Strike 95

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Barad blamed himself.

“She was becoming emaciated.”

Her jade-like skin had become even paler, to the point of looking ghastly, and she was absent more often.

He had dismissed it as just a bit of tiredness.

And it was only a few days ago, when he found her vomiting blood and collapsing, that he finally understood.

“Bella is dying.”

Bella, the vice-captain of the knights of the Kingdom of Goyard.

A child with the talent to follow in his footsteps.

A child who would feign death at his word.

This 19-year-old knight was dying of illness.

Foolishly, she had hidden the fact that her death was approaching.

He looked at Bella, lying asleep in her bed.

After losing his wife and child, he had vowed not to make anyone precious again.

But if he did, he decided he would protect them.

He realized this when he learned she wouldn’t last another two weeks.

“Despite my vow not to, she has become too precious.”

He was pleased when he saw Bella.

Every night, watching her silently go out to the practice yard and swing her sword filled him with pride.

Somehow, Bella had become like a daughter to Barad.

Watching her silently, Barad stood up.

“There’s so much that even the name ‘Sword King’ can’t do.”

Even for the strong, there are things in this world that are impossible.

He had been inquiring about a way to save Bella, but everyone said it was impossible.

Captain Benson reported urgently.

“I’ve found one method. However…”

Although he had found a method, Benson’s face showed not a trace of joy.

“It’s to receive the prayer of a saint.”

Barad’s mouth fell open.

“A saint can offer a prayer that can cure any disease, but only twice in their lifetime.”

Only twice in a lifetime.

That meant it was an exceedingly rare power.

Barad closed his eyes without a word.

The saint would not pray for her.

The saint’s prayer, available only twice in a lifetime.

If he were the saint, he wouldn’t pray for a vice-captain of a small country but for the emperor of the greatest empire or perhaps the pope, referred to as the emperor of the church.

Such is the nature of life.

Born through the same process but valued so differently.

“Is there no way to make the saint offer her prayer?”

“It seems difficult. The saint’s prayer is a unique power that can act against the wishes of the church and the pope. And no one can interfere with whom the saint’s prayer is used for. Even when the previous pope was dying of illness, the saint did not use it for him. If there is a way to make it happen, this would be it.”

Barad’s face was filled with despair.

“Unless she has received a great favor or done something significant for the church.”

The fact that the saint was kidnapped and isolated was not known anywhere.

Hearing this, Barad sighed.

“Find someone who has won the saint’s heart, no matter what. If not, bring someone who can.”

Benson met Barad’s eyes.

It was a look that implied a reward was necessary.

“I will grant him a noble title.”

***

The Leas Temple had an appearance as formidable as a fortress.

For days without a sip of water, the saint Aria was thrown around by the followers while bound.

She faced the fifth calamity coming her way.

Jack was a dark mage who practiced black magic.

His gaunt figure smiled sinisterly.

“There’s less than an hour left, for Him to briefly borrow the power and descend upon this world.”

Aria bit her lip.

‘Him’ referred to an evil god.

“Though He won’t stay long or manifest His full power.”

But Jack thought of the imminent events.

“Even in that brief moment, many temples of the Ares religion will fall.”

Aria felt dizzy.

Even that brief descent would result in the deaths of over 300,000 innocent people.

“For such a thing, how many lives have you harmed?”

Saint Aria was just the last sacrifice.

Jack spread two of his fingers.

“You, and 200 innocent…”

“…What are you saying?”

Jack smiled deeply.

“I’ve sacrificed the blood of 2,000 children and women.”

Tears flowed from one of Aria’s eyes.

She clenched her lips, seeing him speak so casually.

“God will punish you.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

Jack clicked his tongue, “tsk tsk.”

“You’ll die without seeing it.”

Aria asked the reason.

“What do you gain by committing such a massacre?”

At that, Jack pondered for a moment. There was the matter of serving the will of the evil god.

But what was the essential reason?

“Isn’t it fun?”

Chilled by his words, Aria was at a loss for words.

Jack walked a few steps towards the fortress wall, running his hand through his hair.

“Anyway, no one can come. And if they do, they’re just small fry.”

Jack saw the followers guarding the front of the fortress.

Those wearing black robes down to their heads would brutally crush any intruders like ants.

His plan was successful. No matter how united those with trivial powers were, they could do nothing.

‘The Book of Calamity has even weakened us.’

But others inside were far worse.

Even if outsiders came, their level was below that of soldiers, so what could they do?

Lost in such thoughts.

“…Aaaagh!”

Jack wore a puzzled expression.

Screams came from below the fortress. About 70 people in armor bearing the emblem of the ‘Ares religion’ had appeared out of nowhere.

“Save the saint!”

“For the sake of Lord Ares!”

But Jack’s expression didn’t change at all, seeing them.

The thrill of defeating God’s small fry was nonexistent.

In reality, their numbers were too few.

The followers dragged them outside.

“…Please, stop!”

Aria screamed. However, the followers began to brutally execute those who failed to rescue the saint, showing off.

Jack knew not even 20 minutes had passed.

Then, Jack’s expression turned curious.

A young girl was crying and running away, having slipped through the execution of the paladins below the fortress.

“Oho?”

***

Hidden behind a wall, avoiding forced logout, Kort’s mind went numb.

‘This is too much…’

The reality level of the virtual reality game Ares was beyond common sense.

The NPCs were just like real humans. Which made them even more vicious.

Kort, bound and watching each person being executed one by one, was disgusted.

Kwajeeik-

After that sound, the laughter of the followers of the disaster religion filled the air.

In fact, Kort was just an ordinary young man who didn’t know much about justice.

But the situation unfolding now made him doubt himself.

“You’re going to massacre hundreds of thousands?”

As a paladin, Kort had visited countless temples.

Followers offering fruit.

Cute children running around the temple.

Boys pulling at his coat, holding toy swords, saying,

“I’ll become a paladin too, someday!”

Kort’s face contorted. 

He had once wondered about those who immerse themselves too much in the game.

But now, Ares had also become a second world to Kort.

Then, Kort spotted a girl running towards the outside of the fortress.

She was the girl he had played horse with and taken care of before the temple came to this.

The orphan girl, cared for by the temple, had a beautiful smile.

“No…”

Instinctively, Kort took a step.

“Aren’t you curious, Aria?” 

A chilling voice of calamity reached Kort’s ears.

“I wonder what face this child will make when torn apart by a lion.”

Dark magic created three black lions.

Not far from the girl, three black lions appeared and started chasing her.

[Black Lion Lv.199]

“What kind of scream will she let out while running away, huh?”

And the three rushing black lions and the girl crying while running.

“Aaaah!”

Kort ran towards the drooling black lions.

“This isn’t right.”

It’s not about being too immersed.

He, or anyone playing this game, wouldn’t stand by and watch this happen before their eyes.

Outsiders might resurrect after death, but the child won’t.

One of the massive lions leaped to bite the girl’s head.

Kwajaaaak-

In an instant, Kort reached and decapitated the lion’s head.

He hurriedly centered himself and embraced the child.

It was too late.

There was no escape.

All he could do was hug the crying child tightly.

“Aaaah!”

He tightened his grip around the child he was holding as he heard another lion approaching from behind.

For some reason.

At this moment, he thought of him.

Back in school days.

There was a time when he almost got bullied by delinquents.

When a fist was about to hit his face, a bag flew in, hitting the delinquent’s head.

And that guy fought off five people by himself.

The guy, a blacksmith, was strong and sturdy, so he didn’t back down.

It started from then and continued until now.

I should always be by his side.

When he was burned and stood alone in the rain in every world, I became his umbrella.

I know.

In this situation, I shouldn’t rely on him again.

But why does he come to mind first?

Finally, the lion reached right behind Kort.

But then…

“What’s that…?”

Behind Jack’s puzzled voice.

Whoosh

Boom-

Whoosh

Boom-

Kwajijijijik-

Sounds of something hitting and the ground collapsing spread.

But Kort had no time to think about him.

Just embracing the child and waiting for a forced logout. Jack doubted his own eyes.

Not far away, on a small hill, a man standing against the darkness descending upon the world, riding a wolf, was visible.

Awooooooo-

The howl of a wolf spread across the world.

[The Appearance of the Wolf King!]

Soon, a wolf, barely visible in the darkness, began to run fiercely.

Whoosh-

Kwajaaaaak-

Whoosh

Kwajaaaaak-!

Every time the man riding the wolf shot an arrow, the followers struck by it were suddenly slammed into the ground.

Jack let out a bewildered laugh.

“Just by himself…”

However, Jack’s eyes soon widened in astonishment.

On the horizon of the hill.

Hundreds of black wolves appeared, running after the man leading at the front.

“Khaaaaa!”

“Krrrrrrr!”

The wolves roared fiercely, as if announcing the beginning of a war.

The man leading the charge slung his bow over his back.

And Jack witnessed a spectacle he had never seen before in his life.

[You will be informed in advance about the divine secret technique you will obtain.]

[You will be able to use the divine secret technique once.]

[Divine Emergency Crafting temporarily levels you up by +5.]

Various ores erupted from above his head.

Kwaaaaang-!

The followers and wolves collided.

The man at the forefront reached for a sword that glowed crimson.

The moment the heated sword cooled to white in his grasp.

Crackkkkk-!

Dozens of followers directly in front of him literally froze solid.

Dozens more followers pressed in from the side.

This time, he grabbed another sword.

“A dragon…?”

The moment he gripped the sword with a dragon’s head hilt.

Kiiieeek!!!!

A dragon’s apparition erupted from the tip of the sword, and the moment he swung it, a massive explosion engulfed the followers.

Kwaaaaaang-!

And the man, who gave a cold stare, reached out into the air.

Click-

An unidentified gauntlet was equipped on his hand.

He once again aimed his bow at Jack.

Instinctively, Jack formed a shield.

The moment the man released the bowstring.

Sssssssssk-

The sound of the air tearing as the arrow hit the shield.

Crackkkk-

The shield was brutally shattered. 

But Jack scoffed at him.

Such poor accuracy, aiming not for the chest, heart, or face but the leg.

Moreover, the arrow didn’t even hit him, just grazed by.

But then…

Kwaaaaang-!

Jack, the fifth calamity, felt an unknown weight.

Koong-

One of his knees hit the ground first, and despite gritting his teeth to withstand it, his other knee touched the ground.

Jack’s eyes wavered as he knelt.

And the man, having driven off some of the followers, gave a small smile to the paladin embracing the child.

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