Chapter 167

‘…The feeling is different from when we faced each other before. Can she exert even greater power inside a prepared Holy Ground?’

Back when they clashed at the passage of the previous Holy Ground, Sharliaete’s power had by no means far exceeded Taewoon’s.

However, the pressure emanating from Sharliaete now had reached a formidable level, one where even Taewoon would have to concede a step.

Combined with the weakening effect imposed by the rules, it had reached a point where they could not be considered to have the upper hand in this fight, despite seven Hunters remaining.

“Your expressions have stiffened. Now that you’ve witnessed His great grace firsthand, have your thoughts changed a bit? I didn’t want an immediate conflict in the first place, so if you all wish to withdraw now, it wouldn’t be impossible for me to let you go.”

“…Absurd. If we cannot stop your filthy schemes, we are bound to clash again eventually. There is not a single reason for us to retreat from this spot.”

Despite Sharliaete’s offer, Taerim rejected it without a moment’s hesitation. She summoned five of the Black Divine Army and raised her banner-spear; in response, Taewoon’s party and the Hunters in the rear steeled their resolve for the final battle.

“Fufu… Indeed, even if this is His Holy Sanctuary, it wouldn’t be easy for me alone to handle this many people. In that case, how about we try this?”

As Sharliaete let out a bright smile and clapped her hands, priests of the Gwangseong Church, their entire bodies covered in ceremonial attire, appeared and began to position themselves as if to protect her.

And from behind them, a familiar figure appeared and blocked Taewoon’s path.

“…It’s been a while. I told you clearly. Under His guidance, we would meet again.”

“Kalliedu?”

The fifth Finger of the Gwangseong Church, whom he had heard nothing about.

After his defeat by Hongyeon, his whereabouts had been unknown, but he had joined Sharliaete and been acting with her.

‘I don’t see any major changes for now… but it seems he hasn’t just been idling away.’

Furthermore, perhaps because he was also fully receiving the benefits of Sharliaete’s Holy Ground, he was emitting an aura even more powerful than when he had been stopped by Hongyeon.

“…It seems we need to divide our roles.”

“We’ll take care of the priests.”

The Hunters from other Guilds, having witnessed Sharliaete’s extraordinary power, took a step back and fixed their gaze on the priests of the Gwangseong Church. Yerin also joined their ranks and began to slowly close the distance.

And for Taewoon, it was now time to settle things once and for all with the ill-fated man before him.

“…On the day we last met, if there hadn’t been interference, there’s no way I would have failed to fulfill my duty.”

“Too many excuses. You talk a big game, but is that how you usually handle your work too?”

“You bastard…”

He had been a towering wall in the past, but Taewoon was no longer afraid of Kalliedu in the slightest.

Finally, a surging wave of golden light signaled the start of the decisive battle, and Taewoon, gripping Barata, locked eyes with Kalliedu.

It was still a precise and powerful technique, but the current Taewoon could erase it with a single gesture.

Soon, Taewoon’s swing of Barata split the golden wave in half, and immediately summoning Keshatus, Taewoon began to strike Kalliedu with the Lightning of Destruction.

“Khhk…”

【Condition Fulfilled】

【Cinema Skill: The Red Man】

Immediately after, Taewoon vanished from within the remnants of the wave and snatched Kalliedu from beside him, moving positions rapidly. In the aftermath, the stained glass of the shrine shattered one by one, scattering into the air.

Since the guy’s ability affected a wide area of space, Taewoon intended to move the battlefield as much as possible to minimize collateral damage.

“You, how could you…”

“It’s too early to be that surprised.”

A fierce wind enveloped his body, and Taewoon, who had approached Kalliedu’s rear in an instant, shattered the golden barrier he had summoned in one blow and began pouring out a barrage of attacks.

Wounds appeared in succession on Kalliedu’s body, which was clad in golden magical power like armor.

Soon, Kalliedu, enveloped in a faint halo, floated into the air and struggled desperately to escape Taewoon’s offensive.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

In an instant, Taewoon summoned Mitra’s Wings, and a dazzling ring of light appeared behind his back. Quickly catching up to Kalliedu’s speed, Taewoon struck him with the Lightning of Destruction, crashing his body down to the ground.

“Keuhak…”

【Condition Fulfilled】

▶【Cinema Skill: Final Rampart】

【Creating a Level 6 Equivalent Semi-Automatic Protective Zone targeting a 40m radius area!】

Summoning a solidly constructed fortress wall, Taewoon instantly blocked Kalliedu’s retreat and began to approach him. Kalliedu, rising with a face twisted in rage, raised his hand and created a glowing golden ring.

“Do not underestimate me!”

But to the current Taewoon, it was merely a powerless strike.

Executing the 5th form of the Soul-Chasing Eight Ghost Spear, Taewoon swung his spear and split the ring in half, and a visible look of confusion began to cloud Kalliedu’s face.

“What…”

“You’ve seen it with your own eyes, so you should know by now. Someone like you is no longer a match for me.”

“Nonsense… Shut up!”

A seal, as if branded by fire, was engraved on Kalliedu’s forehead, and a dazzling radiance flashed above his head, and the emblem of the Gwangseong Church began to emerge in the form of an angel’s halo.

Simultaneously, his wounds closed rapidly and new flesh filled in, returning Kalliedu to full condition, but Taewoon’s gaze remained dry and unchanged.

‘…Divine Authority Release.’

Soon, the golden ring of light that had appeared behind his back split in half, and three thin lines extended from it, beginning to form a shape like wings made of hieroglyphs.

As Taewoon opened his crimson-glowing eyes and stared at Kalliedu, the emotion of defeat, which he could no longer hide, finally began to surface in his eyes.

Behind Kalliedu, who clenched his fists in frustration, a voice sounded as if it had expected this, disturbing Taewoon’s ears.

[Fufu, I told you it would be difficult, didn’t I?]

“Be quiet… I’ll accept the offer, so hand over the power as promised.”

[Of course. As a fellow follower serving the Great One, I also have an obligation to answer your wish.]

A refreshing yet brilliant magical power, like the characteristic Holy Light of Sharliaete.

As Kalliedu draped himself in it, his aura transformed, and he began to leap over a wall that seemed endless, heading straight for the next realm.

‘What is this? This is…’

In truth, he had suspected that they were hiding some kind of trick. Otherwise, there would be no reason to pit Kalliedu, who couldn’t possibly be Taewoon’s opponent, against him.

However, an ability that allowed one to instantly transcend their existing stage and exert more powerful strength—the fact that even a mere follower could show such a miracle, similar to Saint Kyurihi, was quite disconcerting even for Taewoon.

[Are you surprised? If the appropriate situation and conditions are met, I can share His grace and scatter it among the believers like this. Of course, in exchange, they will never be able to reach the next realm on their own… but if a follower desires it, I cannot help but grant it.]

A feeling as if his whole body was tingling and a heavy pressure was crushing the atmosphere.

To be clear, the current Kalliedu was not someone Taewoon could easily suppress.

Sensing that this would take time, Taewoon cast Thousand-League Perception to scan the interior of the shrine, but the situation on the other side didn’t seem very good either.

‘I don’t know about the priests… but it seems suppressing Sharliaete is difficult.’

Indeed, the fact that he had the leisure to pay attention elsewhere while fighting his own opponent made the result easy to guess.

In fact, some of Taerim’s Black Divine Army seemed to no longer be functioning properly, and Seoyoon, who was helping her, had also rapidly increased the stage of her ability and was consuming magical power more violently than usual.

It meant they were engaged in a grueling fight.

‘Perhaps I just wasn’t as heavily affected as I thought, and the others are under more severe restrictions?’

He hadn’t noticed at first, but as time passed, he could discover a slight difference.

Unlike Taewoon, who could bring out the powers he had previously handled without much burden despite the weakening of the Holy Ground, the other Hunters appeared to be continuing a more stifling battle.

If so, it was highly likely that the current situation could not be clearly resolved without Taewoon’s intervention.

“You’ve stopped moving. Have your thoughts changed a bit now?”

“…No. I just thought I should end this a bit faster.”

Immediately chanting the spell for Apostle Transformation and letting the Crimson Mist rise from his body, Taewoon began to approach Kalliedu with a chilling aura and jerky movements.

“…Unbeliever, lift your head and feel His Authority!”

For a moment, a blinding light covered his vision, and the surroundings became as bright as midday, but that light was not enough to illuminate all of Taewoon’s mist.

Realizing that his power still did not fully reach Taewoon, Kalliedu bit his tongue and entered a cautious defensive stance, and Taewoon, using the power of The Red Man, relentlessly pursued him, inducing a momentary opening.

“Khhk, not a chance!”

Kalliedu, expanding the halo above his head once, summoned massive chains and began firing them at Taewoon, and Taewoon also circulated the magical power in his body, exquisitely harmonizing the mysteries of Heart and Will.

【Condition 1: Must possess fire control ability above a certain level】

Condition 2: Must have reached the stage of Heart Sword

【Condition 3: Must possess more than 10% of remaining magical power】

【Condition Fulfilled】

▶【Cinema Skill: Blazing Sword Judgment】

Soon, a single streak of light, whose form could not even be gauged, pierced through Kalliedu’s body and sent him crashing back to the ground.

Descending to the ground in silence, Taewoon began to walk slowly toward Kalliedu.