Chapter 62
Chapter 62
"…!" Kadim had swung down immediately, but the man's skin didn't even split. The squeezing force was no joke either. Kadim kicked the enemy's blood-drenched abdomen with all his might. Seizing the momentary slack, he yanked the blade free and leaped back. Tundal didn't even groan. He staggered to his feet and murmured in a chilling tone. "I didn't want to defy the outcome of a sacred duel… but I've changed my mind." "…." "Not content with defiling a Great Warrior's weapon, you even dare to impersonate him… If I let a wretch like you go, Atala herself would rebuke me… I swore this power only for demons, but it seems I'll have to break that vow pointlessly…." Kadim let out a scoffing laugh
So in the end, he couldn't escape the mad well of his delusions. In that case, the only answer was to send him to Atala's side as swiftly as possible. But first, he wanted to figure out how the man had grabbed his sword… …Suddenly, Tundal bowed his head and began to chant.
"[Vanguard of the Indomitable Legions, Atala. Look upon your warrior, raise the torch to lead to the battlefield, grant strength against the impure foes….]" ⟨ Atala's Divine Aura ⟩ "…!" A familiar form of prayer. A murky yellow energy rippling like dust-laden wind
Kadim's eyes widened in shock. He knew exactly what that energy was and what would happen once the prayer was complete. So he hurled his axe like lightning. Whirrrrr—crack! The axe blade split the brow and cleaved the skull. Tundal lost his balance and crumpled to his knees. Kadim didn't let his guard down. He focused his mind to draw on the tattoo's power and pulled back to throw the axe again. But Kadim wasn't the only one acting. Thwip—splat! Thwip—splat! Thwip—splat! Several beams of light followed
Javelins pierced Tundal's flesh mercilessly. Thud, thump, thud! His limbs convulsed wildly. Yellow mist leaked profusely from the split head and punctured holes. His ruined body couldn't contain the power he'd summoned. "Guh… A, Atala…." Krrrrrrumble—! Tundal's body finally collapsed into itself, reduced to pulp. "…." "…." A filthy end, strewn with bits of flesh and bone shards. Kadim wiped the blood splattered up to his forehead. Then he turned to the Atalan warriors who had thrown the javelins
Panic was evident on their faces too. But it wasn't surprise at the unexpected—it was closer to horror at witnessing something that should never have happened. Whoosh, whish, whish—thunk! Kadim retrieved his axe and spat out his question like chewed gristle. "What are you?" "…." "How can you summon 'Atala's Divine Aura'?" The warriors shut their eyes tightly without a word. The rest of the subjugation force trembled in confusion, glancing at each other. The mercenary's gaze pierced the subjugation force like it would bore holes
An uncomfortable silence lingered between them, chilling their hearts and turning their blood to ice. One of the Atalan warriors broke the silence. He stepped forward, eyes downcast in regret. "Brother, on behalf of our… former captain, who refused to accept the duel’s outcome, I apologize. The power he tried to invoke should never be used in a sacred duel. By the laws of the wilderness, he will pay a grave price under Atala's blade." "That's not what I asked. Can you summon 'Atala's Divine Aura' too?" "…." The warrior clenched his teeth before forcing himself to speak again
"…I won't deny it. But we lack the capacity to wield this mighty power fully. He was the best among us, and as you see, he's reduced to pulp now. It means you must be prepared to die to use it." "Even so, you can use it." "…." "Answer me. This isn't a power granted to just anyone—how can wretches like you summon 'Atala's Divine Aura'?" Kadim glared at the warrior with eyes burning like embers. Shadows darkened the warrior's face. But he soon composed himself and spoke calmly. "Brother… We now know you're no ordinary mercenary
And having won the duel and claimed the loser's everything, you are our captain now. Even if you command us to leap into hellfire, we will obey gladly." "…." The Atalan warriors nodded silently in agreement, but the other soldiers recoiled as if kicked in the balls. The lead warrior ignored them and continued indifferently. "Yet even so, I cannot reveal the source of this power. We swore on Atala's name not to disclose it. Please understand. Breaking that oath… would mean we never reach the paradise of endless war and revelry." "…." Kadim clicked his tongue
Damn Atalan traditions. He was right. Atalans believed that after death, they earned a chance to duel Atala, and if they so much as scratched her in that duel, they went to a paradise of eternal war and feasting. But those who broke oaths sworn in Atala's name in life, no matter how great the warriors, were denied that duel and cast into the hellish depths of defeat and submission. Since it was a matter of faith, threats of death likely wouldn't yield answers. Still, he couldn't give up without trying
Whoosh—! Kadim pressed the blade to the warrior's throat. It nicked the skin, drawing beads of blood. The warrior's face paled. "If you don't answer, you'll be sent there right now, you hear?" "…." Terror of death and lingering attachment to life flashed through his eyes like arrows. Yet the warrior boldly nodded. The other warriors behind him nodded as well. "…." "…." Kadim slowly lowered his blade. This would just lead to pointless killing. He let out a deflated sigh and turned away. "…From now on, no interfering with my actions
Don't come near me or touch anything, no matter what. Even if you're all about to be slaughtered, I won't save you. Stay far back and hunt the worthless monsters." With that, Kadim strode off across the blackened earth. The warriors and soldiers stared blankly for a moment. Then the warriors followed in orderly fashion, the soldiers in chaotic disarray. The warrior who'd faced Kadim hurried to catch up and asked. "Brother, will you at least tell us where you're headed?" Kadim answered in an utterly casual tone, as if off to wash his hands
"To beat a demon senseless." * Divine Aura (神氣): the blessed energy gods bestow upon their followers. People usually think of 'Divine Aura' as only the energy received by holy knights following Elga, the god of light and order. But Elga wasn't the only god in this world. Atala, goddess of struggle and the wilderness, could also grant Divine Aura to her followers. In fact, 'Atala's Divine Aura' was far more potent than 'Elga's Divine Aura'—once accepted, even a child could stand against a horned demon
The problem was, its potency was too much for a human body to endure. It granted overwhelming might befitting the War God, but the side effects were just as severe. An ordinary person would explode just from accepting it. Even a warrior with a body tempered like steel would crumble like a rundown house after a minute, bones and flesh collapsing. Even Kadim from his first playthrough, whose body reached inhuman extremes, couldn't sustain it long without drinking demon blood. This was an ancient setting, faithfully implemented in the game
Immunity to all debuffs, absurd boosts to combat stats—but taking thousands to tens of thousands of damage per second. 'No wonder Kadim couldn't use 'Atala's Divine Aura' as an innate trait from the start. Trying it would’ve been instant game over….' Moreover, summoning 'Atala's Divine Aura' required special preparations. In his first playthrough, Kadim first used it after tempering his body enough to endure it and acquiring the ruinous relic that bestowed the energy. So it was utterly bizarre
Even if they couldn't use it properly, for just anyone to summon 'Atala's Divine Aura' like this. Plus, hadn't the wilderness shamans lost their divine powers and vanished? It made no sense. Why strip some of power, grant unbearable might to others, and play such strange whims with Atala…. "…." In that instant, a flash of insight struck his mind. Fragments of thought coalesced into a vague outline. But he had neither the crucial clue to advance the hypothesis nor the leisure to ponder it now. Kadim shot a glare at the warrior trailing him
"Why are you following? I told you to stay back and hunt monsters." This was the man whose throat bore Kadim's scabbard mark. "I'll lend a hand against the demon too, brother. I may not be much help, but I can at least land one more wound…." "So, you're defying my order?" "…." The warrior bowed his head in regret and widened the distance. He kept it there but followed no farther. "…If you're going to toy with my commands like that, at least stand in front as a meat shield." "Really? Thank you, brother! I'll gladly be the vanguard facing the demon at the forefront!" "…." Kadim decided to ignore him
If misfortune came, he'd brought it on himself. He'd summon 'Atala's Divine Aura' or whatever if he thought he was dying. A field overrun with woody weeds. Every step scraped his skin with sharp wooden shards. The demonic miasma thickened gradually until it induced chills and muscle tremors. To Kadim, this prickling mist now felt like the signal flare for battle's start. He quickened his pace. Chewing the foul air as he charged. The warrior hurried after. They found it in no time. There, beyond the thick miasma, a hazy silhouette emerged
The Great Warrior's destined foe, the pest to be eradicated from the world, and a useful blood pouch. A demon.
- Beyond the blue forest stump, plover's cry, falling leaves black wings flapping. Under shade roots, child corpse dead from mushroom hunting, blue soles gather and watch. The form of a majestic tree draped in thick foliage. Its height and girth rivaled ancient trees thousands of years old. Between thick branches protruded two massive black horns. '…Another greater demon.' At the center of the trunk was a grotesquely biological mouth
Endless rambling words and phrases poured from within. The trailing Atalan warrior grimaced uncomfortably. "Oh no, a demon with two horns… This won't be an easy fight." "…." "But aside from the mouth and horns, it looks just like a 'goldsteel tree.' Wood tougher than average steel, resistant to fire, grows only a handspan per century. Can't imagine how many years it took to reach that size." "…." Kadim pulled out the vial of demon blood. It didn't matter what tree it resembled. It wasn't a real tree anyway—he planned to chop and burn it
He uncorked it and downed the fishy blood in one gulp. But at that moment. Thorns erupted fiercely from the shattering ground. ――――――Krrrrrrumble—! Too densely packed to fully evade. Kadim dodged anyway. Explosive power surged into his calves, launching him skyward. The demon blood seeping into his calves enabled the unnatural leap. The warrior beside him couldn't. Despite agile reflexes, one thorn fully impaled his forearm. Squish—! "Gaaaargh!!!" The demon mocked the agonized scream and retracted the thorns
- Shade-resting travelers two, necks severed bones chopped guts split arms hacked, dying torn to shreds shreds shreds shreds shreds intestines not so bad, kekekekekekeke. The warrior clutched his bloodied arm and ground his teeth. Kadim narrowed his eyes. It wasn't a simple puncture. Something spread from the wound. Dry, peeling bark…. '…Damn it, so that's how it is.' He raised his axe. Left alone, this man would soon petrify entirely, turning into a village tree monster. He had to kill him now
But the man acted first. Kwach—! "Guh!" Without hesitation, he swung his sword at his own arm. Blood sprayed. Bone snapped clean, but muscle strands clung raggedly. He grabbed and tore them free. Rrip, rrrrip— "Gaaaaargh!!" Finally, the arm came off. The severed forearm hardened into wood instantly, but the petrification halted. Amid hyperventilating pain, he retained his wits, unbuckled his leather belt, and tourniqueted above the stump. "Hng! Hah, hah, hah…." "…." "Hah, damn it all, sorry… Looks like I came for nothing
Never thought I'd lose an arm without landing a scratch…." The warrior muttered bitterly. Kadim eyed the fallen arm thoughtfully, then shook his head. "No, no need for self-reproach. It wasn't meaningless. I gained useful intel thanks to you." "…!" "But you won't help more, so withdraw now. Warn the others sternly not to approach." "…." "I'll repay the debt of that arm in your stead." The warrior looked up at Kadim. He stood dazed, entranced. Finally snapping out of it, he nodded vigorously and staggered away running
Now, time for the demon and its blood-drinker alone. If projectiles flew from afar, it'd block with thorns for sure. Kadim roared savagely and charged. "Raaaaagh!!" The demon hummed eerie phrases and extended thorns from the ground again.
- Good arms many broken by mama, neckless dead sister's coffin peek and wail. Fearless black prank, we snap weaker than pigweed and flee scared…. ――――――Krrrrrumble, krrrrrumble—! Kadim leaped high with every thorn surge. On landing, he slashed down to snap them He'd have been pulp by now as an ordinary man, but Kadim cleaved through the thorn waves with near-miraculous skill. Yet without wings, perfect evasion was impossible. Too many, too fast. Buried underground, impossible to preempt. Regrowth intervals excruciatingly short. Even Kadim couldn't dodge one; it pierced his left arm. Squish—! "…." Krrrrrumble—! He swept surrounding thorns to prevent more damage, but bark already covered his forearm. Sinister glee laced the demon's voice.
- Kekekekekekeke, pretty flesh branch, you too joyfully root with us, growing delight, birch bone-crush fishy smell, kekekekekekekekekeke
But Kadim's body didn't fully turn to wood. Like the warrior before, he unhesitatingly severed his own arm. Crack—split! One difference: from the stump, a new arm regenerated instantly. Crunch, crunch…. The speed was astonishing. The chest tattoo blazed crimson, bones forming and flesh knitting in seconds. Kadim casually swung the new arm. It moved perfectly, just like when he'd mangled and regrown it in berserk frenzy before. Now only twenty paces from the demon. Thick branches twitched uneasily
The demon muttered in a faintly trembling voice.