The Holy Kingdom (1)
A sphere of light hurtled toward Kim Sung-tae, streaking through the air like a fastball hurled by a pro baseball pitcher. It blazed as brightly as the sun.
But the sphere never reached Sung-tae. Garba, cloaked in mana, sliced it clean in two.
"How dare you try to harm my lord!"
The bisected orb plummeted into the forest—yet it didn't scorch a single leaf or branch, as if targeting only the Demon King. It crumbled to dust and returned to the mysterious knight.
The knight folded his wings and landed, his face aflame with righteous fury.
"Do you even know where you are?!"
"Uh, I think there's a misunderstanding. I'm not Ignis."
"You lie so brazenly! Do you think I, Rubert, will fall for such nonsense?!"
The knight of light, Rubert, aimed his blade at Sung-tae. The tip trembled with barely contained bloodlust, itching to impale him on the spot.
"Are you... a hero, by any chance?"
"Grr! You vile Demon King! Don't play dumb with me. Others might buy it, but..."
Rubert spread his wings wide once more and charged at Sung-tae.
"I haven't forgotten you! This time, we'll settle it for good!"
Is this guy connected to Ignis somehow?
Sung-tae's guess hit the mark. The hero barreling toward him glared at the black armor with seething hatred, his rage boiling over.
At last, we meet again. Time to right the wrongs of the past!
Rubert was a hero from the Saint Country. Like many others, he'd been an ordinary aspirant holy knight who suddenly gained power. After awakening as a hero, he'd roamed the continent hunting the Demon King.
But his awakening came too late. The Demon Kings had already gone into hiding, evading heroes. Half-resigned to failure after endless searching, Rubert had nearly given up.
[Kneel before me, humans!]
Then he found one. That Demon King was Ignis.
Familiar with other heroes' tales, he figured he'd dispatch the Demon King easily. But Ignis was different.
[Demon King! Don't run!]
Unlike those who chose death over fleeing from humans, Ignis bolted. Rubert knew of such cowards before, but unprepared, he could only watch Ignis escape.
Afterward, messengers from his homeland, the Saint Country Barnessa, begged him to protect the Saintess as her guard.
[I have to defeat the Demon King...]
His hatred for the Demon King gripped him like a sacred duty. Yet his lifelong faith and the mission to safeguard the Saintess warred within. Seeing Sung-tae in Ignis's armor fused those into pure enmity.
This is heaven's chance to shake off my last regrets!
Though honored to serve the Saintess, his heart yearned for the Demon King. He knew instinctively this torment wouldn't end without slaying him.
And now Ignis had come to him. Gripping his sword tighter, Rubert vowed not to let this slip.
"Receive divine judgment!"
"The one who needs judgment is you."
"!?"
A chill of deadly mana raced up Rubert's spine. He flared his wings and soared skyward, dodging just in time. The ground where he'd stood erupted in a deep gash, kicking up dirt like a savage beast's claw mark.
Spotting the copper-skinned woman responsible, Rubert glared ferociously. As a hero, he sensed her true nature amid the black mana.
"A werewolf. One of the Demon King's minions, eh? If you're in my way, I'll cut you down first."
"The one who needs cutting is you, daring to point your blade at my lord!"
Black mana cascaded from Garba like a waterfall, coalescing into wings on her back.
It works. Handling mana feels easier than before. Thanks to all that special training?
"Prepare yourself, hero!"
The woman with black wings. The hero with white ones. They looked like an angel battling a devil.
Sung-tae, arms crossed and spectating, marveled at Garba's growth.
"What kind of training did she even do?"
He had no idea she'd drunk his life force. A single drop equaled hundreds of humans. What happens when someone else consumes it?
You've heard the stories: a mother lifting a car to save her child; someone burning their hand on a cold stove, convinced it was hot; a hypochondriac cured by placebo vitamins; a terminal patient beating the odds through sheer willpower and self-delusion.
I'm getting stronger. Holding my own against a hero!
All miracles born from life force etched deep in the soul. The power to manifest them, limited to oneself. That was life force's true essence.
I'm strong!
After sipping Sung-tae's potent life force, Garba trained relentlessly. Her desperate wish reached it, and in response, it fortified her body.
"What are you? A new Demon King?"
"No Demon King. I'm my lord's servant, sworn to serve him eternally!"
"Incredible. N-no way the angel's losing, right?"
As Sung-tae predicted, the entire Saint Country witnessed Rubert and Garba's clash. Two shooting stars dueling in the sky—who could miss it?
Too fast to follow, residents chased the trailing lights like meteors.
True to their faith, they rooted for the white light, associating it with good.
"That black one's a Demon King, huh?"
"Gotta be. Who else fights a hero like that?"
"Maybe an angel, not a hero? Devil versus angel?"
"Could be. White's on our side anyway."
Crowds even outside the city gawked, entranced.
Then, sensing someone approach, they parted like the Red Sea, kneeling in prayer.
"Lord, bless us."
"Bless us."
A white carriage rolled out, artistic yet humble, majestic yet simple—untouchable to commoners.
"That's the spot. Hurry, before Rubert offends them."
A woman's voice leaked from within. She'd seen the battle and headed there.
The white carriage raced toward the lights—straight to Kim Sung-tae.
Huff. Huff.
Rubert wondered when he'd last been this exhausted, breath reeking of blood.
Before awakening as a hero? Back as a holy knight aspirant?
No time to reminisce—black light hurtled at him.
Did the Demon Kings form an alliance?
Just a werewolf. Strong, sure, but he was a hero. She shouldn't match him.
Incredible for a minion. He'd have slain Ignis if not for the escape; now he suspected Garba was a new, mighty Demon King.
Damn. And Ignis is targeting me.
Dodging, he glanced at Sung-tae, tense and ready to join—murderous intent radiating.
No longer one-on-one; now one-versus-two with ambushes. Rubert tired physically and mentally.
They're dangerous. Must eliminate them!
It started to purge regrets, but now it was for the Saint Country. If this stronger Ignis and Garba invaded, it'd fall. Priests and knights weren't enough—a hero like him had to handle it.
Burning with duty, Rubert gritted his teeth.
I'll protect it. No matter what!
Especially with that precious person there.
Even if it costs my life!
Even over his hero's mission. Recalling her, he surged with power. His form blazed like a supernova on the verge, merging holy power and hero strength.
A holy knight hero's technique: hero-enhanced body and mana amplified by divinity. He could slay multiple Demon Kings—even at the cost of his life.
Against these unprecedented foes, he pushed further. His body at its limit, more meant death—but he didn't care.
That power's dangerous.
Garba halted. They'd been even, but approaching now meant defeat—no, death.
Can't control my true form yet, but no choice.
Post-training, she'd tested her original shape: uncontrollable power and speed. Long in human form dulled her instincts.
Uncontrolled strength creates openings. Against this empowered hero? Fatal.
But to protect my lord!
Warriors fear not death. Garba steeled herself to transform—
"Everyone, please stop fighting."
The voice echoed from high above, halting them. Garba ignored it, but Rubert released his power and looked.
"Lord Rubert, these are not our enemies."
It came from the white carriage speeding from the city.
Sung-tae and Garba turned too.
"Why stop me?"
Back to normal, Rubert sounded aggrieved—no fight left. Faith stronger than hero duty, from her of all people.
"Saintess!"
Saintess!?
Sung-tae eyed the carriage eagerly at the word.
The door opened. A woman descended gracefully.
A real saintess!
Her pious poise, flowing white robes, sky-blue eyes. Her holy aura would earn worship even on Earth.
"So you were here."
"Huh? Me?"
She bowed to Sung-tae reverently.
"Saintess Aria greets the incarnation of Bryunak."
An awkward silence filled the carriage. Rubert sat protectively by the Saintess; Sung-tae and Garba opposite, eyes locking constantly.
"......"
Their piercing glares screamed imminent violence.
They're gonna fight any second.
Rubert's hand hovered on his sword, ready to behead any suspicious move. Garba twitched, poised to strike.
To break the tension, Sung-tae addressed the Saintess.
"Got a question. Why do you think I'm Bryunak's incarnation?"
"Yes, O Lord."
"Why me, specifically?"
Aria met his gaze steadily. Beautiful, yet no lust—her clear, unwavering eyes held nature's sacred beauty, not human allure.
"When you first appeared, I felt it. That radiant life force. It's still blinding."
"Life force......"
Saintesses saw others' life force clearly—not from experience like Gepelt, but innate power.
Truly divine. Ah, O Lord.
When Sung-tae's group first entered the forest, Aria in the temple saw the sky drown in gold.
So ecstatic and beautiful—perhaps heaven descending?
This one is surely the incarnation.
The carriage brimmed with golden waves, enough to flood the world. No human could possess such.
She'd seen many, but never this volume or purity.
The Lord incarnated for us.
An incarnation surely bore a message. She yearned to learn at his side.
Rubert glanced at Sung-tae too.
Really not Ignis? The Saintess's incarnation!?
As a holy knight, he sensed life force too. Black armor reeked of Ignis, but overwhelming radiant life force eclipsed it. Close up, no disguise.
"Tch."
He clenched his fist. Faith said foe no more; hero urged kill. Holy knight versus hero—inner war raged.
"O Lord, why have you incarnated?"
"Got a favor to ask. Take a look at this."
Sung-tae offered the World Tree bow. Aria and Rubert gasped in awe.
Blinding life force shone from it. Sung-tae's pulsed with earth and world; this felt holier, nobler.
The difference was stark, fading—only she noticed—but they weren't fools to undervalue beauty.
"It's a bow holding the World Tree's soul."
"World Tree!?"
"Ah! Of course... such beautiful light..."
They stared, stunned. The World Tree—god of the once-thriving high elves. Its forest's fall fueled theories, majority blaming the Tree's death.
"This is the World Tree..."
Aria caressed it gently. Tears flowed at its noble glow.
Sung-tae, weak to women's tears, froze mid-request.
Damn. Why's she crying now?
"So... beautiful."
She understood his intent. The merciful god returned the lost Tree to elves.
Truly compassionate.
Bryunak the One God—worshipped only by humans, not all, plus temple folk and few others. Atheists mocked not, healed by holy power.
Made a new World Tree for elves.
Humans divided; other races worse. Elves recognized no god but the Tree. Fetching it for them...
Like Bryunak's spear. Reborn the elves' symbol— the bow.
Recalling the temple's divine spear, symbol of Bryunak, she wept anew, hugging the bow.
"Incarnation, Saintess Aria vows to rebuild the World Tree per your will."