Pick me Up – Chapter 251 – Assault on the Holy City (2)
I wiped the blood off my cheek.
The black knights, who had shown their grandeur just moments ago, had turned into pieces of meat without exception. Their remains were scattered, mingled with the corpses of the mercenaries.
"……."
The mercenaries stared at me in astonishment.
I had no need to interact with them. After giving them a quick glance, I left the scene.
Battles were already raging in various places.
“Prepare to fire! Strike the impious heretics with the goddess's mace!”
A knight on the wall drew his sword.
At the same time, the archers drew their bows in unison.
Fiu, fiu, fiu!
Thousands of arrows pierced the plain, turning the mercenaries into human pincushions.
“Fire!”
Boom, boom, boom!
The cannons hidden in the wall burst into flame.
Simultaneously, columns of fire erupted from the ground and the sky.
“Damn it! Archers, counterattack! Raise your shields!”
“Kill them all!”
“Long live the Princess!”
Boom!
A mercenary's body split in two and was hurled into the air.
I stepped aside. Blood and chunks of flesh fell where I had been standing.
‘The cult army’s counteroffensive is fierce.’
The situation felt different from the 55th floor, where we had the advantage.
The cult troops, entrenched in the fortress, defended both land and air, launching arrows, cannons, rocks, and magic.
They were numerous, and their morale was no small thing.
Boom!
An arrow embedded itself in a cannon that was about to fire, causing its barrel to explode.
It was an arrow shot by Jenna.
Bang! Boom, boom, boom!
Countless arrows and explosives crossed between both sides.
I walked unflinchingly through the battlefield, where arrows and fire fell like rain.
<We’ll meet in the temple inside the city, right?>
Katio’s voice echoed in my ear.
“Yes. I'm done here. I’ll head there immediately. Don’t worry about the pawns, move your feet. See you at the entrance.”
Pi.
I ended the communication and propelled myself.
I climbed the high wall as if it were flat ground.
“Who is that bastard? Move…”
The knight, whose head disappeared with a single blow, fell heavily.
I stepped over the knight's corpse on the wall and entered the fortress. There, Taonier's heroes and soldiers were already fighting.
‘No need to waste time.’
I only eliminated those who stood in my way as I advanced.
Whether a conscripted soldier or a trained knight, they all fell with a single blow.
I left only the cult troops' corpses in my wake.
“What, what the hell…? Who is that guy…?”
I crossed the perimeter of the wall, where fierce battle raged, and entered the fortress's interior.
The soldiers preparing to defend turned their gaze towards me.
I walked calmly down the city avenue.
“Damn heretic! You’ll receive divine punishment!”
A young knight rushed out to stop me,
Boom!
But he rolled on the ground, spraying blood, with half of his face caved in an instant.
"……."
The soldiers who witnessed the scene began to back away hesitantly.
I laughed and walked past them.
It didn’t matter if a thousand of them came; they wouldn’t be a match for me.
There was no reason to confront them.
‘I only need to eliminate the saint.’
Riane, the Blind Saint, the master of the 60th floor and the prince's right hand.
By this time, she must have been informed that I was on my way to the temple. I had grown much stronger than on the 50th floor. She better be praying.
I kept advancing, eliminating all the cult soldiers who stood in my way.
With each step, red blood dripped from my bloodstained right hand.
<She seems to be on the upper level of the temple.>
Halgion murmured.
I looked up and saw the imposing figure of the temple.
In height, it resembled a skyscraper, and in size, a football stadium.
‘Wow, they really built it luxuriously.’
At the temple’s gate stood a statue of twin goddesses with their hands joined.
With my hand on my sword hilt, I entered the temple square. On one side of the square, the Lucette had landed, and Group 1 members awaited me beside a pile of guard corpses.
“Brother, over here!”
Jenna waved her hand.
I nodded and approached the members.
“The cult officials should be gathered in this temple.”
“Surely.”
“Go in and clean thoroughly. Don’t leave a rat.”
“What if there are civilians? They’re not to blame.”
Katio intervened.
I shook my head.
“There are no civilians here.”
Besides the armored soldiers and knights, I was also attacked several times by people who looked like ordinary citizens or housewives. As expected of a city called a temple, everyone here was fervent followers of the goddess cult.
‘We must minimize mercenary casualties.’
The troops here would be useful in the future war against the prince.
Therefore, there was no need to waste time fighting. We had to split into teams and quickly clean the temple, eliminating the saint, leader of the cult troops.
“We will split into teams. Jenna and Kishasha will be team 1. Belkist and Katio, team 2. I will be team 3. Team 1 will handle the lower levels of the temple. Team 2, the upper levels. I will go to the highest level.”
“The highest level…?”
“That’s where the saint will be.”
“Are you sure you’re going alone? That person seems very strong.”
I smiled without saying anything.
And then, I propelled myself.
Zas!
Lightning surged from my feet and enveloped my entire body.
I climbed the temple wall vertically.
I looked down for a moment and saw the members preparing to enter the temple.
‘…….’
Before, I would also have been there, preparing to fight in formation.
But now, the situation has changed.
‘Team combat.’
A bitter smile appeared on my face.
It's time to graduate.
If formation and cooperation are fighting methods for the weak, then the strong have their own combat methods.
<Han, don’t cling. You and they are no longer on the same level.>
“I know. I was just checking they’re doing well.”
I turned my gaze upwards.
The marble wall extended endlessly.
I slid between terraces, stained glass, and statues as I ascended. The temple’s top, rising hundreds of meters, began to reveal itself. So.
Crash!
I broke the glass of the highest level and entered the temple.
A dark room. Light filtered faintly through the stained glass.
In the darkness, the smell of fresh grass hit my nose.
<Here it is.>
At the highest level of the temple was a small garden.
I stepped into the garden entrance.
“That’s enough.”
A middle-aged man in silver armor appeared among the grass.
A sharp gaze like a well-honed blade. His short hair and stern expression showed no trace of emotion.
[Danger!]
[Cult Knights’ Leader]
[Sword of the Goddess, Dosmech Lv. 85]
The knights’ leader.
Looks like I caught a big fish.
He is the commander of the cult knights.
“You must be Han Israt. I've heard much about your fame.”
The middle-aged knight slowly drew his sword.
A soft light emanated from his eyes.
“I am Dosmech Lyell, a knight who has dedicated his sword to Tel and Ikar.”
“Where are the others? Why are you alone?”
“I have no obligation to tell you.”
“Did you hide them? Anyway, they’re all going to die; they’d better join now. Right now, chaos must be breaking out in the lower levels. Your subordinates must be losing their minds.”
I spoke disdainfully.
“You have no honor or principles.”
“It’s not something you should say. If you are the saint’s right hand, you know what atrocities Tel has committed. Do you still plan to believe in her?”
The knight lowered his gaze.
“If I and the saint die… absolve my subordinates.”
“No.”
I interrupted him.
“Those who bear the cult’s insignia will die here. Each and every one.”
“…….”
“I don’t leave enemies alive. It’s my principle. It would be problematic if they stabbed me in the back.”
“In that case… I’ll have to eliminate you here.”
Dosmech dropped his sword.
A faint white light began to emanate from his blade.
<Be careful, Han. If that sword touches you, even your black dragon scales will be affected.>
I drew Bifröst.
He was not someone I could face with bare hands.
“I will take your head!”
In a fluid posture like water, Dosmech lunged at me.
And then.
‘Before obtaining the Dragon Soul, this would have been very difficult.’
I spun the blade.
A drop of red blood fell from the sword’s tip, staining the blade.
Right in front of me, Dosmech’s corpse, with a split chest, lay face down.
‘…….’
I felt nothing in particular.
He was just one of the thousands of humans I had killed.
I shook the blood off the blade and exited the garden.
I walked down a long corridor and reached a grand hall.
On both sides of the hall, marble columns lined up, and statues of goddesses of various shapes were everywhere.
[Danger!]
[Blind Saint]
[Riane Terarisa Lv. ???]
At the hall’s far end.
The saint in a white robe stood with her back to me, looking out towards the city terrace.
<… Dosmech is dead.>
A voice pierced my mind.
Always unpleasant.
I frowned and approached the saint.
“Have you thought of your last words? Don’t even think of escaping.”
<How rude. I never intended to flee.>
She continued speaking.
<In the end, it has happened. As the goddess predicted, it seems we were born to be devoured by you. What do you think? If you devour me, will you become stronger?>
“I don’t know. I might not like it and vomit.”
<You can’t answer like that. You are destined to save Taonier.>
Riane looked at the sky, filled with explosions.
<Not even sure when it was. Our cult, along with the prince, did everything possible to save Taonier. But we failed. Miserably. We couldn’t make even the slightest counterattack. All we could do was flee and keep fleeing.>
"……."
<Do you think you will be different?>
Riane lowered her gaze.
Delhive city was burning.
The mercenaries had penetrated the fortress.
<Really… can you save Taonier?>
“It’s not something you should worry about.”
I approached Riane.
There were no cult guards here.
She was alone.
<You have fully mastered the ancient dragon's power. Now, even if I use the power of my eyes, I won’t be able to defeat you.>
“That’s right.”
<Still, I have another method.>
As I approached, an invisible wall stopped me.
‘This is…’
No-go zone.
Is there a restriction right in front of the boss?
I frowned.
<Hahaha. Do you know? During the three years you were gone, I did everything possible to open my third eye. I even committed acts that only a demon would do. I bathed in the blood of girls, sacrificed numerous followers.>
Riane looked out towards the city.
I followed her gaze.
There, Priacis, along with Yoshu, tried to enter the cult city.
<I can only use this demon eye once.>
"……."
<It’s the ultimate eye technique. Turns illusions into reality… the demon’s eye. Try to get through it. If you can, it will be your victory.>
Riane laughed heartily.
Immediately after.
[Left Eye that Devastates the Heavens]
A massive violet eye appeared in the cult city’s sky.
[Right Eye that Devours the Earth]
Alongside the violet eye,
An ember-red pupil appeared.
A pair of eyes looked down on the city.
[Danger!]
[Saint Riane’s secret technique, ‘Eyes of Death’ has been activated.]
Riane’s demon eye was looking at one person.
‘Priacis.’
Boom!
I struck the wall in front of me.
But it didn’t budge.
‘…Damn it.’
This wall is indestructible.
Until I surpass the hero’s limits.
<Brother.>
Yoshu’s urgent voice echoed.
<The princess clutched her chest and suddenly collapsed. What’s happening?>
“…Leave her.”
<What?>
“I will handle it. Leave her alone.”
A holographic message appeared on Anything’s screen.
[Ding!]
[‘Eyes of Death’ has been cast on special NPC Priacis at the Ragnar.]
[Her life is in danger. Drag and drop on the screen to help the NPC trapped in the illusion.]
Anything dragged the screen forcefully.
[Slash!]
[A dimensional portal connected to the illusion has opened.]
Vuuuung.
A whirlpool of light appeared in the hall’s center.
‘Shall we try this with me?’
I don’t refuse.
I firmly grasped my sword’s hilt and walked into the whirlpool.
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