Chapter 70
“The god has revealed Himself!”
The priests, including Gabriel, prostrated themselves deeply on the floor.
So this is God.
Gabriel bowed his head, unable to look directly at the god. A shiver ran through his entire body—this was the first time he had seen a god.
The saying that one would go blind upon seeing a god… it’s true.
Tears of happiness streamed down Gabriel’s face as he raised his arms.
“Divine one! Command us in all things!”
[Unlike the saint, you serve me well. Especially you, I like you even more.]
The god opened a black mouth and grinned. Gabriel, being singled out, trembled but smiled brightly.
[I will test your loyalty.]
The god extended a long finger and pointed at Diana, cradled in Yurisien’s arms.
[Look at that evil one.]
Eyes filled with madness instantly fixed on Diana.
[That evil one is corrupting my precious child. I can no longer watch her be consumed by evil. Help me defeat it.]
A voice full of ecstasy rang out, promising the only opportunity to carry out the divine command.
The priests, captivated by the god, staggered to their feet. They rushed toward Yurisien. The golden line that had been drawn to keep them back vanished at the god’s command.
Yurisien lightly clenched and unclenched her hands. At this moment, even releasing a small amount of holy power was difficult. It was impossible to stop them all with the remaining strength. She exhaled sharply and lowered her head.
“Phil! Pearl!”
At that moment, a voice like salvation rang out, and a delicate woman with flowing blonde hair blocked Yurisien’s path.
Suddenly, two dragons appeared, growing in size and spewing flames at the priests. The marble floor of the temple ignited instantly. Blue flames surrounded Yurisien as if protecting her.
The priests recoiling in shock stepped back.
[You brat!]
The god exclaimed in surprise at Eldin’s sudden appearance. Yurisien weakly opened one eye and looked at Eldin.
While Phil and Pearl held back the priests, Eldin knelt before her.
“Are you alright?”
“How…?”
Yurisien blinked slowly, doubting whether she was dreaming. But the warmth of Eldin holding her hand proved this was no dream.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t come sooner.”
Eldin pressed her lips together and let her healing power flow from where she had grasped Yurisien’s hand.
Yurisien’s depleted holy power gladly accepted Eldin’s aid.
“Wait… I’m fine… first, Diana…”
Yurisien panted as she spoke. But Eldin couldn’t allow that. Both of them were in terrible shape, so it couldn’t be a matter of who came first.
Diana had been dragged by the priests, her body covered in blood, and Yurisien herself had sustained severe injuries after enduring divine punishment multiple times.
“I’ll heal both of you at the same time.”
Eldin placed one hand on Yurisien and the other on Diana. Clear energy flowed through their veins, healing their wounds. At the same time, their consumed holy power gradually returned.
Yurisien felt her strength returning, and the god chuckled.
[What use is that?]
She cannot leave me.
With a mocking tone, the god spoke, and Yurisien silently glared at it. Now, it was time to sever the bond with that thing.
Is it possible?
She had searched countless ways to sever the bond with that entity by reversing time, but none were satisfactory. Every attempt had failed, leaving Yurisien with only one method.
And now, thanks to Eldin, she had the power to use that method. Yurisien’s eyes flashed. She grabbed Eldin’s arm firmly.
“I’ll stop it. So protect Diana.”
Eldin nodded in understanding. Yurisien slowly stood up and drew the holy power spreading within her body.
This was the only way to eliminate that thing.
The sounds around her slowly faded. Her vision narrowed, and the only thing she could see was that damned god.
Yurisien’s eyes quickly scanned her surroundings.
…There!
A faint light, about to vanish, circled the god. She pushed her power to the extreme and shouted:
“If you’re still by my side, show me power I didn’t even have!”
[My child seeks me.]
A voice full of joy rang out. The true god absorbed the exploded energy in the air and revealed Himself behind her. A brilliant light shone so intensely she could barely look.
[Ugh, damn it!]
At the appearance of the true god, the body of the false god turned completely black.
Its form began to collapse and soon became like black mud. Amidst the flowing mud, the cries of the dead echoed.
[Do you think I will retreat so easily?]
The corrupted evil roared. The black, sticky liquid spread across the temple floor and climbed the pillars. The building quickly corroded and cracked.
[I will kill everyone here!]
[No, only you will die.]
As the evil raged, the true god gently wrapped Yurisien’s shoulders.
[There’s no turning back now. Are you sure you want me to grant you my power?]
Receiving the god’s power meant Yurisien could no longer live an ordinary life. She would perceive what ordinary humans could not, hear what they could not, and her humanity would slowly fade among the hateful and quarrelsome humans. Her emotions would gradually diminish.
But Yurisien scoffed and replied:
“Stop worrying and just give me the power.”
[…I transfer all my power to my representative.]
A holy power unlike anything she had seen filled her body.
Her blonde hair gleamed even brighter, and her eyes turned completely golden. She could feel the air change against her skin.
Yurisien had manifested as a complete saint.
“Ha…”
The evil before her now seemed laughably weak compared to all the hardships she had endured. The black mud flowed toward her but couldn’t even reach her feet before burning away.
To think such a creature…
Its power was so weak that she could dispel it with a single wave of her hand.
Yurisien’s gaze swept over the priests. Their strength seemed like that of ordinary humans, nothing compared to her. They were like fallen leaves beneath her feet.
Though she had expected it, the sudden shift in perception startled her.
What if Diana feels the same way?
No, now isn’t the time to think about that.
She couldn’t bear to look at Diana and turned her gaze away. It was easier to focus on the evil before her.
[How dare you!]
The evil roared, refusing to submit.
[Hurry and capture this thing!]
The evil shouted to the priests, but the dragons had already blocked all escape routes. With no options left, the evil lunged at Yurisien with all its might.
Yurisien watched impassively and, just as the evil reached her, swung her arm lightly.
Powerful holy energy instantly consumed the evil’s body. The black mud crumbled into dust and vanished.
[This… this can’t be…]
The eyes filled with rage and despair were the last to burn away.
…How empty.
The one who had tormented her for so long vanished so easily. After enduring so much suffering, it disappeared in an instant.
Her chest felt hollow, as if a void had opened within.
The god remained silent for a moment, watching Yurisien, then gently stroked her head after a brief pause.
[I am sorry for everything.]
With those words, the warm divine aura gradually faded. Yurisien’s golden eyes stared at the floor.
Now she had to look at Diana, but still lacked the courage. What if she felt nothing? What if Diana felt like those priests had?
Her heart pounded from the lingering unease. Though her body was in peak condition thanks to the god’s power, breathing felt strangely difficult.
Then, a voice cut through the silence, erasing all anxiety:
“Yuri.”
At that voice, her fear vanished and her heart raced uncontrollably.
Yurisien spun around to see Diana.
Thanks to Eldin’s healing, Diana sat smiling brightly. With the evil gone, the curse seemed lifted as well, and Diana reached out to Yurisien with open arms.
“Come here, Yuri.”
“Diana…”
Yurisien staggered toward her. The emotions she had worried about were so vivid they seemed almost laughable in contrast.
Diana was her everything, the only one who could move her. Kneeling before Diana, Yurisien let tears stream down her face.
Diana silently hugged her tightly.
“You’ve had a hard time because of me, haven’t you? Thank you for never giving up on me.”
Yurisien choked, unable to respond. She buried her face in Diana’s shoulder, crying endlessly.
Diana slowly stroked Yurisien’s back, then looked at Eldin with grateful eyes.
“It’s thanks to you that we could be freed like this. Thank you.”
“Really… thank you.”
Yurisien held Eldin’s hand tightly.
“It’s only because both Diana and Yurisien endured that this was possible.”
Eldin gently held both their hands.
“You really…”
Yurisien shook her head, overwhelmed by feelings she couldn’t put into words.
At that moment, the priests gathered in the corner, pale-faced, shouted:
“Saint…! Please save us!”
