CHAPTER 138…………………………………..
A Perfect Score
The fortress wall collapsed.
Fragments of stone poured down to the ground like the debris of a landslide.
“Fly.”
I rose into the air and quietly watched the scene.
Kuuuurrr— KWA-GA-GA-GANG—!
Just as planned, Valen retreated backward, escaping beyond the outer side of the wall.
Elinor, who had been facing him, unleashed a burst of holy power—
And was immediately buried beneath the rubble.
Of course…
KWAANG—!
Something like this wouldn’t be enough to stop her.
“Damn old man!”
Elinor exploded with divine energy, blasting the debris in every direction.
At the same time, she shot forward, chasing after Valen as he withdrew.
A golden beam of holy light fired straight ahead.
Valen was certainly skilled—
But in terms of sheer divine power, he couldn’t handle Elinor.
Even so, he had boldly claimed he would take her on himself…
“I have to trust him.”
There was no time to worry.
“My own situation is urgent enough…”
Beyond the dusty haze rising from the collapsed rubble, countless shadows wavered.
Hundreds of holy knights stood in formation, spears and shields raised, erecting a radiant wall of divine light.
The largest knight order of the Solius Church—
Just as Valen had said.
“So those are… the Sun Knights.”
Behind the steadfast Sun Knights, who stood firm to protect the ordinary believers—
“Hold your positions!”
A booming voice rang out, powerful enough not to lose to Valen’s.
As the dust slowly settled, the knight who had spoken came into view.
Wearing holy armor, holding a massive shield engraved with the symbol of the sun—
A holy knight.
Even in the chaos of the wall collapsing, his gaze was locked precisely on me, floating in the air.
The only other highest-ranking holy knight besides Elinor.
Lionel.
Commander of the Sun Knights.
“He’s even more… than I heard.”
If Elinor was a spear that could pierce anything—
Then Lionel was a shield that could block anything.
That was what Valen and Rival had said.
The reason those two were the only top-ranking holy knights in the Solius Church…
Was clear.
“…That’s one sturdy-looking shield.”
Lionel still hadn’t revealed the full extent of his divine power.
…He was cautious.
Right after casting a massive spell that destroyed the wall—
I was just one mage.
They had overwhelming numbers.
Normally, he would have charged immediately—
But Lionel didn’t move his knights.
Instead, he blocked the way with shields, maintaining the divine wall.
He simply stared at me for a long time.
“Smart. But…”
I smirked and brought my hands together.
“That’s only a fifty out of a hundred.”
Just as Esric noticed Lionel’s presence…
…That man.
Lionel had also noticed Esric.
…Esric Spelder.
He had already heard about him through Bartheon.
The mage who slew the Calamity of the snowy mountains,
And even suppressed the disaster that awakened in the East.
Even with allies, the magic he displayed on the journey through the forest was astonishing.
Bartheon had emphasized the name “Esric” again and again.
A great mage.
…But this went beyond great.
He didn’t know what kind of sorcery it was—
But the fortress wall crumbled like a sandcastle in an instant.
The ground was still trembling from the collapse.
The walls of Solanis—
A barrier that had protected the Church for centuries.
Before the Empire unified the lands…
And even after, it had never once allowed invasion.
And yet…
…It fell to a single spell.
Lionel clenched his teeth.
Sweat seeped into his palm.
His grip on the shield tightened without realizing.
“Everyone, hold your positions!”
“Yes! Understood!”
He gave the order, but he wasn’t confident in his own judgment.
…What are we supposed to do against that?
Even if they defended with holy power—
Could they withstand destruction like that?
Even if they blocked with shields—
The wall itself had collapsed.
The Sun Knights’ divine power came from all soldiers and knights holding shields.
A sacred defense born from faith:
Sunward Shield.
A collective miracle that formed a barrier against outside attacks—
Even magic.
But after witnessing Esric’s spell with his own eyes,
Lionel couldn’t be sure Sunward Shield alone would stop him.
…Should we attack instead?
Lionel slowly raised his shield.
But there was no easy way to reach Esric in the air.
Elinor could spread wings of divine power and fly…
But Lionel and the others couldn’t.
…Should we fire arrows?
He shook his head.
A man who could destroy a wall wouldn’t be stopped by arrows.
His best option was to raise a wall that could block any spell.
…Don’t waver.
He glanced behind him—
At the believers filling the plaza.
Since Valen was with Esric, perhaps they wouldn’t harm the faithful…
But nothing was certain.
Lionel tightened his grip, determined to protect them.
“…?!”
Tap.
Raindrops began falling from the sky.
Tap-tap-tap.
Rain poured from the already dark clouds.
And within it—
Something strange flashed.
“…!”
Lionel didn’t miss it.
“Do not lower your guard! The next spell—!”
Before he could finish—
KWA-RRRNG—
Thunder rumbled in the heavens.
Esric’s lips moved rapidly.
PAAANG—!
Lionel wrapped divine power around his entire body.
“O Sun that shines above all things!”
He chanted, solidifying his holy power.
“Make my body a shield!
Make my soul a wall!
By my faith, let the light of the sun descend!”
A highest-tier miracle distinct from Elinor’s Solar Seraph—
Solar Aegis.
Wooooong—
Lionel’s body glowed with divine radiance,
And the sun emblem on his shield blazed brighter.
He thrust the shield toward Esric in the sky,
Reinforcing the Sunward Shield barrier.
And then—
“…It’s coming!”
From between the thick storm clouds—
With the pouring rain—
KWAAANG—!
Esric’s magic struck.
My role was clear.
To stop the Sun Knights and the Pope’s holy knights.
And at the same time, draw the Pope’s and believers’ attention.
So the spell needed restraint—
But also enough spectacle to captivate.
I moved my hands, forming a shape.
Like mimicking an arrow when casting Ice Arrow…
Like the Karaime tribe dancing in circles to summon clouds…
I overlapped my fingers, sketching storm and lightning.
TZZZZ—!
Air crackled between my hands.
Blue sparks danced along my fingers.
“Rage gathered in the heavens…
Fear compressed in silence…
Anxious eyes turned upward…”
I murmured the chant.
“A momentary light that erases shadows…
A burning spear that pierces enemies…”
Mana burned through my circle.
Blue lightning surged into the clouds.
“Judgment upon those who stand beneath you.”
PAAAT—!
Lionel erupted with holy power, shield raised.
The Sunward Shield overlapped with his strength—
Becoming even sturdier.
“This should block it, right?”
I met Lionel’s eyes and grinned.
“Fall.”
The spell was complete.
“Thunder.”
The storm clouds split with blue light—
And from within them,
A massive golden bolt descended.
KWAAANG—!
Lightning crashed onto the barrier.
Two golden lights collided, bursting outward.
The dark sky flashed bright as day.
KUGUGUGUNG—!
Deafening thunder followed.
PAAANG—!
The Sun Knights’ barrier shattered into fragments.
Holy light scattered like glitter in the air.
“Ugh—?!”
Knights and soldiers staggered, groaning.
The backlash of broken divine power struck them.
Some even collapsed, coughing blood.
Only a handful remained standing.
And among them—
Only one still held his shield properly.
“…Impressive.”
Lionel alone stood firm.
His shield still burned with golden holy flame.
“A top-ranking holy knight… so you really are.”
Thunder was a high-tier spell requiring layered circles.
I even used hand seals, and the weather favored me.
A lightning spell prioritizing speed—
But still…
A high-tier spell.
“And you earned the other fifty points all by yourself.”
As I watched him in admiration—
“You monstrous heretic! A heretic!”
Pope Lucarion screamed, pointing at me.
“Bring down the sun’s judgment upon this heretic! Show no mercy!”
With his voice, every believer’s gaze snapped toward me.
The hesitation caused by Valen’s appearance vanished.
Madness reignited in their eyes.
“Yes! Heretic!”
“How dare he destroy Solanis’ wall!”
“It’s a preemptive strike!”
“An invasion!”
“Join the knights!”
“Defeat the heretic!”
The believers began moving—
Then surged like an unstoppable wave.
“S-stop! Stop! Don’t come this way—?!”
Lionel shouted, startled.
“Sun Knights! Stop the believers! Hold them back!”
The staggering knights struggled to rise—
But the believers were far too many.
It wasn’t just numbers.
It was faith.
“P-please stop…?!”
“Wait—wait! You can’t—!”
“Step back! Please!”
The Sun Knights carried shields to protect the faithful—
Yet the Pope drove them into death without hesitation.
Even the best-trained order would waver.
Even Lionel—
The holy power that stood firm against Thunder
Now trembled dangerously as the believers rushed forward.
“Please…! Stop!”
His plea never reached the fanatics.
My job was done…
But—
“…That sly bastard.”
Lucarion’s smug face, watching proudly from afar,
Made my blood boil.
Dozens of spells came to mind—
Enough to erase his face instantly.
But…
“Move faster. Hurry.”
I held back, waiting for Leonis and Ronan.
“Because I feel like I won’t be able to stop myself from killing him.”
