The Priest of Corruption

Chapter 55: Reappearance!!!

Hundreds of transparent threads protruded from the cut section, stretching out toward the ragged giant's severed head. Ensis Baltas watched the scene quietly, his face impassive. Carmen and Sajita were still fleeing behind him, but he stood in silence between them and the ragged giant, waiting.

The demon, however, was not idle.

- Where did you hide what you stole?!

Its body was thick and long, with an extended reptilian tail. It resembled a giant snake, but the head was different. Dozens of snake heads hung from its body, each rushing towards the ragged monster. - Give it to me!

The snake heads, each the size of a house, lunged to bite off parts of the ragged monster's body. Hundreds of mouths that made up the giant's body screamed in unison.

- Kyeeeeeeeeh!!!

Crash!

The ragged giant's hand struck the snake's head. Of course, it was impossible to cut all of the heads with only two hands. But the sharp snake teeth could not penetrate the ragged

giant's body. No, they didn't even dig into it. Writhing Curiosity, which had halted just before attacking the ragged giant, exploded in rage.

- Where did you hide it?!

Dozens of snakeheads glared at the ragged giant, their eyes ablaze with anger. She could devour such a low-grade divinity mass monster anytime. The problem was that the damn

thief didn't know where the stolen stuff was, so she couldn't easily attack it. She was afraid that fthing' might break with her teeth.

- Gyeeeeeeeeh!!!

The ragged giant ran towards the demon, screaming as if mocking her predicament, which she could not easily attack.

Crash!

The ragged giant's fist crushed a snake's head. Unable to do anything, Writhing Curiosity tried to subdue the ragged giant as much as possible without hurting him. Of course, that was impossible.

And then.

Carmen and Sajta were far enough away. Ensis Baltas confirmed this and lowered his jet-black visor. He took one slow step, then another a bit faster. With each step, the speed of the black knight increased exponentially. Eventually, Ensis became a line. A single line that cut through everything it touched.

Bang!

A black line ascended from the floor as he swung the giant sword, 'Molar', held in his right hand. The great sword 'Molar' had been forged to combat such colossal beasts. The embodiment of human-forged violence transformed into a black line, striking the giant's head once more. This time, he had no intention of merely severing its head. His aim was to slice and dice until he eradicated the 'source' of the monster. Finally, the Black Wolf's Molar cleaved through a chunk of flesh, obstructing his path.

Swoosh.

One of the eight snake heads crashed to the floor. The demon suppressed a groan, releasing a high-pitched cry instead. - Don't touch it!!! Don't touch it!!!

The black knight's dark eye sockets focused on the wailing demon. Ensis' eyes, as clear as meticulously crafted glass beads, held no emotion as they observed the demon. Regardless of whether the demon had warned, begged, or pleaded with him, it made no difference.

He was a sword, a protector of the northern kingdom. Swords existed solely to cut down enemies. 'Molar' began to move once more.

Even though the onslaught had ended, his 'Expert' body, which surpassed the limits of a creature, made the impossible possible. The forced rotation, originating from his waist, passed over his shoulders, through his wrists, and exploded at the tip of 'Molar'.

- I said, stop!!!

Swoosh.

Before the demon could shield it with her body, the ragged giant's head was severed. Ensis' left hand, which had lightly landed on the ragged giant's shoulder, became a blur. A long jet-black sword, 'Fangs', tore through the giant's severed head.

The severed head of the giant didn't even begin to fall before it shattered into chunks of flesh. - Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!

The demon screamed in relief. At least the object wasn't on the ragged giant's head.

Ensis silently raised his right hand. Now it was time to cleave the giant's body in half. The giant sword, 'Molar', emerged once again to target its prey.

- You idiot!!! I said stop!!!

Bang!!!!

The giant snake's head collided with Ensis' 'Molar', scattering flesh and blood. All of it belonged to the demon. She couldn't give her all, fearing that the ragged giant's body might be damaged.

'Please. Please. Come quickly.'

The demon launched all her heads at Ensis. Each time the Black Wolf Ensis brandished his twin swords, a giant snake's head was lopped off.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Heads continued to drop. Ensis severed all the transparent threads rising from his feet, threatening to engulf him, while simultaneously parrying the demon's melee attacks. His defense was nothing short of miraculous. He swung his swords in a rhythmic dance, not missing a single beat.

Eventually, the demon noticed that all her other heads had been severed. The dozens of hardened snakeheads now lay scattered on the ground. - Damn it!! !

Had it not been for the accursed Black Wolf, she could have tamed the rampaging giant and reclaimed her 'possession'. It was evident that the Queen's knights and troops would soon arrive. The man she had been summoning hadn't shown up, seemingly betraying her expectations.

Finally, the demon realized she had to forsake her precious 'possession' and began to weep. As a tear fell from the giant snake's head...

A blue streak charged towards Ensis, who had raised 'Molar' to cleave the body of the furious giant. A terrifying killing aura. Ensis, gripped by an instinctive fear, reflexively swung 'Fangs' to deflect the incoming slash.

Clank!

The black blade clashed with the blue blade.

With his heightened senses, Ensis identified his assailant. Fluttering blue hair and blue eyes. The woman was Pridiya, a priestess of the Holy Fire Church who had recently met the Queen. She continued her attack without hesitation. Despite her composed demeanor, her sword emanated a potent killing aura aimed at Ensis' throat.

Ensis discarded 'Molar', the distorted, gigantic great sword that was not originally designed for close combat. 'Molar', thrown carelessly, fell from the giant's body and landed on the floor.

He brandished 'Fangs' in his left hand.

Clank!

A defensive sword strike. Ensis, having blocked Pridiya's sword, used that power to bounce back and switch the hand holding the sword. Pridiya lightly landed on the giant's shoulder, jumped like a spring, and rushed towards Ensis.

Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank!

In a single breath, the two 'Experts' exchanged dozens of attacks and defenses.

Clank!

Another collision. A very slight gap was exposed. Pridiya had been building up all the sword attacks for this one moment. She relentlessly shoved her foot into the gap. Bang!! !

The black knight's metal armor shattered at Pridiya's kick, and Ensis' body fell from the ragged giant's body onto the floor.

The fallen black knight quickly assumed a stance and landed gently on the floor.

Ensis, having allowed the sudden blow, quickly inspected his body. There were no major wounds except for his dented armor. The woman's kick was intended to remove him from the giant's body in the first place.

lump.

Pridiya jumped off the giant's shoulder and landed lightly on the floor. The silent black knight opened his mouth.

"Why are you doing this?"

A polite rebuke. Pridiya answered with a smile.

"I'm curious about the best sword in the northern part of this era...?"

"If that's all, I'll arrange an opportunity after this is over."

Her blue eyes curved softly.

"There's another reason besides that, right?" Ensis looked at Pridiya and answered.

"Please, move. I must defend the capital."

Pridiya quietly raised her blue sword and grinned.

"I guess the main weapon of the strongest sword in the northern part of this era is the tongue, huh?" Further conversation was unnecessary.

Bang!

Ensis dashed forward, morphing into a single black streak as he lunged at Pridiya. In response, she offered a serene smile and swung her blue sword, unleashing a chilling killing aura that starkly contrasted her tranquil expression.

Clank! Clank! Clank!

Throughout the barrage of attacks, Ensis was left with one distinct impression: the woman's sword skills radiated a truly horrifying killing aura. Even though swords were inherently weapons of death, was there a necessity to infuse such a brutal, murderous intent into each move?

Amidst the torrent of the killing aura, Ensis calmly unsheathed his sword, embodying the philosophy of the Baltas family's swordsmanship, crafted to 'protect' others. Two swords, each bearing opposing wills, clashed with violent intensity.

Clank!

A clear, crashing sound echoed through the air, followed by a cheer of joy from the demon. - You came!!!

Bare-chested, with a black hockey mask obscuring his face and donned in random pants, the Human Butcher shouted.

"What do you want from me?!!!" ***

I had put on a mask to hide my identity. If it were discovered that I was Marnak under the present conditions, I would become a wanted man in the kingdom once more for my association with a demon. As a result, I couldn't use the Butcher. My only weapon was a sword I had picked up along the way.

I cast a glance at Master, watching the two 'Experts' engage in a swift, bloody exchange of sword strikes. A firm determination settled in my heart-I would never incite Master's anger. I would rather run away.

With a quick jump, I thrust my sword into the body of the ragged giant.

Whoosh!

- Kyeeeeeeeeh!!!

Dozens of hands, comprising the giant's body, lunged at me. Using the sword as a pivot, I sprang back, landing on the giant's shoulder.

I turned to Writhing Curiosity, my voice urgent.

"What do you want me to do?!!! Speak quickly!!!"

Tears streamed down her face as she shouted back, a bright smile on her lips.

- 'The holy relic'!!!! The 'holy relic' they mistook and stole must be somewhere within the giant's body!!! Find it! My 'daughter' gifted me something within that relic!!!

A holy relic?

I quickly lowered my gaze to the giant's writhing body, but it was nearly impossible to locate the holy relic amidst the massive form teeming with various divinities. Swoosh.

I yelled as I severed the reaching hands.

"I don't think I can just pick up the holy relic!!!"

- No, you can! You can do it!!!

But how...?

lust as I was sinking into despair, a proud voice echoed in my mind, finally having found a purpose.

'Kill! ! !'

It was Mother's voice, declaring,

'I!!! I can do it!!!'