329. Abduction (3)
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The void where the three academies meet is a place where the climate constantly changes, befitting its infamous reputation.
Just 10 minutes ago, it was raining, and now it’s suddenly snowing.
“…It’s really an unpleasant place.”
Elijah, looking around, said with a frown.
“It feels like the ecosystem is completely disconnected from nature in a place like this.”
Indeed, it really is.
Not only is the landscape entirely composed of shades of gray, like a drained watercolor, but in some areas, even the laws of physics and ecosystems are completely disrupted.
Rabbits hunting predators, plants speaking, objects falling from bottom to top.
It seems like the laws of the original natural order have been twisted, mashed, and reshaped at will.
“…In the Holy Kingdom, they call it the Sacred Territory.”
Lucien mentioned that while looking at the huge boundary of the celestial barrier spread out before him.
However, the undertone in his voice is almost akin to disgust.
“It’s a dreadful place.”
Although it might be deemed highly disrespectful for a saint to describe a sacred place in such a way, anyone witnessing such a scene would likely react similarly.
Even more astonishing is the fact that there is a group of lunatics with an entire fortress near such a place.
“They’re devil worshippers.”
Eliya opened her mouth with a face full of impressions.
“I guess real devils do enjoy such creepy places. To build and live in a place like this…”
With every word, a feeling of hostility, as if the skin were tearing apart, permeates the air.
In the first place, her family perished because of the devil worshippers during the night, burning down and massacring the entire village where she lived. There’s no room for positive emotions.
“For something like this, it doesn’t seem well-managed, though.”
Taking those words as they are, Riru looked at the fortress in front of her.
Certainly, the signs of poor maintenance are strongly evident. From one to ten, everything appears worn out, rusty, and broken, demonstrating that no human hands have touched it.
“Don’t let your guard down. No one knows what might be prepared.”
Eleanor said this with a slightly closed eyes.
And as soon as those words were heard, the people around simultaneously displayed subtle expressions on their faces.
In the first place, due to the woman coming all the way here a month in advance, ignoring Toker’s instructions to prepare by tomorrow, everyone followed suit. There might not be many people who are dissatisfied with the situation itself, but the anger dripping from each word in the current context silenced even them.
I will kill.
No matter who the opponent is, when I meet them, I will tear them apart and kill them.
Such determination is palpable even through the eardrums alone.
“Yes, as the Lady says, let’s not lower our guard-“
And probably, before Uriah’s carefully worded sentence could continue, the situation that unfolded confirmed those sentiments.
While Uriah was subtly emphasizing the need to proceed cautiously, Eleanor, who had approached the main gate of the fortress, raised her foot without saying a word.
“Hey, what are you doing right now-“
Before someone could ask such a question, Eleanor’s kick hit the fortress gate head-on.
-!
-!!
-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And just that, like a collision of a siege engine, the shockwaves spread in all directions.
With a level of physical force that is unreasonable for a human to casually unleash, the fortress gate shattered into splinters, scattering in all directions.
“…”
“…”
No.
Just a moment ago, she had cautioned to be careful.
While everyone looked at Elnor with a expression reflecting such thoughts, Elnor, in a gesture indicating that if she had any complaints, she should voice them, narrowed her eyes.
“Something.”
“…”
“Daud might get into trouble. Right now, we should be-“
“…” Yes. Well. I agree.
If she kept it that way, someone seemed to sympathize with the intention to draw a sword at those who wouldn’t follow her.
Soon, Elnor turned around with a snort.
Walking steadily into the fortress, Elnor, after surveying the surroundings, frowned.
“-Unpleasant.”
The words spoken were only from Elnor, but everyone present would likely express similar sentiments.
The place itself was infused with a sensibility that instinctively provoked their disgust.
Unable to be clearly described in words, it was a structure meticulously designed from one to ten to evoke such revulsion, a structure with obsessive-compulsive features.
And.
As soon as the vessels entered the fortress, the phenomenon that occurred clearly revealed those sentiments.
-!
-!!!
“-What?”
“-Wait.”
“Restraint formation?!”
Not with a lethal intent, but a more than effective spell for restraining the target’s body was immediately activated.
Even those with magic found their bodies momentarily suppressed by such intensity and effect.
Evil was sensed.
To humans harboring the devil, the greatest evil in the world, it might be a somewhat strange sensation, but everyone present undoubtedly recalled such feelings.
Want to harm. Want to kill. Want to annihilate.
Exclusively for herself, the intoxicants filled with such things poured from all directions.
Without a chance to extract magic, everyone’s knees knelt.
“-Tsk.”
And.
If such a situation arises, there is only one person who can overcome it.
Elijah withdrew the holy sword, clicking her tongue.
“-Not pleased.”
While I anticipated this when she first invited me, it feels like I’ve prepared and waited for everything from one to ten.
Creating a situation that can never be overcome unless it’s her is the first step.
“Go away.”
Piercing a hole in the barrier made of the holy sword, Elijah guides all the vessels of the demons with the gold thus formed.
Perhaps, at most, it will be a delay tactic. Considering the toxicity and power of the holy sword, it should be quickly restored.
So, the ‘origin’ itself must be destroyed.
“-What did you say?”
“I’ll definitely come to find you later!”
With a defiant expression, Elijah, who spoke to the demon vessels, swung the holy sword down to the ground.
The holy sword has the nature of nullifying everything regardless of the target’s level and strength of the holy sword. Just this should be enough to suppress.
However, if the barrier is erased, there will inevitably be a rebound. Especially if it’s a barrier strong enough to overwhelm even the demons.
As Elijah swung down the holy sword, a spiderweb-like crack started to spread from where the barrier was erased.
The collapse of the thick foundation began immediately.
Naturally, Elijah, who was standing on top of it, fell deep into the underground along with it.
“Wait a moment. Miss!”
“Teacher, please make sure to rescue her!”
With such words,
Elijah disappeared into the seemingly endless underground.
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“-Ah-ah-“
Elijah frowned, looking at the ceiling.
I don’t know how far I’ve fallen.
Considering the level of light falling, it seems like it’s almost been 10 minutes.
‘… I can’t even climb up.’
Thinking so, Elijah let out a deep sigh.
Of course, she could climb up somehow if she tried, but it’s also risky to waste too much energy when she doesn’t even know what threats lurk in her surroundings in the first place.
Her combat style primarily involves using the Holy Sword to drastically reduce the base of others and then finishing them off with her decent specs. It’s impossible to deliver a proper blow unless the basic stamina is completely depleted.
“So.”
Eliya swept her bangs aside, summarizing the situation.
Anyway, since she triggered the trap and fell, everyone else must have moved forward.
It’s not the most favorable situation, but at least it doesn’t mean the worst.
Anyway, the reason she came all this way is solely to save Dowd. Once that’s achieved, the rest doesn’t matter.
“…Hmm.”
However, apart from that.
The issue at hand is what to do in this current location.
Initially, it’s too dark to see anything. She’ll have to wait until her vision adapts to the dim light.
So, she tried to stand still for a moment.
“Hello.”
Until she heard someone call her.
In an instant, the Holy Sword was drawn from its sheath, and Eliya assumed a combat stance.
“Is this the first time you’re trying to talk directly?”
However,
The moment she heard that voice,
Eliya’s body stiffened.
“…-“
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Upon hearing those words, something instinctual made her body tense up.
The light of the Holy Sword also began to flicker erratically around her. It might be a natural reaction following Eliya’s mental turbulence, but the Archangel inside the Holy Sword also seemed to sense something beyond that.
Now, before her eyes, there was an anomaly. A being that should never exist in this world.
Feeling that sensation throughout her body, a whimper-like voice escaped her.
“…You.”
Eliya, feeling the front of her head starting to go numb almost involuntarily, opened her mouth.
“Who the hell are you?”
“I have something to talk about. I wanted to see you face-to-face to discuss it.”
“…”
“Hello, my past self.”
With those words.
“Do you still hate demons?”
Seon Gakja smiled.
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