Honestly, I was a little surprised. This thought occurred as I blocked the attack.
Even if the way the blessing is given is bizarre, the fact that I was pushed back says it all.
Of course, I was holding back a bit, and the opponent had charged forward, so that needs to be considered.
I hadn't prepared for strength stronger than expected. Above all, the attacker might have been naturally strong.
'Still, it's not like Kara.'
In terms of sheer strength, they are weaker than Kara. Even though it seed like they swung with all their might, they were still weaker.
Among the first-years, aside from , no one can beat Kara in strength. I can say this with certainty.
But on the other hand, it ans that just by receiving a blessing, they can remind of Kara.
'The problem is......'
I dodged the student's attack with the war hamr and stepped back.
The most troubleso thing is that it's not just one person. There are at least five people who received Erica's blessing (?).
"Hurry and receive the blessing! This is the only way to defeat that guy!"
"Wait. Is that really a blessing? Getting slapped? With that hand?"
"Just trust this once!"
On top of that, they're spreading it to others. This is a troubleso situation in many ways.
It's a little funny how they're uniting just to take down. At the sa ti, I had a question.
'Wouldn't Gaia get angry at this?'
Erica was originally a follower of Gaia, brimming with talent.
To the point that her nickna during training was the ultimate dicine pouch. Similar to Ellie, but different.
However, unlike Ellie, who disrupts the balance, Erica's training difficulty is absurdly high.
Moreover, her unique convictions even disrupt the team atmosphere. Yet her talent overshadows all of that.
'They really ruined one person properly.'
She was thrown into the forest, but what could have happened during that ti for her to change so much?
I wonder if Chaos changes people, or if people who change are chosen by Chaos.
'For now, I should think of them as Kara's inferior versions gathering around.'
Anyway, I'll think about this slowly later. For now, I'll focus on the brawl.
Honestly, it's embarrassing to even call them Kara's inferior versions. What's the point of enhanced physical abilities?
"An opening."
"Gah!"
They lack skills and fundantals far more than Luna, let alone Kara.
I lightly kicked the leg of the student who relied on speed.
Even if their speed increased, it was still within a range I could follow with my eyes.
Thanks to growing up in the wild, I have confidence that my dynamic vision won't lose to anyone.
Smack!
"Ouch."
"I-I hit their head......?"
But it's clear that things have gotten more annoying. Overall, their confidence, or rather morale, has risen.
Just a mont ago, their confidence had plumted, and they couldn't show their true skills, but now it's different.
With Erica's blessing added, they're all rushing at like their lives depend on it. Because of that, I've been hit a few tis.
'How annoying.'
But what's the point? Even if their numbers increase, they're still just numbers.
More than anything, their physical abilities have greatly improved, but their technical skills are all the sa.
The effective hits I allowed earlier were due to technical issues, not because I was overwheld by their physical abilities.
'Allowing effective hits itself is an embarrassing thing.'
Crack!
"Aaaah!"
"Oh. Sorry."
Did I fail to control my strength? Or was I venting my frustration from being hit earlier?
I accidentally twisted their wrist more severely while trying to subdue them. Their wrist bent in the opposite direction.
I looked at the student clutching their wrist and then shifted my gaze to Erica. She was still bestowing her blessing (?).
'Will it even heal them?'
I need to check. I grabbed the student and threw them straight at Erica.
Erica seed to notice sothing flying towards her, as she stopped giving her blessing and raised her head.
Thump-
As expected, her muscles weren't just for show. Even though I threw with so force, she caught them easily.
Erica glanced at and then gently laid the thrown person down.
"Your wrist is twisted. Please bear with it for a mont."
"Ugh......"
I wonder how she'll heal them. At least she won't slap them like earlier.
That was a blessing, and what's needed now is healing. I leapt back to create a brief pause.
"Sivar."
"Hm? Oh. You're here?"
"Yeah. Thanks to you, I rested well. By the way......"
As I stepped back, Kara, who had just finished resting, approached. Looking now, she didn't seem to have many injuries.
Until just now, it seed she was cornered and in a crisis. Thankfully, she wasn't hurt.
"Isn't that the vegetarian from back then?"
"Yeah. That's right."
"But...... why are they like that? Are they really the Saint's disciple?"
"Who knows......"
Honestly, I don't know either. Whether Erica is Rize's disciple or not.
She claims she's not a disciple but a believer, yet from the outside, she looks exactly like a disciple.
From her pretty face normally to her transformation into muscle form, and her bizarre combat style.
They seem to match well in many ways. What could have happened during the vacation for her to end up like this?
"Please endure this."
"Y-Yes......"
It seems she's finally about to heal. Kara and I quietly watched the healing process.
I wonder how she'll heal this ti. Before that, I should sneakily ask Kara.
"Kara."
"Yeah?"
"Lord Gulak doesn't heal, does he?"
"He does sear wounds with lightning, though?"
"... ..."
"Just kidding. Normally, he casts a blessing to ease the pain.
And Gaia is literal healing. It's like turning back ti.
That's why she got the nickna 'ultimate dicine pouch.' By the later stages, Erica would constantly heal, allowing reckless charges.
The problem is, the opponents aren't stupid, so they target Erica first. Protecting her was quite a hassle.
'But looking at those muscles, I wonder if she even needs protection......'
It was around that ti I had that thought. Erica clasped her hands together and began to pray.
Praying in her muscular form created an extre sense of dissonance, but her sincerity was real.
"Oh true life that encompasses the world."
Woom-
As she recited the prayer, light erged from Erica's hands. A brilliance so bright it was blinding.
Even though she moved her faith to Chaos, it seems her authority remains intact.
'Well, even I still have Thunder despite being a follower of Chaos.'
The ga and reality are different. It's necessary to abandon the common sense I used to have.
"Grant this person the power of healing!"
Finally, the prayer ended. Since it was a healing prayer, it was surprisingly long.
Erica, still in the prayer posture with her hands clasped, suddenly raised her hands high.
Bang!
And brought them down on the twisted wrist. Hard enough to make a loud noise.
"......Is that supposed to be healing?"
"... ..."
Kara, too, seeing that absurd scene, had the sa thought as .
No matter how you look at it, that's not healing but a finishing blow. Just like the slap earlier, what kind of twisted logic is this?
However, the more ridiculous thing is the reaction of the student who received the healing. He seed skeptical too and tightly closed his eyes.
"Oh...... Ohhh! It's healed! It's really healed!"
After opening his eyes, he was moved to see his wrist restored to its original state. anwhile, Kara and I were aghast.
This must be what it feels like to have your nose cut off right in front of your eyes. No matter how I think about it, I can't understand the principle behind it.
"Could it be that the shock is converted into divine power? If that's the case, it makes so sense......"
Kara muttered with a faint sigh. If that's true, it's a revolution in the scientific world.
Kinetic energy is being converted into divine power for no particular reason. I have no idea what kind of monster Chaos has created.
"Let's go! Let's take down that monster quickly!"
"Uwaaaaah!!"
On top of that, it might have effects similar to drugs. The morale of all the healed students had risen as well.
Even I would feel more confident if I had reliable support behind . The advantage of being able to heal even if injured is just too great.
On the other hand, we don't have a cleric. Let alone healing wounds, even recovering stamina is difficult.
'At least I have regeneration......'
But Kara doesn't. Until a while ago, she was struggling due to physical exhaustion.
So, this ans I have no choice but to take the lead and break through. I told Kara as much.
"Kara."
"Yeah, tell ."
"I'll break through. You take care of the rest."
"Got it."
Kara seed to understand my words and moved behind . Then, she lightly placed her hand on my back.
The target is just one person. Even if it's a bizarre thod, Erica is acting as a walking dicine cabinet.
As long as Erica is present, the situation will keep dragging on. Moreover, other participants will join in.
The more their numbers increase, the more disadvantageous it becos for us. Not to ntion, the other side has two teams working together.
'This is why clerics are considered overpowered.'
Even with just one, their combat power seems to have more than doubled. Of course, even then, they're still just sheep.
'It's because others would be in more danger than .'
It's fortunate that the aggro is focused on ; if it shifted to soone else, the situation would beco chaotic.
Tap, tap-
Kara tapped my back, signaling that she was ready. At the sa ti, the students in front began to charge.
From afar, I could see them preparing magic, indicating they were serious this ti. I started circulating the magic within my body.
"I'm going."
"Alright."
I slightly crouched my body, finishing my preparation. And then......
Thud!
I charged toward the students like a bolt of lightning.
*****
There's always been a useful tactic since ancient tis. If the frontline holds firm, the person behind finishes the job.
It's similar to cavalry. They break through the front using horses, and the knight on top swings their weapon.
"Gaaahhh!"
"Aaaah! My arm! My arm!"
This brawl is similar. Sivar isn't a horse but a bull, and Kara is struggling to follow behind.
Even though it's just a simple charge, students are falling like autumn leaves. So couldn't withstand the impact and were sent flying.
However, the simplicity of the charge inevitably created gaps. Kara compensated for those shortcomings one by one.
Simplicity supplented by precision. A straightforward yet highly effective thod.
'As expected, this is too much.'
Erica was observing the scene in real-ti. Even with blessings in place, it didn't make much of a difference.
On the contrary, so were even more severely injured due to Sivar's excessive force. It's what you'd call a backfire.
'I'll try to block as much as I can, but......'
Erica glanced around. The closer Sivar got, the more tense the students protecting her beca.
They can't defeat Sivar. Let alone that, Kara is right behind him.
The only thing they can do is buy ti. They must hold out until the top-ranked mbers of their team arrive.
With that, she clasped her hands together and began reciting a prayer. There's no ti.
"Oh omnipotent being of life. Protect us......"
"Aaaah!"
Suddenly, a scream was right in front of her. It ant Sivar had already arrived at close range.
Judging by the frantic movents of the students protecting her, they must have sensed the crisis. Erica hurriedly continued her prayer.
"Bring down the shield!"
After completing the prayer, she raised both hands high into the air.
Boom!
Then, she slamd her raised hands onto the ground. Her task was now complete.
All that's left is for the protective barrier to form before Sivar reaches her. Just in case, she widened its range.
Flash!
Soon, light began seeping out from the ground, slowly taking the form of a barrier.
A brilliant white radiance. A barrier made of divine power.
"Wow, it's here!"
"Quick, get into defensive positions!"
At the sa ti, Sivar also reached right in front of it. The mont he saw the protective barrier forming, he leaped far away.
He tried to sohow get inside the barrier, but unfortunately, the barrier finished forming faster.
"Damn it."
Bang!
Like a tiger missing its prey right in front of its nose, he angrily swung his fist.
Even a simple punch caused the entire barrier to vibrate. Truly beast-like physical strength.
Sizzle!
"Ow, ow, ow, ow!!!"
"?"
Then, Sivar began flailing his hand in pain. Smoke was rising from his hand.
Erica and the others were puzzled by his absurd reaction, but soon they realized one thing.
'Co to think of it......'
Erica stared curiously at Sivar, who was blowing on his fist. Didn't the sa thing happen when he encountered demons?
For so reason, he's hated by Gaia, especially by the power of life. The reason is completely unknown.
But one thing is certain. Sivar is extrely weak against divine power, particularly the power of life.
'......We might actually be able to win this.'
It seems she has found his weakness.
Reviews
All reviews (0)