In the temporary meeting room of Arlam Village, the atmosphere was heavy. Around the long table, all the high-level combatants for this subjugation battle were gathered. In the corner, Geuse sat quietly on the ground, bound by ropes.
"According to the current intelligence..." Julius tapped his finger lightly on the table, "Greed Archbishop Regulus's abilities can be summarized as 'absolute defense' and 'absolute offense.' Any form of attack cannot reach her, and a casual blow from her can cause fatal damage."
Wilhelm's aged face showed deeper wrinkles. "An opponent even the Kingdom's Second Knight is powerless against..."
"Not only that." Subaru's voice was a little hoarse, "Her defense isn't traditional hardness, but... complete 'isolation.' It's as if we and she exist in different dimensions."
The room fell into a dead silence. Everyone was mentally running through various tactics, only to reject them one by one. Faced with such an almost unsolvable ability, conventional combat methods were clearly not going to work.
Subaru suddenly stood up.
"I have a suggestion." Her voice broke the silence, "I propose that only five of us go to meet her: myself, Carlisle, Julius, Rem, and Mr. Wilhelm."
"What?!" Ricardo slammed his hand on the table and stood up, "Miss, are you serious? Just a few of you to face that kind of monster?"
Mimi bounced up from her chair, "No, no! Too dangerous! Mimi wants to go too!"
Hetaro nervously tugged at his sister's sleeve. "But sister, if even Knight Carlisle..."
Subaru shook her head, "Precisely because the opponent is this kind of monster, we cannot win by numbers." She looked around at everyone, "Regulus's attack range is extremely large; the more people there are, the more likely it is to cause unnecessary casualties. What we need are precise probes and flexible reactions."
"Oh, and we also need to borrow something from Lady Crusch."
Subaru sighed inwardly. If they really couldn't find a weakness during the battle... they would have to rely on it.
Her Fingers brushed her chest, where the Flame Sword Blaze slumbered. But this sword had not responded to her call until now, like a stagnant pool. Subaru couldn't help but wonder, was there something wrong with the sword? Or did it simply disdain to pay her any mind?
Memories flashed back to previous loops, to the scene where the sword suddenly appeared to protect her at a critical moment when facing the White Whale. And Carlisle's dying instructions, that it would only awaken when truly in danger... But even if Carlisle got the sword back... could he truly defeat Greed?
The scene from the first loop appeared before her eyes: Carlisle's heroic stance with the Flame Sword, and... the outcome of him dissipating into specks of light afterward. A sharp pain spread from the bottom of her heart.
This time... how many times will I have to die before I find a way out?
Subaru forced herself to calm down. Now was not the time for pessimism. The immediate priority was to test Regulus's true strength. If she truly had no weaknesses... then they would just have to start over after dying and think of another method.
Subaru's Fingers rubbed the rim of her teacup; the warm tea had long since gone cold. She gazed at the swaying reflection in the cup, her thoughts drifting in a more dangerous direction.
If she really had to borrow the power of the Flame Sword... would it draw out that monster?
That pure white figure, Pandora, the Witch of Vainglory. And her ability that was almost like modifying reality.
A authority-type ability user... truly the type of enemy she least wanted to face.
Archbishop of Sin... in ancient texts, they were clearly legendary beings. Normally, the appearance of even one Archbishop of Sin would be enough to cause turmoil in the kingdom. And now they had to face three consecutively: Sloth, gluttony, and the most troublesome, Greed.
It was like two hidden bosses suddenly appearing in the final chapter of a game... But... continuing to discuss wouldn't yield a better plan... and time was running out.
She took a deep breath. The ceramic cup clinked against the wooden table. Everyone looked up simultaneously.
"Everyone." Subaru stood up, "Let's proceed with the plan we just discussed."
Her gaze turned to Felix, the cat-eared boy who was nervously fiddling with the teacup on the table.
"Felix, if we don't return tomorrow morning..." Subaru paused, "You and Otto take Geuse back to the capital first."
Felix's cat ears twitched violently a few times. He opened his mouth as if to object, but ultimately just dropped his shoulders heavily.
"...I understand." His voice uncharacteristically lacked its usual vigor, "But..."
Felix looked up, his eyes shining with stubbornness: "Please, you must all come back alive. Heroes who defeated the White Whale and the Sloth Archbishop... only by being alive can you enjoy the honor you deserve!" He forced out a smile, "We're still waiting to throw a celebration feast for you. If anyone's missing... Lady Crusch would scold me to death."
Otto weakly raised his hand from the side. "Um... although I really want to say I can help... why was I immediately put in the retreat group?"
Ricardo sighed and patted him on the back, "Don't complain, kid. Even we're being asked to retreat, let alone you, a valuable non-combatant!"
"Ouch! Be gentle!"
Subaru's gaze fell on Otto. The grey-haired merchant stood awkwardly in the corner. Even though his debt problems were resolved, he insisted on following the group back to the village, saying he wanted to discuss a transaction with Roswaal. But at this moment, his flickering eyes and hesitant manner clearly indicated he had something else on his mind.
"Otto?" Subaru tilted her head slightly, "Is there something else you want to say?"
Otto trembled all over, then took a deep breath and stepped forward. He first bowed slightly to Subaru, then turned to Carlisle and performed a standard merchant's bow.
"Subaru, sir Knight Carlisle..."
His voice was unusually firm, "I know I am just an insignificant merchant and cannot do much in this battle concerning the fate of the kingdom. But please allow me to say a few presumptuous words."
"When I was at the Witch Cult's stronghold, I heard those madmen talk about the terror of the Archbishop of Sin... At the time, I dismissed it as the ravings of fanatics."
"But now, seeing how serious you all are... I realize what kind of monster you are facing. I don't know how to fight... All I can do is pray. Please, both of you, be sure to return safely!"
...
Re@d adv@nce ch@pters on p@t
guilt_free_daoist
Jo!n d!sc0rd I!nk in synops!s.
GIVE ME YOU POWER STONES.