Chapter 73

"――――――――――！'

I let out a silent scream towards the sky.

I hate it!

I hate everything in this world!

Everything in this world that is so harsh to me is hateful.

That's right. I should just burn everything with this power!

My vision is stained red and dark, and everything seems like a target of my hatred.

'――!'

A voice reaches my ears, and it feels like I've been doused with water, but even that has no meaning.

'――!'

The things touching me are annoying. Burn them all!

'Is Master really hateful of everything in the world?'

Everything that tries to trap me, torment me, and kill me is hateful!

'Really? Really, do you think that way?'

Ah, so what!

'Then, were the days with Filo and Raphatalia unpleasant?'

The voice... something is remembered.

A young girl follows me, swearing loyalty to me no matter what, and even when injured, she works for me... The scene fills my vision.

And the chick hatches from the egg, grows, and the feeling of loving me continues to be conveyed.

'That... is...'

'No, right? Because, no matter what, Master worked hard for Filo and the others.'

The darkness clears, and my vision gradually becomes clear.

'So, Master's anger and hatred, Filo will eat them up.'

The darkness clears completely, and I look around.

'Naofumi-sama!'

'Are you okay!?'

It's probably been only a few seconds since I screamed. They look at me with puzzled eyes.

'Is Master okay?'

'Did you hold me back?'

'Yeah, Master must have been having a hard time.'

Filo hugs me from behind. Looking closely, her limbs are blackened by burns. Her body can no longer withstand the blessing when the Shield of Wrath II upgraded. It must be very painful. Yet, Filo, who is sensitive to pain, is worried about me.

'Filo, Raphatalia, and Mel, everyone believes in Master. So, try your best.'

'Ah.'

I can't be consumed by anger here.

One of the sources of my suffering is about to be destroyed.

If I can get past this, everything will be fine.

We, Melt, the heroes, and everyone... I will defeat him!

I will defeat him!

'...Let's go.'

'Is there still a way in this situation?'

'Yeah, my strongest shield has a new ultimate skill.'

'What's that? It looked ominous even before, but it's even worse now.'

The Shield of Wrath II, which has taken on the shape of a dragon, has become even more ominous. The dragon's face has changed to a demonic shape, and the horns are curved.

'It might be a skill I'll use against you guys. But more importantly, give me the chance to use it.'

'You... there's no helping you. I'll rely on you just this once.'

'That's right. It's hard to trust you, but we have no other options.'

'It's a gamble.'

'Magic... we'll do our best.'

The heroes nod and take their stance against the Pope.

'Oh, oh... are you still resisting? But let's end it. I'm ready. Let me finish you off.'

The presence of magic around us grows stronger.

High above, dense light is about to descend.

'Filo!'

At my shout, the heroes run towards the Pope.

Filo, responding to my request, carries me on her back.

'Fly!'

'Okay!'

Filo leaps high, carrying me.

'Advanced Group Synthesis Magic, "Judgment"!'

Light rains down from the sky!

'Go!'

I raise my shield.

The light from above shines on me with a crackling sound.

However, it cannot penetrate the defense of the Laus Shield III. It doesn't even damage anything below me.

'Even with Judgment, you don't take damage!'

The Pope's expression is filled with shock. The mask of his smile has fallen.

I'm paying a price to use this shield. I have to show you this much.

'What nonsense. But I can't take this!'

The Pope raises his sword high and swings it at me.

'Phoenix Blade!'

A firebird flies out from the Pope's sword and heads towards me.

'Take this!'

I raise my shield in front of me.

I communicate with Filo, who is casting a spell, to support her.

The incantation comes to mind. Is this the activation condition for the Cloak of Wrath (Medium)?

'The Shield Hero and his followers, the source of power, command. Reinterpret the truth, consume the flames, and transform them into power.'

'Laus Fire!'

Wrath is now our power.

The firebird collides with us, spreading flames to burn everything, but we convert the flames into power and run.

'What! You took my skill!'

'Ironically, your bird became food for the divine bird.'

The barrier protecting the Pope is immediately shattered by the heroes' attacks and Filo's powerful kick.

'Fenix Strike!'

Filo's ultimate charge!

The ultimate skill she used against Fitolia now has the power to withstand real combat and attacks the Pope.

'Meteor Sword!'

'Meteor Spear!'

'Meteor Bow!'

The Pope changes his sword into a spear and takes a stance.

'Heaven and Earth Reversal Stance!?'

Genkou exclaims in shock.

So, it's an advanced spear skill.

'Guh... You must not defy the will of God.'

Filo's attacks are deflected, and light overflows from the spear.

'Gah!'

'Guh!'

'Guh...'

A counter skill!?

So stubborn!

'But I can't stop!'

The Pope, this time, changes his weapon into a bow and leaps back.

'Let him escape! Filo!'

'Okay. Here I go!'

Filo instantly catches up to the Pope and kicks him.

However, the Pope, who was kicked by Filo, suddenly disappears.

I won't let you escape. I will defeat you here today.

Where are you? Where are you?

'Hide Arrow!?'

The voice of the tree.

'This skill creates a large number of afterimages! Be careful!'

Damn... I can't pinpoint the target!?

I see, there are dozens of afterimages of the Pope appearing around me.

'Haha, I was a bit surprised, but let's end this seriously.'

The Pope takes a stance with his bow and starts to cast a large skill at us.

'This is the most powerful single-target skill. Shield Demon, taste it with your body.'

The shining bow.

Damn, I think I can withstand it, but I have no way to counterattack.

'The Queen, the source of power, commands. Reinterpret the truth, and bind him with ice.'

'Dryfa Ice Prison!'

The lower half of one of the many afterimages of the Pope is frozen.

'Now!'

Who is it!?

No, I don't have time to worry about that.

I need to focus on defeating him.

Brute Offerer!

The incantation appears in my mind again.

'The punishment I have decided for this foolish sinner is the scream of a divine sacrifice. Die in agony, turned into a sacrifice by the tiger trap created from my flesh and blood.'

'Brute Offerer!'

Guh...

What! As soon as I cast the skill, blood gushes from my body, my flesh tears, and my bones creak.

This... is a suicide skill!?

The Pope, seeing me take heavy damage, smiles.

But in the next moment—red and black tiger traps emerge from the ground at the Pope's feet.

Unlike ordinary tiger traps, these have a multi-layered structure. To put it simply, they are like shark mouths growing from the ground.

'Wha—'

A sharp metallic sound, and the Pope is instantly caught in the tiger trap.

'Gyaaaaa—'

His scream echoes.

Red splashes and black shadows flash inside the tiger trap.

'What, this level—'

This... is gruesome.

The Pope probably tried to take countermeasures, but the tiger trap repeatedly opens and closes, mocking his efforts.

'Guh... Gah—Help... God...'

The first strike dealt significant damage to the Pope, and he immediately used a skill to destroy the tiger trap, but it didn't even scratch it.

After the second and third openings, cracks appeared in the replica of the legendary weapon, and on the fourth opening, the sound of metal breaking resounded.

Then, like an antlion, the tiger trap, still holding the Pope, who had become almost a mass of flesh, sank into the ground and disappeared.

'...'

We watch the scene in shock.

The skills of the Curse series are all bloody.

Is it because of the shield that invades the mind?

I realize now that they are not to be used lightly.

'The Pope... lost to the demon.'

The Three Heroes' followers mutter in despair.

'Yes... Your time is up.'

With a roar, the extermination army charges at the Three Heroes' followers and arrests them.

With the Pope and the replicas gone, our victory is certain.

However... as I watch the extermination army, I slide off Filo.

The new attack skill, Brute Offerer, added to the Laus Shield.

It has great power, but the cost was too high...