The World After the Bad Ending - Chapter 110



Challenge the Paladin

In the forest where the saintess’s assassination almost took place.

I barely arrived there, gasping for breath.

I ran like my life depended on it to get there on time.

When I glanced back, I saw the saintess, Akrede, with handprints on her neck.

She was looking at me with an expressionless face.

It was just like her to not even let out a groan despite being strangled like that.

‘To be precise.’

It should be said that it was like another her.

“Saintess, couldn’t you have at least resisted?”

Even at my first question, she stood up without changing her expression.

“The blessing doesn’t fully manifest against the cardinal.”

As she said, there was a reason Akrede couldn’t use her power against Centriol.

Blessings tend to cancel each other out.

Although Akrede was a saintess, her opponent was also a cardinal who had reached the level of a paladin.

He was merely in the process of falling from grace.

He was still active as a cardinal of the Holy Order.

It was nearly impossible for Akrede to defeat him with pure strength alone.

‘More than anything.’

I am the same.

A Paladin recognized by the Holy Order is not just any Paladin.

A Paladin is a title given to the three strongest holy knights of the Holy Order.

An enemy that an academy student cannot even dream of facing.

A moment ago, he didn’t notice me because he was consumed by murderous intent and anger towards Acrede.

But there won’t be a second time.

“I’ve already used today’s Heavenly Dragon Transformation.”

The Heavenly Dragon Transformation I used to raise Isabel.

No matter how strong I am, using it twice in one day would leave my body in ruins.

In other words, I have to face the Paladin without the Heavenly Dragon Transformation.

Centriol cracked his neck and slowly stood up.

His face was unscathed, without a single wound.

According to the original plan, Centriol was supposed to injure himself and retreat.

But things got complicated when I brought Baekmokgong.

“Baekmokgong is still in battle.”

Mysticism doesn’t just sit back and take hits.

They must be using their own mysteries to somehow counter Baekmokgong.

Mysteries are so varied that they are difficult to deal with.

Even for Baekmokgong, it takes some time.

“Are you a student of Jerion Academy?”

Centriol seemed to know about me.

“You handle the magic of the ancient dragon.”

White sparks flew from the sword he drew.

As the blessing manifested, a fierce flash flickered.

“It wouldn’t be a problem to execute you right now.”

“Does someone blessed by the gods oppress children?”

“There is no age in crime.”

A criminal is a criminal, regardless of age.

“Saint.”

I stood in front of Acrede and quietly called her.

“`

“Can you use the blessing extensively?”

“I can.”

Okay.

There’s a chance.

I took a deep breath and clenched my fists tightly.

The Holy Order’s greatest paladin.

Paladin.

Let’s see how far I can go against him.

The remnants of the ancient dragon cast a shadow over my right eye.

At the same time, a white frost formed in my grip.

At that moment, Centriol moved.

With a single step, the distance between us closed in an instant.

As if a giant had taken a step.

An overwhelming force from him swallowed me whole.

Goosebumps spread all over my body.

Instinct screamed at me to run away.

As expected, a paladin.

An academy student is no match.

However.

Flash-!

With a burst of light from behind, the blessing of the area descended.

The surrounding scenery turned white, and white trees fluttered in the wind.

Behind me stood a woman with platinum blonde hair flowing, her hands clasped together.

Narea of the Sacred Ark.

A saint created by the goddess herself.

The goddess’s radiant blessing covered the entire area.

At the same time, the situation changed drastically.

The explosive spirit I felt from Centriol disappeared.

The giant figure that had seemed so immense now appeared smaller.

As mentioned earlier, the goddess’s blessing cancels out other blessings.

“`

The blessing of the goddess bestowed upon the saintess is of a higher rank than that of the cardinal.

Just as Centriol nullified the saintess’s blessing and subdued her with brute force earlier.

At this moment, the blessing of the goddess descending upon him was also nullified, leaving only brute force.

But I am different.

My body has never once received the blessing of the goddess.

There is nothing to be nullified.

Centriol’s charging speed has slowed compared to before.

I can keep up with this.

Ka-aaang!

A sharp metallic sound echoed as Centriol’s sword clashed with the edge of my hand.

My body is currently based on the body of steel.

As a result of adding the coldness of the ancient dragon, its strength has increased significantly compared to before.

And that’s not the end.

My left hand shot up towards Centriol’s empty chest.

Centriol pulled his body back, pivoting on his hind legs.

My sword barely grazed his collar.

Srrrk!

The edge of Centriol’s collar was cut off by my fingertips.

His eyes widened slightly.

All I did was swing my hand.

It felt as if the collar had been cut by a sword aura.

My hand is imbued with the magic of the ancient dragon.

It constantly freezes the surroundings in an invisible form of cold.

As a result of shaving off such coldness very thinly.

I was able to obtain cutting power that I never had before.

Now, my hand is not just a blunt weapon with only piercing power like before.

It can also perform the role of a sword.

I step forward, digging into Centriol’s chest.

The edge of my hand reached out, chasing him.

Compared to a sword, which requires a large motion to swing, I don’t need much movement.

That means there are not many restrictions on actions.

‘Now is the decisive moment when Centriol has not yet adapted to the state without blessings.’

The moment I tried to thrust my hand blade into Centriol’s neck.

I saw him drop the sword he was holding.

Centriol’s hand instantly wrapped around my arm.

By the time I realized what it was, it was already too late.

Divine Martial Arts.

It is a martial art created by the Holy Order to fight against evil to the end, even without a sword.

The goddess’s blessing was only an addition to Centriol.

His true strength lay in the training and combat skills he had accumulated as a paladin.

Vwoom!

As my body floated in the air, Centriol spun his foot around.

Boom!

“Ugh!”

Soon, I was slammed to the ground, and pain surged from my back.

The ground shattered into pieces from the sheer force.

Having a body of steel grants much greater defense than others.

But even so, a body is still a body.

It is vulnerable to attacks that apply this kind of shock.

Centriol noticed this fact from the previous clash and acted immediately.

Centriol twisted my arm, which was pinned to the ground.

It was clear he intended to break it.

Though I was disoriented from the shock, my judgment was quick.

A magical seal activated from the elbow that Centriol grabbed, emitting light.

Boom!

Following the engraved explosion magic, my arm shot up into Centriol’s chest.

My grip tightened around Centriol’s collar.

‘Remnants of the Ancient Dragon!’

Soon, the cold air that poured out of my body rushed towards Centriol.

Crackling!

Centriol’s head was engulfed by the ancient dragon’s frost, freezing solid.

Thud!

At the same time, a deafening roar erupted from my right arm.

Even with his head frozen, Centriol managed to twist my arm.

My arm, reinforced with the magic of the ancient dragon and the body of steel.

To break it like that, it was an insane strength.

From a lying position, I kicked Centriol’s stomach and rolled away on the ground.

My broken arm dangled limply.

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Cold sweat ran down from the excruciating pain in my arm.

But having endured various situations recently, I had learned how to withstand pain.

Moreover, I was not alone here.

The goddess’s touch graced my arm.

The shattered arm began to return to its original form in an instant.

The excruciating pain vanished completely.

It was Acrede who healed my arm.

She was still praying with her eyes closed.

But no matter how powerful Acrede was.

It was not easy to pour out enough blessings to offset the Cardinal’s blessing.

Cold sweat beaded on her forehead.

Even in that state, it was remarkable that she healed my arm.

‘Time is running short.’

She was giving her all, but so was the opponent.

Clang!

Meanwhile, Centriol, who had shattered the ice on his face with his hand, raised his head.

Between the falling ice shards from his face, his eerie eyes appeared.

Centriol stomped on the hilt of the sword lying on the ground.

The sword bounced up and was caught in his grip again.

Facing Centriol, I caught my breath.

Even without the goddess’s blessing, he was such a monster, the title of Paladin was not given in vain.

Honestly, it seemed less hopeful than with Nikita.

‘Then.’

By any means necessary, I must win.

Without considering the odds, I charge head-on. That’s my creed.

I extended my hand forward.

Centriol responded by gripping his sword and pushing off the ground.

The distance between Centriol and me closed in an instant once again.

I must not recklessly dive into his embrace like before.

Even if I do, I will only fall victim to his divine martial arts again.

Centriol’s sword surged upward from below.

I crossed my hands and caught the sword.

Centriol didn’t stop there and drew a sword path.

The holy knight’s swordsmanship formed, and heavy strikes followed one after another.

The force was enough to make my blocking arms tingle.

I stepped forward to escape his sword path.

Centriol stomped on the foot I extended to draw his sword path.

The magic seal of explosion activated from my elbow.

My left fist touched the end of the hilt Centriol was about to swing.

Kaang!

The impact twisted the trajectory of his intended swing.

I pulled my right shoulder back while maintaining the posture of swinging my left arm.

At the same time, the magic seal of explosion activated once more on my right elbow.

Puh-ung!

With the sound of an explosion, my body leaned back, and my right hand shot forward like a projectile.

Centriol, who had already let go of his sword, tried to wrap my arm once again.

The same situation as before.

However, this time, an unexpected variable mixed into the situation.

Whirr-

The bandage wrapped around my arm partially unraveled due to the explosion’s impact.

At the same time, the reach of my right arm changed in an instant.

In the form of Hanon, my arm is short.

However, my arm, which resembles Bicammon’s, is much longer.

Thunk!

Centriol’s hand, which had tried to grab Hanon’s arm, slipped and missed.

Centriol’s eyes widened.

Even a paladin with countless battle experiences was caught off guard.

The moment his surprised eyes met my eyes, which held a sly smile.

The light of the explosion magic engraving spread fiercely behind my back.

The synergy of magic engraving and mystery.

A massive explosion.

As the explosion rose like a halo, my battle cry burst out.

My right arm, caught in the explosion, roared as it shot towards Centriol.

Thwooom!

A move created by adding variables to variables.

That move was the strongest knight, the paladin.

It was the moment it pierced through Centriol.