Chapter 703

Tsk.

Aris clicked her tongue briefly as she pushed away the First Apostle's hand that came rushing at her.

'My bones are rattling.'

As befitting the second-in-command of the White Blood Religion, the First Apostle had reached a stable state of Transcendence.

Blocking spatial slashes with bare hands, he was definitely not below her level.

'Even so...'

He's not an opponent I can't beat.

Aris crushed the broken wall as she advanced, thrusting her sword toward the First Apostle's heart.

Whoosh!

The First Apostle, as if waiting, brought his hand down. His fingers, appearing more like attackers than defenders, flared with blazing heat.

'Is it the Blood Flame Art?'

It was definitely the Blood Flame Art, the White Blood Religion's supreme technique that burns bloody energy for maximum destructive power.

Boom!

Aris erased the First Apostle's Blood Flame Art with consecutive spatial slashes, then countered with a thrust of her sword.

Zing!

A surprise spatial sword attack sprang from the First Apostle's temple.

"Crude."

The First Apostle, already familiar with spatial sword attacks, blocked it with the back of his hand.

After defending, he closed the distance with Aris using swift footwork, aiming for close combat where he could better utilize his hands.

"Unfortunately for you..."

Aris deflected the First Apostle's palm strike over her shoulder, a smirk twisting her lips.

"Close-quarters combat is my specialty!"

She twisted the space. The First Apostle's offense was pushed back, and she struck his chest with the sword hilt.

Thud!

The First Apostle staggered back three steps after the hit to his solar plexus. Yet he charged again, as if unfazed.

"Is he a freaking zombie?"

Aris frowned. Even though she had hit him with enough force to crush bones, he seemed immune to pain.

"Fine. I'll strip your flesh from your bones!"

Gritting her teeth, Aris unleashed a barrage of sword strikes toward the First Apostle's hand.

Kwaaang!

Sword and hand clashed diagonally, scattering crimson energy in all directions.

The shockwave swept away Zieghart’s swordsmen and White Blood fanatics alike.

"Hah."

Aris shook her sword, now stained with bloody energy, and tilted her chin.

"As expected of the White Blood Religion’s second-in-command. Annoyingly strong."

"Second-in-command?"

The Second Apostle, who had been toying with a Zieghart swordsman, chuckled.

"That person is not the second-in-command."

She curled her lips in mockery.

"......"

The First Apostle clenched his trembling fist in silence.

“Then who? I’ve never heard of a vice leader in your cult.”

Aris narrowed her eyes at the Second Apostle.

“There’s no such thing. The leader is our god, then the second-in-command is…”

Suddenly, a faint whistle-like sound brushed the Second Apostle’s ears.

"Found them. Over there."

She turned to the left, licking her red lips.

“I’ll leave it to you here.”

She gave the First Apostle a light gesture and vanished into white mist.

"Wait, that way is..."

Aris chewed her lip as the mist drifted away.

‘Could it be?’

It was the direction of the annex building—neither part of the inner nor outer walls.

‘No!’

The main building swordsmen and senators were all stationed at the outer walls to protect the citizens.

Though strong swordsmen were at the annex, it wasn’t enough to stop the Second Apostle.

‘There’s no one there.’

Balder was on reconnaissance. Denier was on standby at the main building. The Gambling Monster was defending the outer wall.

Sylvia? Even though she had grown, she couldn’t stop an Apostle.

“Damn it!”

Aris activated the Phantom Flow Space Steps. As she tried to slice through space—

Bang!

A stark white hand burst out of thin air, blocking her. The First Apostle unleashed his bloody energy, halting her steps and shooting pain through her.

“Get lost!”

Ignoring the pain, Aris swung a flurry of strikes at the First Apostle’s neck.

Creeeak!

Sensing her desperation, the First Apostle fortified his defense, solely blocking her path.

“You need to know.”

His eyes darkened with chilling menace.

“We will show you—painfully—what happens when you touch the White Blood Religion.”

“If you don’t move, you die.”

Aris twisted her lips and sheathed her sword, covering her chest and bending her knees.

“Sword Field Creation.”

She bit her lip.

“Annihilation.”

The blade shot from the sheath like moonlight, exuding a chilling intent to obliterate.

“Blood Explosion.”

From the First Apostle’s hand, a white flame blazed—energy that seemed to incinerate life itself.

Kwaaaaang!

The ultimate slash and the world-burning energy collided in a blinding shockwave.

* * *

“Huu…”

Sylvia let out a low breath and fastened her combat uniform.

‘To think someone could hold back elder sister…’

The massive clash of powers at the fortress wall could be felt even here.

A monster had come—one that could restrain Aris at full strength.

‘Sir Raon was right.’

Before leaving, he had warned her: the Five Demons might strike.

And they had.

“My lady…”

Helen approached, holding Sylvia’s trembling hand.

“I’ve secured all the maids in the basement. Now, you should—”

“No. I have to stay.”

Sylvia smiled faintly at Helen.

“But—”

“It’s alright.”

She stroked Helen’s hair.

"The enemies won’t come this far. Even if they do, they’ll only send scouts."

The annex was isolated. Enemies would go for the main building or the outer walls.

“Then I’ll stay too—”

“You should go inside.”

Sylvia hardened her expression and gripped her sword. A blue glow swept through the garden trees.

Shaaak!

A branch—and the masked figure perched on it—fell to the ground.

“Ugh…”

The assassin clutched his bleeding neck and groaned.

Puhk!

Sylvia struck again, ending him.

‘He’s not from the Five Demons.’

She’d fought four of them before Raon was born. None of them used men like this.

‘This must be the group targeting Sir Raon…’

Yes. They were the ones who attacked Beast King Ogram.

Whoooosh!

A fierce wind stirred. Sylvia looked right.

Enemies surged in with killing intent.

Boom!

A swordsman Aris had left behind blocked them—but there were too many.

“There’s nothing to gain here.”

Sylvia stepped forward. The enemy surged.

Shaaak!

She extended her foot and slashed upward.

A wave of sea-colored energy swept out, and heads fell like petals.

Her sword technique was beautiful—and deadly.

Sylvia bit her lip.

‘I have to steel my resolve.’

She couldn’t falter.

She cut down every white blood fanatic, assassin, and Eden monster that came close.

“Haa…”

She glanced at the growing pile of bodies.

‘Why here?’

There was nothing special in the annex. Why were they converging?

Slash!

Perhaps unable to break in, the enemies paused—surrounding the building.

‘Fine by me.’

Sylvia lowered her sword and clicked her tongue.

‘Just a little longer… hmm?’

Whoooosh!

A tall woman wrapped in white energy like a scarf stepped forward.

Her copper skin and tattered robe exuded power.

“Red eyes and golden hair. I know who you are.”

The woman smiled.

“You must be Sylvia Zieghart.”

Sylvia lowered her stance.

‘An Apostle…’

No—worse. It was the Second Apostle.

‘I can’t win.’

But so what?

She received Raon’s artificial energy center to protect this place.

“I will fight.”

Sylvia stepped forward—then paused.

Shiiing!

A sharp, slicing sound rang out. The right flank of the enemy formation shattered.

Red eyes glowed from within the blood mist.

Karoon Zieghart—the disgraced elder of Central Martial Palace—appeared with murderous intent.

Chiiiing!

With a faint tremble of his sword, enemies collapsed—split in half.

Squelch.

He stepped over their blood and advanced.

“E-elder brother…”

Sylvia’s voice trembled.

“Karoon Zieghart?”

The Second Apostle frowned.

“I heard you were imprisoned. You shouldn’t be here.”

She cracked her knuckles.

“No matter what crime I face later, I don’t care.”

Veins bulged in Karoon’s forehead.

“I can’t stand filthy bastards setting foot on Zieghart’s land—even in death.”

He charged.

“This is getting messy!”

The Second Apostle thrust her fist at him.

“Stop babbling and die.”

Karoon’s thin sword met her strike.

“Sword Field Creation: Emperor.”

* * *

Bzzzzzap!

A massive shock burst across Zieghart. The blue window showing the battles went dark.

Glenn closed his eyes.

‘Karoon…’

His heart swelled at seeing Karoon protect Sylvia.

His hands trembled.

He wanted to see his children’s faces—right now.

“It seems things didn’t go as planned.”

Chamber, the Archmage of Eternal Flame, chuckled beneath her hat.

"That Raon kid… doesn’t think like a Zieghart."

She looked at the eyes within the dragon helmet.

"What’re you hoping to scavenge, Archmage?”

The blue dragon helmet spoke with a scoff.

"Whose fault is that? Yours, brat."

Chamber chewed her lollipop, her eyes narrowing.

“Even if I tease that muscle pig… I care about him.”

A deadly pressure rose in her gaze.

“I’ll tear you limb from limb.”

"I’d like to test myself against you."

The Fallen stepped forward, mask smiling gently.

“I need to understand the Archmage’s strength before I strike down Balkar.”

“Do as you wish.”

Chamber smiled sweetly.

The world turned upside down.

Rivers soared. Earth flew into the sky.

“Reverse Sky World?”

The Fallen spun his fingers—and the distortion reversed.

This was magic that altered reality—Transcendent-level.

"Are we next?"

The South-North Union leader stretched his neck.

“No. Wait.”

The swordsman in the dragon helmet raised his blade.

“With the balance broken, all they’ve brought is that mage.”

He chuckled at the Fallen and Chamber’s clash.

“The rest must guard their domains.”

“……”

Glenn’s eyes glowed quietly.

"The same goes for us."

The swordsman in the dragon helmet pulled on his gloves. His sword blazed with death energy.

"Let’s duel."

"I have something I want to see."

Glenn raised Heavenly Tremor.

Blood-red lightning danced atop the white blade.

“Let’s end this quickly.”

***

If you find any errors or have suggestions, please feel free to provide feedback.

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Writing Ant, 글개미]

[Translator – Irving]

[Proofreader – Mayank]