The ancient evil god Karui, unlike the three remaining gods of the world, demanded an infinite price from his subordinates. He did not provide graciously, but only made desperate desires come true without distinction between good and evil. The price had to be enough, no more, no less, just that.
«I allow it».
The moment he finally heard the answer he had been waiting for, the arm of a beast pierced through space to rip off Ludwig's arm. When he came to, he was in the place he had only been looking at before. Indeed, it was the power of a demon, especially since there was always a price to pay.
«¡Mi ... success!»
Even by the time it was decided, the desperate battle was coming to an end. Ludwig urgently extended his hand and that was enough.
«Lo tomare».
He didn't even have to explain to the evil god what he wanted in return.
«Old! What are you doing?!» The body of the dragon hunter, who had stabbed his sword into the barbarian warrior, bounced against fierce resistance.
¡Rasgón!
Ludwig's two ears were torn off, a permanent wound that was sacrificed to the evil god and could not be healed with any divine power or potion. A pain blossomed that couldn't even compare to being set on fire. However, Ludwig only thought about one thing.
Yes, those people are fighting pain this way.
«Old! Heal me!» The dragon hunter emitted black light from his eyes and gave an order.
Despite his will, Ludwig moved as if possessed. Even more than because of the threat to his grandson, whose soul Vagos possessed, it was because of one of his supernatural powers, Subordination. As long as that damn ability bound him, Ludwig couldn't deny his words.
«I'll count to ten».
At the same time that the claws of the enormous beast tore off his remaining arm, his body stopped moving forward without caring about his will. But it still wasn't enough. He still had many things to desire, and much to offer. Legs, eyes, heart, lungs, anything was good. He would give his entire miserable body, which had reached its twilight, if by doing so he could help the young heroes on their path. He would give up even the hope of ending his exhausting life and resting in Her arms.
«Give me the strength to kill that man».
Ludwig spoke, and the evil god answered: «Impossible».
It was not a refusal. As much as he valued voluntary sacrifice, it was not a sufficient price. However, Ludwig got rid of all his regrets. This was different from the resignation he had been feeling every day. Wasn't it just before that he gave up hope for the impossible and decided to do everything in his power?
The freedom that the evil god granted him was only 10 seconds. There was no time to waste in despair. «So let me protect them».
Ludwig spoke again, and the evil god laughed. «I allow it».
The beast's arms extended from the darkness, tore his body and swallowed him.
***
The relief of escaping a crisis was momentary. Doubts arose. How had Karui's priest gotten here after four hours of travel, and why would he do anything to harm the dragon hunter? Would you have another plan?
«Old! What are you doing?!» Looking at the dragon hunter's expression, it didn't seem like that. Simply put, this was also an unexpected situation for him. However, it was difficult to see it as a positive variable. «Old! Heal me!»
A black light erupted from Vagos' eyes as the priest stumbled back, dropping even his sword. It was obvious what it was: Subordination, the rank 3 essence ability that Vagos possessed. It was a trap ability that increased stats by absorbing souls if used on the dead, and although there were some conditions for its use, it allowed the target to be enslaved if used on the living.
Step.
Soon, the priest stepped forward as if possessed. Just at the moment when everything seemed to be over, his remaining arm was torn off as if offering a sacrifice to an evil god hidden in darkness.
Step.
The priest stopped walking. To say that his appearance was terrifying was not enough. It seemed as if both of his ears and arms had been bitten off by beasts. However, the priest spoke in that state. «Give me the strength to kill that man».
Only then did I really understand the situation, who this unknown priest was talking to, and what kind of deal had been made. If all my predictions were correct, there was a way to survive.
«Impossible.» The response to the priest's request was a refusal. A voice echoed through the passage as if speaking to everyone present. Joy and sadness mixed before this, and a brief light appeared in the dragon slayer's eyes.
That was the moment. «So let me protect them». The priest's request continued without the slightest hesitation.
I heard laughter coming from somewhere. «I allow it».
The priest fell to the ground. This was natural, because the two legs that supported his body were torn off. However, the evil god was a contradictory being who gave hope and despair at the same time.
¡Whooooom!
In turn, a portal formed in the center of the passage and spread black light. The color of the glow was different, but it was a portal, the highest level of magic that could open the door to the city from the labyrinth.
¡Zas!
Soon, the dimensional gate spitting out enormous amounts of mana revealed the space beyond. It was not the familiar gray city of Rafdonia, but a dark, gloomy underground fortress.
«Old! What are you doing!? Stop right now!» As if a blast of invisible wind moved him, the dragon hunter's body was slowly pushed towards the portal. «You don't care what happens to your grandson!»
The dragon hunter shouted furiously, but the priest only answered stubbornly: «It's something that should have been done sooner.»
«Damn!!!» Perhaps Vagos also accepted that there was no way to stop the priest's decision, because he looked at me with a roar and moved his eyes to stare at a place. He stretched out his hand.
It slipped.
The long bowed sword, which had been left without an owner, scratched the ground. The silver sword moved towards him as if attracted by magnets. It was very clear what he was going to do. Wherever he went, he planned to take this with him.
Damn sword fetish bastard.
I forced my wobbly legs to move and rushed forward, not towards the unconscious scum of the dragon slayer, but towards the sword that was drawn towards him.
Coup seco.
My head was dizzy from the impact of my tattered body on the ground, but I reached out and grabbed the sword.
Pzzzzz!
The sword gave off heat as soon as I touched it, as if it had its owner's mark. Thanks to Pain Resistance, the pain was bearable, but I clearly noticed how the feeling of numbness took over my hand. It led me to think that holding this for a few more minutes could render my arm useless forever.
...Did this guy still use this sword in this state?
All the unnecessary questions that crossed my mind were immediately erased. That wasn't what I needed to think about right now.
«¡You!»
I had to endure it, even if I had to put my weight on the ground and sink my teeth into the ground, so that the sword that would one day point at me would never be in his hands again. So that I couldn't harm my companions.
¡Kak kak kak!
In an instant, the pulling force became stronger. My body began to slip as if I had lost friction. At this speed, it would not be strange to be absorbed by the portal along with the sword.
Damn, should I let go now?
It was the moment when such worries were about to come to my mind.
¡Tos!
The bastard coughed up blood and the feeling of resistance disappeared.
Yes, it would be too much for you too.
Shortly after, he called me and pronounced concisely: «Barbarian... You will see me again». He said a phrase that a dirty villain would say, something even Missha would be ashamed to hear. He didn't even say what he was going to do after that.
¡Thump!
My heart rumbled at that message. The spike stuck in his shoulder, his jaw half crushed, the murderous energy that made my skin shudder, and his right hand that was not red but black and smoking, everything told me that, if that day came, there would be no luck like today. This was clearer than hundreds of curses. But so what?
Agarre.
What was a member of Hercules, a ninth-floor explorer with the alias dragon hunter? That there wouldn't be a Guardian of Balance next time? I already knew that. Yes, right now he couldn't defeat that man. If he played another trick on me, I would have to fight desperately like today.
¡Saaaaaaaaaa!
But I would survive, because that's what I'm best at. Because it was what I had been doing my whole life. Because it was something I had to do in the future. I would survive and grow stronger so that one day, when I no longer needed a fluke, I would go looking for him.
«We will meet again, dragon man.»
You're not the only one who lost something today.
¡Shaaaaa!
The greedy opening of the portal consumed his body and he vanished. At the same time, a warm light began to permeate my body. Not just mine, but everyone else's too.
¿Divine power?
I looked at my hand without understanding. Slowly but steadily, the wound regenerated. Unlike when he used the potion, he felt no pain, only heat.
Slip.
Only then did I come to my senses and look behind me. I saw the body of the priest that had been torn to pieces. Could it be called a body now? He had no arms or legs. Dark red blood flowed from the excavated eye sockets, and his nose was cut off like that of a corpse on the battlefield. Furthermore, the things that should have been in the abdomen, which was cut open vertically, were gone.
«Why...?» I muttered involuntarily. Why on earth did this old man offer so much, and to complete strangers like us?
Then I heard a faint sound coming from the priest. «Letter... pocket...»
I couldn't believe it, but I quickly approached and searched his robe. A letter came out, crumpled and worn here and there.
«leave...»
«Don't worry, rest. I will be sure to deliver this letter to the Church of Reatlas».
«Thank you...» Soon the priest closed his eyes. His body was covered in blood, but his wrinkled face was clean and calm. Looking at him it seemed like he was in a dream. How could he speak in that state?
I couldn't stand it and asked, because I wouldn't have another chance: «Why did you save us?».
Because it was the right thing to do? If he had that will, he would have had the opportunity to be released a long time ago. Why was it today? It couldn't be a simple coincidence, and I was very curious about the circumstances behind it.
There was no answer. Could it be that he was already dead? As I stood up with those thoughts, the priest's lips parted slightly. «Wi...zar...»
The sentence was not completed, but it was enough. «I see. Thanks for telling me». I got up without regret. There were many things I wanted to ask, but somehow I felt as if the old man had already left.
I paused and heard an uncomfortably disparate silence. As if enjoying the glow of this stillness, I murmured to myself: «We have survived».
Hikurod, Missha and Rotmiller survived.
But I can't say I kept my promise like that.
I smiled bitterly as I looked down the passage at my teammate's corpse.
«Can you... win?»
«Don't worry. We will surely return alive».
I said it with confidence, but in reality it was he who saved us. What made it possible for us all to return alive was something that could not be described as luck, but was closer to a miracle sent by a god.
«Wi...zar...»
Riol Warb Dwalkie was just a wizard who fought until the end of endings. It was the inheritance he left us.