Chapter 63

Chapter 63
## Chapter 63

The Cathedral Raid Incident (2)

The Roselia Cathedral was thrown into total disarray by the unprecedented intrusion of an outside assailant.

Yet, even amidst the panic, the response materialized with incredible speed.

This was, after all, the sacred ground of the Church, a sanctuary where elites recognized across the land were stationed.

Defenses were instantly fortified, both within the interior and along the outer perimeter.

Fully armored holy warriors and battle priests formed defensive lines around the structure, while the summoned holy knights mobilized in unison.

Simultaneously, a covert directive was issued to the most powerful individuals present, including the captains of the holy knight orders.

Assemble in front of the sealed location immediately.

Because of this emergency summons, a gathering of legendary figures rarely seen together unfolded directly before Heinrich’s eyes.

‘To think there are still this many masters left, even after deploying so many forces elsewhere.’

These were the figures holding the absolute highest authority among those currently remaining at the headquarters.

Even veterans who had already stepped down from active duty had arrived fully armed, numbering well over a hundred individuals.

Right at that moment, the Saintess rushed into the subterranean corridor accompanied by a contingent of guards.

She was moving with such frantic urgency that her hair had become unkempt and her vestments were visibly disheveled.

“We must advance immediately! Everyone, come with me!”

The waiting assembly hurriedly fell into step behind the Saintess as she sprinted down the corridor without a single pause.

‘There is no longer any reason to guard this passage, is there? She commanded everyone to follow…’

Assessing the flow of events, Heinrich discreetly blended into the advancing crowd.

“What exactly occurred? Did the enemy break through the outer perimeter defenses? Did they head directly for the sealed location?”

The Saintess questioned the figure running alongside her.

The high-ranking female Heresy Inquisitor, evidently a top official, sprinted forward without making a sound and calmly provided an answer.

“We have detected no signs or remnants of a forced entry from the exterior. The intruder did not gain access to the sealed location through any conventional path.”

“What are you implying? Are you suggesting the target teleported straight into the heart of the sealed location?”

“Currently, that is the sole logical deduction, yet we found no fluctuations or traces of spatial magic on the defensive barriers of the cathedral. It is as though he simply materialized there out of thin air.”

“That shouldn’t be possible… This sanctuary is protected by countless holy barriers…! Slipping past them to infiltrate the sealed location—where space itself is warped—is supposed to be an impossibility!”

Nevertheless, an event universally deemed completely impossible had manifested as reality.

The Saintess, who had hurried over the moment she learned of an intruder within the vault, felt her anxiety deepen as she grasped the precise nature of the crisis.

“Could it be… Don’t tell me the perpetrator is…”

“…Indeed, we managed to receive a final transmission from the General who entered the chamber ahead of us.”

“We have lost all communication with him following that message. His current status is entirely unknown.”

“Hans…!”

Intense fury flashed in the Saintess’s eyes as she clenched her jaw tightly.

“Saintess, regain your composure. Succumbing to anger will not resolve our current predicament.”

“Ah… you speak the truth. *Exhale*… *Inhale*…”

Drawing deep breaths, she steadied her racing mind at the soothing intervention of Cardinal Cordelia, who was running alongside her.

While the atmosphere among the leadership remained incredibly grim, Heinrich found himself lost in contemplation as he observed the group.

‘They are sprinting at this pace without showing the slightest hint of exhaustion.’

The Saintess, who was still quite young, and Cardinal Cordelia, a woman well into her late fifties, were conversing effortlessly while moving at high speed.

This physical resilience was undoubtedly sustained by the massive reserves of divine energy circulating through their bodies.

“Ahahaha, I lack the face to even pray to the Main God. Allowing a practitioner of heresy to violate our holiest ground, the very depths of our cathedral… Haha…”

A gentleman in his mid-sixties, Cardinal Pion—the one who had orchestrated the initial defense using his divine voice—uttered a weary, hollow laugh, utterly dumbfounded by the situation.

“How could an individual cross the distance from the western edge of the continent to the inner sanctum of our cathedral in an instant? Could it be…”

The tracking efforts of the High Elf Rapori had persisted even after the descendant of the Immortal King had been identified.

The goal was to immediately pinpoint his location the moment he mobilized.

The last verified position from this very evening indicated he was still within the monster forest of the western regions, yet he had suddenly manifested in the exact center of the continent.

Furthermore, the timing was far too precise to be mere coincidence.

“According to the combat logs detailing the encounter with Hans, the current generation’s Immortal King, there is a prior instance where he fled by completely bypassing the space-severing barrier erected by Archbishop Latiaus.”

The Heresy Inquisitor running with them softly volunteered the information.

“…That is correct. We cannot verify if his presence in the western forest was a deception, but it is undeniable that he ignored the cathedral’s defensive network to intrude. To possess such a terrifying capability when he has not even claimed the full mantle of the Immortal King…”

“Should we fail to protect this fragment… a catastrophic doom will be unleashed upon the entire continent.”

Not just the leaders driving the discussion, but also the silent ranks following closely behind and absorbing the words fully realized the extreme gravity of the situation once more.

“…We must accelerate.”

The Saintess’s divine halo flared with renewed brilliance, and the radiating holy energy infused the bodies of everyone nearby, propelling the entire group at an even greater speed through the sealed corridors.

—

*Thud—*

The final surviving Heresy Inquisitor General collapsed heavily onto the stone floor.

[…I anticipated some resistance, but he proved to be far more vexing than I initially calculated.]

Hans scanned his immediate surroundings.

Tattered black priestly vestments were strewn across the floor, interspersed with the mangled remains of countless undead thralls.

‘My efficiency is severely suppressed within this holy environment, leaving me with no option but to sacrifice numbers to stall for time.’

The combat efficacy of his summons had been reduced to less than half of their standard capacity, despite him lavishly saturating them with dark mana.

He had been forced to compensate for the deficit in quality through sheer quantity.

Hans could not help but feel slightly strained by the skirmish he had to wage while simultaneously breaking the seals on the fragment within this hostile territory.

He had even failed to intercept the Heresy Inquisitor General with his undead wall when the man ambushed him directly like a trained assassin.

[Regardless, the unsealing process is virtually complete. I shall conclude this before their reinforcements arrive.]

[Mas… ter.]

Just then, Malcolm, the Death Wizard, whose lower torso had been entirely destroyed, dragged himself forward across the stone using his sole remaining arm.

The sight was reminiscent of a macabre scene from a nightmare.

[Oh? You managed to persist.]

The entity was technically already deceased… but it was advantageous that his core remained intact.

Given the stakes, Hans had deployed even Malcolm into the fray, and the wizard had proven to be a highly competent servant considering his recent growth.

‘He can be reconstructed.’

That remained one of the premier benefits of employing the undead.

[You have performed adequately. I shall restore your form later, so retreat into the shadows for now.]

[Understood…]

Malcolm instantly sank into the dark shadow cast beneath Hans’s feet.

[As for the rest of you, salvage any remains that retain structural integrity. I have no leisure to tend to you individually at this moment.]

*Rattle— Clatter!*

*Groan—*

The surviving undead began rummaging through the debris, gathering salvageable bones and armor before retreating into Hans’s shadow.

Only the thoroughly obliterated remnants that were completely beyond salvage were abandoned on the floor.

Hans redirected his attention to the unconscious Heresy Inquisitors scattered amidst the wreckage.

‘I refrained from taking their lives, but I ensured they will remain incapacitated for a considerable duration. Paradoxically, the cathedral’s own barrier made neutralizing them far less complicated.’

Owing to the protective holy barrier designed to safeguard the faithful within the perimeter, the inquisitors did not perish instantly from lethal strikes, rendering them exceptionally durable instead.

Observing that the barrier kept these critically wounded soldiers suspended on the brink of death, Hans was able to exert his power freely to incapacitate them without accidentally triggering a fatal backlash.

‘Attempting to violently subjugate them without causing casualties would have appeared contrived, and I lacked the time for such precision. This outcome is highly satisfactory.’

Granted, an outside observer might find it peculiar that a necromancer left his foes breathing…

However, he could not afford to fret over every minute detail.

*Crack—*

At that exact moment, the final standing pillar of the sacrificial altar fractured, and the silver chains binding it shattered into dust.

The ultimate seal was undone.

[…It is finished. Hahaha—!]

An explosive torrent of dark mana erupted violently from the freed fragment.

Hans relished the sensation of the surging power and reached out to claim it.

Brushing aside the intrusive negative thoughts that naturally assaulted his consciousness, he meticulously guided the artifact toward the spiritual pathway connected to his soul.

The final piece, which shared a fundamental resonance with the essence he had harvested using “Immortality”, locked into place.

Yet, even as it settled within Hans’s artificial subspace, it persisted in radiating a wild, unmanaged torrent of dark energy.

[…I anticipated this friction, but it appears I require a brief window to fully tame it.]

The energies were blending rapidly due to their identical source, but because its raw power was comparable to the sum of all the fragments he had integrated thus far, the two forces were locked in a fierce struggle for supremacy.

Hans diverted nearly all of his mental capacity—retaining only what was required to maintain Heinrich’s persona—and began systematically subjugating the heart to his will.

He harbished doubts as to whether he could successfully mask this tempestuous energy signature even if he chose to withdraw his projection immediately.

A moment later,

Just as he was experiencing a profound sense of euphoria from the swelling dark magic and his rapidly expanding power…

[Huu… The integration will conclude shortly.]

Regrettably, his permitted time had expired.

*Boom!*

An immense concentrated beam of light pierced through the shattered entrance, slamming heavily against Hans’s defensive barrier.

Simultaneously, dozens of powerful figures surged into the chamber with astonishing velocity.

The vanguard of the Church’s elite forces had arrived.

—

“Are we… truly too late…!”

The reinforcements who had rushed into the chamber ground their teeth in frustration at the sight of the desecrated altar.

“The battle is not yet concluded! Prioritize the extraction of the survivors!”

The Saintess bellowed, her voice snapping the wavering minds of her subordinates back to reality as she issued swift commands.

Instantly, the Heresy Inquisitors acting as her personal vanguard dashed toward the fallen casualties, carrying them swiftly to the safety of the rear lines.

Priests immediately began administering aid, channeling divine energy into the wounded, while the holy knights formed a vanguard wall to confront the Immortal King Hans and his reanimated forces.

“Maintain your focus! This represents our final window of opportunity before he completely assimilates the fragment’s essence!”

Cardinal Pion roared with a booming resonance, initiating sacred incantations alongside the assembled battle priests.

*Whoosh—*

Radiant halos of divine light enveloped the figures of the holy knights.

Not only did this grant them enhanced physical capabilities, but it also established a spiritual network, allowing them to coordinate their tactics seamlessly through divine energy alone.

The warrior occupying the absolute front of the knightly formation adjusted his heavy shield and warhammer, taking a decisive step forward.

[“I shall engage him directly at the front line. Ensure all supportive spells are directed toward me.”]

[“Understood, Sir Jonien.”]

As the sole remaining Paladin stationed within the cathedral, no one possessed greater qualifications to spearhead the offensive.

[Hahaha! Misguided servants of the Church, your efforts are futile! The Heart of the Immortal King belongs to me!]

“Do not let his words sway you! Advance!”

The offensive spells of the battle priests rained down upon Hans, while the holy knights initiated their charge, anchored by Paladin Jonien.

Naturally, Heinrich moved in lockstep within their ranks.

‘Ah, stalling tactics are ineffective here.’

Though the output of his dark mana had surged dramatically after absorbing a portion of the fragment, engaging in a high-intensity battle at this exact moment remained a significant strain on his focus.

However, the Church leadership had clearly deduced his instability and harbored no intention of granting him the luxury of time.

“Haa—!”

Divine energy coated Heinrich’s blade, manifesting a brilliant sword constructed of pure light.

He swung the weapon without a shred of hesitation, cleaving through the undead thralls that attempted to obstruct his path.

It was an unfortunate necessity, but he had to fully commit to his undercover persona for the time being.

[Kieeeeek—!]

*Clatter, clatter—*

A continuous stream of undead emerged from the shadows around Hans to disrupt the charging knights, but…

“Break through—!”

[“These constructs are trivial! Maintain your momentum and pierce their line!”]

“Oh, Main God! Purge this wickedness with your transcendent radiance!”

Despite being bolstered by the overflowing dark mana leaking from Hans, the constructs could not endure the onslaught for long, dissolving rapidly under the combined might of the knights’ enchanted weapons and the magical artillery provided by the priests in the rear.

‘All of these minions that I spent so much time accumulating!’

Hans internally voiced his aggravation while continuing to summon every remaining undead he could muster.

He required raw numbers if he hoped to maintain his position for the moment.

*Boom—! Boom!*

A concentrated lance of light generated by the Saintess and a colossal hammer of radiance invoked by Cardinal Pion struck Hans’s barrier in tandem, causing it to fracture and detonate.

[Insolent pests!]

A dense black miasma erupted from Hans’s staff, coalescing into the shape of a gargantuan demonic claw that lunged toward the leadership, yet…

“Oh, Main God— Shield your children from harm!”

*Crack!*

The construct was decisively intercepted by a shimmering blue barrier manifested by Cardinal Cordelia, dissipating into nothingness.

This sequence of exchanges had already occurred multiple times.

‘How dare they rely on such cowardly numbers!’

Cardinal Cordelia remained entirely dedicated to defensive magic and sustaining the wounded.

Cardinal Pion focused his efforts on augmenting the holy knights while consistently disrupting Hans’s movements.

And Saintess Liesta directed the entirety of her immense power toward a singular goal: destroying Hans.

With the rest of the knightly order steadily advancing through his defenses as well, the pressure was mounting rapidly.

‘Had I not secured this final fragment, I would have extracted myself from this location long ago.’

Yet, the sole reason he could withstand this combined assault was that his strength was actively compounding with every passing second.

The process of subjugating the fragment’s core was finally entering its terminal phase.

“Haa—! Fall, Immortal King!”

Paladin Jonien, having successfully carved a path through the wall of undead, swung his massive warhammer with lethal intent.

Hans reflexively raised his hand, discharging a concentrated kinetic shockwave that sent the Paladin hurtling backward.

Right at that vulnerable instant,

Two holy knights materialized abruptly in the air above him, capitalizing perfectly on the split-second opening created when he repelled their leader.

It was a highly coordinated ambush executed via light-refraction concealment magic.

His barrier cracked under the simultaneous impact of various offensive spells launched from the rear, while the greatsword and spear of the two cloaked knights lunged toward Hans’s chest from opposing flanks.

An incredibly perilous junction.

[Hmph…]

Hans smoothly shifted his center of gravity, dropping his posture low while channeling a dense concentration of dark mana into the skull staff gripped in his right hand.

*Crack—*

Stepping backward, he used the shaft of his staff to deflect the trajectory of the spear thrusting from his left.

*Clang!*

In the same fluid motion, he rotated the weapon, executing a swift parry against the descending blade of the greatsword attacking from his right.

An exceptionally rapid exchange of martial prowess.

Before that brief window could even close, a blast of dark flames—which had already been condensing within Hans’s left palm—was unleashed directly into their faces.

*Boom—!*

“Gah!”

“Ugh—!”

[“Quickly, pull them back!”]

The two knights, blasted backward by the point-blank detonation of dark magic, were instantly pulled to the rear by their comrades to receive immediate medical attention.

Their meticulously synchronized gambit had been completely neutralized.

[Hehehe! To think you believed you could outmaneuver me with such elementary tricks. You are a century too early to match my vision!]

Hans let out a mocking, self-assured laugh.

No tactical maneuver they devised could hope to succeed against him.

The entirety of the battlefield was already within his sphere of awareness.

[“Ugh, his cognitive reactions are far quicker than our data suggested!”]

[“Did he possess mastery over martial arts? The knights’ execution was disrupted by his unorthodox movements.”]

This precise outcome was guaranteed.

He was capable of interpreting all of the Church’s strategic deliberations in advance, counteracting them effortlessly through the real-time information fed to him by Heinrich.

‘Ah!’

And through that vital connection…

‘It is finished.’

He had successfully secured the necessary duration to completely assimilate the artifact’s absolute authority.

《Achievement unlocked! You have become the ‘Immortal King’, the ultimate calamity of the Auterica Dimension.》

《You have achieved transcendence by experiencing, adapting to, and conquering death. You are granted the attribute “Instant Death Immunity” as a permanent reward.》

《You have performed a monumental feat that drastically reshapes the world. Karma increases substantially.》

At that moment, Hans ascended as the true, complete Immortal King.