Chapter 153
Chapter 153
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 153
Chapter Title: Savior of the Magic Kingdom (4)
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Raymond led the way with Bishop Gustav and the Emperor's Church Holy Knights at the forefront, pressing forward without rest. The assaults from the wraiths had dwindled, allowing them to advance swiftly.
"Is this the end...?"
Bishop Gustav halted his steps and muttered to himself. Before him loomed a massive iron gate gleaming with an inky blackness.
The Emperor's Church Holy Knights tried to open it, but their efforts were in vain.
"Desia."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Raymond called out to Desia in a calm voice. Without any specific instructions, she understood his intent and approached the gate with a faint smile.
She wasn't just versed in defensive magic; her knowledge of ancient spells ran deep as well. She would know how to unlock that door.
Desia approached the iron gate slowly, her eyes sharpening as she examined it closely.
A vivid blue mana emanated from her hand, sweeping over the gate once.
"What do you make of it?"
"It's sealed with grand magic-level enchantment."
Desia responded to Raymond's question with a grave expression.
"Can you dispel it?"
"The magic circle is so ancient that the mana supply is unstable. In short, yes, I can dispel it, but it'll take some time."
She didn't say it was impossible.
Even if the mana flow was disrupted due to age, dispelling a grand magic seal was no simple task. Yet despite her serious tone, Desia's relatively composed demeanor revealed just how much her magical prowess had grown.
"Bishop Gustav."
Raymond's gaze turned to the bishop, who responded with a devoted look as a fanatic of the Emperor's Church.
"Yes, Your Majesty. What are your orders?"
"Have the Holy Knights stand guard around the perimeter."
"We will defend it thoroughly."
Bishop Gustav signaled his subordinates with hand gestures. The Emperor's Church Holy Knights moved swiftly into a defensive formation.
As they maintained their vigilant watch, Desia sweated profusely while infusing the sealing magic circle with dispelling incantations.
How much time passed? It felt like hours had gone by, and those holding the intense guard were starting to tire.
"It's done!"
Desia cried out in a clear voice—a triumphant cheer after completing the grueling task. With the sealing magic dispelled, a sharp click echoed as the lock released.
"To dispel such a complex sealing array! Truly worthy of the talent His Majesty keeps at his side."
Bishop Gustav exclaimed in admiration, and Desia returned to Raymond's side with a subtle smile. With the seal broken, opening the door was now the Holy Knights' duty.
The Emperor's Church Holy Knights stepped forward, swords and shields at the ready. They swung the doors open, revealing a deep darkness within.
And in the next instant—
"Argh!"
"Gah!"
Black projectiles pierced the darkness, embedding in the throats of the two Holy Knights who had opened the door. They collapsed with agonized groans, and the rear ranks reacted immediately.
"In the name of His Majesty the Emperor!"
"Come forth, light!"
Pillars of light erupted from the Holy Knights, piercing the shadows.
"Sylvia!"
Raymond sought her out. He wanted to know how much damage the enemy inside had taken from the attack, but she was trembling and couldn't speak.
Raymond soon understood why Sylvia was reacting this way.
"What kind of vicious grudge is this...?"
A malevolent resentment emanated from the thick darkness—even Raymond paled at the horrific malice saturating the air.
'This is too much for Sylvia to handle.'
Raymond calmly summoned his mana. The vivid blue aura blocked the chilling grudge, and Sylvia's complexion improved slightly.
"I see... So that's why the wraiths stopped attacking."
He furrowed his brow. This was on another level from the resentment of ordinary wraiths. Only one entity came to mind for Raymond: a soul harboring such profound hatred.
'The Wraith King.'
A wraith born from the convergence of ten thousand grudges and thoughts. The conditions for a Wraith King's birth were so stringent that in the Empire of the Dead world, it existed only in lore.
"Who would've thought I'd encounter one here...?"
How many lives had been extinguished in this Heresy Tribunal?
He'd read the lore, but facing the Wraith King in person made the Emperor's Church's brutality feel all too real.
"Protect His Majesty the Emperor!"
As Raymond gathered his thoughts, Bishop Gustav acted decisively, directing the Holy Knights.
Armored figures with shields formed a wall. The Wraith King didn't emerge from its inky darkness, but it made no effort to conceal its overwhelming presence.
"How vicious!"
Raymond amplified his aura further. The encroaching wave of resentment seemed to weaken slightly.
Bishop Gustav also summoned his holy power. A brilliant golden energy exploded outward.
"Good! Bishop Gustav! Advance like this!"
"Yes! As you command!"
The Emperor's Church Holy Knights led the charge, with Bishop Gustav following. Golden orbs infused with holy power advanced, scattering light.
The blinding radiance banished the shadows, revealing the vast cavern interior.
The Wraith King lurking in the dark appeared silently. Black mist enshrouded it, and crimson lights gleamed from its skeletal skull.
Clad in armor with sword and shield, it resembled a knight more than a king.
"So even moderate holy power has no effect?"
Bishop Gustav muttered softly. A lesser wraith would have writhed in agony at the potent holy light from the golden orbs, but the Wraith King seemed unfazed.
"Gestain, do you know how to fight the Wraith King?"
"Forgive me, Your Majesty. I've never even heard of it."
As a knight, Gestain naturally lacked knowledge of magical entities.
Raymond's gaze shifted to Desia. Meeting his questioning look, she smiled faintly and spoke.
"High-grade magic or above, holy power, and a sword saint's aura blade."
True to her expertise in ancient magic, Desia was well-versed in such beings.
Per the lore, the Wraith King was a forgotten entity, known to few.
"And the Soul Sword Your Majesty wields can deal it a fatal blow."
"You've studied well."
"Thanks to Your Majesty."
It wasn't empty flattery. Most of the books Desia had read were ones Raymond had recommended or procured.
"It's not planning to strike first?"
"It's biding its time."
Bishop Gustav replied to the murmur, and Raymond agreed with a nod, fixing his eyes on the Wraith King.
All eyes focused on it. Aware or not, the Wraith King simply held its ground leisurely.
"Your Majesty... what should we do?"
As the standoff dragged on, Bishop Gustav cautiously asked Raymond.
Raymond had no immediate solution either, so he merely sharpened his gaze, watching the Wraith King's movements.
"We can't waste time forever."
Raymond spoke calmly and signaled Desia.
Standing by his side, she nodded and began chanting a high-grade spell.
-Grraaah!
Sensing the mana flow, the Wraith King grew feral. It swung its grudge-infused greatsword, then vanished into the darkness.
"Where is it?"
"Its presence has completely vanished!"
As the Holy Knights raised the alarm, Sylvia calmly dispatched wind spirits in all directions.
Closing her eyes to listen to their whispers, she suddenly opened them and spoke.
"Above us!"
Everyone looked up. Black smoke swirled overhead, the Wraith King peering down from within.
"Strike it down!"
"Chant the holy prayer!"
The Emperor's Church Holy Knights didn't hesitate. They chanted holy prayers at the Wraith King, unleashing a storm of divine power lethal to evil souls.
-Grraaah!
This was no mere holy orb. The prayer they used was an offensive one embodying 'judgment,' forcing even the grudge-laden Wraith King to take damage.
"How dare a foul creature defy imperial authority!"
Bishop Gustav completed his prayer with a furious shout. A wave of golden holy power crashed over the Wraith King.
Surprisingly, the black mist shielding it melted away under the bishop's holy power.
-Grraaah!
The Wraith King seemed shocked that its grudge-infused mist crumbled so easily, its panic plain to see.
But the surprise was fleeting. It amplified its hatred for the living and swung its sword.
The jet-black blade pierced the holy wave.
"Arrrgh!"
A Holy Knight screamed as the grudge sword impaled him through the holy barrier.
Blood sprayed as the blade withdrew, and the others encircled the Wraith King.
"I'll cover you!"
Desia's high-grade spell rent the air. An ice lance infused with extreme cold struck the Wraith King's shoulder.
The lethal magic froze even the grudge and thoughts forming its body.
"Chant the holy prayers! Keep the pressure on without respite!"
At Bishop Gustav's command, the Holy Knights chanted relentlessly. Some boldly closed in, swinging holy-infused swords, but they soon fell, spurting blood and turning into cold corpses.
-Grraaah!
The Emperor's Church Holy Knights didn't believe in gods, but their faith in the Emperor burned just as fiercely. Their holy power was no weaker than other orders' knights.
And these were elites among the awakened ones, so the Wraith King could only howl in pain, unable to reach Raymond.
"It's heading for His Majesty!"
"Block it!"
But the Wraith King, at the pinnacle of grudge per the lore, wouldn't fall easily. It gathered its remaining power and charged at Raymond.
"That fiend intends mutual destruction!"
Bishop Gustav shouted urgently. The Holy Knights scrambled, but it was too late.
Even Desia's completed high-grade spell was dodged with fluid motion as it targeted Raymond.
"They say the Wraith King's swordsmanship is sword saint-level. Troubling."
"Doesn't Your Majesty have a sword saint at his side? Have no fear."
"I won't stand idle either, so don't try to stop me. Gestain."
"Your stubbornness remains unchanged."
Raymond and Gestain shared brief words and stepped forward.
"Come on!"
Gestain moved first, swinging his sword powerfully. Sharp aura blades scattered forth.
The charging Wraith King's movement stiffened momentarily. Then Raymond struck.
The Soul Sword, gleaming with pure white radiance, cleaved the Wraith King's shield.
-Grraaah!
The grudge-tempered shield shattered in one blow. The Wraith King panicked, and Raymond smirked.
"Why so surprised?"
He retracted his sword and thrust again, forcing it to retreat hastily.
But what now? Behind it stood Bishop Gustav and the Holy Knights, advancing with fierce momentum.
"How dare you target His Majesty!"
"That fiend has violated imperial domain!"
"Face judgment!"
A storm of holy power raged. As the Wraith King faltered, Raymond used Blink to close the distance instantly.
In his left hand was the Spear of Sacrifice. Forged at minimal power, it would still be fatal to a soul like the Wraith King.
-Grraaah!
In the next moment, the spear pierced it clean through, and its black form melted away powerlessly.
"Does this mean the door to the Heresy Tribunal is open?"
Desia asked. Raymond nodded calmly.
"We'll awaken the Heresy Hunters and lead them to eradicate every last doomsday cultist in the Jeyst Magic Kingdom."
"Your Majesty will become the hero of the Jeyst Magic Kingdom."
Bishop Gustav exclaimed excitedly.
The hero of the Jeyst Magic Kingdom... It had a nice ring to it.