Chapter 25

Interrupting the boy's words as if to bury them, a confused and incomprehensible emotion seeped out.

However, even if I told the boy that I am the original owner's disciple, he wouldn't believe me.

It would be fortunate if he didn't go berserk, claiming I was defaming the deceased.

The existence of the corridor is, in some sense, a secret, and it was also a hard story to believe.

I glanced at the giant red gem, which was now half-cracked, with a light scolding.

The power of the divine sword, unleashed in a single blow, was truly astonishing.

Though it didn't shatter completely, it was enough.

Shari was a powerful vampire, but she wasn't a threat.

She never thought I would lose.

Whether she died or escaped, it wasn't a good time for me to chase her now.

With my current strength, pursuing her wouldn't be easy.

Moreover, something more important remained here.

The source of this red mist is the life force of all living beings except the vampire inside.

Once a fire starts, it will burn endlessly as long as there is oxygen and fuel.

If we don't act soon, an irreversible disaster will occur.

- Blood Police... It's been a while since I've seen this air... It makes me feel sick.

The annoying muttering of the divine sword echoed.

- You know, this red mist won't grow any larger thanks to you destroying the core, but if left alone, it won't stop until everyone here is dead.

"Right."

- It would take at least a few months of using a 6th-level or higher wide-area purification magic to weaken it, but it won't save those whose life force has already been drained. Most people inside will die.

"That's true. Even worse, those exposed for a long time will turn into infected beings."

- The humans outside are probably hesitating, wondering if they should enter this mysterious mist. I bet the area around here is in chaos.

As someone who has lived for a long time, he was quite perceptive.

- Humans are a fearful species.

"That's true for any living being. The desire to survive drives the evolution of species."

- In that sense, you were really lucky. You seem young, but you're incredibly strong, almost at the Master level. Your realm is too high to be affected by the Blood Police.

His words made me chuckle involuntarily.

Just a Master?

In terms of realm, I've reached the domain above Swordmaster.

"Master... You're not wrong, but I need more time to draw out the Aura Blade."

My strength doesn't come from pushing with pure mana like others. It's the result of the abnormal doping created by my insights and mana proficiency, having reached the realm above Master.

Unfortunately, this has made my transformation impossible.

- What? What do you mean... Wait, what are you?

The shocked muttering of the divine sword, Caldras, echoed.

He finally realized.

- This is... a complete monster! What are you?!

The trembling voice of the boy, who had been muttering, now screamed.

- What is this absurd mana! And both commanding mana and divine power?!

A self-aware ego sword like Caldras has the ability to see into the wielder's inner self. This power allows him to control his own strength in sync with his owner.

The sword isn't just there to protect physically.

Excessive item power often ruins the owner.

Why do games have item level limits?

It's just a figure of speech, though.

Ignoring the boy's shock, I frowned at the mana and commanding mana that wouldn't move easily while I was awake.

I need to stimulate them, but I don't have many chances.

- Three powers coexisting? I've never heard of such a case... Are you really human? Not some strange being that just emerged from the void?

"Unfortunately."

Speaking calmly, I held the boy and slowly moved.

The heroes of the corridor all said I was a mad genius.

Frankly, I can't deny feeling exceptionally talented.

Otherwise, I wouldn't have achieved so much.

- That's impossible... Mana, divine power, and commanding mana are conflicting forces! You can't have more than one... If you possess them in such enormous amounts, your body should explode, and the surrounding area should be completely obliterated...

"There's a human here who defies that common sense."

- Is this possible?! You're insane!!

"Insane? Don't denigrate the new method created through centuries of research."

Speaking calmly, I thrust the boy into the ground in reverse.

Caldras is a longsword design.

Thus, the boy, now impaled, took the form of a large cross imbued with divine power.

"Let's borrow it to the end. I can't handle it with my current strength."

- What do you mean?

"Let's resolve this situation."

I have no reason to sacrifice myself to save them, but if it helps my recovery, I'm willing to be the fertilizer.

'While I'm at it, I might as well lubricate the power that doesn't recover easily. I never do free labor.'

Whether it's mana, divine power, or commanding mana, the underlying energy grows the more it is used.

So, some mages use the method of depleting their mana to the brink and then recovering it to increase their mana.

Meditation or this method, in general, is slow.

Conversely, since I already possess a large amount of energy, just stimulating it will increase the total amount. The more intense the stimulation, the faster the recovery.

Without further explanation, I knelt in front of the boy.

Then, I closed my eyes, hands clasped, like a devout priest in prayer.

"Ah, this isn't my style."

I clicked my tongue.

"O Lord Pria, who oversees all things. Your little lamb is lost in the dark, unable to see even a step ahead. I wish for a flashlight. If only you could handle it directly, but I know you can't...

- What kind of prayer is that!?

Caldras was shocked by my blasphemous prayer.

At first glance, it didn't feel pious at all. It was so irreverent that it might even invite divine punishment.

In fact, my source of divine power is somewhat unique, thanks to the training of the saint Daphne.

My power comes from understanding and belief, not blind faith.

I'm not receiving the love of a god but the curiosity of a god.

"Your little lambs are suffering, stained with sin. This heretical little lamb, relying on item power, seeks to save them... Ah, forget it! You're watching, so just let me use it!"

Priests don't know.

It's not the devout who receive the love of a god but those who take action.

What I'm about to do is impossible with my current divine power.

But if I draw all the divine power from the divine sword, Caldras, it will be enough.

Again, this is an unprecedented divine sword.

The boy will be shocked when he realizes my intention.

It's possible to clear the mist with purification magic, but it can't restore the drained life force?

If I suppress it with overwhelming power, that's the only way.

The highest-level holy magic I've learned, granted by the divine, is the greatest miracle created by the saint Daphne, the most powerful holy woman in history.

- Hmph! A god who would listen to such a ridiculous prayer...

"You don't know much about gods."

My smile made the boy, who has no physical form, realize something was wrong and fall silent.

Of course, the vampire maid also had poor perception, but this boy is even slower.

'Gods love madmen. Especially very madmen.'

- 9th Tier?! What are you doing! Trying to kill me?...

"Stop whining, you won't die. Don't worry."

- Hey... Hey, you madman!!

Caldras, realizing what I was about to do, screamed, but it was too late.

Wooom!!!

Despite the bizarre prayer, a strange sensation, like being branded with a hot iron, spread down my back.

A unique wound, a mark, that can't be created in this world.

Living beings inevitably bear the stigmata. But the size of the stigmata is a bit large, isn't it?

Do gods enjoy inflicting wounds on their followers?

A wave of nausea hit me, but I didn't let go and scattered the raging divine power in all directions.

Wooom!!

Zing!

At the same time, a massive light barrier spread over the arena, and white feathers began to flutter.

As if an angel had descended.

Though invisible to the eye, a warm, non-blinding white light began to consume the red mist, and the light seeped into the bodies of those whose life force was being drained, making their faces relax.

Zing! Zing!

Finally, the red bloodstone, which had been absorbing life force and emitting red mist, shattered with countless cracks and disappeared.

Boom!

A massive shockwave of divine power silently shook the area.

Beyond the slowly dissipating light, only fragments of light, resembling white feathers, were visible.

"Ugh... It hurts."

Perhaps because I used most of my power.

Caldras, forgetting his scream, trembled and fell silent.

Of course, the backlash of the high-level divine magic didn't affect only him.

An overwhelming fatigue began to overwhelm me. I might have used a bit too much power.

Summoning the power of the mind for a moment, the rigid divine power was torn away, causing immense fatigue.

"Phew... Ha..."

I took a short breath and shook my head, my vision blurry.

Though I used a bit too much divine power, Caldras is a living repository of divine power, so it should be fine.

A sigh escaped me as I noticed the remaining divine power, except for the rigid part, had completely disappeared.

Sitting down weakly and catching my breath, I turned my gaze to the red mist that had maintained the Blood Police, now completely gone.

The people who had been groaning in pain now had peaceful expressions.

Then, it happened.

Brrrr.

Strange mechanical sounds began to appear in my blurry vision, exhausted from fatigue.

- Name: Dave All Round

- Age: 16

- Gender: Male

- Race: Human

- Title: Disciple of the corridor's mad geniuses.

- Abnormal Status: Divine power exhaustion

- Special Notes:

A half-mad man who defies common sense (?)

Transformation impossible up to a certain level.

Possesses stigmata.

- Merit granted: Can briefly check the status of the target.

"Hey, Lady Pria, I'm not a madman."

I muttered irritably.

What is this?