Chapter 764

Chapter 764

I Told You Back Then. (2)

The sword dug in, black and horrifyingly swift and silent.

Tagmah twisted his body on instinct.

He didn’t even have the time to gather his energy properly to defend.

Paaaah!

He hadn’t managed to dodge perfectly. The sight of blood gushing from his own body was etched vividly into his vision.

Rahmod also tried to twist his body at the last moment to avoid a fatal wound.

He could clearly feel it. The sword had been aimed precisely at his neck.

Even as he dodged, Rahmod extended his right hand. It was to counterattack immediately.

At that moment.

The sword’s trajectory twisted in a grotesque way.

It curved with an impossible flexibility, as if it were alive and moving on its own.

Rahmod felt the cold murderous intent brushing past his left arm.

Tuk.

Kwaaaaang!

Ghislain, who had attempted the ambush, was flung away by the surge of energy Rahmod had unleashed.

Having succeeded in his counterattack, Rahmod slowly lowered his gaze.

His left arm was missing below the wrist. His own hand was rolling across the floor.

Paaaah!

Black smoke erupted from the cross-section of the severed wrist. His skin writhed as the wound began to heal.

“You… you bastard…”

Sparks flashed in Rahmod’s eyes.

For his body, which didn’t so much as get scratched by most attacks, to suffer such a grievous wound from a single ambush, there was no greater humiliation.

Tagmah was in a slightly better state.

Though his chest had been slashed open in a long cut, the wound wasn’t too deep. The attacker’s strikes had focused more on Rahmod.

Chiiiiik!

Tagmah’s wound also began to close as black smoke drifted from it.

Rahmod gathered his energy once more.

He hadn’t been able to properly protect his body because he had focused everything on killing Grondal. If he had managed his energy properly, he wouldn’t have been cut so easily.

He ground his teeth together.

“You… back then too, you put on your little show with that wretched technique… and now you dare to wound my body…”

Even at that time, how much that technique had infuriated him.

He thought that he should have given up on Ilaniel and killed that bastard right then.

The choice he had dismissed and ignored had ended up coming back to haunt him now.

“Urgh…”

Ghislain slowly rose while clutching his side.

Even with preparation, the pain was excruciating. His magical energy had been greatly depleted.

But it was worth the price.

Ghislain pointed his sword at Rahmod and laughed.

“How is it? A little different from last time, isn’t it?”

“……”

Back when he’d encountered Rahmod in the Elven Forest, Ghislain had nearly exhausted all his magical energy.

But not this time. He had anticipated fighting the Prophet and conserved his power.

Ghislain flicked his sword and continued speaking.

“I told you back then.”

“……”

“I told you, didn’t I? Every bastard who came at me ended up dead. And for you… you could say today is exactly that day.”

“You… you bastard…”

‘By the way, this sword is really incredible. Even better than I imagined.’

Honestly, when facing an opponent as strong as Rahmod, whether it was a staff or a sword didn’t make much difference.

Weapons themselves didn’t hold much significance until both sides’ energies were exhausted anyway.

But this Gramdyr was a little different.

Its performance was so exceptional that it could inflict meaningful damage even on someone as powerful as Rahmod.

Of course, that was possible only because of Ghislain’s superb mana control and skill. Had anyone else wielded it, they wouldn’t have been able to draw out the sword’s full potential.

Ghislain took his stance. In response to his will, the sword began to resonate.

Rahmod’s face contorted with rage as he stepped forward.

“You alone can’t handle even me. And yet, right now, there’s another Prophet here besides me. Knowing that, you still dare to appear before us?”

Tagmah also unleashed a terrifying pressure. He was intent on tearing Ghislain to pieces in a single instant.

Ghislain let out a soft laugh and spoke.

“Who said I’m alone?”

“Not alone? Even if your companions come, you can’t stand against us.”

“If it’s with the King of the Dwarves, I think it’s worth a try.”

“That one right now…”

Rahmod trailed off mid-sentence and slowly turned his head. Tagmah did the same.

“G-Goddess…”

Deneb was exhaling divine power in a trembling voice toward Grondal, who lay collapsed.

Her divine power was weak. It was barely enough to heal minor wounds.

But when it came to expelling the energy of the Salvation Church that had burrowed into the body—

No one could drive it out more perfectly than she could.

Paaaah!

A dazzling light enveloped Grondal’s body. It was far more than what she should have been able to manifest on her own.

Even she couldn’t understand where this divine power was coming from.

Last time, she could say she had borrowed Lionel’s power, but now there was no one else around.

And yet, the light was there, and the healing was real.

It was a baffling situation, but she didn’t let it distract her. Right now, the only thing that mattered was restoring the Dwarf King.

“Kh…”

Letting out a short groan, Grondal sprang to his feet.

All his wounds had been healed, and the darkness that had burrowed into him, gnawing away at his strength, had vanished.

Though the energy he’d already spent hadn’t returned, the simple fact that his external injuries were gone and the darkness inside had disappeared was enough for him to fight again.

Seeing it, Ghislain cheered inwardly.

‘As expected! Against the energy of the Salvation Church, Deneb is their natural enemy.’

It had been something of a gamble, but Ghislain had believed Deneb would succeed again.

Because Deneb approached the Salvation Church’s power from a perspective different from that of ordinary priests. It was something akin to an enlightenment.

As expected, his faith had been beautifully rewarded. Deneb had erased the energy of the Salvation Church that had burrowed into Grondal’s body in an instant.

Ghislain smiled as he spoke.

“My faith has been repaid.”

Grondal, gripping his halberd once again, burst into loud laughter.

“Puhahahaha! The Goddess has granted us a miracle!”

He had truly thought he was as good as dead. The two Prophets were that strong.

But then, out of nowhere, a priestess had appeared, unleashing tremendous divine power to restore him. What else could this be but the Goddess’s grace?

And the man who had arrived alongside the priestess was remarkable as well.

Even if it had been an ambush, to wound those powerful Prophets!

His identity was obvious without the need for any explanation.

“The Julien Mercenary Corps! Are you Julien?”

Ghislain shook his head.

“It’s true I’m from the Julien Mercenary Corps, but my name is Astion.”

“I see! Well, regardless, you’re incredible! You showed up at the perfect time! Your skills are exceptional, and that weapon you’re carrying…”

Grondal paused for a moment, rubbing his eyes. That sword looked very familiar.

No matter how he looked at it, it was the most precious treasure in Valskrum. And the rightful owner of that weapon was none other than himself.

“Th-that’s Gramdyr? Why? Why is that in your hands?”

“I received it as fair payment.”

“I never gave it to you, though?”

Ghislain clicked his tongue lightly.

“There must be some complicated story behind it. But I’m not interested.”

“Well, I’d like to know.”

“Now’s not the time for this discussion. In any case, it’s mine for now, so let’s talk about it later.”

“F-fine. Let’s focus on killing those bastards first.”

Grondal rotated his shoulders with a grin. It would have been tough alone, but now things were different. The two of them could put up a real fight.

Rahmod and Tagmah fell silent for a moment. They had been on the verge of victory when these obstacles had appeared.

But they showed no sign of panic. It was as if they had anticipated something like this all along.

Tagmah fixed his gaze on Ghislain and spoke.

“You were right. That one, he’s the ‘Mage’ you mentioned?”

“Yes. He’s the same bastard who interfered before. He’s a mage, but also exceptionally skilled in combat.”

“I see. It certainly seems that way. His strength is enough to hinder our work.”

Tagmah turned his head again. His eyes settled on Deneb.

“And that priestess, is that the ‘miracle’ you spoke of?”

“That’s right.”

“I can’t fathom it. Her power is so feeble I can hardly feel anything. She’s no better than an insect.”

At those words, Deneb scratched her cheek awkwardly. She knew she was weak, but being compared to an insect still stung a bit.

In a chilling voice, Tagmah continued.

“Even so, for her to display such an ability… it seems… there is something unusual about her.”

Rahmod slowly nodded in agreement.

“At this point, she can be considered the most dangerous individual here. Even in the Elven Forest, it was that priestess who ruined everything.”

The energy of the Salvation Church was more akin to a curse that devoured an opponent’s strength and corroded their body.

That was why any who had been struck by their power became weaker, forced to fight while suppressing that curse.

Yet that priestess was erasing it as if it were nothing. No matter what priest was brought, none would be able to display such an ability.

Deneb was an exceedingly dangerous existence to the Salvation Church.

Tagmah’s gaze grew even colder.

“That priestess must be killed. She is something we cannot comprehend.”

“I agree. But first, we have to remove these interlopers.”

Rahmod fixed his glare on Ghislain.

Ghislain raised one corner of his mouth in a smirk.

“Is your little strategy meeting over?”

“…Insolent wretch. This time, you won’t get lucky and crawl away alive.”

Kwaaaaaang!

No sooner had he finished speaking than Rahmod charged at Ghislain like a storm. At the same moment, Tagmah lunged for Grondal.

Kwaang! Kwaang! Kwaaaaaang!

Tagmah and Grondal clashed in a furious brawl once more. Both were confident in their strength, and their styles were similar, which made their battle straightforward.

But Ghislain’s fight was completely different.

Pah!

Ghislain’s body scattered into the air again, disappearing.

Like a shadow. Like the mist. Like the wind.

Rahmod’s face twisted as he watched.

“That bastard again…”

It had been the same last time.

Ambushes, sudden strikes, unpredictable movements seeking out the smallest openings.

An irritating and vexing way of fighting.

But Rahmod still remained the stronger of the two. He immediately sensed the flow of air around him and unleashed a surge of power.

Paaaaang!

The air quaked as if the void itself split apart in an explosion. But Ghislain had already slipped away from that spot.

Rahmod turned his head at once.

Skk!

The sleeve of his robe was sliced open.

He thrust out his hand to release more power, but Ghislain was already dissolving into the space itself, vanishing from view.

Rahmod’s expression contorted.

‘Something’s different.’

He knew that last time Ghislain had been exhausted and unable to show his true skill.

But even so, this felt completely unlike before.

It was as if…

Skk!

Rahmod reflexively jerked his head back. The tip of the sword brushed his cheek, leaving only the faintest breeze behind.

It hadn’t left a wound. Enveloping his body in his power made harming him far from easy.

Yet Rahmod was astonished simply by the fact that he’d allowed several attacks to reach him.

Considering the difference in strength between them, it should have been nearly impossible.

‘Is he reading my movements right now?’

The thought was absurd.

Skills were not so easily discerned. They were things accumulated over long years and countless battles.

No matter how lacking in combat experience he might have been, even he had that much common sense.

And yet, the opponent’s sword flew toward him as though it were predicting his every move.

Rahmod raised his tension. He didn’t know what was going on, but he realized he couldn’t treat this opponent as the same man he’d faced before.

Kwaaaaang!

Ghislain’s sword clashed with Rahmod’s hand as he appeared again.

Rahmod scowled as Ghislain bared his teeth in a grin.

“It’s not so easy, is it?”

“You… how…”

“I actually prefer fighting by overpowering my enemies. It’s a bit regrettable but in this body, trying to match your strength head-on would be pointless.”

“So, you think you have a way to beat me without strength?”

Ghislain smirked.

“If strength were everything in battle, there’d never have been a need to invent technique.”

Kagagagak!

Ghislain’s sword moved in strange arcs, slicing across parts of Rahmod’s body.

Rahmod’s power was so overwhelming that the blows merely screeched like a blade scraping steel, without leaving wounds.

But even that had a meaningful effect. The more he blocked, the more his energy was steadily drained.

Kagagak!

Paaah!

Every time Rahmod attempted a counterattack, Ghislain vanished again, melting out of sight.

It was an exquisite, tormenting style of combat.

The longer they fought, the hotter Rahmod’s anger burned.

He was undoubtedly the stronger one. Anyone could see that.

And yet, he was being drawn again and again into the opponent’s dazzling techniques.

‘I must stay calm.’

No matter how brilliant a technique was, it was useless before overwhelming strength. That was what he believed.

Rahmod suppressed his fury and sharpened his focus.

In that instant, all his senses fused into one, and the fabric of the world came into view. Within that vision, he caught a faint but discordant presence.

‘Now.’

Kwaaaang!

“Guh…!”

With a single strike, Ghislain was knocked away, coughing blood.

But Rahmod couldn’t follow up. Before he could, Ghislain vanished into thin air again.

Rahmod clenched his teeth over and over.

He hadn’t been able to finish him when he was exhausted. At this rate, it was impossible to say when this battle would end.

And each time he allowed an attack through, it drained more of his energy than he’d expected.

Rahmod quietly gathered his power and sent it shooting into the sky. It was a kind of signal.

Kwaaaaang!

Once more, Ghislain’s sword collided with Rahmod’s hand as he emerged.

But Rahmod didn’t attempt another strike. Instead, he spoke.

“I knew you would interfere.”

“So what?”

Ghislain was well aware he’d overheard Rahmod’s conversation with Tagmah.

Rahmod twisted his mouth into a crooked smile.

“It means we made our own preparations.”

Drrrrrrrr!

Suddenly, the ground split as two streaks of darkness raced toward them.

The darkness shot upward, forming humanoid shapes.

One of them lunged at Ghislain from behind and shouted in a booming voice.

“You rat bastard! At last, I’ll be the one to kill you!”

The figure that appeared was Munaref, an Executor of the Salvation Church.

He had failed to kill Ghislain in the Elven Forest and had been seething with rage ever since.

With Munaref joining the battle, there was no way Ghislain could endure.

But Ghislain merely kept smiling as he faced Rahmod.

“Did you forget I belong to the ‘Julien Mercenary Corps’?”

At that moment.

A man charged in toward Munaref and swung his sword.

Kwaaaang!

The sudden impact halted Munaref’s advance.

“You…!”

Munaref’s eyes went wide in fury. A man he hadn’t even bothered to consider was now blocking his path.

The man, Julien, slowly raised his sword.

“I’ll be your opponent.”