Chapter 139

The Grand Temple was the sole holy ground across the entire continent.

Every impure thing dared not stir so much as an inch within holy ground.

That meant the true identity of that “monster” currently roaming about the Grand Temple…

Implied an existence that could rival gods themselves.

For instance…

“This isn’t the time to be mulling over that. First, we need to pin down that monster.”

At that moment, Adrian’s resolute voice broke Dominic’s train of thought.

“It looks like we’ll have to deploy a sanctuary.”

True to the heart of the Regalis Order, the Grand Temple possessed a large-scale sanctuary apparatus that could be activated in times of emergency.

It was designed to forcibly restrain even a powerful impure entity should one manage to enter—even under the remote possibility of it being able to operate within holy ground.

However, activating the sanctuary required meeting several conditions.

First, a high-ranking cleric capable of controlling the sanctuary was necessary.

Adrian intended to handle that role himself.

And second…

“You know it, right? To unfold the sanctuary, we absolutely must bring either the High Priest or the Saintess.”

The two symbols of the Grand Temple.

The High Priest and the Saintess.

At least one of the two was required.

Dominic nodded with a heavily strained face.

“Yes, I’m aware.”

“Right, I’ll head over to the main building first. I’m counting on you.”

After lightly patting Dominic’s shoulder, Adrian looked straight into his disciple’s eyes.

The deep emerald-green gaze shone with grim resolve.

“And… take care of Sabina and May.”

“Understood, Master.”

With those final words, the two of them sprinted off in opposite directions.

Adrian toward the main building where the sanctuary apparatus was installed.

Dominic toward the central plaza where the repentance ceremony was taking place.

‘Please, May.’

Dominic grit his teeth and poured strength into his legs.

‘You have to be safe…!!’

***

CRASH!!

The monster hurled its entire body violently against the protective barrier.

A massive tremor erupted.

“Ugh.”

Just repairing the fractured barrier drained away his mana in a flash.

Swallowing his groan, Sabina stared at the monster with trembling eyes.

‘What on earth is this…’

Monsters do not use supernatural abilities.

Naturally so, since the very origin of monsters stemmed from flora and fauna mutated by natural forces.

Instead, they tended to attack with overwhelming physical prowess.

Yet the monster right before her eyes…

‘It’s using supernatural abilities.’

To be precise, it was a power akin to divine power.

It was simultaneously unleashing overwhelming physical stats and supernatural abilities to shatter the protective barrier.

…As though a legendary messenger of god had fallen to corruption and sought to slaughter every last human being.

Meanwhile, Maybel was calming the terrified people.

“Everyone, please don’t worry too much.”

“B-but…”

“The holy knights will be here soon. It’s going to be alright.”

Having consoled the people for a long while, Maybel cautiously raised her gaze.

In the distance, the Emperor and the High Priest were visible.

‘What on earth are those two playing at?’

Simultaneously, her blue eyes narrowed with displeasure.

The two of them had sequestered themselves at the safest center of the barrier, doing nothing more than trembling in fear.

They weren’t taking a single action.

Shouldn’t they at least be trying to calm the panic-stricken people?

‘How on earth are they leaders of the empire and the Grand Temple?’

Suppressing her pathetic impression with effort, just as Maybel was turning her gaze back to the people—

Grrr…

The “something” outside the barrier let out a low growl, like a beast threatening its prey.

The only problem was,

That growling sound carried an aura no human could possibly endure.

“Ugh.”

“Argh…”

People clutched their ears and cowered as low as they could go.

A horrifying sound that seemed to churn the depths of one’s insides and gnaw away at mental fortitude.

Even Sabina stiffened her shoulders in a start.

It seemed she had taken a hit, too.

‘Sister!’

Maybel leaped up from her spot and ran over to Sabina.

“Are you alright, Sister?!”

“May, step back immediately.”

Sabina warned Maybel with a stern expression.

“Didn’t I tell you to watch and make sure people don’t fall into chaos?”

Yet Maybel had already seen it.

Sabina’s face was drained of color, white as a sheet of paper.

Maybel urgently grasped Sabina.

“Sister, your face is…”

“It’s just because the barrier flickered for a moment. This much is fine.”

Sabina forced a smile.

Chewing nervously on her lower lip, Maybel stared intently at the “something” beyond the barrier.

‘Why am I the only one who’s completely fine?’

The people were suffering internal injuries and writhing in agony.

Sabina, too, was desperately concealing a pained expression.

Yet Maybel felt nothing at all.

It was as though the attacks from that “something”…

…Couldn’t inflict the slightest impact on her alone.

Once again, her heart beat like crazy.

What on earth was this bizarre sensation?

A strange familiarity, as if she had known this monster since a very long time ago…

And right then—

“May!!”

Someone called Maybel’s name in a loud voice.

Snapping back to her senses, she spun around by reflex.

Simultaneously, her bright blue eyes widened into circles.

“Dominic?!”

On the other side of the barrier stood Dominic, wearing an urgent expression.

He was leading a few holy knights behind him.

Dominic quickly checked Maybel’s condition first.

Visually, she didn’t appear to have any major injuries.

‘Thank goodness.’

Relieved inwardly, Dominic immediately shouted at the top of his lungs toward Sabina.

“Lady Sabina, we will draw its attention for a moment! Please evacuate the people in the meantime!”

Sabina couldn’t turn back to look at Dominic as she was busy sustaining the barrier,

But she nodded heavily.

Dominic summoned one of the holy knights and issued rapid orders.

“Sir Sidus. You stay here and help evacuate the others.”

“Understood!”

Leaving behind a single holy knight, Dominic led the rest of the knights and charged straight toward the beast.

They formed a tactical array to pressure the monster.

At the center of the attack was Dominic.

Purple aura surged in thick streams over the sword he tightly gripped.

Grrr…

The monster glared at the holy knights with wary eyes.

However, the monster’s attention was clearly drawn toward the holy knights.

Noticing this, Sabina deactivated the barrier.

As the translucent membrane melted away smoothly, Maybel urgently began evacuating the people.

“Everyone, run away!”

Among them, the very first people to turn and flee were none other than the High Priest and the Emperor.

The two leaders who should have been tending to and comforting the people were instead abandoning them to run for their lives.

“Out of the way! Move!”

“Do you even know who I am?!”

They even displayed the disgraceful sight of pushing aside elderly and vulnerable evacuees to forge ahead.

Unable to bear it any longer, Maybel grabbed a firm handful of the High Priest’s wide sleeve.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Maybel asked the High Priest with an icy gaze.

“Everyone is terrified, but they’re helping people! The High Priest is supposed to be leading them!”

Terrified out of his wits, the High Priest rambled incoherently.

“Th-the Saintess has passed away, too. If even I lose my life, the Grand Temple will truly collapse. This is for the greater good, after all…!”

“Cut the crap.”

Sabina, who had arrived nearby just in time, sharply rebutted the High Priest.

“If a leader refuses to protect the people they are meant to protect, they’d be better off not existing at all.”

“…”

Before the High Priest could find a retort, Sir Sidus stepped forward swiftly and grabbed the High Priest’s arm.

“Then I shall escort you, High Priest.”

“Where are you taking me?”

“To the main building of the Grand Temple.”

Panicking, the High Priest shouted again.

“What? Why the main building! We should be fleeing the Grand Temple entirely right now!”

“We must activate the sanctuary apparatus. The Hero is already waiting.”

Despite his polite tone and actions, Sir Sidus’s eyes held undisguised contempt.

“Let’s go, High Priest.”

With that, he led the High Priest away toward the main building.

Sabina and Maybel began desperately evacuating the people.

Yet there were too many people, and the time allotted to them was overwhelmingly scarce.

Understandably so, because despite the holy knights’ utmost efforts—

Ugh!

That “something” was simply too overwhelmingly powerful.

With a single sweep of the “something’s” front paw, a holy knight was batted away like falling leaves in an autumn wind.

Deep fear stained the faces of the holy knights.

Yet they were terrified not simply because the “something” was overwhelmingly strong.

Rather…

“That… is almost like…”

One of the holy knights muttered in a trembling voice.

“Holy power, isn’t it?”