Taming the Evil Saintess

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It had barely been a few minutes since we started battling Abaddon, yet our losses were severe.

“Damn, he’s strong.”

I spat out blood that seeped from my throat. It felt like I had sustained internal injuries from only ten sword strikes. The intense mana pierced through my bones, disorienting my body.

It wasn’t just the internal injuries. Even though we had only crossed swords for a short time, my hands were already going numb, and my shoulders felt like they were about to pop out. The force behind him was no joke. It was no wonder he was a challenge boss fought at the game’s end; the difference in specs was overwhelming.

Still, I had just defeated the continent’s strongest demon single-handedly.

I unleashed the Hero’s Divine Mark I had been saving. Vital energy surged through my body. The chains of the demon Abaddon were pushed back. For the first time, surprise flickered in Abaddon’s usually expressionless gaze.

“Right. You must be seeing the Mark for the first time.”

He was a demon around the same age as the Demon King who had only wasted time in the outer world. In other words, he was a relic of a bygone era.

With the chains cleared, I clenched my left fist and struck him in the chest. The crimson armor crumpled, and mana leaked from his chest. I was convinced. Derabilice’s heart had not yet completely fused with the demon.

Then, Erwin’s arrow targeted Abaddon’s joints, while Cecilia’s sword strike created a frosty ice flower surrounding us. The numerical advantage was evident.

However, Adelheit, lurking in the shadows, watched our struggle with an indifferent expression.

Something was off.

“…”

The moment I felt it, one of Abaddon’s arms swelled to the point of bursting. No, it actually exploded. His hand detonated, and the mana explosion engulfed the surroundings.

“Ugh!”

The first to be incapacitated was Erwin. From what I sensed in the Great Forest, Erwin was already vulnerable to mana. The spirits that had accompanied the arrows she had shot were now gone, aiming at random targets.

I swung my sword desperately to deflect the mana surge, but among them were the chains advancing toward me. It was Abaddon’s attack. I couldn’t evade it, so I curled my body as much as possible. Clang! There was no impact. Cecilia had timely intervened, deflecting the blow, but it seemed her wrist was hurt too; her face contorted in pain.

“What the heck was that?!”

“I have no idea.”

I shot a glance at Abaddon, who had just lost an arm. The surrounding mana coalesced once again, gathering right at the shoulder he had lost, regrowing flesh.

Cecilia let out a groan at the grotesque sight.

“…It seems like he uses his limbs as disposable bombs.”

“That’s quite astonishing. Knight Elliot might not realize it, but I have eyes too.”

Did Abaddon have that kind of pattern in the game?

No, he didn’t.

Ancient demon Abaddon was never supposed to be such a troublesome boss. It was just his summoning that was tough; the boss fights were on par with other subordinates.

But now? Before simple physical might, his manipulation and utilization of mana was on an overwhelming level.

It would be correct to say that all this was someone’s scheme.

In this case, it must be Adelheit. Since she was the one who directly obtained Derabilice’s heart, it was likely she had set up some kind of ploy. The ability to wield mana freely was probably thanks to Derabilice’s heart too.

“Cecilia, take Erwin and retreat for now.”

“What about you?”

“I won’t become easily corrupted by mana.”

With the Gears of Ophelia and the Hero’s Divine Mark, and finally my blood magic,

I was coated in buffs that would help me resist mana corruption and not struggle in a fight.

However, it seemed Abaddon found it bothersome to face me one-on-one as well. Instead of targeting me, he extended his chains to reach Cecilia, who was trying to recover Erwin. In this state with one arm incapacitated, Cecilia attempted to block the chains with her left-handed sword, but the chains wrapped around her sword. With a grinding sound, her beloved sword shattered.

“…Ah.”

I had thought he was a mindless creature, rotting away in some other realm, but he was surprisingly sharp.

Without her sword, Cecilia was vulnerable, and Erwin had no spirits left to support her—there were practically no weaknesses more significant from his perspective.

“Tsk.”

Clicking my tongue, I charged at him, buying some time for Cecilia to regroup. Even as I did, Abaddon’s limbs continued to explode, striking at me.

Given my internal injuries, I could feel the mana seeping into my insides, weighing my body down.

This is bad.

Where are Azar and Albrecht?

Amidst the fading consciousness, I drove my holy sword into Abaddon’s abdomen and unleashed my sword power. For a moment, his body swayed. But rather than remaining still, he endured the pain and grabbed my face. I felt the mana seep through his lips into my mind.

During my time with the Black Eagle Mercenaries, most human recruits caught by monsters died. I had seen countless mercenary comrades’ heads explode. I wouldn’t be an exception.

Just as I thought a vision of a galloping light appeared, my mind cleared.

I noticed Abaddon’s severed wrist lying before me.

“…”

It wasn’t Cecilia’s support.

Did I manage to chop it off in a moment of trance? No, that wasn’t it either.

It was thanks to the blonde-haired magician that suddenly appeared behind me.

“What on earth is happening?”

Emily Barried had arrived.

She frowned slightly, looking at me and the demon. Finally, her gaze landed on the smiling figure of the empress Adelheit behind the demon. In an instant, Emily’s eyes sharpened.

No, her eyes actually glowed with a blue light.

At the same time, as if sensing something menacing, Abaddon quickly retreated. The spot where he stood sunk down. A giant hole formed in the floor, penetrating the Imperial Palace and reaching underground.

“…What.”

I muttered in disbelief, taken aback.

Force materialized in the empty space. Not just any force, this was power that rivaled Elgore’s fist.

I knew this wasn’t some amazing magic. It was basic telekinesis or gravity magic. Didn’t Ophelia bring me a glass of water every night while lying on her bed, claiming she was thirsty?

It was just simple gravity magic, yet both Abaddon and I felt the threat of death rising. Emily’s state wasn’t what it used to be either. Should I say her pent-up fury was transforming into mana? Whatever it was, the situation was perilous.

Only then did I notice the staff of Archmage Eldarian held in Emily’s hands. The pieces of the puzzle started to come together in my mind.

“Emily! Get back! This situation isn’t good!”

“Shut it. I’ll make that decision.”

As Emily waved her hand, my body was swept away like a fallen leaf.

It felt as if the weight of the air had multiplied by hundreds.

Indeed, this peak gravity magic was akin to manipulating reality.

“I swear, I’ll kill that woman!”

As Emily spoke with a burning expression, for the first time, a look of surprise crossed Adelheit’s face.

Emily unleashed her magic. The stones scattered around her turned into projectiles and shot toward Adelheit. Abaddon swung his chains to block, but upon making eye contact with Emily, he was blown away amidst a loud explosion.

“…Is that alright?”

Cecilia asked, furrowing her brow.

Of course, it wasn’t alright. Emily’s magic was indeed formidable, but if she continued to haphazardly unleash mana like that, she would soon exhaust herself.

“We need to finish this quickly.”

“I will join in as well.”

“But you don’t have a sword.”

“I can make one.”

That was indeed true.

Before long, Cecilia had gathered her cold mana and shaped it into a small sword.

Now that I think about it, there was a basic skill like that in the game.

Regardless, with Emily’s appearance, the balance tilted slightly in our favor. It was merely a fleeting advantage, but it was better than nothing.

Cecilia and I joined forces against Abaddon. His limbs burst, and mana threatened to engulf us, but the winds of magic from Emily’s spell pushed it back.

However, luck has a limit. Seemingly having caught on to Emily’s magic, Abaddon grotesquely twisted his body to evade the gravity spell. As I swung my sword at the glaring weakness exposed, I was repelled by an intangible barrier.

“…Territory?”

Since it was manifested using the heart of Hell Duke Derabilice, could he also use his specialty, Territory?

This was dangerous. I had experienced the dangers of Territory time and again during fights against the Plague Lord and Hell Duke.

Just as I was about to pull back Cecilia by the nape of her neck,

Schlick! A flash of light passed before my eyes.

A golden spear that had flown in from who knows where pierced the center of the territory created by Abaddon. The mana storm quickly subsided as if it had never existed.

I gazed at the spear that had arrived like a beam of light.

It resembled a spear, but was somewhat translucent, lacking even a handle, appearing rather like a crude spike. However, the divine power contained within it was undeniably significant.

I looked towards the doorway of the rooftop.

Saint Ophelia was standing there, beaming with pride as she extended one hand toward me.

“This is my new technique.”

“…New technique?”

“Remember the Sanctuary? I compressed that into a spear form and shot it out. See? It’s pretty cool, right?”

I had told Ophelia not to rush into danger, yet it seemed she had developed an entirely new technique.

Was I witnessing a child’s stubbornness?

Or perhaps it was the talent of a demon.

“…No, the demon stands right in front of me.”

I steeled myself and glared at Abaddon.

Yet Ophelia called out to me.

“Elliot.”

“…What is it now?”

“Praise.”

Ophelia’s nose was just a tad higher than before.

“…I love you.”

“Uh-huh.”

Only then did Ophelia lower her chin, satisfied.