Chapter 64
[Translator – Kie]
[Proofreader – Kawaii]
Chapter 64: The Dungeon(2)
***
Cheongyeum.
One of the five great elders of the Church and leader of a sect ‘The Incinerator’.
All five great elders were like monsters. Even the master class called Superhuman was just a child compared to the five great elders.
Damien fought and won against all five great elders.
If you ask him who was the strongest of the five great elders, he will not hesitate to name Cheongyeum.
That’s how great Cheongyeum was. Even Damien remembered him as a dangerous opponent.
Agnes was Cheongyeum’s direct disciple.
Direct disciples referred to those who were considered the highest among all disciples. Agnes was one of the few who received direct teachings from Cheongyeum.
“I am going to dedicate this battle to God.”
Blue flames began to spread over Agnes’s hands.
The blue flames exploded. In the blink of an eye, Agnes reached the Flesh Golem’s nose.
A series of explosions.
The explosion that started from the elbow pushed the fist forward. The accelerated fist struck the Flesh Golem’s neck.
With a clanging sound, the Flesh Golem was slammed into the wall.
Agnes moved again. With another explosion, this time she appeared behind another Flesh Golem.
Two consecutive strikes hit the Flesh Golem. Blood burst from its mouth.
‘She has already mastered Cheongyeum’s battle tactics perfectly.’
The paladins of the sect ‘The Incinerator’ could control powerful flames that could burn all things to ashes.
But Cheongyeum used this power in a slightly different way.
The power of flames did not harm the owner. Of course, the explosions were the same.
Cheongyeum invented a technique that used the power of explosions to propel him forward.
‘Although most of the attacks are straightforward and easy to read…’
Cheongyeum’s self-invented technique showed overwhelming speed and power that overwhelmed this disadvantage.
Before they knew it, all the Flesh Golems were lying on the ground. Agnes looked at Damien and said, “Damien, it’s all over…”
Suddenly, Damien rushed towards Agnes. He wrapped his arms around Agnes’s shoulders and turned his body. At the same time, he stretched his legs backward. The Flesh Golem that was about to attack Agnes was kicked away.
– Kieak!
The Flesh Golem was pushed back. With its eyes full of hatred, it glared at Damien.
– Kieak!
– Kieak!
Flesh Golems also got up and roared.
The Flesh Golems were unharmed, only momentarily stunned by the impact.
Their tough skin protected them.
“Even after getting hit by the master’s techniques, they are still fine…?”
Agnes muttered with an incredulous expression on her face. Soon after thinking something her face lit up.
“Sir Damien, please watch over me again. This time, I will burn them all.”
Flames began to burn on Agnes’s entire body.
It looked like she was going to use her divine power to reduce the Flesh Golems to ashes.
‘It seems like she has talent. But there are still too many shortcomings.’
Damien sighed inwardly.
If Agnes were to fully utilize the power of flames, she could burn these Flesh Golems in an instant.
But they didn’t know how long the dungeon conquest would last. They couldn’t afford to waste their strength already.
“Miss Agnes, please calm down.”
Agnes’s talent would be a great help to the Church.
For the growth of Agnes, Damien gave her one piece of advice.
“Quantity is not important. Quality is important.”
Damien stood up. Aura was gathered around the Holy Sword. The aura was much denser than usual.
– Kieak!
A Flesh Golem rushed towards Damien. It was the one he had just kicked away.
“Increase the concentration of divine power. Think of it as lava, not fire. Use divine power so dense that it flows, not burns.”
Damien swung the Holy Sword. The tough skin that had even withstood Agnes’s punch was cut like a piece of paper. The Flesh Golem was destroyed.
“Did you see that?”
Damien turned to Agnes. She was looking at him with wide eyes.
“Miss Agnes, you can do it too. Remember what I said and try it.”
Encouraged by Damien, Agnes clenched her fists. Blue flames started to gathered around her fists.
But the flames subsided. A faint light covering appeared on her fist.
Agnes moved forward. She rushed and struck the Flesh Golem.
The Flesh Golem’s skin shattered like a cookie. Its core crumbled and exploded.
A faint smile appeared on Damien’s lips.
She learned it so quickly. Indeed, she had the exceptional talent to be considered a direct disciple of a great elder.
Perhaps she could even reach the level of a master.
‘I’m glad I participated in the crusade.’
Watching Agnes overwhelm the Flesh Golem, Damien was very satisfied.
***
After that, the Crusaders fought a few more battles.
As they continued to advance, a wide space appeared.
“Huh? It splits into five paths?”
Margata pointed ahead and said. There were five entrances in the wall.
“Now the real dungeon begins.”
Gamal muttered, looking at the five entrances.
“Let’s take a break here. Soldiers, start preparing meals. Margata, Sanus, follow me. We need to discuss about that.”
After saying that, Gamal turned around.
“Why is he suddenly acting like a leader?”
Margata thought, looking at Gamal with a displeased face.
“Well, he’s always been eager to take charge.”
“You seem to know a lot about Gamal~?”
“What do you mean ‘know a lot’? He’s always like that, so I know.”
“Margata~ Let’s go together~.”
Margata moved towards where Gamal was heading. Sanus followed behind.
While the 2nd-grade paladins were discussing, the soldiers started preparing meals.
The soldiers started bringing food like jerky and dried bread.
“Sir Damien, rest here. I’ll bring it.”
Before Damien could move, Agnes spoke first.
“No need for that.”
The two turned their heads towards the sound.
Dionysius, the paladin of ‘Mixed Blizzard’ sect, was standing with food in his hand.
“Here, take it.”
Dionysius handed the food to Agnes. Agnes took the food and thanked him briefly.
“Thanks.”
“You’re my big sister, so I brought it for you.”
Saying that, Dionysius turned around.
Before leaving, Dionysius gave Damien a sharp look.
It seemed that he had not forgotten his defeat from the previous day.
“Sir Damien, take it.”
Agnes handed half of the food to Damien. Damien chewed on a piece of jerky and asked.
“You seem quite close to that paladin.”
“Are you talking about Dionysius? I’ve taken care of him a few times when he was still an ordinary paladin.”
Agnes grabbed a piece of bread with both hands and started eating it.
“He kept saying he would join the ‘The Incinerator’ after following me. But he ended up going to the Mixed Blizzard.”
Agnes’s voice was tinged with regret. It seemed they were quite close.
Damien and Agnes were silent for a moment, focusing on their meal.
Throughout the meal, Agnes looked inside the cave.
Her face was calm, but there was a strange fire burning deep in her eyes.
“Why are you pursuing Corpseplay?”
Damien asked suddenly.
All paladins abhor dark mages. Dark mages are beings who oppose the gods.
But Agnes’s hatred seemed to be not for such reasons. It seemed to be more personal.
“…You’re asking about personal matters so easily. Sir Damien, you’re quite indifferent.”
“If you are not okay with it, you don’t have to tell me.”
“No, You came all this way for me, and it would be rude to keep it from you. You’ve taught me some important lessons.”
Agnes took a sip from her water bottle. She looked somewhat frustrated.
“Do you know how corpseplay first came to be known to the world?”
“He got famous after an incident where a large village was turned into an undead lair.”
“That village is my hometown.”
Damien couldn’t help but be surprised at the shocking reveal.
He had never expected there to be survivors in that village.
“I still remember it vividly. It was the day my brother finally returned home.”
Agnes continued with a sigh.
“My brother was a paladin. Like me, he was a member of the ‘The Incinerator.’ He was the most promising paladin.”
Agnes’s talent was exceptional. Her brother must have been a great paladin as well.
“I liked listening to my brother’s stories. That day, I was urging him to tell me about the mission he had been given by the Church.”
Agnes’s expression softened slightly.
“Suddenly, we heard screams from outside. My brother rushed outside. I followed him without knowing anything and… saw it.”
Creatures were pouring into the village from outside.
They were not ordinary creatures they were different types of creatures, and they were attacking and killing the villagers.
“At that moment, I believe my brother realized that he could not solve the problem with his powers, so decided to hide me in a large box in the house.”
Agnes’s expression stiffened again.
“And he gave me something in the box. Later, I found out it was a holy relic of stealth specially provided by the sect to protect talented paladins in tough situations.”
Young Agnes trembled with fear inside the box.
All she could see was the faint scenery outside through the cracks in the box.
“I kept hearing screams from outside. It was the screams of people I knew, like the neighbor Cecile and Mr. Obel from across the street. Then, I heard my brother’s voice last.”
Agnes’s hand holding the food was trembling slightly.
“I didn’t even know if my brother was alive or dead, I was trapped in the box. I was hungry and thirsty, but I couldn’t leave. My brother’s request not to come out until someone opened the the box. When my mind became hazy, and I had no strength in my body… the lid of the box opened.”
The Crusade sent by the Church had arrived.
After dealing with the undead, the Crusade discovered Agnes while searching the village.
Since then, Agnes has been under the protection of the Church. Only after fully recovering her strength could she hear the truth about what happened in the village.
A dark mage known as Corpseplay was responsible whole massacre.
And it goes without saying that Agnes was the only survivor in the village.
Agnes looked at Damien. Her eyes were as dim as a dried-up well.
***
“Is the meal going well?”
Margata returned a while later.
“I just discussed plans with Gamal. There are about five entrances. Should we split up or we go in one by one to be sure.”
Margata chewed on some jerky thoughtfully.
“What were your thoughts?”
“Me? I was in favor of dividing. The entrances and corridors are small, so it would be too crowded if we all rushed in at once.”
Even though Margata had seen how strong the Flesh Golems were on the way here, she was still suggesting splitting the forces without any concern.
Perhaps it was due to her confidence.
The sect’s 2nd-grade paladin had earned the right to be so arrogant.
“Sanus shared the same opinion. Gamal wants us all to go in together, but Sanus and I suggested dividing. What could he do?”
“Is it confirmed that each will enter separately?”
“Seems like it.”
“Then your role will become crucial once the forces are divided. You’re the strongest among us.”
Margata raised an eyebrow at Damien’s words.
“That’s not it, We’re lucky to have you here. Thanks to you, there have been no casualties, and we’ve been conserving our strength.”
The Flesh Golem blocking the entrance was unusual. If it weren’t for Damien, there might have been casualties.
The Flesh Golem with tough skins was the same. It almost caused significant damage to the forces because of its stealth and ability to tank hits.
“I look forward to the future…….”
Damien’s senses picked up something. He stood up with his Holy Sword.
“What’s wrong?”
Margata asked with a puzzled expression.
It was right after that. Eerie sounds began to emanate from the five entrances.
The forces immediately stood up and held their weapons. Both soldiers and paladins stared at the entrance with tense expressions.
Five Flesh Golems walked out of the entrances one by one.
They had elongated arms like monkeys, and their lower bodies were snake-like.
All five were so tall that their heads almost touched the ceiling. They were emitting a dense dark mana that made it difficult to breathe.
“These are formidable foes.”
Margata muttered under her breath, licking her lips.
“Agnus, Damien, stay still. It seems like we have to deal with them.”
Agnus reached out for her weapon hanging from her waist.
Seeing that, Damien couldn’t help but be amazed.
“Is that…Gauntlet?”
Damien had thought it was a blunt instrument for crushing, but it was actually a protective gauntlet for her fist.
Other 2nd-grade paladins seemed to feel what Margata and Damien sensed.
Gamal took out a spear for the first time. Sanus held a large axe like a guillotine.
“Gamal, I’ll attack first. You provide support.”
“Don’t talk nonsense. You’re my support.”
“Everyone, stop fighting.”
A 2nd-grade paladins of the Church.
On top of the disciples of the Five Great Elders.
Despite not raising their divine power, an indescribable pressure emanated from the three.
“Ah, forget it. I won’t fight you. I’ll fight with Sanus.”
“Childish…”
Margata and Gamal were bickering.
Suddenly, a loud explosion erupted from beneath their feet.
At the same time, the ground where the crusade stood collapsed all at once.
***
[Translator – Kie]
[Proofreader – Kawaii]
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