“I’ll contact you again...”
After saying his final farewell, Ilwooz took back the divine power he had breathed into the mirror. The mirror that had been reflecting Hyeon’s appearance just a moment ago returned to being a clean and ordinary mirror.
After talking to Hyeon for the first time in a long time, he felt at ease. His conversations with her were always like that. As they talked, he felt like he was sorting out his own thoughts.
Even though he has a thousand years of memories and possesses the power of a god, his worries and suffering do not disappear. This is probably the limitation of Ilwooz, who is ultimately human.
But now, thanks to the conversation with Hyeon, his mind has been greatly relieved. Ilwooz carefully straightened his tattered priest's robe and had a much more refreshed face.
It had been a bit chaotic since a while ago, and the noise was getting louder. He was thinking of going outside.
The accommodation that Targayel received from the Counts of Mapel was an old mansion located on the outskirts of the territory. This mansion, which had a large garden, was the residence of the previous lord of Mapel.
It had been a long time since anyone had lived there, and even though they had cleaned up in a hurry to welcome guests, it still had a distinct sense of wear and tear.
As soon as Ilwooz opened the door and stepped into the hallway, he immediately saw people running around busily. Ilwooz grabbed the hem of his clothes because he knew someone among them. The person turned around quickly, and when he saw Ilwooz, his eyes widened, and he called his name.
“Serhil!”
The person that Ilwooz had caught was none other than the commander of the Targayel knights, Liv. Liv, who always had a playful expression with freckles on his nose, now had an even more serious expression on his face.
“That’s great. Follow me.”
As Liv hurriedly led him, Ilwooz was dragged by him without realizing it. Liv quickly walked over and explained the current situation.
“I have received a report from Kalia, who was out on reconnaissance. Those who appear to be private soldiers of Count Mapel’s family are approaching us.”
"That...!"
“There is still some time left. All knights are currently in combat readiness, and the leadership will be in a meeting right away.”
Ilwooz followed Liv and questioned him.
“What about Lady Elze and the Count... They went to Count Mapel’s house...”
“Oh, you mean those two?”
Liv looked at Ilwooz for a moment as if asking why he was asking such a thing. Then he started walking briskly again and said.
“Most of Mapel’s private soldiers must have come here. The number of private soldiers left in their mansion is probably less than thirty, so that’s about it.”
Liv stopped talking and shouted something loudly to the knight passing by, then continued.
“That’s enough for two people to make their own wrap, so you don’t have to worry.”
Then, Liv said with an enthusiastic look on her face, clenching her fists.
“Shouldn’t we also work hard so that we don’t get left behind?”
“But I’m worried because there are injured people...”
Ilwooz, who had not fully recovered his divine power, had not yet healed the wounded. After eliminating them as non-combatants, the number of Targayel knights was not enough to deal with five hundred men. However, unlike Ilwooz, who was full of worry, Liv waved his hand.
“Hey, that’s about right for balance.”
Liv lowered his voice considerably and whispered as if he was telling a top secret.
“Elijah’s witch seems to be going wild today with her hair down. She’s been getting beat up since last time, so she’s really on the mend, but it looks like she’s really exploded now.”
“Elijah’s witch...?”
When Ilwooz asked in bewilderment at hearing it for the first time, Liv said with a face that said he didn't know that either.
“I mean, Ivanna. She's been working hard on her experiments lately, and she's probably filled up some research papers. They’re really poisonous.”
“...?”
Ivanna is a witch. Ilwooz couldn't believe it. If it was Ivanna, wasn't it the little girl who was embarrassed in front of him?
He knew that she was a talented alchemist. However, it was the first time he had heard of her being nicknamed a witch. Ilwooz thought that the nickname witch did not suit the cute and small Ivanna.
But before they could ask for more details, Liv and Ilwooz arrived at the meeting place. Liv slammed the door open and immediately shouted,
“I’m here! And Serhil!”
“Are you here?”
Eapine, who was sitting, stood up and greeted Liv. In the room, all the leaders of the Targayel vassals who had come to the border were gathered. All of Elijah, except Elze, Epen, the head of Kalia, Liv, the knight commander, and Ilwooz. Liv slammed the table in the middle of the sofa with both hands and said.
“Everyone, we don’t have much time, so let’s get started quickly.”
He spread out the map he had prepared on the table. The mansion where Targayel was currently staying was depicted in considerable detail on the map.
“When did you prepare something like this?”
Liv said proudly at Tarkun’s muttering.
“Before your arrival! Our great advisor Marle has prepared it.”
When he said Marle, he meant the butler who remained in the Targayel mansion in the capital. Everyone in the conference hall was impressed by his thoroughness. Liv pointed to each of the points circled in red and spoke.
“I’ve marked some points that could be the focal point. As you know, we are outnumbered, right? Everyone, please choose the place you like best from among these.”
And Liv added with a solemn face.
“It’s first come, first served. And I’m at the front line here.”
It was an absurd process for a strategy meeting. However, everyone calmly chose one point at a time without raising any objections. Rapine followed Liv and pointed out the point at the front line.
“Elijah will go to the same place as Liv. Tarkun and Ivanna will take the lead, and I will provide cover.”
“I like it.”
“I agree with Rapine.”
After Elijah had made his decision, Epen pointed to the points on the map.
“Kalia will go to this point in the rear.”
He continued speaking, tracing the map with his finger.
“I think it would be a good idea to watch the situation and then return to this side and attack from behind. I will move organically based on the situation.”
Everyone nodded at Epen's words. And they all looked at Ilwooz. Ilwooz was taken aback for a moment but soon smiled and pointed to a certain spot.
“Then... I will go there...”
Everyone looked surprised at the point he had made. However, there was no particular complaint. Targayel’s vassals knew each other’s abilities well. Everyone sitting here was someone who could pay the price for their choices. That’s why each person’s choice could be trusted.
“Yes, done! The meeting ends here!”
Liv applauded loudly, signaling the end of the meeting.
“Yes, then to celebrate the new year...”
With their gaze focused on him, he smiled like a rascal and said:
“Shall we begin our battle party, vassals of Targayel?”
Formal knights were reluctant to come to the harsh and unforgiving borders. As a result, the private army of the Count of Mapel consisted of hired mercenaries rather than knights.
The object of loyalty for such mercenaries was money. The reason they were attached to the Count of Mapel was simple. They were given a lot of money.
Under the command of the knights of the Count of Mapel, the private army of mercenaries headed towards the lodgings where Targayel was staying. To conceal their movements, they marched through the forests surrounding the Count of Mapel, not through the village. Only the knights rode on horseback, while the mercenaries were all on foot.
Although it was a serious mission called a surprise attack, the overall atmosphere was very relaxed. Among the mercenaries, many were proud of finally being able to face Elijah, whom they had only heard about.
The knights of the Count of Mapel were even worse. They rode leisurely as if they were out for a walk. Not only that, they were planning to finish everything in an hour and then head to the village tavern for a drink.
There was no tension in this expedition. There were even many dissatisfied knights. One knight grumbled to the commander who was at the forefront.
“All the soldiers are coming out to fight against just a few dozen people. Does that make sense?”
The commander shrugged and answered.
“No matter how much we have the numerical advantage, aren’t they veterans of the Hundred Years’ War? It can’t hurt to be fully prepared.”
“But... There’s nothing I can do about not understanding.”
“I fully understand how you feel. But since it’s an order from above, let’s just finish this cleanly and go back.”
"...All right."
The knight lowered his head and answered the commander's murmur. One of the mercenaries who had been listening to the knights' murmur let out a deep sigh. The bearded man let out a short curse and muttered.
“I’m going to lose everything today. I’m going to lose everything.”
While everyone else was relaxed, he was the only one who was tense. His face was pale, and his hands were shaking slightly.
The mercenary looked down at his trembling hands and clenched his fists. Then he took out a small water bottle from his bosom and drank it down in gulps. The water bottle contained alcohol.
“Look here.”
Someone suddenly tapped the arm of the mercenary who was drinking alcohol. He turned around and saw that it was another mercenary. He had a large scar on his face and his face was pale as well. He asked cautiously.
“You, are you... a veteran?”
“Huh? You too?”
The two mercenaries, who confirmed that they were each other's veterans of the Hundred Years' War, shook hands firmly. They began to march side by side and converse.
“Among the mercenaries here, are there any other veterans besides us?”
“I guess it’s because the ransom is expensive. There doesn’t seem to be many. There are a lot of them from foreign countries..”
“Among the knights?”
“None. Even if they did participate in the war, they were just guys who sucked the honey from the rear.”
The bearded mercenary swore again at the scarred mercenary's words. He spoke in a voice that sounded like the world was ending.
“The only hope is that Cirxus and Elze aren’t here... Sigh.”
“No, no. When I saw it, today felt like a day to dig a grave and lie down.”
“I see. What are you going to do?”
“What should I do? What should I do? I have to fall as deep as possible and then run away.”
The two exchanged glances and nodded. Then, without being noticed, they slowly began to retreat to the rear. No matter how important the contract was, nothing was more important than life.
Those who knew nothing rushed to the front. They were hoping to receive a reward for their achievements in an easy battle. The two mercenaries were about to offer brief condolences to their ignorant and cheerful appearance.
“All troops! Prepare for battle!!”
The private soldiers began to form up in formation at the shout of the Knight Commander. The two mercenaries craned their necks to look ahead.
The mansion was visible in the distance. The knights of Targayel were all on horseback, lined up in two rows. They were lined up horizontally, so they looked like there were more people, but when they counted them roughly, there were definitely fewer of them.
There was a burst of laughter among the private soldiers of the Mapel family. It was obvious to anyone that they were desperate to die.
And the two mercenaries who were retreating to the rear froze in place. This was because they had discovered a girl standing proudly before the knights of Targayel.
“Hehehe... Hehehe...”
The girl with the low, incomprehensible laugh looked exactly like a crazy woman. Next to the girl was a muscular man holding a huge two-handed sword, and he had a rather troubled expression on his face.
The private soldiers of House Mapel all looked bewildered. A girl and a man were at the forefront, and the knights of Targayel were behind them. The commander of the Knights of House Mapel frowned and shouted.
“Are all the knights of Targayel hiding behind women?”
However, the knights of Targayel did not change their expressions at all. Instead, they looked at the commander with pity. Feeling a hint of uneasiness in those gazes, he muttered quietly to himself.
“What the heck, those guys...?”
And the two mercenaries, the only ones with experience in the Hundred Years' War, glared at each other and swore at each other.
“What the hell!”
The bearded mercenary turned around with a pale face and said.
“Ivanna.”
“This fucking shit...!”
The scarred mercenary shouted, hitting his forearm hard.
“Shut up and run!!”
They started running in a panic. Mapel's private soldiers jeered in disbelief at the sight of the mercenaries running away for their lives. The knight commander also frowned and muttered.
“What about those kids? We’ll hold them accountable later.”
But no one knew how excellent the choice of the two escaped mercenaries had been.
“Ivanna, run away.”
Tarkun pointed to the fleeing mercenaries and reported diligently. Ivanna spoke very generously.
“Leave them alone. Those who value their lives should be spared.”
“Is that so?”
Ivanna nodded at Tarkun's question. Then she turned around slightly. Their eyes met, and Liv beckoned to her.
It was a signal that the attack could begin.
Ivanna smiled and shook out the hem of her black coat. Inside the coat, which spread out long and fluttered in the wind, were tightly packed glass bottles. Ivanna picked out a few she liked and shouted proudly.
“You all have to repeat that you lost today!”
The enemy knight commander was looking at her with disbelief. A sharp sound of wind cutting through the air was heard from somewhere. And when he realized it was too late,
“Aaah!!”
With a thud, arrows struck the commander's arms one after another with a sound of flesh-piercing. Without even being able to marvel at the skill with which they had dug into the delicate joints between the armor, the commander shouted busily.
“Sniper! There’s a sniper!!”
With an arrow signaling the start of the battle, Ivanna ran straight into the center of the knights.
The knights of Targayel did not move, but the soldiers of Mapel were momentarily taken aback by the sight of the girl rushing forward alone. Ivanna threw down what she was holding in both hands. Something sparkled and fell with a thud.
From then on, hell began. The sound of explosions reverberated continuously.
“Kyahahahaha!”
Ivanna burst into loud laughter amid the roar. She ran, throwing bottles around in a flurry. The bottles created small explosions wherever they struck.
“Catch her! Catch her first!!”
The commander of the knights of Mapel, who belatedly sensed Ivanna's danger, grabbed both arms pierced by arrows and shouted. However, approaching Ivanna was not easy. To approach her, two obstacles had to be overcome.
First up was Tarkun. Tarkun crushed the bones of anyone who came close to Ivanna with his heavy two-handed sword.
Even if a few nimble men approached to avoid such a Tarkun, an arrow flying like a ghost from somewhere would pierce their vital points. In the melee, the sniper's arrow flying silently was enough to instill fear. Mapel's private soldiers were barely able to break through the front line with just one young lady.
Perhaps it was because of the sense of desperation that they would all die if things continued this way. Several nimble mercenaries risked their lives and jumped in. They successfully avoided Tarkun's sword and Rapine's arrows and approached Ivanna.
But it was useless. Ivanna immediately took out another bottle from her coat. She smiled and sprinkled it gently at them. The mercenaries who had not noticed the coolness turned it over and flinched in shock.
“Ugh!!”
“It’s hot!!”
The specially treated bottle contained an acidic solution. Those who were hit by the solution fell in shock as their armor melted and their flesh burned away.
“Don’t come near me, you filthy bastards!!”
Ivanna laughed happily and shouted.
“You idiots! Kyahahahahaha!!”
There was no Elze. Ivanna, who felt no need to show off, was running wild like a crazy woman with her hair down. Every time she laughed loudly, her coat hem fluttering, the bombs kept exploding. The soldiers who saw this sight, regardless of whether they were allies or enemies, turned pale.
Tarkun swung his two-handed sword vigorously, kicking away the soldiers who were trying to approach Ivanna. He crushed the bones of three men with one blow, then shook his head and muttered.
“..It looks like she’s been under a lot of stress lately.”
It wasn't just Tarkun who was disgusted by Ivanna's appearance. The knights of Targayel also looked at Ivanna with their mouths wide open. One of them said to Liv.
“Lord Cullens, I don’t think we’ll need to go that far.”
Liv also blankly watched the scene, then came to his senses and spoke.
“Oh, we need to move too.”
Liv signaled to Kalia in the rear and gave instructions to the knights.
“Let’s just finish it quickly. Let’s roll up some rice balls together with Kalia!”
It was a strange order, but the knights of Targayel, who were familiar with Liv's antics, listened to it and changed the order accordingly.
“Spread out your camps on both sides! Join forces with the Kalias and surround the enemy!!”
The knights began to form a single line in a two-o-long column. They rode their horses skillfully, spreading out their camp on both sides and advancing forward. The camp spread out like wings, embracing Mapel’s private soldiers. Epen, who had confirmed that Targayel’s knights were moving, gave instructions to Kalia.
“Kalia! Turn left and face the enemy’s rear!”
The Kalias who received the signal also turned left from the rear and blocked the opposite side, that is, the rear of the Mapel camp. The number of Kallias, excluding the wounded, was not large, but they were enough to receive instructions from Liv. They blocked the retreat and killed the escapees.
The movements of the Kalias were so secretive that the front line was unaware that their retreat route was blocked. The knights of Mapel belatedly gave the order to retreat.
“Retreat! Retreat!!”
But they had already been surrounded. Realizing that all paths of escape were blocked, the commander of the Knights of Mapel clenched his teeth. A grinding sound came out of his mouth.
As the witch of Targayel ran wild and disrupted the battlefield, the swordsmen and archers covered her. The knights calmly pushed forward behind the witch, and the rear was blocked. The only option left for Mapel's men was death.
“Phew...”
The commander of the knights of Mapel, who had realized the reality, closed his eyes tightly. He let out a heavy groan from the pain that was coming. After thinking for a while, he groaned and took something out of his bosom with difficulty. Then he opened his bloodshot eyes and muttered.
“If it has come to this... It’s a do-or-die situation...!”
Ivanna had been under a lot of stress for a while.
In addition, the events that occurred in Heglatan, especially the events that occurred on the last day of their escape, became nightmares that tormented Ivanna. The fact that she left Elze alone at that time became a kind of trauma for Ivanna.
That day, when Ivanna escaped from Heglatan's laboratory, all she brought with her were raw materials. Therefore, there were no explosives that could help Elze, and she could do nothing.
Ivanna had abandoned Elze, who was her family, and the fact that she ran away alone left a deep scar in her heart.
So from that day on, Ivanna sharpened her sword. Using the materials she obtained from Heglatan, she repeated experiments and research, creating research items that were more effective and powerful in battle.
Even though she was pushing herself to the point of abuse, she didn't feel like it was hard. Instead, Ivanna just thought about how she could become stronger.
Today was finally the day to see the results of her training.
There was no Elze, it was an environment where she could run wild without any restrictions. It was a time when Ivanna's mood was at its peak as she felt all the stress from the past disappear in an instant.
“...?”
Ivanna stood still. It was because she saw an ominous sight. The commander of the knights of Mapel was struggling to take something out of his bosom. Despite the considerable pain caused by the arrows on both arms, the object he pulled out with a groan looked familiar. As soon as she confirmed its identity, Ivanna’s eyes widened.
“That kid!!”
Ivanna shouted, pointing at the Knight Commander. When Tarkun turned around, Ivanna shouted at him.
“Catch that guy! Get that guy, in my hand now!!”
Although Ivanna didn't say anything until the end, Tarkun instinctively started running. And Ivanna also ran after Tarkun.
The thing held in the Knight Commander's hand was a long, stick-shaped solid bomb. The solid bomb had tremendous power and was much more powerful than the explosives Ivanna was using now.
Ivanna did not use solid bombs in battle. Solid bombs have a large explosion range, and if used in a melee, there was a high risk of friendly forces being involved. Therefore, such large bombs were only used when large-scale traps were dug and waiting.
The moment that solid bomb exploded, the entire area, including the mansion, would be blown away. It was clear that the commander of the Knights of Mapel was planning to use it without even knowing it.
“That crazy kid!!”
Ivanna ran and screamed.
“If you throw that, we’ll all die together! Mapel, Targayel, and everyone else!!”
But Ivanna's voice was buried in the chaos, and the eyes of the knight commander holding the bomb were already half open.
He was out of his mind, driven by the fear of defeat and death that he had never experienced before. Following the commander's instructions, the knight next to him unknowingly lit the bomb.
As the wick began to burn and hiss, the knight's expression distorted as he realized something was strange.
“But, Captain, what is this...?”
But the knight's question was truly belated. The commander of the knights of Mapel cried out in a scream.
“We’re all going to die anyway!!”
“Catch that!!”
"No!!"
All sorts of screams mixed in. But there was no turning back. With a crack, the last wick burned out, and the bomb exploded.
Ivanna squeezed her eyes shut. She knew best what would happen next.
The momentary high heat sucks in the air and then rapidly expands. A huge cracking sound resonates all around, like fifteen lightning strikes simultaneously. Then the heat and debris scorch the surrounding area, and blood and flesh are scattered into the air...
In an instant, dozens and hundreds of thoughts came and went in Ivanna's head. However, no matter how much she thought about it, there was no solution. No matter what solution she tried to apply to this situation, the result was death. The despair of the end was taking over her whole body.
“!!”
A huge light appeared from somewhere.
The point that Ilwooz chose was the very top floor of the mansion. It overlooked the battlefield, but it was far enough away that it was a point that could only be used for sniping. The reason Ilwooz chose the point that suited Rapine was a bit sad.
He had not yet fully recovered his divine power, so he was of no use in battle. All Ilwooz had now was the divine power that could heal one or two wounded.
This was also a divine power that had been barely recovered after purifying the body and praying hard. Since Ines had not yet completely forgiven Ilwooz, the power had not been fully restored.
So Ilwooz chose a place overlooking the battlefield where he could watch the battle unfold, and if the lives of the Targayel people were threatened, he would use his power.
Even if he couldn't exert enough force to save many people, he could intervene and save the lives of one or two people when a critical crisis occurred.
Ilwooz slowly untied the string that bound his eyes. The seal was broken, revealing rainbow-colored eyes. However, he did not feel the strong waves of divine power as before. All he felt was the gentle ripples of water.
Ilwooz looked down at the battlefield, muttering softly to himself.
“It is the Pope’s duty.”
There could be no difference in the value of life. Whether it was Targayel or Mapel, equal efforts had to be made to save lives.
But Ilwooz was human after all. As a human, if he had the power to save just one person, it was natural that he would want to use it for someone close to him. Ilwooz looked up at the sky. The clear winter sky was dazzling with white clouds and bright sunlight.
“I think Ines would say that my judgment is not right. But...”
Ilwooz whispered with a faint smile.
“I am not a god, so please understand a little. I will gladly accept whatever punishment you give me.”
What would happen if he were punished here one more time? Ilwooz didn't know. For a thousand years, no Ilwooz had ever gone this far for someone.
But Ilwooz did not think that he had made the wrong choice. It was Ilwooz's job to keep the Savior safe.
And this was done to protect the Savior. So that she would not be hurt. So that even if he walked the rough path and became covered with scars, she alone could walk the beautiful path.
Ilwooz took a deep breath. The pungent smell of blood was deep in his lungs. The battlefield was heated and full of life. He could see the soldiers of both sides clashing fiercely. However, Targayel was still in no great danger. Ilwooz let out a soft sigh.
“...!!”
For a moment, his eyes were dizzy. The moment they turned completely black, scenes quickly flashed before his eyes. The sight that flashed and disappeared like a short, cut-off picture was a total disaster.
A huge explosion occurred. Hot flames engulfed the whole area, and the ground was soaked with blood and flesh. The explosion engulfed the mansion where Ilwooz was, killing everyone without sparing a single life.
Ahs saw Elze mourning in the ruins where not even a proper corpse remained. She was sobbing. She was filled with sorrow, shedding tears and screaming.
And next to her was Cirxus, with an extremely creepy face. As if he was being sucked in, Cirxus's eyes were wide open and filled his field of vision.
Clear, purple eyes with a gleaming glare. Those eyes are wide open, and the pupils are slit vertically, like those of a reptile...
"... OMG!!"
Ilwooz came to his senses in a flash. He staggered and fell to the floor. Goosebumps ran through his body, and his body trembled involuntarily.
It was a 'prophecy' that he had not received even once since leaving Inesian.
Ilwooz was breathing hard. He muttered with trembling lips.
"Future..."
It's not the distant future. It's the very near future.
An explosion occurs, and everyone here is killed, including Ilwooz.
Elze goes mad with grief, and Shan Cirxus becomes assimilated into her grief and suffers, eventually awakening to his evil nature.
I had to stop it. I had to stop it. But how?
Ilwooz tried to increase his strength as a test, but he was still very weak. He felt let down. Ines gave him foresight but did not give him strength.
“Ines...”
Ilwooz called out the name of God. However, the faint voice was soon lost in the sound of swords clashing against swords. There was no answer.
Ilwooz looked down at the battlefield in his crumpled priestly attire. It was a brutal sight of blood splattering and bones being cut.
But Ilwooz did not dodge. Instead, he faced it straight. He took in everything with his clear, sparkling eyes without missing a single thing. Then he closed his eyes tightly and opened them, and stood up resolutely. Ilwooz slowly opened his mouth.
“...Your servant will face countless deaths in the future.”
As he exhaled, his breath turned into a cloud of smoke and dispersed.
“What should I do when faced with the fleeting death that I will face again and again?”
In the white smoke rising, the brilliant rainbow eyes shone with a stronger will than ever. Ilwooz stretched out both hands forward. White light began to gather and wrap around his hands.
“I, a humble servant, seek answers here today.”
But the light rose for a while and then went out like a flash. Ilwooz clenched his molars and pulled his strength up again. Pain naturally followed as he scraped his strength from the empty ground. But Ilwooz did not stop.
“If the path I am about to take is not right, then punish me.”
Cold sweat ran down his temples, clung to his chin, and fell to the floor. His body, unable to bear the pain, convulsed.
“But you have given me foresight. So if you want to go this way, if you think it is right.”
The light began to rise again. It was faint but clearly a white glow, and it was divine power. Ilwooz gathered all his strength. Blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.
“Please give me strength once more, and a chance to prove myself to you.”
At first, it was just a light that shimmered around the hand. But the light gradually grew bigger. It swallowed up the arm, and then the body. A blindingly white light covered Ilwooz. A desperate scream was heard from somewhere. It was the final words of death.
A chill ran through his whole body. The moment he failed, everyone would die. But Ilwooz believed in God and in himself.
“Ines, here...”
And Ilwooz shouted with all he had.
“Show me your power!!”
A white light appeared.
It was another explosion. A huge light condensed for a moment, then burst out like a firecracker. It stretched out like a meteor shower tearing through the night sky, enveloping each and every one of them warmly.
At the same time, an explosion occurred. A terrible heat swept through the air. The ground tore apart, mansions collapsed, and vegetation burned. But even as the inferno burned all around, Targayel, Mapel, and the members of the two houses were unscathed.
Not only was everything safe, wrapped in white light, but even the wounds they had sustained were healed and new skin grew.
Ilwooz emerged from the collapsed mansion, enveloped in white light. He then slowly descended onto the battlefield. The hem of his black priest’s robe swayed in the white light.
Everyone was looking up at Ilwooz with blank expressions. No one died, and everyone survived intact. One of the surviving soldiers muttered blankly.
“Oh my God, Ines...”
At those words, Ilwooz smiled brightly.
After saying his final farewell, Ilwooz took back the divine power he had breathed into the mirror. The mirror that had been reflecting Hyeon’s appearance just a moment ago returned to being a clean and ordinary mirror.
After talking to Hyeon for the first time in a long time, he felt at ease. His conversations with her were always like that. As they talked, he felt like he was sorting out his own thoughts.
Even though he has a thousand years of memories and possesses the power of a god, his worries and suffering do not disappear. This is probably the limitation of Ilwooz, who is ultimately human.
But now, thanks to the conversation with Hyeon, his mind has been greatly relieved. Ilwooz carefully straightened his tattered priest's robe and had a much more refreshed face.
It had been a bit chaotic since a while ago, and the noise was getting louder. He was thinking of going outside.
The accommodation that Targayel received from the Counts of Mapel was an old mansion located on the outskirts of the territory. This mansion, which had a large garden, was the residence of the previous lord of Mapel.
It had been a long time since anyone had lived there, and even though they had cleaned up in a hurry to welcome guests, it still had a distinct sense of wear and tear.
As soon as Ilwooz opened the door and stepped into the hallway, he immediately saw people running around busily. Ilwooz grabbed the hem of his clothes because he knew someone among them. The person turned around quickly, and when he saw Ilwooz, his eyes widened, and he called his name.
“Serhil!”
The person that Ilwooz had caught was none other than the commander of the Targayel knights, Liv. Liv, who always had a playful expression with freckles on his nose, now had an even more serious expression on his face.
“That’s great. Follow me.”
As Liv hurriedly led him, Ilwooz was dragged by him without realizing it. Liv quickly walked over and explained the current situation.
“I have received a report from Kalia, who was out on reconnaissance. Those who appear to be private soldiers of Count Mapel’s family are approaching us.”
"That...!"
“There is still some time left. All knights are currently in combat readiness, and the leadership will be in a meeting right away.”
Ilwooz followed Liv and questioned him.
“What about Lady Elze and the Count... They went to Count Mapel’s house...”
“Oh, you mean those two?”
Liv looked at Ilwooz for a moment as if asking why he was asking such a thing. Then he started walking briskly again and said.
“Most of Mapel’s private soldiers must have come here. The number of private soldiers left in their mansion is probably less than thirty, so that’s about it.”
Liv stopped talking and shouted something loudly to the knight passing by, then continued.
“That’s enough for two people to make their own wrap, so you don’t have to worry.”
Then, Liv said with an enthusiastic look on her face, clenching her fists.
“Shouldn’t we also work hard so that we don’t get left behind?”
“But I’m worried because there are injured people...”
Ilwooz, who had not fully recovered his divine power, had not yet healed the wounded. After eliminating them as non-combatants, the number of Targayel knights was not enough to deal with five hundred men. However, unlike Ilwooz, who was full of worry, Liv waved his hand.
“Hey, that’s about right for balance.”
Liv lowered his voice considerably and whispered as if he was telling a top secret.
“Elijah’s witch seems to be going wild today with her hair down. She’s been getting beat up since last time, so she’s really on the mend, but it looks like she’s really exploded now.”
“Elijah’s witch...?”
When Ilwooz asked in bewilderment at hearing it for the first time, Liv said with a face that said he didn't know that either.
“I mean, Ivanna. She's been working hard on her experiments lately, and she's probably filled up some research papers. They’re really poisonous.”
“...?”
Ivanna is a witch. Ilwooz couldn't believe it. If it was Ivanna, wasn't it the little girl who was embarrassed in front of him?
He knew that she was a talented alchemist. However, it was the first time he had heard of her being nicknamed a witch. Ilwooz thought that the nickname witch did not suit the cute and small Ivanna.
But before they could ask for more details, Liv and Ilwooz arrived at the meeting place. Liv slammed the door open and immediately shouted,
“I’m here! And Serhil!”
“Are you here?”
Eapine, who was sitting, stood up and greeted Liv. In the room, all the leaders of the Targayel vassals who had come to the border were gathered. All of Elijah, except Elze, Epen, the head of Kalia, Liv, the knight commander, and Ilwooz. Liv slammed the table in the middle of the sofa with both hands and said.
“Everyone, we don’t have much time, so let’s get started quickly.”
He spread out the map he had prepared on the table. The mansion where Targayel was currently staying was depicted in considerable detail on the map.
“When did you prepare something like this?”
Liv said proudly at Tarkun’s muttering.
“Before your arrival! Our great advisor Marle has prepared it.”
When he said Marle, he meant the butler who remained in the Targayel mansion in the capital. Everyone in the conference hall was impressed by his thoroughness. Liv pointed to each of the points circled in red and spoke.
“I’ve marked some points that could be the focal point. As you know, we are outnumbered, right? Everyone, please choose the place you like best from among these.”
And Liv added with a solemn face.
“It’s first come, first served. And I’m at the front line here.”
It was an absurd process for a strategy meeting. However, everyone calmly chose one point at a time without raising any objections. Rapine followed Liv and pointed out the point at the front line.
“Elijah will go to the same place as Liv. Tarkun and Ivanna will take the lead, and I will provide cover.”
“I like it.”
“I agree with Rapine.”
After Elijah had made his decision, Epen pointed to the points on the map.
“Kalia will go to this point in the rear.”
He continued speaking, tracing the map with his finger.
“I think it would be a good idea to watch the situation and then return to this side and attack from behind. I will move organically based on the situation.”
Everyone nodded at Epen's words. And they all looked at Ilwooz. Ilwooz was taken aback for a moment but soon smiled and pointed to a certain spot.
“Then... I will go there...”
Everyone looked surprised at the point he had made. However, there was no particular complaint. Targayel’s vassals knew each other’s abilities well. Everyone sitting here was someone who could pay the price for their choices. That’s why each person’s choice could be trusted.
“Yes, done! The meeting ends here!”
Liv applauded loudly, signaling the end of the meeting.
“Yes, then to celebrate the new year...”
With their gaze focused on him, he smiled like a rascal and said:
“Shall we begin our battle party, vassals of Targayel?”
***
Formal knights were reluctant to come to the harsh and unforgiving borders. As a result, the private army of the Count of Mapel consisted of hired mercenaries rather than knights.
The object of loyalty for such mercenaries was money. The reason they were attached to the Count of Mapel was simple. They were given a lot of money.
Under the command of the knights of the Count of Mapel, the private army of mercenaries headed towards the lodgings where Targayel was staying. To conceal their movements, they marched through the forests surrounding the Count of Mapel, not through the village. Only the knights rode on horseback, while the mercenaries were all on foot.
Although it was a serious mission called a surprise attack, the overall atmosphere was very relaxed. Among the mercenaries, many were proud of finally being able to face Elijah, whom they had only heard about.
The knights of the Count of Mapel were even worse. They rode leisurely as if they were out for a walk. Not only that, they were planning to finish everything in an hour and then head to the village tavern for a drink.
There was no tension in this expedition. There were even many dissatisfied knights. One knight grumbled to the commander who was at the forefront.
“All the soldiers are coming out to fight against just a few dozen people. Does that make sense?”
The commander shrugged and answered.
“No matter how much we have the numerical advantage, aren’t they veterans of the Hundred Years’ War? It can’t hurt to be fully prepared.”
“But... There’s nothing I can do about not understanding.”
“I fully understand how you feel. But since it’s an order from above, let’s just finish this cleanly and go back.”
"...All right."
The knight lowered his head and answered the commander's murmur. One of the mercenaries who had been listening to the knights' murmur let out a deep sigh. The bearded man let out a short curse and muttered.
“I’m going to lose everything today. I’m going to lose everything.”
While everyone else was relaxed, he was the only one who was tense. His face was pale, and his hands were shaking slightly.
The mercenary looked down at his trembling hands and clenched his fists. Then he took out a small water bottle from his bosom and drank it down in gulps. The water bottle contained alcohol.
“Look here.”
Someone suddenly tapped the arm of the mercenary who was drinking alcohol. He turned around and saw that it was another mercenary. He had a large scar on his face and his face was pale as well. He asked cautiously.
“You, are you... a veteran?”
“Huh? You too?”
The two mercenaries, who confirmed that they were each other's veterans of the Hundred Years' War, shook hands firmly. They began to march side by side and converse.
“Among the mercenaries here, are there any other veterans besides us?”
“I guess it’s because the ransom is expensive. There doesn’t seem to be many. There are a lot of them from foreign countries..”
“Among the knights?”
“None. Even if they did participate in the war, they were just guys who sucked the honey from the rear.”
The bearded mercenary swore again at the scarred mercenary's words. He spoke in a voice that sounded like the world was ending.
“The only hope is that Cirxus and Elze aren’t here... Sigh.”
“No, no. When I saw it, today felt like a day to dig a grave and lie down.”
“I see. What are you going to do?”
“What should I do? What should I do? I have to fall as deep as possible and then run away.”
The two exchanged glances and nodded. Then, without being noticed, they slowly began to retreat to the rear. No matter how important the contract was, nothing was more important than life.
Those who knew nothing rushed to the front. They were hoping to receive a reward for their achievements in an easy battle. The two mercenaries were about to offer brief condolences to their ignorant and cheerful appearance.
“All troops! Prepare for battle!!”
The private soldiers began to form up in formation at the shout of the Knight Commander. The two mercenaries craned their necks to look ahead.
The mansion was visible in the distance. The knights of Targayel were all on horseback, lined up in two rows. They were lined up horizontally, so they looked like there were more people, but when they counted them roughly, there were definitely fewer of them.
There was a burst of laughter among the private soldiers of the Mapel family. It was obvious to anyone that they were desperate to die.
And the two mercenaries who were retreating to the rear froze in place. This was because they had discovered a girl standing proudly before the knights of Targayel.
“Hehehe... Hehehe...”
The girl with the low, incomprehensible laugh looked exactly like a crazy woman. Next to the girl was a muscular man holding a huge two-handed sword, and he had a rather troubled expression on his face.
The private soldiers of House Mapel all looked bewildered. A girl and a man were at the forefront, and the knights of Targayel were behind them. The commander of the Knights of House Mapel frowned and shouted.
“Are all the knights of Targayel hiding behind women?”
However, the knights of Targayel did not change their expressions at all. Instead, they looked at the commander with pity. Feeling a hint of uneasiness in those gazes, he muttered quietly to himself.
“What the heck, those guys...?”
And the two mercenaries, the only ones with experience in the Hundred Years' War, glared at each other and swore at each other.
“What the hell!”
The bearded mercenary turned around with a pale face and said.
“Ivanna.”
“This fucking shit...!”
The scarred mercenary shouted, hitting his forearm hard.
“Shut up and run!!”
They started running in a panic. Mapel's private soldiers jeered in disbelief at the sight of the mercenaries running away for their lives. The knight commander also frowned and muttered.
“What about those kids? We’ll hold them accountable later.”
But no one knew how excellent the choice of the two escaped mercenaries had been.
***
“Ivanna, run away.”
Tarkun pointed to the fleeing mercenaries and reported diligently. Ivanna spoke very generously.
“Leave them alone. Those who value their lives should be spared.”
“Is that so?”
Ivanna nodded at Tarkun's question. Then she turned around slightly. Their eyes met, and Liv beckoned to her.
It was a signal that the attack could begin.
Ivanna smiled and shook out the hem of her black coat. Inside the coat, which spread out long and fluttered in the wind, were tightly packed glass bottles. Ivanna picked out a few she liked and shouted proudly.
“You all have to repeat that you lost today!”
The enemy knight commander was looking at her with disbelief. A sharp sound of wind cutting through the air was heard from somewhere. And when he realized it was too late,
“Aaah!!”
With a thud, arrows struck the commander's arms one after another with a sound of flesh-piercing. Without even being able to marvel at the skill with which they had dug into the delicate joints between the armor, the commander shouted busily.
“Sniper! There’s a sniper!!”
With an arrow signaling the start of the battle, Ivanna ran straight into the center of the knights.
The knights of Targayel did not move, but the soldiers of Mapel were momentarily taken aback by the sight of the girl rushing forward alone. Ivanna threw down what she was holding in both hands. Something sparkled and fell with a thud.
From then on, hell began. The sound of explosions reverberated continuously.
“Kyahahahaha!”
Ivanna burst into loud laughter amid the roar. She ran, throwing bottles around in a flurry. The bottles created small explosions wherever they struck.
“Catch her! Catch her first!!”
The commander of the knights of Mapel, who belatedly sensed Ivanna's danger, grabbed both arms pierced by arrows and shouted. However, approaching Ivanna was not easy. To approach her, two obstacles had to be overcome.
First up was Tarkun. Tarkun crushed the bones of anyone who came close to Ivanna with his heavy two-handed sword.
Even if a few nimble men approached to avoid such a Tarkun, an arrow flying like a ghost from somewhere would pierce their vital points. In the melee, the sniper's arrow flying silently was enough to instill fear. Mapel's private soldiers were barely able to break through the front line with just one young lady.
Perhaps it was because of the sense of desperation that they would all die if things continued this way. Several nimble mercenaries risked their lives and jumped in. They successfully avoided Tarkun's sword and Rapine's arrows and approached Ivanna.
But it was useless. Ivanna immediately took out another bottle from her coat. She smiled and sprinkled it gently at them. The mercenaries who had not noticed the coolness turned it over and flinched in shock.
“Ugh!!”
“It’s hot!!”
The specially treated bottle contained an acidic solution. Those who were hit by the solution fell in shock as their armor melted and their flesh burned away.
“Don’t come near me, you filthy bastards!!”
Ivanna laughed happily and shouted.
“You idiots! Kyahahahahaha!!”
There was no Elze. Ivanna, who felt no need to show off, was running wild like a crazy woman with her hair down. Every time she laughed loudly, her coat hem fluttering, the bombs kept exploding. The soldiers who saw this sight, regardless of whether they were allies or enemies, turned pale.
Tarkun swung his two-handed sword vigorously, kicking away the soldiers who were trying to approach Ivanna. He crushed the bones of three men with one blow, then shook his head and muttered.
“..It looks like she’s been under a lot of stress lately.”
It wasn't just Tarkun who was disgusted by Ivanna's appearance. The knights of Targayel also looked at Ivanna with their mouths wide open. One of them said to Liv.
“Lord Cullens, I don’t think we’ll need to go that far.”
Liv also blankly watched the scene, then came to his senses and spoke.
“Oh, we need to move too.”
Liv signaled to Kalia in the rear and gave instructions to the knights.
“Let’s just finish it quickly. Let’s roll up some rice balls together with Kalia!”
It was a strange order, but the knights of Targayel, who were familiar with Liv's antics, listened to it and changed the order accordingly.
“Spread out your camps on both sides! Join forces with the Kalias and surround the enemy!!”
The knights began to form a single line in a two-o-long column. They rode their horses skillfully, spreading out their camp on both sides and advancing forward. The camp spread out like wings, embracing Mapel’s private soldiers. Epen, who had confirmed that Targayel’s knights were moving, gave instructions to Kalia.
“Kalia! Turn left and face the enemy’s rear!”
The Kalias who received the signal also turned left from the rear and blocked the opposite side, that is, the rear of the Mapel camp. The number of Kallias, excluding the wounded, was not large, but they were enough to receive instructions from Liv. They blocked the retreat and killed the escapees.
The movements of the Kalias were so secretive that the front line was unaware that their retreat route was blocked. The knights of Mapel belatedly gave the order to retreat.
“Retreat! Retreat!!”
But they had already been surrounded. Realizing that all paths of escape were blocked, the commander of the Knights of Mapel clenched his teeth. A grinding sound came out of his mouth.
As the witch of Targayel ran wild and disrupted the battlefield, the swordsmen and archers covered her. The knights calmly pushed forward behind the witch, and the rear was blocked. The only option left for Mapel's men was death.
“Phew...”
The commander of the knights of Mapel, who had realized the reality, closed his eyes tightly. He let out a heavy groan from the pain that was coming. After thinking for a while, he groaned and took something out of his bosom with difficulty. Then he opened his bloodshot eyes and muttered.
“If it has come to this... It’s a do-or-die situation...!”
***
Ivanna had been under a lot of stress for a while.
In addition, the events that occurred in Heglatan, especially the events that occurred on the last day of their escape, became nightmares that tormented Ivanna. The fact that she left Elze alone at that time became a kind of trauma for Ivanna.
That day, when Ivanna escaped from Heglatan's laboratory, all she brought with her were raw materials. Therefore, there were no explosives that could help Elze, and she could do nothing.
Ivanna had abandoned Elze, who was her family, and the fact that she ran away alone left a deep scar in her heart.
So from that day on, Ivanna sharpened her sword. Using the materials she obtained from Heglatan, she repeated experiments and research, creating research items that were more effective and powerful in battle.
Even though she was pushing herself to the point of abuse, she didn't feel like it was hard. Instead, Ivanna just thought about how she could become stronger.
Today was finally the day to see the results of her training.
There was no Elze, it was an environment where she could run wild without any restrictions. It was a time when Ivanna's mood was at its peak as she felt all the stress from the past disappear in an instant.
“...?”
Ivanna stood still. It was because she saw an ominous sight. The commander of the knights of Mapel was struggling to take something out of his bosom. Despite the considerable pain caused by the arrows on both arms, the object he pulled out with a groan looked familiar. As soon as she confirmed its identity, Ivanna’s eyes widened.
“That kid!!”
Ivanna shouted, pointing at the Knight Commander. When Tarkun turned around, Ivanna shouted at him.
“Catch that guy! Get that guy, in my hand now!!”
Although Ivanna didn't say anything until the end, Tarkun instinctively started running. And Ivanna also ran after Tarkun.
The thing held in the Knight Commander's hand was a long, stick-shaped solid bomb. The solid bomb had tremendous power and was much more powerful than the explosives Ivanna was using now.
Ivanna did not use solid bombs in battle. Solid bombs have a large explosion range, and if used in a melee, there was a high risk of friendly forces being involved. Therefore, such large bombs were only used when large-scale traps were dug and waiting.
The moment that solid bomb exploded, the entire area, including the mansion, would be blown away. It was clear that the commander of the Knights of Mapel was planning to use it without even knowing it.
“That crazy kid!!”
Ivanna ran and screamed.
“If you throw that, we’ll all die together! Mapel, Targayel, and everyone else!!”
But Ivanna's voice was buried in the chaos, and the eyes of the knight commander holding the bomb were already half open.
He was out of his mind, driven by the fear of defeat and death that he had never experienced before. Following the commander's instructions, the knight next to him unknowingly lit the bomb.
As the wick began to burn and hiss, the knight's expression distorted as he realized something was strange.
“But, Captain, what is this...?”
But the knight's question was truly belated. The commander of the knights of Mapel cried out in a scream.
“We’re all going to die anyway!!”
“Catch that!!”
"No!!"
All sorts of screams mixed in. But there was no turning back. With a crack, the last wick burned out, and the bomb exploded.
Ivanna squeezed her eyes shut. She knew best what would happen next.
The momentary high heat sucks in the air and then rapidly expands. A huge cracking sound resonates all around, like fifteen lightning strikes simultaneously. Then the heat and debris scorch the surrounding area, and blood and flesh are scattered into the air...
In an instant, dozens and hundreds of thoughts came and went in Ivanna's head. However, no matter how much she thought about it, there was no solution. No matter what solution she tried to apply to this situation, the result was death. The despair of the end was taking over her whole body.
“!!”
A huge light appeared from somewhere.
***
The point that Ilwooz chose was the very top floor of the mansion. It overlooked the battlefield, but it was far enough away that it was a point that could only be used for sniping. The reason Ilwooz chose the point that suited Rapine was a bit sad.
He had not yet fully recovered his divine power, so he was of no use in battle. All Ilwooz had now was the divine power that could heal one or two wounded.
This was also a divine power that had been barely recovered after purifying the body and praying hard. Since Ines had not yet completely forgiven Ilwooz, the power had not been fully restored.
So Ilwooz chose a place overlooking the battlefield where he could watch the battle unfold, and if the lives of the Targayel people were threatened, he would use his power.
Even if he couldn't exert enough force to save many people, he could intervene and save the lives of one or two people when a critical crisis occurred.
Ilwooz slowly untied the string that bound his eyes. The seal was broken, revealing rainbow-colored eyes. However, he did not feel the strong waves of divine power as before. All he felt was the gentle ripples of water.
Ilwooz looked down at the battlefield, muttering softly to himself.
“It is the Pope’s duty.”
There could be no difference in the value of life. Whether it was Targayel or Mapel, equal efforts had to be made to save lives.
But Ilwooz was human after all. As a human, if he had the power to save just one person, it was natural that he would want to use it for someone close to him. Ilwooz looked up at the sky. The clear winter sky was dazzling with white clouds and bright sunlight.
“I think Ines would say that my judgment is not right. But...”
Ilwooz whispered with a faint smile.
“I am not a god, so please understand a little. I will gladly accept whatever punishment you give me.”
What would happen if he were punished here one more time? Ilwooz didn't know. For a thousand years, no Ilwooz had ever gone this far for someone.
But Ilwooz did not think that he had made the wrong choice. It was Ilwooz's job to keep the Savior safe.
And this was done to protect the Savior. So that she would not be hurt. So that even if he walked the rough path and became covered with scars, she alone could walk the beautiful path.
Ilwooz took a deep breath. The pungent smell of blood was deep in his lungs. The battlefield was heated and full of life. He could see the soldiers of both sides clashing fiercely. However, Targayel was still in no great danger. Ilwooz let out a soft sigh.
“...!!”
For a moment, his eyes were dizzy. The moment they turned completely black, scenes quickly flashed before his eyes. The sight that flashed and disappeared like a short, cut-off picture was a total disaster.
A huge explosion occurred. Hot flames engulfed the whole area, and the ground was soaked with blood and flesh. The explosion engulfed the mansion where Ilwooz was, killing everyone without sparing a single life.
Ahs saw Elze mourning in the ruins where not even a proper corpse remained. She was sobbing. She was filled with sorrow, shedding tears and screaming.
And next to her was Cirxus, with an extremely creepy face. As if he was being sucked in, Cirxus's eyes were wide open and filled his field of vision.
Clear, purple eyes with a gleaming glare. Those eyes are wide open, and the pupils are slit vertically, like those of a reptile...
"... OMG!!"
Ilwooz came to his senses in a flash. He staggered and fell to the floor. Goosebumps ran through his body, and his body trembled involuntarily.
It was a 'prophecy' that he had not received even once since leaving Inesian.
Ilwooz was breathing hard. He muttered with trembling lips.
"Future..."
It's not the distant future. It's the very near future.
An explosion occurs, and everyone here is killed, including Ilwooz.
Elze goes mad with grief, and Shan Cirxus becomes assimilated into her grief and suffers, eventually awakening to his evil nature.
I had to stop it. I had to stop it. But how?
Ilwooz tried to increase his strength as a test, but he was still very weak. He felt let down. Ines gave him foresight but did not give him strength.
“Ines...”
Ilwooz called out the name of God. However, the faint voice was soon lost in the sound of swords clashing against swords. There was no answer.
Ilwooz looked down at the battlefield in his crumpled priestly attire. It was a brutal sight of blood splattering and bones being cut.
But Ilwooz did not dodge. Instead, he faced it straight. He took in everything with his clear, sparkling eyes without missing a single thing. Then he closed his eyes tightly and opened them, and stood up resolutely. Ilwooz slowly opened his mouth.
“...Your servant will face countless deaths in the future.”
As he exhaled, his breath turned into a cloud of smoke and dispersed.
“What should I do when faced with the fleeting death that I will face again and again?”
In the white smoke rising, the brilliant rainbow eyes shone with a stronger will than ever. Ilwooz stretched out both hands forward. White light began to gather and wrap around his hands.
“I, a humble servant, seek answers here today.”
But the light rose for a while and then went out like a flash. Ilwooz clenched his molars and pulled his strength up again. Pain naturally followed as he scraped his strength from the empty ground. But Ilwooz did not stop.
“If the path I am about to take is not right, then punish me.”
Cold sweat ran down his temples, clung to his chin, and fell to the floor. His body, unable to bear the pain, convulsed.
“But you have given me foresight. So if you want to go this way, if you think it is right.”
The light began to rise again. It was faint but clearly a white glow, and it was divine power. Ilwooz gathered all his strength. Blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.
“Please give me strength once more, and a chance to prove myself to you.”
At first, it was just a light that shimmered around the hand. But the light gradually grew bigger. It swallowed up the arm, and then the body. A blindingly white light covered Ilwooz. A desperate scream was heard from somewhere. It was the final words of death.
A chill ran through his whole body. The moment he failed, everyone would die. But Ilwooz believed in God and in himself.
“Ines, here...”
And Ilwooz shouted with all he had.
“Show me your power!!”
A white light appeared.
It was another explosion. A huge light condensed for a moment, then burst out like a firecracker. It stretched out like a meteor shower tearing through the night sky, enveloping each and every one of them warmly.
At the same time, an explosion occurred. A terrible heat swept through the air. The ground tore apart, mansions collapsed, and vegetation burned. But even as the inferno burned all around, Targayel, Mapel, and the members of the two houses were unscathed.
Not only was everything safe, wrapped in white light, but even the wounds they had sustained were healed and new skin grew.
Ilwooz emerged from the collapsed mansion, enveloped in white light. He then slowly descended onto the battlefield. The hem of his black priest’s robe swayed in the white light.
Everyone was looking up at Ilwooz with blank expressions. No one died, and everyone survived intact. One of the surviving soldiers muttered blankly.
“Oh my God, Ines...”
At those words, Ilwooz smiled brightly.
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