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With all powers unleashed, the ground shook.

Normally, one would raise their guard at such a display. However, the response of One Who Devours the Twilight was extraordinary.

“Hahaha! Behold! The Apostle of the Goddess is wielding the powers of the gods! We were right, brothers and sisters! All powers! They must belong to the Goddess!”

-What the hell.

Seeing Baneus, standing at the back and laughing with his subordinates in front, I couldn’t help but curse.

Right. If I fight directly, my already short lifespan will dwindle even more, huh?

Well, since I don’t even know if I’ll make it through today, I might as well have a little fun.

I tightened my grip on the dagger and greatsword in my hands and glared ahead.

There were dozens of mentor-level opponents, not as strong as Baneus, but still not to be underestimated.

Each one possessed skill rivaling that of veteran adventurers, and I was certain that the bounty on their heads combined would be worth far more than all the money I had earned so far.

This won’t be an easy fight. But it’s definitely one I can win.

I concentrated the aura I had raised into my feet. Just before colliding with the front-line zealots—

“Haah!”

I slammed my feet into the ground, releasing the coiling aura all at once.

Whoosh!

The aura, resembling flames, surged high and cloaked my figure. Taking advantage of the moment, I activated my stealth skill.

Sound-consuming steps. Invisibility. And enhancing both with my muffler’s effect.

In that instant, I felt sensations as if I had plunged into deep water.

Just before my whole body was about to be soaked. I fired the crossbow, transformed into a hand cannon due to the effect of Argetlam, beyond the barrier of aura.

Bang!

With a thunderous noise, the iron bolt pierced through the wavering aura and crushed the head of a zealot charging in headfirst.

“Grrrr!”

With a strange sound, the creature fell over, but not dead. It quickly resurrected its head in a bizarre position.

From the wound’s interior, countless gears clinked, indicating it was using the powers of the God of Machines.

Such a thing would be impossible for an unaltered human body, so it seemed they had undergone various customizations.

-But still, when dying, die.

Taking advantage of the temporarily defenseless creature, I brought down my greatsword. Once. Twice. Three times. Until it was reduced to a fine paste.

As the zealot turned into minced meat, the others hesitated, surprised by my sudden appearance.

Amazingly enough, even in this state, the creature was not fully dead. It was still attempting to resurrect itself.

Indeed. Its raw power was on the level of the Third Floor. Even with a good hit, it barely made it to the start of the Fourth Floor. There was a reason it was mentor-level after all.

Swinging my greatsword, the zealots charged at me again as my invisibility faded momentarily.

With arms like those of a strong beast, white flames that couldn’t be replicated by magic, and rock-solid hammers descended upon me.

Though I had improved significantly, I still had to brace myself for severe injuries with every attack from this fragile body.

-So slow.

Infusing my greatsword with a substantial amount of aura, I spun my body and… let go.

Whoosh!

With a deadly sound, the spinning greatsword flew towards the zealot with beastly arms.

For me, it’s a simple maneuver, but in its essence, the greatsword is extraordinarily heavy.

Although it looked robust, if it misfired, it would be turned into mush in an instant.

Swoosh!

The sound of flesh tearing apart. Without looking back, I activated my haste on my boots and dashed in the opposite direction.

The various powers struck where I had just been, half a beat late.

“What the…!”

Seeing me charge head-on toward the white flames, a feeble-looking woman gasped. Perhaps due to the order to capture me. She hurriedly reduced her firepower… which was good for me.

I closed my eyes and dove straight in. Flames clung to me like a living creature. The pain of my flesh burning brought me to my senses.

I forcibly swallowed my scream, knowing it was a level of damage I could recover from with the sanctuary’s regeneration.

Emerging through the fire, I was singed in places, and my clothes were halfway burned, but I was regenerating at a pace beyond it.

With fierce eyes, I plunged the Unicorn Dagger into the zealot’s neck and twisted it.

Squelch.

Was it no longer a maiden? It had a surprisingly easy feel to it, and the zealot’s head rolled off.

Not only did the white flames that had clung desperately to me extinguish alongside it.

“Haah…”

Breathing heavily after stifling my breath, I activated Argetlam toward the half-machine human behind me, who had just regenerated.

Was it because it was just regenerating? The machine elements seemed to outweigh the human aspects, for it was recognized as a tool.

Creeeak—

The creature swelled into a bizarre form and began to rampage uncontrollably.

Shooting small gears like bullets in all directions and swinging large gears as weapons to attack wildly.

A mentor-level individual wouldn’t fall for such haphazard attacks; however, they would provide enough time as obstacles for me.

What reason would I have for remaining silent and holding my breath this whole time if I didn’t already have a plan?

The high priest and inquisitors who had perished before had become undead and were rampaging.

Now, One Who Devours the Twilight would likely join them too.

Just moments ago, the headless zealot’s corpse had flames erupting from the severed neck, and her flesh was engulfed in the white flames, disappearing.

What remained in the scattered ashes was a faintly glowing ghost.

Except for the fact that her neck was a bit frayed, she had regained her former self, yet devoid of will, white flames erupted wherever she passed.

Because powers are inscribed on the soul, not the body. Of course, even if it’s an undead, it wouldn’t be a complete soul, so it wouldn’t be long before it couldn’t use its powers anymore…

But what of it? The battle would likely be over by then.

The zealots hesitated at the sight of the undead resurrecting. Among them, one charge boldly forth.

“Kraaargh!”

Though clearly human, it had transformed with parts from various beasts.

With one arm broken and the other wielding the Minotaur Greatsword, it was certain.

A hybrid, one arm hanging limply, the remaining arm hoisting the greatsword, charged valiantly at me.

The power of the beast god; it was clear that this creature had thoroughly explored the Sixth Floor.

A foe formidable enough to outclass me, who had just cleared the Fifth Floor. It was likely it knew that, hence its reckless charge.

If it wielded the beast god’s power, the broken arm wouldn’t remain immobilized for long; it would soon regenerate and strike me down with sharp claws.

…If I let it.

Swoosh.

The hybrid’s foot was ensnared by thorn vines and stumbled.

“Grr?”

The startled creature looked down, but it was already too late.

The seeds I’d planted earlier grew rapidly, while the thorn vines also moved according to my will, binding the hybrid.

“Krraaaargh!”

Roaring fiercely, it clawed at the vines violently. Some plants were torn to shreds, but the thorn vines remained unaffected.

The plant symbolizing the trial of the World Tree grew madly, attempting to bind the hybrid’s limbs.

Panicking, the creature swung the Minotaur Greatsword in hand, but the speed at which the vines grew surpassed that of its cutting.

Before long, the hybrid found itself completely ensnared by the vines, unable to move an inch.

Perhaps it was a powerful mentor-level creature; the others hesitated, unlike before, looking cautiously at me instead.

Across the quiet battlefield, I stepped forward before the hybrid.

Drooling and baring its teeth, I reclaimed the greatsword from its hands and forcefully infused my aura into it.

Whoosh!

An aura resembling Lydia’s spread like flames and soon transformed into a single meteor.

Thwack!

Piercing the hybrid’s heart, the thorn vines wrapped around its body like a vise, puncturing its thick skin and squeezing out its blood.

In an instant, the hybrid, having bled out to a lethal level, buried its head into the ground and fell limp.

Gazing into the hybrid’s vacant eyes for a moment, I slowly withdrew the greatsword from its chest.

Drip.

The pooled blood poured out, splattering onto my face.

Instead of wiping it away, I commanded it using the language of the dead.

-Stand up.

The light returned to the vacant eyes that had been staring at emptiness. However, I confirmed it was not the flame of will but the acceptance of undeath before releasing it.

The gaping hybrid staggered on the pool of its own blood. I handed it the greatsword.

With a humble demeanor, the hybrid accepted the greatsword drenched in blood and stood back on the battlefield, appearing restored.

The first to charge is dead, only to return as an undead to fight for me.

Perhaps having learned something, the zealots encircled me but did not first charge at One Who Devours the Twilight.

What is this? It’s true I’ve become significantly stronger than usual.

Beyond mere liberation, I had fully utilized the Avatar of Love. Using all the divine power available from the Temple, I madly unleashed my abilities.

And rather than a mere sanctuary, a real, genuine sanctuary was expanded, enhancing my physical abilities, regenerative speed, and the overall power of my aura and mana.

Even the Seed of the Mountain Range allowed me to grow in real-time as we speak right now.

I could confidently say that I would hold my own even against a high-ranking adventurer at the front lines. Winning is another story, but…

However, if I feared my opponent’s strength, I wouldn’t be called a zealot.

One Who Devours the Twilight are not such weaklings… Ah.

Only then did I realize that the gazes of the zealots looking at me held not fear but something else.

Awe. Reverence. Admiration. Certainty.

Yes. The zealots were moved by my adept handling of various powers while half of the mentor-level opponents fell.

“Ah… The Goddess is the god of gods.”

“She is the one who looks down upon us until the very end.”

“Praise her. Exalt her. Sing her praises…!”

What genuine lunacy.

I shook my head in disbelief for a moment. Suddenly, there appeared Baneus, watching from afar.

Baneus, taking things a step further, knelt on the ground, crying profusely.

“Oh Goddess…! Oh Goddess!! I am coming to you soon!”

With that last phrase, he began to quickly transform his lower body into black mist and flew toward me.

This is maddening.

 

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