Volume 2, Chapter 78 – Fear

Amidst the roaring of the earth and the wailing of the sky, under the gaze of the remaining members of the Divine Punishment Holy Church, Romney gripped his hilt with both hands and unleashed his strongest combat art. His blade tore through the air, slashing toward the pink-haired girl’s neck! Faced with this menacing assault, the pink-haired girl did not even have time to react.

‘She’s dead.’

This was the only thought remaining in everyone’s minds.

As Romney’s subordinates, most of these Divine Punishment Holy Church members were ruthless criminals who lived on the edge just like Romney. They were particularly looking forward to the bloody scene of a young girl being decapitated! Everyone’s eyes gleamed as they focused their attention on Romney’s blade!

However, in the next moment, the scene of decapitation they anticipated did not occur.

Under the stunned and bewildered gazes of everyone present, Romney’s blade struck the girl and sank slightly into her neck, only to come to a mysterious, abrupt halt right there?!

?!

‘Archbishop?? Lord Bishop?’

‘Why? Why did he suddenly stop?’

Countless similar questions surfaced in everyone’s minds.

The most shocked person was undoubtedly Romney himself, because he knew very well at this moment that he had undoubtedly used his full strength in this strike! He had absolutely no intention of stopping!

In fact, his blade and his strongest combat art had been forcibly stuck there after hitting the girl’s neck! He could not advance even a fraction of an inch further! It felt as though he had not struck a girl’s slender neck, but rather an indestructible wall of bronze and iron!

?!

‘What… what on earth is going on!!’

Romney could not help but roar inwardly, the joy that had just surfaced in his heart vanishing instantly.

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Right then, the pink-haired girl tilted her head with a look of utter disappointment.

“Hmm? You… why don’t you put a bit more strength into it?”

“You?!”

‘You bastard!’

Hearing the girl’s mocking words, Romney grit his teeth, his entire body’s muscles tightening as the white battle aura within him surged out! At this moment, Romney exerted every ounce of his strength to push again!

Unfortunately, the blade still failed to cause any damage to the pink-haired girl. Because it had reached its limit, the energy blade shattered instantly…

And along with it, Romney’s confidence collapsed as well.

‘M-Monster…’

As he met the crimson eyes that had appeared on the girl’s face at some unknown point, the phantom of a giant monster seemed to emerge behind her, clenching the tiny Romney firmly in its palm! In an instant, an unprecedented feeling of fear surfaced in Romney’s mind. Under the uncomprehending gazes of the crowd, the Archbishop of the Divine Punishment Holy Church suddenly began to tremble violently, and cold sweat began to pour down his forehead.

In the next moment, aided by his survival instincts, Romney immediately withdrew his blade and retreated rapidly to put distance between himself and the pink-haired girl!

“You! You! What kind of thing are you!”

“Me? I’m the daughter of the Duke Family~”

“Nonsense!! That person is already dead! You couldn’t possibly be the young lady of the Duke Family! No! You couldn’t possibly be human! What kind of monster are you!”

Hearing this, the pink-haired girl tilted her head as if slightly displeased.

“Calling me a monster is really quite rude. However, you aren’t wrong; I really am not human~”

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Saying this, after confirming that Afnora was already fast asleep behind her, the pink-haired girl raised her eyebrows.

“Hmm, thinking about it carefully, it seems this form isn’t very convenient for taking action…”

“This… this form? What-what do you mean?!” Romney couldn’t help but ask.

However, the pink-haired girl seemed to have no intention of answering him. She simply snapped her fingers casually.

In an instant, under the stunned gazes of Romney and the Divine Punishment Holy Church members, a surge of eerie crimson energy suddenly erupted from the girl’s body. Together with dozens of Blood Butterflies, it enveloped the pink-haired girl in a flash!

?!!

What… what is this? What’s happening?!

Extremely wary, everyone gripped their weapons tightly and stared intently at the movement within the light!

In the next moment, when the crimson light dissipated, the pink-haired girl had vanished. In her place stood a perfect black-haired maiden.

With phoenix-like brows and bright eyes, every glance she cast was soul-stirring. Her nose was exquisite, her skin as white as snow, and her vermilion lips resembled a solitary, proud plum blossom amidst the frost. Her elegant, smooth jawline and delicate face, combined with blood-red eyes that sparkled like crystals, made her appear as a treasure crafted by the Creator themself, or perhaps a celestial maiden walking the mortal realm.

Her hair was as black as silk with blood-red tips, falling like a waterfall down to her small, rounded buttocks.

The off-the-shoulder black gauze dress she wore showcased her slender and graceful figure to the fullest. A pair of long, supple, and well-proportioned legs were exposed, and her snow-white feet stepped onto the snow without fear of the cold.

The poised black-haired maiden exuded a soul-captivating magic power at every moment. Even Romney, who was trembling uncontrollably, could not help but lose himself for a moment upon seeing such a beauty.

However, in the next instant, Romney snapped back to his senses, his face twisting with extreme astonishment.

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‘How… how is this possible?!’

Sensing the irresistible, invisible pressure emanating from the black-haired maiden, Romney suddenly held his breath, his brown eyes shaking violently.

“Who… who exactly are you?”

Facing Romney’s questioning, the black-haired maiden slowly revealed a charming smile. Though the smile was captivating, it contained a bone-chilling coldness and killing intent.

“You’re about to die, so there’s no need for you to know…”

As she spoke, the black-haired maiden slowly raised her hand.

The moment he saw this, Romney bit his lip hard! Although he wasn’t sure what the girl’s purpose was or why she had posed as the daughter of the Duke Family, there was no doubt that the killing intent she released was the real deal!

She truly intended to kill him! If that was the case, he absolutely could not sit and wait for death!

“Brothers! This person is dangerous! Attack her with me!!” Romney shouted sharply after once again gathering his pure white battle aura onto his blade! His cry suddenly snapped the Divine Punishment Holy Church members back to their senses as they directed intense hostility toward the black-haired maiden!

In the next instant, accompanied by the explosion of Romney’s aura, the subordinates let out howls like ghosts and wolves upon receiving the signal! They unleashed their full battle aura and brandished their weapons, bravely swarming toward the black-haired maiden to kill her!

However, Romney, who should have leapt up and led his subordinates in the charge, did something else. After taking a few steps with his subordinates, Romney suddenly jolted and pivoted, transforming into a streak of white light as he bolted in the opposite direction!

‘Fight? Why would I fight? Run!’

‘Only a fool would stay and fight!!’ Romney roared in his heart!

After his previous attack proved useless, Romney realized how terrifying that black-haired maiden was! Although he didn’t know who she was, that person definitely possessed strength above the eighth rank! That terrifying constitution had likely reached the peak of the eighth rank! One had to know that his own Cult Leader was a terrifying person, yet even he hadn’t given Romney such a dreadful sense of pressure!

As for that black-haired maiden? Just making eye contact with her was enough to make his soul tremble! That person was absolutely a monster!

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Run! He had to run! If he didn’t run now, he would die!

Glancing back at the subordinates who were charging in his stead to their deaths, a cruel smile slowly appeared on Romney’s face.

‘Hehe, you lot just buy me some time!’

After a cold laugh, Romney funneled all the battle aura in his body into a speed boost! He instantly transformed into a streak of white lightning, and in the blink of an eye, he directly charged out of the Count’s estate! Seeing that the black-haired maiden had not pursued him, Romney felt a surge of wild joy in his heart!

‘Did I… did I escape?!’

However, just as Romney was asking himself this, an unprecedented sense of monumental crisis suddenly surged into his heart! It caused the Archbishop’s pupils to shrink violently and his heart to stop for a moment! He suddenly looked back toward the estate behind him! In that very instant, a despairing force that was impossible to resist suddenly barged into Romney’s sensory field!

‘This… Shadow Essence?! That… that girl?! She’s an Abyssal Demon?!’

The moment he reached this conclusion, a flash of crimson light suddenly erupted from the depths of the estate behind him!

In the next instant, under Romney’s terrified gaze, dozens of chains constructed from crimson energy lunged from behind! In a flash, they firmly locked down the high-speed Romney, leaving him unable to move!

?!!

No, no!!

“H-Help! Help meeeee!!”

Being locked down by such a terrifying power, Romney’s heart was nearly swallowed by fear. He could not help but let out a hoarse cry for help as he struggled frantically, trying to break free from the chains’ binding! Unfortunately, his actions were all in vain.

Subsequently, accompanied by Romney’s screams, the chains suddenly retracted, dragging Romney by force back into the estate…