Chapter 148: Sanctification
A room with a wall broken through in a certain hotel.
Lucia didnt know what to do given the situation.
Shiron had collapsed. That alone scrambled her thoughts and left her bewildered, but Seira, whose origin she couldnt pinpoint, was also lying unconscious.
Ugh.
Had there ever been a time after her reincarnation when she found herself in such a troublesome situation? She could confidently say there had not.
Of course, there had been many more difficult times in her previous life but it was the same in that she couldnt solve them alone.
The curse that wouldnt lift was dispelled by Seira, and when she was fatally poisoned, the dwarf Vinella somehow found a medicinal herb and made an antidote. Even when she was about to die of starvation after falling alone into a transfer maze, wasnt it Yura who came with companions and barely saved her?
Lets wait until daylight.
Both seemed to be in a deep sleep if one were to judge by appearances alone. Lucia decided not to risk moving them for treatment in the middle of the night.
She was well aware of Seiras self-healing magic from her previous life, and though he was young, Shiron had completely healed from a grievous injury received at the Lake of Beginning in less than a week, hadnt he?
Moreover, the outside she briefly saw through the window was too chaotic to risk taking the two unconscious ones out. The light illuminating the street went out in an instant, and it started to fill with the murmuring of confused people.
After daylight, Ill go to Raihan from the Foreign Affairs Squad we met yesterday and ask for help. He wont leave Shiron, a noble of Rien, unattended
After a moment of contemplation, Lucia drew her sword and sat down in place. The best she could do now was to do her best within reach.
I dont know what theyre trying to do, but there are some coming up here.
The presence of a group getting closer from the floors below. The number was ten maybe more.
As their presence grew stronger the closer they got to this place, she guessed they either joined in midway or were wearing magical devices to hide their presence.
Huff
Lucia took a deep breath and drew mana from her dantian.
Emergency stairs.
Elevator.
Corridor.
In front of the room.
Lucia fiddled with the handle of her sword.
Click- Click-
She sensed the presence of several people beyond the door.
Click- Click-
Theyre not even knocking.
Click!
Is there any need to?
The door opened. The man Lucia had seen earlier that day walked in with his hands behind his back.
Knocking, as if you would open the door in this situation, is pointless.
You know well. To come en masse like this and threaten, yet expect it to be opened.
Lucia glared at the dozens of people, her golden eyes flashing. Anger boiled inside her, and irritation surged. One situation after another arose where her companions were incapacitated, and now, hulks smeared in all sorts of magical equipment had shown up.
So why have you barged in? You do realize this is trespassing, right?
Lucia spoke with as much authority in her voice as she could muster. At that, Asad smirked.
Its because of the chaos outside.
Chaos?
Yes. The lights in the cathedral went out, and the citizens, who were living their peaceful daily lives, are now voicing their anxieties. Do you need more reason? Although you said you wouldnt interfere with what we do, I really didnt think youd actually go through with it.
What are you talking about?
Lucia raised her voice at the nonsensical sound that reached her ears.
Are you saying we caused this chaos? After parting with you, we came straight here, and Shiron collapsed immediately. Dont arrest innocent people without evidence.
In front of the hotel,
They were aware that they could not defeat the red-haired foreigner, no matter how many of them rushed in.
Yet, nineteen elites charged at Lucia without a second thought. The noble spirit that allowed one to sacrifice oneself to protect the sacred city made this possible.
This mindset was the result of brainwashing from a very young age, the moment they were born with blue-gray eyes. The duty and ability to act push them over the edge, outweighing the emotion of fear.
They struck only where the enemy was, their swords wrapped in holiness. Quack! Quack! Quack! Quack! The sound was brutally rough, as if flesh and bone were being crushed simultaneously
What.
In an instant, Lucia observes the forms of those she had slashed dozens of times. She believed she had split their flesh, crushed their bones, and neutralized the enemy in a breath
But none of those she had slashed had fallen.
Their heads were smashed, faces burst, arms severed, yet with the one remaining eye, they looked at her, picked up their fallen swords, and gripped their weapons, ready to charge again.
Asad smiled contentedly at the proud scene before him.
Sanctification was the love of God, or the cradle of heaven. It created a sanctuary here that allowed believers to fight endlessly as they wished, regardless of whether their arms were crushed or their bellies were torn.
Squelch- Thud-
The guards of Brahham did not stop, even as the pain of their entire bodies being engulfed in flames washed over them. Their faith in the Lord. The belief that after completing the holy war, they could go to heaven!
That mad appearance made Lucia feel sick to her stomach.
Crazy.
Lucias sword tip wavered. The enemy stumbled towards her, swinging their sword. She slashed at them with her trembling sword. They didnt fall.
No matter how much she cut, her opponent continued to rush at her as if they felt no pain. Only after she had perfectly incapacitated about five did the opponents body become too damaged to stand on its own.
Could it be
Did she have to continue this charade?
Lucia swallowed hard.
She had only just incapacitated five, but the number of people who had entered the room hadnt changed.
Twenty. And nineteen to attack.
At least a thousand waiting outside.
Should I just run away with the two?
Lucia quickly looked around. There was no way out. Then, did she have no choice but to continue this nonsense? While she was enduring complex emotions and disgust.
From behind Lucia, a massive presence was felt. Slowly but very surely, unhesitatingly approaching this place
Roar!
An explosion occurred behind Lucia. Thick concrete walls burst outward like a storm. The light from divine magic scattered in the dust.
Crackle-
Lucia noticed Shiron and Seira in the opening created by the explosion. The guards of Brahham stared at the intruders who had burst into this place.
The enemy they had to face had increased from one to two. All the guards quickly realized this fact and rushed forward. And a whirlwind swept through the narrow room.
Crack- Crackle Crackle Crackle-!
A rough noise was followed by a moment.
Whirr-
A monotonous rotation continued in the chaotic space. The blade spun thousands of times in the air, shredding the enemy. The sound of bodies thudding followed one after another in the now-red room, and the dusty air was pushed outside by the whirlwind. Lucia, who smelled the metallic scent, saw a very red room.
.
Lucia blankly stared at the woman standing in the center. Unlike the room dyed red, not a single drop of blood was on her.
Swoosh-
With an elegant gesture, she brushed the dust from her hair. She was a figure who seemed too far removed to be here.
What are you guys?
An ice-cold voice and gaze.
Siriel Prient.
Without seeing her face, Lucia could somewhat guess what Siriel looked like. Unlike Lucia, who intended to deal only with incoming enemies, Siriels strikes did not discriminate against any opponent.
