C1056
The gates of hell, adorned with images of demons trapped in black coffins, creaked open, and the world was dyed a crimson hue.
The 10th Apostle opened his eyes in a strange space where a blood-red liquid reached his knees.
"This is..."
He swallowed with difficulty as he watched the white blood droplets from his shoulder wound turn red.
"My Sword Domain."
Martha's clear voice echoed behind the 10th Apostle.
"Sword Domain?"
The 10th Apostle frowned as he turned around.
"This Sword Domain is called the Devil's Prison."
Martha smiled softly, a stark contrast to the bloody hell surrounding her.
"It's a prison for demons like you and the Leader of the White Blood Religion who shouldn't exist in this world."
"How... You don't have Zieghart's blood, so how..."
The 10th Apostle frowned deeply, unable to comprehend.
"I made a soul oath with my spirit and mental image. I prayed that if I could kill you and that damned woman with this Sword Domain, I would never wield a sword again."
Martha curled her red lips as she explained that this Sword Domain was created solely with vengeance in mind.
"Of course, it would have been impossible without the help of that foolish master. I needed to train in elemental power."
Even if she had become a Grand Master and made a soul oath, it would have been impossible to create a Sword Domain immediately. Thanks to Rimmer's training in using elemental power to create a Sword Domain, she was able to complete the current Devil's Prison.
"Still, it's impossible..."
"The Devil's Prison is a Sword Domain created exclusively for you and the Leader of the White Blood Religion. I can't use it on anyone else, even if they're blood demons."
The deepest resentment she harbored was against the 10th Apostle who had taken her mother away and the Leader of the White Blood Religion who possessed her mother's body.
This Sword Domain was nothing less than the embodiment of the resentment she had harbored against these two since her childhood.
"I didn't expect you to create a Sword Domain. However..."
The 10th Apostle took a deep breath with a cold gaze, as if searching for a way to escape despite being trapped in the Sword Domain.
"An incomplete Sword Domain like this is useless."
He pointed his spear at himself, thinking that this Sword Domain was unfinished.
"If I kill you, this Sword Domain will collapse as well."
The 10th Apostle slammed his foot on the ground hard, as if he was about to give it his all, and unleashed a spear technique with spiraling blood energy.
However, the powerful blood energy in his spear turned into red dust and disappeared before it reached Martha.
"W-What is this...?"
The 10th Apostle's eyes widened, appearing more surprised than when he first entered the Sword Domain.
"You're impatient."
Martha waved her hand towards the 10th Apostle, whose lips trembled.
"The Devil's Prison is a jail that turns all blood red. Your white blood has turned red like that of a normal human, so you can no longer use blood energy."
This Devil's Prison turns all blood red. In other words, it was like hell for the blood demons of the White Blood Religion who gained power through white blood.
"Impossible! This can't be!"
The 10th Apostle shouted that it was a power that disrupted the balance of the world.
"No, it's possible. As I said, you and the Leader of the White Blood Religion are the only ones I can use this Sword Domain on."
She had chosen to forgo the possibility of opening a Sword Domain with only elemental power like Rimmer, and instead created a Sword Domain exclusively for blood demons, specifically the 10th Apostle and the Leader of the White Blood Religion.
Furthermore, she had made a soul oath that if she could kill those two with this Sword Domain, she would never wield a sword again. It was a restriction that sacrificed her future for the present, making such power not impossible to obtain.
'It might not work on the Leader of the White Blood Religion, but it will definitely work on the 10th Apostle.'
While she wasn't sure about the Leader of the White Blood Religion, who was on a completely different level than her, the 10th Apostle could never escape this prison.
"Hmm..."
The 10th Apostle bit his lip and raised his spear. He seemed determined to fight to the end, even without blood energy.
"That's a good stance. If you don't resist, there's no fun in taking revenge!"
As Martha raised her sword, the red blood flowing on the ground rose like a titanic wave and crashed down on the 10th Apostle's head.
It was a huge wave that seemed to engulf not only the 10th Apostle, but the entire space of the Devil's Prison.
"Arghhhh!"
The 10th Apostle swung the shaft of his spear with a battle cry, but only with the strength of his body, without blood energy, he couldn't fully handle the powerful current.
The 10th Apostle was swept away by the terrifying wave, his arms and legs were completely crushed as he was submerged in the red blood.
"This isn't over yet."
As Martha plunged her sword into the ground, the blood transformed into thousands of thorns, tearing apart the 10th Apostle's entire body.
"Aaaaargh!"
Even the 10th Apostle couldn't withstand the torture of the Devil's Prison, rolling his eyes and screaming.
"Do you regret it?"
Martha looked down at the 10th Apostle, who was trembling in pain, and lifted his chin.
"I asked you if you regret choosing this path. Do you regret becoming a blood demon, killing innocent people, and kidnapping them?"
"Haa..."
The 10th Apostle lifted his head, exhaling a breath that smelled of blood.
"I... I don't particularly enjoy fighting. I rarely drank human blood."
He continued speaking with trembling eyes.
"But I don't regret becoming a blood demon. My life was for Her, and She became stronger by obtaining your mother's body."
The 10th Apostle shook his head, seemingly pledging loyalty to the Leader of the White Blood Religion until the end.
"Really? Thank you. Thanks to you, I don't think I regret creating this Sword Domain either."
As Martha clenched her fist, the red blood turned into prison bars, enveloping the 10th Apostle.
The 10th Apostle's bones were crushed as he was trapped in the blood bars that constricted his body like a serpent. Red blood gushed from his mouth.
"Still..."
The 10th Apostle looked up at Martha, spitting out dead blood.
"I want to tell you I'm sorry..."
"To me? That's not right! You should be apologizing to everyone you killed and sacrificed!"
Martha slapped the 10th Apostle's cheek, which was turning blue, telling him not to talk nonsense.
"No, it's you. Only you..."
The 10th Apostle's eyes rolled up as if he only regretted it to her, and then he exhaled his last breath.
"What does that mean...?"
As Martha frowned, the 10th Apostle's corpse flowed with blood and mounted on the left side of the hell gate.
The remaining right side of the gate was reserved for the Leader of the White Blood Religion.
"Whatever happened, I won't accept your apology."
Martha bit her lip as she looked at the 10th Apostle's corpse, whose eyes hadn't closed in death.
"Because only the strong can forgive."
After looking at the 10th Apostle who had died with a bitter expression, contrary to his words of no regret, she took the doorknob of the Devil's Prison.
The gate, covered in the 10th Apostle's blood, creaked open like a ghost's lament, as if cursing her.
***
Martha's eyes widened as soon as she stepped out of the Sword Domain, hearing the cheers that erupted.
"As expected of our Division Leader!"
"You've finally achieved a Sword Domain!"
"I knew you could do it!"
The swordsmen of the Luminous Wind Palace waved their hands at her, shouting with excitement.
"Martha!"
Burren raised his fist towards her.
"I can't believe you're the first among us to wield a Sword Domain!"
He let out an incredulous laugh. His words of "first" were filled with admiration and pride, not envy or jealousy.
"Well done! Really well done!"
Runaan slightly curved the corners of her mouth. For her, that voice and smile were equivalent to hearty laughter.
"All our nieces and nephews are something else!"
Alice gave her a thumbs up after forcefully pushing the First Apostle who was charging ferociously.
"The 10th Apostle..."
"Did he actually die at the hands of that young girl????"
"Impossible! He was the 10th Apostle!"
"Even if he's a subordinate of that Raon Zieghart, how could such a young girl...?"
On the other hand, the blood demons trembled in shock in their eyes as they realized that the 10th Apostle had died.
"Martha."
Denier approached from behind and grabbed Martha's shoulder.
"How did you open the Sword Domain?"
He looked at her with wide eyes, as if he was astonished.
"I learned about using elemental power for Sword Domains from that lazy master. It's a possible method without Zieghart's blood, but it's a martial art that's only equal in name, it's actually different in practice."
Martha smiled weakly, remembering Rimmer. Using it herself, she felt it was slightly different from Zieghart's Sword Domain.
"Also, seeing Raon use his Sword Domain often was a great help."
In fact, the oath to use it only against the 10th Apostle and the Leader of the White Blood Religion was significant, but she didn't mention that part, thinking it might sadden Denier.
"I see."
Denier nodded as if he understood now.
"Are you sure the 10th Apostle is dead?"
"Yes. He's definitely dead."
She clenched her fist, saying that she had even embedded his corpse inside her Sword Domain so that not even his remains were left.
"Then, did he leave any last words?"
Denier suddenly narrowed his eyes as if asking if the 10th Apostle had left any last words.
"Well, strangely he said he was sorry only to me. He said something so weird... Ugh!"
Martha groaned and fell to her knees as she explained.
"Martha!"
Denier moved urgently to support Martha.
"I'm... I'm fine. Just a little tired..."
Martha got up, grabbing onto Denier's shoulder.
'So this is what it was.'
Offering life force... Rimmer had said that he didn't want to recommend his Sword Domain because it consumed not only elemental power, but also life force. True to his words, after using the Sword Domain, her entire body felt as if it were stabbed by knives, and she was hit with fatigue that made her want to collapse right there.
'Did he endure this?'
Realizing the pain that Rimmer must have faced, her tongue felt bitter to the point of stinging.
"Are you really okay?"
Denier frowned, seeming to have noticed her condition.
"I'm fine. No, even if I'm not okay, there's nothing that can be done about it."
Martha stood on her two legs, using her sword as a cane.
"No matter what, we have to end this war today."
If they missed this opportunity, they might never be able to catch the Leader of the White Blood Religion again. Today, they had to cut that demon's neck and heart.
"Yes, that's true."
Denier nodded as if he understood.
"Then stay behind and replenish your strength. From now on, the Sage Martial Arts Palace will lead the way."
He told her to follow from behind as he jumped over the wall.
"Thank you. Father."
Martha smiled weakly as she followed Denier towards the White Blood Religion Headquarters.
"No blood demons?"
The inside of the headquarters was almost empty of blood demons, as if they had all run towards the walls.
"They're not absent."
Denier pointed with his finger at the wide path where white blood flowed. Scattered along the vast path were countless corpses of blood demons, archbishops, and what appeared to be the body of an apostle.
"The Luminous Wind Palace Master cut all this."
He let out a dry laugh as he looked at the sword marks left by Raon, who had cut the blood demons' throats without a single mistake. He seemed genuinely impressed by Raon's martial prowess.
"Judging by how crude it was, it must be him."
Martha nodded as she looked at the apostle's corpse that bore the marks of Raon's work.
'I feel like I'm a little stronger.'
Thinking that Raon was fighting for her sake, she felt the fatigue and pain that weighed on her body and mind lighten a little.
"It seems he went north. Let's speed up from here."
"Okay."
As they followed Denier and the swordsmen of the Sage Martial Arts Palace, they were running forward when suddenly, a huge pillar of blood energy rose from the white cathedral at the northern end. It was as if the world's largest waterfall, the Whitecor Falls, was going up upside down.
"The Leader of the White Blood Religion!"
Martha gritted her teeth as she saw the woman with black hair and dark eyes emerge from the pillar of blood energy. The Leader of the White Blood Religion. She was looking at the sky, enveloped in white blood like a dress.
Just as she was about to run towards the Leader of the White Blood Religion, clenching her hand gripping the sword, a golden-haired swordsman in front of her was pushed back by the blood energy and crashed into the building next to her.
"She's disgustingly strong even without awakening."
It was Raon. He let out a dry laugh as he got up, brushing off the debris from the collapsed building.
"Raon!"
"Seeing that you've come this far, I assume you were successful."
Raon gave her a faint smile, as if he had believed in her.
"What happened?"
"That mosquito queen was trying to use her subordinates as human shields and awaken. I stopped her at the last moment."
He shook his blood and dirt-covered hands, saying he had narrowly avoided the Leader of the White Blood Religion's awakening.
"I was so close! Just a breath away, and you...!"
Raon's words were true, as the Leader of the White Blood Religion screamed, grabbing her black hair.
"I'll kill you! Not only you, but everyone connected to you, I'll devour them all!"
As the Leader of the White Blood Religion chanted a spell with her hands clasped together, a pure white dimension erupted from the White Blood Religion Headquarters, and countless blood demons emerged in waves. In an instant, the inside of the headquarters was filled with blood demons, as if she had summoned all the existing blood demons on this continent.
However, the Leader of the White Blood Religion's spell didn't stop there. She scattered white blood rain over the headquarters, weakening the Zieghart swordsmen and empowering the blood demons.
Once again, the tide of the battle turned, and the swordsmen began to be pushed back.
"I'll kill you myself..."
Just as the Leader of the White Blood Religion was about to extend her hand, saying she would kill him personally, a blue sword strike split the space where she was and pierced her chest.
"Seems like you're quite agitated."
King Lecross, the king of Owen and known as the Silent Sword Master, emerged from a space that reflected like a mirror. He poured aura into the sword that had pierced the Leader of the White Blood Religion's chest, causing her flesh and bones to explode.
"Cough!"
The moment the Leader of the White Blood Religion bent over, spitting out blood, dozens of cards fell from the air, bathing her in high-level magic composed of lightning.
"Arghhhh!"
The Leader of the White Blood Religion crashed to the ground with a scream as the powerful aura and magic exploded.
"Well done."
The Magic Tower Master Larian winked at Raon, who had cards of different colors flashing between his fingers.
"I was watching with bated breath, and you really did well."
King Lecross also nodded at Raon and Martha, saying they had done excellently.
"Now we'll join in as well!"
Raising his hand, Chamber's blue dimensional gate opened, and the Owen knights rushed out. The cavalry, with their sharp spears stored at their waists, swept away the blood demons, while the order of knights led by the Third Prince cut the dimensions from which the blood demons emerged, clearing a path. (N/T: Someday I wonder if we'll meet the first and second prince)
"Benefactor! Sorry for making you wait!"
The Third Prince raised his sword dripping with blood from blood demons, greeting them as if he had also been struggling to hold back from joining the fight.
"It's been a while. I can't even keep up with you anymore."
Borini Kitten, who had become the vice-captain of the Silver Knights, smiled softly as he slit the throat of an archbishop.
"Damn bastards..."
"This isn't over yet."
As the Leader of the White Blood Religion struggled to stay upright due to the impact of Lecross and Larian's attacks, Raon advanced in the Steps of Supreme Harmony and punched her in the face. Unable to recover from the previous impact, the Leader of the White Blood Religion couldn't block Raon's attack and rolled on the ground, collapsing in front of Larian and Lecross.
King Lecross pointed his shining blue sword at the Leader of the White Blood Religion, Larian raised his cards and drew a huge amount of mana, and Raon opened his Sword Domain with Heavenly Drive and Blade of Requiem, summoning the Divine Sword and the Demon Sword.
"Being wrinkled suits you."
Raon curled his lips as he looked at the Leader of the White Blood Religion's cheek, which was turning purple from bruises.
"After all, you have to crush mosquitos with the palm of your hand."
-
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