449

Episode 449: The General Manager must have written it well. (2)

Everyone looked puzzled at Erenes' words.

The one who was most responsible for cracking down on the Salvation Church was Jiselle. She was the one who killed a high-ranking priest named Raviere and made the Salvation Church's conspiracy known to the world.

What does that guy have to do with the Salvation Church? That elf seemed a little crazy.

Jiselle asked, the corners of her lips twisting upward.

"What does that mean?"

"The energy you use is similar to that of the Salvation Church."

At those words, Giselle's expression hardened.

I had met Erenes in my previous life as well. Even then, he had been a bit uncomfortable with me, but he had never been so hostile.

There was only one thing different from then.

'Dark.'

The memory of killing Raviere came back to me.

'He looked bewildered when he saw my strength.'

Raviere was shocked to see Giselle explode with all her might, so he was able to easily cut off her head.

At that moment, it was clear that Raviere was trying to say something to him.

"Hey, I think there's some misunderstanding… … ."

Knock knock knock.

As if there was no need to listen to Giselle, the vines that sprouted from the ground completely enveloped Erenes' body.

Knock knock!

Soon the vines took the form of armor. It was not a crude armor like those of a knight, but one that fit Erenes perfectly, revealing the graceful curves of her body.

It was as if her skin was completely covered with tree bark.

Bam!

The face was also completely covered by a wooden helmet, and deer-like horns sprouted from the head.

Flash!

A gleaming green light began to emanate from her eyes, and similar light leaked from the cracks in her armor.

Claude, who was carried on Wendy's back and ran away, muttered as he watched the scene.

"That's totally cool. I want that too."

"… … ."

Wendy barely resisted the urge to throw Claude.

Unlike Claude, who was admiring her, Giselle's face became increasingly emotionless.

'Oh my… … taking out that armor.'

That was the armor she wore when she fought 'seriously'. Now, Erenes seemed to completely mistake herself for a priest of the Salvation Church.

'It's an opponent we can't win against right now, but... ... .'

Erenes is a little different from the other seven continents.

Some, including Jisel, fought against the cracks and grew to earn the title. Jisel, in particular, rose to the top 7 on the continent a little later than the others.

But she was that skilled from the moment she first appeared. From what I've heard, she was actually under some kind of ban and couldn't fully use her power. There was even talk that she was an elf who had lived for a thousand years.

That means Erenes still has tremendous power.

Jiselle smiled wickedly as she remembered that fact.

'The second of the seven continents.'

It was also a word referring to Erenes, the second strongest on this continent.

That's why I wanted to fight her in my previous life. In reality, it was difficult, and it didn't work out because she left the alliance one day...

'That's great. Opportunities like this don't come often.'

He had not yet found the skills of his past life, so he knew that he was now at a lower level than her.

But there was another power at that time: amplification by dark.

I wonder if it would have been better if we had tried to resolve it through dialogue from the beginning. I didn't want to be scared and make excuses when the other person said they would use force.

"The fight is always… … ."

Kwaaaaang!

Mana surged out of Giselle as if it was exploding. His eyes became redder than ever and a crimson aura enveloped his body.

"You have to try to know. Right?"

Erenes flinched and stepped back at the sight of Giselle, who had turned into something like a demon.

"You… … that appearance… … ."

"Let's see how great it is."

Pfft!

Jiselle's figure disappeared, leaving behind a black afterimage.

Boohoo!

Giselle, who had appeared in front of Erenes, swung her Aura Blade.

But she had already moved behind Giselle. Giselle quickly turned around and raised her sword.

A green light extended from Erenes' hand and struck Giselle's sword.

Kwaaaaang!

Unable to withstand the force, Jiselle's body was pushed backwards.

People were surprised. They had never seen Giselle so easily defeated by a single move. And in a one-on-one situation.

Jiselle, who had been pushed back, kicked the ground and jumped back out, swinging her sword. However, Erenes dodged easily and swung her hand again.

Kwaaaaang!

The attack between the two was so fast and powerful that it was hard for anyone to watch. Shock waves were flying everywhere, so everyone had no choice but to step back.

'As expected, it's amazing.'

Jiselle thought as she barely avoided and blocked her attacks. She realized once again how great the power of those who were called the Seven Powers of the Continent was.

Did those who had faced him in his past life feel this way? It felt like a huge wall was blocking his path.

However, he himself was one of the top 7 players on the continent. The experiences and realizations from that time are still the same. No, it can be said that he reached a more mature level after returning.

Kwaaaaang!

Erenes, who was fighting back, was also a little confused.

"What the… … ."

When I fought him, he seemed stronger than an average superhuman. However, his skills were at a level where he could easily subdue him.

At first, I clearly thought so, but there was more to the realization than that in the opponent's strange movements.

'You're not going with the flow, you're going against it. It's an extremely destructive and practical force!'

This doesn't make sense. You have to be stronger than you are to show this kind of movement. Rather, it seems like your body can't keep up with the enlightenment of the interest.

Paaang!

"Huh!"

As I was lost in thought for a moment, an attack came without missing a beat. They were all attacks aimed at a critical point, as if they were trying to kill me.

But she too had been through countless battles. She was in a war so great that those in front of her could not even imagine it.

"What a beast of a guy!"

Erenes dodged and counterattacked.

Kwaaaaang!

Jiselle, who had collided with him, was pushed back and clicked her tongue inwardly.

'Definitely different from other elves.'

Not only was he strong, but his skills were also outstanding.

People couldn't believe that the scene unfolding before their eyes was real even though they saw it with their own eyes. It was incredible that Giselle, who they thought was the strongest, was being defeated by a slave race called the elf.

I even thought that if I continued like this, I might really lose.

Kwaaaaang!

The two men clashed again, putting distance between themselves. Just then, someone shouted loudly.

"Stop it!"

As the fight became more intense, Vanessa, unable to stand by, stepped forward and reached out. She used her magic somewhat excessively, seeing Erenes's great strength.

Flash!

A flash of light appeared in the sky and a bolt of lightning struck Erenes.

Kwaaaaang!

Erenes's legs buckled slightly in shock. But that was it. Surprisingly, she had withstood the spell.

Vanessa frowned and bit her lip.

'That armor… … .'

No matter how strong you are, you can't take a direct hit like that and come out unscathed. I felt the armor absorb my energy for a moment.

"Stop!"

The others were no longer standing still. The elves who had followed Erenes were already surrounded.

If the powerful people here attack, they will all lose their lives in an instant.

Erenes put her hands down for a moment and straightened her back. She briefly looked back at the surrounded elves, then fixed her gaze on Giselle.

A cold voice came out of her mouth.

"If it's for a greater good, sacrifice is inevitable. You must tell me everything you know. Don't even think about running away."

It was not at all like an elf who loved harmony and peace. He seemed stubborn and willing to push forward with his beliefs no matter how much sacrifice was required.

No, the word belief was not enough. Her attitude even hinted at a kind of obsession.

People had no choice but to revise their opinions about elves.

'As expected, elegant and noble elves only appear in storybooks.'

'I should have realized it when I saw what Ascon was doing.'

'Why do only those elves come to us?'

Giselle showed a twisted smile at Erenes's upright attitude.

'You can't increase the core yet.'

During the time of the Mercenary King, he had created up to five cores. He had to use that much strength to deal with Erenes.

However, it was still a bit lacking to create two cores at the same time.

I can probably make one, but I'll have to make the fourth and fifth cores at the same time anyway, because that's the only way to achieve perfect balance.

Ultimately, to achieve power comparable to Erenes, a more dangerous force was needed.

Jiselle conveyed the message to Dark's consciousness.

'Amplify it further.'

- Uh, crazy… … more here?

'hurry!'

- Even if you die, I won't know!

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Jiselle's bones and muscles began to twist.

By practicing every day, he became stronger than when he first got Dark. The power he could produce when amplified was also greater than before.

It might just cool Erenes' liver for a little while.

Gooooooo!

The black smoke surrounding Jiselle's body grew thicker and began to smolder.

As the opponent's power suddenly grew stronger, Erenes also drew out more of his natural energy.

"It really is an ominous feeling."

Gugugugugugu!

The ground shook and rumbled. The space itself was distorted by the huge energy.

The people were terrified and kept their distance. The elves who followed Erenes were the same.

Only Belinda, Gillian, Vanessa, and Tennant kept their posture low, waiting for an opportunity to attack Erenes at any moment.

Paaang!

The two people who had been glaring at each other faced each other with an explosion of power.

The enlarged Aura Blade of Giselle swung around, and a brilliant green flash emitted from Erenes' hand.

Just then, someone came between the two of them.

"this!"

"Huh!"

Jiselle and Erenes were surprised, but they were unable to properly counter the attack because they had poured all their strength into it.

Kwaaaaaaaang!

A powerful shockwave erupted, causing the surrounding ground to cave in, but anyone caught in the middle of it was unharmed.

Erenes looked in disbelief at the one who had blocked his path.

"You can endure this? Divine power… Could this be the protection of a goddess?"

A powerful divine power was emanating from the one who stopped the two people. His hair was shining silver.

Fiote shouted loudly at Erenes.

"Stop it! The Lord has nothing to do with the Salvation Church! Rather, he is saving people from the Salvation Church! Otherwise, why would he be blocking the rift!"

Then he turned his head and spoke to Giselle.

"This person is not a bad person. There must be some misunderstanding. I can see that."

Fiote was a priest favored by the goddess, so he could sense the dark energy better than anyone else.

The Erenes he saw was pure nature itself.

If Claude and Alfoy were like muddy water, that elf was radiating a dazzling light. It must have come from her righteous beliefs.

Giselle snickered after hearing Fiote's words.

"Are you a good person who attacks without warning?"

"that...."

Fiote looked at Erenes again. It seemed that his excessively strong beliefs were the reason he had difficulty listening to others.

"That's right… … That's right! He's like an old fart. He thinks that only his own thoughts are right. That's the feeling I get. This person is probably an elf who has lived a very long time. He doesn't look like it."

"… … ."

Erenes, who had been silent for a moment, looked at Fiote and asked.

"I can definitely feel that you have received the blessing of the goddess. Are you saying that you, as a priest, don't sense that ominous and dark aura?"

"That has nothing to do with you, my lord."

"what?"

"That's because it's dark."

The people of the land knew of Dark's existence, so they didn't pay much attention to the ominous aura they sensed from Jiselle.

Because Jiselle has definitely subjugated Dark.

But Erenes, who didn't know that, tilted his head.

"Dark… … what is it?"

"My lord, just show me. Why do you try to solve everything with violence!"

"They attacked first?"

When Giselle spoke with a look of bewilderment, Piote turned his head again.

"Why do you try to solve everything with violence? What kind of elf would do that!"

"… … ."

She, who had been silent, brought her hand to my face.

Swish… … .

The tree that had been covering Erenes' face disappeared. She looked at Giselle, leaving her armor intact and revealing only her face.

"Tell me what dark is."

Erenes's momentum had diminished considerably. After all, he could not ignore the words of Fiote, who possessed strong divine power.

Jiselle also calmed down. To be honest, it was true that she was a little disappointed.

Tsk tsk tsk… … .

The black energy surrounding Jiselle gathered into one place. Soon, Dark, who had taken on a human-like form, appeared and opened his mouth.

"This body is dark. I live in the master's body. Do you have business with me?"

Erenes didn't pay any attention to Dark's cheeky gesture. He just continued to observe Dark with deep eyes.

"A spirit? No, not a normal spirit."

"Yes! I am the Spirit King!"

"… … ."

For the first time since coming into the world, Erenes felt a sense of bewilderment.