-Thwack!
Martinez swung the mace in his hand. The mace eerily split through space but Red Eternity's clone raised its thorned wings to block the mace.
Crack!
With the sound of something being crushed, the clone's waist bent at a right angle. The clone's body slid sideways with a whoosh. Though it didn't fall, countless eyeballs expressed bewilderment. It seemed unable to believe the result of being pushed back.
Martinez had grown stronger. In that short time, he had achieved unbelievable growth.
However, the clone didn't have time to ponder for long. Before long, shadows rippled around the area. From shadows black as ink, as if certain spaces had been robbed of light, blades protruded.
Stab stab stab stab stab!
The shadow blades pierced into the clone's body. Some were deflected or blocked, but those that weren't pierced through flesh and emerged on the other side. Blood spurted.
Slurp. The Red Eternity recalled the blood it had spilled. As if time was rewinding, the blood seeped back into the wounds. But the wounds didn't regenerate. Black shadows wavered like heat mirages at the wound sites. They prevented the wounds from healing.
Blood continued to flow from the wounds that wouldn't close. The clone recalled the spilled blood while making changes to its body.Creak creak creak!
The skin bunched up densely, increasing in density. Armor reminiscent of a crustacean's surface was generated over the skin. Armor was instantly created over the slender body. The armor served to block external attacks and seal the blood flowing inside.
Basilio didn't let the clone seize this opportunity.
Crack! His body shot forward like a meteor. His leg, drawing a pure white tail, struck the Red Eternity's abdomen. Boom! Holy light exploded in the abdomen. Light clusters like the Milky Way scattered around, creating a beautiful spectacle.
The Red Eternity flew backward, colliding in succession with the red angels kneeling on the ground.
"Hey, it'd be disappointing if you forgot about me."
Basilio hurled mockery at the clone. But inwardly, he clicked his tongue quietly.
'I kicked thinking I'd punch a hole through, but it's damn sturdy.'
He should have finished it before it put on armor, but he was too late. The creature's abdomen was charred black, but it couldn't be called a fatal wound.
'On the other hand, this side doesn't have unlimited power.'
Basilio knew there was a limit to the amount of holy light dwelling in his body. Though it appeared to burn brightly on the surface, this was merely the result of igniting the ember that Ossian had passed to him.
It was an ember that would die down after a few uses. That's why he had to use it only at crucial moments.
Basilio didn't reveal this. But there was a moment's hesitation, and Martinez and Malina instinctively noticed it.
'We must hold the line.'
Martinez stepped forward. Despite his small stature, he charged like a giant bull. In fact, his power and momentum were stronger than a bull's. The golden shoulder guard wrapped around his shoulder gleamed like fangs.
Thoom! Before the Red Eternity could even get into position, Martinez's shoulder struck its solar plexus.
The Red Eternity's body was pushed back greatly.
Scraaape!
Martinez kept pushing forward. The Red Eternity's two legs fixed to the ground, digging long furrows. The flesh floor split lengthwise, spurting bodily fluids.
But Eternity's clone didn't fall. It put more strength into its body to stop Martinez's charge.
Halt! When it was no longer being pushed back, Martinez swung his mace.
Boom!
As the mace lodged in the temple, the clone's head snapped back greatly. Martinez didn't rest his hands.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The mace compressed with divine power had a violent aura about it just by itself. Wielded by a body strengthened with divine power, it tore through the air and shock waves kept exploding.
Crack! Crack crack! Each time the Red Eternity was hit, cracks appeared throughout its armor. Red blood flowed down through the cracks.
The red blood bubbled and boiled, then transformed into monsters with teeth. Screech! The monsters bared their teeth and tried to bite Martinez's entire body.
Whoosh!
Martinez's halo shone. Brilliant radiance devoured the monsters. The monsters disappeared as if torn apart by the radiance, along with screams.
Martinez swung his mace toward the eyeball attached to the clone's chest.
Clunk.
The clone wasn't just taking hits. It grabbed the mace with one hand. Crack! As it applied force, the compressed sacred alloy began to crack.
The clone rose up. Being large in stature, it looked down at Martinez. At that moment, the clone's view suddenly lowered.
Stab!
Malina, who had approached from behind, had driven a shadow stake into its hamstring. The clone's knee buckled sharply, and its balance crumbled. Martinez created a new sacred alloy weapon in his left hand. It was a hammer reminiscent of a golden candlestick. And then came the full swing.
Boom!
A roar that shook heaven and earth rang out. The clone's head snapped back sharply. The solid feel in his hands told him it had connected properly.
'Now!' 'This is our chance!'
Martinez and Malina didn't miss the opportunity. Now, riding the momentum, was the perfect chance to finish the clone.
Crack!
The Red Eternity's wings moved. Wings with sharp thorns extended outward like branches. Malina hastily dodged, and Martinez defended with his sacred armor, but some parts were pierced through.
"Gasp!"
Martinez broke the branch that had pierced his body with force, then pulled it out as is. Blood flowed from the wound, but he instantly healed it with divine power. The divine power also blocked the effects of erosion. But the flow they had finally gained was stolen.
In the meantime, the Red Eternity caught its breath and got into position. When the clone extended its hand, one of the red angels kneeling on one side trembled.
One red angel suddenly stood up. Like a malfunctioning automaton, the angel's body, which had been twisting bizarrely, was compressed.
Crack! Crack! Crack crack! As if suddenly thrown into the deep sea, its body was compressed and transformed into a sword.
It was a flesh sword dripping with bright red blood. Eyeballs and teeth sprouted on top of the blade. The sword flew through the air and was sucked into the clone's hand. The clone immediately swung the sword widely.
With the wind pressure, thick blood splattered in a fan shape.
Centered on where the blood was sprayed, the blood bubbled and boiled. Though no corrupted beings emerged, red vapor spewed out along with a disgusting smell.
Malina covered her nose and mouth with her shadow hood.
"Be careful! It's poison!"
This was a deadly poison that would rot the lungs just by smelling it. Not only that. The stench emanating from the blood shook the mind and impaired brain cell function.
Martinez intensified the light of his aureole. Divine power blazed like flames, purifying the air.
Hiss!
The red smoke and divine power clashed, beginning a struggle of strength in mid-air. Meanwhile, the clone moved its other hand that wasn't holding the flesh sword.
Crack!
The clone greatly broke off one of the thorns on its back wings. Though called a thorn, it was a sharp skeletal structure reminiscent of a sword. When grasped, the skeleton changed form like clay and transformed into a sword.
Overall, it was a sword shaped like a cross. The fact that it was made of red bone made it quite malicious.
The clone, holding the bone sword and flesh sword, took a stance. The aura of a warrior who had systematically learned swordsmanship wafted from it.
'This won't be easy.'
Martinez was tense. The fighting spirit felt from its stance was formidable. The creature that had been fighting with pure physical abilities was already strong, but now it was using techniques as well. The stench and poison spread, encroaching on the space. Martinez thought he had to do something about that flesh sword first.
Clang!
Martinez clashed the handles of the mace and hammer in his hands. The handles of the two weapons interlocked and merged into one. As he rotated the quarterstaff with a hammer head and mace on each end, purifying flames rippled around in rings.
Martinez took his stance. He crouched down, lowering his upper body. It was reminiscent of a leopard preparing to target prey.
Divine power dwelt in his two legs. Making upper body armor was his limit, but it didn't matter.
'Just for a moment is enough. It doesn't need to be perfect.'
Divine power dwelt in his two legs, taking the form of greaves. It was less than a second, just an instant. But that one second was enough to gain sufficient leg strength for a leap.
Whoosh!
Martinez moved, leaving a golden afterimage. It was twice as fast as usual. This was a speed unseen in Martinez, who usually fought crudely. This too was an imitation of Ossian's fighting style. That's why it was effective.
Crack!
Martinez's quarterstaff accurately struck the flesh sword. The flesh sword tried to resist by baring its teeth, but when the condensed divine power exploded, it couldn't withstand the force.
Snap!
The flesh sword bent as if it would break, becoming tattered. However, the flesh sword wasn't completely neutralized yet. The clone realized what Martinez was trying to do. The bone sword aimed at Martinez and thrust forward.
It was targeting Martinez's heart. Half-hearted wounds have no effect against a holy knight. But even a holy knight cannot revive from instant death if their heart is pierced.
Martinez saw this but didn't try to dodge or block.
Boom!
The bone sword pierced through Martinez's breastplate and struck his heart.
......?
However, the bone sword pierced Martinez's armor but couldn't damage his body. It was because of the golden thorn crown that appeared above Martinez's head.
[Eternal Golden Rule] - Golden Thorn Crown
A holy knight skill that makes the user invincible for a very short time. It had the disadvantage of limited daily uses, but considering its performance, it could hardly be called a disadvantage.
"I was waiting for this."
Now that both the bone sword and flesh sword were focused on Martinez. The Red Eternity's clone had exposed a huge opening.
And an assassin never misses such an opening.
Rattle!
Vicious chains with thorns bound the Red Eternity's body. The Red Eternity tried to break them with force, but it wasn't easy. Unlike before, the shadow chains had a vicious aura about them. It was killing intent. The intent to definitely kill this one.
Crack! The chains imbued with the assassin's killing intent went beyond constricting the Red Eternity and began to dig into its armor.
There weren't just one or two chains. The chains that rippled like flowing hair increased in number, binding not only the Red Eternity's limbs but also its head, torso, and wings.
The other end of the chains was fixed to walls, ceiling, and ground. The enormous tension pulling from all directions tried to dismember the Red Eternity's body.
Crack.
At that moment, the precarious flesh sword broke. But Martinez couldn't be happy seeing this.
One of the red angels that had been praying stood up. Its body twisted and transformed into a flesh sword.
'Don't tell me it's immediately replacing it?'
The origin of the flesh sword was those red angels. Even if broken, it would just be replaced by a new one. Moreover, this time it wasn't just one that transformed.
'This time it's five. I can't block that.'
Five angels floated in the air, then spread their arms like crosses. Their bodies were compressed and became flesh swords. The flesh swords, each with their own will, shot forth leaving red afterimages.
Slash!
The flesh swords began cutting through the chains. Martinez grabbed the bone sword with one hand and pressed the quarterstaff against the clone's neck.
The ring of divine power on his back blazed at maximum output.
The eyeball on the Red Eternity's chest grinned wickedly. It was a provocative gaze that said such a thing couldn't kill it.
Usually, Martinez wouldn't even respond, but now it was the opposite.
"You seem to believe our attacks are completely useless, but from the beginning, that woman and I are merely decoys."
Hearing those words, the Red Eternity's eyeball bulged. It belatedly recalled Basilio's existence. Normally, he should have been causing trouble somehow to interfere during the fight. Basilio was more than capable of that. But he hadn't. This meant either he didn't have the leisure to do so.
Or he was preparing a sure-fire way to deal with this one. The Red Eternity's clone recalled the power dwelling in Basilio's body. Naturally, his staying quiet was for the latter reason.
Realizing this was far too late.
"Preparations are complete."
Basilio's voice rang out quietly. Some of the Red Eternity's countless eyeballs rolled back to glare at Basilio. What appeared in that field of vision was Basilio's figure, having combined the red diagrams in one place to form a pure white sword.
On the sword's surface, the aura of holy light gathered in one place rippled. The sharp sword tip was aimed at the clone.
This was dangerous.
The clone became urgent. The five flesh swords that had been cutting chains changed direction. The flesh swords flew to block Basilio.
Just as the flesh swords baring their teeth were about to bite Basilio.
......!!!
The Red Eternity's eyeball bulged. The clone felt its connection to the main body cut off. It wasn't that the main body was attacked.
Precisely, the passage opened for the main body to influence this world had been struck. Even more shocking was that the main body beyond that passage was also wounded.
It felt an eyeball split exactly in half. It was only one of the countless eyeballs the main body possessed, but that made it all the more surprising. That transcendent main body was wounded!
What made this possible was that damned knight who wouldn't be satisfying even if chewed up and eaten.
Stagger!
The flesh swords lost strength and wavered. Basilio didn't miss the opportunity.
"Let's end this tiresome fate."
The sword imbued with holy light drew a pure white line in the air. It was too fast to see and judge with the eyes. The moment one perceived it shooting forth, the flash had already pierced through the clone's eyeball and emerged on the other side.
Drip.
Red blood flowed down from the large hole pierced in its chest. It was stickier than ordinary blood and contained strong vitality. White flames rose over that vitality.
Eternity's clone collapsed, engulfed in pure white flames.