Heresy Saintess, Taboo Nun (7)

I'd talked a big game to keep up the momentum, but that black knight bastard was no pushover. Especially with that shitty Terror buff stacked on him.

"We'll exclude him with full force!"

The knight's greatsword struck both Kaya in the front row and Shae in the back row at once, shattering the barrier in a single blow. Sestia's shield had applied after our heroes' defenses, which was a blessing—otherwise, it would've torn through like paper and hurt my comrades badly.

"Kaya! Shae! You okay?"

"We're fine, sir!"

Shae was too busy spitting curses to say much else.

Next up... the nun's turn, right?

With the priest dead, the nun in the third row had slid up to second. No need to pull her forward anymore—she was in striking range for everyone now.

This'll be your last attack, bitch.

Maybe it was Shae's influence, but I shoved down the growing urge to depict these nuns even more viciously in my mind's eye and focused hard, eyes wide.

"Everywhere and always, that is Terror itself."

"With that power, please etch true terror into these unbelievers. Guardian Knight."

I figured the nun wouldn't heal the full-HP knight and might try another mentality attack at worst, but she self-harmed to buff him again. It lasted only 3 turns unlike the altar's grant, but +4 max damage and +2 defense was insane. The black energy swirling around the knight grew even more ferocious.

Right now, the knight's at 79 HP with a fucking defense of 11. Assume Sestia puts up another barrier and passes, then it's Kaya's turn—no marks on anyone, so her attack's 7-13. Even with All According to God's Will's 10% boost, that's 8-14. Hitting the knight now is like throwing eggs at a rock. But with tougher fights ahead, I can't tell Sestia to use Eternal Rest either.

Even a crit probably wouldn't chunk him much, and since the nun's turn was faster than everyone else's except mine, if she healed him next round, we'd be screwed.

And no guarantee those buffs don't stack. It hurts to leave the knight, but we gotta prioritize the nun.

"Sestia. Fortress of Protection again."

"Yes, Hendrick. Lady Raella, please shield us once more."

Her two AoE heals brought us all to full HP, and she slapped on an 8-HP insurance barrier. High-level Curing Vestal power. As the faint green dome enveloped the hero party, I shifted my gaze to Kaya.

She held her mace at a slant, staring dead at the nun spewing black blood from her mouth.

No matter how corrupted, smashing sister after sister has gotta wear on her mentality.

If I asked if she was okay, she'd say yes 100%. So I wouldn't. We'd passed five rooms since the first nun room anyway—it was too late, and it'd just unsettle her. We were in battle now.

Keep it calm, casual. "Kaya."

"Yes, Leader."

"Looks like that sister's blood needs one more coat."

"That's already five times. Five or six... no real difference."

"...Right."

"Then."

Kaya accepted my order nonchalantly. She raised her mace, still flecked with priest gore and flesh. A chunk clinging near the spikes finally dropped onto her boot with a wet splat. She glanced, shook it off.

The drying bit landed right in front of the monsters. Like a declaration: Your fate too.

"..."

"..."

That tiny sound drew eyes from both sides. But Kaya's stayed locked.

"Saying this now means nothing to me or you."

Thud— As she stepped forward, the sticky blood pooled on her mace dripped slowly to the floor. Like melting syrup, a thin black-red cascade trailed her.

I'm here because I walked a path soaked in sisters' blood. Preach your terror all you want—you'll follow those whose heads this mace crushed.

That's what it screamed.

"No more pity. I'll silence that mouth preaching endless mockery of our faith with false gospel. And."

Kaya hoisted her mace fully overhead; the thin cascade snapped, splattering everywhere. Like a head exploding, brains flying.

"That terror-eaten brain and surrendered heart too. All corrupt things blocking our path and fate—I'll smash them at once."

"All according to 'God's' will."

Kwaaaaa—!!!

"Kyaaaaaaa—!!!"

The bloodied mace smashed into the nun's head, unleashing a blinding pillar of light brighter and thicker than before. Trapped inside, the Terror Nun screamed in true terror as her body forcibly disintegrated. Black blood poured from every inch until she vanished without a trace.

"...Lady Raella, forgive them."

No—a blackened necklace proved she'd been there moments ago. Kaya stared, then crushed it under her boot.

Whoosh— Unlike before, her pristine mace swung toward the lone knight.

"Even 'warm' mercy is wasted on you."

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Kwaaaang—!!

The glowing mace clashed with his black armor in a thunderous boom.

**

"Unbelievers... grudge...!"

"Keep yapping. Die already."

We finally took down the knight too. No matter the double buffs, we were ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠four strong. Plus, we'd fought his kind before.

That bullshit gimmick almost killed Shae before—I hadn't forgotten. This was a different instance, sure, but we knew it always tried to take one with it.

The brutal fight dropped his HP below 5, so flashbang damage finished him. Damn, scary as hell?

Grudging to death for real? Blinded by the flash and died? Already dead? Haha, whatever.

The 1-HP revived knight unleashed his final attack. Extra attack power pierced the barrier and hit me hard, but...

"With cool mercy, I forgive you. Rise again."

Next turn, Sestia landed the Curing Vestal signature single-target heal Light of Mercy—a miracle crit—for a super overHeal. The knight ate Kaya's mace right after and died for good.

Full HP all around, mentality safe. Overwhelming win despite the initial jitters.

"What do we do with this, Leader?"

After a short break, we regrouped by the altar in the sixth room—unlike the others, this one felt special. Mood was grim, but we chatted over rations for later.

"No reason or time to take it, so smash it. Leaving it risks variables we'd regret."

"Normally I'd snag one for research, but no leisure now. Agree it's creepy to leave."

"Good. Smash it, rest 5 more minutes, then go. Objections?"

"None."

"Good."

I eyed Shae and Sestia plopping down, then approached the lone altar. Its black aura, once obscuring its shape at battle start, was now barely there. Like the ones before.

As I grabbed the axe to smash, a rattle sounded.

"Leader."

"Kaya? Resting, why?"

"I'll do it."

"Hm, no need for you to push extra."

"Let me, please."

"...Fine. Got it."

I dropped the axe, stepped back. Glancing, Shae and Sestia watched too. They expected this from Kaya?

She closed her eyes, deep breath, then smashed the altar with her mace. It shattered instantly.

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"...Lady Raella. With your sky-wide, warm embrace and cool yet ocean-deep mercy, I pray you forgive these briefly wayward souls in death. And as you do, someday punish me for mercilessly scourging my once-sisters without mercy."

Her quiet prayer echoed over the ruins, leaving a heavy aftertaste.