Chapter 149
Chapter 149
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 149
Chapter Title: The Second Crusade
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* * *
“Not even the love and mercy of the Sister Goddesses will save your sullied soul and body!”
Following the Master Templar’s crimson wings, innumerable blades of blood began to rain down.
But before the endlessly descending blades of blood, the Shadow Lord did not even flinch.
He merely extended an arm, and the Armor of Black Blood coiling around it began to stir.
The death of blood. He became aware of the true meaning dwelling within the Armor of Dark Blood.
He faced the Master Templar’s ‘blood’ that was storming toward the Shadow Lord, Dale.
“……!”
Soon, witnessing the scene unfolding from the Shadow Lord’s fingertips, the Master Templar gasped in horror.
Even Lady Scarlet, who was watching their duel, was no exception.
The blades of blood that should have torn Dale’s body asunder began to stain a dark, sanguine hue, just like the Shadow Lord's armor.
Once dyed in black blood, they rained down upon the Shadow Lord’s armor.
Instead of crimson blades meant to rip Dale apart, they were melting into his armor as if they had been a part of it from the very beginning.
“You, you dare…!”
The blood-soaked Master Templar once again transformed his blood into projectiles and sent them raining down.
But no matter how many times he attacked, the blades of blood never reached Dale. Each time, the blood would rot, turn black, and become ‘part of the Shadow Lord.’
“How…!”
“Did you say that with every drop of heretic blood you are bathed in, your spirit becomes ever more noble and pure?”
Dale took a step forward. Without even thinking of closing the distance by kicking off the ground, he advanced with the Armor of Black Death that enveloped his body.
“Then with every drop of your blood I devour…”
Dale extended his arm. Simultaneously, from the armor of dark blood enveloping his body, ebony tentacles like Shub’s began to sprout.
“All the nobility and purity of soul and body you’ve built with the blood of heretics will become a fleeting, futile effort.”
“Don't be absurd, you damned apostate!”
*Swish!*
“……!”
The tentacles of black blood surged toward the Master Templar, and he swung the blood sword in his hand.
But no sooner had his blood sword clashed with the swirling tentacles…
The blood composing the Master Templar’s sword began to rot and turn black.
It started from the tip, spreading toward the hilt, and further, coiling around the fingers and wrist gripping it.
“Ah, ahhhhh!”
In horror, he dropped the hilt and backed away. But it was already too late.
“Aah, aaaaaaack!”
The armor of blood enveloping his body began to rot, turning pitch-black. It was as if a spell of decay was consuming his body, transforming it into an armor of dark blood, just like the one Dale wore.
“Seeing you covered in that cursed blood, it seems you’re beyond salvation.”
“You, you damned apostate!”
In agony, the Master Templar extended his arm again, literally squeezing out his last ounce of strength.
“Oh, Goddess, I pray you, grant me the strength to stand against evil!”
Immediately after, within the world of ideas Scarlet had manifested, an unknown gleam of light flashed.
A pillar of light shot down from the sky to the earth. And it was aimed precisely at the spot where the Shadow Lord stood.
The celestial bombardment enveloped the Shadow Lord’s existence, and for a moment, the ‘black blood’ consuming the blood armor stopped its proliferation.
“Ha, haha!”
The Goddess’s wrath, which turned all it touched into pillars of salt. That very wrath had punished the Shadow Lord, that utterly wicked apostate of Sachsen.
“Praise them, you cursed apostate who knows not the love and mercy of the Sister Goddesses!”
The Master Templar shouted as he reconstituted his blood armor in agony. It was then.
From within the pillar of light that descended endlessly like an orbital strike, a silhouette emerged.
The Shadow Lord was there.
He who should have been turned into a pillar of salt before the Goddess’s wrath stood calmly, without a single scratch.
“H-H-How…!”
Seeing this, the Master Templar choked on his breath.
“An armor must do its duty as armor.”
Dale muttered nonchalantly. They would never understand. The meaning of ‘Black Death’ that resided in the Shadow Lord’s armor.
Within the pillar of light, the Shadow Lord took a step. Toward the blood-drenched angel who couldn’t hide his terror-stricken shock.
“It seems…”
Looking around, the Shadow Lord spoke.
“The Goddesses have decided which of us has the ‘righteous claim’.”
He addressed the witnesses, who could not hide their astonishment at the 'Black Prince's' terrifying display.
“Master Templar, Sir Guy de Lusignan, has graciously allowed us to hear the Goddesses’ voice through his ‘martyrdom’…”
Dale turned his head once more.
“We will never forget his noble sacrifice. Isn't that right?”
He addressed the blood-soaked knight, who was frozen, unable to even muster the will to resist.
“Ah, ahhh…”
It was at that moment.
“—This trial by martyrdom is void!”
The silent 7th-circle white mage, Borenus, finally spoke.
“That apostate of Sachsen has mocked the faith of Brother Lusignan and the will of the Goddesses with his wicked arts, and therefore I declare his spirit is unworthy of the title of martyr!”
Simultaneously, the seven circles surrounding his heart began to rotate. A 7th-circle white mage, a realm known as the ‘de facto pinnacle a mage can reach,’ aside from the five mages who stand at the apex of the Five-Colored Magic Towers.
At the same time, a pure white land began to spread from beneath Borenus’s feet, encroaching upon ‘Scarlet’s world.’
A scene like gazing upon the heavens above the clouds enveloped the area.
It was then.
“Huhu, the human imagination for heaven is always so dull and dreadfully boring.”
Standing against Borenus, a most unexpected being declared herself Dale’s ally.
Seeing the scene, Lady Scarlet let out a cold sneer.
“A world of eternal life where birds chirp, a golden sun shines, and one endlessly chants dull hymns under the Goddesses' watch… Wouldn't that place be better described as the true hell?”
Lady Scarlet, beside the Shadow Lord, began to unleash her crimson magic.
“In comparison, the imagination we have for hell is truly magnificent, its depths immeasurable.”
With the countless iron hooks lining the ceiling and the chunks of meat hanging from them in the background.
“Unfortunately, we have no more energy to play along with the church’s nonsense.”
Lady Scarlet spoke coldly.
“Furthermore, I happen to agree with Lord Dale’s opinion that it is right to withdraw the troops.”
“……”
“Oh my, are you finally seeing me in a new light?”
The Shadow Lord glanced sideways. Lady Scarlet asked playfully, and Dale remained silent.
“Yes, so the Goddesses' apostate finally reveals her hideous true self, you cursed red harlot!”
Borenus shouted, and at the same time, his white magic began to envelop the ‘Master Templar.’
Just as the second round between Dale and Scarlet versus Borenus and the Master Templar was about to begin.
There was the sound of a finger snap.
“Didn’t I say this is as far as we indulge the church’s nonsense?”
Lady Scarlet’s form collapsed, and an innumerable swarm of bats began to surge forth.
—The liquid tissues within Lady Scarlet’s bloodstream began to writhe, drawing out the memories and power dormant within her blood.
The head of the great clan that reigned at the apex of the Red Magic Tower, the younger sister of Lord Crimson. And at the same time, one of the ‘beings that cannot be called human’ who ruled the empire was there.
Vampire.
“Aah, aaaaaaack!”
Just then, the Master Templar began to scream. The armor of blood enveloping his body was being absorbed as if sucked into a vacuum.
Toward the crimson vampire that had appeared behind him.
*Crunch!*
The armor of blood, and furthermore, the blood dwelling within his body, was all being absorbed at once. Horrified by the sight, Borenus tried to generate white magic again.
But before he could, the Shadow Lord kicked off the ground and surged forward.
He aimed for the opening while the mage was distracted by Lady Scarlet. Even for a 7th-circle white mage, it was no different.
*Shing.*
“Brother Borenus, please stop.”
The jet-black magic sword ‘Hunger’ was now pointed at his neck. A mage who does not train with the assumption of active combat, especially a white mage whose strengths lie in supporting knights, was no match.
“Aah, ahhh…!”
Lady Scarlet was moaning as she drank the Master Templar’s blood, as if feasting on life itself. The blood drained away, and soon, all that remained was the empty husk of a man.
Once again, the swarm of bats took flight, as if to engulf the area.
A swarm of bats filling the celestial world that Borenus had manifested.
Amidst them stood Lady Scarlet.
“Ah, what a nauseating taste.”
She revealed the fangs that protruded over her lips, licking a drop of blood from them.
“A pure soul and body make for a uniquely unappetizing meal. I feel as if I've become a vegetarian.”
She spoke as if critiquing the meat of a pig or a cow.
“Well then, it seems the curtain has fallen on our trial by martyrdom. Our ‘Black Prince’ has achieved victory against Brother Lusignan… There were a few minor disturbances, but such things are of no consequence. Am I not right?”
“You are.”
“Now, would you please get rid of this dull and dreadfully boring ‘heaven’?”
Lady Scarlet sneered coldly at the world of ideas Borenus had manifested. And not one of the witnesses here dared to defy her words. Borenus was no exception.
* * *
Shortly thereafter, having heard the ‘voice of the Goddesses’ through the trial by martyrdom… the entire force of the Great Demonic Alliance finally turned its banners around.
Guy de Lusignan was remembered for his sacrifice as a martyr to discern the will of the Goddesses, and a blessing was given in the name of Priest Borenus.
That was the fleeting conclusion of the ‘First Crusade War’ as officially recorded.
Some time after that, a proclamation was issued throughout the empire to reinforce the military power of the Great Demonic Alliance in the name of God.
The 7th-circle white mage Borenus passionately argued the importance of the Great Demonic Alliance to the White Magic Tower, and accepting his will, the Lord Celestial himself proclaimed a ‘Crusade.’
Under the cause that God wills it, the silent powers of the empire began to gather one by one, heading towards the ‘Demon Territory of Sachsen.’
It was the dawn of the Second Crusade.