Chapter 77 – Rescue Operation

“Ah…! Allen, Narun, Gabian, Belkain…!”

Sir Clark seemed to recognize the faces buried in the Fungus Demon King’s torso, muttering several names.

They were likely the comrades he had mentioned.

Fortunately, they still appeared to be alive, but judging by their emaciated appearances, they probably wouldn’t last much longer.

Perhaps aware of this situation, Sir Clark clung to the Priest Beatus and pleaded.

“Priest Beatus! Please save them quickly. I beg of you.”

“It seems the Fungus Demon King cannot move because it is turning them into hosts.”

However, the Priest Beatus remained coldly focused on assessing the opponent.

“…Priest Beatus!”

“Information comes before rescue. The spores spreading from that mushroom don’t seem ordinary—do you know what they are?”

Faced with the Priest Beatus’s resolute attitude, Sir Clark realized further pleas were futile and shared his speculation.

“I can’t be certain, but I suspect they are spores that affect the soul. That would explain how we became parasitized.”

“Hmm…”

The Priest Beatus hesitated at the Fungus Demon King’s more threatening ability than expected, prompting Sir Clark to hastily add.

“Of course, for spores to take root in souls like ours, it would require considerable time. So if we rescue them quickly and retreat, there should be no problem!”

“I’m sorry… but I don’t think we can save everyone.”

At the Priest Beatus’s declaration, Sir Clark’s expression twisted.

He looked ready to attack the Priest Beatus if the answer was wrong.

“Why…!”

“I glimpsed the near future through Revelation Divine Art. Even if I elevate my Grade using all means, saving one knight is the best outcome.”

“Such…!”

Sir Clark was shocked that the other had mastered the Revelation Divine Art and despairing that the future seen through it resulted in saving only one person.

At that moment, Hanna intervened to comfort him.

“Don’t give up! If we can only save one person at a time, we just need to repeat it until everyone is saved!”

“That’s impossible. If we don’t save them this time, their souls will all become nutrients for the mushroom, leaving only empty shells behind.”

“No. We can help them endure.”

Whoosh.

A miracle only possible for Hanna, who possessed Borrowed Power, unfolded here.

Lee Hanseong’s Primordial Chaos Gang Qi activated according to Hanna’s will.

Click.

The limit of Borrowed Power, which originally could only borrow Skills, expanded to touch even the Awakening Skill of the Holy Spirit.

[<Primordial Chaos Gang Qi> links 《Yang Will Divine Art》 and 《Blessing: Blessing》!]

Pheidippides’s Awakening Skill is linked with Hanna’s Awakening Skill through Primordial Chaos Gang Qi.

Blessing grants the power of a Divine Spirit.

Fundamentally, it contains the effects of Lee Hanseong’s Transcendence and Group Transcendence based on the Feat that originated the first Awakening Skill, but the abilities contained in the Blessing didn’t necessarily have to be limited to that.

Fwsh-ba-ba-ba-bat!

Actually, she considered linking Shrinking Earth to pull out only the knights, but the problem was that the knights were now essentially Colonized with the Fungus Demon King.

If she used Shrinking Earth as is, the Fungus Demon King would move along with them.

Thus, as the second-best option, Yang Will Divine Art was applied through Blessing to the knights captured by the Fungus Demon King.

Slither.

Pale, ghost-like Shadow Gods emerged.

“Father Beatus! The miracle of Binding!”

“Ah…! Binding: Bind!”

Snap-snap-snap-snap-snap!

Responding to Hanna’s shout, the Priest Beatus immediately understood her intent and used light of Binding to seize and bring back the knights’ Shadow Gods.

“Healing.”

Whoosh!

As Hanna then showered the knights’ Shadow Gods with Healing Light, the Shadow Gods became slightly clearer.

The condition of the knights’ main bodies, which could be called Yang Spirits, also improved similarly.

Even when separated by distance, Shadow Gods and Yang Spirits remain connected.

“If we keep healing the Shadow Gods—that is, part of the knights’ souls—the time they can endure will increase. Then we can buy time to save everyone.”

“Ah… Thank you!”

Seeing the logic in Hanna’s words, hope dawned on Sir Clark’s face.

“So let’s save them one by one, step by step.”

Nod.

“Then our course is set. Judgment: Judgment!”

Almost as soon as Sir Clark nodded, Beatus unleashed the miracle of Judgment as he had discerned through Revelation.

Kwaang!

A hammer of Divine power struck the Fungus Demon King’s torso, pushing away the fungal threads enveloping the knight.

“Pull!”

Fwsh-bat.

As Dice quickly pulled the freed knight out.

―Guooooooooooong!

A roar mixed with the Fungus Demon King’s anger echoed throughout the Domain.

“If we’ve rescued them, we must quickly leave the Domain!”

“Run!”

Sensing the crisis, the entire party united and sprinted with all their might toward the outside of the Domain.

Ku-gu-gu-gu-gu-gu-gu!

Glancing back, centered on where the Fungus Demon King had been, pure white Starlight spores were surging forth like a flood.

“At this rate, we’ll be too late!”

“Absolute Fate!”

Slice!

Even Duren’s Absolute Fate could not sever the fate of being caught in the spore flood.

It merely delayed the time of capture.

But that brief moment saved them.

[<Primordial Chaos Gang Qi> links <Shrinking Earth> and 《Blessing: Blessing》.]

Fwaa-at!

Just before being swept away by the spore flood, Shrinking Earth applied to the entire party through Blessing transported everyone outside the Hall of the Commanding Fungus Demon.

* * *

Hee-iiing.

Startled by their sudden appearance after leaping through space with Shrinking Earth, the horse let out a cry.

Seeing the horse that had entered the Great Flood with Hanna’s party, Dice sighed.

“This guy being here means… we’ve returned to the Temporary Sanctuary, right?”

“Yes, it was a close call.”

Indeed.

The place where the party arrived after escaping the Hall of the Commanding Fungus Demon was inside the Temporary Sanctuary set up by Beatus.

Just before activating Shrinking Earth for everyone through Blessing, the safest place that came to Hanna’s mind was here.

Actually, she had hoped to return to the fortress city of the Great Wall if possible.

‘But that would probably have been too much.’

She had to move all six party members plus the Shadow Gods of the knights still captured by the Fungus Demon King at once, and since the power was Borrowed Power to begin with, Shrinking Earth’s movement distance also had limits.

“Let’s treat the rescued knight first.”

Instead of directly applying Healing to the knight, Hanna added the Healing miracle to the Sanctuary itself.

“Healing.”

Whoosh!

Thus, the healing effect was applied to everyone inside the Sanctuary.

The knight, whose condition had already slightly improved from the moment he entered the Sanctuary thanks to the existing Blessing effect applied to it, began recovering rapidly with the added healing effect.

However, the Shadow Gods of the other knights could only maintain their current state despite receiving the healing effect.

“As long as their main bodies continue to have nutrients drained, maintaining the current state is the best we can do for the other knights’ Shadow Gods.”

“If what I heard earlier is true… then by continuously healing part of their souls like this, the other captured comrades can survive and endure?”

“Yes. That’s right. So please don’t worry too much. As long as we don’t give up, there’s still a chance to save everyone.”

“Indeed. Thou art correct.”

Seeming reassured by Hanna’s explanation, Sir Clark composed himself and looked around at the knights’ Shadow Gods.

Then.

“But, is it alright to keep Allen’s soul separated like this?”

He noticed that among the nine Shadow Gods, only one was becoming increasingly clearer, showing obvious signs of recovery, and asked.

It was the Shadow God of the knight they had just rescued.

“For now, being separated is more advantageous for recovery.”

Since both the Yang Spirit and Shadow God were inside the Sanctuary, the Blessing and healing effects were applied doubly.

After explaining this, Sir Clark understood and nodded.

“If that’s the case… I see. I don’t mean to rush, but when do you plan the next rescue?”

“Probably not immediately.”

It was the Priest Beatus who answered Sir Clark’s question.

“What do you mean…?”

“Look over there.”

The Priest Beatus was looking outside the Temporary Sanctuary.

Toward the direction of the Fungus Demon King’s Domain.

“What am I supposed to see…?”

“Shh!”

Sir Clark, about to argue as he saw nothing yet in the forest’s appearance, closed his mouth at the Priest Beatus’s raised hand in response.

As the surroundings quieted, a gradually growing vibration sound began to be heard.

Dd-dd-dd-dd-dd—

“This can’t be…!”

The spore flood originating from the Fungus Demon King was pushing beyond the Hall of the Commanding Fungus Demon, reaching here.

Ku-gu-gu-gu-gu-gu!

Before they knew it, Starlight spores had covered even the Pilgrimage Path, filling everywhere except the Temporary Sanctuary.

It wasn’t a situation where they could even consider going for rescue.

Seeing this, Sir Clark’s complexion darkened.

“Ah…! The Pilgrimage Path…!”

With the Pilgrimage Path covered in spores, the connection between the Holy Land and the Sun Kingdom, barely maintained through the Pilgrimage Path, was effectively severed for now.

For Sir Clark, whose mission was to maintain the Pilgrimage Path, it must have felt like all his efforts until now had been in vain.

“Are we isolated like this…?”

“No, we have a Holy Spirit with the power to leap through space with us, so we’re not completely isolated.”

Duren countered Dice’s anxious question.

But Hanna added as if Dice’s words weren’t entirely wrong.

“But it’s true that we’ll have to stay here for a while. If we leave the Sanctuary, the knights’ souls probably won’t be able to endure.”

“Ah……”

The knights’ Shadow Gods were in a faint state, as if they would disappear soon if not within the Sanctuary where healing and Blessing effects were applied.

“Then what about all of us going to the Holy Land like we came here? The Sanctuary spread over the Holy Land should contain more miracles than this Temporary Sanctuary here.”

“Since I’ve never been to Lumen… that would be difficult.”

Even borrowing Pheidippides’s Aerial View to look down from the sky, the Holy Land was obscured by the lush trees of the Great Flood.

At least, thanks to having entered the Great Flood only a day ago, the Great Wall in the rear was clearly visible.

“Fortunately, thanks to the influence of the Sacred Mountain covering even the Great Wall, it seems the spores cannot enter the kingdom’s territory, so we could go to the fortress city of the Great Wall…”

“But the knights’ souls would be the problem.”

“Yes.”

“Ultimately, maintaining the Temporary Sanctuary is crucial.”

To Duren’s conclusion, Beatus added a remark.

“The Temporary Sanctuary’s effect isn’t permanent either, so the miracle must be renewed once daily.”

“Timing the renewal will also be important.”

Hanna said with a serious expression.

The knights’ Shadow Gods maintaining their current state was thanks to the overlapping Blessing and Healing.

If the renewal timing was even slightly off, the Shadow Gods’ condition would surely worsen.

Moreover, making the Sanctuary function as a physical barrier blocking spores through Protection was equally important.

“We don’t have much supplies left, so if the isolation lasts long, we’ll need to go to the Great Wall and return.”

As Duren said, food and water were also problems.

Since they brought a month’s worth when leaving the fortress, they had some leeway for now.

But since it’s unknown how long the isolation will last, resupply must also be considered.

“It’s not urgent immediately, so let’s discuss that later. The spatial movement ability can be used again anytime.”

“Right.”

“But can’t the Hero also borrow the Holy Spirit’s power?”

“Probably not. I’m not well-versed in techniques for borrowing others’ power like priests.”

Hanna and Duren’s circumstances differed, having already mastered Borrowed Power through Divine power.

No matter how he applied the principles of Flowing Sword Art, which repurposes others’ power, and Primordial Chaos Gang Qi, the limit of what he could borrow would be General Skills.

The Shrinking Earth they needed was a situation only Hanna could use.

As she postponed the discussion, no further progress could be made.

“For now, let’s rest.”

“Yes…”

Thus, the Priest Beatus suggested rest, and since everyone was tired, there was no particular objection.

* * *

Time passed quickly thereafter.

Pa-ra-ra-ra—

The spore flood calmed three days later.

Though calmed, it only meant new spores stopped surging in.

The previously poured spores still piled up enough to cover even the Temporary Sanctuary’s ceiling.

To the point of making physical exit impossible.

A situation where everywhere was covered in pure white Starlight spores, like after a heavy snowfall.

“Hide.”

“Protection, Blessing. Healing.”

Renewing the miracles that showed signs of fading, the party ate meals regularly and spent their respective time.

Though the surroundings were stiflingly blocked off, the party’s atmosphere wasn’t too bad.

Thung— Thung—!

Hanna continued learning, honing Divine art together with the Priest Beatus.

And Duren and Dice sparred in Swordsmanship among Swordsmen, now with Sir Clark as an additional opponent.

Monotonous time flowed by, each day becoming nutrients for growth.

Pa-ra-ra-ra—

From the third day after new spore influx stopped, the spores spread around gradually diminished over time.

The spores spread everywhere were gathering around Awakened Monsters they had taken as hosts.

Confirming this fact through Aerial View, Hanna simply waited.

Second Week.

Sir Allen awoke and joined the knights’ sparring.

Third Week.

When supplies were running low, Hanna used Shrinking Earth to go to the Great Wall and replenish supplies.

Fourth Week.

Finally, as most spores around disappeared, the path leading to the Fungus Demon King’s Domain opened again.

“Now that the Fungus Demon King’s rampage seems to have ended, we should start moving soon.”

“Finally!”

It was time to go save another knight.