Chapter 1495 – 1495. Paladin: The Journey Of Eradication
The Executioner’s Blade.
A weapon that requires the materials gathered by the Holy Sword and the Papal States, and the majority of the Papal States’ manpower to create.
In this world, it exists only in theory.
Even in the original game, it’s a sword that can only be made in the very late stages.
I intend to create this sword.
The Pope, who was the biggest obstacle, is dead, and I’ve achieved the unprecedented feat of killing two Great Demons in less than a year since becoming a Paladin. I have more than enough justification to create the Executioner’s Blade.
There are concerns about the backlash from other Paladins, but I’ve accumulated achievements that are incomparable to theirs. I can push through.
‘I’ll even frame anyone who obstructs me as a heretic to force this through.’
I’ve finished my resolve.
However, things unfolded even more easily than I had anticipated.
The Goddess Herianne, who had been merely observing, sent a revelation to the Paladins, the Saintess, and the Archbishops.
-Aid the Paladin of Valentier. For he will bring an end to this long war.
Absolute justification fell upon me.
Someone might think that Goddess Herianne is showing favoritism, but from her perspective, I can’t help but look good. I’ve eliminated two Great Demons in a short period.
And the Pope died in the process? He was a corrupt one anyway, and the position of Pope could be filled through election.
Goddess Herianne has essentially gone all-in on a rising coin. How could she stay still when she sees it constantly skyrocketing?
‘There are two Great Demons left. The Goddess must also know that one Great Demon has been annihilated… She must have a strong feeling that it’s possible.’
In any case, thanks to Goddess Herianne’s strong support, I’ve gained power exceeding that of the Pope. Paladins from other regions couldn’t dare to oppose me.
Over the past month, I’ve used the resources of the Papal States without restraint. All for my sake.
The result was the status window before my eyes.
[Name: Eugene
Origin: Paladin
Level: 83
Strength: 75 Agility: 47 Constitution: 50 Divine Power: 66
Skills: Holy Sight (Lv. Ultimate), Holy Aura (Lv. Master), Holy Sword (Lv. Ultimate), Sprint (Lv.3), Holy Light (Lv.7), Divine Enhancement (Lv. Master), Resurrection (Lv. Master), Descent (Lv. 1), Sacrifice (Lv. 1), Perfect Body (Lv. 5), Wings of Dawn (Lv. 3).]
Overwhelming stats.
Most demons can’t withstand my single blow and die.
And after a month of rituals, the Executioner’s Blade was finally completed. The Papal States’ assets were depleted, but that was none of my concern.
The Executioner’s Blade, made with Valentier’s Holy Sword as its base, granted me immense power just by holding it.
The Executioner’s Blade was a sword that constantly emitted divine power. However, its output was weak, and the divine power merely flowed without accumulating. One might wonder where a sword with such a limited effect could be used, but the true effect of the Executioner’s Blade was different.
It possessed the effects of all the Holy Swords that exist in this world.
Of course, it couldn’t use all the effects simultaneously, and the user could switch between effects according to their will.
‘Now that I have the Executioner’s Blade… all preparations are complete.’
The next day.
A revelation fell upon all the Paladins.
-Eliminate the Great Demon Colossus.
The eight Paladins, including myself, couldn’t ignore the Goddess’s revelation. The Paladins gathered in one place the next day using return stones. They devised a plan to kill the Great Demon Colossus.
I led the plan. Although I was the youngest of the eight Paladins, my achievements were the most solid, so no one disregarded me.
•••
The Great Demon Colossus.
Among the five Great Demons, it was the one with the least intelligence.
Does that mean it’s easier to subdue than the other Great Demons? On the contrary. The Colossus is the most troublesome opponent among the Great Demons.
The Colossus, which crawled on the ground, was enormous in size. It was a moving mountain. At the same time, it was the homeland and foundation of the demons. It was also the mother and father of the demons. The Colossus was a moving demon production factory.
The eight Paladins, including myself, looked down from a high mountain. The beast crawling across the continent, the Colossus, was visible. The Colossus’s appearance resembled a giant monitor lizard. However, it was excessively large, and its skin was made of soil and rock.
“It’s enormous in person. Should we be thankful that it only roams areas without people…?”
The Paladin of Jigolas spoke, looking at the Colossus.
“It’s because of that thing roaming around that people can’t live there.”
The Paladin of Etel glared at the Colossus as if to kill it.
“Why is that thing circling this area?”
The Paladin of Utumun expressed curiosity.
None of the Paladins could answer that question. Until now, the Paladins had left the Colossus alone, so there was no information.
The Great Demon Colossus was too large for an individual Paladin to handle. As a creature that produces demons, its body was teeming with them. Subduing it was impossible, and even scouting was difficult.
Of course, I knew why the Colossus only roamed this area.
‘It’s instinct. It recognizes this area as its home.’
This was also the place where the first demon was born.
‘The Great Demons originated from the first demon. The Great Demon Bejesul, who was trapped in the demon’s horn, was the first demon’s leg, the Great Demon Suton was the first demon’s finger, and the Great Demon Arias was the first demon’s heart.’
The Great Demon Colossus was the first demon’s torso.
I didn’t share that information with the Paladins. Since Bejesul had disappeared along with the first demon’s horn, it was meaningless information. The possibility of the first demon descending into this world again was less than 0.1%.
“Let’s stop the chatter and prepare.”
I stepped forward and spoke.
The Paladins nodded and checked their equipment.
“To face a Great Demon… I’m trembling.”
“This place might become my grave.”
“Goddess Herianne, grant us your blessing.”
We headed towards a sheer cliff. Below the cliff, the massive Colossus was slowly passing by. Thump, thump, thump. Each step the Colossus took caused the ground to shake as if an earthquake had occurred.
“Let’s go.”
Leaving those short words, I jumped off the cliff first. Behind me, the other Paladins followed, jumping off the cliff.
An invisible hand of gravity grabbed my body and pulled me down. It felt similar to riding a roller coaster. In my case, it also felt like having a dream of falling endlessly. But this was not a dream. I had to stay alert.
If I made a mistake in landing, even a Paladin could die.
I used divine power to strengthen my body and concentrated divine power on my legs.
Thud!
I landed safely.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The other Paladins also landed successfully.
The Paladins immediately raised their Holy Swords. Demons, sensing the intrusion, sprang from the ground and instantly surrounded us.
“Most of them are small demons. Are they not fully grown?”
“Young demons, huh? That’s an unfitting term.”
“You don’t mean to say you pity the young demons, do you?”
“Of course not.”
“Don’t let your guard down. Even if they’re young, they’re still demons. They’re much stronger than the corrupted.”
The Paladins were relaxed. They leisurely slaughtered the demons.
They hadn’t killed a Great Demon like me, but their experience fighting demons was much longer than mine. They killed the demons without mercy.
They slashed demons with their swords and crushed their heads with their fists. As they killed and killed, the corpses of the demons formed small hills in all directions.
The demons no longer charged, but their presence could be felt within the body of the Great Demon Colossus.
I spoke to the Paladins.
“Let’s follow the plan. Three of you stay here to secure our retreat, and four of you go down to draw the demons’ attention.”
And I will find and eliminate the Colossus’s heart.
“Our stamina isn’t infinite. There’s a limit to how long we can hold out. About an hour, I’d say. If you don’t kill the Colossus within an hour, we’ll die. You understand, right?”
“I’ll be back within an hour.”
I jumped into the hole in the ground. It was the hole where the demons had sprung out from.
I activated Holy Sight. I just had to move towards the place where the demon’s power felt the strongest. I ran through the passage without hesitation.
“Human…!!”
A demon, sensing my presence, sprang out from the wall. A demon with the body of a man and the legs of a goat swung a hand that resembled an iron mace at me.
The passage was narrow, making it difficult to dodge the demon’s attack. I decided to just take the hit. The demon’s fist struck my armor. I felt a slight impact, but the armor was fine.
‘Stormbreaker’s durability changes depending on the user’s ability. That means I’m much stronger than him.’
I charged forward, offering my shoulder to the demon. The demon flew backward and crashed into the wall. I stomped on the demon’s head and advanced. After that, more demons appeared, but none could stop me, who held the Executioner’s Blade.
‘There aren’t any so-called named demons. The Paladins are drawing their attention properly.’
Five forks appeared.
A faint smile appeared on my face, hidden by my helmet.
‘I know the answer.’
The first and second paths were dead ends, and the other three paths were all correct, but the demons that appeared were different.
‘And there’s also a shortcut.’
I thrust the Executioner’s Blade into the floor.
Blood splattered from the floor, which looked like stone. This was, after all, the inside of the Colossus.
I used the divine discharge ability of Jigolas’s Holy Sword. It was the ability to release divine power in an instant, causing a small explosion.
Boom!
The floor shattered, revealing the floor below. The floor below was teeming with small demons that were less than 1 meter tall. The small demons looked up at the ceiling, bewildered.
“A, human?!”
“It’s a Paladin! It’s a Paladin!”
“Save me!”
The young demons trembled in fear.
I jumped down to the floor below without hesitation.
Thud!
Two young demons were trampled under my feet. I glanced around and unleashed Holy Aura. The Master-level Holy Aura was a powerful attack in itself. A halo of light flashed behind me, and a sacred aura swept through the demons in all directions. The remains of the young demons’ bodies fell to the floor with a thud.
I scanned the surroundings.
“Did you think I wouldn’t know you were hiding?”
I grabbed the head of a young demon that was trembling behind a wall and dragged it out.
“Hic! S, save me! I didn’t do anything bad! I’m a good demon! I’m a good demon!”
“The only good demon is a dead demon.”
I stepped on the young demon’s chest to hold it in place, and with my left hand, I grabbed the demon’s head and tore it off alive.
Killing the vermin-like demon made me feel very good.
I thrust the Executioner’s Blade into the floor and used divine discharge.
Downwards.
I had to go further down.
