It was clear at a glance that this opponent was not someone I could face without preparation.
The tremendous power emanated from the four arms before me.
At the very least, it was stronger than a fully equipped Victor.
I would have wanted Mastema to fight this kind of monster. A human being wasn’t meant to battle this bare-handed.
Unfortunately, Mastema wasn’t here, and I was just a human. The Holy Sword wasn’t here either.
‘Who are you?’
A deep, low voice from the four-armed figure questioned me.
‘I told the soldiers not to enter here. Who are you?’
It seemed that from the moment I entered the throne room, I wasn’t mistaken for an ally. I thought I could buy some time with words, but that didn’t seem likely.
‘If you don’t answer, only death awaits.’
‘Would you help if I asked for it?’
‘Absurd. Your death is already certain.’
It seemed it had no intention of engaging in a proper conversation.
‘…You’re using some strange technique, as though there’s someone here who shouldn’t be.’
The four-armed figure looked at me suspiciously as it spoke. It seemed to find my presence here through the Angel’s Trial unnatural.
‘I cannot let you live.’
The four arms each took up a weapon. Even that alone imposed tremendous pressure on me.
I gripped my sword and took a step back.
The door I entered through was somehow closed. No escape, then.
This four-armed creature must be the real challenge of this trial. One of the arms holding a spear moved.
With its enormous body, naturally, its reach was long. Distance was irrelevant as the sharp thrust of the spear came straight at me.
Blocking it was impossible. There was too much of a power gap even to deflect it slightly.
I rolled sideways with all my strength. Dodging the spear, I saw another arm, holding a sword, swing down at me.
And it didn’t stop there. The arms holding a mace and an axe also began to move.
From a human’s perspective, it was nothing short of unfair. From the outside, it must have looked ridiculous as I leaped and rolled around to evade its relentless attacks.
In the blink of an eye, the throne room began to crumble into ruins.
‘Annoying.’
The four-armed figure muttered as it pursued me.
Unable to avoid it, I braced the mace with the flat of my sword. My body was lifted.
I was slammed against the wall.
‘Gah!’
Air was forced from my lungs, and pain shot through my entire body.
I couldn’t stand up right away. The four-armed figure was approaching.
Next to me lay a girl on the verge of death. As she opened her eyes slightly, I noticed her irises glimmered in an unusual rainbow hue.
This girl was no ordinary person, either. Despite her shallow breaths, her wounds were healing rapidly.
‘Who are you…?’
‘An adventurer.’
‘Why are you here? You should flee.’
‘Unfortunately, it seems escape is impossible now.’
The door wasn’t just shut—it was sealed with some kind of magic.
Maybe with time, I could break it open, but there was no way the four-armed figure would allow that.
‘Can you fight?’
‘The wounds are deep… but if I had just a bit more time…’
Unlike the man with the hatchet, I had no chance of winning against this four-armed creature head-on. I needed this girl to join the fight.
‘How long do you need?’
‘Five minutes.’
‘Got it.’
My body, finally able to move after the impact, shifted.
(My recovery is faster than I thought.)
Feeling warmth, I took out the necklace from my pocket, noticing it faintly glowing. It seemed to be aiding my recovery.
‘That necklace… Has Liese perished?’
‘No, I let her escape.’
‘I see. Thank you.’
The girl closed her eyes, likely focusing on recovery.
I had regained enough strength. I placed the necklace in her hand and rose again.
The four-armed figure was already closing in. Although the girl’s appearance hadn’t changed, it was likely aware she was starting to recover.
I had to make sure it focused on me.
‘…Hey.’
I called out, but the four-armed figure had no desire for dialogue.
‘Why are you doing this? Aren’t you an apostle of a god?’
‘This is a holy war.’
Finally, the four-armed figure answered.
‘If you do not understand the will of my god, it would be a mercy for you to perish.’
‘You really won’t negotiate?’
‘Why would I negotiate with a heretic?’
Its expression was one of incomprehension.
So, that’s the kind of god it worshipped.
It seemed to be a god who couldn’t tolerate the existence of other gods or their followers.
‘It must be hard to be a follower of your god, always risking purges over the slightest matters.’
I had struck a nerve. For the first time, the expressionless face of the four-armed figure twisted slightly.
‘My god has shown mercy time and again. To those foolish enough not to heed it, there will be no forgiveness.’
‘Mercy, huh.’
Mercy, in a religious sense, was simply a one-sided imposition. ‘Bestowed,’ just another word for arrogance.
I tightened my grip on my sword.
‘A god should just be there, doing nothing. Leave us be.’
If merely receiving prayers wasn’t enough, then they were beyond human capacity.
I moved to the side of the four-armed figure, away from the girl.
The four-armed figure hesitated briefly between her and me, then decided to prioritize the one mouthing off.
The ferocious assault began again.
Any direct hit would be fatal, leaving me like those knights’ corpses on display.
But I wasn’t a stranger to mortal combat.
I filled my mind with excitement and euphoria, warding off fear.
Dodging the four-armed figure’s attacks with enhanced agility, I counterattacked with my sword.
Blood trickled from a minor cut. It seemed this apostle wasn’t completely invulnerable.
That was a relief, but shallow wounds would heal quickly.
Suddenly, light shone from the blue eyes of the four-armed figure.
I reflexively averted my gaze, and part of my hair was singed by the beam. The light hit the wall behind, melting it from the intense heat.
The four-armed figure’s eyes shone again, but I had no time to dodge.
I deflected it with the flat of my sword. The knight’s sword blocked the light, but it heated up rapidly, turning red-hot.
Any longer, and I wouldn’t be able to hold it.
I tilted the sword and rolled to the side.
The heat had transferred to my hands, burning. If I had been a second slower, I would have been scorched.
The sword’s blade was glowing red-hot when the arm with the axe came in for a follow-up.
As the axe struck the sword, the blade bent.
I instinctively released my grip, and the warped sword was flung to the ceiling.
The four-armed figure’s face returned to its blank expression. It seemed to believe it had won.
But I had bought enough time.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the girl, who had been at death’s door, rise to her feet.
