How a Reincarnated Warlock Lives – Chapter 160

Chapter 160: Lava and Flames (6)

A strong energy that felt like it was piercing my skin flowed from the inside of the upper level.

It wasn’t a particularly unfamiliar sensation. Even though more than 500 years had passed, the time I felt wasn’t that long.

Of course, what I felt was only a sensation. The surroundings were still full of explosions.

The Empire’s Magic Engineering Corps, who had followed me up the steep cliff and reached the upper level of the mountain, were unleashing merciless firepower towards the cursed Magical Beasts crawling out of the lava.

Kwaang. Magical Beasts shattered with the explosion. The ends of the portable cannons held in the hands of the armored soldiers were burning red hot.

Due to the characteristics of metal, the side they were gripping must have also been heated up, but no groans, pain, or screams of agony leaked out from inside the armor holding the heavy cannons.

They just silently continued to fire.

Just as the momentum of the monstrous creatures endlessly crawling out of the lava pond was waning.

─!

A silent wave swept through the vast space where I was standing in an instant. The reaction was immediate.

“……!”

The monstrous creatures in the lava pond quickly disappeared back into the pond as if they had been burned by fire, and the Magic Engineering Corps, who had been unleashing merciless bombardment, stopped firing and assumed a defensive posture.

Jeeing. The fine circuits engraved on the Corps’ sturdy armor flashed fiercely.

It was because the numerous protective spells engraved there sensed an unusual crisis and activated all at once.

The moment a small force field was created around each soldier’s body, blocking the evil waves spreading around.

Toowoong─

A second wave, much more intense than before, erupted from within again.

This wave, accompanied by a hot blast, wasn’t something that could be simply laughed off.

Wooong.

As if reacting to it, the Holy Sword I was holding immediately emitted a brilliant light, protecting me like a shield.

The power residing in this sword, a gift from God, effectively blocked the heat wave that the High Priest of the Catacomb had deliberately unleashed.

But the defensive force field of the Magic Engineering Corps located behind me was not.

Pazzik. Unable to withstand the evil will contained within the heat wave, the force field shattered in an instant, and a significant number of the Magic Engineering Corps were directly exposed to the heat wave.

“……!”

There were no screams or groans until the end. But the ominous creaking sounds of machinery and the sounds of heavy armor collapsing to the ground echoed from everywhere.

“……”

I looked back for a moment.

Those who were near the powerful protective shield emanating from the Holy Sword I held in reverse grip, and those who were able to use their comrades in front as shields because they were in the rear, excluding them, almost half of the armor had collapsed, their lives extinguished.

“How dare you.”

And at the same time.

“A foolish believer in God, unaware of your place, dared to crawl up here.”

The one who caused the wave appeared from the front, along with a sinister voice.

His appearance, which emerged with the hot blast, was that of an ordinary old man that could be seen anywhere in the city.

Shabby clothes and an unremarkable impression. An appearance that wouldn’t arouse any suspicion even if he went out and wandered around right away.

But I could see the strange fervor in his eyes.

Jurutreu, the High Priest of the Radechione Catacomb, who serves the Demon of Abstinence.

I muttered softly, looking indifferently at him whom I was facing again.

“Quite an impressive entrance.”

“……”

The old man, looking at me who didn’t seem particularly surprised despite witnessing his ability to neutralize half of the Magic Engineering Corps that had displayed tremendous firepower with two attacks, raised his eyebrows.

“Hmm.”

I turned my gaze to the Magic Engineering Corps scattered around. Their usefulness ended here.

Although the Magic Engineering Corps showed superior power in crushing a large number of enemies, they still had many shortcomings in dealing with a single powerful enemy.

There was no need to keep them here and risk having the remaining half also shattered, needlessly provoking the Cravassia Empire that had shown goodwill.

“Everyone, go down.”

Kki-gi-gig. The armored soldiers began to move in unison at my words. Even carrying their fellow armor that was still intact enough to be salvaged.

“……Ha.”

The old man, looking at me who dared to be leisurely in front of him when he should be calling for reinforcements, let out a small sigh as if in disbelief.

And the next moment. The old man, with a hardened expression, slammed the red staff he was holding onto the ground with a thud and muttered ominously.

“Do you think I’ll just let you go?”

As sparks flew on the ground, a powerful energy began to swirl.

The moment a much stronger heat wave than the previous two surged like a whirlwind.

I drew up the Holy Power within my body and swung the Holy Sword horizontally.

And as if responding to my will, a brilliantly shining barrier of light appeared, spreading along the trajectory of the sword.

Toowoong─!

Smoke and flames began to rise from the barrier that collided with the heat wave containing evil will.

The two forces with opposing energies were tightly connected like a tug-of-war.

Tadak. In the meantime, the Magic Engineering Corps were throwing themselves towards the place they had first climbed up. Although it was an almost vertical cliff, it wasn’t a difficult task for the armor that already far surpassed human physical capabilities.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

The old man’s shout was heard at the same time. The intense heat that filled the vast interior concentrated strongly at one point, pressing against the barrier of light I had unfolded.

Jjeo-jeo-jeok.

The golden barrier started to crack. I quickly calculated the time.

Anyway, my goal was to send all the Magic Engineering Corps safely without using demonic energy. There was no need to unnecessarily continue this disadvantageous tug-of-war.

As soon as I confirmed that the last armor had thrown itself into the gap leading down, I withdrew the Holy Power.

Hwaak. At the same time, a hot blast swept the surroundings in an instant.

After the embers and dust settled. The High Priest’s voice was heard.

“……Not bad. You’re much better than those fools from Mount Calimphus.”

Words spoken with a cold gaze. The old man, looking at me who had succeeded in blocking his attack and sending the soldiers down, had a twisted smile on his lips as he continued.

“It’s a shame for the Church.”

He murmured as he slowly walked towards me.

“To lose a talent like you here.”

Pfft. I chuckled at his words and straightened my posture.

“Ah, as expected.”

Perhaps it was because I had consumed a considerable amount of Holy Power by colliding head-on with a more powerful energy, but my body ached everywhere.

“It’s still not easy with this.”

In a way, it was natural.

Even I thought it was unreasonable to face the High Priest of the Catacomb with the power I had only learned for about a year.

Well, maybe if I had trained for a few decades.

Tak. The old man’s face showed a slight doubt as he looked at me calmly sheathing the Holy Sword.

“Are you giving up?”

The question was asked as he looked at me putting away the Holy Sword, which could be considered the most powerful weapon. I looked at the old man and shook my head with a small smile.

“Not at all.”

A calm reply.

“To give up. That’s hurtful.”

Kwak. Did he sense something strange in my relaxed appearance? I saw him grip his staff tightly.

Although he must have consumed a considerable amount of power by attacking the Grand Temple of Mount Calimphus alone, he seemed to have judged that there wouldn’t be a big problem in dealing with just me.

Koo-goo-goo.

Due to the intense heat emanating from the surrounding lava pond and the mountain itself, the surroundings had become hot again.

“This is the Hall of Flames.”

A low voice was uttered. At the same time, hot flames rose around.

As if responding to the will of the High Priest of the Radechione Catacomb, the most outstanding Flame Sorcerer, the flames in all directions began to blaze fiercely.

“In this place filled with bloody lava.”

The old man’s figure shimmered due to the intense heat. Perhaps due to the shimmering air, the High Priest’s figure looked strangely distorted.

“I am no different from God, you brat.”

Words uttered like a declaration. It contained the confidence that whatever hidden cards I had, they wouldn’t work against him.

An extremely arrogant declaration.

But a mage can exert more power within his domain than outside. Even though he had consumed a lot of energy, he still had the power to back up that arrogance.

However.

“No, no. Jurutreu.”

“……!”

His name suddenly called out. A slight shock appeared on the old man’s face.

There were only a handful of beings on the continent who knew his name. And I, a mere Inquisitor brat, was certainly not included in that list.

“How……?”

Question and doubt.

As if to answer his question, a black energy began to flicker above my head.

An orb containing immeasurable demonic energy and a crown emitting an ominous red energy.

The old man’s face was filled with intense shock as he recalled the memories he had seen long ago and would never forget.

“Astrid!”

The name burst out like a scream. Although his face was still mixed with numerous questions, the figure revealed before his eyes was undeniably clear.

─!

The temperature near me, which had been filled with heat that made it difficult to even breathe, dropped in an instant.

Jurutreu gritted his teeth as he looked at the demonic energy that had engulfed the surroundings according to my will.

Question, shock, and astonishment.

More than all the questions that arose after transcending 500 years, the first thing was that he had to face the returned great Black Mage.

Ppu-deuk.

The outer shell surrounding the old man’s small body crumbled like a shed skin. And from within, a giant form resembling red flames and lava emerged, as if flowing out.

“Astrid─!”

A shout erupted from Jurutreu’s mouth, along with flames, as he revealed his true, grotesquely distorted form, halfway between a Magical Beast and a human.

“I had some inkling that you hadn’t entered eternal sleep!”

Now that the shell that had surrounded him had disappeared without a trace, burned by fire.

Kwadeuk. The old man’s large hands dug into the hard rock of the floor.

A movement as if searching for something embedded within.

Weeing. The moment a black spear, created from my intertwined magical power, flew towards him.

Poo-hwa-aak!

A pillar of lava, pulled out from the ground along with tremendous flames, blocked my magic.

Kwa-a-a-ang. A roaring explosion erupted as the aftershock of the colliding energies shook the ground.

A giant sword of fire in his hand.

The High Priest’s distorted face, holding the very essence of uncontrolled burning flames, was filled with various emotions.

Astonishment. Fear. Excitement.

Soon, a giant wave of flames, pouring out in a crescent shape from the sword he swung, flew towards me.

Hoo-oo-oong.

Facing that hot flame that seemed to burn my entire body if it even touched me slightly, I threw the stone in my pocket into the air and muttered softly.

“Devour it.”

At the same time, the Black Maw, my last fifth legacy, left my hand and began to flash its eyes greedily.

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