Chapter 170: For the Sake of a Story Still Unknown
Chapter 170: For the Sake of a Story Still Unknown
A massive thicket of blood-red thorns petrified like stone and crumbled into dust.
"Ah."
Inside the collapsing briars, I saw Iona's staggering, falling figure and knew it instinctively.
The battle with Sophia had dragged on for too long.
Though I had successfully sent out a distress signal, at this rate, she wouldn't be able to hold out until Iris’s reinforcements arrived.
Crunch.
Blood trickled from my bitten lip.
Iona wouldn't die just from falling from that height. The same applied even if the cultists focused their attacks on her while she was defenseless.
A vampire’s vitality was nothing short of appalling.
Especially for a vampire of Iona’s caliber; she could probably keep fighting even if her head were lopped off, carrying it in her own hands.
But a vampire’s life force wasn't infinite. I knew that well from hunting them several times.
How long could Iona hold out?
Thirty minutes? An hour? Perhaps she could easily endure for a few hours.
If she were lucky, she might even manage to strike down her nemesis, Ayla, in the meantime.
The problem was what came after.
Iona wasn't just facing Ayla alone.
Since I had killed Sophia, there were now six Archbishops dealing with Iona.
Could an exhausted Iona emerge victorious against them?
Especially when they belonged to different orders and would likely have their own synergies?
To be honest, I thought it was impossible.
As things stood, Iona would die.
The only difference was whether she died in vain or died a glorious death after achieving her revenge.
The outcome itself was unlikely to change. So, what was I supposed to do?
…I already knew the answer.
I just had to do as Iona said and run away.
Not only would Carla, Elisha, and I survive, but Iris and the reinforcements would arrive while Iona was stalling for time and sweep away the battered cultists.
Taking down seven Archbishops and one Cardinal in one fell swoop?
Not only would a massive amount of Achievements be tallied, but the cultists' power would be significantly crippled.
In particular, the Narrow-minded Usurpation—having lost one of their only two Cardinals, an Archbishop, and their undead storage—would see their strength cut by more than half.
On the other hand, the only loss we would have to endure was Iona.
When weighing the two on a scale, the result was clear as day.
Even considering her future contributions, running away now was far more profitable.
But….
The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth from my bitten lip.
This unpleasant taste kept bringing back the memories of a moment ago.
The trembling in Iona’s voice at the end. Her playful smile. Her obvious lie. And her dark red hair fluttering as she fell.
All of it pierced my heart like sharp thorns.
If I turned my back and fled now… these thorns would never leave me for the rest of my life.
After all, didn't I possess the 'Excellent Memory' trait that allowed me to remember everything vividly?
I might grow numb to the pain, but I would never be able to forget today’s choice.
To just let it go… I had come to know Iona too well.
Tap.
I stopped my running feet.
"Wait a minute."
"…Master? Surely. You don't mean…?"
"Carla. Elisha. You two go on ahead. I have something I need to do."
"What are you talking about, Master! We have to go! Hurry!"
"She’s right. You. I don't know what you're thinking, but did you really think we’d just nod and agree?"
Well… I expected this reaction.
After all, I was currently ignoring Iona’s command to flee and trying to head back myself.
Carla pulled on me with even more strength as I remained unresponsive, and Elisha stood her ground with her arms crossed.
I gently took hold of Carla’s trembling wrist and pulled it away.
"Master…!"
"It’s okay. I’m not going there to die, Carla. If anything, I’m going so I can live. Think about it. If I can bring Professor Iona over to my side, think of how much of a help she’ll be when we face the Evil God later."
"That’s for later! It doesn't mean anything if you die now!"
"I told you, I’m not going to die…."
I scratched the back of my head awkwardly for a moment. Then, Elisha spoke up in a sharp voice.
"It took the three of us working together just to handle one Archbishop. And you’re going to jump into that carnage alone?"
"I probably can't win. But I can at least break through without dying."
"How can you say that…!"
I lightly stroked the cheek of the fuming Elisha.
"You know, don't you? Even if no one else can, I can."
"Kh…."
Elisha, recalling my 'settings,' hesitated for a moment before grabbing my hand that was caressing her face.
"Ah! I don't care! If you’re going, I’m going too! If you won't stay, then I’m staying here! I’ve decided, so do whatever you want!"
"Me too, Master! We’re your slaves to begin with, aren't we? If you die, we don't become free; we just become someone else’s property… and I won't accept any master other than you!"
This is troublesome.
Carla was strong, but she was a traditional 'artillery' type mage.
In other words, it was hard for her to use her full power without someone to protect her.
Elisha was a skilled battle mage, but she wasn't yet strong enough to break through that crowd of cultists.
In the end, I had to go alone.
"I guess I have no choice."
I let out a deep sigh and focused my mind on the connection between the two of them and me.
"[Carla. Elisha. Run from here to a safe place immediately. And wait for Iris.]"
"W-Wait, Master…!"
"You! How could you go this far!"
Despite their anger, their bodies faithfully began to run forward.
They twisted their heads back to scream something at me, so I gave them a light wave before turning around.
Rumble—!
Had Iona regained consciousness after being briefly blacked out? Fountains of blood erupted from the ground.
The blood that stained the battlefield red soon turned into Blood Flame, beginning to incinerate the blood-soaked enemies.
—Screeeech!
—Gwaaaaah….
—Moto! Kimbia!
From ordinary skeletons to those wearing clearly special armor, ethereal monsters like banshees, and even Fishermen of various outfits and sizes who had come ashore.
Monsters below a certain level were instantly incinerated, while those who could endure vented their rage at Iona’s slaughter.
However, even in this pandemonium, there were those moving perfectly fine.
A transparent beast that left teeth marks in the air as it swallowed space.
A lewd pink ray that forcibly drew one's gaze.
A woman holding a dagger that melted faintly into the air.
A freak who had thrown off his shirt, his bulging muscles twitching as he smashed everything he touched.
Besides them, all sorts of powers of the Evil God were being unleashed atop the burning Blood Flame.
Even in a scene that looked like a circus from afar, the most prominent figure was undoubtedly the Cardinal, Gazing Ayla.
Something was growing from her severed shoulder; upon closer inspection, it was a mass of countless eyeballs sprouting and weaving themselves into the shape of an arm.
Was every single one of those a Magic Eye?
The output seemed slightly lower because she was using them all at once, but lasers fired from the eyes forming the arm, and they emitted a murky energy.
She was using all sorts of abilities simultaneously.
I wondered how anyone could beat that… but fortunately, Iona was putting up a good fight, living up to her title as a Lord-class vampire.
She fired armaments made of blood, detonated clumps of gore, and lowered the enemies' mobility with blood-red mist.
Not only was she using all kinds of blood magic to encroach upon the surroundings in dark red, but she also displayed short-range teleportation, simple elemental magic, and even hand-to-hand combat, seemingly holding her own.
For now, at least.
The moment either her vitality or her mana ran out would be Iona’s end.
…And I have to go in there now?
Of course, I didn't intend to turn the tide of the battle myself.
I just had to break through a field swarming with monsters, bypass six Archbishops who were each difficult to handle alone, and dodge the attacks of Cardinal Ayla to reach Iona.
I quickly scanned the battlefield and made an assessment.
"It’s worth a shot."
I pulled various support items from my inventory.
Elixirs that temporarily boosted Strength, Agility, and Mana. An Odor Removal Potion and potions that continuously restored health and mana.
Beyond those, I layered on every stackable buff possible using scrolls: Mental Enhancement, Pain Mitigation, Physical Defense, Magic Defense, Haste, Sharp Mind, Silence, and more.
Undead Assimilation, Antidote, and Mind Defense effects were still active from the potions I drank while fighting Sophia, so those were fine.
I looked like a nouveau riche show-off. But what could I do? This was my best.
Finally, I put on the mask that came as a set with my robe and tightly gripped the dagger and staff in my hands.
Hummm—
The robe, having swallowed my mana, turned transparent, assimilating my body into the surroundings.
Because I was wearing so many buffs, the robe’s presence concealment wouldn't be able to hide everything… but it didn't matter.
The situation was practically a free-for-all anyway. This much wouldn't even be noticeable.
"Whew."
I took a light breath and kicked off the ground.
Dash.
Thanks to my increased Agility stat and various buffs, the battlefield drew closer rapidly.
I threw myself into the midst of curses, screams, and murderous shrieks.
I had said I didn't know what to say to Iona, or even what I wanted to say.
I think I know a little now.