Chapter 32

Chapter 32
## Chapter 32: Twin Canyon (5)

The tense confrontation amidst the blaze stretched on.

Helia’s gaze remained fixed on Enrico. Despite her singed locks and scorched vestments, the inspector’s resolve was unshakable. She stood with the cool confidence of someone who knew her opponent wouldn’t dare strike. Helia gnawed on her lip until the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.

This situation had become incredibly complex. Initially, she had dismissed him as a pampered aristocrat leading a small band of mercenaries. She never suspected he held the title of district inspector; his weathered look and meager escort had completely misled her.

*Against any other person, I would simply use my flames to silence them forever. But an official inspector… that presents a different level of risk…*

The battered soldiers standing behind the inspector were of no concern to her. The true threat was the governing council that stood behind his office.

Should an inspector be harmed, his council would launch an exhaustive inquiry into every detail of the event. While internal politics might bury some scandals, it was an entirely different matter when foreigners were involved. If an imperial paladin were identified as the perpetrator, the fallout would go far beyond simple diplomatic tension.

*They would undoubtedly extort enormous financial penalties or demand land from the empire. The Emperor would never submit to such terms, and that friction could ignite a total conflict between the empire and the alliance…*

The Lucaonia Empire stood as the world’s preeminent power, and the reach of the Elga Church was felt across every corner of the land. Nevertheless, a lone paladin did not possess the authority to plunge the world into war on a whim.

She needed to find a way to avoid a lethal escalation. Helia dampened the intensity of her fires and spoke in a hushed, commanding tone.

“Step aside, Inspector. I am currently executing the sacred mandates of Elga, the supreme Guide of Light. The individual behind you is a depraved monster who murdered innocent knights of the faith before fleeing. If you cease your interference and assist in capturing this creature, I will conclude my business and depart immediately.”

Enrico flinched, shifting his attention.

The barbarian’s expression was as stoic and immovable as a mountain, betraying no sign of panic. In sharp contrast, the paladin’s eyes burned with a fanatical, unchecked rage. A long silence followed as Enrico looked between the two, weighing his options.

Eventually, he reached a conclusion. Enrico addressed the paladin with a piercing edge to his voice.

“Do you possess any verification? I require an official warrant or a judicial decree bearing the church’s seal, outlining this man’s identity, physical description, and the specific crimes he committed.”

“…We discovered his trail and pursued him instantly, so we lack formal papers at this moment. However, we will ensure the appropriate documentation reaches your council through the proper channels later…”

“Then on what grounds should I trust you? This man prevented my unit from being completely wiped out. Do you truly expect me to betray my savior based on your unfounded accusations, without a single piece of evidence?”

“…”

Helia found herself genuinely blindsided.

Why was this inspector shielding a monster? He claimed the creature had saved his men? It was inconceivable that such a savage demon would act to preserve life.

In her bewilderment, she let her eyelids flutter shut. Her flickering, emerald-green eyes were hidden behind her lashes.

The logic of the situation escaped her. Yet, if the inspector refused to move, she was at an impasse. They were in alliance lands, and she was an uninvited guest. Even if she managed to kill the demon and return to the church, she would likely receive more condemnation for her lack of diplomacy than honors for her success.

*Perhaps the only path forward is to retreat for now, regroup, and strike later…*

But was that truly what Elga intended?

Would Elga want her to be shackled by the trivialities of mortal politics and let such a malevolent entity escape when it was right before her?

No, that was impossible.

“…!”

In that heartbeat, a flash of insight struck her like a bolt of lightning.

The darkness of her uncertainty vanished. The fog of doubt and hesitation evaporated. Her glacial insecurities and inner demons were burned away, replaced by a faith as blinding and absolute as the midday sun.

Everything finally clicked into place. She understood why the demon had acted as a savior, why the inspector was acting as his shield, and why everyone stood against her. She had almost been deceived by a wicked ploy, nearly abandoning her holy mission at the finish line.

*I am done… I will no longer be a puppet in this demon’s game.*

Helia’s mouth twisted into a mocking grin. She leveled her holy blade, ‘Flames of Gehenna’, directly at Enrico’s chest.

“How pitiful, you puppet controlled by demonic influence. I see now that your words are not your own.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Do not be afraid. The fires of this holy weapon are for purification. If you offer your life as a sacrifice, the stain of serving as this demon’s shield will be scrubbed from your soul…”

Rumble, roar—!!!

A sudden, violent noise drowned out the paladin’s decree.

The sound erupted from ahead. The paladin lowered her weapon and looked up, and every soldier followed suit. To their amazement, the path that had been choked with rubble was now partially open.

Kadim had used a massive trunk as a lever to heave the flaming wreckage aside. He cast the heavy timber away and spoke clearly.

“Inspector, get your men out of this canyon now. I’ll deal with this paladin and catch up with you.”

“W-what? You intend to kill a paladin?”

“Correct. That woman has lost her mind. The fire of her own fanaticism has likely charred her brain. You can’t reason with someone like that, so the only fix is to crack open her skull and let the heat out.”

Enrico stood paralyzed, unable to find a response. Helia’s eyes erupted in fury.

“How dare you wag that foul tongue! Do you honestly believe I will let any of you vermin escape?”

She pulled back her sword of hellfire. With one broad, sweeping motion, she prepared to turn every retreating soldier into ash.

But her strike was intercepted by a spinning axe.

Roar, clang—clang!

“Ugh!”

The sheer force of the collision against her blade forced Helia to stumble back. A violent vibration traveled through the metal, causing her wrist to throb. Had she not been bolstered by her divine aura, the bone surely would have shattered.

She tightened her grip on the sword and stared at the demon. A crimson mist seemed to swirl within his cold, unmoving eyes. His brutal musculature rippled and expanded with terrifying power.

*Revealing his true nature at last. You deceptive wretch…*

Most of the soldiers had already managed to scramble away. She could deal with the survivors later; her primary goal was to execute the demon. Placing a hand to her heart, she whispered a fervent prayer.

*Elga, endow me with the strength to strike down this powerful fiend.*

Her red divine energy burned with renewed ferocity. A power that transcended the limits of any human flooded her veins.

Rooooar…

The moment of retribution had come.

—

Kadim had taken a quick measure of his opponent.

She was clever but prone to wild recklessness. Her mental state was too fractured for tactical thinking, and she clearly lacked the wisdom of a veteran. However, her equipment was exactly what one would expect for an Arch Paladin.

*That armor is unique; it doesn’t even singe in the heat of her own hellfire… and that crimson blade is definitely a divine weapon.*

Unlike ‘blessed weapons’ that were merely consecrated by the clergy of Elga, ‘divine weapons’ were said to be touched directly by Elga’s hand. The difference in both prestige and raw power was immense. Even the lowliest of them were considered Unique, with most reaching Epic status or higher.

Just as he feared, the power of the divine weapon was staggering.

――――Roar, crackle, roar!!

As Helia swung her blade, the air was painted with streaks of violent hellfire. Trails of flame hung in the wake of the sword, turning the very oxygen into fuel. Even when he dodged with plenty of space, the radiating heat made his skin blister.

The reach of the hellfire extended far beyond the metal of the blade. There was no way to engage in a standard sword fight within that furnace. Kadim dropped his center of gravity, preparing to lunge inside her guard.

But Helia sensed his move and struck first.

“Where do you think you’re going?!”

Boom—!

She drove her blazing sword into the earth. The moisture in the ground turned to steam instantly as geysers of fire erupted around her feet. A wall of swirling flames rose up, cutting off every path of approach.

――――Roarrr—!!

There was no opening to exploit. Kadim was forced to leap back before he was incinerated. Helia gave a mocking sneer, pulling her sword from the dirt and thrusting it toward the sky.

The crests of the flames arched over. The pillars transformed into a tidal wave of fire, surging outward to consume everything in their path.

――――――――Rumble…

Kadim’s retreat hadn’t been an act of cowardice. As he moved back, he snatched up the axe he had thrown earlier. Clamping his fingers around the handle, he took aim, gathered his explosive strength, and hurled it with a sharp flick of his wrist.

Whirr, clang—clang!

It was a perfect strike. Sparks flew as the axe hit her blade, rattling the paladin’s grip. The wave of fire, suddenly without direction, dissipated into nothingness. The glowing embers faded. Helia ground her teeth together, her eyes filled with hate as she glared at Kadim.

In that moment, Kadim made a grim realization.

*From here on, I have to fight through the pain of the burns.*

He had hoped to stay clear of the hellfire. A simple wound from a blessed weapon had nearly cost him his life before; an injury from a divine weapon would be significantly more lethal.

However, the reach of her flames was simply too vast. Trying to evade every spark while trying to close the distance was impossible. If he wanted to end her, he would have to walk through the fire.

*With this demon blood in my veins, I should be able to survive it…*

Kadim sprinted forward. Helia smirked, bringing her flaming sword around in a defensive arc.

Roar—

Her attempt to keep him at bay failed. Kadim didn’t flinch or dodge. He raised his forearm to shield his face and crashed through the flames. Helia’s composure shattered.

“What…!”

Whoosh—hum!

Mosquito’s blade lunged forward with lethal precision. Helia jerked her head back instinctively. The strike intended for her throat missed, merely grazing her.

Whoosh—hum, clang, clang—clang!

Kadim refused to give her breathing room, aiming his strikes at the gaps in her plate armor. Helia was forced to pull her longsword back to parry the rapid blows. Her eyes were wide with a mix of shock and fear.

“H-how… How are you standing against the hellfire like it’s nothing…”

Kadim felt a grim amusement within.

It wasn’t that it didn’t hurt. The skin on his blocking arm was charred black, and the muscle beneath was practically cooked. However, his supernatural regeneration was already knitting the tissue back together.

*The fire-resistant healing from that snake-head is proving to be quite useful.*

This was the power of Hydra blood. The demon’s claim that he could survive hellfire wasn’t just bluster.

Still, he wasn’t immune to fire, nor was he numb to the pain. Deep burns would eventually overwhelm his ability to recover. Kadim stayed in close, fighting with calculated movements to minimize the damage he took.

“…”

Helia quickly adapted. She pulled back the sprawling hellfire, focusing its energy tightly around the edge of her blade. Despite this, every time she lunged, Kadim parried her or slipped past her guard—her strikes failed to find their mark.

The duel turned into a brutal, close-quarters struggle of precision and power.

Metal shrieked against metal, throwing off showers of sparks; they traded ground in a deadly dance, delivering lightning-fast slashes and counters. They fought for leverage, their blades locked in a constant struggle of strength.

Clang—clang, clang—clang, screee, roar!

The intense battle continued, but to any onlooker, the scales were clearly tilted.

The match was fundamentally lopsided. An Arch Paladin encased in heavy plate armor was fighting a man with no protection. Mosquito was a fine weapon, but it was outmatched by the divine power of the hellfire sword. Only Kadim’s incredible instincts kept him in the fight.

But he was reaching his breaking point.

Her martial skill was also exceptional. The combined heat and the stress of the impacts were causing Mosquito to vibrate with an ominous ring. Small burns and shallow cuts littered Kadim’s body, healing even as new ones appeared. His demonic stamina was beginning to flag, while her Elgan aura seemed to only grow more potent.

Kadim’s jaw set. He cursed the name of Elga. A blessing that increased in strength as the fight went on felt like a rigged game. At this pace, his energy would fail before hers did, ensuring his death.

*…I have to gamble.*

Helia, sensing her advantage, pushed him back, looking for the opening to deliver a final blow. At that exact moment, Kadim purposely loosened his fingers on the hilt of Mosquito.

Helia didn’t hesitate. Like a predator, she drove her blade upward in a diagonal slash. A piercing scream of metal rang out; Mosquito was sent flying from his hand, spinning into the distance.

In a flash, her blade lunged forward.

Stab, roar—!

The glowing red sword buried itself deep in his abdomen. The internal heat of the flames began to liquefy his organs and char his flesh from the inside out. Seeing his face contort in agony, Helia let out a cruel, triumphant laugh.

“You let your guard down, demon. Not even the most powerful evil can escape the light’s sentence… It is time to pay for your horrific crimes.”

Kadim didn’t say a word. Instead, he reached out and grabbed the red-hot blade with both hands, locking it in place. His palms began to smoke and melt against the divine metal, but he didn’t let go.

“Do you know the biggest mistake made by green, arrogant, and impulsive paladins?”

Helia’s brow furrowed in confusion.

A sudden, cold dread washed over her. An instinctive warning prickled at the back of her neck. She tried to yank her sword back and retreat, but the blade was wedged as if it were stuck in solid rock.

Kadim leaned into the sword, pushing it even deeper into his own body as he stepped toward her. His massive frame cast a dark shadow over her pale, terrified face. Only when he was inches from her did the berserker give his answer.

“They forget the most important piece of armor: the helmet.”

In one fluid motion, he pulled his concealed axe and brought it down with the force of a falling mountain.

Crack—splurch!

The red divine light shattered into fragments. The Arch Paladin’s fanatical, heat-fevered skull was split clean in two.