Chaos on the Second Floor

After climbing to the second floor of the Altar, the first thing I did was to look around.

Since the Altar itself was enormously large, I had to check how many people were there. As if to confirm this was indeed the most crucial spot, the upper level was packed with people.

The enemies, who had been busy infusing mana, were utterly flustered when they saw me. Due to their confusion, the mana flowing into the Altar momentarily weakened.

“Damn it, what were those guys downstairs doing?” “F-first, knock him down!”

I immediately raised my spear and began to swing it at them. I had no intention of holding back.

As far as I knew, mages were the kind of people who only got trickier the more time you gave them. It was best to inflict as much damage as possible while they were still flustered.

Slash-!

I swung my spear, cutting flesh and breaking bones with the shaft. With every sweep of my body, screams echoed among them.

Still, I tried not to take their lives if I could help it. After all, killing people tended to give me restless dreams.

I merely crippled their arms and legs. Of course, this was only possible because I had the luxury, but I didn't know what would happen if my own life were in immediate danger...

For now, this seemed sufficient. Unlike Knights, mages with their lacking Physical Ability were utterly vulnerable in close combat.

However, my time to rampage didn't last long.

Fwoosh-!

After a few tens of seconds, spells slowly started flying my way. Fireballs created from mana, sharply honed Wind Blades, massive Rock Projectiles, and more.

Though they weren't particularly powerful, having dozens of spells flying at me simultaneously certainly raised the pressure.

If I hadn't had my Mithril spear, I would have struggled considerably. I concentrated intensely and began to systematically counter the spells.

I deflected all the most annoying Fireballs and avoided attacks aimed at my vital points as much as possible. That left only small rocks, spikes, and blades, which I simply took with my body. After all, with my Regeneration, attacks of this level were like something a little spit would heal.

“D-did we get him?!”

“You idiot, that's a Resurrection Spell!”

After enduring that barrage, I continued my spear work.

Ignoring the battle below and making a Breakthrough directly towards the Altar was an excellent choice. Thanks to that, the mana that should have been flowing into the Altar was now leaking towards me, like water from a bottomless jar.

The people below seemed to have noticed the Altar's situation, but unfortunately, they couldn't come this way. They were already being pushed back by the Extermination Squad, so they couldn't afford to dispatch personnel here.

However, that didn't mean I could keep rampaging like a madman indefinitely.

Clang! After a few minutes, a Rapier appeared and blocked my path. Isolde, who had left the Battlefield due to her injuries, had returned.

Her complexion was a bit pale, but her wounds had already healed. It seemed they had all regenerated while she rested.

*Well, she's a Manifestor too...*

From my perspective, she seemed to Regenerate rather slowly. Then again, Neria had said that her own Regeneration wasn't particularly fast. Regenerative Ability varied widely among Manifestors.

“...From now on, I'll handle this. Everyone, focus on the ritual again.”

“B-but, Lady Isolde!”

“It's fine. If we can't break the Seal anyway, isn't it our defeat?”

At her words, the confused mages quickly regained their composure. And once again, they desperately began to infuse mana into the Altar.

I couldn't help but frown as I watched the scene.

*She's a bit troublesome...*

Her Swordsmanship Skill aside, her ability was a concern even for me. Her Gate couldn't be deflected or blocked with a spear.

If I were to be hit incorrectly, I could fall from the air like last time. Last time, I was safe because Haneul diligently used her Magic. If I fell from a height like that of a tall tower, I couldn't guarantee my body would be safe either.

If I fully deployed Blood Force Art to create a cushion, I'd probably be safe... But doing something like that was a disadvantage in itself. If I drew that much blood, risks would start to appear. And automatically disengaging from combat would be quite troublesome.

*Well... it can't be helped.*

Of course, just because she was troublesome didn't mean I could back out. Couldn't I just avoid getting hit by that Gate in the first place? While I couldn't say my Evasion was as good as Vivian's, I still had enough Skill to gain an advantage.

With that, I began to clash with Isolde. I recovered my half-blocked spear, then spun my body and swung the shaft upwards.

However, it unfortunately didn't reach Isolde's body. She twisted her body sharply, performing an Evasion. She went even further, creating a large distance between us.

*Is she trying to avoid a Test of Strength because she just needs to buy time?*

Indeed, that would be advantageous for her. Unfortunately, I couldn't ignore her and interfere with the other mages. At the very least, she had enough Skill to block me if I tried to attack others.

I was just wondering if she would just keep evading like this...

Whoosh-!

Suddenly, she thrust her Rapier into the Void. It was a distance far too short to reach me, considering the Rapier's reach.

“!”

However, sensing something amiss, I immediately turned my head to the side.

Slice-! At the same time, a searing pain spread across my cheek. Only then did I see her Rapier had traveled through a Gate and appeared at my side, precisely where my Temple had been.

Seeing that, I instantly felt a chill. If I had stayed still, I would have died without even knowing why, wouldn't I?

Of course, she seemed just as surprised as I was.

“...To dodge that. Your Sense is frighteningly good.”

“You had such an amazing Technique and you were saving it until now?”

“It's one of my Finishing Moves, you see. If it fails the first time, the enemy will be on high alert afterwards, won't it?”

That was true. Thanks to that, I was completely tense. She spoke with a hint of regret, but it was still a frightening Technique. If I missed where her sword was going, I wouldn't know when a hole would appear in my body.

A Strike that could be unleashed without being restricted by range or attack direction was an absurdly overpowered skill in combat against people, if not against Monsters.

Of course, I had no intention of just standing by and watching. She wasn't the only one who could perform a Ranged Attack. I moved the blood flowing on my cheek and sent it flying straight at her. A sharply honed Blood Mass shot out fiercely.

Thwack-!

At the same time, I also initiated a Charge towards her. If it was a sword that could appear anywhere, I just needed to prevent her from swinging it at all. Fortunately, my Physical Ability surpassed hers.

“Kuk...!”

Flustered, she had no choice but to pull back quickly.

The fight continued in that manner. If I forcibly closed the distance, she would pull back, even if it meant using her special ability. Occasionally, she would send Warp Gates at me, but I could twist my body and Evade them.

As I pressed her in that way, she quickly became breathless.

“Haa... haa...”

Indeed, even that overpowered ability seemed to have its risks. As I continued to press her, the tattoos on her body slowly began to spread. There were no obvious side effects, but she was clearly physically in considerable pain. Her ragged breath showed she was quite exhausted.

Even though she had tried to pierce my head, I asked her with a final act of mercy towards my Kin.

“Stop struggling and surrender. Then I'll at least let you die peacefully.”

I already had to defend Livia, so I couldn't go easy on this one too, could I? To be honest, we weren't exactly on good terms anyway.

And victory was already almost ours.

I glanced down at the Altar below. Kyle, who had been displaying his might against the Extermination Squad, was getting tired surprisingly quickly. Because he had to deal with the most enemies alone, even his diverse Magic seemed unable to handle the strain.

Even Livia, who had been holding up well, was gradually hardening her expression, seemingly overwhelmed by the sheer numbers.

Jurgen was the only one still relatively fine, but it seemed he couldn't help but get tired as well. It was an obvious situation that we would win if a little more time passed.

No matter how much they struggled, they couldn't turn the tide. Isolde seemed to know that too... but unexpectedly, she looked very calm.

Had she prepared for such a situation? Or was she just resigned and still? Honestly, it wasn't a pleasant sight.

Whether Otherworlders, the Knight Order, or Lemegeton, my Kin were quite special beings for me, who kept an ambiguous distance from everyone.

Even if our blood was different, they had lived through similar pain. The fact that one of my Kin was destined to be captured soon didn't feel particularly pleasant, to be honest.

“Why are you taking their side?”

As I was thinking that, Isolde asked absently. I suddenly looked into her eyes. Perhaps because of her gray eyes, only a deep murkiness could be felt within them.

“You're not trying to recruit me now, are you, after all this?” “...No, I'm just curious. If you think about it, you must have suffered a lot from them too. You were driven into the Forest and almost subjected to Extermination. Don't you feel wronged? If you had joined us here, you could have lived comfortably within the Order.” “It certainly does piss me off when I think about that time...”

She was right. To be honest, I sometimes found it despicable when the Knight Order, who had once set out to Exterminate me, sometimes sought my help. After all, I suffered no small amount at their hands.

When I think back to my childhood, constantly evading Monsters in the Forest... anger sometimes leaks out towards them. The resentment deep in my heart lasts longer than I think.

Nevertheless, the reason I cooperated with them was... that I hated Demons even more.

Whose fault was it that I was stuck living in the Forest in the first place? Whose fault is it that I experience a suicidal berserk state every month? The reason people discriminate against Manifestors is because of Demons, and their attempts at early Extermination are an expression of their fear of Demons.

Therefore, people's rejection was within the understandable range. The Root of all Evil was none other than the Demons.

That's why I endured the uncomfortable feelings and lent a hand in killing Demons. With the justification of escaping the berserk state anyway, I even felt a certain enjoyment in beating up Demons.

And as I did, things changed. As I continued to participate in Exterminations for a while, people who acknowledged me gradually appeared. Situations where someone showed me favor and expressed gratitude began to arise. Along with that, a sense of belonging to society gradually developed.

Such feelings were enough to make me feel good.

That's why I help them.

“If I had to put a name to it... it's the desire for recognition. And I'd rather die than follow Demons.”

“...Hmph, damn it.”

When I spoke those somewhat cheesy words, she scoffed. It was clear derision. She snarled as she looked at me.

“You talk such carefree nonsense. Without even knowing how easily you've lived.”

“?”

I tilted my head for a moment. I didn't think I'd lived a particularly easy life.

I looked at her face. The calm demeanor she had shown when we first met had vanished without a trace, replaced by an overflowing, palpable hostility.

It wasn't just hostility directed at me. It seemed to be hostility directed beyond me, towards the Extermination Squad, towards the entire World. A mass of hatred had accumulated over a long time.

Her momentum was so fierce that even I couldn't help but flinch for a moment.

It wasn't just an emotional display. She was giving something up right now: her human form, and her very soul.

Whoosh-!

A massive demonic energy surged from her body. It was my first time seeing it directly, but I knew instinctively.

That was Demonization. She was trying to gain power by sacrificing her body.

“!”

Feeling a sense of crisis, I gripped my spear tightly once more. It was the same for her. Having regained her vigor, she gripped her Rapier with all her might. But she didn't rush forward immediately. Instead, she merely opened her mouth, a sneer on her face.

“Let me tell you my life story for a moment.”

And then, her story began.