Chapter 805
The Regressed Mercenary's Machinations
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We Will Fight (2)
At Lionel's words, the Pope let out a derisive laugh.
"So you've truly lost your faith, bewitched by that witch."
"..."
"I can no longer sense even a trace of your divine power. Tell me, where has that radiant strength gone?"
"..."
"Even now, do you still claim that you are right and I am wrong? Can you truly say you have kept your faith, when you lost your divine power following the witch?"
"..."
When Lionel remained silent, the Pope slowly raised his hand and flicked his fingers.
"Go on, come at me as much as you like. One more insect won't change anything."
In truth, Lionel had effectively betrayed him, but the Pope wasn't concerned. He had already planned to kill Lionel once everything was over.
No, not just Lionel. Every key figure of the Julien Mercenary Corps who had stood by the false Saintess was marked for death.
That was why he had gone through the trouble of pointing them out one by one.
If they were left alive, the name of the false Saintess could continue to spread. All the key figures had to be killed so that no one would dare utter the title of Saintess aloud again.
Only then would his holiness remain unblemished.
"..."
After a brief silence, Lionel approached Deneb. Then, he knelt and attempted to place a kiss on the top of her foot.
"W-what are you doing?!"
Deneb, startled, pulled her foot back.
"..."
An awkward moment passed.
Lionel tightly shut his eyes, grabbed her ankle firmly, and pulled her closer.
He gently kissed the top of her foot, then rose to his feet and said,
"Saintess, from now on, my name exists solely for you. As your first servant."
Lionel turned his body and slowly raised his shield. His gaze was fixed solely on the Pope.
His vow echoed through the room, with everyone present serving as witness.
"My oath is firmer than stone, and my loyalty shall endure longer than the stars. Wherever your steps lead, I shall follow. Even if it is a path of thorns, I will carve the path with my blood."
As if releasing his final breath, Lionel spoke in a solemn voice.
"I shall live as your first servant… and die as your first servant."
Fwaaaash!
Suddenly, a blinding blue light burst forth from his shield.
Everyone around was taken aback. Lionel, who had never reached the realm of the Transcendent, had ascended in an instant.
But only Ghislain smiled, as if he had known this would happen all along.
'Took him long enough.'
In truth, Lionel had long possessed the ability to reach the realm of the Transcendent.
Through rigorous training, he had acquired more than enough mana, and under Ghislain's guidance, his technique had matured to perfection.
On top of that, he had accumulated ample life-or-death combat experience.
'The problem was his heart.'
One could only ascend to the realm of the Transcendent by establishing their own inner world.
Lionel, torn between the Pope and the Saintess, had been unable to resolve his inner conflict until now.
But after witnessing the Pope's behavior, Lionel had finally made his choice.
He would protect and follow the Saintess.
For a priest, faith was the foundation for establishing their inner world and ascending to transcendence.
Though Lionel had lost his divine power, his world was still built upon his faith.
And having resolved to protect the true emissary of the Goddess—
He was finally able to step into the realm of the Transcendent.
Boom!
Lionel took a step forward and gripped his shield tightly.
"Until you break through me, you won't lay a finger on even the hem of the Saintess's robe."
"You wretch…"
A violent surge of energy erupted from the Pope.
The Church did not recognize anyone as a Saintess.
But now, a once-promising temple knight had sworn himself to a Saintess and awakened as a Transcendent.
If it were mere betrayal, he could simply be executed.
But swearing loyalty to a Saintess and ascending in the process changed everything.
It could be perceived as if the Pope were wrong, and the Saintess right.
Rumble…
An overwhelming energy gathered in one of the Pope's hands.
That noble power called divine energy began to seethe with destructive malice.
His chilling voice pierced the ears of all present.
"Today… you shall receive divine punishment."
Boom!
The Pope's body shot toward Lionel in an instant.
He fully intended to kill Lionel first, then strike down Deneb behind him.
But Lionel didn't evade.
Instead, he gritted his teeth and poured every ounce of strength into his shield.
KRAAA-KA-BOOOOM!
A tremendous shockwave rippled out in all directions.
The force of the blow was so intense that everyone was pushed back without thinking.
And yet…
"Gah!"
Even as he coughed up blood, Lionel endured.
A deep trench had been carved beneath his feet.
He had not moved an inch. He refused to dodge.
All his strength had gone into blocking the Pope's attack, solely to protect Deneb.
With a bloody smile, Lionel spoke,
"How about it? Am I not worthy enough to serve as the Saintess's servant?"
Flames of fury blazed in the Pope's eyes.
To think someone would dare protect that witch and withstand his attack!
He raised his hand, aiming to crush Lionel's skull in a single blow—
But at that moment—
KAAAAANG!
Ghislain's spear shot toward the Pope's head like a flash of lightning. The Pope barely managed to jerk his head back in time to evade it.
Before he could counterattack, this time Julien and Kyle's swords came slashing toward both his arms.
Forced to retreat, the Pope had no choice but to step back. But Julien and Kyle hounded him relentlessly, targeting his limbs with precision.
They were clearly aiming to incapacitate him completely.
As the Pope repeatedly backed away, his steps finally came to a halt.
Fwaaash!
Dozens of daggers suddenly materialized behind him.
Marika's flying daggers moved with a will of their own, closing in around the Pope in a razor-sharp encirclement.
And from above, the spirits summoned by Ereneth descended with overwhelming force.
It was a situation so perilous, even a Transcendent could very well meet their end.
Just then, the Pope lunged forward once more.
Julien and Kyle swung their swords at the approaching Pope, but the moment he thrust out both hands, a radiant wall of light stopped them in their tracks.
Clang! Clang!
Their blades were blocked by the barrier of light. At the same time, the Pope clenched his fists tightly.
KRAAA-KA-BOOM!
The wall of light exploded, and both Julien and Kyle were blasted backward by the force.
Next, the Pope attempted to deal with the oncoming daggers behind him, but he couldn't move as planned.
KWA-BOOOOM!
Ghislain's spear, having found the perfect opening, was already aiming for his body.
Thud!
The Pope's body was instantly wrapped in a radiant glow of divine power. Ghislain's spear was deflected without piercing it.
Clang-clang-clang-clang!
Marika's daggers flew in immediately after, all striking the Pope's body but not a single one left a mark.
His defense was monstrous, to say the least.
But the Pope found himself just as troubled.
'The Julien Mercenary Corps… impressive.'
He had assumed they would be easy to kill, but they were far stronger than expected. Dealing with them would clearly take time.
So the Pope changed his approach.
'I'll kill the false Saintess first.'
That would strip the Julien Mercenary Corps of any justification for possessing the Sacred Stone. After that, he could take them out one by one.
The Pope ignored all other attacks. He surged forward again, his sole target now Deneb.
Boom!
As the Pope closed the distance in an instant, Lionel grit his teeth.
The Pope's power was immense. Even as a Transcendent, Lionel struggled to withstand a single attack.
And yet, he did not move aside. Even if it cost him his life, he had to protect Deneb.
She was the one and only light capable of saving this darkened world.
"Repent with death."
The Pope reached out with his hand. His speed was so incredible that not even Ghislain or the others could intervene in time.
Only the Earth Spirit summoned by Ereneth managed to barely erect a massive wall in the way.
KRAAA-BOOOOM!
The Pope pierced through the wall in an instant, but for a brief moment, it succeeded in slowing his advance.
At that moment, Deneb's radiant voice rang out.
"Goddess, descend upon us and wash away all despair. Envelop us in the eternal blessing of your light."
Fwaaaaash!
A barrier of light, identical to the one the Pope had created, unfurled from Lionel's shield.
It was a light identical to the Pope's—no, it felt even more exalted.
Light clashed against light.
KRAAAAA-BOOOOOM!
"Ghhhk!"
The ground beneath Lionel's feet cracked, and his body was violently pushed back.
But thanks to Deneb's divine power, he managed to withstand the Pope's fierce attack unharmed.
Her divine power wasn't directed solely at Lionel. It flowed into everyone fighting the Pope.
Ghislain's spear, Julien and Kyle's swords, Ereneth's summoned spirits, and Marika's daggers—all simultaneously targeted the Pope.
K-KRASH! KRASH! KRASH! KRASH!
The divine light shielding the Pope erupted over and over again, and explosive sounds tore through the air.
Yet the Pope remained unscathed. His divine power nullified every strike, and the shockwaves instead rebounded, sweeping across the battlefield.
BOOM!
Everyone was flung backward, unable to withstand the force.
"Tch."
Ghislain spat out the blood in his mouth and tightened his grip on his spear.
'Stronger than I expected.'
The Pope wasn't just overflowing with divine power.
From his movements, it was clear he had received proper training in martial arts. His technique alone was on par with a Transcendent.
However, their side had greater skill and refinement in technique. The only reason their attacks weren't landing was the Pope's overwhelming divine power.
'We have to keep forcing him to expend his strength.'
If they continued the assault, the Pope would eventually tire and leave an opening.
Moreover, his obsession was solely fixed on Deneb. From his perspective, eliminating her would resolve everything.
So this focus on Deneb presented a precious opportunity—one they could not afford to miss.
"Don't let up—keep attacking!"
At Ghislain's shout, everyone charged at the Pope once more.
Boom! Clang! CRASH!
The attacks of the Transcendents rained down on the Pope without pause.
Even the Pope, who had focused solely on Deneb, now seemed burdened by the drain on his power and began dodging more frequently.
The more he dodged, the more chaotic his movements became. He looked almost desperate, as if something were chasing him.
Seeing that, Ghislain smiled inwardly.
'Good, he's starting to waver.'
The Pope's power was truly overwhelming—far beyond even the Prophets of the Salvation Church.
And his martial prowess was nothing to scoff at either. He was more than capable of standing toe-to-toe with the warriors present.
But even such a Pope, Ghislain believed, must have a weakness.
'He must have no real combat experience.'
A man who sat upon the supreme throne of the Papacy—there was no way someone like him had ever experienced real combat.
Even when assessing his own strength, he had likely gauged it by comparing his aura to that of those around him.
His decision to confront the Julien Mercenary Corps must have come from that same flawed logic—measuring only the quantity of energy and assuming he'd easily triumph.
But look now.
The Pope was failing to respond to the variables that emerged in real battle, showing the same rigid behavior over and over again.
There was no way those present hadn't noticed this. At the very least, all of them had more battlefield experience than the Pope.
BOOM! CRASH! CRACK!
Ghislain and the others struck and withdrew with masterful timing.
For the Julien Mercenary Corps—veterans of countless battles—coordinated attacks were second nature.
Their incredible synergy left the Pope unable to respond effectively.
Still, the Pope kept his focus solely on Deneb.
But the more he did, the more attacks he had to endure and the more of his strength he had to expend.
The group had left Deneb's protection entirely to Lionel now.
He had more than enough power to shield her.
BOOM!
Occasionally, someone would be struck by one of the Pope's attacks and sent flying but each time, they would spring right back up and charge in again.
Thanks to Deneb's blessings, they could withstand the blows.
Even the accumulated damage was steadily being healed.
Watching the battle unfold, Ilaniel and Grondal couldn't help but voice their awe.
"They've gotten even stronger since the last time I saw them."
"Unbelievable. Just a few years, and they've reached that level?"
Their individual skills were remarkable, but the group coordination was nothing short of artistry.
If it weren't for the Pope's overwhelming defense, the battle would have been over long ago.
They weren't the only ones impressed.
Everyone watching felt a sense of awe at the strength of both the Julien Mercenary Corps and the Pope.
But even with such power, the Pope still couldn't approach Deneb with ease.
Even when he managed to close in and strike, Lionel's life-risking defense blocked him every time.
BOOM! BOOM! CRASH!
As the battle dragged on, the light in the Pope's eyes began to waver.
And then came the anxiety.
'…This is dangerous.'
The reason the Pope couldn't fight calmly wasn't just due to his lack of combat experience.
The truth was, he was in an unstable state.
That was why he had tried to end it quickly by targeting Deneb from the start.
But his attacks were barely being blocked.
The Julien Mercenary Corps was far more formidable than he had anticipated, and their coordinated strikes were precise.
'…My energy is being drained continuously.'
That was terrifying for the Pope—not because he feared becoming weaker.
But because something suppressed by his divine power…
was beginning to awaken.
[$*#^%^@#$@#… one… of them… %$#*@]
The voice echoing in his mind was growing clearer and clearer.