TOP 72

Chapter 72

This Actually Works?

Kuguguguaaaaaaaang!

The Hammer of Light.

I had seen it before.

“Saint Hammer.”

A holy magic used by a 7-star Paladin in the “Snow Mountain Cave” dungeon.

In other words…

“Those Gaia bastards!”

It was now certain that the current situation was an attack by them.

“Damn it.”

My mind was racing.

Were they targeting me or Geum Yu-gang?

That was the first question I had to consider.

“The chance they’re after me is low.”

If I were their target, there would be no reason to strike while I was with Geum Yu-gang.

It was far more likely they were after Geum Yu-gang, and I had just gotten caught up in it by bad luck.

“If I’m not the target, that’s a relief….”

But it was still a troublesome situation.

The fact that Geum Yu-gang’s driver turned out to be a Gaia minion meant this attack was carefully planned.

“Whether he was a minion from the start or brainwashed halfway through by something like ‘Judgment’….”

Either way, it was no sloppy plan.

And then.

“Hmm. How did you figure it out? Well, it’s too late now anyway.”

As if to prove my suspicion correct, Paladins and priests appeared from all around.

There were a dozen of them, all fully armed.

“…Gaia bastards.”

“Deputy Director Kwak!? What the hell are you doing here!”

I spat out my anger, while Geum Yu-gang, barely crawling out of the destroyed limousine, shouted a protest at a familiar-looking Paladin.

It didn’t really matter.

“Our bishop ordered it. He told us to ‘judge’ you here.”

“Judge…?”

“First, let’s save our believer, shall we?”

At the Paladin’s gesture, the priests approached the driver.

“Holy Cure!”

And they reattached his limbs.

“T-Thank you! Oh, Gaia!”

‘I kept him alive just in case, but I should have just killed him.’

It was regrettable.

I had saved him to prevent any misunderstandings with Geum Yu-gang.

‘Frill. Anyone else around?’

[It doesn’t look like it! Completely empty.]

‘Damn it.’

The Gaia Order was meticulous.

Given their obsession with managing appearances, they could only carry out such acts in an isolated area.

I had hoped to use anyone nearby if there was a chance… but here, that was impossible.

Even with Seoul’s dense population, some areas were still recovering from monster damage.

This was one of those places.

Perfect for the bastards to carry out their plan.

‘Maybe they deliberately didn’t restore this area….’

I even entertained that thought, but it was meaningless now.

“Geum Yu-gang, CEO of Geumwa Group.”

A Paladin, apparently their leader, stepped forward.

“…Deputy Director Kwak. Aren’t you a man of faith? Why are you doing this─”

“We follow the Goddess. That’s all.”

“…….”

“Well, we wouldn’t have gone this far either, but we got intel that the plan wouldn’t go as expected.”

“What do you mean… ah!”

Geum Yu-gang looked at me suddenly.

‘Why?’

Then he turned his gaze forward again and muttered.

“…I see. As expected, you aren’t an ordinary religious group.”

“I’ll say it again: we only follow the Goddess.”

“Doing this here means we can interpret it as the use of force, correct?”

“If necessary.”

The Paladin said that confidently, staring Geum Yu-gang down.

“Geum Yu-gang. Lastly, I will give Geumwa Group a chance to believe in the Goddess.”

The Paladin was brimming with confidence, as if daring him to refuse.

‘Gaia bastards. Were they trying to swallow Geumwa Group?’

Seems likely.

They tried to seize Geumwa Group but failed, so now they set a trap to even use force.

‘At least they’re not after me, but this situation isn’t any better.’

“Never! I will not bow to you.”

Geum Yu-gang gave the Paladin the middle finger.

“Too bad. Choosing punishment over reward in the end.”

Both sides drew their weapons.

A tense standoff.

No, not just tense.

Swoooosh─!

The clash erupted immediately.

The Paladin’s white sword struck against Geum Yu-gang’s golden greatsword with a deafening boom.

At the same time:

“Holy Bless.”

“Saint Armor.”

Other Paladins and priests drew weapons and buffed themselves.

“Ha.”

“Uh, what do we do, Master?”

Yoo Seol-ah misaddressed him, but there was no time to correct her.

“This is definitely a bad situation.”

“…Yes.”

Of course, even if Gaia was after Geum Yu-gang, there was no way we could leave this area unscathed.

They wouldn’t let any witnesses leave.

They would either kill or brainwash them.

But I didn’t want either.

So only one option remained.

“While Geum Yu-gang deals with that Paladin, we must take out the rest.”

Fight and win.

Then everything would be resolved.

‘Not everything. There will be consequences.’

Of course, Gaia might take additional actions.

But that could wait.

First, we had to handle the immediate situation.

Glancing over, Geum Yu-gang was fighting the Paladin evenly.

That meant:

‘The other battles are the key.’

Whether we could defeat the remaining Paladins and priests would decide the outcome.

“For Gaia!”

“Submit to the Goddess!”

At that moment, the Paladins charged us.

Judging by their presence, about 5–6 stars.

And there were over a dozen of them, plus a backup of 5–6 priests behind.

Meanwhile, we were only two.

[I’m here too!]

…Three.

Clearly outnumbered.

But.

“You can do it, right?”

“…Yes!”

We had to.

“Ice Storm!”

[Ice Storm!]

Yoo Seol-ah and Frill cast a cooperative spell, unleashing a powerful ice storm to trap the Paladins’ feet.

“A mage!”

“Still only 5 stars! Handle them with your bodies!”

Indeed, Paladins had strong defenses.

Their armor was sturdy, and they had defensive skills.

Plus, priests could heal them.

But.

Shwhiiooo─!

“Ugh!”

“Mu…n…!”

This wasn’t just an ordinary 5-star mage’s Ice Storm.

[Seol-ah, use more mana!]

“Yes, sister!”

[Focus! Sharpen the ice shards!]

“Yes!”

Unlimited mana recovery allowed them to sustain the spell.

With Frill, the ultimate ice magic mentor, assisting Yoo Seol-ah.

And Frill herself was also casting magic.

There was no way the attack was weak.

“Oh, Goddess!”

“They said 5 stars! What is this…!”

The unexpectedly strong power caused the Paladins to hesitate.

I took that chance to charge.

[Go, Eugene!]

Tap-tap-!

The slowed Paladins met me.

“Don’t panic! He’s only 5 stars─!”

Vwoooom─

I revealed my Aura Blade in front of them.

Not the 5-star Aura Thread, but the 6-star Hunter’s Aura Blade.

“W-What…!”

“Aura… Blade─”

Someone’s shout never finished.

Shriiiiik─!

The Paladins’ overwhelming defense was useless against the Aura Blade.

I cut down the Paladins trapped in the ice storm.

“6 stars!?”

“They said 5 stars! Impossible!”

Of course, they wouldn’t have known I had reached 6 stars in the dungeon.

“Your turn! I’ll take you on!”

One of the 6-star Paladins stepped forward.

But.

Swoosh─

I dodged lightly.

“You slippery bastard! Don’t run!”

“Am I crazy?”

The Paladins ranged from 5 to 6 stars.

I could easily cut the 5 stars, but not the 6 stars.

It would take time to handle them one by one, and I would eventually get surrounded.

‘Take out the 5 stars first.’

Better to start with the easily defeated enemies.

Shreek─!

“Holy Cure!”

Not easy, though.

If I didn’t kill them instantly, their wounds would be rapidly healed by strong holy magic.

“Protect your necks!”

“Tch.”

Now they had noticed.

As long as their necks weren’t cut, they wouldn’t die.

‘It’s getting tough.’

In the short time available, I could only take out four Paladins.

Six remained, three of whom were 6 stars.

Still, we weren’t at a huge disadvantage.

As long as Yoo Seol-ah and Frill maintained Ice Storm, I could move faster than the enemies.

Ice Storm didn’t discriminate between friend and foe, but I had cold resistance.

And.

‘I need to save One Punch.’

After exhausting my mana in the dungeon, I didn’t have much left.

Even Dwarven Draupnir had limited mana.

One Punch couldn’t wipe them all in one blow.

It had to be reserved for decisive moments.

‘…No choice.’

I had to rely on enhanced physical abilities and rear support.

“5334, 5890, 5944. Handle the rear mages.”

“Yes!”

“Understood!”

Correction: I had to face three 6-star Paladins with no rear support.

[Yoojin, sorry! Ice Storm ends here!]

‘Take over there.’

[Got it!]

Once the Paladins engaged, Yoo Seol-ah and Frill couldn’t maintain the area control spell.

They had to fight up close.

So, Ice Storm ended for everyone except me.

“You slippery bastard. How dare you kill the Goddess’ followers!”

“You tried to kill first!”

“We didn’t! We only wanted to give you a chance to serve the Goddess.”

“‘Judgment’?”

“…!”

“How do you know that…!?”

Judgment was an unknown holy spell.

They were shocked I knew it.

“Well, I learned it by torturing a priest I met on the road.”

A distant memory from before coming to Seoul.

“…Doesn’t matter. You killed four of the Goddess’ followers. Immediate execution!”

Three Paladins thrust their Aura Blades at me.

‘Hoo.’

I quickly created distance, parrying with the Aura Blade.

Swoooosh─!

“Where do you think you’re going!”

I wanted one-on-one combat, but it wasn’t easy.

Three Paladins’ combined attacks were extremely tricky.

‘Fighting inside Ice Storm was definitely easier.’

I had to use all my skills to counter them.

Spot─!

I exploited openings with Dancing Blade.

But the damage was minimal.

Dancing Blade is more effective when pushing forward, not against a combined attack.

Still.

‘An opening!’

Shreek─!

I seized the chance to decapitate one Paladin.

Meanwhile, the other Paladins’ Aura Blades tried to cut me down.

‘Damn. Can’t dodge.’

No angle to evade.

‘Just avoid fatal blows!’

I twisted my body to avoid deadly strikes.

If I survived, I could handle two Paladins with One Punch and potions.

I braced for the pain.

Crunch! Clack!

“?”

“?”

“?”

But the Aura Blades didn’t sever me.

They only cut into the skin and some muscle.

They failed to break bone.

‘What the…?’

Even the Paladins were surprised I withstood their Aura Blades barehanded.

Was that even an Aura Blade?

Just a glowing sword?

Everyone thought the same.

“…Ah!”

Another realization hit me.

“Divine Power: Dragon Body – Stage 3”

Transforming my body drastically through metamorphosis.

One effect:

[Aura Resistance +1,800%]

So.

“I can withstand Aura?”

Exactly.

That explained it.

“W-What…!?”

“Impossible! How…!”

I smiled faintly at the still-shocked Paladins.

“Paladins.”

Then I said my farewell.

“Leave your last words.”

I realized finally.

This fight.

‘I cannot lose!’

This was a battle I could not possibly lose.