A short distance from Carne Village, a blonde man stood with his eyes widened in shock.
The black pupils of his eyes had shrunk to pinpoints, and his breathing came in shallow, uneven gasps. Behind him stood his subordinates. Each a divine magic caster capable of using third-tier spells.
However none of them spoke at this moment.
All of them stared toward the village they had intended to burn after killing Gazef Stronoff, the strongest warrior, the Warrior-Captain of the Re-Estize Kingdom.
This blonde man leading this group of divine magic casters was Nigun Grid Luin, captain of the Sunlight Scripture.
The Sunlight Scripture was one of the six scriptures of the Slane Theocracy. The scriptures were military orders established according to the teachings and religion of the Six Great Gods, with each scripture associated with one of the gods.
The Sunlight Scripture followed the God of Life.
Their purpose was the extermination of enemies outside the borders of the Slane Theocracy. They were not as powerful as the Black Scripture, who were the strongest of the six scriptures, whose members included Godkins, the individuals capable of reaching the realm of heroes and beyond, but the Sunlight Scripture was still an extremely powerful military order.
Its members possessed powerful magic items, and every one of them was at least capable of casting third-tier divine spells. They also possessed the offensive spells necessary for their missions.
The Sunlight Scripture generally relied on summoned angels to overwhelm their enemies through numbers. While the angels attacked, the divine casters supported them with their own spells. In all their missions, they had retreated only once. Other than that single occasion, they had never suffered defeat.
And their leader Nigun Grid Luin was an arrogant yet pious man. He worshiped the God of Life and looked down upon the followers of other gods. However, beneath that arrogance was genuine talent.
He had been chosen as the captain of the Sunlight Scripture because he was a powerful divine magic caster. Not to mention, He also possessed a very rare Talent and could cast fourth-tier spells, a level that ordinary humans could never reach.
Yet now, the same man who had displayed countless cruelty and arrogance in the pas missions, stood frozen before Carne Village.
A barrier of golden dust surrounded the village.
It had appeared suddenly, just as the Sunlight Scripture had completed its encirclement of the village.
Nigun stared at it as a heavy sense of dread clenched his heart.
"What is this…?"
He could not understand the barrier. It did not resemble any spell or the effect any magic item he knew. The golden dust continued to swirl around the village, forming a dense curtain that concealed everything within.
Nigun gritted his teeth.
"F-fire all spells!" he shouted. "Try to break the magic!"
His subordinates immediately obeyed. They were all divine magic casters, but each had learned one or two offensive spells capable of inflicting considerable damage.
They stepped forward in their light armor, that was especially designed for divine magic casters, and began casting.
"[Thunder Lance]!"
"[Fireball]!"
"[Iceball]!"
"[Lightning]!"
"[Acid Arrow]!"
"[Minor Geyser]!"
"[Wind Blast]!"
"[Stone Burst]!"
One spell after another struck the golden barrier.
Thunder exploded. Flames roared. Ice, lightning, acid, water, wind, and stone crashed against the barriers defenses.
Yet the barrier did not even tremble. The spells disappearing into it as though they had never existed.
Nigun's expression twisted, "How is this possible!?"
He raised a hand to his face, unable to understand what he was seeing.
The spells had failed completely. They had simply vanished upon touching the barrier.
Nigun's thoughts raced.
Would he have to use his trump card? If he did, the entire village would be destroyed along with the warrior captain.
He would have preferred not to use it. The magic item was precious, and it had been entrusted to him because they deemed him worthy and considered this mission worth investing the item for.
But if this continued, he might have no choice but to use the precious treasure.
"Send the angels!" Nigun ordered "Tell them to attack the barrier!" he clenched his teeth.
"We cannot allow the warrior captain to escape today! I do not know what kind of magic item he used, but we must kill him here!"
His subordinates immediately began summoning angels.
More angels appeared on the field, all of them consisted of Angel Guardians and Archangel Flames.
The summoned creatures immediately spread their wings and rushed toward the golden barrier.
However, the moment they touched it, they vanished. The angels simply disappeared, as if their existence alone had been insufficient for the barrier to acknowledge them as threats.
Nigun's face finally started to became pale. He had never seen magic like this before.
If he had to compare it to anything, it reminded him of the magic described in the stories of the Six Great Gods, or the legends of the Thirteen Heroes.
But that was impossible because there was no way that the Re-Estize Kingdom could possess the ability to cast a spell of this caliber.
Even if the kingdom possessed a sealing crystal containing such powerful magic, the nobles would never have allowed it to fall into the hands of an ordinary warrior captain. Gazef Stronoff was powerful, but he was still only a commoner in the nobles eyes. There was no reason for him to possess an magic item of this level.
Nigun could not understand what was happening.
Behind him stood the Principality of Observation, an angel summoned through the fourth-tier spell he had cast. It was the most powerful summon under his control, and he had considered sending it forward.
But he already knew the result. It would be futile.
Now only one option remained.
Nigun's hand moved beneath his robes and gripped the crystal hidden there. The precious magic item had been given to him by the cardinals before he departed for the extermination mission. If possible, he wanted to preserve it by any means necessary, but the cardinals had given it to him for a reason.
They wanted Gazef Stronoff dead, no matter what.
Nigun had just begun to draw it out when he felt two presences approaching.
They walked toward the Sunlight Scripture with a chilling calmness that contrasted sharply with the unease spreading among his subordinates.
Nigun looked up and saw a young man was walking toward them.
And the moment Nigun saw him, he flinched.
The young man possessed an otherworldly appearance, his beauty was inhuman. He wore the robes of a magic caster, but the equipment itself was what drew Nigun's attention.
The entire gear looked as though they belonged to a divine being. They were too magnificent to be ordinary equipment of any magic caster.
The woman walking beside him was no less remarkable. She wore a simple white robe, yet her appearance was inhumanly alluring. Her skin was as white as snow, and the space around her seemed to distort slightly, as though her mere presence was placing pressure upon the world.
Nigun possessed a keen eye. He had seen the great treasures of the Six Great Gods hidden within the treasuries of the Slane Theocracy. He knew the difference between ordinary equipment and something truly valuable.
Even a brief glance was enough to tell him that the young man before him most likely possessed treasures of the highest magnitude- maybe even rivaling the treasures left behind the six great god's
The robe alone was clearly a high quality magic equipment.
Nigun immediately brought the Principality of Observation forward, positioning it between himself and the approaching pair.
"Who are you?" he demanded. "Identify yourself!"
The young man took another step. Then he suddenly stopped.
A smile appeared on his divine face as he looked up into the sky, as though someone were standing there. His eyes glowed green for a moment and only after several seconds did he lower his gaze.
He did not appear to be standing in an area surrounded by hostile enemies. He showed no sign of caution or concern.
Instead, he looked toward the gathered magic casters. "Yggdrasil really did affect this world…"
The young man then thoughtfully rubbed his chin.
"They even have summons from Yggdrasil." His gaze settled on the lower-ranked angel standing before Nigun. He seemed more curious than alarmed.
Then his eyes shifted toward Nigun.
"You are the leader, I assume?"
A cold shiver ran down Nigun's spine.
Why?
Why was this being radiating such a powerful holy aura? Was he a divine caster of a level beyond Nigun's understanding?
The young man looked far too young. Nigun had expected a magic caster of such caliber to be a veteran, a man who had spent decades mastering magic.
But this young man did not look old at all. He looked as if he has appeared straight out of a picture book depicting the Adonis.
Nevertheless, Nigun replied almost instinctively.
"Who are you? And what are you doing here?" he shouted. "Where is Gazef Stronoff?" His voice was angry, but the fear gripping his heart was impossible to hide.
"Hey, hey, hey." A burst of unnatural wind swept through the entire area, with the young man at its center.
"Don't piss me off now."
The wind caused the robes of the magic casters to flutter violently. Several of them instinctively raised their arms to shield their faces.
"You were the ones attacking the barrier spell I cast around a village I saved." The young man looked Nigun directly in the eye.
"You should be answering my questions."
The authority in his voice made Nigun take a step backward. It was an unsightly action. He had never retreated before an enemy like this, yet his body had moved before his pride could stop it.
"Look, I have no animosity toward your country," the young man continued. "And I do not want any."
His expression hardened.
"I saved those villagers from being slaughtered, and I healed them. I have already spent my precious effort on them." His eyes narrowed slightly. "Any ill will directed toward those villagers is an ill will directed toward me."
He meant every word. Lucian did not care about the hostility between the kingdoms. He did not care which nation believed itself justified or which side had initiated the conflict. But he had saved those villagers. He had invested his effort in them. He would not allow anyone to destroy what he had protected.
At the very least, his draconic pride would not permit it.
Nigun took several deep breaths and forced himself to calm down. The situation was not entirely hopeless yet, he still had his trump card beneath his robes.
And perhaps this young magic caster could be reasoned with.
"I apologize if I have offended your esteemed self."
Nigun bowed. He had never bowed before an enemy before. But one glance at Lucian, combined with the oppressive authority radiating from him, was enough to make Nigun show respect. After all, Lucian was a magic caster. And judging from his aura alone, he was likely a divine magic caster of an extremely high caliber. Maybe even able to cast fifth-tier magic.
"My name is Nigun Grid Luin, captain of the Sunlight Scripture of the Slane Theocracy," he said, "All we ask for is Gazef Stronoff. He is our only target." Nigun carefully chose his next words and continued, "If you hand Gazef Stronoff and his group of soldiers over to us, we will not enter the village or harm anyone within it."
He expected the young magic caster to understand after all any intelligent person should know that making an enemy of the Slane Theocracy was unwise. Perhaps, if this conversation went well, they could even establish some form of cooperation.
Humans in this world needed to stand together after all. And from Lucian's appearance, Nigun had judged him to be human.
However, all of Nigun's expectations were destroyed by Lucian's reply.
"Unfortunately, the warrior captain is also under my protection."
Lucian waved his hand dismissively, almost like a king granting a subject a small concession.
"You may seek him another day, after he has left Carne Village."
That gesture irritated Nigun more than an anything! Such disrespect!
Lucian might have been a divine magic caster of a higher caliber, but he was still showing open disregard toward the captain of the Sunlight Scripture.
Nigun's face tightened, "If we cannot obtain Gazef Stronoff," he shouted, "then we will have to use force to take him!"
He raised his hand and the angels under his command advanced.
Nigun's subordinates formed a defensive line around their captain. The Principality of Observation moved to the front, prepared to strike down the enemy.
Lucian watched the angels with interest.
"These angels were summoned with third- and fourth-tier spells, correct?" His eyes examined the Principality of Observation.
"It seems that Yggdrasil's spells have already spread throughout this world." Lucian's tone was thoughtful rather than concerned.
"But considering that these are only lower-tier spells, I assume the higher-tier spells have not become as widespread due to humanity's lack of talent?" The Principality of Observation was only a level 26 angel. It was one of the mid-tier angels that could be summoned.
In Yggdrasil, angels were divided into three spheres, from the first sphere to the third. The first sphere was the highest and the third sphere was the lowest.
The Principality of Observation belonged to the third sphere, the Low to Mid-class angels. The angels surrounding Nigun, including the Archangel Flames and Angel Guardians, were lower-class angels.
In Yggdrasil, Lucian had barely encountered such creatures. His Suzune usually summoned angels of the highest class.
Furthermore, he had personally defeated eight of the ten World Enemies of Archangels of Sephira. So he was accustomed to mighty angels that transcended the concept of deityhood.
Compared to those boss monsters, these summons were little less than even mobs.
Nigun interpreted Lucian's silence as hesitation and his confidence returned in full force.
"Your rambling will change nothing!" he declared. "I respect your strength, but if you refuse to comply with our demand, we will use force"
"My answer is no." Lucian's tone was bored, "You may use whatever you want—force or might." He had no particular desire to fight them. He simply wanted to see what they would do.
Nigun's expression twisted in ugliness.
Lucian had rejected his demand without hesitation, as though the Sunlight Scripture posed no threat at all. Nigun decided not to waste another moment.
He silently brought out the spell sealing crystal hidden beneath his robes. However, he did not activate it immediately. Before using such a precious item, he first intended to test the enemy's strength further.
"Attack him with all the angels!"
His subordinates were visibly trembling, but they obeyed at once and made the summoned angels move.
Approximately forty Archangel Flames and Angel Guardians rushed forward in a circular wave. They surrounded Lucian and Shiraori from every direction, weapons raised and ready to strike simultaneously.
At the same time, Nigun commanded the Principality of Observation to attack Lucian, "Go!"
The angel moved forward with it's sceptor held high.
"Very well, then."
Lucian's expression remained unchanged.
"I shall use force as well."
Before the angels could reach him, he raised one hand, his long fingers, each decorated with different intricate rings, came together in a swift motion.
Snap!
The sound was crisp and sharp. Despite the distance, it reached everyone present.
For a moment it felt like nothing happened.
Then the they realized... the Angels had vanished.
They simply ceased to exist, as though they had never been summoned in the first place.
The connection between Nigun and the Principality of Observation was severed instantly. The same thing happened to his subordinates and their summoned creatures. All of them felt it, the presence of their summons disappearing.
Nigun staggered backward,"What kind of magic is this!?"
Sweat covered his forehead. His heart pounded as his thoughts raced in panic. Not even the heroes of the Slane Theocracy could have done something like this.
No human should have been capable of removing so many summons with a single gesture.
"Just who are you!?" Nigun shouted, his voice no longer sounded angry, It sounded desperate.
Lucian sighed, "This world really is behind."
He glanced at the empty space where the angels had been.
"It was only a simple [Cancel Summon]. All summoners have access to it."
Nigun stared at him blankly.
Lucian continued, as though explaining something obvious,"I am a magic caster of considerable strength, you see. Because of that, I can cancel mid-class and low-class summons."
A faint chuckle escaped his lips, as he continued, "Although I did not need to do that. I could have destroyed them all with a single attack."
His eyes then returned to Nigun, "But that would have ruined the fun of seeing the surprise on your face."
Nigun understood almost none of Lucian's explanation.
The words themselves were understandable, but the meaning behind them was not.
[Cancel Summon]. A skill. Mid-class and low-class summons. Lucian spoke as though these things were ordinary.
But the results were impossible, Nigun's mind reached the only conclusion it could.
This being was on the level of the Demon Gods from two hundred years ago, only entities of that caliber, such as the figures like the Thirteen Heroes and the Dragon Lords, could perform such a feat with a single motion.
He was not dealing with an ordinary magic caster, he was dealing with a monster.
Although Lucian possessed the appearance of a divine being, Nigun began to suspect that he might actually be a demon wearing the skin of an angel, that explanation made more sense than the truth.
Nigun tightened his grip on the crystal, he now had more than enough reason to use his trump card.
"V-very well.", His voice trembled,"To think that a being on the level of a Demon Gods from 200 years ago still exists…" He pulled the crystal fully from beneath his robes.
"You have truly forced me to use my strongest card!"
The object was about the size of a fist.
It looked like an unrefined chunk of blue sapphire, rough and uneven rather than carefully cut. However, the magical power contained within it was unmistakable.
Lucian recognized it immediately, "A spell-sealing crystal."
His eyes lit up with interest, "So Yggdrasil items exist in this world as well."
He took a step forward.
"Everything is beginning to make more sense."
Then Lucian tilted his head.
"Can you tell me more about these Demon Gods you mentioned?", There was genuine curiosity in his voice.
The existence of beings from two hundred years ago interested him. They might have been players, although the timeline did not seem to match. Still, it was possible that they were connected to Yggdrasil in some way.
Nigun's expression changed when Lucian started approaching him, "Don't come any closer!"
He turned toward his subordinates,"Buy me time, you idiots!", The magic casters immediately surrounded Nigun and began chanting and attempting to cast spells at Lucian.
Then confusion spread through their ranks.
"What is happening?"
"I cant cast any spells!"
"I cannot feel my mana!"
"I can't feel anything!"
One of the magic casters dropped to his knees. He stared at his hand as though it had become someone else's, "I can't…" His voice broke, "It feels as though there is no magic inside me."
Another caster clutched at his chest, "No… this cannot be happening."
They had devoted their entire lives to magic. To them, magic was not merely a weapon. It was their identity, their faith, and the foundation of their existence.
Now, that foundation had vanished suddenly.
Nigun did not understand what was happening until he tried to cast a spell himself and nothing happened. He could not feel his mana, he could not channel even a first-tier spell.
For a magic caster, it was like losing an essential part of his body, Nigun had never experienced anything like this. He had never even heard of such sorcery! Not in the teachings of the Six Great Gods, nor in any records preserved by the Slane Theocracy.
"Just what did you do, you monster!?" Nigun fell backward, his legs gave out, and he landed heavily on the ground.
Around him, his subordinates were in a similar state. Some glared at Lucian. Others desperately tried to cast spells that would not come. For the moment, none of them cared about Nigun.
Their entire world had been built around magic and now their ability to use it had been taken from them.
Lucian looked across the battlefield. The magic casters were scattered across the ground, staring at their hands or glaring at him in terror. Every attempt they made to invoke magic ended in failure.
Lucian took a step toward Nigun, the movement was simple, yet Nigun felt as though his soul were being torn apart.
"[Edict of Azathoth: Total Magic Nullification]." Lucian continued walking.
"I doubt you will understand it, though.", He took another step.
"Considering how poor your world's understanding of magic and skills seems to be…"
Nigun's face was filled with disbelief as Lucian continued speaking in the same calm tone, "I suppose you could describe it as the power to nullify and deny the existence of all magic."
His gaze swept over the powerless casters.
"It is more of an active skill than a passive one, though it seems to work both ways." Lucian paused briefly, "I doubt something like this would have been implemented in the game if it were not for my unique cheat classes."
The words meant nothing to Nigun.
Edict of azathoth?Active skill?Game?Cheat classes? They were foreign terms, concepts completely outside his understanding. Yet he did not need to understand them to comprehend the result.
Lucian had taken away their ability to use magic. The very power they had relied upon had been denied to them.
If such an ability had existed in their world, magic casters would have been helpless against it. The existence of such a power should have caused magic casters to disappear long ago.
And yet it was happening before him. Nigun could not even channel a first-tier spell, but there was still one last thing left that he could do.
His trump card that remained in his hand, although he could no longer feel the mana within his body, but the spell-sealing crystal was different. It was a magical item, and its power did not come from his own reserves, he could still activate it.
Nigun tightened his fingers around the rough blue crystal, his final hope remained within it.
The highest-tier angel.
The being whose summoning had once been used to defeat the Demon Gods two hundred years ago.
Even this monster before him would not be able to ignore such a summon.
At least, that was what Nigun desperately wanted to believe.
"I'll make sure you suffer for this!", Nigun shouted the words through clenched teeth as he began reciting the ritual chant.
The spell-sealing crystal trembled in his hand.
He began reciting the ritual chant needed to activate the spell-sealing crystal. The words were like a password, and these words had been preserved by the Slane Theocracy for generations. This was not an ordinary magic item after all. It was one of the national treasures entrusted to the theocracy—an artifact said to have been left behind by the Six Great Gods.
Nigun had never imagined that he would be forced to use it against a single magic caster.
But the young man before him was not an ordinary magic caster.
The crystal crumbled to dust as Nigun completed the chant.
A brilliant blue-white light burst from its remains and spread across the battlefield. The surrounding area was illuminated as though it had been submerged beneath a radiant sky.
Then, within the light, an angel appeared.
Nigun's eyes widened, "So magnificent…"
The angel floated above the ground, surrounded by a warm, bluish glow. A faint, sweet fragrance spread through the air, giving the entire area the atmosphere of a sacred sanctuary.
Its lower body was hidden behind its wings, making it appear as though it possessed no legs. Six wings extended from its back, each one radiating divine light. Where its face should have been was a glowing golden symbol. There were no eyes, no mouth, no ears. Even so, the angel's presence was overwhelming.
Nigun's lips began to twitch upward, then he laughed.
"Hahahahaha!" His laughter echoed across the field.
"It's the Dominion Authority!" His eyes shone with triumph.
"The highest tier of angel! No human could oppose it—not even the Demon Gods!" At last, Nigun turned toward Lucian. He wanted to see the young man's expression change. He wanted to see his composure collapse.
Instead, the laughter died in Nigun's throat.
Lucian looked disappointed.
No fear in his face, no surprise. Just sheer disappointment.
"When you said it was an angel of the highest tier," Lucian said, "I expected at least a Dominion Imperium or a Throne Imperator." His tone was almost bored.
He continued walking toward the angel.
"But I suppose it cannot be helped."
Lucian glanced toward the Dominion Authority.
"That item came from Yggdrasil, didn't it? Come on, tell me where you got it."
Nigun did not understand the strange terms Lucian was using, he was focused on something else.
The connection between himself and the angel. He could feel it clearly. The Dominion Authority was under his control, and once again his confidence returned.
"Dominion Authority!" Nigun commanded. "Use the seventh-tier spell [Holy Smite]!"
The Dominion Authority was already immensely powerful. In addition, Nigun had used his Talent, [Enhance Summon Monster], to strengthen it.
[Holy Smite] was a seventh-tier spell—a level of magic that humanity should never have been able to wield. It possessed enough power to reduce an entire city to ash and had once been used against the Demon Gods.
However, Holy Smite never came.
Nigun stared, baffled, as Lucian kept walking and the Dominion Authority simply refused to move.
Nigun's smile stiffened as he shouted again "Use [Holy Smite]!"
Still, the angel did not move.
Lucian continued walking.
"Use the seventh-tier spell [Holy Smite]!" Nigun's voice became shrill.
He no longer cared about how pathetic he looked. He was sitting on the ground, shouting commands at his own summoned Angel, yet the Dominion Authority refused to obey.
The Angel remained perfectly still.
Now each step Lucian took seemed to make the air heavier than the last.
"You know," Lucian said, as he kept walking unhurriedly, "angels at the end of the day are just monsters."
He continued, "Though I do happen to have one who isn't. One I love, actually—" He cut himself off as his shadow gave a small, deliberate wriggle, as if it's alive. "Ah — right, right. And a vampire kin I adore, too." He carried on without missing a step.
"And you see…"
Lucian arrived before the Dominion Authority. The angel that Nigun had summoned as his ultimate weapon hovered silently before him.
Lucian raised one hand. It was a small, casual gesture, as he waved his hand to the side.
The Dominion Authority immediately reacted. It moved away from Lucian and descended toward the earth. Its wings folded around its lower body as it lowered itself. its great scepter planting firmly in the earth, its faceless, radiant head bowing low.
Nigun stared in absolute horror, "What…?"
Then a broken laugh escaped him. He could not understand what he was seeing.
The Dominion Authority was the greatest angel he had ever witnessed. It was a national treasure of the Slane Theocracy, and now it was kneeling before their enemy.
Lucian gestured toward the Angel, "You see, my Suzune is an angelic healer of the highest caliber." His gaze remained on the kneeling Dominion Authority. "And I am her Heavenly Host—a being possessing all the abilities and skills of a Throne, but without its disadvantages."
Nigun's face twitched.
"It is a skill called [Heavenly Hierarchy]. Any angel below the first sphere is mine to command."
Lucian turned his attention toward Nigun finally, "Of course, unless you can override the authority(skills) bestowed upon a Throne of Aeternus."
Then he took another step, "But you obviously cannot."
Lucian came to a stop directly above Nigun Grid Luin, who found himself staring up at the most beautiful face he would ever see in his life, wearing an expression of gentle, divine amusement.
Behind Lucian, the sun was finally beginning to set and as the sun sank lower, painting the whole landscape in deep orange, then dimmer shades still, sliding toward dark, the battlefield was covered in fading orange light, and the shadows around them slowly lengthened.
Lucian who now stood directly above Nigun, spoke, "Because there is no one above me."
He leaned forward slightly.
"I am the Aeternus."
Nigun's reason at last collapsed. He turned and ran.
"Buy me time with your lives, you worthless dogs!" he shouted at his subordinates. "Sacrifice yourselves!"
He poured every bit of strength into his legs.
He had to get away. He had to survive. No matter what! He had to tell the Theocracy that a monster had arrived—a monster beyond monsters, an existence far beyond anything they had ever encountered.
They needed to prepare. They needed to gather everything they had and prepare to deal with him! Somehow… anyhow… he just had to make it back. If only he could survive…
After only a few steps, his body jerked.
The sensation in his legs disappeared.
Because he had been running so desperately, his upper body continued forward while his legs remained behind. He crashed onto the ground and looked backward.
Both of his legs had been severed. Bone and tendons were visible through the wounds.
Then the pain reached his mind, "Ahhhhhhhhhhh!" Nigun screamed, "It hurts! It hurts!", Tears and mucus covered his face as he clawed at the ground. His expression twisted horribly as he stared toward Lucian.
He could not use magic so he could not heal himself. If he could not stop the bleeding, he would die.
"Please save me!" he begged. "Please forgive me, mighty Lucian-sama!", His voice trembled with desperation.
"You are the greatest magic caster! The supreme master!"
He tried to bargain for his life, "The Slane Theocracy will give you anything! Wealth, money, position—anything you want! I will personally do everything in my power to grant you the highest position in the theocracy!"
He pressed his hands against the ground, "Please!"
Lucian was already bored.
He had wanted information from the Slane Theocracy, but there were other ways to obtain it. As for Nigun and the others, Lucian had no intention of leaving them alive. They had threatened to harm the villagers he had saved.
That was enough. The existence of resurrection magic did not alter his decision. It merely meant that he could kill them again if necessary for his satisfaction.
Nigun noticed movement behind Lucian. The beautiful woman in white had remained behind him throughout the entire confrontation. Now she appeared beside him in an instant.
Lucian spoke to her in a quiet voice. Nigun could not hear the words over his own desperate pleading.
Then the woman raised her hand. She swept it toward Nigun's subordinates as if she is chopping something.
What happened next struck Nigun as somehow more believable than the Dominion Authority bowing to a stranger.
Niguns subordinates froze and a moment later, their heads fell. One after another, they struck the ground with heavy thuds.
Nigun stopped begging as he tried to drag himself away, scraping his hands across the earth. But terror had already overwhelmed him. His mind had become numb beneath the pressure of those beings.
"Mei Mei." Lucian's voice was calm. At his feet, his shadow suddenly began to writhe in an unnatural manner, twisting and stretching as though something were moving beneath its surface. Then Lucian spoke, "Cut him."
Nigun looked up and for a fleeting moment, the last thing he saw was the beautiful face of a maid standing before him.
Then...
Everything went dark.
Nigun Grid Luin died in an instant, his body falling apart.
His body had been cut apart so thoroughly that Lucian even doubted whether resurrection magic could restore him.
Lucian glanced toward Mei Mei, who was now out of his shadow, "You did not have to cut him into so many pieces. At this point, he might as well have been turned to ash."
Mei Mei lowered her head slightly as a blush appeared across her face, "I am still unaccustomed to my skills," she replied. "I was unable to control my power properly."
Her expression remained as composed as ever, though a trace of satisfaction lingered in her voice.
"Next time, I shall be more precise when dealing with Master's enemies. Perhaps I should bring back their heads as a trophy."
"You don't need to bring me trophies, Mei Mei." Lucian reached for her hand, his fingers slipping naturally between hers.
"Just come back to me safely."
For the first time, her expression faltered.
It was only for an instant, but the faint widening of her eyes betrayed her surprise. A delicate flush soon followed, spreading across her cheeks despite her best efforts to conceal it.
"Master…"
"What?"
"You say such things far too easily."
Lucian tilted his head, genuinely puzzled. "Was that strange?"
Mei Mei lowered her gaze to their joined hands.
"No. That is precisely the problem."
Her fingers curled gently around his.
"When Master speaks so sincerely, it becomes rather difficult for me to remember that I am supposed to remain composed."
A small smile touched her lips as she looked back at him. "So, if you intend to keep saying things like that…"
She leaned slightly closer, her voice dropping to a soft murmur.
"…please be prepared to take responsibility for the effect they have on me."
She lifted Lucian's long, pale fingers toward her mouth and sucked on them. It was an instinctive gesture of submission. Whenever Mei Mei wanted to express her absolute devotion, she behaved this way.
Lucian understood her perfectly,
"Yes," he said softly. "I would do that."
He gently held her cheeks and drew her closer as their lips met. The kiss quickly deepened, their tongues intertwining.
"Ahem.", Shiraori coughed immediately,"I would also like to help."
At this deliberate interruption, Lucian separated from Mei Mei and looked toward Shiraori and gave a soft laugh.
"Of course, dear. Everyone will help as well."
"Now for the cleanup," Mei Mei muttered. Her professional kuudere expression returned.
Lucian looked over the plains...
"Shiraori, deal with it.", He did not want any trace of the battle to remain.
"As you wish, Master," Shiraori replied in her usual indifferent voice. She raised one hand and swept it through the air and several portals appeared.
Four enormous spider monsters emerged from them. Each one was roughly the size of a car, and each possessed a different appearance.
They immediately moved toward the remains of the magic casters and their steeds. The spider monsters descended upon the them, cleaning up the scene with terrifying efficiency.
The corpses disappeared first. Then the armor. Then the weapons and scattered remnants of the battle. Finally, they turned their attention to Nigun or whatever remained of him.
Within moments, there was almost no trace that anyone had ever been there.
Lucian did not find the sight unpleasant. In fact, he enjoyed watching it.
He had seen Shiraori use these spider monsters in the game, but seeing them in the real world was entirely different. Their movements were more tangible, more surreal, and far more impressive.
Once the cleanup was complete, Lucian turned toward the kneeling Dominion Authority.
The Angel remained motionless, awaiting it's Masters command.
"Now…", Lucian tilted his head, "What should I do with you, little guy?"
After [Heavenly Hierarchy] had been activated, the summon had fallen under his authority.
One of Lucian's most unreal abilities was [Eternal Order], a passive ability that allowed his summons to remain on the field indefinitely. He could still cancel the summon whenever he wished, but dismissing a mid-tier angel seemed almost wasteful.
Mei Mei looked toward the Dominion Authority, and said, "Master, even lower-level angels like this one appear to be highly regarded in this world."
She glanced toward Carne Village, "Perhaps you could use it to protect the villagers you saved."
Lucian's expression brightened, "Ah, right.", He struck his right palm with his l
eft hand, "I'll use this angel as a guard for Carne Village."
He considered the idea briefly, then smiled, "Thank you, Mei Mei. As always, you give me the best ideas."
He gently touched her cheek and Mei Mei blushed again. She wanted to take him immediately. But she would never act on that desire here, however, once they returned, she intended to have him all to herself.
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Did you guys like the new cover? it's Lucian Sandwiched between Suzune and Mei Mei.
If you don't like the cover and have better ideas drop it.