Chapter 83 – Fungus Demon King Subjugation Battle (2)

Meanwhile, at the Grand Cathedral of the Holy Land, Lumen.

Not long after the heroes and knights had gone out to face the Fungus Demon King.

The bishop-level priests, who had scattered to evacuate the residents, finished their tasks and returned one after another.

“All bishop-level priests have returned.”

“Then let’s begin.”

It was for the formal ascension of Beatus, who had been appointed as the next Pope.

Typically, Awakening involves achieving a corresponding feat, receiving the Constellation’s Blessing, and obtaining an Awakening Skill connected to that feat.

Therefore, to obtain a desired Awakening Skill, the standard method is to achieve a related feat.

“Have you decided what kind of miracle you wish to obtain?”

However, the Pope’s case was different.

The Pope is the earthly proxy of the Brilliance Constellation.

When Awakening through the feat of ascending to the papacy, one could directly obtain the desired Awakening Skill from the Constellation, regardless of the feat’s content.

“I plan to obtain a miracle that will help defeat the Fungus Demon King.”

“A wise choice.”

Because Beatus could connect to the ‘Lantern of Radiance,’ the center of the Sanctuary, and monitor and analyze the entire Sanctuary, he knew what miracle would be most effective against the Fungus Demon King.

The priests, smiling at his answer, clasped their hands together and began the papal ascension ceremony.

“In place of the Eye of Radiance, we acknowledge the ascension of Beatus Bright as the new earthly proxy of Radiance. Lumen.”

“Lu—men.”

The bishop-level priests surrounded Beatus, praying in turn as they were enveloped in a faint halo of light.

Whoosh—

The halos of light from these priests gathered and solidified into a specific form above Beatus’s head.

A form resembling a crown of light.

With a reverent attitude, Beatus lifted the floating crown of light and placed it upon his own head.

Fwaaat!

At that moment, the papal ascension was completed, and Beatus’s actual Grade rose from 5-Star to 6-Star.

And the new miracle he desired, 《Block: Blocking》, bloomed as his Sixth Awakening Skill.

It was a myth-grade miracle capable of perfectly blocking the Fungus Demon King’s soul corrosion.

“Block: Blocking.”

Beatus, who had reached 7-Star through the blessing’s effect, immediately deployed the miracle, adding it to the Sanctuary.

It was the moment a breakthrough was created in the seemingly endless Demon King Subjugation.

* * *

At the outskirts of the Holy Land, where the battle with the Fungus Demon King was taking place.

Thanks to the miracle of Blocking, there was no longer any need to worry about fungal corrosion, but…

The Subjugation Force still hadn’t figured out a way to bring down the Fungus Demon King.

They had managed to break free from a defensive stance and go on the offensive, but…

Even if they used the myth-grade Awakening Skills that had been protecting Andrei from corrosion for attacks, they were useless against the Fungus Demon King, who infinitely regenerated through the combination of Exuviation Fission and Miraculous Revival.

In search of an answer, Dice tightly gripped the treasure vessel, the Instant Sword, which he had obtained upon reaching 5-Star.

Zziiing—

In the slowed time perceived only by Pheidippides and Lee Hanseong, who were slightly detached from time due to the Taiji Constitution.

Dice’s gaze turned toward Sir Belkain.

The sole wielder of a swordsmanship he had not mastered among the Pilgrim Knights, as he had trained in the freezing-attribute Slow Sword Art, the opposite of Quick Sword Art.

‘Could it be he intends to master Slow Sword Art as well?’

How much time passed in that instant?

As the instant ended, time began to flow normally again.

Dice’s eyes sparkled as if he had found the answer.

“Pilgrim Knight Order! Assist me. I have realized something through Sir Belkain’s Slow Sword Art.”

“What is it?”

“The core of Slow Sword Art is controlling not my own movements, but those of others. I ask that you become swords in my stead.”

“I do not understand the meaning, but if the Commander orders it, we shall follow.”

“Sword Levitation Technique. Hundred Swords Thunderfall.”

Embracing even the Slow Sword Principle, which was the complete opposite, he awakened to the Sword Levitation Technique where the sword moves on its own, and through it, he unleashed the Hundred Swords Thunderfall once more.

Kurururrung!

The hundred streaks of lightning shot from Dice’s sword tip split into ten streaks, flowing to each of the Pilgrim Knights.

Pachuchuchuchu!

From the knights’ hands, the Hundred Swords Thunderfall began to unfold individually.

The knights, connected by streaks of lightning, were essentially one body.

The swordsmanship each had learned became the link that bound the Pilgrim Knight Order into one.

“Thousand Swords Thunderfall.”

Thus, the Hundred Swords Thunderfall unleashed by the ten Pilgrim Knights broke its limits and recovered to the level of Thousand Swords Thunderfall.

Kwarururrung!

“Gwaaaaaah!”

A flood of lightning river swept over the Fungus Demon King.

Of course, this wouldn’t be enough to kill it.

But it wasn’t meaningless.

Fwaaat!

The combined attack that united the Pilgrim Knight Order became a feat, allowing Dice’s Grade to reach a true 6-Star.

The trigger was the knights genuinely acknowledging him as the Pilgrim Knight Commander after feeling a sense of unity through the combined attack.

A Grade soaring to 7-Star through the Sanctuary’s blessing.

“Knight Order Assembly…”

Dice checked his newly obtained Sixth Awakening Skill, grinned, and swept his gaze over the other knights.

A legion-type Awakening Skill that summoned projections of the Pilgrim Knights.

Only now did he truly feel like he had become the Pilgrim Knight Commander.

“I like it.”

Pabababat!

Immediately upon activation of Knight Order Assembly, projections identical to the actual Pilgrim Knights appeared beside each of them.

Thanks to this, the lightning streaks of Thousand Swords Thunderfall doubled once more.

“Two Thousand Swords Thunderfall.”

Kwarururrung!!

“Kkwaaaaah!”

The Fungus Demon King’s new clone was swept away once more by the river of lightning.

The river of lightning, now risen to 20% of Ten Thousand Swords Thunderfall.

Its power was insufficient to completely kill the Fungus Demon King, but enough to force it into a defensive position.

Taking advantage of the breathing room this created, Andrei clenched his right fist and began gathering power.

Until now, he hadn’t had the time to gather power to use it, but now he could.

Woongwoongwoongwoongwoong!

A massive vibration sound echoed, signaling the condensation of immense power.

Andrei’s Fifth Awakening Skill 《Mountain-Shattering Fist》.

Over the already gigantic arm of the giant, an even more massive illusory form of a fist, making that giant seem small, superimposed itself.

Jjeooeoeong!!!!

It struck the Fungus Demon King’s clone, which had just emerged from the Two Thousand Swords Thunderfall.

“Keuheuk…!!”

A blow so intense that ring-shaped shockwaves were visible!

It was only because it was linked with Celestial Body Transformation.

If he had used Mountain-Shattering Fist in his normal state, it would likely have been an illusory fist roughly the size of his Celestial Body Transformation form.

In other words, the Mountain-Shattering Fist Andrei just unleashed was at the level of two combined myth skills.

The Fungus Demon King, who barely escaped through Exuviation Fission without even a chance to use Miraculous Revival, could no longer maintain its celestial-level body.

Pasuseuseu…

As its massive body crumbled into dust, the Fungus Demon King, now shrunk to Andrei’s original size, reactivated Miraculous Revival and Exuviation Fission in Andrei’s form.

Kurururung! Jjeok— Tung!

It tenaciously clung to its lifeline, escaping the river of lightning that sought to swallow it whole.

“Truly tenacious.”

Tung— Tung— Tung— Tung!

The creature, bouncing around due to the recoil from fission, pounced on one of the Silver Plate heroes.

“Don’t stop the attack! They’ll resurrect anyway since we’re in the Sanctuary!”

Thanks to the miracle of Blocking, corrosion was impossible, so everyone assumed Dice intended to stop the attack out of concern for an ally being swept away.

Just as the hero pounced by the Fungus Demon King shouted not to hesitate.

Fungus Demon King’s Fourth Awakening Skill 《Star-Absorbing Grand Art》!

Jjuwaaaap!

The pounced-upon hero instantly dried up into a mummy.

All their starlight and life force had been swallowed by the Fungus Demon King.

An Awakening Skill that abandoned corrosion and focused solely on absorption.

Though it could only be used on one target at a time and had the limitation of requiring a lower-grade target, it was a sufficient ability to act as a variable.

“Don’t get close to it! If it recovers enough power to restore its celestial body, the situation could reverse!”

Unfortunately, the Fungus Demon King pouncing on its next victim for Star-Absorbing Grand Art was faster than hearing and heeding the warning.

The second victim targeted was none other than Duren.

“Hup!”

Sawak— Tung!

Swinging his treasure vessel, the Single-Heaven Sword, obtained upon reaching 5-Star, he bisected the pouncing Fungus Demon King, but the creature merely formed a new clone from the split section and pounced even faster.

Chalsak!

Ultimately deeming it impossible to tear off the clinging creature.

He focused on circulating his energy.

The Grand Heavenly Cycle, expanded into the macrocosm, inherently possessed powerful suction.

His intention was to resist the Star-Absorbing Grand Art through this.

Woong— Woong— Woong— Woong!

Moreover, the more he repeated the Grand Heavenly Cycle, the stronger the suction would become.

If he could buy time, he might even be able to draw in the Fungus Demon King’s energy.

But this was thinking too lightly of the Star-Absorbing Grand Art.

Jjuwaaaap!

The Star-Absorbing Grand Art overwhelmed the suction of the Grand Heavenly Cycle and began pulling the starlight from within his body.

If not for the Sanctuary’s regeneration miracle and Pheidippides’s Holy Light Body, he too would have died, dried up into a mummy like the previously sacrificed hero.

Kurururrung!

The belated Two Thousand Swords Thunderfall swept through the spot where the Fungus Demon King and Duren had been.

However, the Fungus Demon King and Duren were no longer there.

Previously, the Fungus Demon King would only use Miraculous Revival and Exuviation Fission at the brink of death, but this time, it fissioned in advance and evaded the spot along with Duren.

It seemed to have sensed Pheidippides dwelling within him and intended to swallow that power as well.

‘Who said I’d let you?’

Kiiiiing!

Duren accelerated his thoughts through Samadhi State and increased the speed of his energy circulation.

Lee Hanseong also synchronized with Duren, assisting the thought acceleration to the maximum.

It was an act that could risk Qi Deviation if mishandled, but this was inside the Sanctuary after all.

They could afford to take some risks.

The effect of the repeatedly circulating Zhucheon Star Track’s Law began to rapidly increase.

Deolkeung— Deolkeung—

The suction force, which had initially been overwhelmed by the Star-Absorbing Grand Art, began to resist bit by bit.

Until, at some point, balance was achieved.

Perplexity appeared on the Fungus Demon King’s expression.

Pibibibik!

Immediately realizing the situation had turned unfavorable, it tried to fission and escape but was held back by Sword Qi Acupoint Strike.

Though it could only slow the speed of Exuviation Fission for a moment.

For Duren, who was experiencing more time than others through Samadhi State, it was enough time.

Kiiiiing!

The balance between the Grand Heavenly Cycle’s suction and the Star-Absorbing Grand Art instantly tipped in favor of the Grand Heavenly Cycle.

The corner of Duren’s mouth curled up as if mocking the Fungus Demon King.

Jjuwaaaap!

Under that immense gravitational pull, the rotating cycle began to gradually converge toward the center.

The vast starlight and life force harbored by the Fungus Demon King saturated Duren’s inner being.

His inner self, which had dried up as his lifespan reached its limit, was regaining vitality.

Shuwaaap!

But that wasn’t all that was being absorbed.

Pheidippides’s Holy Light Body, which had dwelled within Duren, was also drawn by the suction force into Duren’s dantian.

Within that extreme compression, the internal energy condensed into Gang Qi sublimated once more.

Thump!

A massive Gang Pill, clustered like a bead in his dantian, settled and pulsed.

It was the moment a Golden Core had formed.

[Feat, ‘Inner Core Formation’ achieved.]

[The Golden Constellation records your feat and altered history.]

[Fifth Awakening Skill 《Supreme One Golden Core》 blooms.]

[Duren Spirit’s 5-Star Promotion is completed.]

Triggered by this, Duren completed 5-Star and rose to 6-Star.

Here, if Lee Hanseong released his control over Duren, the constitution change due to Inner Core Formation might not properly apply, so he used his last remaining achievement to continue the Historical Alteration.

[To complete 6-Star Promotion, continuing Historical Alteration.]

[Remaining achievement consumed. Current remaining achievements held: 1 > 0]

Fwaaat!

Following the core formation, Body Reformation took place.

Not an ordinary Body Reformation, but Rejuvenation, where an old man’s appearance becomes that of a youth.

Since his Grade was already expanded through the Guarantee of the Righteous Will and the Sanctuary’s blessing, the change was instantaneous.

[Conditions met. Unique Skill 〈Solar Constitution〉 blooms.]

Perhaps because he had absorbed the Holy Light Body of Pheidippides, who belonged to the Sun Constellation.

Or perhaps because the Golden Core itself was the extreme of Yang energy.

The constitution originating from the Golden Core was the Solar Constitution.

Though the explanation was long, all these changes occurred within the instant it took the Fungus Demon King to break the acupoint strike.

By the time the Fungus Demon King broke the acupoint strike, the creature’s body, which had served as the foundation for these changes, had already met its death.

The form of the cloned Andrei, its energy sucked away until it crumbled to dust, making even maintaining its existence impossible.

Paseuseuseu…

Only the Primal Spirit God of the Fungus Demon King remained, now unable to use Miraculous Revival.

It didn’t even have enough starlight left to use Polarity Reversal, and maintaining even the Primal Spirit God was precarious.

At that moment, as Dice, Duren, and Andrei prepared to deliver the final blow, no one taking precedence.

Flash.

Another new miracle was added to the Sanctuary, and a beam of light descended, annihilating the Fungus Demon King.

Sreureureuk.

The Fungus Demon King’s Primal Spirit God was cleanly erased as if melting into the Sanctuary.

Seeing that, everyone realized.

That the Fungus Demon King had been completely annihilated, unable to even revive.

“What?”

A light of overwhelming power surpassing the miracle of judgment.

That was Hanna’s new miracle.