Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Escape
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The dark spear hurtling toward Ravi's heart was swallowed by the radiance and scattered like dust.
"Alvis!"
From the wound on my side where half my flesh had been gouged away, a glow seeped out to fill the hole in place of tissue. The woman who, until moments ago, had been bound by chains like a lifeless corpse devoid of any vitality had vanished without a trace.
An immense radiance so blinding I could barely keep my eyes open flooded the grand cathedral, startling the Underground Vermin into retreating several steps.
Countless letters filled my field of vision, but this wasn't the time to deal with them. I hurriedly drew the Light Saber once more.
Kwaaaa-!
An output incomparably stronger than before surged through my hand. Space tore open behind my back, forming a white rift.
It seemed like an escape route created by the goddess.
"Ravi, Elfin, Lenis! Hurry through there! We can escape from here!"
"Alvis, we have to go together!"
"I'm going too! Get out of here quick! Lenis! Take care of Elfin!"
"Y-Yes! Elfin, can you walk?"
"Don't worry about me. But Alvis..."
Elfin and Lenis hurried toward the white rift while glancing back at me.
"Ravi! It's dangerous there! Come here quick! Alvis will come once we're through!"
"Got it!"
Ravi, who had been worried, finally leaped toward the white rift. The Underground Vermin roared in fury, black energy flaring around them.
"Where do you think you're going!"
"The goddess is gone! If we let them escape like this, who knows what'll happen! Kill them no matter what! We can let the others go, but that one has to die!"
"Through the portal, hurry!"
I deflected the sword energy Robert hurled at me while urging the three onward. They dashed toward the gaping white rift.
The Underground Vermin focused even more firepower on me, the one left behind, pouring everything they had into taking me down.
But thanks to the Light Saber's explosively intensified light, I could at least deflect their attacks if not counter. I threw every ounce of strength into securing our escape route.
Elfin and Lenis crossed first. Ravi lingered a moment, watching me, then followed them through the rift.
As the three passed through the portal, it began to shudder violently before gradually fading.
Sensing something wrong on the other side, the three urgently called out to me.
"Alvis! The portal's acting weird! Hurry and come through!"
"Sorry! I can't go!"
Only after confirming they had made it safely did I confess the truth.
Their eyes widened at least twice over, voices trembling as they asked again.
"W-What... did you say?"
"Alvis! What are you talking about? Don't joke around—get over here! This isn't funny!"
"What do you plan to do alone over there? Hurry up and escape with us!"
"The portal says only three can pass through! So... I can't go!"
As the portal began closing, they realized the situation and wailed desperately for me.
"Alvis! No! I-I'm coming back! Let me..."
"What are you doing! What can you possibly..."
"Are you insane, Alvis!? Get over here right now!"
All three began trembling and sobbing.
"I'll find my own way out! You head to safety and help any survivors from the church!"
"No, Alvis! You'll die!"
"Come back, Alvis! You'll get in big trouble!"
"What are we supposed to do if you stay there alone? W-We need you!"
But before I could say more, the portal snapped shut, their cries echoing behind it.
The Underground Vermin approached me with sneers full of mockery.
"Letting those useless three escape while you try to flee alone would've been far trickier for us. But for you to stay behind like this... Noble? Or just stupid?"
"Neither. Just the best call I could make."
I flipped them off in response.
The Underground Vermin drew up their power even more ferociously than before, assuming attack formations.
"Where did the bound goddess go?"
"No idea, and even if I did, you think I'd tell you?"
"Fair enough. Guess we'll have to kill you and study your power slowly."
"Who said I'd die that easily!"
I focused my power to counter their assault when—
"Huph?!"
Sudden sharp pain flared from my side, where the dark spear had shredded me before the light sealed it.
'...Goddess?'
'No need to tell me—I have no intention of dying here!'
I abandoned my counterattack and leaped away to dodge Bastol's magic and Robert's sword energy.
"Rat bastard!"
Dantalion leaped over several meters to grab me from behind, swinging an arm as thick as a grown man's torso to pin me down. I hastily raised the Light Saber to block.
Ziiing—
"Guh... damn it..."
The impact was so intense that the lightsaber vibrated wildly, sending dizzying pain stabbing through my shredded side again.
Unbearable agony radiated from my ribs. Just as the goddess said, this wound was merely sealed with light—it hadn't truly healed.
Where Dantalion's arm clashed with the lightsaber, white sparks and black smoke erupted in collision.
Dantalion kept pressing with his fist, grinding his teeth before pulling back. Then, with multiple heads resembling a dog's, he bared his fangs for another assault.
His half-beastly form came with fangs that weren't human—massive, razor-sharp beast canines.
He attacked with enough ferocity to snap my entire Light Saber and devour it, but he couldn't hold on and retreated, releasing his bite.
"Damn rat... did you absorb the goddess and grow stronger?"
The goddess was chattering away busily inside me.
'Hey, Goddess! How much longer? My side hurts too much to hold out!'
The moment her signal came, I swung the Light Saber through the air again.
But unlike before, space didn't tear—no white portal appeared.
"?!"
Turning my head, I saw Bastol drawing his staff and aiming at me.
"The other three might've gotten lucky and escaped, but I can't let you go!"
'Goddess! The portal won't open!'
I gathered power into the Light Saber and raised it high overhead.
Judgment activated, and spears of light rained down on the Underground Vermin.
The number of plummeting light spears had exploded compared to before, filling the cathedral interior with blinding brilliance that made it impossible to keep one's eyes open.
"Damn it...!"
Even the Underground Vermin, who had initially ignored it to focus on attacking me, halted their assault and switched to defense.
Each spear slammed into the cathedral floor with devastating force. As the Underground Vermin—including Bastol—shifted to defense, the bizarre pressure weighing on me vanished.
Following her words, I endured the pain and drew more power into the Light Saber.
"You think we'll let you escape!!! "
Even while defending, Robert's sword energy came flying with the clear intent to prevent my escape, slicing toward me with enough force to bisect me. My concentration broke, and I failed to open the portal.
'Damn, looks like these bastards have no intention of letting me go quietly.'
'Let's do it.'
The instant I spoke, a colossal power vortex erupted within my body.
The torrent of energy was so overwhelming even I could barely handle it, twisting my innards.
It felt like backlash from stage three... no, worse. Excruciating agony wracked my entire body.
'Guh... kuaaaaaagh!!!'
The glow sealing my shredded side shuddered, blood spurting anew. Black energy writhed at the wound, bringing searing pain like being branded.
A wave of light swept outward, momentarily erasing the cathedral's darkness entirely. The Underground Vermin panicked, rallying behind Bastol in defense.
"Damn it, that goddess bitch is scheming again...!"
"This is dangerous! Everyone, defend! Draw your power!"
Kwaaaaaa!
The entire cathedral shook as an enormous radiance poured down, threatening to incinerate the Underground Vermin. They abandoned all attacks, focusing solely on defense.
Their summoned black barriers clashed with the cascading light, sparks of red and blue flame erupting like welding across the impact zone.
As the Underground Vermin blocked the deluge of light, the sudden agony assaulting me vanished. With blurring vision, I swung the Light Saber.
The portal opened, but accumulated damage and pain left my head spinning too badly to judge if it was stable.
I hurled myself into the portal, leaving the Underground Vermin's enraged screams behind.
And then everything went white.
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I awoke lying in some forest.
If I'd made it properly, Ravi, Elfin, and Lenis should have been there—but with none of them around, it seemed the final agony had prevented a perfect portal.
My vision was clear, and this wasn't the dim cathedral, so escape seemed successful at least...
"Ugh...!"
Pain shot through my side as I tried to rise. I quickly checked the wound.
The spot where half my flesh was gone now bore a large, oddly shaped scar, but flesh had regrown over it.
It wasn't a wound that could heal in a day or two...
"You're awake."
"?!"
I whipped my head toward the unfamiliar woman's voice.
There stood a woman entirely white—hair, eyes... everything but her eyelashes—clad in tattered, torn rags, silently watching me.
She resembled...
"......Goddess?"