Chapter 268: Crossroads (9)
Four directions of sword slashes pierced the bodies of two people.
Yet no one died.
In fact, only one person was even wounded.
“…As expected.”
One of the Agents, pierced by four swords, quietly muttered.
Even though it was a wound that would not have been strange for an ordinary person to faint from immediately, he did not scream. Instead, he simply murmured in a calm voice.
“……”
Unlike him, Lian did not even suffer a wound.
Because he had let everything pass through him using Intangibility, the power engraved in the Brand.
But the opponents were not people known for having survived countless Battlefields of Carnage for nothing.
Even though a person right before their eyes had slipped free from physical interference like Mist.
Even though the strike they launched while using a comrade as bait had only wounded that very comrade.
Even though four sword blades were embedded in someone’s body.
Not a single one of them panicked or flinched.
Healing and Hemostasis at the same time while being pierced.
Lian briefly lowered his gaze toward the wound that had pierced through the Agent’s body stuck close to him.
The characteristic energy of healing through Divine Power was circulating endlessly through his body as if gently caressing it.
Easy to say, but something that should only be possible in theory.
After all, no matter who it was, it would be difficult to remain calm with wounds like that.
Enduring the pain and pulling off a trick like this… this is not something a human should be able to do.
And even in the middle of that, he was pulling out a Dagger from his chest and wildly slashing and stabbing at Lian.
If not for the power of the Brand, Lian’s abdomen would have been mutilated into something horrifying to even look at.
“Like a phantom.”
The Agent muttered that before stopping the hand swinging the Dagger.
It was as if he had decided there was no need to waste strength.
Meanwhile the others also drew their swords and stared this way as if observing him.
Before long, most of the details about his ability would probably be exposed.
It felt like I had revealed my hand too early… but.
Lian did not grow anxious.
This too was something he had seen in the future through his eyes.
From the beginning, it was impossible to place the general piece first. One must first lay down the opening stones.
And this was the first button in the only method Lian had seen.
“……”
“……”
As if they had agreed beforehand, the Agents instantly stepped back.
It seemed they had realized that this ability of his could not last indefinitely.
Thanks to that, a brief lull followed.
“As expected, the power of a Heretic.”
One of the Agents muttered.
For Lian, dragging out time was welcome.
Because the ones who were anxious were not him, but them.
“So if it cannot be explained by Divine Power or the knowledge you possess, it is all heresy?”
He had spoken to buy time, but they replied coldly.
“With a deceitful tongue, you scatter the essence.”
“That sin alone is enough to warrant a death sentence.”
“As His Eminence the Cardinal said, it is certain you are in league with the Demons.”
“Hah.”
Lian snorted.
“In league with the Demons? What nonsense.”
“Deny it all you like. If you surrender peacefully, we will show mercy and perform your funeral according to the rites of the Holy Sun Church.”
“Bullshit. If anyone’s in league with the Demons, it’s your Cardinal.”
In that instant, the atmosphere twisted.
It had appeared only for the briefest moment before disappearing again.
Yet it felt as if his skin prickled.
Even after receiving killing intent strong enough to make his knees tremble, Lian showed no sign of shrinking as he spoke.
“Have you never seen the Iron Needle stuck in the chest? Ah… right. If you did, would you be sent to trial for committing blasphemy?”
Lian let out a small laugh.
Then the Agent whose wounds from the swords had completely healed quietly opened his mouth.
“…We will decide your punishment here and now. I may not be an Inquisitor, but as an Agent my authority will suffice.”
“I agree.”
“I agree.”
The Agent pointed his sword at Lian.
“Slander and defamation of the clergy. Adding that to your previous crimes, you should rightly be sentenced to Burning at the Stake, or at the very least Breaking Wheel. However, given the circumstances, we declare execution by beheading.”
Lian pointed his sword at them in return.
“Do whatever you want.”
Before the words even finished, Lian swung his sword immediately.
Strengthening his body with Divine Power had been done long ago, and while exchanging meaningless words he had already drawn out the Power of the Sky as a Sky Guide.
A sword strike that could cut through everything shot toward them.
“…!”
“…!”
No one died.
But Lian neither panicked nor felt regret.
He had seen this in the future, and injuring one Agent heavily while leaving two others with light wounds from a single strike was already a great achievement.
The most troublesome thing about Agents is their lizard-like healing ability.
Their Mental Fortitude gained through harsh training and that healing power were the very source of their strength.
Superficial wounds or even serious injuries meant nothing to them if they had time.
It had to be finished decisively.
That was why Lian did not let this moment pass and immediately rushed forward.
“…!”
“…!”
Then the other Agents, as if they had been waiting for this, used their heavily wounded comrade as bait and rushed forward in return.
Yes, that part is troublesome too.
It was his first time fighting five at once.
But he had fought Agents countless times before.
Since he knew well how to deal with them, Lian did not falter and charged toward the heavily wounded Agent.
At this rate the blades of the other four would fly in and embed themselves into all kinds of vital points.
Using Intangibility through the power of the Brand was impossible right now.
But even so, Lian was not worried.
Because he had seen this as well.
—Kiiiiik!
Something let out what it thought was a loud cry.
It was a Spider.
When had it attached itself to his body?
Perhaps Cecilia had done it, Lian thought.
Or maybe the creature had acted on its own.
In truth, it did not matter which.
What mattered was that the Spider that revealed itself from Lian’s chest shot out a pitch-black web toward the eye of one of the Agents targeting Lian.
“…Ugh?!”
Since they were people who could not see Spirits, the Spider’s attack was completely unexpected for them.
The Agent’s sword tip wavered as his vision was blocked and a burning pain filled his eyes.
Lian did not miss that moment.
Using him as a shield while twisting his body, he thrust his sword toward the target he had aimed for.
Thud.
A dull sound.
Thump.
That too was a dull, heavy sound.
Now four remained.
He also swung his sword toward the Agent whose vision had been blocked and injured him, but it ended up being only a light wound.
“…ㅁㅁㅁ.”
Lian quietly formed Hand Seals and began reciting the Garusol language.
It was the same words he had spoken when he first met Yuran.
“He’s chanting a spell.”
“The Garusol language…!”
Thinking that Lian was about to use Ritual Sorcery, the two wounded Agents hurriedly gathered Divine Power as if erecting a Barrier.
The other two who were unharmed rushed toward Lian from different directions.
Thrust!
As one rushed forward, Lian crossed paths with him and they both stabbed their weapons into each other.
Both were aiming for each other’s Heart.
“You vile bastard!”
Normally if a spell or incantation was stopped midway, the backlash would cause damage.
Realizing that Lian suffered no such backlash and had not been chanting a spell at all, the Agent shouted and immediately slashed at Lian’s neck.
Drawing a clean trajectory, his sword passed across Lian’s neck.
Yes.
It merely passed across it.
Lian had barely managed to use the power of the Brand again in time.
Because he had scraped together what little power remained to use it, he could probably only use it once more—and only for a brief instant.
But once again, it was not a bad trade.
Because another one was removed from the count.
That made two.
Three remained.
“…Disgusting Heretic. As expected, one who knows nothing of honor resorts to vile tricks.”
“And five against one is honorable?”
The Agents did not rush toward Lian.
Instead, each of them pulled out different weapons from their robes.
A Meteor Hammer with weights at both ends of a chain, a Short Spear that no one knew how had been hidden, and finally a Small Crossbow.
“…Tsk.”
Lian clicked his tongue softly.
With two already down, they had abandoned the short fight and shifted to a long battle—slowly and surely grinding him down.
From here on… I’ll have to handle it myself.
The future he had glimpsed beforehand ended here.
Straightening his posture, Lian raised his sword toward them.
“Why are you doing this?”
Lian spoke, partly to steady his breathing.
“Why attack the Academy in a situation like this? You say I’m in league with the Demons, but judging by the circumstances, aren’t you the more suspicious ones?”
“……”
“……”
They did not answer.
There was no need or reason to.
Swoosh!
Instead of an answer, a bolt flew toward him.
“Kh!”
Lian deflected the bolt, twisting its trajectory.
But perhaps because the distance was so close, it grazed his forearm.
“This…”
The wound and the surrounding skin immediately began turning dark.
Poison.
And not just any poison—an extremely potent, fast-acting toxin.
“…The ones who are vile and dishonorable are you. Now you’re even using poison?”
He tried to detoxify it while speaking, but Lian had to twist his body urgently.
Crash!
The Meteor Hammer smashed into the spot where Lian had just been standing.
Judging from the speed and force behind it, if it hit properly it would kill him instantly—or at best leave him gravely injured.
“Kh?!”
Then something shot toward him from his blind spot.
It was the Short Spear.
If the Spider had not interfered at the last moment, he would have surely been wounded.
The Agent wielding the Short Spear began launching a fierce assault.
Even if it was called a Short Spear, it was longer than a sword.
So he kept swinging it from a barely safe distance just outside Lian’s reach.
Click.
Meanwhile, one of the Agents began reloading the Crossbow.
If he was hit again, it would truly be dangerous.
But the Meteor Hammer and Short Spear gave Lian no time to detoxify the poison.
“Hup!”
As if leaving it to fate, Lian swung his sword.
Since the poisoned arm would soon become useless anyway, he intended to use it as a disposable piece.
However, Lian’s strike only cut the Short Spear without inflicting any serious damage.
Still, it bought him a few breaths.
“Kh.”
The barb on the bolt was shaped like a hook, so it could not be pulled out immediately.
At the very least I should detoxify it.
Just as he gathered Divine Power—
[Do not.]
It was Berenistella.
She whispered to Lian.
[Instead, trust this concubine and move forward.]
Lian did not answer.
Instead, he rushed forward immediately.
[How dare they.]
The Bracelet she had given him began shining.
[How dare they stain the body of this concubine’s disciple with such vile things…?]
“Gaaaahhh!”
For the first time, one of the Agents screamed.
His entire body had turned black as if poisoned, and bolts were densely embedded in places like his eyes, cheeks, and Heart.
This is nothing?
Lian involuntarily clicked his tongue.
His arm that had been numb from poison had long since returned to normal.
The wounds on his body had been transferred to the opponent.
…And multiplied several times over.
“Huahhh!!!”
But the name Agent was not empty fame.
Even in this sudden situation they did not panic and instead rushed toward Lian.
Although the Short Spear had been cut, the cross-section was so clean that it was as sharp as a blade.
But because it had been shortened, its reach had also decreased.
That stance… I know it.
Lian already knew their swordsmanship.
After all, he had fought them many times.
If it was against multiple opponents it would be different, but against one like this he was confident he would not lose.
Because when his memories returned, the experiences from those battles returned with them.
And his confidence was not misplaced.
The Agent holding the Short Spear collapsed while clutching his neck, which had been cut just like his spear.
Whoosh!
At that moment, the Meteor Hammer flew straight toward Lian’s face.
It was already too close to dodge or deflect.
If it hit directly, his face would shatter and he would die in a horrific state.
Lian immediately raised one hand as if to block it.
For the first time, the Agent curled his lips into a smile.
He knew it was futile resistance.
Instead of only his face shattering, even his hand would be crushed.
“……”
But Lian had not raised his hand reflexively.
The final remaining opportunity.
The weight of the Meteor Hammer passed through Lian’s hand.
It lasted only a brief instant, so he could not avoid it entirely, but that was enough.
Lian immediately grabbed the chain of the Meteor Hammer.
“…What—”
Before the Agent could finish speaking, Lian swung his sword.
He clenched his teeth as pain from his crushed arm surged through him.
But because of that, the number of opponents dropped from two to one.
“Haa…”
Feeling exhaustion wrapping around his entire body, Lian let out a deep sigh.
Among the five Agents, none were left alive.
So this actually works.
He had really defeated five of them.
Just as Lian blinked quietly while catching his breath—
Clap. Clap. Clap.
A dry, hollow sound of applause echoed.
“……”
Lian turned his gaze toward the sound.
Standing there was someone who should have been where Yeriel had gone.
Cardinal Bruyant.