BOOM!
Jerome fell into the fortress, crashing into the ground.
Everything in the path of the black beam was obliterated. Soldiers caught in its trajectory exploded on the spot, their bodies torn apart.
The flickering figure of Gartros chuckled.
"Khehehe… it feels like I've become a god. I should have realized this power sooner…"
The Salvation Church had faced a crisis because of Ghislain's actions. They had been forced to open the rift earlier than planned and ignite rebellions across various nations.
The entire continent had turned against them. Even so, they were confident of victory, as they possessed more superhumans than any kingdom.
But their defeat in the Lutania Kingdom had taught Gartros that this confidence was misplaced.
Superhumans capable of overpowering several priests had appeared. Moreover, their numbers within the allied forces were steadily increasing.
In the increasingly dire situation, Gartros deliberated.
— How could they deal with such powerful beings?
Gartros found himself in a position of a challenger.
He had learned this lesson clearly during the Lutania civil war.
No matter how strong he was, he could not contend with absolute powerhouses like the Guardian of the World Tree or the Saintess of War. Just two of them guaranteed defeat.
The other priests didn't even need to be considered. Even Gillian, known as the White Lion, couldn't be defeated in a one-on-one fight.
In the midst of this, Hellnik's daring actions inspired Gartros with a new idea.
Certainly, using all of the orbs' power could achieve such might.
The Artrode Army had monitored the allied forces carefully. To capture Hellnik alone, the strongest members of the allied forces had been mobilized.
However, using the orb in such a manner resulted in certain death. Contemplating this limitation, Gartros eventually devised an alternative.
— What if it were possible to use this power safely from the outside…
Only two orbs remained. He couldn't afford to squander their power.
Instead, he experimented by subtly extracting the priests' energy over time.
The method he devised involved creating a space saturated with energy, rather than directly absorbing it, and using that energy externally.
The results were astonishing. It granted power beyond that of a superhuman, without the risk. He could draw energy from the surrounding environment as needed, using it immediately.
All that was required was skill and mental fortitude to handle the immense energy.
— This is the power! With this, I can face even stronger superhumans!
The concentrated energy offered overwhelming power, far surpassing the strength divided among individual priests.
Of course, there was a penalty. Creating such a space required the priests to expend their own energy.
But Gartros was unbothered by this. If the situation called for this power, the priests would likely be of no use anyway.
A singular, overwhelming force that surpassed all else.
That was all he needed.
— God has once again shown me the way.
Gartros had been the genius who revitalized the Salvation Church, interpreting its scriptures and reviving its power.
It was only natural that Gartros could create a new method like this.
And he alone was capable of wielding this power. No one else could manipulate the energy as skillfully as he could.
Gartros gazed over the fortress with a grin.
"Khehehe… to think I'd use this power before even encountering the Lutania forces…"
He hadn't needed to use this power to capture the fortress. But leaving Jerome unchecked would have delayed things significantly.
The Artrode Army was currently in a precarious position. Delays increased the likelihood of encirclement.
Jerome, too, was an exceptionally strong superhuman. To subdue him quickly, Gartros had no choice but to unleash this power.
"Even killing the most troublesome one is a gain… This too must be the will of God…"
WHOOOOSH...
The black energy around his figure began to gather again. The black mist that had spread across the area quickly converged.
Seeing this, the allied soldiers lost all will to fight.
"It's over… We're already in hell…"
"The goddess must have abandoned us…"
"This is a nightmare. It has to be a nightmare…"
Even Jerome, in whom they had placed their faith, had been struck down in a single blow.
All the soldiers could do was drop their weapons, trembling in fear and despair.
Gartros found their despair deeply satisfying.
With a smile, he spoke.
"Witness the power of the great God and die."
FLASH!
Once again, the black beam surged forth. This destructive force would obliterate the fortress and kill the soldiers in an instant.
But the situation unfolded differently this time.
WHOOSH!
A golden barrier unfolded in the path of the black beam.
CRACKLE!
The black beam tore through the barrier violently, but no soldiers were harmed.
It was a barrier imbued with immense magic power.
The massive figure of Gartros tilted its head slightly.
"That bastard is still alive…"
SWOOSH!
From within the fortress, a golden streak shot into the dark sky.
The man radiating light from his entire body was Jerome. Blood trickled from his lips, and his robe was torn in multiple places, but his eyes burned with fierce determination.
"It's not over yet."
Jerome extended his arms, unleashing his mana.
ZING—! ZING—! ZING—! ZING—!
Brilliantly glowing magic circles began forming in the air.
There were twenty in total.
Each one radiated immense power, moving as if alive, resonating with one another.
The magic circles emitted mana that vibrated the surrounding air, sending ripples far and wide.
RUMBLE!
From the magic circles, golden bolts of lightning erupted.
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
The massive bolts of lightning from the twenty magic circles pierced through the black energy.
SIZZLE!
Each time, the black energy burned away as if evaporating. The energy was beginning to dissipate, bit by bit.
Gartros' face twisted as he shouted.
"You insolent fool!"
Black energy swirled around him like a storm, trying to engulf Jerome.
Jerome thrust his hands forward, creating a golden barrier.
BOOOOOM!
The black energy and golden light clashed, creating a thunderous roar that shook the earth and split the sky.
Grit.
Jerome clenched his teeth.
'I have to weaken and extinguish this energy somehow.'
He couldn't absorb this energy. He had felt that when fighting Hellnik.
Even if he could absorb it, the sheer volume of energy would make it nearly impossible to handle. And the opponent wouldn't simply stand by and watch. He had no choice but to fight with all his might.
ZING—
Golden magic circles etched themselves into Jerome's eyes, radiating light.
This was different from his fight with Hellnik. Back then, he had paced himself for a prolonged battle, carefully managing his mana.
But now, that wasn't an option. To protect the fortress, he had to fight as if he were ready to die.
Fortunately, thanks to the allied mages, he barely felt any mana suppression. He had to end this before they ran out of strength.
'As quickly as possible!'
BOOM!
Finally, Jerome unleashed his full power all at once.
Blinding beams of light erupted from his hands, writhing as if alive, and shot toward the black Gartros.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Gartros was merely a form composed of energy. Physical attacks didn't harm his true body.
Each time a hole was punched through him, the energy dissipated. Surrounding energy quickly filled the void. The range of the black mist began to shrink.
Gartros smirked twistedly. While a significant amount of energy had been destroyed, far more remained.
"Do you think you can withstand this transcendent power?"
Black energy erupted from various points on Gartros' massive body. Soon, the two forces clashed in the sky.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Hundreds of golden lightning bolts and black flashes filled the air, attacking each other. Each collision sent shockwaves that shook Jerome's body.
By now, neither ally nor foe could look away from the battle.
Everyone was dumbfounded. This was truly a battle of gods.
Unlike other superhumans, only a 8th circle grand mage like Jerome could fight this kind of battle.
But Jerome's condition was deteriorating.
"Ugh…"
Blood flowed steadily from his tightly closed lips.
Gartros controlled the energy of six priests. Four of the priests weren't dead but had retreated after expending almost all their energy.
While they lacked skill, their energy was genuinely at the level of superhumans. It wasn't a trivial amount.
Moreover, the strongest of them all, Gartros himself, had contributed his own energy.
No matter how strong Jerome was, it was becoming increasingly difficult to withstand the overwhelming, concentrated energy.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Each time he blocked the attacks, Jerome's body was pushed back further. To anyone watching, he looked precarious.
There was no way to win like this. If the battle continued in this manner, he would inevitably die.
'But I have to do it!'
If he retreated, all the people in the fortress would perish.
In the end, Jerome decided to push himself a little further. He didn't want to die, but he had no choice.
There was one method he could attempt, but only if he had sufficient mana.
RUMBLE…
Jerome began gathering all the mana he had unleashed into a single point. Gartros noticed immediately that his opponent was preparing something.
Massive black tendrils of energy extended from Gartros' form, blocking every direction in an attempt to entangle Jerome.
At that moment, golden feather-like shapes scattered from Jerome's body. He swiftly soared into the air, evading the tendrils.
Even as he moved, he didn't stop gathering his mana.
'Just a little more… please… just a little more…'
The mana was nearly ready. The formula he had been tirelessly crafting in his mind was now complete.
All that remained was to activate it. Yet Jerome hesitated.
'If I use this… I'll die…'
Fear began to creep into his heart, unconsciously taking hold of his thoughts.
This spell was forbidden. Even he had never actually used it before.
His mentor had warned him when teaching him the formula for the spell.
— This is a secret spell of our Tower, but don't ever use it until you reach the 9th circle. Even then, you'd have to risk your life to cast it.
— What happens if I use it before then?
— You'd die, of course.
— What if I absolutely have to use it in a desperate situation?
— Then you'd die along with your opponent.
This spell was designed with a specific purpose: to counter an overwhelmingly strong foe.
Jerome's mentor had shared the spell lightly, thinking it would never be needed.
With Jerome's skills, he could always escape even if he faced a stronger foe.
— You hate pain and death, don't you? Just run when you encounter someone stronger.
— Of course! I'll never use it, ha ha ha!
Jerome had thought the same. If using it guaranteed death, who would ever attempt it?
But now, he had no other choice.
If he fled… all those people…
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Jerome was repeatedly pushed back by Gartros' attacks. He glanced back over his shoulder.
Everyone was looking at him with frightened faces. The weight of their expectations felt unbearable.
Jerome's heart wavered.
'Maybe… we should all just run…'
Could the others really escape that monster, even if he could?
With that destructive power, Gartros could wipe out the fortress's forces in an instant.
Gartros was even stronger now than the rampaging Hellnik had been. Even Ghislain and Yulian wouldn't stand a chance against him. His power was near that of a transcendent being.
'I have to survive. Only then can I join forces with others to defeat this monster…'
The Lutania Army had many exceptional superhumans. Together, they might find a way.
Yes, that would be the right thing to do. It was the most rational, efficient choice.
But as the thought solidified, his resolve wavered even more.
'I should retreat… Just hold him off a little longer…'
If he stopped fighting for even a moment, Gartros' attacks would turn toward the fortress. Even if Jerome protected it as best he could, many lives would still be lost.
There was no way Gartros would let the allied forces escape easily. After unleashing such power, he would want to reduce their strength as much as possible.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Jerome was repeatedly driven into the air by Gartros' attacks. It was becoming harder and harder to block or evade them.
'What should I do…?'
If he used any more mana, he wouldn't even be able to use his final option. His only remaining choice would be to flee alone.
He had to make a decision now.
Jerome gazed at Gartros with weary eyes. The immense, flickering energy still seemed limitless.
'You really are strong.'
How many more sacrifices would it take to bring down this monster? If they lost the fortress and the Artrode Army spread to other areas, how many more would die?
Suddenly, a memory of Alpoi came to mind.
While working in the mobile workshop, Alpoi often said the same thing.
— Magic isn't about circles, it's about the battlefield. Someone like you doesn't even matter. People lived fine without you, didn't they?
Recalling those words, Jerome let out a faint chuckle.
'Yeah, someone like me doesn't matter.'
If he could eliminate that monster, the allied forces' victory in the war would be assured.
If he could destroy that monster, it would be easier for the others to escape.
No—this forbidden spell could obliterate not only Gartros but the entire Artrode Army, ending the war.
Jerome clenched his teeth, steeling himself.
"If I sacrifice myself… I can end this war and save so many lives!"
WHOOOSH…
Having made his decision, Jerome raised his hands high. A massive magic circle began to form in the sky.
It wasn't just one circle. Dozens, then hundreds of circles appeared, connecting to each other.
An immense amount of mana was focused on Gartros.
"Ugh… What is this…?"
Gartros looked up in shock. For something to exert this kind of intangible pressure even on him, with his transcendent power!
FLASH…
The magic circles began to emit a brilliant light, forming an enormous shape. It looked like a celestial map, encapsulating the principles of the universe.
Complex and mysterious patterns intertwined, creating an indescribable beauty.
All who witnessed this sight were filled with awe—friend and foe alike.
They instinctively knew that something monumental and unprecedented was happening.
Even the mages on both sides stopped their mana duels, staring blankly at the sky.
WHOOOOSH…
The magic circles were complete. Simultaneously, a blinding light erupted from their center.
"Arrgh!"
Gartros writhed in agony, his black energy violently surging. The light wasn't harming anything else, but it was rapidly draining his energy.
But it didn't end there.
BOOOOOM!
Suddenly, the magic circles split open, revealing a cosmic landscape in the air.
Countless stars, galaxies, and nebulae appeared. It was a breathtaking spectacle beyond imagination.
It was as if the boundary between reality and illusion had dissolved. The scene before them transcended human understanding, a supreme wonder.
It was as though the mysteries of the universe had condensed into a single moment, shaking the very souls of those who witnessed it.
This wasn't merely astonishing—it was a transcendent experience that redefined one's existence.
Jerome slowly opened his mouth. Blood continued to gush from his lips.
"Judgment of Radiance."
At last, the spell was complete.
At the same time, from within that majestic cosmic space—
RUMBLE…
A massive meteor, glowing golden, began to descend.
[T/L: I need your support, dear readers. I will give discount to all those who will buy the rest of the chapters all together, so please support me the reader on my webnovel platform and read ahead chapters on my ko-fi page "RevengerScans" : https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]