Festival of the Undead
Undead are a must in a world with magic and holy power. If you're going to have devotees to nurture, you need monsters to hand out experience points, right?
What perfect timing.
It felt like the game board had been set up just to make me use the holy sword I'd just acquired. Or maybe that's just how I saw it. I'd been itching to try out my new gear anyway.
First, check on the kids' status.
The Hero was... probably not ready for real combat yet. But the Sword Saintess was a different story. She'd just been thoroughly beaten by Lisia, but with my personal touch, she could power up in no time.
Starting with the devotees' positions. Lisia, the Sword Saintess, and the Hero were all relatively close by. Farther off, I could see a flustered Belladys rushing toward me.
Expanding the map to a wider radius...
"Whoa, they really went all out."
Even at a glance, intense red dots—strong ones—were spawning in real time and heading this way.
If the undead were the monsters, then their constellation was...
Fleshless Prophet of Death
A name dripping with arrogance in every syllable, like it was trying way too hard to sound cool. In the community, it was nicknamed "Fleshless" or "Sarpak-i"—one of the undead-type constellations.
To progress the story, you had to clash with it over and over, so I knew it inside out.
I thought we'd wiped it out for good back then.
After taking down the last Life Vessel and its army, the story basically erased Fleshless from existence. But undead gonna undead—it looked like it'd successfully rebuilt its forces somewhere.
Tough bastard.
Purely in terms of life force efficiency, it deserved the top spot among all races.
But they're ugly as sin.
They reeked and looked filthy at first glance. For me, who'd poured my heart into aesthetics alongside story progression and efficiency, that hideous appearance was an instant disqualifier. So I'd culled them, over and over, in favor of clean forces of living beauties and their dashing holy knights.
"Father God...!"
Suddenly, shadows bulged and swelled, and Belladys emerged.
"Forces from another constellation are invading...!"
"Yeah."
Taught by the arrival of a far superior being, my vampire devotee tensed up, locking eyes with me. I stroked Belladys's head to calm her, slowly conveying my will.
"Perfect timing. I had something I wanted to test out, and they've come just right for it."
"Ah...?"
"Don't worry, Bella. Leave it to me."
"...!"
Belladys beamed a trust-filled smile, not even grasping the situation.
Holy Power Overlay
I tapped the skill tab, coating Belladys's body in holy power—the kind that's murder on undead, naturally. Every one of my skills was lethal to them, really. My whole build focused on love, blessings, and healing, so to undead—their polar opposite—I must look like a walking nuke.
Long live the no-kill route.
This playthrough emphasized saving over slaying. Peace was the best, after all.
You wouldn't get it.
Opening the chat window briefly, two constellations piped up right on cue. Especially the Heir of the Lost Star—Starboy's take caught my eye.
Opportunity?
Typical constellation—going nuclear like that.
Just steamrolled them, huh.
Yeah, figures.
Holy swords hurt all constellations, but undead? Oof. Made me even more excited.
They have no clue, do they?
Starboy agreed. My heart raced even more. They didn't know about me or the holy sword.
If this isn't an experience point event, what is?
A massive undead horde invasion? I was done for—I'd fallen hard.
"Ahh..."
Belladys's face flushed with ecstasy from the overlaid holy power.
"Handle the ones coming at the walls first. Don't let any breach first."
I'd set the board just right; couldn't let Belladys hog it all.
"As the Lord God wills."
"Oh, and."
I checked the map, roughly estimating. Did Belladys's holy knight order even need to step in? She could hold them off solo, and with the knights? It'd be a massacre.
We absolutely can't reveal our presence.
"Deploy the knight order inside the walls to handle variables."
"Yesss...!"
No way I'd let those juicy experience blobs slip through the gate. Spot the knight order, and they'd pull back instantly.
As Belladys departed, I moved to prep for this event.
"F-Father God...!"
From the pale-faced King of Regarium.
"I'll handle it."
Before he could even stand or rally the kingdom's army.
I conveyed my will with a benevolent smile.
"Ooh...! Father God, please. Shepherd these poor lambs...!"
"Heh heh heh heh."
Stay out of it. They're all mine.
Emergency meetings for crises? Nah, I'd set the board first.
What're you on about all of a sudden.
I brushed off Black Sun's nonsense and finally turned to...
"My new kids."
Time to meet our newest devotees—the ones who'd gotten sleeve-tricked during the Starboy meetup.
#
"Th-the undead are coming...!"
"Not just a few—they're a whole army...! Billan saw it clear while hunting! A full horde marching in...!"
"Does that mean we're all dead...?"
"Dead? As if!"
The guard escorting them had dashed off somewhere, leaving Sword Saintess and Lisia stunned on the roadside. The situation was moving too fast, and the rumors swirling around weren't helping.
"...Undead?"
Lisia and Herien exchanged bewildered glances.
The blue-haired priestess, mid-panic over the holy power shift inside her, still moved to address the crisis.
-Thud!
"Wait, where are you—"
"...We have to stop them!"
"How do you plan to do that alone? And..."
It wasn't just Lisia who felt the holy power change. How could she not recognize it? The familiar holy power emanating from this stranger's body.
...This too.
Must be the will of her constellation—her Lord God. Lisia tried to push the Sword Saintess back and step forward herself.
"Fall back for now. I'll go."
"No! You fall back! Against undead, my power can definitely—!"
Holy swords were the undead's kryptonite. Just clashing with them could erase their existence.
It'd be plenty useful for the immediate threat. But Lisia coldly assessed her condition.
"In your current state, you'd just get in the way."
"...!"
"So—"
As the two priestesses faced off...
Indescribable holy power bloomed in Lisia's mind.
"Ah, ah..."
The instant she felt it, her cells awakened, her foggy vision clearing like a dream lifting.
"What...?"
Lisia's stern expression softened into something foolish, unnerving Herien.
"...Hah!"
Snapping from the dreamlike haze, Lisia grabbed the Sword Saintess's arm.
"Wh-what? Just now..."
"This isn't the time."
"Y-yeah...? No, what was that."
"Father God just gave me a revelation."
A revelation. Divine guidance from a constellation to its devotee, like enlightenment.
"To block the undead horde with you."
"What do you mean, suddenly."
"Follow me."
"Wait—!"
The baseless claim, backed by unyielding strength. The Sword Saintess was helplessly dragged toward the walls.
"No...! At least explain properly...!"
"You dare question the Lord God's revelation? Unacceptable!"
"This stubborn priestess...!"
Marching toward the walls with the kingdom's knights, Lisia strode confidently. Beside her, the Sword Saintess looked utterly baffled and wronged.
"W-wait. This area's dangerous—"
The kingdom troops tried to block their sudden arrival, but...
"Out of the way!"
"Ack...!"
Her slender frame unleashed monstrous strength, barreling through.
-Block the undead horde's invasion with the Sword Saintess.
The clear revelation echoed in Lisia's mind. No room for doubt.
With that resolve, here they were.
-Rumble rumble rumble...!
Facing the advancing undead horde, earth shaking in the distance.
The Sword Saintess, dragged here in confusion, now adopted a grave demeanor at the threat.
"That many...!"
"If we leave them be, the kingdom's in grave danger."
Lisia offered a simple but weighty assessment.
"Are you sure the Absolute's revelation led us both here?"
"Doubt is blasphemy."
Lisia shot Herien a sharp glare. Chastened, Herien felt unjustly scolded.
No, just tell me what's going on...
And in that moment—
Possession!
A massive holy power gathered from the heavens, a brilliant beam crashing down before them.