Chapter 28

Chapter 9

A New Beginning

After concluding the deal with Grid, the administrator returned to the conference room where Irene and the nobles were waiting and reported the details of the transaction.

Even after hearing that a single sword had been purchased for an astounding 220,000 gold, no one in the room showed any signs of unease.

This was because it was a worthwhile expenditure.

"I will bestow this sword as a symbol of the Yatan Temple extermination force commander to Sir Phoenix."

In front of everyone, Irene handed the Sword of No Mind to Phoenix.

Phoenix, kneeling and bowing his head, received the sword respectfully and resolved himself.

"Sir Phoenix, for the glory of the northern region and the Staim family, I will surely return victorious from this battle."

Phoenix equipped the Sword of No Mind.

<Sword of No Mind>

Rank: Legendary

Durability: 365/365 Attack Power: 356 Attack Speed: +6% Accuracy: +10% Defense: +10%

*Each attack deals additional damage equal to the target's level + 200.

*Creates the skill 'State of No Mind.'

This sword was crafted by an unknown blacksmith with great skill and potential but lacking in experience and reputation, who abandoned all desires and distractions and focused solely on his craft to create it.

The blacksmith unknowingly completed a sword that was one of a kind in the world.

Usage Requirements: Level 160 or higher. Strength 950 or higher. Advanced Sword Mastery Level 2.

Weight: 400

<State of No Mind>

For 2 minutes, all stats are doubled, and all types of status abnormalities are resisted.

*During the skill's duration, self-control is lost.

*After the skill's duration ends, movement is impossible for 2 seconds, and defense and magic resistance decrease by 30%.

Skill Mana Cost: 1,000

Skill Cooldown: 3,000 seconds

"Advance! Return with the seven heads as trophies!"

"Yes!"

Upon receiving Irene's command, Phoenix led 12 knights and 1,500 soldiers to advance on the Yatan Temple.

In contrast, the number of believers remaining in the Yatan Temple was only about 150.

However, no one was complacent.

The minimum level of the Yatan believers was 160, while the minimum level of the soldiers was only 50.

The individual skill gap was clear. Among the enemies, one of the seven was also present.

To achieve victory, numerical superiority was essential, and it had to be combined with excellent strategy and tactics.

Confirming that the Yatan Temple was in sight, Phoenix shouted to the knights and soldiers.

"Do not falter! I am right in front of you! The strongest knight of the north, Phoenix, is here! I will take the heads of the seven with my own hands! You only need to follow me and believe in me! And secure victory!"

"Roar!!!"

A massive roar echoed.

The sound was so loud that it reached the Yatan Temple.

"These are heretics! They are advancing to defile the sacred space of the great Yatan god, who knows no fear of the heavens!"

The shaken believers urgently cried out.

On the cliff at the top of the temple, Yura, observing the large army led by the Staim family's banner, quietly gave an order.

"Take the high ground. Be cautious of the arrows shot by the archers and pour all your magic on the enemies below."

"Then what about Yura-sama…?"

The temple's leader looked at her with a worried gaze.

Yura replied with a cold expression.

"I will descend to the ground. I will prevent them from approaching you even a single step."

Yura knew that the Yatan religion was evil.

She had felt countless doubts while performing various evil quests.

Especially, the seven were so wicked that they evoked hatred.

But the path was already chosen. This was not reality but Satisfy. There was no way to return to a previous job unless she obtained a hidden job change scroll like Agnes or Kats. If she did not want to give up her rank, she had no choice but to adapt and move forward.

Already accustomed to the stigma of being a Bloody Witch, Yura leaped to face the time of slaughter once again.

Thud.

Landing as light as a feather, Yura, who had jumped from the high cliff, stood alone against the advancing enemy army.

Phoenix, who had stopped his army upon spotting Yura, shouted.

"An overwhelming aura! You must be one of the seven! Today, I will end your vile reputation with my own hands!"

This was Phoenix's misconception. Yura was not one of the seven but a candidate for the eighth.

To Yura, who possessed far less power than the seven, Phoenix and his army were undoubtedly formidable opponents.

But Yura had no intention of retreating.

There were a total of 143 Yatan believers currently isolated here. She was determined to rescue them to complete the quest.

And the seven would become the eighth.

"Great Dark God, your humble servant prays. Dye this place in darkness, instill fear in their hearts, and show your power so they may worship you."

The area began to darken.

Despite the brilliant sun in the sky, it turned pitch black, darker than night.

The 1,500-strong army fell into chaos and fear, and Yura displayed her merciless power.

"Dark Storm!!"

Kaboom!!

A massive black storm fiercely swept through, engulfing the army.

Yura believed without a doubt that more than a quarter of them would die or be severely injured. She was about to cast another spell to attack again but stopped.

"…!"

An unbelievable situation occurred.

Knight Phoenix pierced through the black storm and rode his horse straight to Yura. Yura quickly cast a defensive spell.

Clang!!

A heavy blow from Phoenix's sword collided with the diamond wall, which was shimmering with beautiful light.

The diamond wall, which provided overwhelming defense against physical attacks!

Phoenix, who was facing the wall head-on, shouted.

"Do not touch the soldiers! Your opponent is only me!! State of No Mind!!!"

Kwaang!!

A powerful purple aura surged from Phoenix's entire body.

And!

Kreeee!!

"What…?"

Phoenix's sword began to create cracks in the diamond wall.

This was impossible. The diamond wall, which had steadfastly resisted physical attacks even from boss monsters, was now being damaged by a mere knight's strike?

Crack!!

The diamond wall, which had split in half, finally shattered.

Phoenix, stepping through the vanishing diamond wall, attacked with a blank expression.

"Underworld!"

Yura, who had already prepared the black magic spell to instill fear in a single target, cast the spell.

Swoosh!!

Black powder enveloped Phoenix's entire body.

He should have fallen into despair and become defenseless.

But Phoenix was unharmed. He attacked Yura without any hesitation.

The skill, State of No Mind, which temporarily doubled all abilities and resisted all status abnormalities, had put Yura in a critical situation.

Seeing Phoenix resist her magic perfectly, Yura thought of someone.

'Grid…?'

Ironically, Yura was the one who had interfered with and ultimately failed Grid's S-rank quest in the past.

Now, she was being hindered in her quest by a sword created by Grid.

Swoosh!

Yura, who had been cut on the shoulder by a blow before she could complete the diamond wall spell, let out a low groan and whispered.

"Darkness."

Exactly 17 days ago.

When Yura's faith value reached 100,000, the voice of the Yatan god echoed in her ears.

I will grant you new power with my power. Pray for the power you desire.

Yura prayed.

Grant me the power to resist black magic!

Thanks to her experience with Grid, she could think of a completely new form of power!

This power is now activated.

***

I disposed of all the miscellaneous items, including Mammon's Greatsword and Mengel's Plate Armor, which I had stored in the warehouse. As a result, my total assets amounted to about 242,003 gold.

I registered 220,000 gold on the item trading site and sold it to users for cash.

However, a shocking event occurred during this process.

The item trading site took 5% as a transaction fee.

Is 5% not a big deal?

What a joke! 5% of 264 million won is a staggering 13.2 million won!

The money I earned through hard work and stress, the site's employees took by sitting in their seats and twirling their noses!

"Everyone has their own way of living off others."

I want to curse, but honestly, I admire them.