Chapter 64

Chapter 64
## Chapter 64

The Cathedral Raid Incident (3)

《The individual meets the conditions and grows. The special skills “Corrupted Heart” and “Immortality” combine and evolve into “Immortal Heart”.》

《The individual meets the conditions and grows. The skill “Magic Affinity” evolves into “Magic Domination”.》

《The individual meets the conditions and grows. You have acquired the special skill “Abyssal Eye”.》

A rapid succession of system notifications manifested before Hans’s eyes.

‘At last!’

He had transformed into a genuine third-generation Immortal King, transcending his status as a mere bloodline successor.

[Kuh, hahahahaha—!]

Hans erupted into boisterous laughter.

Malignant dark energy welled up from his form like a tempest, his laughter projecting it outward in undulating waves that overwhelmed the immediate area.

“Ah… We truly arrived too… late.”

The Saintess took a faltering step backward, her expression drained of color by overwhelming hopelessness.

The countenances of the companions flanking her mirrored her utter dread.

[“This is far from over! There is no better location to confront the Immortal King than here! Battle onward to the final breath with the determination to sacrifice your lives!”]

Cardinal Pion’s unyielding shout resonated deeply within their minds.

They rapidly collected their scattered thoughts and re-gripped their armaments.

His assessment was accurate; this particular juncture represented the moment of the Immortal King’s greatest vulnerability.

Having just finalized his evolution, he lacked complete mastery over his newly altered heart, and his dark capabilities were actively suppressed by the sacred wards of the cathedral.

Provided they engaged him with absolute disregard for their own survival, a path to victory might exist.

They clenched their jaws and fortified their resolve.

…Naturally, they were simultaneously aware of a grim reality.

That a favorable outcome was nearly impossible.

Immortal King Hans possessed the capacity to disregard defensive boundaries and flee the area if he judged the circumstances to be unfavorable.

While the gathered forces of the Church struggled to restore their composure, Hans was evaluating the new attributes he had claimed.

‘“Instant Death Immunity”. This ensures I will not suffer an ignominious demise.’

The initial benefit bestowed upon him was the “Interdimensional Transfer Formation Summon”, granted as compensation for accomplishing an achievement that crossed the boundaries of realities.

By virtue of that acquisition, he gained the freedom to traverse different realms.

‘The magnitude of these recompenses appears structurally distinct. Granted, bypassing immediate expiration is a fine asset, but… ’

The variance likely stemmed from the distinction between a legendary undertaking—in essence, a monumental feat—and a commonplace achievement.

‘There is no reason to complain about a complimentary acquisition.’

The upgraded capabilities were simply intensified iterations of his prior talents, leading him to resolve to analyze them at a later time. The element that immediately commanded his attention was the unfamiliar ability he had just unlocked.

“Abyssal Eye” functioned as a variant of the mystical Devil Eye.

It possessed an eerie potency that utterly eclipsed Harley’s “Gem Eye: Telekinesis”.

‘A mechanism to project psychological trauma such as terror and disorientation merely by directing my gaze at an adversary, alongside the power to control wicked entities whose strength falls beneath my own?’

To put it plainly, should an individual possess less power than Hans… regardless of whether they were a beast, a fiend, or a practitioner of dark sorcery, they would be reduced to his thrall simply through visual contact.

A limitation existed specifying that a wider disparity in strength yielded a more absolute subjugation, but this practical asset promised to be highly advantageous for his impending designs.

‘An immediate trial is warranted.’

He promptly invoked the power of the “Abyssal Eye”.

The cerulean phantom flames animating Hans’s features gradually receded, replaced by an absolute void that populated his vacant sockets.

A chasm of unfathomable depth took residence within his gaze.

“Look at that…!”

As his gaze, resembling a bottomless cavity that appeared to consume the illuminating energy around it, scanned the chamber…

“Gasp?”

“Ah, ah…”

The atmospheric conditions instantly turned freezing, and those caught in his line of sight began to shudder as though afflicted by violent spasms.

“Everyone, maintain your focus!”

Whoosh—!

At that precise moment, a radiant ring of illumination blazed from the rear flank of the ecclesiastical contingent, accompanied by a sudden exclamation.

The Saintess, her spiritual ring burning with the intensity of a midday sun, was dispersing a comforting radiance across the space.

[“That is the ‘Eyes that Contain the Abyss’, documented within the historical chronicles of the Immortal King! Avoid looking directly into them!”]

[“I can offer some measure of resistance utilizing my sacred energy if you merely glance toward him. However, preventing the psychological corruption that stems from unmediated eye contact is exceedingly difficult!”]

[“I can mend the damage if the exposure is brief. But should you fixate upon it for an extended duration… I will be powerless to assist, so exercise extreme caution.”]

The frantic warnings of the Cardinals and the Saintess, amplified by holy energy, echoed sharply within Heinrich’s consciousness.

‘The trait appears significantly more perilous than I initially anticipated.’

Owing to the protective aura of the Saintess, the gathered warriors refrained from panicking as they had moments before, yet everyone was subtly shifting their eyes downward to prevent direct visual alignment with his sockets.

Analyzing an opponent’s visual cues was vital in a skirmish, but since Hans possessed no physical eyes to begin with, the disadvantage did not affect him.

This meant he suffered no penalty for failing to look directly at their faces…

‘Nevertheless, the constant psychological demand to deliberately look away from him will severely degrade their combat effectiveness.’

It proved to be an immensely gratifying asset.

The primary function of dominating malicious entities, coupled with its utility in active skirmishes, aligned perfectly with his preferences.

‘Departing immediately feels like a wasted opportunity. A scenario of this nature is a rare occurrence, so perhaps I ought to conduct a few more trials?’

It felt somewhat anticlimactic to vanish without further action.

This marked the grand introduction of Immortal King Hans.

Would it not be slightly humiliating to simply retreat at the outset?

[I am the corporeal manifestation of terror and the herald of catastrophe arriving upon this land! Suffer despair, underlings of the faith. Your efforts have crumbled. As a consequence, mortality shall blanket the pathways, and lamentation and malice shall breach the heavens!]

A grandiose proclamation delivered directly to the elite forces of the faith.

Presumably because he had integrated the final remnant, Hans’s internal agitation was loftier than normal.

Every phrase carried an intense thrill.

‘Principally detrimental to my own psychological well-being. This is unacceptable. I must proceed to the core objective.’

[Now, attempt to resist. My disposition is favorable today, so I shall entertain your struggles with pleasure. Hehehe!]

Hans brandished his skeletal scepter, and the dark energy coalescing around its tip radiated outward in every direction.

The obsidian energy, bypassing the cautious holy warriors, integrated into the shattered remains of the animated corpses littered across the flooring.

Clatter—! Thud, thud!

And before the defenders could intervene, the material rapidly coalesced in diverse spots, forming dozens of massed shapes.

The pinnacle of resourcefulness, breathing life back into entirely obliterated thralls.

[“It is a Flesh Golem! Retreat and re-establish our lines!”]

This was a dark incantation newly incorporated into his “Forbidden Knowledge” upon ascending as the Immortal King.

And because he unstintingly infused them with dark spiritual energy, every single construct appeared to be cloaked in dark conflagrations.

[Now, shall we commence the next phase?]

An obsidian vapor billowed from Immortal King Hans once more.

—

The engagement proceeded with immense violence.

Despite Hans having fully integrated the heart into his being, he did not yet function as a flawless Immortal King due to his lack of familiarity with the scope of his power.

Furthermore, this location was the inner sanctum of the cathedral, and those arrayed against him were the premier champions of the faith.

Nonetheless…

[“It appears his familiarity with his power is escalating! Protracted delay poses an extreme hazard!”]

[“It is a true wonder that we have avoided fatalities thus far. We owe this to the cathedral’s sacred wards, yet… it simultaneously implies he is merely entertaining himself at our expense, does it not?”]

The casualties sustained by the Church mounted progressively as the exchange persisted.

The defenders, being living mortals as opposed to animated corpses, could not evade the onset of physical exhaustion as time advanced, whereas their adversary, the Immortal King, was gaining potency.

[“To think his capabilities remain this formidable even while suppressed by our holy boundaries…”]

They trembled, envisioning the catastrophic outcome had they encountered his presence in the open wild.

[“The losses among our sacred combatants are becoming unsustainable. If we persist in this delay, our vanguard will buckle entirely. We must conclude this confrontation before that transpires.”]

Paladin Jonien offered his assessment in a solemn tone.

The underlying complication was that the vast majority of the preeminent holy knights had been deployed to the wilderness of beasts alongside the grand eradication campaign.

For that reason, he stood as the sole remaining Paladin on the premises.

The Saintess and the high-ranking Cardinals were exerting themselves tremendously against the Immortal King, but those efforts would quickly prove futile if the protective frontline dissolved.

[“We have launched multiple calculated ambushes, yet his defensive reactions are incredibly rapid. It is almost as though he anticipates our intentions…”]

[“Yet if we maintain this defensive posture, absolute annihilation awaits us. We must find a method to deal a decisive blow while his vigilance wavers.”]

Heinrich could not prevent a wave of remorse from washing over him as he listened to their apprehensions.

The collective might of the Church was so substantial that Hans might have overcompensated in countering the tactical data he had acquired ahead of time through his dual position.

‘It appears imperative to bring this sequence to a close shortly. In what manner should I orchestrate the conclusion?’

[“A viable strategy has occurred to me… Sir Heinrich?”]

The Saintess addressed him at the precise moment required.

And the directive she uttered next aligned flawlessly with the outcome he had desired.

Admittedly, certain individuals expressed misgivings regarding whether it was prudent to assign such an onerous obligation to Heinrich, who maintained the status of a common holy knight…

[“Understood, I possess the required resolve. Entrust the task to my care.”]

He embraced the objective with a poised demeanor.

—

The Church’s offensive maneuvers surged with renewed vigor.

The remaining fighters channeled their sacred energy as though expending the final remnants of their vitality, forcing the Immortal King into a defensive posture.

His forward drive was temporarily halted as the defenders appeared to abandon any intention of a drawn-out conflict.

“Haa—!”

Operating in their midst, Paladin Jonien launched an aggressive assault, completely discarding concerns for his personal safety.

He acted as though determined to lock the Immortal King’s focus entirely upon his own movements.

Crackle!

[Do you imagine the identical maneuver will succeed a second time?!]

Holy knights advanced upon his position in rapid succession the instant he deflected the Paladin, while agents of the Heresy Inquisition materialized from cloaking fields in midair.

They unceasingly hurled their bodies toward his form like winged insects drawn to a destructive flame.

[“Strike now!”]

At that exact juncture, a monumental concentration of sacred energy materialized above the Immortal King’s position and immediately reshaped into a colossal shaft of light, crashing directly down upon him.

Whoosh—

The protective aura enveloping his frame dissolved instantly under the impact of the Saintess’s maximized assault…

And simultaneously, a minute glimmer of illumination flashed from within the descending shaft of light.

A subtle undertone concealed within the cascading torrent of overwhelming holy energy.

[What?!]

The Immortal King identified the irregularity only when the edge of the weapon had nearly closed the distance to his visual sockets.

[At what point did you close the distance?!]

Clang!

He shifted his scepter, saturated with dark energy, and deflected the blade in sudden astonishment.

However, his personal combat expertise was inadequate for withstand a holy knight’s direct swordsmanship in an open exchange.

The tactic might have proven effective during a chaotic ambush like before, but it yielded little result against an experienced combatant who was already on guard.

Heinrich, who had bypassed the distance to the Immortal King within an instant by utilizing sacred concealment magic coupled with “Blessing: Leap”, expertly manipulated his weapon to strip away his opponent’s defensive posture.

“Ha—!”

An unparalleled opening.

The luminous blade, saturated with holy force, lunged forward with the velocity of a lightning strike…

Only to be obstructed by an obsidian barrier that materialized in its path.

Crackle—!

Perception slowed down under the influence of extreme focus.

The edge was gradually splintering its way through the dark barrier and advancing, yet its forward momentum appeared incredibly sluggish.

[An exercise in futility!]

To compound the danger, dark tendrils of a malevolent affliction emanating from the Immortal King wrapped around Heinrich’s entire form.

“Ugh!”

The sacred energy insulating his physical frame dissolved in an instant, and his entire anatomy began to experience the invasive spread of the affliction.

His physical power ebbed away and his perceptions became scrambled, accompanied by a blinding agony that mirrored the sensation of being consumed by fire.

…He had stepped forward with absolute certainty, yet even this final gambit, laden with the aspirations of his comrades, had met with failure.

At this rate… his weapon would fail to contact the Immortal King.

“No! I refuse to abandon this effort…!”

Dark fluid drained from his nasal passages and mouth, yet he dismissed the physical toll and tightened his grip upon the weapon in his hands even further.

This represented a singular, irreplaceable opportunity, forged through the individual losses and assistance of numerous allies.

He could not allow it to escape unfulfilled!

Heinrich ground his teeth together and concentrated the sacred energy at the apex of his sword, repeating the process continuously.
To close the distance to the Immortal King with maximum celerity, by whatever means necessary, by shattering this barrier!

Amid that seemingly unending span of time,

《The individual meets the conditions and gains enlightenment. You have acquired the special skill “Blessing: Holy Blade”.》

A subtle luminescence radiated from Heinrich’s physical form in an instant.

And the holy power, which had been restricted by the defensive wall, expanded exponentially.

‘The third manifestation of grace!’

He had simultaneously fulfilled the necessary parameters and attained a level of sacred energy equivalent to a bishop.

The brightness radiating from his weapon multiplied as his spiritual capacity surged upward, yet that did not mark the limit of the transformation.

He immediately unleashed the capability inherent in “Blessing: Holy Blade”.

The illumination that had been dispersing from the sword coalesced and condensed, ultimately producing a precisely honed edge of pure energy.

Resembling a plasma blade out of speculative fiction.

“Haaa—!”

Swoosh—!

The sweeping stroke of the luminous sword instantaneously sliced through the obsidian barrier.

And…

It plunged into the center of the Immortal King’s chest without a moment’s hesitation.

Stab—

[Ugh! You insolent…!]

The concentrated sacred power discharging from the blade embedded within his chest immediately set his entire anatomy ablaze.

The Immortal King, consumed by holy combustion and dark vapors intermingling, alongside the holy knight, his body enveloped in afflictive flames and a subtle shimmer.

Their conflicting yet oddly parallel visual presentations were permanently etched into the recollections of every onlooker.

[Ugh… You are quite a formidable adversary. To presume to strike… me!]

Boom—!

Malignant energy erupted violently from his physical structure, repelling the remaining warriors who were attempting to capitalize on the moment and strike.

Yet for some unexplained reason, only Heinrich managed to maintain his footing, his blade remaining deeply driven into the adversary’s chest.

[Hehehe… My vigilance was overly relaxed. Tell me, human. Supporter of the faith. What is your identity?]

The individual who had delivered the initial critical injury to the third Immortal King by driving a blade directly through his chest.

The Immortal King, acknowledging the magnitude of the deed, demanded his designation.

“I am Heinrich… Landguard! I shall banish you back to the void, Immortal King!”

[Heinrich Landguard… That title shall remain within my memory. My defeat will not be achieved so readily upon our next encounter! Hahaha!]

Even while disintegrating like dry timber, his physical vessel was perpetually undergoing a cycle of ruin and regeneration as sacred energy and dark sorcery clashed within him.

[Bear this in mind. This does not represent the conclusion. I shall emerge once more when obscurity drapes itself across this land!]

“Do not entertain the thought!”

[Until our paths cross again. Hehehe…]

Following that final utterance, Immortal King Hans, who was disintegrating with Heinrich’s weapon impaling his chest, dissolved into nothingness.

As though his presence had never occupied the chamber.

The animated minions, which had been sustained by dark sorcery, all collapsed inertly onto the stone floor and began to burn away in sacred flames, and an immediate stillness enveloped the area of conflict.

Thud—

A muted impact fractured the quiet.

“Ah! Sir Heinrich! Quick, minister to his wounds!”

Heinrich, the holy warrior who had succeeded in puncturing the Immortal King’s chest with his sword, refusing to yield until the final moment for the sake of his principles, was rapidly transported toward the clerical group.

“Good heavens… How could he manage… to persist until the end…”

The onlookers uttered expressions of deep respect at the concentrated energy of the affliction that persistently leaked from the damaged tissue even during the purification process.

The condition was so profound that even after the stabilization was finalized, he would require an extensive duration of isolation and rest.

They were entirely incapable of imagining the sheer agony he must have endured, blanketed in that concentrated, malevolent curse.

Nor could they comprehend the sheer fortitude of mind that enabled him to overcome the Immortal King under those catastrophic circumstances.

While Heinrich and the remaining wounded received medical intervention, the area of conflict was rapidly put in order.

“Nevertheless, as anticipated, he managed to slip away.”

“…Yet at the very least, our casualties are minimal, considering the peril we faced. Future opportunities will present themselves.”

“Hahaha… We delivered a significant blow to his vital core on this occasion, ensuring he will be incapable of acting aggressively for an extended period. We must consolidate the continent’s military assets and prepare to confront him during the interim.”

“The credit belongs entirely to his determination to withstand the pressure until the conclusion.”

The collective gaze of the chamber shifted toward Heinrich, who reposed in an insensible state among the attending priests.

On that particular day, the Church proved incapable of blocking the re-emergence of the Immortal King after misplacing the final component…

However, they succeeded in securing a window of time to organize defenses against the impending doom, alongside witnessing the rise of a fresh champion.

Such was the consensus among the gathered throng.

…Save for a single individual.