Chapter 535: Bloody Requiem (10)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 535: Bloody Requiem (10)
‘I lost.’
Francis Meyer lay on the frigid floor, letting out ragged breaths.
The battle from moments ago replayed in his mind in vivid detail.
It had been a disadvantageous fight in many ways.
The Duke hadn't made a move, but his presence was incredibly distracting, his eyes gleaming with the intent to interfere at any moment.
And the presence of the Volunteer Group behind him had forced him to choose defense over evasion.
While those things were regrettable, if asked whether he lost solely because of them, the answer would be no.
‘He’s damn strong.’
His opponent was stronger than him.
Even if he’d fought without any restrictions, his chances of winning would have been about 10% at best.
His own stamina was nearly depleted, while his opponent's breathing remained steady and even.
He still had a few cards left to play, but the same was likely true for his opponent.
“F-Francis…?”
A comrade’s voice from nearby jolted him back to his senses.
The thick dust began to settle, and his surroundings slowly came into view.
‘Right… that’s what happened.’
He had been in the middle of a fierce exchange with the True Ancestor.
The creature, who had been casually deflecting his sword strikes, had suddenly scowled.
-“Normally, I would have left you to die… but this time, I have no choice.”
With those cryptic words, the True Ancestor had soared into the air.
Francis had barely managed to block the torrent of blood that rushed toward him, feeling an immense pressure, when the ground beneath his feet gave way.
The floor, which had barely held up until now, had finally collapsed.
Which meant this wasn't the 15th floor, but the one below it.
“I see…”
Francis bit his lip in frustration.
He had shown a pathetic side of himself.
Humanity's greatest hero, sprawled on the floor and gasping for breath in front of his enemy.
What could be more certain to crush his allies' morale?
“Ugh…!”
That was why.
That was why he forced his still-unrecovered body to stand.
There were countless rumors about him in the world.
All of them absurd.
The most famous among them was, ‘Francis Meyer has never once lost.’
He had scoffed the first time he heard it.
‘As if something so ridiculous is possible.’
At first, he tried to correct the rumor, but after some thought, he let it be.
Was it because he liked the nickname ‘The Undefeated Man’?
No.
It was because it gave strength to his comrades.
-“If Francis is with us, this dungeon will be a piece of cake!”
-“Of course, Francis is the Undefeated Man, isn't he?!”
Being put on such a pedestal was an immense burden.
But he had decided to bear it.
He would do anything if it could ease their tension and boost their morale.
So, he had to get up now, too.
‘Get up.’
He had shown a disgraceful side of himself, but it wasn't too late.
As long as he didn't collapse here.
He could get back up, fight, and erase the shame of this moment.
“Hk…!”
But it wasn't easy.
To straighten a knee that had already buckled once as if nothing had happened.
Still, he gripped his trembling knees and was slowly forcing himself up when…
As he staggered amidst the lingering dust, something approached from behind, supporting his back and waist.
‘This is…’
He couldn't see it, but he could feel it clearly.
It was mana.
And a rather familiar one at that.
He turned his head slightly and saw a familiar face.
His ageless friend.
Kim Do-jin was looking at him with a firm expression, lending him strength.
Telling him to get up.
He knew it, too.
He knew that the moment Francis showed weakness, the raid team's defeat would be sealed.
A laugh escaped him.
“Heheh…!”
It seemed he’d made at least one good friend.
In that moment, another power joined in to help him.
A warm energy had approached and enveloped him, rapidly healing his body.
‘This is…’
A healing power on par with that of the high priests of the Vatican Orthodox Church.
There was only one person here capable of wielding healing magic of this caliber.
Turning his head in another direction, he saw a stream of light emanating from Ju-yeon, who was protecting their comrades with a Holy Shield.
Even for an S-rank, casting two large-scale divine magic spells simultaneously must be incredibly taxing.
‘I see.’
As expected of the woman who had made a name for herself in America, she was quick to read the flow of battle.
Thanks to her, he felt a great surge of strength.
His trembling legs could now stand firm on the ground without his friend's support.
Beyond his still-blurry vision.
In front of his comrades, who were watching him with worried expressions.
He stood tall before the True Ancestor, who was looking down at him with an amused expression.
Then, he declared for all to hear.
“Round two. Shall we begin?”
“You still have the strength to fight after a beating like that?”
“Of course.”
Francis nodded, answering the taunting question with a confident tone.
Having experienced the difference in their power firsthand, he knew.
If he fought like he did before, defeat was certain.
But hadn't he said it?
He still had cards he hadn't played.
To turn the tables, he drew the most powerful card he possessed.
Taking a palm-sized orb from his coat, he smiled and spoke.
“Round one was on your home turf. For round two, let's fight on ours.”
“……?”
While the True Ancestor and the Duke looked on in confusion.
Crack!
As his clenched fist shattered the orb resting in his palm, something incredible happened.
A brilliant light began to pour out from between his fingers.
The light expanded with each passing moment, eventually engulfing the world.
And at the same time.
“Ugh…!?”
“Guhaaak!”
The True Ancestor and the Duke.
Pain-filled groans from the two echoed through the air.
*
A series of unbelievable events unfolded before my eyes.
Francis Meyer's defeat.
His revival.
And the pulse of light that spread out, heralding the start of round two.
I knew the identity of the orb he had crushed in his fist.
Before we began this dangerous operation, he had shown it to me and explained.
“The Saintess's provision…”
He said it was a gift from the Saintess.
The Saintess of the Vatican, the Apostle of Mercy, one of the Seven Heavenly Virtues.
He said it was an object that contained her power in its entirety.
However, even he didn't know exactly what kind of power the orb held.
He'd only been told to break it in a moment of absolute crisis.
But now I understood.
I knew what power she had entrusted to Francis in that orb.
“Th-This is…!”
The light that had seeped from his fist was now illuminating the entire ancient castle.
It felt as if a sun had risen within its walls.
The expanding light spread out from the castle, enveloping everything beyond the barely visible horizon.
And the red earth caught within it slowly began to return to its original color.
The Duke, fully exposed to that power, cried out with a look of utter despair.
“It appears to be the power of the Saintess…!”
Of course it was.
In this era, only the Saintess could display such an immense amount of divine power.
The power contained in the orb was her domain itself.
She must have inscribed a spell formula into it, designed to construct her domain the moment the orb, filled with her divine power, was shattered.
“Indeed… it’s worthy of being called her all.”
Constructing a domain on one's own versus through an artifact are two completely different matters.
Just how much divine power would she have had to pour into an artifact to construct a domain of this size?
Even for someone with as much divine power as her, it must have taken months of effort.
“Hmph… that detestable Saintess. Her line continues unbroken, I see.”
The True Ancestor’s face twisted as he openly displayed his hatred for the Saintess.
His aura had diminished.
At the same time, the aura of Francis and our comrades grew even stronger.
This was because the Domain of Mercy had purified the area that favored the enemy, while simultaneously empowering us.
Francis, who had recovered quickly thanks to Ju-yeon's healing magic and the domain, pointed his sword at the True Ancestor.
“How does it feel? Fighting in someone else's house?”
“Kukuku…! Your arrogance is quite amusing. Very well, I accept.”
In response, the True Ancestor also raised his aura even higher.
“I will tear you to shreds, along with the Saintess's power.”
As expected of the True Ancestor.
Even within the Saintess's domain, he didn't seem to suffer any particular negative effects.
The only silver lining was that the advantages he received within his Blood Sanctuary were gone.
The Duke, Vlad Tepes, who had been wearing a look of dismay, clenched his jaw and spoke.
“I will join the fight.”
Look at this bastard.
Vlad Tepes started moving toward the True Ancestor.
I launched a massive fireball at him.
Fwoom!
“Ugh… you bastard…!”
It didn't cause any real damage, but he scowled, clearly annoyed.
Seriously, who said you could join in without asking?
“Where do you think you're going?”
Your opponent is me.
“If you're going to leave, you can leave your head behind.”
Besides, you almost died by my hand just a moment ago, didn't you?
“Ugh… you damn bastard…!”
Vlad Tepes seethed with rage.
Just then, the True Ancestor intervened.
“He's not wrong.”
“Y-Your Majesty…!”
The Duke was flustered by the betrayal of an ally he'd trusted.
What was happening?
The True Ancestor looked at the Duke with an indifferent gaze and continued.
“It's true you would have died without my help.”
“…I am ashamed.”
The Duke finally lowered his head.
It was at that moment.
“Then go and redeem your honor.”
“Redeem my honor, you say…?”
The True Ancestor’s index finger pointed at me.
“I mean, bring me the head of that arrogant bastard.”
“As you command.”
Vlad Tepes bowed respectfully, then rose and turned to face me.
“I will sever the heads of you and all your comrades and present them to my king.”
“Uh, um.”
That's not the head he meant…
Stupid vampires.