The Protagonists of Romance Fantasy Novels Have Escaped

157 – 157. Where You Are Heading (3)

The bizarre cries of horses.

The vast land tainted by poison and flames.

Tens of thousands of spirits flying through the sky, spewing screams and laughter.

It is hell.

The kings of malice, classified as the highest tier of undead, have torn open the gates of hell.

If the fallen saint party invades the present world, the entire continent would transform into hell. Numerous nations, including the Baltaria Empire and the Gael Kingdom, would suffer near annihilation or face destruction.

I must stop it.

Somehow, I had to prevent it here.

“I’m sorry, Edanant. It seems that subduing them is impossible!”

I tried to subdue the heroes of the saintly party who had fallen into undeath, wishing to return things to the way they were. But as I realized the impossibility of it, Ludmila drew forth her last resort.

I will annihilate them here.

The heroes who had sacrificed themselves to save the world must surely wish for that as well.

Let them die as heroes of humanity.

I cannot allow you to become the root of destruction.

Whoosh-.

The flames of tyranny surged forth.

Wings of a dragon, formed from the flames, unfurled behind Ludmila.

But that was not all.

The fiercely burning flames began to take on a shape, as if they possessed self-awareness.

– Cough cough cough! At last, liberation! Foolish commoners of this world, welcome the resurrection of tyranny!!

The three-headed dragon.

A dragon with three heads revealed itself.

Though it was merely a manifestation formed through the flames, it was enough to overwhelm the battlefield. The three-headed dragon, spewing forth endless flames, even halted the galloping steed of the ghostly rider atop the phantom horse.

“I grant you permission. Burn them all.”

Eyes stained black.

Red pupils burning like sulfur.

The apostle of tyranny, half-human and half-dragon, opened its mouth.

As the solemn voice demanded annihilation, the three-headed dragon spread its enormous wings wide in ecstasy. The vessel of misfortune, which had only shown foolish and frustrating aspects, finally revealed the essence of tyranny.

“How about showing a little restraint? Could it be that the old maid hysteria has struck again….”

A girl with flowing silver hair stepped forward and stood beside Ludmila.

Eyes sparkling like the night sky.

And coldly shining blue pupils.

Crash-.

Blackened lightning rained down.

The fallen lightning gathered around the saint of famine, taking shape. Just as dragon wings had emerged behind Ludmila, strangely distorted wings of a fallen angel were born behind Jebeline.

Moreover—.

With a sound like a rustling, the black holy cloth enveloped Jeblinne.

– Hurry, give me an order… Command me to do anything.

The lightning that had been thrashing across the ground suddenly surged upward. Like it was trying to restore its original form, the baptism of lightning shaped a fallen angel exuding an enchanting allure.

Fallen Angel.

A traitor of the celestial realm, corrupted by calamity.

A red veil obscured its eyes.

A grotesquely torn mouth with sharp teeth protruding.

Though it boasted a beauty that could captivate any man in the world, its various body parts were horrifically damaged, a testament to its banishment from the celestial realm. Moreover, its towering stature was so grand that one had to look up for quite a while, making it all the more chilling.

“First Saint. I would like to thoroughly address the rudeness from just now…”

“Is there really time for that? We need to join Ethan as quickly as possible. And by now, the Third Princess should have reached the Demon King’s castle.”

We cannot waste time on futile arguments.

Currently, Edanant must be engaged in fierce combat at the Demon King’s castle.

Whoosh-. Boom-.

The flames of tyranny and the lightning of famine rained down simultaneously.

In response, the ghostly knight, wielding a b*stard sword and polearm, urged the phantom steed to begin a lightning-fast charge.

* * *

Descending flames. Racing lightning.

Opposing them was an undead warrior gripping heavy armor in both hands.

Thwack-.

The b*stard sword cleaved through the flames.

And the sharp tip of the polearm pierced the lightning.

Exhibiting superhuman martial prowess, it evaded the fierce barrage. However, waiting for the ghostly knight mounted on the phantom steed was Rudmila, transformed into a half-human, half-dragon.

– Grrr…!

The calamity of tyranny wrapped in flames stood before him.

No matter how bold a warrior, it was only natural to instinctively try to evade the attack.

Yet the mercenary king, now reduced to an undead, chose the straightforward approach. Proving this, he spurred the phantom steed, accelerating to the maximum.

‘I can become stronger! If I push my strength to the limit…! No, I will draw out a power that transcends limits!’

Rudmila’s eyes, glowing red, elongated into almond shapes.

A dragon.

The Rudmila of now was like a dragon.

As countless sparks scattered, wings fluttered. At the same time, Ludmila thrust the sharp tip of her blade straight ahead, entwined in the flames of tyranny.

She unleashed the power she had accumulated to its limit all at once.

It was akin to a cannon firing a loaded shell.

It had to end in one strike.

If the undead activated their plunder again, it would turn against her.

The crimson flames traced a dizzying line toward the undead. The spectral knight, witnessing the fierce blaze of tyranny, raised his b*stard sword and polearm to fend off the attack.

Kagagagagagak──!!!

Metal screamed.

And as the crimson flames clashed with the undead, an explosion erupted.

Armor shattered.

The ghostly steed engulfed in flames let out a wail as it disintegrated.

The knight, having lost his mount, tumbled to the ground. Despite suffering fatal wounds from the searing flames, the spectral knight rose, leaning on his b*stard sword and polearm.

Taaang-.

The saint of hunger brought down the scepter of the black night.

Chwa-rur-ruk-.

Then, chains of the fallen angel, formed from black lightning, shot forth, ensnaring the undead.

They bound its arms and legs while constricting its body.

Grasping the hilt of the b*stard sword, cloaked in the chill of death, was but a futile struggle. The more it thrashed to escape, the more fiercely the chains of the fallen angel dug in, suppressing the undead’s movements.

“First Saint!”

Just as she barely halted the spectral knight’s charge—

Ludmila, who had sighed in relief, suddenly screamed.

A cold metallic sound.

A sharp blade, flying from behind, threatened the saint.

The undead, formed from bones that shone black like obsidian, crossed the snowy expanse, the Abyss Knight who had summoned countless spirits, pried open a gap.

Karduk!

The chains of the fallen angel swung, deflecting the blade.

As a result, the Abyss Knight, who had attempted a surprise attack, momentarily retreated.

“Abyss Knight…! Could it be the Sword Saint?”

“If it’s the Sword Saint, then it’s the one who faced Ethan in the Immortal Fortress!”

The handsome young man, once boasting striking features, had now devolved into a mere skeleton. The shock was even greater, having seen his form before his fall into undeath.

Sword Master.

The King’s Assassin.

And the Cursed Undead.

It was the tale of a hero steeped in misfortune.

Jeblinne trembled at the corners of her mouth as she faced the new undead.

“Saint First, can we continue the battle?”

“It’s a bit tough, but we’ll manage. The Second Princess still has plenty of strength left.”

Perhaps it was thanks to the release of the calamity.

Despite having just engaged in a fierce struggle with the spirit rider, vitality still surged through her entire body.

The Tri-headed Dragon of Tyranny and the Archangel of Famine confronted the Abyss Knight. The undead, facing the monsters of calamity, raised their sharp blades and summoned countless spirits released from the gaps.

Cree, creak!

Kihahahahahaha!!

A mournful scream and laughter laced with madness.

The spirits that answered the call of the Abyss Knight surrounded Ludmila and Jeblinne.

Clang-.

The undead drew their sword.

In response, the spirits flying like crows in the sky all attempted a coordinated descent.

A flash of light erupted.

It signified that the Sword Saint had swung his blade.

No process,

No sound could be heard.

The sword energy of the Sword Master, tracing a graceful trajectory, flew right before their eyes.

Zzzzzzzzz!!!

Ludmila and Jeblinne did not move.

They had seen him reveal himself alongside the radiance of the holy sword.

They deflected the sword energy.

Simultaneously, they thrust their blades again, tearing through the armor of the Abyss Knight.

“Just as I thought, my brother-in-law!”

“…A hero of the ages.”

A young man with an icy, stoic demeanor faced the undead, his holy sword hanging loosely. Despite having exhausted most of his energy and drastically shortened his lifespan, his near-divine skill remained razor-sharp.

The Abyss Knight, struck back by Maximilian, momentarily retreated, raising his sword.

“…….”

He grasped the holy sword.

In response to the will of the hero, the remaining three holy swords also rose into the air.

Yellow Star. Gray Star. White Star. Black Star.

As the Four Holy Swords of Annihilation simultaneously emitted a radiant glow, the wicked spirits shrieked and retreated.