Martinez and the two 13th Holy Order clergy clashed. The collision of high-density divine powers scattered light and heat around them. Flashes that tore through the darkness and made even flames look colorless burst forth in succession.
Puh-buh-buh-buh-buh-bung!
In less than 10 seconds, Martinez and Irene exchanged over hundreds of moves. Irene insisted on classical spearmanship. Her spear technique, wrapping her special alloy spear with sacred alchemy, was unmatched even within the Holy See.
While Martinez surpassed her in total amount of divine power, the Church's internal evaluation was that Irene was superior in application, compression, and efficiency.
Each time Irene thrust her spear, golden spear points appeared in mid-air like clones, delivering additional strikes. With just one thrust, five spear points would appear. For the opponent, it felt like fighting multiple enemies simultaneously.
And Irene's wings were no less troublesome. The sacred wings enabled flight for extended periods, though not indefinitely, and dramatically improved mobility.
Above all, the greatest advantage was that the wings themselves could be used as weapons.
Each feather composing the wings was made of high-density divine power. Every time Irene moved, her wings fluttered accordingly, and feathers shot out like daggers. They were dangerous attacks capable of easily penetrating steel plates. This was precisely why Irene was powerful in personal combat.
Therefore, Irene thought she could suppress Martinez with her power alone.
Martinez had always succeeded, burning heretics to death with his own power.
Success was good. He had talent and youth. His future possibilities were infinitely open. But he didn't know failure. Irene thought this was Martinez's greatest weakness.
'At least recently, he was practically exiled to Tirna.'
Martinez's shocking mission failure had reached even her ears, one of the 13th Holy Orders. Something about failing to stop a witch trying to seek asylum in Tirna. He had even been defeated by one of Tirna's fixers, so Martinez's mental shock must have been considerable.
Moreover, the Holy Emperor whom he trusted and followed had personally sent Martinez to Tirna. To that place the Holy See called the city of sin. Furthermore, he was assigned to the most remote parish there.
Considering what Martinez had accomplished until then, it was harsh treatment. But Martinez headed to Tirna without complaint. She had heard there were conflicts with other parishes afterward, but hadn't confirmed the detailed circumstances.
'Geniuses who had been praised until now crumbled pathetically, making their brilliant past seem meaningless.'
This was a scene she had witnessed countless times while climbing to her current position. She thought Martinez might have become one of them as well.
-Clang!
Irene, who had been exchanging blows with Martinez, retreated. Her right arm holding the spear trembled, and surprise flickered in her eyes.
'I was pushed back.'
If she had been pushed back due to a difference in strength, she could have accepted it. Irene had been overwhelmed by Martinez even in technique. The moment his quarterstaff clashed with her spear, she felt like she was facing an impregnable iron fortress.
'He's become stronger than before. The concentration of his divine power is unbelievable.'
The precision of the quarterstaff Martinez held was incredibly high. Has there ever been someone in the Church's history who handled sacred alchemy to that degree at his age?
'Was what he said before fighting not mere bluster?'
Martinez was steadily gazing at the retreating Irene. Golden flames flickering in his eyes, devout divine power, and even an overwhelming presence.
'Saint.'
A title given only to the noblest and most powerful individuals in the Church's history. Why did the word 'saint' suddenly come to mind when looking at this young boy? Irene took a deep breath and assumed her stance.
"Julian. I request support."
"...You're serious."
This was the first time Irene had so directly requested help.
Julian had also witnessed the battle between Irene and Martinez. Even the fact that Irene had been pushed back. Irene hadn't held back. She gave her all even when facing a three-year-old child. Though Julian didn't particularly like Irene because her brain was filled with muscle, he acknowledged her skill.
Therefore, Julian felt considerable surprise at Irene speaking like that. At the same time, he was shocked that Martinez had grown to this extent.
'I thought his wings had been clipped and he'd been buried in this cesspit.'
The fate of those praised from childhood was always the same. Geniuses couldn't accept their failures. Bloated egos suffered greater impact from the shock of falling.
But Martinez wasn't an ordinary genius. He didn't despair and overcame his adversity to become more solidly complete.
Unlike when he wrapped his foolishness in excessive faith, now he even showed maturity. If he continued like this, he might definitively secure the position of the next Holy Emperor.
'This is dangerous.'
He didn't know what Martinez had experienced here to become like that. But he could be certain of one thing.
'He must be broken here and now.'
Julian's gaze turned sharp. He cast a sacred spell on Irene. A gentle radiance enveloped Irene's body, granting her powerful strength.
Though he didn't like casting precious sacred magic on that woman whose brain was filled with muscle, now wasn't the time to be picky about such things.
Martinez watched Irene charging at him and the golden soldiers Julian had summoned, taking his stance.
'I'd like to finish this quickly, but even I can't do that.'
Martinez objectively assessed and analyzed the situation. In a position where he had to face two of the 13th Holy Orders, time was bound to drag on. Meanwhile, the airships floating in the sky were periodically bombing District 44. Casualties were increasing in real time.
'Please, let a miracle happen.'
After earnestly praying inwardly, Martinez made his halo above his head glow intensely.
"Hey! Stop loitering there! Move quickly!"
"Everyone come this way!"
After the bombing of District 44 began, people's steps toward District 45 caught fire. In the face of a mortal crisis, even District 45's notorious reputation was like a beacon.
The organizations of District 45 were evacuating as many people as possible, but their expressions weren't good.
"Damn it! It's the military! They keep pushing in!"
"They plan to block the path. Somehow prevent them from coming!"
The military, having confirmed citizens escaping to District 45, had barged in this far.
"Get lost, you bastards!"
"Where do you think this is to come barging in!"
The three organizations [Emerald] [Topaz] [Amethyst] joined hands to face the military. They spread poison, set traps, and even sprayed sleeping gas.
Despite their efforts, they couldn't completely prevent the military's approach. The soldiers were trained to respond to such situations. They knew the response manual for chemical weapons by heart. They moved calmly, neutralizing the 45th District gang's resistance one by one.
Above all, what differed was firepower.
Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwang!
Grenades were fired and explosions occurred. Gang members hiding in secret had to flee in haste. Those who couldn't were swept up in flames and burned black. The difference in firepower was overwhelming. With those wearing steam suits leading the way to pioneer the path, the gang's inferior weapons couldn't possibly stop them.
"Shit! How do we stop that!"
"Somehow buy time! Otherwise we're all dead!"
Camilla, who had arrived at the scene, shouted angrily. Though they were somehow buying time with geographical advantages and traps, their side's fighting spirit was beginning to wane.
'Damn it. The military is the military after all.'
Honestly, she knew. How dangerous it was to help the District 44 citizens now. This could bring [baptism by fire] to District 45 as well.
'But so what.'
If the baptism by fire truly lived up to its notorious reputation, the aftermath wouldn't be limited to District 44. If they were going to die anyway, they had to at least struggle.
"Or are you going to spend your whole life running away! Are you going to act like losers!"
At Camilla's cry, the gang members gritted their teeth.
They had been abandoned. They had survived tenaciously there. Some might call them barbaric and cruel. That fact couldn't be denied.
'But we're human too. At least we protect what we must protect.'
They couldn't just stand by and watch the military massacre innocent citizens. Even if everyone pointed fingers at them calling them drug dealers, they had at least some pride they had to maintain.
"We'll help too!"
The liberation army also came to support, but that was just like pissing on frozen feet. The liberation army's strength was also poor. Their advantage shone in guerrilla warfare. In this kind of frontal collision, it was like jumping into a powder keg with fire.
'At this rate, this district will be completely sealed off too.'
Click. Camilla loaded her pistol. It was a special chemical round that melted opponents. She could see soldiers in steam suits approaching from beyond.
Camilla pulled the trigger as if she had been waiting. Ping! Her prized chemical round was futilely deflected by the suit's outer shell.
"Damn!"
She hadn't shot without knowing. But if she didn't do this much, she couldn't buy time. Her colleagues' shooting was the same. Before the powerful protective capability of the defense-reinforced steam suits, bullets were useless.
Tu-tu-tu-tu-tu-tung!
Soon a counterattack came. Bullets far exceeding the firepower they had poured out rained down. Cover was useless. Large-caliber ammunition easily turned bricks into powder.
Unlucky gang members fell spurting blood. Amethyst's body enhancement was useless. The enhanced bodies became honeycombs, vomiting purple blood mixed with drugs.
Camilla lay flat. She felt broken debris falling over her head. Right beside her lay a subordinate who had followed her, dead with bulging eyes.
"...These damn bastards."
Why did that damn Diolan's face come to mind in this situation? Camilla mocked her own situation. What wealth and glory had she come here to enjoy?
While harboring complaints inwardly, her hands took out ammunition from her waist and reloaded the pistol. At least take one of them down. That was her thought.
Thud. Thud. Thud. The footsteps of armored soldiers in steam suits gradually approached.
Click. The sound of them cocking their guns was clear. The chill of death descended on her skin. Camilla took a deep breath.
The moment the advance unit approached closely, Camilla rose from cover and aimed her gun.
Camilla couldn't pull the trigger because she didn't need to.
Ku-woong!
From the sky, a knight clad in pure white armor landed firmly.
'Osian?'
Camilla initially thought Osian had come to help her. But she immediately realized the armor's appearance and build were different.
He was larger and looked more cumbersome than Osian. The strength she felt was inferior to his, but that brilliantly shining armor was definitely sacred light armor.
The large knight wearing starlight armor held a huge shield as big as himself. The soldiers in steam suits opened fire. Gun barrels spat fire and shell casings flew.
Tung-tung-tung-tung-tung.
However, the shield-bearing knight never retreated. The huge shield rippling with sacred light easily blocked the large-caliber bullets.
The moment the shooting that had poured down like a downpour ended, the knight moved.
Swoosh! Bang!
The knight charged straight ahead. Contrary to expectations of being cumbersome, he was incredibly fast. Each step he took dug deeply into the ground.
The knight collided with the steam suit unit as if he knew no other fighting method.
Kwa-ang! The soldiers in steam suits were blown away with pathetic ease. They tangled with each other, and soldiers following from the rear got caught up in it.
"What the hell is this...?"
It was the moment Camilla was bewildered.
[Camilla! Are you there!]
It was a radio transmission from Sertus, the leader of Emerald.
"What's happening?"
[Reinforcements came! Damn welcome reinforcements came! Hahaha!]
Sertus shouted with all his might as if he had come alive. It seemed that side had also been pushed back with considerable casualties.
"Don't tell me, knights came?"
[That's right! It's that monster-like knight we fought back then! He's not as good as that man, but damn strong!]
[I was saved thanks to the reinforcements too.]
[Same here.]
It was radio transmissions from Elliott and Ospia. Due to the knights that suddenly appeared, the military was put under unexpected braking.
"What! What's happening!"
"An unidentified group has intruded! Their numbers aren't many, but every single one is displaying superhuman strength!"
"Break through! Break through!"
"It's not easy! R-rather, our unit is being pushed back!"
Flutter. At the center of the fierce battlefield, one knight raised a large banner.
The flag burning with pure white light caught people's attention. Intimidation for enemies, hope for allies.
"Knights."
Beside him, David, a knight in blue military uniform, spoke.
"Protect the people."