337 – The Master of the Holy Sword -5-

A fierce battle unfolds.

The battle between the one-armed Temperance and Elysia began to spread chillingly within the space where the Holy Sword lay dormant.

Elysia distorted the surrounding space, expanding it further. To increase the number of things she could utilize, she began to widen the space where the Holy Sword lay dormant to an incomparable extent.

Removing the walls.

-Crunch…!

She imbued the displayed armor with emotions, making it move like a puppet.

“Bring me that man’s head.”

Temperance did not remain idle either.

He drew upon his black magic, expanding his domain, and neutralizing Elysia’s magic while shooting spheres of magic.

Ironically, neither of them moved a single step from their spots, yet the chaos they created was reminiscent of a disaster.

What I see before my eyes is only one thing. The blue magic of Elysia and the black magic of Temperance drawing lines in this space, clearly defining their territories.

-Sizzle…

On the surface, it seemed like the battle between the Apostle of Temperance and Elysia was evenly matched. When Elysia distorted the space to attack, Temperance used his domain to nullify it.

However.

“You are using such trivial tricks…!”

“…”

“Hahaha! Why are you struggling so much while saying that?”

“…”

“Stay calm, Temperance…!”

Elysia was mocking Temperance.

The situation was so intense that it was impossible to tell who had the upper hand, but a manic smile never left Elysia’s lips. In contrast, cold sweat was running down Temperance’s forehead.

Dropping his cold sweat to the ground, Temperance spoke in an unwavering voice.

“Don’t be mistaken, Onyu. If I draw upon my true power, someone like you is….”

“I feel the same way.”

Elicia began to draw upon her deep dark magic, her blue eyes glowing.

“I haven’t even started yet.”

-Saaa….

The space was being dyed.

The space was repeatedly torn and restored by the magic Elicia unleashed.

The white floor undulated like waves, creating an abyss, and the walls of the ceiling also began to stretch towards the sky with giant spikes reaching over Restraint’s head.

Restraint clicked his tongue.

“Ugh…”

He hadn’t expected Elicia’s magic to be this strong. She was a woman who had lived alone. An apostle without an archbishop or followers.

To replenish dark magic, it would surely require a lot of manpower and complex procedures… Restraint couldn’t understand why she had inexhaustible magic.

Suddenly, a hypothesis popped into Restraint’s mind. A hypothesis known to both dark magicians and ordinary people.

-Dark magic is different from regular magic.

-The method of replenishing it can be as arduous as cutting bones or as easy as breathing, depending on one’s desires and wants.

Restraint gritted his teeth, recalling Elicia praying in the dark temple.

The reason Onyu kept praying… it wasn’t mental illness, but to gain power.

“Heh…”

Elicia’s lips curled up.

Restraint’s principles were crumbling. The principles that had never once faltered were shaking. As if to prove it, the floor beneath Restraint’s feet was writhing like slime touched by fire.

“Don’t make me laugh!!!”

-Boom!!!!

Restraint’s complexion began to turn pale. He had never imagined that the principles that had never been breached would crack.

The strongest shield.

The shield that he thought wouldn’t be penetrated even by the Empire’s sword was being breached by just one woman, and Restraint began to waver.

Elicia sneered at Restraint.

“You’re shaking.”

“…”

“Your principles are shaking, Restraint.”

“…Shut up, Onyu.”

“If you keep being careless, you’ll end up dead.”

There were more than a few things to worry about.

I had to avoid Onyu’s mental domination that penetrated emotions, and I also had to be wary of physical attacks aiming for blind spots.

Moreover, that man.

“…”

The situation was extremely urgent, not knowing when that man, who was silently staring at me, would join in. The magical power I felt from him was on par with mine, perhaps even equal to the Empire’s sword. Faced with the unexpected appearance of a strong opponent, I gritted my teeth and muttered quietly to myself.

“I didn’t want to use this magic…”

In an instant, the air around me began to change. The magic circle that filled the floor started to be absorbed into my body as if it were being sucked in, and at the same time, black walls like mirages began to surround me on all sides.

I placed my hand on the black wall and spoke softly.

“Regret in hell, Onyu.”

The black wall enveloped my body.

Like a person wearing armor, the magic circle began to overlay my body. As numerous spells and rules covered my body, black armor began to take its place on me.

As the black wall disappeared, the armor and the black sword that defied the laws of the world could be seen in my hands.

Yes, a tachi (太刀).

A sword with an abnormally long blade for a swordsman to use. The black blade, stretched out like a snake, began to wrap around my hand, blowing a cold wind.

Holding the sword that should be wielded with both hands in one hand, I let out a faint sigh and said.

“No one has survived after seeing this armament.”

“An honor… I will be the first.”

“Arrogant, Onyu.”

“But, Jeolje, you know that armament consumes your lifespan, right?”

“I know. Of course, I know…”

As the cold melody began to spread, Elicia started to transform the surroundings into a thin liquid, preparing the battlefield.

“Interesting. Watching a fly struggle…”

-Kugugugugu…

“Interesting.”

Elicia severed the space while looking at me.

“Sage.”

“…”

“Leave this fight to me.”

Elicia began to disappear along with Jeolje, severing the space.

I watched Elicia and Jeolje disappear to the other side of the space and gave a bitter smile.

The armament of restraint was originally.

Because it had to have two blades. The victory was already leaning towards Elysia.

*

I let out a hollow laugh as I looked at the holy sword attached to the hand of restraint.

“Impressive.”

The appearance of the holy sword was enough to remind me of the word “demon sword,” and I couldn’t help but laugh. The holy sword was absorbing the dark magic left in the hand of restraint.

The arm of restraint, left on the hilt of the holy sword, was losing moisture and withering like a mummy.

“At this point, it’s more of a demon sword than a holy sword.”

Before long, the arm of restraint lost its vitality and began to crumble like sand. After the arm of restraint, which had turned into white sand, disappeared, the holy sword stood in its place, radiating brilliance as if it had never indulged in dark magic.

“…”

I looked at Michael with an awkward smile.

“What do you think?”

“…Yes?”

“Do you think you can pull it out?”

“Ah…”

“The sure thing is.”

-Whooong.

I shook my head as I looked at the holy sword that was causing the sword movement.

“I don’t think I can hold it.”

I have a hunch.

A hunch that the holy sword is rejecting me. If I were to grab the holy sword, it would vehemently resist, as if not allowing me to approach, let alone qualify. I shook my head at the holy sword’s assertion.

The only person who could pull out the holy sword here was Michael.

“…Gulp.”

If I think about the novel, Michael could naturally pull out the holy sword.

When Rowan and the apostle were confronting each other in the novel, Michael urgently ran to find the holy sword under Rowan’s command.

-Don’t worry about here, find the holy sword.

-But…!

-It’s an order. If we retreat without gaining anything here, it will be a bigger problem.

-…Please hold on a little longer.

In the novel, Michael found the holy sword this way and helped Rowan escape the temple safely.

The qualifications to hold the holy sword.

A hero.

And a person with a pure heart.

Considering the holy sword with its ego, Mikhail’s qualifications were more than sufficient. The only concern was that my existence had been included in the journey so far.

“…”

I was worried because I didn’t know how the variable of my existence would act.

Still.

“Would you like to try holding it?”

The result wouldn’t change. It was worth a try.

Mikhail looked at me once and nodded. As Mikhail’s hand reached out towards the holy sword without hesitation, I raised an eyebrow and spoke.

“Are you going to try holding it right away?”

“Yes.”

“Aren’t you scared? I’ve seen people’s hands get cut off.”

“Yes.”

“Yes?”

“Because Ricardo said I could pull it out.”

“…”

“Honestly, saying I’m not scared would be a lie, but still…”

-Grab.

“Ricardo is smarter than a fool like me…”

“…”

“I trust my friend.”

Mikhail closed his eyes and grasped the holy sword. Along with the tingling sensation felt at his fingertips, I could feel Mikhail’s magic and the holy sword’s magic harmonizing.

As if they were originally one, the warmth of the holy sword blended seamlessly, and I let out a sigh of admiration.

However.

-Snap.

“Oh…!”

The holy sword was not such a gentle thing.

I could see it.

The pure holy sword seemed to struggle as if it had found a blemish. The harmonizing magic began to create friction, and at the same time, Mikhail’s brow began to furrow.

“…!”

Startled, I called out to Mikhail. I told him to take his hand off the holy sword immediately.

“Misa!”

“…”

“Misa…!”

Sweat began to pour down Mikhail’s forehead. It was as if he couldn’t hear my voice, convulsing as he was, and I gritted my teeth.

‘Where did it go wrong?’

It was a confirmed fact that Mikhail would become the master of the holy sword… So where did it twist?

Mikhail is indeed a good person.

Although the story flowed differently from the novel, there was no reason for the holy sword to reject her if you looked back at her character and actions.

There must be another reason.

The current situation must have arisen from a factor originating from someone else, not from Mikhail or me…

‘Ah…’

Could it be because of the dark magic of restraint…

-An ancient document had this phrase written on it.

-If an unqualified person holds the holy sword, they will suffer great pain.

-If they endure that pain and hold the sword to the end with wickedness and arrogance, the evil spirit suppressed by the holy sword will awaken.

-This is destruction.

Remembering the statement about restraint, I grabbed the holy sword. Mikhail alone would not be able to handle the magic of restraint right now.

The energy of the holy sword, which might have been dormant for hundreds, no, thousands of years, would have been clean and quiet. However, if the holy sword absorbed the energy of restraint, it was more than likely to cause a backlash during the transformation process.

If so.

It meant that the current state of the holy sword was overloaded, and Mikhail had to fully absorb the magic of restraint that the holy sword had transformed.

If we consider the worst-case scenario.

It could mean that the entity called ‘destruction’ that the holy sword was suppressing was craving dark magic to find stronger black magic.

Confused by the information not even mentioned in the novel, I quickly grabbed the holy sword and exerted my strength.

And then.

‘It’s not the holy sword…?’

I realized that something beneath the holy sword was indulging in magic.

Something huge and explosive was using the holy sword as a medium to seek powerful strength.

‘…’

Absorbing.

The one who desired stronger dark magic was yearning through the holy sword. The sword we were holding was indeed the holy sword, but on the floor we were standing on, I could feel the one who had tasted the restrained dark magic and awakened, struggling to overcome the constraints of the holy sword.

A mistake.

My mistake for not considering the variables.

I felt the strength draining from my body. In my fainting consciousness, I could feel the remaining magic in my body being sucked out.

I can feel it clearly.

The friction between the holy sword and what is not the holy sword.

-Saaa.

-Kagagagak…

My ears started to ring.

And then.

“Ah… this is bad.”

The temple began to darken.

The temple, which had been pure white, gradually started to lose its light and darken. Only the area around the holy sword maintained its pure white light, while the rest was being covered in darkness.

It was a potentially dangerous situation, but if I let go, Mikhail’s mind could be on the verge of collapse. Perhaps his magic circuits could shatter beyond recovery.

Think of a way.

A way to protect the holy sword.

A way to protect Mikhail.

‘I got it…’

-The saintess has a very high affinity with dark magic. Honestly, I think it’s amazing that the saint managed to withstand the dark magic that could harm the saintess’s body.

-…Why do you call the lady a saintess, Hans?

-From the perspective of a dark magician, the lady is.

-…

-Beyond a saintess.

[Releasing Dark Magic Resistance Lv.5.]

I thought of the remnants of dark magic within my body. Remembering the time when I took the lady’s dark magic instead, I instantly released the suppressed dark magic.

As the immense dark magic began to disappear through the holy sword, the remnants of dark magic within my body started to vanish completely.

Yes, dark magic.

As I released the resistance, the dark magic that had been suppressed began to flow out.

“`

The black magic that was blocking the blood of magic.

It was now disappearing to the point where resistance was no longer needed.

Vitality rises.

The clean and pure magic, which I couldn’t even imagine before, was flowing through my whole body, pressing down on the blood of my entire body.

But.

I had to draw the holy sword.

To prevent that guy who craves it from taking this magic.

We needed time for Mikhail, who had regained consciousness, to draw the holy sword.

Because I couldn’t move to suppress the guy below me right now.

But. There was no way to make Mikhail draw the holy sword with a body that couldn’t even move a finger.

As complicated thoughts filled my mind.

“Stop it!”

The savior appeared.

“Don’t steal my consciousness…?”

I smiled as I looked at Shuen, who came with talismans all over his body.

“Wow… Nice timing.”

Shuen smiled with a dumbfounded expression.

“Hehe!”