Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Great Temple Assault Incident (3)
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⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The entity has met the conditions and grows. Special Skills 「Corrupted Heart」 and 「Immortality」 merge and evolve into 「Immortal Heart」. The entity has met the conditions and grows. Skill 「Mana Affinity」 evolves into 「Mana Domination」. The entity has met the conditions and grows. You have acquired Special Skill 「Eyes of the Abyss」. A barrage of system messages scrolled endlessly before Hans's eyes.
'Finally!'
He had become not just a descendant of the Immortal King, but a true one of the Three Great Immortal Kings.
[Kuhuhu, kuhahahahat—!]
Hans burst into mad laughter right there on the spot.
Black magic poured from him like a storm, carried on his laughter to sweep over the surroundings in waves.
"Ah... it's truly too late..."
The Saintess staggered with a dazed expression.
The faces of those around her weren't much different.
[“It's too early to give up! This place is the most advantageous spot to face the Immortal King! Fight to the end with resolve to sacrifice your lives!”]
Cardinal Pion's thunderous voice shook their minds.
They hurriedly pulled themselves together and raised their weapons once more.
As he said, this was the Immortal King's weakest moment.
Having just completed the process, he couldn't fully control his heart yet, and the Great Temple's holy barrier restrained his power.
If they fought with the resolve to die, maybe—just maybe—they had a chance.
They gritted their teeth with that determination.
...Of course, deep down, they all knew.
There was no real chance.
The Immortal King Hans had the ability to ignore the barrier and flee if things got unfavorable.
While the Church side steadied their shaken resolve, Hans was assessing his new gains.
'「Instant Death Immunity」, huh. No more dying pathetically to freak accidents.'
The first perk he'd received was the 「Otherworld Teleportation Circle Summon」 as a reward for achieving the 'Transcendent Feat'.
Thanks to that, he could now cross dimensions at will.
'The reward tiers feel a bit inconsistent. Dodging instant death isn't bad, of course...'
It was probably the difference between a 'Feat'—a 'Great Achievement'—and a mere 'achievement'.
'Can't complain since I got it for free anyway.'
The evolved skills were just enhanced versions of the originals, so he'd examine them later. For now, the new skill caught his eye.
「Eyes of the Abyss」 was a type of demonic eye.
Far more vicious than something like Haris's 「Jewel Eye: Telekinesis」.
'Inflicts fear, confusion, and other mental attacks just by looking, and dominates beings of lower demonic rank than myself.'
In other words, any being weaker than Hans would become his slave—be it monster, demon, or black mage—just from eye contact.
There was a caveat that greater power gaps led to stronger subjugation, but this ability would be hugely useful for his future plans.
'If I got it, I should test it out.'
He activated 「Eyes of the Abyss」 immediately.
The blue glow in Hans's eyes faded slowly, darkness filling the empty sockets.
His eyes brimmed with an unfathomable abyss.
"That...!"
As those abyss-like eyes, seeming to swallow the surrounding light, swept over them...
"Hup?"
"Ah, ah..."
The air froze in an instant, and those caught in his gaze began trembling convulsively.
"Everyone, snap out of it!"
Whoosh—!
At that moment, a sudden shout rang out, and a brilliant halo erupted from the rear of the Church group.
There stood the Saintess, her halo blazing like the sun, radiating warm light around her.
[“It's the Immortal King's 'Eyes Holding the Abyss' from the legends! Don't look it in the eye!”]
[“I can block mild glances with my holy power. But direct eye contact causing mental corruption is tough!”]
[“Brief glances can be healed. But prolonged staring... there's no saving it, so be careful.”]
The Cardinal and Saintess's urgent voices echoed in Heinrich's mind via holy power.
'More dangerous than I thought?'
Hans slowly scanned them again.
Thanks to the Saintess's holy power, no one overreacted like before, but all averted their eyes slightly to avoid his gaze.
Reading an opponent's eyes was key in combat, but Hans had no eyes to begin with, so that didn't apply.
No penalty for not making eye contact, then...
'Still, consciously avoiding eyes will hinder their performance.'
A most satisfying ability.
Dominating demons was its main feature, but it was great for combat too.
'Shame to leave now. Rare chance like this—might as well test it more.'
This was the Immortal King Hans's debut.
Bailing immediately would look bad.
[This body is the incarnation of terror descended upon the continent, the harbinger of tragedy! Despair, ye minions of the Church. You have failed. Death shall blanket the streets, grief and resentment pierce the heavens!]
A grand speech before the Church's elites.
Having absorbed the final fragment, Hans's tension was higher than usual.
Each line dripped with provocative quality.
'Mainly harming my mental health. Better get to the point.'
[Come, writhe in your death throes. 'Tis a joyous day, so I'll indulge you. Kekeke!]
Hans swung his skull staff, black magic coiling from its tip to spread everywhere.
Ignoring the wary Church members, the dark energy settled into the scattered undead remains on the floor.
Clatter—! Rattle!
In the blink of an eye, clusters formed around several points, birthing dozens of lumps.
The pinnacle of efficiency: recycling even fully destroyed undead.
[“Corpse Golems! Fall back and reform ranks!”]
A new black magic added to 「Forbidden Knowledge」 upon becoming the Immortal King.
Infused with ample black magic, each one blazed with dark flames over their bodies.
[Shall we begin this battle, then?]
Black aura rose anew from the Immortal King Hans's form.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The battle raged fiercely.
Even having fully inherited the heart, Hans wasn't yet accustomed to the power, so he couldn't be called a proper Immortal King.
This was the heart of the Great Temple, and his foes were the Church's top elites.
But...
[“He's growing more accustomed to his power! Dragging this out is dangerous!”]
[“No casualties yet is a miracle. Thanks to the holy barrier... but it means he's toying with us.”]
As clashes continued, the Church side's losses snowballed.
Unlike the undead, living humans tired over time—while their foe, the Immortal King, only grew stronger.
[“Even weakened by the holy barrier, he's this strong...”]
They shuddered imagining facing him outside.
[“Too many Holy Knight casualties. Delay further, and the front collapses. We must end it soon.”]
Paladin Jonien conveyed gravely.
The issue was most top Holy Knights dispatched to the monster forest extermination force.
Leaving him as the sole Paladin.
The Saintess and Cardinals fought valiantly, but a collapsed front would doom them.
[“We've tried several feints, but he counters too fast. Like he reads our minds...”]
[“Still, this leads to annihilation. We must strike when he slips.”]
Heinrich inwardly flinched at their anguish.
The Church's resilience was no joke; his preemptive counters via intel had been a bit much.
'Time to wrap up. How to end it nicely?'
[“I have a good idea... Sir Heinrich?”]
The Saintess called him just then.
Her proposal was exactly what he'd hoped for.
Some worried about burdening a mere Holy Knight, but...
[“Yes, I'm confident. Entrust it to me.”]
He accepted boldly.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Church's assault intensified.
All poured holy power like their final blaze, pressing the Immortal King.
Abandoning prolonged war, their fervor momentarily sapped his momentum.
"Haaap—!"
Paladin Jonien charged recklessly, heedless of his body.
As if to hold the Immortal King's gaze.
Kwajik!
[Think the same trick works again!]
No sooner had he repelled the Paladin than Holy Knights swarmed, heretic inquisitors bursting from stealth in midair.
Like moths to flame, they threw themselves endlessly.
[“Now!”]
Then, immense holy power gathered above the Immortal King, crashing down as a massive pillar of light.
Flash—
His defensive barrier melted under the Saintess's full-powered strike...
And simultaneously, a tiny spark flickered within the light pillar.
A subtle flow buried in the holy cascade.
[What?!]
The Immortal King noticed too late—as the blade neared his throat.
[When did you get here!]
Chaeng!
The shocked king swung his black magic-wreathed staff to parry.
But his martial skill fell short against a Holy Knight head-on.
Sneak attacks worked initially, but not against a prepared master.
Heinrich, using stealth arts and 「Blessing: Leap」, closed in instantly, fluidly stripping all defenses with elegant swordplay.
"Haat—!"
The perfect opening.
Holy power gleaming on his blade shot like lightning...
Only to halt against a sudden black curtain.
Tzzt—!
In extreme focus, time slowed.
The blade tore forward slowly through the curtain—agonizingly so.
[No chance!]
Worse, cursed black flames from the Immortal King engulfed Heinrich.
"Kuhk!"
His holy shroud melted instantly, curses eroding his body.
Burning agony sapped his strength, senses warping.
...He'd stepped up confidently, yet the final plan burdened with all expectations failed.
This way... his sword wouldn't reach.
"No! I won't give up...!"
Black blood streamed from nose and mouth, but he gripped tighter.
A once-in-a-lifetime chance born of sacrifices.
He couldn't let it go to waste!
Gritting teeth, Heinrich compressed holy power at his blade tip—again and again.
To pierce the veil and reach the Immortal King fastest!
In that eternal instant.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The entity has met the conditions and attained enlightenment. You have acquired Special Skill 「Blessing: Light Sword」. A soft glow emanated from Heinrich's body.
The stalled holy power exploded in growth.
'The third blessing!'
Reaching bishop-level holy power simultaneously.
His surging power intensified the blade's radiance—but it didn't end there.
The power of freshly used 「Blessing: Light Sword」.
Light scattering from the blade converged, compressing into a razor-sharp edge.
Like a sci-fi lightsaber.
"Haaaaap!"
Splaaash—!
The thrust cleaved the black curtain in a flash.
And...
Pierced the Immortal King's heart without hesitation.
Puk—
[Khek! You...!]
Compressed holy power from the embedded blade incinerated his body.
Holy flames tangled with black aura on the Immortal King; curses blazed amid faint glows on the Holy Knight.
Their starkly contrasting yet eerily similar forms seared into onlookers' minds.
[Kuh... Impressive. To wound this body...!]
Boom—!
Black magic exploded from him, blasting approaching foes.
Yet somehow, only Heinrich stood firm, sword plunged in the heart.
[Kuhuhu... Too careless. Yes, you—minion of the Church. What is your name?]
The first to critically wound one of the Three Great Immortal Kings.
The Immortal King acknowledged the feat by asking his name.
"Heinrich... Landgard! I'll hurl you back to the abyss, Immortal King!"
[Heinrich Landgard... I'll remember that name. Next time, I won't fall so easily! Kahahat!]
Even as he blazed like kindling, his flesh endlessly destroyed and repaired amid holy power and black magic.
[Remember this. This is not the end. When darkness shrouds the continent, I shall return!]
"Where—!"
[Until next time. Kekeke...]
With those words, the Immortal King Hans—sword-pierced and aflame—vanished.
As if never there.
The black magic-shielded undead collapsed en masse, igniting in holy flames. Silence blanketed the battlefield.
Thud—
A small sound shattered the quiet.
"Ah! Sir Heinrich! Treatment, quickly!"
The Holy Knight Heinrich—who never gave up, succeeding in stabbing the Immortal King's heart—was rushed to the priests.
"Heavens... even in this situation, to the very end..."
As they purified him, vicious curse energy leaked from eroded parts, drawing awed gasps.
He'd need long recovery even after full treatment.
The agony of bathing in that concentrated curse... they couldn't fathom.
Nor his mental fortitude to repel the Immortal King despite it.
Treatment continued for Heinrich and the wounded; the field cleared swiftly.
"Still, he escaped in the end."
"...But we avoided disaster with minimal sacrifice. Plenty more chances ahead."
"Hohoho... Hitting his heart means he'll lie low awhile. We'll gather the continent's forces against him meanwhile."
"All thanks to him holding out to the end."
All eyes turned to the unconscious Heinrich amid the priests.
That day, the Church failed to stop the Immortal King's revival, losing the final fragment...
But birthed a new hero and bought time to prepare.
Everyone thought so.
...Except one.