161. Tower of Trials, 54th Floor (3)
Thud!
The flat of Aso's sword slammed heavily into Alexion's abdomen.
The protection of Holy Shield was blocking it, but Aso was moving fast enough that he could still feel the pain.
"Urk!"
The moment Alexion, screaming internally, staggered back—
Boom!
With a roaring impact, the ground in front of him caved in.
—Incredible power! If he didn't have Holy Shield?
No matter how heavily armored he was, wouldn't that have hurt like hell?
—Oh, you dodge pretty well?
Thwack, thwack!
Aso tapped the flat of her sword against her palm and swaggered.
The kind of behavior only possible when anyone could see there was an overwhelming gap in strength!
'She's strong.'
Every hair on his body stood on end, and a chill ran down his spine.
Kwararararara!
An aura fierce enough to seem like it could bring down even the heavens burst from Aso's body.
Heaven-Breaking Divine Art.
It was a martial art she had recently begun properly learning from HunGyo.
Just like its name implied.
Shatter!
Pubububububuk!
As Aso began to move in earnest, dozens of sword strikes burst forth all at once.
Every single one carried force that could not be ignored.
Fast.
Endlessly fast.
When the speed is that great, it was only natural that an attack already powerful would gain even more force!
But.
"Hraaah!"
Alexion was also a Paladin.
And not just any Paladin, but a "true" holy knight ten times stronger than those from the middle floors of the original Tower of Trials!
Paladin. Guardian's Prayer.
A buff skill that temporarily boosted combat power through a reverent heart offered to God.
Kwararararara!
Struggling, he began to knock away Aso's sword one blow at a time.
Insane!
Unbelievable!
The eyes of the passing onlookers and soldiers watching nearby went wide.
This was on a completely different level.
The Paladin was as strong as they knew one to be, yet Aso's martial prowess, which was forcing even that Paladin to struggle, was far beyond anything they could dare imagine.
'And those people haven't even all stepped in yet.'
'It's just one young girl…'
'This is dangerous. We need to call in more Paladins. No, at this level, we need the Paladin Commander…'
Several of the watching soldiers disappeared.
They had confirmed it was a serious situation.
It looked like they were going to report it directly to higher command.
Anyway.
The bloody battle between Aso and Alexion continued.
Kwagagagaga!
Alexion proved the dignity of a Paladin through his immense divine power, but Aso's Heaven-Breaking Divine Art overflowed with ease.
Slowly, its might increased, until the entire surroundings began to be covered by her sword strikes.
Heaven-Breaking Divine Art, Secret Technique - Thousand Sword Chaos Dance.
—Ho.
HunGyo let out a brief sound of admiration.
It still was not perfect, but she was already at the level of using a secret technique?
Kwarararararara!
It was, quite literally, a war of numbers.
A tremendous barrage of chained attacks rained down toward Alexion.
Each and every one seemed like the kind of blow that would split flesh and shatter bone even from a mere graze.
From afar, anyone would have thought it was obviously Aso's advantage.
"Kgh!"
If Alexion, standing rooted in place, looked like he was enduring each strike with his whole body—
Tap.
Aso's steps were light.
Darting everywhere in all directions, she crammed her sword strikes into the Paladin's openings.
Her movements were effortless, and also nimble.
And on top of that?
As if to show the difference in level, she even wore a faint smile.
—Heheh, this is fun.
Aso laughed.
Compared to the monsters she had faced in the Tower of Trials, and the demonic beasts she occasionally encountered, this opponent was definitely on a higher level.
But still, someone at this level could not threaten her.
At that moment—
"Don't mock me!"
Swaaaaaaak!
From the Paladin's sword, an aura incomparably greater than before began to pour out.
Paladin. Divine Blade.
A technique that drew out explosive instant power by giving up part of the divine power he had built up!
But Aso was not flustered in the slightest. Her smile only deepened further.
Swish.
She lightly ducked her head and avoided the blade.
Pubububuk!
No matter how sturdy a blade is, if you keep hitting it, it corrodes away...
The flat of Aso's sword began to dig in deeper and deeper.
Boom!
Then, a huge explosion burst from Alexion's abdomen. His massive body flew backward from the tremendous force—
Bang!
Aso rushed in even faster than that and started pummeling him.
Pububububububuk!
—As expected.
HunGyo nodded.
Since Paladins were typical tanks, he had wondered whether Aso might still find one difficult, but—
—She wins easily. We can move the training forward.
Without the slightest doubt, she had secured complete superiority.
Holy Shield had been completely stripped away.
Now the flat of Aso's descending sword was sinking fully into his body again and again.
"Kuheooock!"
Blood sprayed from Alexion's mouth.
After hitting him dozens more times—
—Whew.
Tap!
Aso landed lightly behind his back.
Alexion, beaten senseless, had completely lost his spirit.
He staggered with his mouth hanging open, wearing an expression of utter disbelief.
Then—
Thud.
He collapsed backward.
'How…'
How could someone be this strong?
He had believed the swordsmanship of the Holy Kingdom was the strongest on the continent!
—Tsk, tsk.
Aso clicked her tongue.
—See? I told you one Paladin wouldn't be enough. Listen to Dad for once! Bring more!
Right.
He wanted to bring more.
But he no longer had the strength left for that.
With no strength remaining to keep consciousness any longer, Alexion closed his eyes.
He had fainted.
It was the moment the Paladin's turn came to an end.
* * *
That Holy King bastard.
He's such a coward.
Honestly, by this point, shouldn't he be showing up in person?
But instead, he keeps sending them one by one.
Well, what can you do?
We've got no choice but to keep wrecking the place.
Thud, thud!
Baek Jinwoo and Rachel sent out their summons one after another.
HunGyo, Aso, Gale Slayer, White Tiger, Yellow Dragon, Archmage.
Later, when groups of ten or twenty came charging in at once?
They simply moved together and smashed them apart.
So as a result—
"..."
"....."
Before they knew it, the crowd had grown by several hundred.
They formed a long ring around the scene, and some had even climbed onto buildings or watchtowers to observe.
And then—
"Kyaaagh."
"Uuuugh..."
"Y-Your Majesty, Holy King..."
Numerous Paladins were sprawled across the ground.
Some were groaning, while others were screaming as if they had suffered broken bones.
The spectators were horrified.
'No way. There are that many Paladins lying defeated?'
'Are those people really... even the same kind of living beings as us?'
'How did such existences suddenly appear?'
The crowd stirred restlessly, but no one was afraid.
They had eyes too, so they could see it clearly.
They were not killing their allies.
They were simply displaying their skill and subduing them.
And the process was so thrilling and satisfying to watch that some people had even started cheering for them without realizing it.
'If those people fought for us…'
'Wouldn't they be able to defeat the demons and demonic beasts outside too?'
It was not what Baek Jinwoo intended.
But before he knew it, he was beginning to take root in one corner of the public's heart.
And not long after—
"What is the meaning of this!"
Along with a majestic roar heard from far away—
Thudududuk!
An overwhelming presence began rushing toward them.
"Huh?"
"Look over there!"
As the startled crowd turned their heads—a group of Royal Guardians in shining armor came running in.
"Th-that's...!"
"The Royal Guardians!"
The hundred escort knights who protected the Holy King.
Only those with the greatest skill among the Paladins could become Royal Guardians.
And.
"Th-the Paladin Commander is there too!"
"Ahh, to be blessed enough to witness the Commander's noble visage!"
The Paladin Commander.
Arno Billian (S-rank).
He was the strongest being in the Holy Kingdom after the Champion, a man who could truly be called a genuine Paladin.
A monster among monsters, immune to all magic and capable of dealing 500% additional damage to dark-attribute summons!
"Oh."
Even Baek Jinwoo's eyes widened.
Rachel also showed a faintly guarded expression.
Clank, clank!
Holding the golden shields and swords that could be called the Royal Guardians' trademark, they formed ranks.
At the sight of the kingdom's proudest elite force, the crowd naturally bowed their heads.
Things suddenly got a lot tougher.
Still, it was fine.
He had been steadily building up Lamba stacks for exactly this reason.
Click!
Baek Jinwoo turned on the recording equipment he had kept switched off.
He had a feeling.
For some reason, this battle felt like it was going to produce quite a legendary scene!
The documentary was popular, so he would definitely make use of it later.
"Rachel."
"Yeah."
"Get ready. This'll probably be the toughest fight on this floor."
If you went by the chaos route, Floor 54 was actually tougher than Floors 55, 56, and 57.
Because they had to face these people.
But?
—Krrrraaaaaaaaah!
Rachel's Yellow Dragon began to writhe in earnest.
—Kheoooong!
White Tiger let out a roar.
Ssssss...!
Wind began to whirl around the Archmage.
He was not alone now.
Rachel was with her, the being who had been the strongest on Earth for the past three years.
"Just what are you causing this disturbance for!"
The Commander's thick voice shook the space.
As expected.
A cold gaze and the authority of an S-rank poured from his entire body.
Step.
Baek Jinwoo stepped forward. Then he opened his mouth.
"Let me meet the Holy King. If you do, we'll withdraw."
Naturally, it was a proposal that could only be extremely sensitive to a Paladin.
"How dare you!"
As expected. He snapped back in outrage.
"You dare stir up disorder in the kingdom and think you are qualified to see His Holiness?"
"If you can't show him to me, then there's no helping it. I'll just have to beat all of you too."
".....What did you say?"
The Commander's brow furrowed.
Baek Jinwoo did not want to argue any further. No matter what he said, they were fated to fight in the end anyway.
Maybe the Commander sensed that mood as well?
He said nothing more.
"Royal Guardians!"
He simply gave the order.
"Draw your sacred blades! And punish those wretches who insult His Holiness!"
"Yes, sir!"
Shing!
Shrrring!
The sight of the Royal Guardians drawing their swords all at once was truly magnificent.
But?
There was no way they would lose either.
"Rachel."
"Hm?"
"Those guys are pretty tanky, you know?"
When people said Paladin (A-rank), they were famous as the nation's favorite damage-tank, right?
And these were the Royal Guardians, known as the final bosses even among them.
"Let's just open with Breath and slam it into them."
"Seriously? What if they all die?"
"Don't worry. They won't die from just Breath."
The Royal Guardians were precious forces that absolutely had to be used later when fighting the demons.
Even if they subdued them, they absolutely could not kill them.
"Okay, then I'm trusting you?"
Kudududud...!
The golden dragon wrapped around Rachel's body gradually began to grow larger.
"Wh-what is that!"
"I don't know what it is, but it looks incredible...?"
The crowd stirred and stepped back, while Rachel paid them no mind and continued enlarging the dragon's body.
"Hm...?"
Even the Paladin Commander's eyes filled with puzzlement.
Grip!
Rachel clenched her fist.
—Kyaaaaaaaaaaah!
The Yellow Dragon roared and began ascending into the sky in earnest.
Along with it, Rachel's body also floated up into the air.
To those who had only just drawn their swords.
To those who had left their shields as mere decoration.
Show them.
O Yellow Dragon.
Yellow Dragon - Ascension Breath!
And at the same time—
Craaaack!
The huge Yellow Dragon opened its mouth wide, and from within it, golden light shot downward.
Swaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
A Breath with enough force to seem as if it would erase everything came crashing down upon the Royal Guardians.
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