“How is your wound regenerating on its own?”


    Even so, how could I possibly know what a healer like you don’t?


    I shifted my gaze back to the injury.


    The flesh was squirming, slowly regenerating.


    This wasn’t due to any healing skill, was it?


    “I need to start treatment right away; we can discuss itter.”


    “I was worried that the wound might be infected. But seeing how it’s healing like this, it should be over soon.”


    The medic held a needle in his hand, while the priest from the Buddhist background clutched a cross and began to pray.


    I wasn’t entirely sure what was happening, but in the distance, ourrades were still engaged in battle. There was no time to search for answers now.


    “Sometimes it’s better not to overthink things.”


    I turned my attention back to the fight between the giant and our soldiers.


    An immensely powerful monster.


    “Sergeant Shin can take on that beast alone!”


    “If we lose with this many numbers then we are screwed!!”


    As the battle raged on, our side began to take casualties.


    While the soldiers seemed to hold their ground, the city’s residents were struggling to endure.


    Min-jae and the mages had struck directly above this building.


    That monster had probably taken the brunt of that lightning strike.


    To think it still had this much strength while wounded…


    “Still, things aren’t all that bad.”


    Our losses seemed significant, but if we kept fighting, victory felt within reach.


    “The rest should handle it well enough.”


    I thought I could just sit back and watch my juniors in action.


    But then…


    [The kin aren’ting.]


    The soldier fighting nearby nced around, puzzled.


    The “kin” referred to the other monsters outside.


    Even facing this pope, we were struggling so hard.


    If more monsters joined the fray, the situation would quickly turn dire.


    ‘But they’re noting.’


    I had no concerns on that front.


    I already had a n in ce.


    [You must have done something, didn’t you?]


    Perhaps sensing the tide turning against him, the monster’s demeanor shifted slightly.


    [Prepare yourself.]


    And then—


    – Graaaahhhhhh!!!


    A brilliant white light enveloped the giant’s body.


    * * *


    “What is that?!”


    “Stay calm!”


    Suddenly, the giant was surrounded by a blinding light, and the atmosphere shifted dramatically.


    ‘It was like a monster from a horror film just a moment ago.’


    Now, cloaked in pure white light, it resembled a giant illuminated by divine intervention.


    “Humph, it’s still just one.”


    “I don’t know what it ns to do, but as long as we hold our formation, we can manage!”


    “Yes!”


    We had umted plenty of experience by this point.


    The soldiers responded withposure.


    However…


    CRASH!


    “Gah!”


    “Byeong-min!”


    “Stay calm and hold the line!”


    A soldier hit by the attack flew far away.


    The weapon he used had cracked.


    ‘Is it sending our troops flying with a single blow?’


    The city’s allies, having lower levels than our soldiers, faced a dire situation.


    Our soldiers were elite, unmatched in level and equipment.


    The soldier who had just been sent flying was an elite who had fought alongside us from the beginning.


    This monster was already powerful enough and now it’s even stronger.


    ‘Is this something like a second phase?’


    To think a monster this formidable could grow even stronger was absurd.


    In that moment, a message appeared.


    [The Pope of the Deep Blue has unleashed thest of his divine power]


    [The Dasmurian Temple has been designated as a sacred domain]


    [While the sacred domain is maintained, escape from the area is impossible]


    [The physical abilities of the Pope of the Deep Blue have dramatically increased]


    [As a cost of burning thest of his divine power, the Pope’s body will begin to copse]


    Of course.


    “There’s no way such power woulde without a penalty.”


    It was a force that could easily crush anyone who dared to stand in its way. If we just held out, his body would copse on its own.


    But there was a problem.


    BOOM!


    “Damn it, how many have been sent flying?!”


    “The gaps in our formation are too wide! We can’t hold out much longer…!”


    “Hold on, we’ll endure with willpower!”


    It felt like before that copse could happen, our soldiers might be wiped out.


    Ugh.


    I had intended to just sit back and enjoy the show.


    “Uh, Sergeant Shin?”


    “You still need to rest a bit more…”


    “This is enough.”


    After confirming that my wounds had healed somewhat, I got back on my feet.


    But my mind was racing.


    ‘I’ve done everything I could.’


    I had called in the mages to unleash lightning, persuaded the city’s inhabitants to bolster our ranks, and even provided buffs through cooking.


    I hadyered all sorts of cooking effects to buy time against such a foe.


    What more could I do?


    ‘…Actually, there is one more n, but…’


    It had been only a thought, something I never believed could be done.


    Graaaahhhhh!


    But that monster had be so strong that defeating it through ordinary means seemed impossible.


    Then…


    “I guess I’ll have to gamble.”


    * * *


    Dragging my heavy body, I approached the formation in the midst of battle.


    There, among the rear mages, I spotted someone.


    “Jeong Soo-ah.”


    “Ah, my benefactor!”


    Soo-ah was our squad’s only Spirit Master.


    With her unique ability, she yed a crucial role in our unit, but herbat skills were rathercking. I had seen her get swept away by the waves created by the giant earlier.


    “Are you okay?!”


    “Sort of.”


    “Sort of isn’t good enough… You need to take care of yourself!”


    Normally, she rarely participated inbat, but with all the water around, it seemed she had been able to contribute with her water spirit.


    I addressed her as she anxiously checked my condition.


    “I have a n. Get ready; I’ll exin.”


    “Y-Yes!? But…”


    She seemed worried about me returning after being injured, but she was now a soldier in our unit.


    It was time to instill some military spirit in her.