Pick Me Up!

Chapter 250: The Siege of the Holy City (1) (1)

After clearing the 55th floor, Anytng didn’t loosen the reins.

The very next day, we moved on to the 56th floor. Our first party took the lead in this section, easily clearing the sub-stages focused on hunting and exploration while gathering information about the 60th floor.

‘The 60th floor will be the Siege of the Holy City.’

Holy City Delhive.

Located at the southernmost point of the Townia continent, this massive city was also the sacred ground for Tel Ikar Church, the largest religious organization wielding influence across the entire empire. Capturing this place meant severing the lifeline of the church that had tormented heroes for so long.

On the 59th floor, I got in touch with Yoshua and gathered a basic outline of the Holy City siege.

Three critical pieces of information stood out.

First, Delhive itself was a fortress city with defenses rivaling that of the imperial capital.

Second, all the church’s forces, including the Holy Maidens and the Holy Knights, had gathered there. Monsters had also joined the church’s forces, with their estimated numbers exceeding ten thousand.

Even the imperial princess’s army, which had easily overpowered the church’s forces so far, would find these conditions challenging.

Lastly, the leader of Tel Ikar Church, the Blind Saintess Irine, possessed a mysterious power.

This was something I was all too familiar with. After all, I had faced it personally on the 50th floor. Her left eye violated the heavens, and her right eye devoured the earth, with abilities to seal skills, engravings, and senses. She was beyond troublesome.

‘It won’t work on me twice, though.’

After mastering the Black Blood Dragon, my abilities had grown exponentially. Moreover, I had prepared countermeasures just in case. If the saintess dared to use the same tricks, she would have to prepare for her own death.

In the strategy room on the 4th floor of the waiting area, Roderick stared down at the map on the table and muttered, “So, we’re working with the imperial princess’s army.”

Once a retired training camp director, Roderick had returned to lead the party after Edis’s death.

“What’s our role?”

“Aerial assaults on key points using airships.”

I pointed to the center of the map. It depicted a circular city surrounded by five thick layers of walls. In the middle of the city stood a massive temple that resembled a towering skyscraper.

It was an eagle’s-eye view of the fortress city, Delhive.

“The imperial princess’s forces will take the ground assault. Once the operation starts, the Townia raid team will break through the aerial defenses and infiltrate inside the city walls. From there, we’ll cause chaos by sweeping them from the inside.”

I gestured toward the outer walls, and Roderick, with a grim expression, looked up at me.

“What about you?”

“We’ll move separately. We’re going deeper in.”

I pointed to the temple at the center of the city.

“That’s where the church’s key figures will be. We’re going to wipe them out.”

“…Understood.”

Roderick gave a bitter smile.

“Didn’t expect to be back on the battlefield. I wonder if I can still pull my weight.”

In all honesty, this man couldn’t fully fill Edis’s shoes. He could only cover part of the gap. The rest would have to be handled by the master.

We were past the days of cheering from the sidelines. It was time to expect more from him.

“Well, then, I’ll brief the other party leaders. Thanks for your work.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Roderick trudged out of the strategy room. I stayed seated, staring at the map.

‘The operation begins tomorrow.’

The current time was late at night. Anytng had logged out after completing her final preparations. And I had just finished my tasks as well.

A dark crimson bolt of lightning sparked from my right hand. As I clenched my fist, the lightning disappeared as if crumbling away.

Whenever I had time, I trained with Halkion in my mental world. More than a year passed in that time frame. At first, this power felt foreign, but now I could wield it as if it were my own.

“…Yurnet.”

I muttered quietly, and the air in front of me distorted as a fog in the shape of a person flickered into view.

“How’s the investigation going?”

“That’s a relief. I thought it would take years.”

Yurnet chuckled, covering her mouth. She was still investigating the El Cid incident. From start to finish, there were far too many unclear points in the case. It was too suspicious to let it be.

“I did.”

Yurnet’s shadow crept closer.

“Reconsider? What do you mean?”

“I’ve already made the contract. How could I change it now? That doesn’t make sense.”

“Even if it’s possible, I won’t do it. I’m sticking with Townia until the end. It’s too late to back out now.”

“No buts. Don’t bring this up again. This is my decision.”

Yurnet fell silent. In exchange for the power from Halkion, I had agreed to clear Townia’s missions. Even if the contract lost its binding force, I intended to uphold it.

“Don’t worry. I can take care of myself. I can’t keep relying on you guys forever.”

“I’ll contact you when I get back.”

The fog dispersed.

‘I’m different from that woman.’

I don’t break promises. No matter what the outcome, I’ll see it through to the end.

I gripped the hilt of my sword.

Clang. The blade of Bifrost scraped against the sheath with a metallic sound.

The next evening, Anytng assembled a party for the 60th-floor attack.

Four airships would be used for the operation. Three of them were assigned to the first raid, led by the second party, while the last one was for our first party.

[Warning!]

[This mission is a medium-sized operation requiring ten parties! If your party is short on members, use paid or free summons to recruit more heroes!]

[This mission requires airships for a special operation! Gather resources and blueprints to craft airships!]

[Tips: You can form a raid by combining parties.]

[Tips: You can form a fleet by combining airships.]

As the warning message appeared, Iselle reached out, and a massive mirror appeared from a dimensional rift.

[Climb the tower and save the world!]

[Main Dungeon: Current Floor – 59]

The launch command had already been given. The giant mirror began to glow, and the lead airship slowly rose into the air.

[Main Dungeon, Current Challenge Floor: 60]

[The gate will open in 10 seconds. Prepare yourselves!]

[Mission is being recorded. Your playthrough will be saved.]

Our airship, the Lucette, began moving toward the mirror. I leaned against the railing and stretched out my right hand.

“Iselle.”

Iselle appeared, sharply dressed in a black suit and adjusting her sunglasses as she approached me.

“Something clean and heavy.”

Iselle twirled her right hand, and stardust burst forth, revealing a white cloth-wrapped object. I ran my hand over it.

‘This texture…’

“Model 137?”

“Good choice.”

I'm currently Translating the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!