Chapter 140


    Cyphry stepped forward.


    “Wait! Just wait a moment!”


    Diem, who had been sparing his words until now, urgently intervened.


    “This is far too dangerous, isn’t it?”


    — What do you mean?


    Irritated by the interruption, Cyphry asked in an annoyed tone.


    “Are you seriously asking? The monsters are swarming toward us, can’t you see? They’re heading right for where we are.”


    Diem pointed back down the corridor with an arrow in hand as he spoke.


    Ian understood what Diem was trying to say. Ever since entering the ruins, Ian hadn’t neglected to monitor their surroundings.


    He had detected the approaching enemies as they entered within a certain range.


    “It’s obvious there’s someone formidable waiting inside. If we get attacked from behind during all this, it’s over!”


    — Don’t worry. I’ll deal with the traitor. All you need to do is handle the lesser threats around us.


    “…Hmm.”


    Ian hesitated briefly.


    “Even so, don’t just say we can open and close the door whenever we want. We need to consider the possibility of retreating if things go wrong.”


    — How unwarrior-like. Are you nning for retreat before the battle even begins?


    “I’m not a warrior, I’m a mercenary. Surviving is the key to seeing another day.”


    Diem growled in response, clearly annoyed.


    His logic wasn’t wrong. Logically speaking, if this corridor was the only path deeper inside, securing an escape route in advance made sense.


    “Let’s first clear out the monsters pushing through here, then proceed inside.”


    However, Diem was overlooking one crucial fact: the world doesn’t work that smoothly. Just because one wants to flee doesn’t mean they can.


    If they attempted to retreat, the enemy wouldn’t just let them go. Naturally, they’d pursue, and in the process, someone would inevitably have to sacrifice themselves.


    Moreover, this ce was an Outer World structure where escape wasn’t a simple option.


    Even with the use of techniques like Pamael, breaking through the barrier would expend immense magical energy, which would be better used to tear the enemy apart.


    — Grr…


    At that moment, monsters began appearing one by one at the end of the corridor, quickly filling the wide passage.


    They eyed one another warily but revealed faint, yellowed teeth in the dim light, grinning.


    Their delight was palpable—they were clearly anticipating a rare meal.


    As they closed the distance step by step, they soon started sprinting,peting to take the first bite.


    “Kiieeek!”


    — What’s your move?


    “Like this.”


    Ian scattered his mana into the air.


    Pop-pop-pop!


    With short bursts, mes ignited.


    Using Dior’s Ember Orbs, which had a secondary explosion feature, would consume too much mana and unleash excessive power, so Ian opted for a simpler method.


    The fireballs trailed long arcs through the air, falling toward the monsters advancing below.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Explosions engulfed the corridor, shaking the structure slightly. Dust trickled down from the seams in the ceiling.


    Ian nced at Cyphry beside him.


    “Not a singlement from you? That’s unexpected.”


    — This ce isn’t fragile enough to copse from that.


    Indeed, the ruins appeared incredibly solid. The columns, seemingly carved out of a mountain, were so massive that it would take two or three adults with their arms spread wide to encircle them.


    Ian turned his gaze to the end of the corridor. The fire, now burning fiercely, consumed the shattered remains of the monsters. But some monsters still lingered.


    Ian didn’t mind.


    Whoosh!


    The zing mes converged under Ian’s control, taking the shape of a serpent. The fiery snake opened its gaping maw and surged forward through the corridor.


    “Kiiek?”


    The startled monsters halted abruptly, stepping back before turning to flee entirely.


    The hunters, who had been eyeing their prey, now found themselves the hunted in an instant.


    The fiery serpent engulfed the monsters, incinerating thempletely.


    “Ugh.”


    As the stench of burning flesh filled the air, Audrey created a gust of wind to blow the odor outside.


    “The situation’s mostly under control, but it’s probably best to block off the corridor.”


    Though the monsters had fled for now, there was always a chance they’d return.


    “Gawain, can you seal off the corridor with a wall?”


    “Not difficult. But, are you sure about this?”


    “If we can’t defeat whatever’s ahead, running won’t be an option. It’s better to fortify our position for safety.”


    “If you say so.”


    Gawain lightly stomped his foot.


    Crack-crack-crack!


    Ice began to form on the floor, piling upyer uponyer until the corridor waspletely blocked.


    The wall, gleaming like transparent ss, reflected the faint light in the darkness.


    With such thickness, it would likely hold against any monster for some time.


    — Priest.


    Cyphry called out to Rease, who had been silently holding her staff. Startled, she responded hastily.


    “Y-yes?”


    — Bestow your blessing upon your allies, with all the faith you can muster.


    Rease nced at Audrey, Gawain, and finally Ian. Her eyes seemed to ask what to do, and Ian gave her a nod.


    Momentster, she recited a prayer, and golden light enveloped the group.


    A warm strength filled their bodies, and Gawain, Audrey, and Diem audibly sighed in relief.


    Though Ian, possessing spiritual resilience, was unaffected by the ruin’s oppressive aura, the others had been subtly suffering from it.


    — I’m opening it now.


    “Won’t you tell us about the traitor first?”


    — It’s pointless. They’ve changed, worshipping the filth of the outer world. Even I don’t know much. But worry not—I will defeat them.


    From Cyphry’s sleeve emerged an ink-ck hand, which lightly tapped the massive stone door.


    Where the fingers touched, ripples spread, illuminating the carvings on the door.


    With a heavy rumble, the door began to open.


    Grrrrrng…


    Beyond the stone doory a two-story chapel. It was a ruin of its former glory, so dpidated that its past magnificence was unimaginable.


    The floor was littered with fractured marble, and the columns, appearing to have been violently struck, stood precariously.


    Rotting wooden benches bore evidence of prolonged neglect.


    The walls were lined with piles of white, glowing bones. In the faint light, the shape of the bones was unmistakably human.


    Groooooan…


    However, the oppressive atmosphere of the sanctuary was dominated by the ominous outer gate embedded into the far wall.


    A dark-blue vortex spun ceaselessly, casting its eerie radiance over the surroundings. The distortion caused by its malevolent presence made the surrounding space appear warped and disjointed, apanied by a continuous, unearthly resonance.


    Gwooooom…


    A figure sat beneath the gate on a raised dais. They were d in a robe identical to the one worn by Cyphry, their hood pulled low.


    The figure, head bowed, slowly raised it. Contrary to the shadowed visage one might expect, a faintly visible feminine face emerged from the hood’s cover.


    “You’vee, Cyphry.”


    As she rose from the dais, she used both hands to pull back her hood, revealing her face fully. The light emanating from the outer gate reflected off her hair, illuminating delicate and refined features.


    “rcia.”


    “I thought perhaps sentimentality had kept you from seeking me out. But it seems that wasn’t the case.”


    “I was dyed rescuing others. Apologies for the wait, rcia.”


    “It’s fine. If you hadn’te to find me, I would’ve sought you out soon enough. You’ve brought capable allies, I see.”


    Cyphry extended his hands from his sleeves, revealing a pair of daggers clenched tightly in his grip.


    rcia smiled faintly as she gazed at them—a mncholic expression tinged with sorrow.


    “How terrifying. Did you know? While trapped here, I thought of you constantly.”


    “…”


    Cyphry stepped forward one deliberate pace at a time.


    “When I imagined youing back for me, I swore repeatedly that I wouldn’t falter. I resented you and hated you for it.”


    “Did you?”


    “Yes.”


    A tragic scenario: lovers who now faced each other as enemies, where one must inevitably die. It was the kind of story Audrey loved. Even without looking back, Ian could guess the kind of expression she was likely wearing now.


    As Cyphry and rcia exchanged words, Ian’s focus turned to the outer gate, considering how to seal it. Yet, even as he shifted slightly to the side, rcia’s gaze snapped toward him.


    Though there seemed to be an opening, Ian had a strong intuition that it would ultimately be futile. Taking advantage of the moment, he reached for a potion, consumed it, and carelessly tossed the empty vial onto the ground.


    rcia nced at him with a brief scoff before resuming her conversation with Cyphry.


    “But it seems it was all for nothing. Hearing your voice again still pains me.”


    “It doesn’t for me.”


    “Good. So, are you now ready to kill me?”


    “Yes. I won’t repeat the mistakes of the past.”


    “How tragic. To be killed by someone you once loved. But tell me, can you actually do it?”


    The voice of the traitor, rcia, was cruelly gentle. As soon as she finished speaking, she snapped her fingers.


    Snap!


    The outer gate trembled violently, unleashing a powerful ripple.


    Gwooooom!


    The air quaked, and countless wraiths began to materialize, their forms swirling around rcia.


    Among them stood knight-ss specters, d in jet-ck robes and wielding massive ck swords. Surrounding them were grotesque soldiers of an even more unsettling appearance.


    The soldiers on the first floor were fused with elongated des that reced their arms, their faces mangled beyond recognition.


    Instead of eyes, hollow sockets emitted faint, eerie light, while their bodies were encased in bark-like, hardened exoskeletons resembling wooden armor.


    Groooan…n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The second floor was even more grotesque. The upper bodies of the wraith-like creatures had mutated into massive crossbow-like forms, resembling ballistae. They were loaded with bolts that burned with a cyan me.


    rcia smiled softly.


    “Do you think you can cut through them and kill me? This time, I won’t let you run away like before.”


    “I must. There’s no more time left.”


    “…Hmm. Then let me ask you onest thing. Are you still unwilling to change your mind? The gods have abandoned us.”


    rcia turned to nce back as she continued speaking.


    “Something this abhorrent has taken root in the temple, and yet no judgment hase. This ce can no longer be called a sanctuary devoted to the divine. It’s be a desecrated site. While it still bears some traces of humanity, that, too, won’tst long. Soon, everything here will be as monstrous as these soldiers…”


    “You’re dragging this out. You’re not just stalling for time, are you?”


    Cyphry gathered his mana, his presence diminishing until it was faint, as though he might disappear entirely.


    “You misunderstand. If anything, I’m giving you time. It’s not toote, even now. If you join us, I’ll call off those behind me. I promise they won’ty a single finger on you.”


    “Ridiculous.”


    “Then what about those behind you? If they help subdue you, Cyphry, I’ll let them leave this ce safely. I’ll even reward them. Something like this, perhaps?”


    rcia raised her hand, disying magical artifacts that shimmered with power on her fingers and wrist.


    Cyphry turned to look back.


    “You’re not seriously considering her words, are you?”


    His voice sounded slightly urgent.


    “Think carefully. My soldiers are far more formidable than they appear. Want to see for yourself?”


    At rcia’s gesture, one of the crossbow-like wraiths on the second-floor balcony fired a bolt.


    Thwoom!


    The bolt embedded itself deep into the ground floor, so deeply that only its thick end was visible. The sheer prating power was overwhelming. If it struck someone, it would impale them instantly.


    “…”


    “Don’t worry. I have no intention of negotiating with those who’ve allied themselves with Outer Gods. Everything is prepared.”


    Ian clenched his left hand into a fist.


    Fwoosh!


    Above the massive sanctuary, a zing sun rose into the sky.


    ———-


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