Chapter 271
Chapter 271
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 271
Chapter Title: Chapter 6-3. Lust
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The blood spurting from the wrist slashed by Altemia did not scatter in all directions.
The vivid red blood gathered under the power of the Fragment, forming a ring like a planetary belt that swirled around Judah.
When countless spears and swords flew in, it multiplied in an instant, swelling up before bursting apart.
Puhwahahaha!
Blood droplets exploded in numbers too vast to count, like claymore mines, engulfing the incoming weapons.
The spears and swords flying toward him had narrow surfaces, so it seemed they might miss, but thanks to the tens of thousands of droplets bursting without gaps, the weapons were riddled with holes and clattered to the floor.
Along with the sight of them rolling like scrap metal, the blood droplets staining the ground red slithered back to Judah's side like snakes.
Susususuk!
Organ also manifested the power of the Starfish, as the scattered metal lumps like scrap melted into liquid and reformed into sharpened weapons.
A perfect war of attrition—yet Judah had no intention of dragging it out.
The blood gathered at Judah's side transformed back into a massive spear and shot straight toward Organ.
"!"
It was much faster than the time it took for her metal weapons to reshape, and her body flinched in surprise.
She had two choices: throw the spear in her hand to intercept it or swing it to block, or evade.
But she wouldn't evade.
Before she could act, while the attacks paused for a moment, Judah activated his next skill.
Its power wasn't overwhelming, but the barrage of weapons pouring from all sides was seriously annoying.
To attack her, he needed something to safely block for him, even briefly.
—Shadow Heresy Arts 9th Form
—Dancing Wraith Knight
Infused with the soul of the Spirit Sword's owner, it was armed differently from the wraith knights he had summoned before.
The wraith knight infused with the soul of Quake, the chieftain of the Red Bear Tribe he had defeated in the tribal nation of Rijzen, wielded a massive greatsword similar to Yakal.
Ort, the platinum-rank mercenary felled in the elven forest, held a single longsword and a shield.
Positioning the two wraith knights to his left and right, Judah shifted his gaze to Organ ahead when he saw the blood spear flying toward her explode, shooting out a single point of light.
'Javelin?'
It had to be a javelin.
Judah assumed a stance as he watched the spear tip approach amid flashing visual effects of light.
The battle hadn't dragged on long, but it was enough time for Yakal's [Power... stronger power...] to take effect to some degree.
With [Swordsmanship Correction] and [Light Transformation] applied on top, he could definitely deflect Organ's javelin.
As Judah's eyes precisely locked onto the Starfish's tip, he activated skills in succession.
—Shadow Sword Arts 3rd Form
—Single Point
—Shadow Heresy Arts 8th Form
—Punishment ? Execution Hound
Black mana coiled around Yakal, transforming it into a lance identical to the Starfish.
In the game, it used a fixed amount of mana, but in this world, the more mana invested, the greater the power.
Since he had just activated Heresy Arts, he left only 3-4% of his remaining mana and poured it all in.
Feeling Yakal grow heavy in his right hand, he thrust it forward.
The moment Judah swung to deflect the incoming javelin, a counter Heresy Art activated at Organ's feet, and a massive maw surged up.
Kuhwaaaah—!
The shadow-formed Heresy Art gaped its jaws like a living thing, roaring as it swallowed Organ.
It was nearly simultaneous, but he had no time to check her.
The instant his extended Yakal clashed with the Starfish, a fierce shock traveled up his arm.
"Kuh!"
His ears rang from the sound like a shell exploding.
His right arm suddenly lost strength, as if dislocated.
He nearly dropped Yakal, but strange mana flowed through his arm, forcibly restoring the dislocated shoulder.
Crunch—the grinding sound rang clearly.
Kwaa!
As recovery finished, he tried to charge at Organ, but she emerged unscathed, tearing through the shadow tendril.
The maw should have had jaws within jaws, shredding anything inside like a grinder, but her body bore not a single wound.
Precisely, it hadn't pierced the armor imbued with holy power she wore.
"……."
She shook off the shadow clumps on her hand and resummoned the Starfish rolling on the ground, emerging completely intact.
No words passed between them.
She raised her left hand, making incomprehensible gestures, and spears and swords flew in once more.
Leading with the two wraith knights infused with the Spirit Sword owner's soul, he advanced on her.
The wraith knights, prioritizing Judah's protection, displayed far better abilities than expected.
Not only did they precisely deflect incoming weapons at the perfect timing, they defended without falling behind.
For unnecessary attacks, they even leisurely phased into ethereal form to evade.
"They're no big deal...!"
Organ still had plenty of weapons left.
He had destroyed many so far, but unless he completely annihilated them, it was pointless.
As long as she possessed the Fragment Starfish, nothing would change as long as they retained the properties of metal.
Organ gathered some of her remaining weapons to her sides.
The armaments melted stickily, merging like clay.
Compressed as if squeezed by giant hands, they transformed into a sharp, elongated spear and shot toward Judah.
Dozens of spears and swords fused together.
Its mass was immense, even without direct clash—he could tell.
He dodged instead of meeting it head-on.
Kwaang—the explosive boom shook his vision from behind, but he didn't turn to confirm.
"Hup!"
Inhaling, he prepared to swing Yakal.
Organ, seeing Judah close in, pulled the Starfish to her chest and readied a thrust.
The conical spear blade began rotating like a drill.
Woo woo wooong!
Watching it, Judah used Valentina's [Mana Supply] skill to fully restore his depleted mana, then amplified the already boosted skill power further with [Mana Rampage].
The moment the distance closed, Judah used Heresy Arts 7th Form, Shadow Step.
"!"
In one step, Judah vanished from Organ's view, and the world flipped for him, revealing her back.
Experienced in battle, she pivoted on her right foot the instant she sensed his presence, thrusting her spear.
The fearsome rotating conical blade pierced Judah's airborne body without mercy, at tremendous speed.
But no scream came, nor the feel of flesh tearing.
The sight of him shredding on the spinning drill wasn't gruesome.
No blood sprayed; flesh melted into the air like snowflakes.
An illusion.
Realizing it, Organ's eyes widened beneath her helmet.
Before the illusion fully faded, several red daggers flew at her.
With the lance extended, she slammed it down with raw strength.
That simple motion deflected most of the daggers aiming for vitals, but one embedding in her left shoulder was unavoidable.
Pak!
The armor tempered and reinforced with holy power was pierced.
'Oh no!'
This dagger was also a Fragment.
And he recalled Judah's earlier self-inflicted wound to draw blood for attack.
Having a dagger lodged in her body was no good.
Twitch—the pain from the embedded dagger made Organ's eye twitch.
Strange mana flowed through the wound, forcibly sucking her blood.
More urgency than displeasure.
Fortunately, holy power blocked it, but if the dagger had struck after exhausting her holy power?
It wouldn't just drain blood—her blood might explode inside her.
Shivering at the thought, she tried to pull out the dagger, but Judah had closed in, leaving no time.
Judah, crouched low, slashed upward with his greatsword wrapped in black mana.
She thrust the lance to block.
So much mana poured in recklessly that Organ's body lifted off, pushed back.
"…!"
Grunting, she frowned at Judah pursuing with attacks.
The dagger in her shoulder was bothersome.
It wriggled like a living organism, desperately sucking the blood in her body.
Blocking Judah's attacks while retreating, she summoned holy power.
Scattered weapons around or attacking the wraith knights disassembled into thin petal-like leaves, flying toward Judah and Organ.
"Tch!"
Clicking his tongue, Judah fell back.
The iron leaves rotated around Organ, momentarily blocking his approach.
In that gap, Organ tried to pull the dagger from her left shoulder.
The moment she gripped it to yank free, her left arm exploded inside the armor with a pop.
"—!"
Even she, confident in enduring pain, couldn't suppress the involuntary groan.
She couldn't comprehend what happened.
Bones gone too, thick blood dripped from gaps in the limp armor sleeve.
The dagger in her shoulder vanished as if mocking her.
Crunch!
Organ gritted her teeth, feeling blood flow from her mouth back up her throat.
Her left arm was gone without trace, but she could recover.
For her, blessed by Holy King Metatron, such a wound was recoverable given time—not difficult at all.
Organ sensed the situation was dire.
She had expended too much holy power summoning the Holy King.
Otherwise, she could have crushed Judah with time to spare.
Countless iron leaves swirled around like a flooding river.
Organ took deep breaths, gathering her remaining holy power.
Fine.
Regrettable, but time for a tactical retreat.
She had to admit: impossible to beat an opponent with multiple Fragments in her current state.
She had never lacked holy power before, and defeats were rare enough to count on one hand, making this sting deeper.
Organ exhaled slowly, glaring past the whirring, rattling iron leaves.
Her gaze and voice wouldn't reach Judah.
"To leave behind one who blasphemed the Holy King... infuriating, but I'll be back soon."
With those words, she cast return magic.
The gathered holy power converted her body to light, vanishing through the ceiling hole punched for the Holy King's descent.
As she departed, the iron leaves lost power and fell like rain.
Judah stared at the ceiling with a dumbfounded look, like a dog that lost its chicken.
"What... the hell."
The light faded, leaving only darkness in his vision.