BXBX NOVEL Chapter 518: Rising Light (1)
Chapter 518: Rising Light (1)
How could I describe the battle between the Swordsman of Light and the Fallen Saint?
-We can save you. So… Please endure for a bit longer.
-…
-Just endure it for a bit. You will definitely be able to endure it.
If a person later asked me about the ongoing fight, I would probably answer them with the following:
‘The fight between them was like a scene from mythical tales.’
‘It was so unrealistic that nobody could wrap their minds around it, but I could absolutely sympathize with it.’
‘Because I knew the sufferings they went through, I could understand their pain.’
These were all shallow descriptions, but I had no other choice but to describe it in such a way. Everyone that witnessed it probably had the same thought as I did.
I couldn’t do anything but stare above at the fierce battle happening in the sky.
“They are not humans…”
No, they were indeed humans. Like us, they were the humble creations of God.
“Monsters…”
No, they weren’t monsters. Their powers were comparable to gods, but they were definitely not monsters. Actually, they were more human-like than most humans. Yes, I was sure of their humanity.
In front of that indescribable scene, I unknowingly murmured Benignore’s name and raised my head again.
Although I was still an apprentice priest who couldn’t stand on the same stage, I had to watch and remember that battle for the sake of future generations as a follower of God.
As the Fallen Saint’s magic shrouded the swordsman’s arms, the devastated city overturned again.
With an explosive sound, the swordsman’s body flew away, but he was able to rise again.
Even a normal person, who knew little about the battle, would be able to realize that the swordsman’s body was at his limit, that he should be no longer be able to move his body, and if he continued like that, it could be fatal to him, so he should stop rising back up.
-Surely, this time…
However, the swordsman rose again. With his legs that he couldn’t move well and with his bloody, battered body, he rose again like nothing was wrong with him.
As if spitting out all that amount of blood was nothing to him, he raised his sword again.
-Surely… this time…
It was hard to describe how desperate he looked.
He looked sadder than anyone else, and he looked like he was struggling as if he was carrying a load of baggage. As he grabbed onto his shaking legs, he swung his sword again.
The quiet room fell into an even deeper silence once again.
Everyone, including those who delivered prayers, cried of the world’s end and cursed the demons, maintained their silence.
They all just stared at the sky above them, unable to do anything.
The soldiers amid battle did the same. Even their enemies kept a distance as they continued to watch the battle.
Everyone probably had the same thought.
The Swordsman of Light swung his sword again. The Fallen Saint’s body bounced off to a logically unexplainable distance, and the swordsman moved his immobile legs once again.
Debris scattered, and a thunderous roar could be heard every time his sword clashed with magic. The terrain around them changed shape with every single move of theirs.
How could I fully understand a battle that I couldn’t even see properly?
However…
I clenched my fist tighter as time passed. They were soon reaching their limits. I couldn’t tell if minutes or a couple of hours passed.
Regardless, their battle continued. As the swordsman’s body became more battered, even the magic surrounding him began to lose power.
-We can save him.
-Stop!
-Please wait.
-Stop talking, you piece of trash!
-I will believe.
-…
-As much as you believe, I also believe.
Tears fell out from one side of the Fallen Saint’s face as the swordsman imbued magic into his arm that was losing strength. From the arm that was holding the sword, blood kept dripping. Despite his damaged limbs, he kept swinging.
Could a holy war be more beautiful than that? Which hero could appear like him?
Asking the swordsman to kill him, the Fallen Saint cried out that he didn’t want to be in that form any longer and asked his old friend to end it.
And it was at the moment that I saw them praying beside me.
“Priest-nim.”
“…”
“Honorary Cardinal Lee Kiyoung-nim…”
I couldn’t be sure, but…
“He will surely overcome this. I’m certain of it.”
I couldn’t help but talk optimistically. It was my responsibility to reassure them, after all.
“The Swordsman of Light will surely lead him to the right path. He will guide the Honorary Cardinal on where the right path is and where he should go. That is why they are battling.”
“…”
“That is not the place where you should be, Honorary Cardinal. A place full of darkness, pain, evil, and nightmares do not suit you. Haven’t you always, always led us to the right path before? You have always given guidance to the citizens of this empire where they must go and which path they had to take.”
“…”
“I only think that you’re lost momentarily. In your pursuit of a higher place and values, you lost your way for only a moment.”
“Can he return?”
“Yes, surely, he will. Because…”
“Sunset…”
Yes, it was definitely possible.
That was because the sunset was already enveloping the darkening sky.
“Yes. The Light will lead him back here.”
* * *
“Why did the demons…?”
“Hm… how would I know? Maybe they want to watch too since they find pleasure in experimenting and teasing humans.”
“You mean…”
“They probably want to watch this fight. They probably want to show that their power is stronger than the Light we believe in…”
“What a distasteful hobby.”
As I watched from the top of the castle, I also had a strange, soothing feeling. The battle was already beyond us. If we tried to reach out to help, the battle would surely commence again.
No, before that…
‘It’s mostly because my body still couldn’t move.’
I didn’t have the energy to move my body, and it wasn’t only me. It was the same for all the others. From a distance away, the Red Mercenary leader was breathing hard while leaning against the wall.
The Guild Masters of Black Swan, Park Yeon-Joo, was doing the same. She was watching from afar while healing her wounded leg. The famous Blue Guild members had also gathered in a corner, watching.
It was obvious what normal soldiers would be doing when the empire’s strongest members were in a state like that.
They had already spent more than half of their army for that battle. They had to use that moment as an opportunity to catch their breaths. The command unit had probably issued an order with that in mind.
The demons had already taken at least half of the castle. It was laughable how they couldn’t do anything but place all their hopes on the battle before them.
‘How funny.’
It was like I was no different from a trainee since we were all spectating the battle between the Swordsman of Light and the Fallen Saint.
‘How can they move?”
I was also an experienced adventurer just like them. I understood that they were in a deeper state where they shouldn’t be move than everyone else.
I made a bitter smile, seeing how they continued to fight in their worst conditions. Perhaps, someone had the same thought as me, and I heard a familiar voice from a distance away.
“Is he really human like us? That’s unbelievable. How could they turn the city into ruins with just their battle… and still fight on like that…?”
“Why won’t they be tired? They probably feel like they want to faint even now.”
“Well, that’s probably true…”
“I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to stand if I was in the same state as him. I’m already like this after using a bit of my stamina after running out of magic… you’re probably the same.”
“…”
“Just because he is out of our league doesn’t mean he isn’t tired. He is probably enduring it.”
“…”
“Doesn’t he have a reason why he can’t fall? He probably has a greater reason than a fool like me, who can only think of myself. It is the same for Benignore’s symbol that he’s fighting against.”
“…”
“Sacrificing your life to save another individual isn’t as easy as you think. With that in mind, should we make a bet?”
“I was wondering when you would ask, you stupid, compulsive gambler.”
I turned around to see a familiar face.
‘You survived.’
It was my colleagues, who I went to the pubs with. One guy was Lindel’s playboy, Cannon, and the other one was a third-rate gambler, George. Happy to see them, I raised my hand, but they didn’t seem to pay any attention.
“Do you have to be like this even until the end?”
“Don’t I have to enjoy it even more at a time like this? This may be the last gamble of my life. But that doesn’t mean that I will bet on the losing side. I will bet on the Swordsman of Light.”
“Do you have a special reason for that?”
“What other reason will a third-rate gambler like me have? I just have this instinctual feeling.”
“Don’t say something so idiotic, George. Everyone here knows that your instincts are terrible.”
“We’ll see. I think I’ll be right this time. And…”
“What?”
“Isn’t this a bet that I will win no matter who I bet on? How can I lose in a game where I will win no matter who won between them?”
“Bullshi*t…”
However, my anxiety seemed to lessen with his words. He was a stupid fellow, but he sometimes said something wise like that.
I felt a bit relieved. If everything happened according to what he said, I would take him to the pub and give him all the alcohol he wanted.
With those useless thoughts, I continued to watch. I had to see for myself if he would win that bet.
His instincts were really terrible, though…
“Haha…”
Still, for some reason, I thought he was right.
“Man, his timing is perfect. Doesn’t it look like someone had prepared this stage for him?”
The sunset had already begun to rise with a blinding, red light. I couldn’t stop my lip’s corners from turning upwards.