Chapter 76: Assault (4)

“Sanctuary.”

As Orcus touched the ground and said that, a golden aura began to emanate from the point where his hand met the earth. This divine power, which dyed the ground gold, quickly spread to cover a certain area, forming a barrier against the darkness.

However, the barrier only prevented the encroaching darkness and not the energies in the shape of a sword that flew at them from beyond it. As the barrier was penetrated, the swordsman hidden in the darkness revealed himself.

To block the flying sword that was divided into five, Noel stood in front of Orcus.

The blade held in Noel’s hand momentarily glowed gold. With swift hand movements, she deftly deflected the incoming sword made up with some kind of energy.

Even after deflecting the attack, the persistent tremor in her hand gave a slight indication of the opponent’s strength. But she was not fazed by it. Instead, that realization cooled Noel’s mind, allowing her to make more composed decisions.

Throughout the defense, Noel’s eyes were fixed not on the swords but on the monstrous figure that had attacked them.

A mysterious swordsman with a face concealed by a steel helmet.

There were no distinct features visible from the swordsman’s attire, just a light armor and a dark cloak. Since most of the participants in the tournament wore something similar, she examined closely to find any family emblem, but none could be found.

But that didn’t bother her.

She checked just in case, but she had known who the swordsman belonged to from the moment they first met. After all, there was only one entity in this world that could make her feel such a strong aversion to their divinity.

Before the swordsman could follow up with another attack, Noel took a step forward and charged.

Was there something that siblings inherently understand about each other?

Rather than being startled by Noel’s sudden move, Orcus adjusted the divine barrier in response to her movements. Thanks to him, the darkness spread by the swordsman completely receded from where Noel’s attack would land. With all her strength, Noel swung her sword at the swordsman.

A sharp sword, forged in a golden glow, sliced through the surroundings, heading straight for the swordsman.

The giant trees that had stood guard in that place for so long began to split in two under Noel’s sword strike. However, her blade was halted by the swordsman’s incoming weapon before it could accomplish what she had intended to cut. Though weakened by this divine magic barrier called sanctuary, the swordsman’s sword still contained formidable power.

But Noel wasn’t foolish enough to be perturbed by a single failed attack.

Was it an act of revenge for the initial sword the swordsman had aimed at them? Noel delivered four more quick slashes and then dodged backward.

The swordsman wasn’t merciful enough to just leave Noel alone, who had come within range at best, but Orcus had already completed his spell. To avoid the barrage of fireballs coming his way, the swordsman had no choice but to put distance between him and Noel.

As they gained some distance, Orcus asked Noel, “Do you think we’re doing alright?”

“Not really. It feels like I’m striking a solid rock. I thought I did my best, but he’s deflecting too easily.”

“Should we run?”

“I can’t be sure since he hasn’t shown his full strength, but I don’t think we can outrun him. Hyung, are you confident in running?”

“I’m not even a knight… So, no.”

Orcus responded, glancing at the bow he still held in his hand.

So far, what Orcus had learned from Damian was archery, not how to become a knight.

Even if he used magic, he couldn’t race through the forest with the same speed as Noel. He knew spells to enhance physical abilities, but even with them, he knew he couldn’t match aura users. If he could teleport, it would be ideal. However, due to the Luneproud Mountains’ characteristics, to use such high-level magic in the forest, one would need to be at least an archmage. Thus, even for a prodigious talent like Orcus, that method was currently out of reach.

‘Then we have no choice but to endure like this for now.’

He had left an attendant at the camp, but in the current situation, he couldn’t guarantee their safety. The same went for the rangers who were rumored to reside in the forest. If that swordsman wasn’t a fool, he’d have already taken care of anything that could hinder his plan.

Luckily, they had a way to signal others. The problem was whether they’d be alive by the time help arrived.

Orcus momentarily looked at Noel, who stood in front of him.

No emotion like fear or terror surfaced on Noel’s face. Forgetting her usual emotional demeanor for a moment, his tomboy younger sister was coolly and calmly assessing the enemy before them.

Though it wasn’t official, since being designated as the next emperor, he had faced numerous threats to his life. Even in a position protected by the name of the emperor and the gods, the thirst for power often blinded individuals. That was why Orcus had developed some resilience to danger.

Within the imperial family, the power dynamics had been settled, so Noel had been distanced from such shadowy conflicts. That was what Orcus had wanted. But seeing Noel now, he briefly wondered if he had failed in his role at the imperial palace.

It must be her first time in such a life-threatening situation, but Noel’s demeanor was only composed. So much so, that it felt as if she had often faced such events. Knowing that Noel had never been involved in palace intrigue, Orcus found her behavior both fascinating and praiseworthy.

‘What on earth did Damian teach her...’

Upon reflection, the shift in Noel’s behavior seemed to have started after meeting Damian.

Just as Damian had taught Orcus archery, he occasionally sparred with Noel. She probably learned something from him during those sessions, though Orcus wasn’t privy to the specifics.

What was clear now was that the Noel before him wasn’t just a naive younger sister; she was a knight, taking responsibility for their frontline.

It was rather Orcus’ responsibility to make sure he provided adequate support so as not to be a burden. Given the current situation, Noel was the only one who could face the swordsman head-on.

Casting several buffs on Noel, Orcus reduced the size of the barrier. Maintaining the barrier consumed a significant amount of divine power. Considering the likelihood of a prolonged battle, it seemed crucial to conserve his energy.

“I’ll prepare to send a signal to the camp, so keep an eye on the front for a moment. Refrain from taking the lead from now on. Focus purely on holding your ground. Our primary objective now is to survive and hold our position until our allies arrive,” he instructed.

Noel nodded in response.

Orcus didn’t speak further.

Because the swordsman, who had been observing from a distance, initiated his move once again.

***

Upon noticing the swordsman’s movement, Orcus promptly shot a fireball high into the sky. The explosion, though minor, produced a sound loud enough to be heard by everyone in the forest.

Perhaps agitated by the exploding fireball, the swordsman, who began to rush toward them, showed no signs of slowing down.

This time, the swordsman didn’t release swords made up of energy or manipulate darkness. Instead, with his sword imbued with that energy, he charged straight at Orcus and Noel. Despite the still active barrier, there was no hint of hesitation in the swordsman’s stride.

Recognizing Orcus as a considerable nuisance from their brief clash moments ago, the swordsman directed the tip of his blade toward him. Spotting the approaching swordsman, Orcus immediately prepared his defenses and an attack, but, as expected, Noel stepped in before him.

When their swords collided, the resulting shockwave rocked the forest.

“Tsk!”

“...”

The swordsman, now aware of their location, had no reason to hide. Compared to their previous encounter, he now attacked with an intensity that was incomparable, slamming down on Noel’s blade.

Thanks to the sanctuary magic and the buffs that Orcus had previously placed, Noel’s abilities were enhanced, while the swordsman, unable to harness the power of the darkness due to the Orcus’ barrier, was at a disadvantage. Yet, their power struggle was surprisingly even.

Noel’s lips let out a slight moan, and her complexion wasn’t great. This was not from physical strain but from the realization that even with advantageous conditions, she couldn’t gain the upper hand.

Given Orcus’ constant interference, their power struggle didn’t last long.

Amidst the fireballs unleashed by Orcus, Noel swung her sword. The fireballs, though small, perfectly obscured the path of Noel’s blade from the swordsman’s view. However, he wasn’t one to be easily fooled, spotting the hidden blade amidst the flames.

A sinister red aura wrapped around the swordsman’s blade, emitting a powerful energy that obliterated all the incoming fireballs. Naturally, Noel’s sword was also repelled by this energy.

When the swordsman deflected Noel’s blade, Orcus launched another attack, but the swordsman skillfully dodged, as if mocking their coordinated efforts as futile.

Once they had created some distance, Noel stopped advancing, as Orcus had previously instructed, focusing solely on guarding the front.

She held off the swordsman’s attacks, limiting her movements to within the barrier. It was a wise decision; the moment she stepped out of this barrier, the swordsman would be free to summon his power of darkness, and there was no telling what would happen to Noel if she took even one of his blows outside the protection.

Seeing that Noel was not venturing outside the barrier, the swordsman realized he had no choice but to enter it to successfully launch his attacks.

When the swordsman stepped into the barrier, Noel and Orcus exchanged glances and initiated their assault. Much like before, the swordsman successfully fended off their onslaught, but this was far from a meaningless expenditure for the duo.

“Keep pressing on!”

Despite watching their attacks be consistently parried, Orcus relentlessly unleashed a barrage of spells. Maintaining the barrier and casting spells non-stop, any normal person would’ve collapsed from mental exhaustion by now, but Orcus looked anything but fatigued.

The same could be said for Noel, who’d been fending off the swordsman’s assaults. While occasionally she would let out a grunt due to overwhelming force, there was no sign of her being winded or weary.

For Noel and Orcus, who possessed vast divine power, their greatest strength was undeniably their stamina.

The opponent in front of him could also be said to be a kind of paladin who used divine power, but that didn’t mean that the total amount of divine power he possessed could not be compared with the two.

The healing power of divine power fortified their bodies, making them incredibly resilient. They decided to exploit this advantage to its fullest.

For defenders, possessing inexhaustible stamina was unquestionably a significant advantage.

However, after clashing with the swordsman, the duo came to a realization: Even if they focused solely on defense, the superior skill of their opponent meant they constantly teetered on the brink of a life-threatening crisis.

Embodying the adage that the best defense was a good offense, they decided to switch gears and go on the offensive against the swordsman.

Noel and Orcus were well aware that, no matter how many times they attacked, they couldn’t defeat the swordsman with their strength alone. But for them, the battle wasn’t about victory. Their primary objective was to buy time until reinforcements arrived. From the beginning, killing the swordsman wasn’t the goal.

Their aim was to seize the momentum from their opponent and steer the battlefield in their desired direction.

Just because one took the lead didn’t necessarily mean the flow of battle shifted in their favor. However, if it was an unceasing assault, then that was a different story.

“Huff!”

Noel’s sword, infused with full vigor, grazed the swordsman’s cloak.

As the swordsman pivots to unleash a strike, aiming for Noel’s now-exposed right side, a spell from Orcus seemed to have already been waiting in that empty space, soaring towards him. Faced with this relentless barrage, the swordsman dodged out of the barrier’s bounds. Noel also retreated, and as soon as the swordsman re-entered the barrier, she began her assault just as before.

While the swordsman’s attacks were undoubtedly more potent than theirs, it wasn’t to say that Noel and Orcus were weak. Their attacks posed a considerable threat to the swordsman’s life. And with these blows coming incessantly, it was natural for the swordsman’s movements to be constrained.

No matter how masterful the swordsman’s martial arts were, he still only had one life.

With neither side’s attacks being negligible, the previously offensive swordsman found himself on the defensive. Of course, his attacks continued. It only seemed as though he was on the defensive because the duo met his attacks with their own.

“Damn it...”

As a result, for the first time, an emotionally-charged curse slipped from the lips of the swordsman, who had maintained his silence until now. The prosecutor clearly recognized that the current situation wasn’t in his favor.

And thus, the circumstances seemed to be unfolding just as Noel and Orcus had intended.

--- END OF CHAPTER ---

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