-Kugugugugung.
A huge tree was standing at the entrance of the Galahad Fortress.
The fine roots extending from the bottom of the tree plowed through the surrounding ground, continuing to push back intruders.
The tree was ford from a transformation of one branch of the World Tree's roots and the small roots that grew from it were rely roots of the World Tree's roots, in a sense.
But even with just that, the earth overturned, the ground split, and a cloud of dust rose around it.
The aftershock traveled all the way to the deep interior of the Galahad Fortress, where Rudger and Surna were.
-Kugugugugung.
Vibrations shaking from the outside, dust fell from the ceiling, and so fluorescent moss dropped, with light particles falling like snow.
Amidst this, Rudger and Surna were staring at each other.
"So that's what it was."
When Surna's story ended, Rudger's eyes were even more subdued.
He had joined hands with Surna for the sa purpose, but he was still wary of him.
But now, in those blue eyes looking at Surna, there was not wariness, but a hint of sympathy and a sense of kinship.
"You too, were in the sa situation as ."
"What's with that lukewarm reaction? Normally, when people hear this story, they either don't believe it or ask if I'm crazy."
"Have you told anyone else?"
"Well, I've actually told Setadel, but even then, I didn't properly explain. He's the type who naturally figured it out after knowing for a long ti. So honestly, I thought it would be fine even if he laughed at ."
"I won't laugh."
"......"
"At least, I won't laugh at you."
Surna's expression turned bitter as he realized Rudger's words were sincere.
"I see. I didn't expect to et soone who would understand here."
Although he had approached with a vague sense this might happen, actually hearing it directly from Rudger's mouth felt rather strange.
At that mont, both Surna and Rudger turned their gaze in one direction.
A reaction so simultaneous it could be considered almost at the sa ti.
Though they couldn't see outside due to the underground temple's outer wall, they could clearly feel a familiar wave of power from far away.
"This power."
Unlike other holy powers, the density and purity of this sacred power was extraordinary.
Others might not feel it, but Rudger and Surna could sense it clearly.
"At least Cardinal level. No, perhaps even beyond that? Salesin wouldn't have co here directly, but such a large-scale power..."
"It's the Saint."
Surna answered Rudger's muttering.
"Saint Catherine. Seems she has co here."
"......"
At the na Catherine, Rudger's expression montarily darkened.
The change happened so fleetingly that Surna failed to notice it.
There was no ti for that either.
"The Saint isn't alone. Judging by the power I feel, she seems to have brought all the priestesses with her."
"There are more, aren't there?"
Surna shrugged at Rudger's penetrating words.
"Yes. It seems that girl has co too."
"Is that why you needed my power, and at the sa ti, needed the Saint's power that Rene possesses?"
"I won't deny it. However, I never forced Rene to co here."
"But you knew she would co."
"Yes. But does that change what we have to do now?"
At Surna's question, Rudger looked down at the relic in his hand.
"No. Nothing changes."
Right. Nothing changes.
No matter who the opponent is, no matter who cos here.
What he had to do was always the sa.
"If the Saint has arrived, it's only a matter of ti before the defense line breaks. I'm not dismissing the power of your colleagues, but the strength of the Saint and the priestesses is frankly beyond that."
"I know. So let's get started."
Rudger placed the relic on the central altar in the temple.
The relic, now a complete disc ford by rging seven pieces, began to float as soon as it was placed on the altar.
-Woowoowoong.
The relic began to vibrate.
At the sa ti, the surrounding temple began to glow faintly, and the energy of that light gathered to a single point through the altar and shot toward the relic.
-Drrrrrrrr.
The underground temple, sealed for a long ti, was activated.
The relic continued to absorb the explosively gushing power.
-Passssss.
White letters began to appear on the surface of the relic.
These were very old hieroglyphics that even Rudger, with his knowledge of ancient languages, couldn't understand.
Those characters were slowly, very slowly generated one by one, gradually covering the surface of the relic.
"Finally."
Surna muttered, gazing at the changing relic with a look full of nostalgia and ecstasy.
"It begins."
"Damn it."
A curse escaped from between Ambella Burke's lips.
Although she usually spoke roughly, her subordinates rarely heard her voice so full of irritation.
"I'm going crazy. So this is what a war of superhumans is like?"
Ambella frowned as she received reports through plant roots.
"Lady Ambella. The damage is severe."
"All the thorn vines have been penetrated. More than half of the flower beds have been burned, so the concentration of sleep fragrance has thinned."
Areas that shouldn't have been breached according to the original plan were now breached.
Now that the barriers ant to stop infantry and bolster numbers had disappeared, they needed to focus on stopping the advancing army again.
'No. That's not the problem. The most annoying thing is that the most troubleso one isn't stopping and keeps moving.'
Saint Catherine and the group of priestesses she led moved independently in small numbers without leading other priests and holy knights.
But their power was enough to easily flip the battlefield like turning over a palm.
Reports ca through the roots.
They say the sun has descended to the ground.
She couldn't ask what that ant. Right now, beyond the dark clouds, a dazzling light soared near the Second Checkpoint City far away.
It was the holy spell used by Saint Catherine.
With that holy spell, the swamp and lotus flowers that had been holding back even the knights completely disappeared.
The swamp dried up completely, cracking like a drought-stricken rice field, and the lotus flowers that had blood on it vanished without leaving even ashes.
Even the stench, which had strong tear gas effects and inflicted pain, was insufficient to stop Catherine.
'She's bypassing the Second Checkpoint City and taking a different route.'
Usually, traps were set to prevent taking other detours, but they were useless against Catherine.
Wherever she went beca the path the enhanced plants, fed with the World Tree's blessing, collapsed helplessly before Catherine.
"Master. What should we do?"
"First, have the druids focus on restoring the flower beds. Be careful not to be discovered. The Saint is not looking back at the path she has passed. We need to stop the follow-up forces before they rush in along the path she's made."
"B-but the Saint..."
"Unfortunately, we cannot stop her with our skills."
No, if Ambella took up her sword and went out right now, she could at least buy so ti.
But the mont the commander left her post, it was clear that the battle situation would tilt drastically to one side.
Caroline, who had been attempting hit-and-run tactics with a small guerrilla force, was currently in battle with another Lexer-grade magician.
In the case of Great Demon Surna, he was currently with Rudger at the Galahad Fortress, so that was not an option.
In the end, the command had to remain in their hands.
And this position couldn't be vacated for even a mont in a situation like this.
"Then we have no choice but to request support."
If the opponent is superhuman.
Wouldn't it be right to counter with superhuman forces as well?
"Call the Black Knight."
Catherine walked without stopping.
In her relentless steps, the world seed to shrink back in fear.
In fact, all sorts of traps that had been blocking her path did not reveal themselves.
Catherine smiled, showing her teeth.
"Clever. Since they can't stop with things like this anyway, they're thinking of preserving their existing forces to block the follow-up troops."
The commander's judgnt is excellent.
Usually, when breached like this, one would push to the end out of wounded pride, acting emotionally, trying to see who would win.
Moreover, these plants used as traps were by no ans ordinary.
The plants were imbued with very intense life energy and their special abilities were effective even against knights, magicians, and even priests.
'If this is possible, at least an Elf Druid. No, seeing power stronger than a Druid...'
It was clear that the Elf Kingdom was behind this.
Why did the Elves co to the Bretus Holy Nation?
Revenge for the past Lunsis doctrine that rejected Elves as heretics?
But they were known for their very closed activities in the forest.
If they wanted revenge, they wouldn't have done sothing so foolish as to target a mont when all the firepower of the continent was concentrated like now.
'Well, it doesn't matter.'
Catherine didn't care much and just went her own way.
If there were no obstacles, it was more convenient for her.
Whether the follow-up troops followed or not was not her concern.
Then Rene, who had been quietly following behind, spoke up.
"Um, Sister Catherine."
"Yes?"
Catherine paused briefly and turned to look at Rene.
"What is it?"
"I was wondering if the two priests we left behind are okay."
"They'll be fine. Those two are very strong despite appearances. You saw it too, didn't you?"
"Ah..."
Rene was greatly shocked when she saw Priests Remia and Anisha fighting, though she didn't say so at the ti.
She had thought of them as rely maids who accompanied Saint Catherine, but their skills in battle were extraordinary.
In fact, they were not just extraordinary but close to superhuman.
Despite their skills, she couldn't help but worry.
The opponents were formidable, and it was a battlefield where anything could happen suddenly.
"Huhu. Rene is so kind. Worrying about us too."
"Ah, that..."
"You don't have to be so concerned. I appreciate your worry, but that's why we need to move faster. You vaguely sense it too, don't you?"
"Yes..."
Rene nodded.
While she was equally worried about the people left behind, the mont they slowed down to help them, sothing more terrible could happen.
It was a situation where they had to choose the lesser evil to prevent the worst, so they had to endure it.
It was at that mont, as Catherine looked at Rene with a smile of approval.
Catherine's eyes narrowed slightly, and she tilted her head to the side a little.
Rene was confused by Catherine's actions, but then she realized the reason belatedly.
A crimson flash had just passed through where Catherine's head had been monts ago.
The flash didn't stop with just one.
Crimson flashes flying from different directions tried to pierce Catherine's vital points like arrows.
The attacks were so powerful that there was no thought of blocking them, and the speed was close to that of light.
To Rene's eyes, it looked like countless crimson spider webs had been spread out.
But Catherine was fine amidst those flashes.
Taking a step forward.
Slightly turning her shoulder.
Tilting her head backward.
She was avoiding the attacks with truly minimal movents.
Her movents were so elegant that anyone watching might think she was dancing.
What was even more amazing was that Catherine was avoiding all those attacks without seeing them with her eyes.
When the attacks finally stopped, Catherine's eyes faced forward.
"Hmm. I thought soone would co soon, but it seems quite a formidable opponent has appeared from the start."
Verom, wearing black armor, gripped his sword anew as he looked at Catherine.
Having fully accepted the Living Armor, Verom now took the form of a slender and nimble knight rather than the heavy knight he once was.
His helt had also beco pointed, transforming to look like a dragon, and behind it, red mane-like hair had grown abundantly down to his waist.
His sword had also changed from a greatsword to a thin, long curved blade, making his speed incomparably faster than before.
Yet Verom couldn't land any effective hits on Catherine.
'This is maddening.'
Not only was his opponent the Saint of the Order, but she avoided his attacks without even looking at them.
Even his surprise attacks with no warning.
Thinking there's nothing fair in a fight, he had tried to strike first to win, but she avoided it so easily.
'I thought being a Saint was just an empty title, but it's no wonder that the Elf lady asked to stop her.'
Ambella must have known Verom's skills, yet she asked him to stop the Saint, not defeat her.
He didn't understand that subtle difference then, but seeing Catherine's skills now, he clearly understood.
"Hmm. As much as I hate to be held up here..."
At that mont, one of the priestesses behind Catherine stepped forward.
"I'll handle this."
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