spirits like ghosts, the Holy Church was truly the expert! If they claimed to be second, no one dared to claim first!
The White Knight's expression was solemn. Although he was on his most familiar terrain, the sea, the Heretic Inquisition was inherently highly effective against spirits. His ghost army simply couldn't gain any advantage!
The two sides confronted each other, a chilling atmosphere enveloping the entire Reality Marble.
But in the end, the White Knight was the first to lose his patience, because he needed time! He couldn't waste time here; if anything happened to the Princess, he would be ready to atone with his death!
His longsword swung down, and like a medieval naval battle, countless cannonballs were fired from the hulls of the ghost ships. These were magical cannons condensed from mana!
In the past, Brad had used his ghost fleet to defeat countless maritime overlords! Whether fleets assembled by nations or giant ships built by the Holy Church, all had fallen under his army!
Accompanied by the roar of cannon fire, countless ghosts floated on the sea, charging toward the distant Inquisition. Although there was no sound, their momentum was like a thousand armies!
"Form battle arrays, prepare for close combat!" Obeying the command, every knight performed their duty meticulously, in perfect order!
A brutal war, within this Reality Marble, unseen by anyone, began…
"One-Bladed Sword?" Bremet addressed Enhansé with a disdainful tone.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶) ‹ (Advanced Chapters @patreon.com/c/Gooberilla)