Chapter 239
Chapter 239
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 239
Chapter Title: Crusaders
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-Crunch!
A paladin soared into the sky.
It was a true Flying Crusader. Or maybe Holy Birdman was a more straightforward way to put it. Either way, the paladin arced through the vast open sky.
Of course, it wasn't by choice.
He'd been sent flying by a monster's strike.
"Wh-what the fuck! That guy! Catch that flying bastard quick!"
In a panic, I pooled my strength with the people around me to catch the incoming paladin. The guys next to me were just as freaked out, instinctively thrusting out their arms at my shout.
-Boom!
At least 100 kilos of weight!
The flying paladin crashed into us!
"Ngh!"
"Argh!"
"Grraaah!"
-Thud crash!
Five grown men collapsed in an instant, sprawling on the ground. But we'd managed to catch the paladin. Somehow.
"Urgh... Paladin! You okay?!"
"Nngh...! Thanks! This is nothing!"
Luckily no fatal wounds—he was a paladin from the Radiant Cross Society. He stood up, cast a self-heal, and charged back to the front lines. Right where the monsters were rampaging.
-Queeeee!
-Kraaaaa!
It was already hell over there.
"Smite the heathen beasts—!!!"
Sera bellowed thunderously as she stabbed her sword into a monster's crown.
There were dozens of those twisted, over-three-meter-tall monsters—at least that's how it felt. No way to count exactly, of course.
Just endless swarms of pitch-black horrors crawling over everything.
And the only ones facing them: the paladins.
-Brwooooo!!
A mythic clash.
The mighty paladins were pressed right up against the monsters, fighting desperately. But the sheer mass difference was too much—they couldn't land effective hits.
Beings that overpowered even paladins who could snap stockades with shoulder strikes!
And above all, that writhing black aura!
That was empowering the monsters!
-Pbfst!
Holy spells and radiant glories flashed, trying to drive back the darkness. But the monsters were too strong. Holy warriors from the Radiant Cross Society climbed their bodies, gouging eyes and jamming skewers into ear holes, yet the beasts wouldn't fall.
Instead, they grabbed the warriors and slammed them into the ground.
"N-no way! The paladins are getting pushed back!"
"This can't be happening!"
"This isn't real!!!"
People panicked at the sight of the monsters, babbling nonsense as they tried to flee. The beasts spread overwhelming terror.
"O-ohhh...!!! Monsters!"
True monsters!
Paladins leaped high using leg strength, raining light as they shredded the monsters' upper bodies. Repeated strikes started felling them. Fallen monsters scattered into black dust and vanished forever.
-Kreaaagh!
But the paladins kept getting knocked out of the fight one by one. It was a deadlock, and ordinary folk who weren't superhumans could do nothing against the monsters.
"We just have to sit here and watch?!"
"Damn it!"
That was when the soldiers roared in frustration.
-Thud thud thud thud!
-Thud thud thud thud!
-Thud thud thud thud!
New enemies charged from afar!
"Wh-what?!"
They were Black Men!
Actual black people!
"Why are black folks...!"
Their bodies were pitch-black, like they'd been filled with pure darkness! An unpleasant tar-like hue...! Black skin isn't that black naturally! These bastards were vilely mimicking the exaggerated portrayals from the media!
The nerve!
"You mocking the black souls who died in sugarcane fields?!"
Fueled by transcendent rage, I gripped my blade with maximum killing intent! Unforgivable! You racists!
Black folks who died in sugarcane fields aren't punchlines!
"What makes you any different from the KKK, you fucking shitstains—!!!!"
-Kieeeek!!
I let out a battle cry!
If those pitch-black bastards latched onto the paladins, it'd turn the tide against us! The paladins were already struggling just with the monsters!
We had to block their approach somehow!
"Soldiers, hold them back!"
"Hold!"
"Hold!"
"Hold!"
The soldier commander must've realized it too—orders flew immediately. Soldiers thrust spear tips forward, forming a wall of blades. Adventurers moved to guard their flanks and rear.
-Thud thud thud thud thud!!
The dark men charged, kicking up black dust, sharp swords and spears in hand... Too fast! Not normal humans—they had to be blessed by evil gods too!
Each one a formidable fighter!
But compared to our organized army, they were charging in disorganized waves. Our phalanx formation wouldn't buckle easily.
Anyone strong enough to smash through wouldn't do it at that speed. If we could track them visually, we could handle it!
"Gotta protect the darkie."
"Even if I die, you survive no matter what! Cloudie!"
"Sis is gone."
Winia finished chanting and hurled a fireball.
The arcing blaze incinerated the vile black men charging beyond the soldiers. They writhed in eerie screams, rolling on the ground... With skin that black, who could tell if they were burning or not!
Such cowards!
But the attacks worked!
-Pffft!
Still, the survivors kept coming.
"Hold—!!"
The soldiers bellowed fiercely,
-Boom!
and the black men slammed head-on into the phalanx! Black blood sprayed amid screams and war cries! The formation held! We could stop them!
-Kuaaa!
But not all crashed into the phalanx.
-Jump!
Some monster-like ones leaped right over, landing amid soldiers or sailing straight to us adventurers.
They'd flanked the phalanx soldiers!
We had to clean them up before they hit the soldiers!
"Gang up, righteous heroes! We gotta smash these fuckers!"
I shouted.
A handful had jumped over—not even ten!
With numbers on our side, we could win!
-Kieeeek!!
I screamed to draw aggro and charged the fallen black men, blade first. The others regained courage and rushed with me for the beatdown.
"Raaah!"
"Kill the heretics!"
"We can win! They're outnumbered!"
Feeling transcendent camaraderie, I closed in fast. He gripped a saw-toothed blade in a murderous stance. I raised my sword, accelerated, slid forward,
-Slash!
and swung down hard.
-Boom!
The black man blocked with his sawblade.
"You shit dare block my attack?!"
Just a feint. I shoved my left foot in, twisting the blade. Deadly chain from the Execution Swordsmanship pressured him—
"—Wha, caught?!"
But he grabbed my blade!
Sensing danger, I braced for counter while powering up! Had to stop his move! One slip in strength, and I'm fucked!
He raised his sawblade in the other hand.
I dropped my sword hilt and kicked his knee. -Wobble. He swung, but the stagger missed me.
And—
"Die!!!"
-Stab?!
A simultaneous adventurer stabbed his opening. Yes! If main tank me holds, the guys behind and beside can DPS freely!
That's the beauty of a gang-up!
"Smash him! Bros!"
"Held good!"
"Kill!"
The stabbed black man crumpled.
Adventurers, hyped from landing hits on evil, stabbed wildly. As his strength faded, I snatched a sword, reverse-gripped it, and jammed it into his neck.
"Ha, haha!"
"Hahaha!"
"Justice prevails, you evil fuck!"
We laughed watching him collapse bit by bit. Killing evil was the ultimate good deed. Joy was natural.
-Stab!
-Crunch!
About a minute passed like an hour.
-Whooo...
Finally silent, black smoke rose from the corpse. Like exhaust, it dissipated fully, leaving a wrecked naked white body.
Skin white, not black.
"As expected—cursed or evil god-blessed for evil power!"
Death broke the curse, restoring original form.
-Pop!
I spun and charged the black men smashing adventurers.
Couldn't call for soldier help—they couldn't turn with flankers raging behind without breaking formation.
One glance back breaks phalanx.
Soldiers fought desperately upfront. So we had to clear flankers to ease their burden.
"Kaaaagh!!!"
No main tank my level nearby—adventurers floundered. Getting wrecked without resistance.
-Grrrl.
"Urk...!"
The fallen black man was over two meters tall.
Grabbed an adventurer's neck one-handed and hoisted him. Foaming, eyes rolling back... legs kicking... You bastard!
"You fuck, drop that hand! Gang up, guys! He's gonna die!"
"Ooh!"
By my side, trusty bros charged—souls 100% charged from wrecking one already!
My comrades!
I gathered mana, stomped hard, slammed into the black man, stabbed his side! Gap-closing assault!
His side holding the adventurer: wide open!
-Stab!
Blade sank resistance-free!
-Ku, kurrr?!
He gaped his black maw, screaming!
Black spit flew; strength gone, he dropped the adventurer. He twisted—alive!
-Kurr, kurru!!
Then he tried saying something to me.
What...?!
"What the fuck you mumbling, you shithead!"
Mocking me!
I yanked the blade and clamped his head in my armpit.
"Time for hell!"
-Kur?!
Jumped hard, slammed down using weight to topple him! Follow-up ground tech! Ultimate Rear Naked Choke from Heavenly Demon Divine Art secret technique—locked him!
"Taste my muscles—!!!"
-Stab! Stab!
His strength superhuman, but so was mine. No normal power gap breaks Heavenly Demon Divine Art's Rear Naked Choke!
Arrested by my muscles!
I squeezed his neck hard and yelled!
"Smash him quick, you fucks!"
Hesitant adventurers rushed in.
"G-got it!"
"Hold tight!"
"Go!"
-Stab stab stab!
-Stab!
-Crack!
Blades swarmed the black man.
I teared up, moved.
This! This is why gang-ups rule!
Overwhelming numbers!
Trustworthy allies!
Solid victory!
-Kuaaa!
He wrecked out and died.
Black smoke rose. Tossed the curse-free normal corpse aside, we felled more jumpers.
These black guys: bandits driven mad by excessive blessings. Proof—wrecked corpse had Ejasu tattoos.
Elise's "fall's price."
Evil god blessings = curse.
Clearly mindless, charging under control.
"Saint Kim Katt declares! We can win!"
Exhausted but squeezing out strength, I shouted.
We can win!
-Wooo!
-Ooooh!!
Paladins vs monsters: deadlock.
Soldiers held phalanx against frontal black men.
Adventurers, boosted by my legendary feats, gang-killed flankers confidently.
The front was stabilizing. Somewhat.