Chapter 530 Dance of Death

Frenda looked up at the sky covered in black flames and asked the Elf.

’Can we... really win against something like that?’

- Well. How could one know that in advance.

’Didn’t you say you people created the prophecy? Is the outcome unknown?’

- It is unknown. Realizing it ultimately depends on the hands of the people.

’That’s irresponsible....’

Closing her eyes, Frenda pondered for a moment before turning around to face the priests gathered on one side of the temple.

Thanks to the protection of the Goddess’s statue, the temple was able to settle the internal chaos quite quickly.

As a result, the people who had gathered in a hurry were able to secure a brief moment to discuss what to do next.

’According to the activity agreement with Labyrinth, we are supposed to avoid interfering in battles with monsters emerging from the dungeon. The guidelines from the High Temple also state that in case of an emergency, withdrawal and return should be the priority.’

’Technically, according to the regulations, that is true....’

Since Labyrinth was not a city under the influence of the Temple, the conditions for priests to operate within it were strict.

Furthermore, the priests dispatched here were not sent to fight. They could not be forced into a dangerous battle at will.

Since no one had expected an incident of this magnitude, guidelines fitting such a situation could naturally be found nowhere.

Frenda spoke to the many priests and staff members gathered in the temple.

Most were ordinary residents living in this city. People who had no duty to fight evil things, nor a reason to risk their lives.

’Please evacuate to the inner area with the people. There should be a means to escape even in the worst-case scenario.’

’What about you, Priestess Frenda?’

’I... will resign from my position as a priestess. That way, there won’t be any problems later on.’

Frenda turned away as she said that.

’No. We are going too.’

’We cannot be the only ones to escape while leaving the people behind.’

However, following Frenda, many people rose in unison and began to follow her.

* * *

’Po... potions suddenly appeared out of thin air....’

’Feed them that potion!’

’Those who can walk, this way!’

Soldiers and priests ran through the streets, leading the residents.

Thanks to the potions, those who had collapsed regained consciousness after a short while, and as the number of people who came to their senses grew, the evacuation speed of the residents increased further.

Because they had performed evacuation drills several times in advance, everyone was able to leave their places quickly. No one dawdled and wasted time when it was obvious that dangerous monsters had appeared beyond the northern walls.

A mercenary looking up at the sky observed the fading veil of light and reported to Rebecca.

’It looks like the barrier is about to disappear.’

’What’s the status of the evacuation?’

’The north is completely empty. The rest will be finished soon.’

Rebecca checked the number of monsters gathered beyond the barrier.

Thanks to being able to pour out attacks unilaterally beyond this wall, they had been able to deal with quite a few monsters, but the number of monsters outside did not seem to have decreased at all.

It was because new monsters were continuously being created from the massive entity inside the flames. It was as if it was constantly maintaining a certain number.

’They’re coming in!’

’Attack with everything one last time and fall back!’

The attacks from the mercenaries guarding the wall poured out simultaneously.

As the veil covering the city vanished, massive flames and flashes erupted from outside the wall.

Leaving behind the sounds of explosions and flashes echoing from afar, Priscia and the priests of her knightly order followed behind Frenda.

In the middle of the city that had turned into a battlefield, Frenda looked back at Priscia and said.

’Shouldn’t you be the one to escape from here, Lady Priscia? The [White Wing] Knights prioritize nothing over the mission to find the Saintess.’

’No. Right now is when we are truly searching for the Saintess.’

Shaking her head, Priscia looked up at the massive presence shimmering beyond the northern wall and spoke.

’If not here, then where on earth could the Saintess be?’

’...If that’s what you think.’

Priscia felt that even the failure to find traces of the Saintess during the previous knightly expedition might have been part of some grand flow of fate.

If she had found the Saintess and returned to the High Temple then, she wouldn’t have been able to be in this place now.

The fact that the knights had come back here, and of all times at this moment, must surely have some meaning. Thinking so, Priscia had followed Frenda.

A park on a high hill overlooking the city.

There, Frenda drew her sword.

The glowing Holy Sword.

It was its first appearance before the people of the temple. It was a holy relic with a presence more powerful than any holy relic Priscia had seen in the temple thus far.

Priscia sent a peculiar gaze toward Frenda while looking at the Holy Sword.

’I have much to ask you as well. Do you intend to keep saying you know nothing even while possessing such a thing?’

’...It’s a misunderstanding.’

While answering like that.

Frenda felt she could somehow understand why Ian constantly deflected questions in that manner.

It was a very convenient answer when someone hit the mark.

As Frenda closed her eyes and raised the Holy Sword, a faint light began to glow.

Taking that as a signal, the priests surrounding Frenda bestowed blessings simultaneously. Numerous types of blessings dwelled within Frenda’s body at once.

The light within Frenda soon became a massive wave and surged upward.

She had transmitted the blessings within her to all people by using the power of the Holy Sword.

That light of blessing spread throughout the city and dwelled within the people.

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[Holy Sword]

- At the start of combat, select one of the following effects to activate the ability

- [Star of Genesis]

: Shares all stat increase effects currently applied to oneself with allies

- [Star of the End]

: Applies all stat increase effects currently applied to allies to oneself instead

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* * *

The gates collapsed, and numerous monsters poured into the city.

Thanks to the barrier buying time for a while, the evacuation of the residents was finished, and the city interior had completed all preparations to draw in the monsters.

’Next, Group 2 lure them! Group 3 stand by and pull the large ones from the back!’

The monsters that entered were the only living beings visible in the empty streets... They ran through the streets chasing the soldiers and mercenaries who were luring them. Numerous monsters were divided into several branches and spread throughout the city.

’Is it... okay to leave it like this?’

’What is?’

A mercenary atop a watchtower overlooking the city spoke while watching the city start to fill with monsters.

’At this rate, all the monsters will gather at the square. Isn’t there no way to deal with those monsters?’

’It’s fine. Because there’s someone at that location to deal with the monsters.’

’Who? Are A-rank mercenary groups gathered there?’

’No... that guy.’

Rebecca spoke while looking toward the square.

’If he’s recovered even half of his old skills... he’ll be able to hold out to some extent.’

The place Rebecca was looking at....

Chris, who was in the square, opened an old box.

What was inside was a necklace. Even though much time had passed, the object inside was sparkling without losing its luster.

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[Mirage]

- Unique Item

- All melee attacks of the wearer are split into 3 consecutive strikes with 35% damage each

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It was a box the Vice-Captain had handed him, saying it was a gift for Chris.

To think such an item was contained in such a thing.

It had clearly been handed to Chris with prior knowledge of exactly what item was inside.

Somehow, whenever he opened these boxes or pouches, something good came out, so he thought the Vice-Captain was an incredibly lucky person.

Thinking about it now with more experience, it seemed certain that he had some ability to see inside boxes beforehand.

Chris muttered while looking at the sky.

’How foolish.... You should have just thrust this into my hand and forced me to the place where the fighting was happening.’

Instead of hiding him alone in a safe place.

If he had urged him to snap out of it and pushed him into the fray.

No matter how terrified he had been... if he had been with his comrades in their moment of crisis, he might have been able to find the courage to fight somehow.

- Krrraaaaakh!

’Group 1 will arrive in 30 seconds!’

The sound of something approaching could be heard from the other side of the street.

Chris, standing alone in the middle of the square, raised his head.

In the square that was always filled with people, no one remained anymore. Only the shouts of messengers frantically yelling from the rooftops could be heard occasionally.

Standing there alone, Chris drew his sword. The monsters were approaching.

Luring them into the city, using numerous luring teams to disperse their numbers, and stalling for time so they wouldn’t head toward the inner castle where the refugees were gathered.

The final destination for the monsters lured in that way was this square.

’You there, move quickly.’

’Y-yes, sir!’

Passing the luring team by, Chris dashed forward and swung his sword.

Chris’s sword split like a phantom, cutting three monsters simultaneously.

As he cut down the monsters charging at the front, a flame-like aura surged from Chris’s body.

──!

The monsters behind them swung their claws at Chris.

However, the attacks of the monsters, which were much larger than Chris’s height, were blocked by the sword they met and were bounced back helplessly.

As if they had collided with something possessing an unimaginably massive power.

The large forms of the monsters were pushed back instead, and they collapsed after receiving several subsequent attacks.

Passing between the monsters scattering into shadows.

The largest monster, which was at the very rear, could not withstand Chris’s sword even once and was split in two.

The burning momentum rising from Chris’s body grew even stronger as he devoured numerous monsters.

’Next?’

’Ne... next, Group 3 will arrive in one minute!’

’Tell them to shorten the interval.’

New monsters were approaching from other passages leading to the square.

Chris immediately charged toward them first.

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[Dance of Death]

- [Chris] Exclusive Trait

- Gain 1 [Dance of Death] stack each time a [Consecutive Strike] chain is successful

- [Consecutive Strike Damage * 15%] per [Dance of Death] stack

- When hit during [Consecutive Strike], consume 1 stack to [Damage Received -50%]

- Reset stacks upon [Consecutive Strike] chain failure

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