How a Reincarnated Warlock Lives – Chapter 156

Chapter 156: Lava and Flames (2)

Peter was a free knight.

Officially, he was not knighted by a noble or a king. But Peter had never been ashamed of that fact.

Although he was not recognized by a king or a high-ranking noble, he received the blessing of the Church. From the standpoint of a devout believer, that was no different from something more precious.

Of course, his case was not unusual.

Kings and nobles did not hold much power within the Church’s domain, which covered half the continent.

And that was still the case even now, after the repeated wars against heretics had rendered two sanctuaries defunct.

Unlike the Cravassia Empire, which had little interest in matters beyond the Steel Mountain Range, numerous kingdoms, large and small, were building up their own power, avoiding the gaze of the somewhat weakened Church. However, it was still the Church that held hegemony over the central part of the continent.

“……”

Peter fiddled with the sword at his waist.

He was a free knight and, at the same time, a devout believer.

He had walked the entire long pilgrimage route, starting from the edge of the continent, passing through various locations, and finally ending at the Holy Land where the Holy See was located, solely on his own two feet. He was ready to lay down his life for the Church at any moment.

And Peter remembered the grandeur of the Grand Temple he had visited during his pilgrimage.

As he recalled the breathtaking scenery of Mount Calimphus, anger welled up within him at the heretical flames that had engulfed it.

And that burning rage continued until he reached the barren land located northwest, after leaving Hesterica.

“Halt!”

The commanding shout of the commander at the forefront erupted loudly. The army, composed of those who had flocked to Hesterica from all over the continent to participate in the holy war declared by the Inquisition, was quite organized.

Of course, it was not comparable to the elite troops of Hesterica who had not yet arrived, but compared to the armies of other kingdoms, it was superior in both quantity and quality.

Naturally. Those who did not reach a certain standard were not even accepted as reinforcements in the first place.

In a situation where the Grand Temple and the Holy See could not send proper reinforcements, the reason why the Inquisition set its own standards when every single reinforcement was desperately needed was simple.

Those who were truly ordinary, like farmers, could not even set foot on enemy territory in the first place.

Hoo─

Peter briefly turned his head away from the hot wind blowing from the front.

Regardless of the commander’s shout, everyone here could already feel it.

The fact that they had arrived in Radechione’s Flame Zone.

Everyone who had arrived here stood with their feet firmly planted on the ground.

The horses they had ridden to this point had been sent back a while ago. No matter how fine a steed, it could not traverse the scorching earth where not a single blade of grass grew and flames blazed.

“Form ranks!”

Another shout rang out. Having passed the standards set by the Inquisition, the reinforcements, who possessed at least minimal combat experience, moved in a fairly organized manner.

There were no monstrous enemies appearing in front.

Whooong─

Soon, a sacred light emanating from the back of the ranks began to slowly envelop all the troops.

The Grand Battle Holy Spell, emanating from the magic circle cast by the combat priests of Hesterica.

Magic that allowed them to resist the flames of the Flame Zone and the polluted air began to envelop each and every one of them.

It was by no means a simple spell, but with unnecessary beings like horses and supply troops sent back, the combat priests of Hesterica poured out their power without reservation.

Soon, the energy emanating from the magic circle settled upon the troops, numbering nearly ten thousand.

“……!”

Peter could soon feel the cool, sacred energy enveloping him.

At the same time, he felt the hot air he had felt just moments ago and the effects of the toxic atmosphere that had been stinging his face begin to disappear.

Waaaaah The army, their morale boosted by receiving the holy spell, erupted in cheers.

And soon, their advance began.

Their destination was the mountain located deep within the Flame Zone.

The place where the wicked demon worshippers of the Radechione Catacomb were hiding.

The combat priests, as originally planned, remained in the border area to recover their strength and await the main force, the tens of thousands of elite troops of Hesterica, but that did not affect morale in the slightest.

They had already received the blessing spell, and the fact that they were the vanguard of the holy war to purify the heretics was an unparalleled honor for the believers.

Soon, the nearly ten thousand strong army of the Church began to march towards the cursed land of flames.

🔹🔹🔹

Booong─

A thick iron chain sliced through the hot air, causing a heavy, explosive sound.

Kwajik.

And then a chilling sound followed.

A monster, its appearance grotesquely evolved due to living in the scorching Flame Zone, was instantly crushed into a pulp and collapsed.

The man, who had smashed the monster, which possessed the stature and bulk of a sizable bear, with a single attack, retrieved the chain with an unchanged expression.

Srrr륵. The chain, imbued with an incomparably clear light, coiled around the man’s hand as if it were alive.

“……”

Inquisitor Anton Lebecht, having shattered three or four monsters in the blink of an eye, raised his head and looked forward.

What came into his view was a tall mountain standing alone in the vast, scorching earth.

The Inquisitor’s mouth slowly opened as he took in the sight of Radechione’s Volcano, faintly shimmering in a dark reddish hue thanks to the lava and flames contained within.

“Where is the main force?”

“They left Hesterica a week ago. They should be arriving in the Flame Zone soon.”

“Then the vanguard must have already entered.”

“Yes. We received word from the combat priests that they began their advance a short while ago.”

“Hmm.”

Nodding curtly, he looked back after a moment. Behind him, a little over a hundred figures stood in formation.

Each and every one of them wore the same black attire, emblazoned with the intimidating emblem of the Inquisition, symbolizing a crossed sword and the flames of a pyre.

The emblem of the Inquisitor symbolized their power and terror.

And the flames of the pyre etched onto that emblem blazed fiercely even in the Radechione Catacomb, the origin of scorching flames and lava.

The toxic gas that filled the air, making it difficult to even breathe. The flames erupting from cracks in the earth and the wicked energy emanating from the twisted ley lines.

“……”

However, the hundred or so Inquisitors lined up behind Chief Inquisitor Anton Lebecht stood without hesitation, each burning with their own fighting spirit within that environment.

They all knew. That now was the perfect opportunity to extinguish the flames of this accursed Flame Zone.

Although it was unknown what had provoked him, the High Priest of this place, who had suddenly attacked the Grand Temple on Mount Calimphus, had exhausted a significant portion of his power.

As if to prove that fact, they had been able to approach this far without encountering any significant resistance.

It was an opportunity that might never come again.

Of course, even so, entering that hot and wicked volcano was no simple task. In order to penetrate the defenses of that place, where lava seethed, making it difficult to endure even with holy spells, a distraction was needed.

And the method of distraction chosen by the Inquisition was somewhat radical.

The ten thousand strong vanguard. And the tens of thousands strong main force.

It did not matter if they were all used as bait. The Inquisition’s objective was solely the Catacomb.

As for the army, they could simply scrape together more from all over the continent and mass-produce them again. The true strength of the Inquisition stemmed from the veteran Inquisitors gathered here.

Each and every one of those gathered here were Inquisitors who had spent more than a decade roaming the continent, combating heretics.

Those who were still inexperienced or injured did not even get the chance to volunteer.

“We wait here.”

Chief Inquisitor Anton, his gaze once again fixed on the volcano, spoke in a low voice.

“Until the signal comes.”

The Inquisitors, cloaked in black and positioned on one side of the dark red earth, were not easily noticeable. The group, their colors similar to the surroundings, as if they belonged there, began to wait for the signal to rise, holding their breath amidst the flames and polluted air.

🔹🔹🔹

“Ranks, maintain ranks!”

“Do not retreat!”

Loud shouts and the sounds of fierce clashes resonated from all directions.

Several hours after the ten thousand strong vanguard had entered the Flame Zone. They were engaged in a fierce battle against the monstrous creatures pouring out from all sides.

Kwajik. A monster, its bizarrely shaped large forelegs resembling metal that had been half-melted and then solidified, slammed down on a soldier’s torso.

“Uaagh─”

Hearing that scream, cut short as if by scissors, Peter swung his sword.

Chaos already reigned everywhere. The commander’s voice, which had been bellowing orders to maintain ranks, had long since ceased. Whether he had fallen to the monsters or was engaged in a battle too intense to allow for shouting, he did not know.

But one thing was certain: the situation was not good.

The vanguard, having entered the Flame Zone under the powerful holy spell they were experiencing for the first time, had advanced quickly.

Although they were called the vanguard, the army of ten thousand easily smashed the monsters of the Flame Zone they encountered, continuing their march inward.

And finally, when the massive, solitary mountain came into view in the distance.

Countless monsters, pouring out from that place, surged towards the vanguard.

As if to confirm that they originated from the lava-filled mountain, the monsters that attacked the vanguard each possessed different, horrifying appearances.

“……!”

Kwajik. Peter’s sword, swung with all his might, barely managed to decapitate a monster. A dull, burning pain shot through his hand and arm.

The holy spell, which had been protecting the soldiers against the wicked energy and heat emanating from the twisted ley lines, was gradually losing its effectiveness.

Chiiiik.

Peter could see hot steam rising from his metal shoes, reinforced with several layers.

But he could no longer feel anything in his feet.

Whether it was due to the surging emotions from being engrossed in the fierce battle or because all his nerves had already necrotized, he did not know.

“Heup!”

His sword swung again, piercing the neck of a monster with a twisted maw that had been approaching from the side.

Peter was a fairly skilled swordsman. He was capable of invoking a faint holy power into his sword, albeit weakly.

That was why he could feel it, the fact that only despair filled this place.

“……Kreut!”

He had been ready to throw his life away for the Church at any moment.

No, he had thought so.

Until he faced true death.

“In the name of God! You filthy monster─”

A futile shout came from somewhere nearby. Judging from the way it was cut short, he must have immediately lost his life to a monster.

Kwak. He tore off his metal gauntlets, which had become too hot to wear, and clenched his blackened hand.

When would the main force and the combat priests, along with the rest of the troops, arrive?

And where were the Inquisitors, the true strength of Hesterica, at this moment?

Kieeeeek!

A monster’s horrifying shriek came from behind him.

Just as he was about to turn around, gripping tightly onto the scorching hot hilt of his sword.

Perk!

Without any warning, the head of the monster that had been lunging at him with its maw wide open exploded.

In that sudden moment, following the intense battle.

Peter could feel it.

A strange smell, different from before.

The acrid smell of sulfur, filled with an artificial energy, permeating the air.

“……!”

His gaze darted around, and he saw more monsters being mercilessly blown apart.

Behind them, figures clad in a peculiar type of armor he had never seen before were firing flames towards them, emitting the acrid smell of gunpowder.

“Wh, what is that……?”

And at the forefront of that army, an Inquisitor, cloaked in black, was looking in their direction.

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