Chapter 309
Chapter 309
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 309
Chapter Title: Enemy of the World (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The massive battle that erupted in the northeastern region of the Ion Continent.
The aftermath it wrought was not the sort of thing that could be concealed.
A mountain peak that had stood proudly for ages collapsed, a valley renowned for its beautiful scenery was buried, and the ecosystem along with the natural landscape was ravaged beyond recognition.
In a world where mysteries were commonplace, such phenomena were inevitably detected by various means even without the naked eye, and news of them naturally flowed to the entrenched powers across the continent.
"Evacuate the nearby residents just in case!"
"Move it, faster! Observation team! Report the situation!"
"Th-the scale of the energy... The spatial distortion is too intense to confirm!"
An unprecedented crisis that would shock the leadership of every faction.
It was an event so cataclysmic that the term "act of god" sprang to mind unbidden, yet surprisingly, few among the ruling class were thrown into panic by it.
And with good reason—they had already been forewarned by reliable sources.
That upon this land they called home, an "apostle of the outer god" summoned by the Immortal King had descended to bring about the world's destruction!
Kwaaaang—!
And now, a certain group was approaching the heart of that very epicenter amid the raging chaos.
"Indeed, now I see why the High Lord spoke as he did. This aura... To think it's just a minion of an outer god...?"
"Ahem, Lady Briki. This hardly seems the time for casual remarks."
"Ugh... Without the High Lord's blessing, we wouldn't have stood a chance."
It was the Hybrid's elite combat unit, mobilized at Heinz 2nd's command.
They had rushed here immediately after adapting to the newly bestowed Purified Blood Essence, and now they lurked at a safe distance, intently observing the battlefield.
"The Church of the Main God's hero, the southern barbarians' Fighting King, the Elven Kingdom's high elf... Hmm, she doesn't look like an ordinary high elf. The next Fairy Queen, perhaps? Anyway, I've only heard tales of them, but they're even more impressive than I imagined. Frankly, even our current nation wouldn't inspire much confidence against them."
"...Still, our High Lord is surely the strongest, isn't he?"
"Agreed. When I received this power, I became convinced. Even in a direct clash with the Immortal King, he would never lose!"
"...Well, that may be true. But the real issue right now is that monster shrugging off a combined assault from all of them, including our High Lord."
"......"
Briki's cold assessment silenced the other vampires who had accompanied her.
The majesty of that "apostle of the evil god from another world" was that overwhelming.
Even they, burning with loyalty from their recent power-up, could offer no rebuttal.
'The lingering black magic and death aura around... That's unmistakably the Immortal King's trace. The hostile resonance suggests they clashed once. It seems he wasn't under perfect control after all.'
That was a small mercy, at least.
If some link between the Immortal King and that thing had remained active amid an already dire situation, the problem would have been several times worse.
'This division between them is our chance. So... Hm?'
While Briki and the Hybrid elites were drawing false conclusions from faulty intel...
...figures rapidly approached their position—no, the very center of the earth-shaking battlefield.
A handful of shadows plunged inward without hesitation, each face etched with grim resolve.
"...They're here. Right on time. Very well, it's our turn to move."
The tumultuous flow of the battlefield began to shift.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Kraaa—!"
The hulking brute charged with his monstrous maw gaping wide.
The Bancheon Lord's expression soured as if he'd beheld something repulsive.
Kwaaang—!
Another colossal explosion restored momentary peace to his sight.
But knowing it wouldn't last, his face remained grim.
"Tch."
What kind of freakish body was this? The chimera's flesh boasted excessive resistance to physical force, abilities, and all hostile energies alike, making it a nightmare to fight.
Nothing short of extreme measures could even briefly halt it, and even when he shredded its body with ruthless intent, it regenerated in an instant as if mocking his efforts, lunging anew.
How could irritation not boil over in such circumstances?
'And moreover...'
Nor was it just that brute, Harley—the rest accompanying him were equally troublesome.
Heinrich, wielding a holy sword wreathed in sacred flames and aura-like divine power, to which it was inherently weak.
Harris, unleashing relentless sniping and barrages of nature magic from unseen vantage points.
Heinz 2nd, striking without warning whenever their guard slipped, disrupting rhythm and even breath itself.
And all of them moved with organic precision, complementing one another as if they'd been a team for ages, drawing involuntary admiration even from their target.
Despite being the very victim of their synergy.
'But now... on top of that.'
The problem was that he no longer needed to focus solely on those four.
Shiiiaak—
Shiiik—!
It began with a volley of arrows and spells from afar.
Attacks distinct from the fairy snipers who had been checking him thus far.
No doubt, new players had entered the fray.
"Sorry we're late, Saint! Are you alright?"
"...The surrounding spatial coordinates were too disrupted for direct translocation."
"But this aura... Harris? How is someone who should be on the Enamel Continent here...?"
Saintess Riesta, Grand Archmage Isea, and High Elf Lydia—continent-topping powerhouses—had joined the fight.
"Ufufu, you live and learn. Never dreamed I'd be doing something like this."
"The fangs of the Hybrid have come at the High Lord's command!"
"Command us in anything!"
The vampires, who had been biding their moment, intervened at the perfect juncture, offering their support.
Briki, in particular—a Sacred Blood vampire further empowered—proved a massive asset, capable of solo operations. She injected vital momentum into the stalled deadlock of back-and-forth clashes.
'Troublesome.'
The Bancheon Lord muttered inwardly, slowly scanning his surroundings.
He instantly assessed the situation objectively.
'...First, escape this spot. Lingering here is just inefficient time-wasting.'
Prolonging this one-versus-many was unwise.
The most efficient tactic for a lone powerhouse against numbers was, without question, guerrilla warfare.
Forcing one-on-one duels was far better than remaining trapped in their prepared trap—and it maximized his strengths.
But they weren't fools; they wouldn't drop their guard easily.
'Tch, got too greedy. Thought I could wrap this up quick and leave.'
Who could have foreseen four top-tier powerhouses popping up one after another?
In hindsight, that clown mask's taunt had clearly been bait for this.
Tsutsutsut—
As tension mounted...
The Bancheon Lord sensed a subtle thread coiling around him, lying in wait.
Poised to strike at any lapse, like a viper raising its head.
"Planning to flee?"
A chilling voice echoed softly in tandem.
It belonged to the one who had plagued him most thus far.
"Vampire."
He flicked his gaze, his haughty eyes locking with Heinz 2nd's icy stare.
Pajik—!
The Bancheon Lord had traversed countless dimensions and faced no shortage of vampires, but this was his first encounter with one of such caliber.
Not even the duke from the Bancheon Lord's personal guard measured up.
'Well, comparing them is an insult from the start. More importantly, using causality to block my retreat? This could get annoying.'
Unaware the foe had devoured that duke and transcended, he pondered countermeasures without deeper thought.
She seemed yet to fully tap her potential, fresh to her realm, but even in her inexperience, she was unmistakably demigod-tier.
No matter his superior attainment, facing her amid the world's hostility was no easy feat.
One-on-one, he could brute-force through, but under siege by multiples, even that grew difficult.
Certain alternatives existed, but as one-use measures, he reserved them for decisive moments...
'...No. This could be a golden opportunity. Everyone gathered here is at this world's pinnacle. Which means...'
Their coming to capture him left other key sites undefended.
And returning would take them no small time.
'Yes. End it swiftly.'
In the end, far sooner than planned, he drew forth that "contract payment."
A fragment of karma from a pact with a god exiled to the abyss—yet still a rightful deity of this world.
"......!"
Heinz 2nd, ever attuned to causality's flow, sensed it first, but the four linked avatars reacted in unison.
"Where do you think you're going!"
"In the name of the Main God, grant us the strength to judge this heretic defiling the land!"
"Kahahahat! Come on!"
Quaaaeak—!
Under Heinz's guidance, causality's serpent lunged; Heinrich's radiant burst lanced forth; Harley's bulk shattered sound barriers like a missile; Harris's arrow arrived instantly, scattering vast energy.
"Attack!"
"Ice Nova!"
"Rip it apart!"
A beat late, but the others joined the desperate counterattack in kind.
Uncertain of the threat, they astutely piled on regardless.
Kwagwagwang—!
Yet.
"My, what a grand welcome."
Such assaults couldn't halt the Bancheon Lord, who had momentarily shed the world's constraints via divine karma, his limits surging.
Deflecting most from afar, he blocked the pursuing serpent and select strikes, exhaling in satisfaction.
The shackles binding his limbs snapped, power flooding his limbs unimpeded.
His gaze naturally turned to his tormentors.
'Must hold back for now. The duration isn't long.'
Jiiing—
Brain throbbing and tinnitus ringing as side effects, but he'd grown accustomed.
As the pain ebbed...
A set of coordinates scattered through his mind.
'Prioritize the objective now. Essential for fulfilling the contract.'
What he sought in this world.
What his ally needed to reemerge upon the earth.
Deferring vengeance, he began manipulating space to forge a path.
Pajijik—! Pajik!
Despite Heinz's causality meddling and all interference, the portal coalesced slowly.
It took time against their resistance, but he succeeded.
"Whew, persistent to the end. Well, I've urgent business—time to go. That was decent entertainment."
"Kuh, stand still! Running aw—!"
Dismissing the outcry with a scoff, the Bancheon Lord strode forward.
Crossing the divide.
To his designated target.
The Ion Continent's heart—the holiest ground, where the sanctuary lay.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ As efforts to disrupt the Bancheon Lord's portal raged...
His avatars' egos accelerated, exchanging intel rapidly.
Target destination confirmed... Roselia Sanctuary Cathedral, south gate.
ETA... 2 minutes 23 seconds.
'Good thing we prepared ahead.'
Heinrich invoked Authority of the Sovereign to relay the promised intent to the cardinal.
The result?
Upon arrival, the Bancheon Lord received a splendid welcome.
"Activate the sacred barrier!"
"In the name of the holy Main God, we shall judge the heretic!"
Tens of thousands of holy knights, over a thousand priests, hundreds of Holy Knights, and dozens of high bishops.
All chanted prayers in unison atop the grand sacred formation.
To greet the enemy of the world.