The Protagonists of Romance Fantasy Novels Have Escaped

162 – 162. Usurpation (1)

All means were mobilized to capture the saint party, which had fallen into the ranks of death. But that was merely a stopgap measure to buy time.

KWA-GRUGG─!

Kududuk…! Kududududuk…!

The chains of the fallen angel screamed.

Countless cracks began to form.

With blue light flashing in their eyes, the undead slowly severed the chains, exuding a ferocity that seemed to emerge from a nightmare.

How long could they possibly endure?

It wouldn’t be long.

Perhaps the undead might spring forth at any moment.

The saint party is not only the supreme strongest representing the continent but also legendary heroes who defeated the Demon King. They even gained power and authority surpassing their prime by accepting the curse of death.

There’s no way to hold them back.

Daring to discuss the odds against the strongest was nothing more than foolish arrogance.

“W-What kind of power is this…! What on earth is this power!!”

I’m going to die!

I’m really going to die!

The girl with flowing silver hair let out a sharp scream.

The strength of the mercenary king and the sage trying to break the chains of the fallen angel was beyond imagination. Following them, the swordsman they had captured was also emitting a chilling aura, breaking the chains one by one with his entire body.

Swoosh—.

Crackle. Crackle.

I have to buy time, no matter what.

Until Edanant returns with Beatrice.

Every time the undead broke a chain, new chains were summoned to bind their bodies and limbs. It was uncertain how long they could hold out, but for now, there was no other way.

“Second Saint! Are you alright?”

“Of course I’m not alright, you old maid! So hurry up and take over!”

The number of chains being broken was far fewer than those being created.

The scattered fragments of chains left carelessly all around spoke to that fact.

The divine presence was laid bare.

Even so, Jebeline squeezed out her divine power to the maximum, enduring the pressure.

-Release the chains at once! I will burn those puppets of death in purgatorial flames!

-What foolish arrogance, Tyranny. You’ve been struggling against the undead all this time.

-Shut up! You fallen being from the celestial realm! The fight is just beginning!

-You’re like a lizard devoid of learning ability.

As if to prove that the red dragon and the white dragon had a long-standing rivalry, Tyranny’s three-headed dragon and Kia’s fallen angel faced each other, asserting their opinions in a tense standoff.

It was an act that only added fuel to the already deteriorating situation.

It can’t end like this.

Ludmila and Jebeline watched the simple and childish argument of the wretched beings while performing mirror therapy.

“We will do our best to cooperate. Even to bring that foolish son back to his original state…!”

Querisa approached.

Her purple robe, symbolizing the master of the magic tower, was tattered and ragged from the fierce battle against the Archlich.

The other grand sorcerers were in the same state.

As they moved across the battlefield, fulfilling their roles as supporters, their magical energy was depleting.

“We don’t need any other magic. Everyone focus on the weakening spell.”

The binding magic only serves to hinder the chains of the fallen angels.

Thus, Querisa, alongside the other archmages, unleashed the weakening spell.

It drains strength and seals actions.

As the weakening spell was deployed on a grand scale, the undead’s resistance gradually diminished.

Thanks to the support of the archmages, they managed to buy some time. Jebeline wiped the cold sweat trickling down her forehead and captured the undead with new chains.

“Hero. Are you alright?”

“Somewhat… I can manage, Princess of the Second.”

Maximilian approached, supported by his disciple, Sirelle.

Then Ilkeron and the priests of the Holy Kingdom joined them.

Ludmila and Jebeline frowned at the paladins and priests. And as if to express their discomfort, the three-headed dragon and the fallen angel unleashed a fierce torrent, heightening the tension among the forces of the Holy Kingdom.

– Filthy worshippers of the harlot! I won’t let you die easily!

– The stench of hypocrisy is overwhelming. Jebeline, may I kill them right now?

The three-headed dragon bared its sharp teeth, exuding a murderous intent. The fallen angel, with its horrifically decayed wings, grinned menacingly as it extended its claws.

It was a hatred that was only natural.

And a murderous intent that was equally expected.

Hadn’t they been puppets for hundreds of years?

If the calamity of war had not re-emerged in this world, they would have been forever subjugated. The three-headed dragon and the fallen angel revealed their animosity, seeking to repay their long-held grudge against the followers of the one true god.

“The innocent calamity…!”

“I can’t believe such horrific beings existed…”

They encountered the grotesque and terrifying monsters of the abominable slaughter.

The paladins gripped their sword hilts tightly.

Meanwhile, the priests drew holy symbols or clutched their rosaries, sighing heavily.

“The problem lies in the outcome of the confrontation… For now, we must hope that Prince Edanant wins. If a resolution isn’t reached quickly, Madvey and the heroes will be freed.”

Even at this moment, time was slipping away.

Thirty minutes left.

If a resolution wasn’t reached within that time, they would face the worst catastrophe.

Could they seal the undead once more?

At that question, Ludmila and Jebeline hesitated to give a definitive answer.

They had succeeded in subduing the undead guarding the Demon King’s castle through individual takedowns. However, if the undead united and launched a full-scale assault, they would likely face a tough battle.

“Ugh!”

When all eyes were turned toward the Demon King’s Castle,

a pure white light cluster appeared.

Thuhahaaang───!!!

The torrent of pristine light fell like a fierce waterfall, piercing directly through the Demon King’s Castle.

A miracle of the gods unfolded.

The paladins and priests gathered at the scene bowed their heads, tracing the sign of the cross.

In stark contrast, Ludmila and Jebeline, who were sharing thoughts with the calamities, felt a nauseating churn in their stomachs, overwhelmed by emotions that could paralyze reason.

“Kyahhh!!”

A vampire, flapping its membranous wings as it patrolled the battlefield, let out a scream.

A blinding radiance struck their vision.

Light is the eternal nemesis of vampires.

Ariel, engulfed in the pain of her eyes burning away, spun through the air in a dazzling display of illusions.

—Mother…?

The archangel, clad in platinum full armor, watched the gathering of light with wide, unblinking eyes.

Without a doubt.

The one true god had descended.

The light that flowed from the celestial realm was aimed precisely at the Demon King’s Castle. Feeling a sense of bewilderment, Belasiel screamed as she pushed away the suffering vampire and headed straight for the castle.

* * *

The white hair that had turned to silver began to return to a shade of pink.

That was not all.

The once pitch-black eyes now shimmered with a beautiful sky blue.

Beatrice opened her eyes.

With a heart more anxious than ever, she hoped for Beatrice to rise safely. Yet, despite the fervent wish being granted, Edanant felt no joy.

Because—.

The Earth Mother Gael was currently possessing Beatrice’s body.

“Move aside.”

“Gael…!”

She pushed Edanant, who had been holding her, away and rose to her feet.

The emotions reflected in her sky-blue eyes were as cold as ice.

Through her, Edanant once again felt the presence of the one true god that had possessed Beatrice.

“Beatrice is safe. She’s just momentarily lost consciousness. She’ll probably wake up soon.”

“…….”

As the One True God possessed her, the numerous wounds etched into the saintess’s body healed in an instant. And vitality returned to her pale, ashen face.

Remnants of the calamity still lingered within her.

In response, Gael radiated divinity, thoroughly purifying the traces left by death.

“Edanant von Hohenberg. Your next objective will be to usurp the throne of the One True God.”

“…You’re quite perceptive.”

As the monster burdened with all evils exited the stage, a void was created. The temporary suspension decided by the world’s end would soon begin to engulf the world once more.

The scales tipped to one side needed to be moved.

The emergence of a being embodying complete evil required the departure of a being embodying complete good.

The One True God.

The pinnacle of arrogance, imposing only His own divinity while excluding all other deities.

The ultimate goal that Edanant and the war deity conspired to achieve was, as Gael had stated, to usurp the throne of the One True God. Only with the disappearance of the One True God, the embodiment of absolute good, could the world be completely freed from its impending end.

“The saintess party was the same. You used the Seraphim Belashiel to draw you into this world. Unfortunately, you couldn’t be defeated…”

“You intend to… cast me down from the throne of the One True God?”

“From the very beginning, the One True God was a concept that should not exist in this world. To think that a singular deity monopolizing faith could exist in a realm with more gods than the stars in the night sky… The moment He harbored the delusion of wanting to be loved by all the people of this world, the end of the world began.”

“…….”

I will return it to the original world where the One True God did not exist.

At Edanant’s boast, Gael’s beautiful face contorted as he unleashed his fervor.

His existence was denied.

It was as if all the efforts he had made until now were rendered null.

He only wanted to protect all the believers.

He simply wanted to be loved by all the believers.

Becoming the One True God,

Erasing the innocent calamity that threatened humanity’s existence,

Yet, such actions birthed the ‘gray’ entity that would engulf the world. The balance of good and evil collapsed with the emergence of absolute good, which vanquished all wickedness in the world.

“It is time to exit the stage now, One True God.”

The declaration of war threatened the throne of the One True God.