The Thirteenth Research - Godslayer (3)
Tellorian alternated his gaze between the mirror war laid out across the table and the actual battlefield. Every situation he had foreseen through the illusion mirror was unfolding without the slightest deviation.
War Progress Perfectly Predicted!
Experience +10
Lore Points +1
60/100 until Level 34
Lore Points: 8
Just as the real Balor commanded his army in human form, the illusory Balor also stood with arms crossed in human shape, staring straight at him. Unlike the real one, this version knew exactly who he was.
“Why did you allow the archbishop and paladins to be wiped out? If you had committed the orcs sooner or used the magic cards, you could have saved them.”
In reply, the Grey Sage merely shrugged.
“Why waste strength to save an enemy?”
“Kuk kuk! You people are no different from us devils.”
“You were born from our negative emotions. Therefore, any thought you are capable of, we can replicate just as easily.”
Archbishop Tomori had always been an uncomfortable opponent. He was unfailingly faithful to his duties as a cleric, leaving no opening for persuasion or threats.
“We can only hope the next appointed archbishop is a far more worldly individual. Someone flexible enough to overlook realities that don’t align with doctrine.”
Acquired the Lore of “Kill with a Borrowed Knife”!
Experience +10
Lore Points +1
70/100 until Level 34
Lore Points: 9
“In any case, I sent the orcs charging.”
“Which has placed my main force in jeopardy.”
The devil army’s greatest strength was Perfect Discipline. Yet discipline only exerted power when formations remained intact. In the current broken melee state, the hell infantry held only a marginal edge over orc warriors—far too little to overcome the orcs’ numerical superiority.
“So I shall dispatch the hell beasts.”
Click.
The illusory Balor moved a piece across the board.
“I will also send the hell tamer Devron with them.”
“It is proceeding exactly as predicted.”
Tellorian had read the hell army’s movements first through the mirror war and responded accordingly. The greatest advantage was his ability to peer directly into Balor’s mind.
“Hell beasts are truly formidable foes in melee. Without holy weapons there is no way to kill them, so orc warriors stand no chance.”
The hell beasts fell upon the orcs from behind as they hammered the devil main force. The orc warriors fought with valor, yet the hell beasts suffered no wounds from their axes. Even when injured, the damage was insignificant.
“On this side, I will commit the stone trolls.”
“Won’t the hell beasts overwhelm the stone trolls?”
By level and stats alone, the hell beasts vastly outclassed Stone Trolls. Hell monsters were simply far stronger than their surface counterparts.
“That would be true for ordinary monsters.”
“…?”
“But my children are not monsters who rely solely on innate power. As sentient beings, they wield training and experience as weapons.”
The Grey Sage answered calmly while observing the enlightened trolls. Every one of the hundred trolls currently deployed on the battlefield was an elite carrying the Monk class.
“Monks are practitioners who refine martial arts in service to the gods. Once they reach a certain realm, their very bodies become sacred weapons.”
Holy Fist of Olgoldugolro
BOOM!
Olgoldugolro’s sacred fist shattered the head of the hellhound devouring orcs. A follow-up spinning kick crushed its neck bones, and the beast collapsed like a stray dog dragged out on a midsummer day.
“….”
The illusory Balor merely smiled with interest, but the real Balor’s eyebrows twitched, revealing clear displeasure. A mere stone troll had transcended monsterhood to become a practitioner? And at a level capable of channeling holy power through its fists?
"""We pray to the Mother of Harmony!"""
One hundred.
No—
One hundred troll monks moved with agile grace while chanting their prayers. It was a hymn wishing peace upon the world.
"""Healing to the wounded!"""
Demons were diseases born from the weakened spirits of mortals. To heal wounds, the disease must first be purged.
"""Grant unity to division!"""
Monk Tradition: Path of Harmony
Fist of Harmony
Harmony to conflict!
BOOM!
The troll monks’ coordinated strikes successively delivered death and unity to the hell beasts. Yet the beasts’ counterattacks were ferocious; many troll monks suffered grievous wounds from their claws.
“Brother! You’ve lost your head!”
“Your torn limbs look quite lively!”
“Don’t make a fuss over such minor injuries!”
But whenever comrades retrieved only the head and tossed it rearward, the fallen monk would return to the battlefield completely restored in under five minutes.
Now.
Who was the real monster?
“….”
The illusory Balor narrowed his eyes, openly displaying displeasure. Variables always existed on the battlefield, but this had gone too far.
“I’ve been hit hard this time.”
Yet the illusory Balor laughed heartily. Knowing his opponent was the Sage Who Sees Farther Than the Gods, he could accept being outmaneuvered in a battle of wits as nothing more than an amusing diversion.
“The real me, however, will find this difficult to accept.”
“In what way?”
“Because he will believe he is being toyed with by a mere mage… Even while enduring outwardly, fury and resentment will be piling up inside.”
Immortals looked down on finite beings. They believed they must always hold the upper hand in every respect. It was arrogance.
“Is this also part of your plan?”
“It is.”
“You intend to make the real me lose composure.”
“So that he will commit errors.”
“That will not be easy.”
The battlefield appeared unfavorable for the demons. The hell infantry were surrounded and pummeled by orc warriors, while the hell beasts sent to rescue them were being hunted by troll monks. The hell knights fought valiantly but were hopelessly outnumbered.
“I still have many cards left.”
The illusory Balor ordered the Hell Mage Corps to unleash hellflame that swept across the entire battlefield. Devils possessed high innate flame resistance, so the damage would be limited, but—
“What about your trolls?”
“Hmm.”
“No matter how skilled the monks, they will have no way to avoid this spell. The epicenter landed directly on the troll chieftain… Surviving will be difficult, won’t it?”
The real Balor issued the same tactical command. An indiscriminate flame storm engulfed the area.
“You act exactly as predicted.”
“Prediction alone does not guarantee a successful response.”
“If something can be predicted, anything can be prepared for.”
[Olgoldugolro.]
He sent the message.
[Everyone! Consume the potions I distributed earlier!]
[Understood, O Wise Father!]
The troll ascetic monks who had been pummeling the hell beasts simultaneously pulled potions from their inner pockets. The elixirs had been created from ingredients plundered from Goldenhold’s auction house.
Gulp, gulp.
The crimson liquid spread throughout their bodies.
“Flames no longer frighten us!”
“It feels as if we have become invincible!”
“As expected, our father is truly wise!”
The potion the troll monks had taken was Superior Flame Protection Elixir. For one use, it could even defend against a dragon’s breath.
“U-uwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”
“Shamans! What are the shamans doing?!”
“Spirits of water! Protect us!”
The sulfurous flame storm reduced countless orcs to ash. Yet after the storm passed, the troll monks remained standing, unharmed.
“….”
The illusory Balor exploded into wild laughter. A mortal who could see farther than a great demon and respond accordingly! It was a refreshing shock to one who had lived his entire life refusing to acknowledge irregularities.
Kuhahahahahahahahahahahaha!
“Indeed! You are the sage who sees farther than the gods! However, my flame storm has achieved its purpose! The orcs have collapsed and the hell army has caught its breath! Once they regroup and calmly focus their attacks on the trolls—”
However.
The real Balor was different.
【Kuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa──!】
The great demon’s roar tore the air and shook the earth. The real Balor had discarded his ordinary human form and revealed his true body.
【Insignificant mortal vermin──!】
Balor was a terrifying giant wreathed in hellfire. His bull-like face spewed thick black smoke. A being possessing enough majesty to be worshipped as a god of destruction. That was Balor.
【I shall trample every last one of you──!】
The moment the great demon of destruction entered the battlefield, mortals either fainted or threw down their weapons and fled. Before the avatar of doom, there was no distinction between orc and human.
“U-uh-h-ha! T-this must be divine punishment──!”
Even so, the valiant Blacktusk did not retreat. He gripped his axe tightly, squeezed out every ounce of courage, and stared down the great demon.
Yet his legs trembled violently.
“Y-your skull would make an excellent fermented-wine vessel… A-at that time, B-Belkan will have to relinquish the throne…”
But the courage he had forced out reached its limit there.
The great demon of destruction now stood directly before him.
【Pitiful creature.】
The great demon of destruction bent his knee to look at Blacktusk.
【Speak again. Your voice was so small I could not hear a single word. Hmm?】
Slash!
When the flame whip cracked, hundreds of orcs burned.
““Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!””
Boom!
When he stomped, hundreds more collapsed.
【Hmm? I told you to speak again.】
“….”
【Are your subordinates not being slaughtered mercilessly? If you truly possess courage, utter those blasphemous words once more──】
Thud. Thud. Thud.
At that moment, a massive being leaped down from a nearby hill. She was large compared to humans, yet tiny compared to Balor.
Monk Tradition: Path of Harmony
Fist of Harmony
Harmony to conflict!
The monstrous strength of the stone troll combined with overwhelming potential energy. On top of that, the goddess’s sacred wrath desiring harmony infused the fist she had practiced tens of thousands of times.
“Demon! Control yourself!”
The descending Olgoldugolro drove her fist straight into Balor’s face. The power of harmony shattered the protective barrier formed of hell’s authority.
【A mere fly──!】
The troll ascetic’s fist sliced through the air and struck the bridge of Balor’s lofty nose. With a sickening crunch, the great demon’s black blood sprayed upward.
【…?】
Everyone watching failed to comprehend the scene. Even the stone troll who had thrown the punch.
“…?”
Thud.
Olgoldugolro landed.
【…】
The great demon of destruction raised his right hand and touched his nose. His proud bridge was broken; dark blood poured freely.
【…】
Uncontainable.
Rage he could not suppress engulfed his entire being.
【Kuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa────!】
A mere insignificant mortal!
A mere primitive troll!
【Dared to wound me?!】
Slash!
The flame whip now carried the power of destruction.
【I will erase even your soul──!】
The enraged Balor was an existence mortals could not even dream of opposing. That was why he was called a great demon and worshipped as a god of destruction.
“Hmm.”
Yet the seeker who had been born a monster calmly faced the god of destruction. Born a monster, yet thanks to her father’s grace she had lived as a person. Therefore, to end her life in a battle of true worth was not regrettable.
“It is a shame I could not complete my training.”
That was the sole regret she felt in her final moment.
Olgoldugolro has awakened!
Lv25 Stone Troll → Lv30 Stone Troll
Lv5 Strength Monk → Lv15 Strength Monk
Experience +20
Lore Points +2
90/100 until Level 34
Lore Points: 11
At the same time, the research advanced.
Godslayer
Olgoldugolro’s training confirmed!
Research Clue 3/5
Experience +10
Lore Points +1
Level Up!
0/100 until Level 35
Lore Points: 12
“Lore!”
"Tear the space apart, sever it, and graft it anew!"
"Furthermore, release the severed space according to our will! Join the space with utmost care so that no living being is harmed!"
⟨ Mass Teleport ⟩
Right before Balor’s flame whip could engulf Olgoldugolro, Lore Master Tellorian activated a super-large magic circle and cast a ninth-circle spell.
“Elenstra! Your turn!”
“And release the severed space according to our will! Join the space with care so that no living creature is harmed!”
The incantation begun by Lore Master Tellorian was completed by Dreamseer Elenstra. The supporting casters chanted in unison.
"""Tear the space apart, sever it, and graft it anew! Furthermore, release the severed space according to our will! Join the space with utmost care so that no living being is harmed!"""
Through the Super-Large Magic Circle they shared the mana of the arcanists. Thanks to this, Tellorian completed a spell he could neither comprehend nor cast alone.
9th-Circle Spell Cast!
Experience +10
Lore Points +1
10/100 until Level 35
Lore Points: 13
Effect: Cuts out the designated space in its entirety and relocates it to any desired location. Organisms the caster does not wish to move may be excluded.
Range and distance scale with mana.
Because the entire space is severed and moved, resistance is normally impossible.
A ninth-circle spell.
It was power closer to authority than mere magic.
“...Father?”
“Well done, Olgoldugolro.”
Thanks to the spell, every being who had been fighting the demons was summoned to the holy mountain. In response, Balor completely lost his composure and began slaughtering his own innocent subordinates.
Research Content: You have excited Balor!
Research Clue: 1/5
Research Benefit: Hell Grand Marshal Balor’s judgment has been clouded. His strategic rank has therefore dropped from Legend to Hero. Balor may now commit errors or lapses in caution…
It was time to enter phase two.
[Heroes. Are your preparations complete?]
⊳ The continent’s hero-grade adventurers have completed battle preparations.
⊳ Their eyes burn with desire for fame, loot, and commission fees.
[You may take a nap, Sage.]
The legendary hero.
Was marching onto the battlefield.
[We shall show you exactly why the hero party’s compensation is so expensive.]