Chapter 1451

Careful with thought, quick with action.

Davey promised Aris he would make sure she survived. Even though he had temporarily left the expedition due to the sudden geological upheaval and the goddess's summons, he had no intention of breaking that promise.

Just as he was about to re-enter Troy, he realized he had been moved to a different space, not the original dimensional space of Troy. It didn’t seem like the goddess had deliberately sent him there.

“Well, what does it matter?”

He swiftly glanced over the scene before his eyes. A form of tree roots seemed to be wrapping around a small planet. He felt the energies unique to the Troy dimension from within. Vitality moved through as it traveled from the third moon Thanatos, and from what Davey could tell, a significant amount of that vitality was seeping into those tree roots.

Bzzzt.

When he laid his hand on the core of the dimension, a faint spark appeared, and his fingertip seemed to get sucked in, penetrating beyond the dimension.

Afterward, his entire body turned ethereal. It felt like something was rejecting his interference. Fortunately, he quickly figured out the culprit.

It was the intense mutagenic energy that seemed to be enveloping the dimension—the condensed, destructive energy that created the imps.

He'd been assured the people of Troy would overcome the crisis on their own if left alone. However, he also knew that an enormous number of lives would be wiped out in the process of that victory.

Davey couldn't shake the feeling that something was staring at him. The sharp glare seemed intended to intimidate, silently telling him not to dare interfere, commanding him to back off.

Just then, the surrounding view changed completely, transforming into the landscape of the place Davey had disappeared from.

Direct interference had been rendered impossible by ordinary means for the time being, but Davey quietly moved nonetheless. He felt the expedition wasn’t far away. He lightly sprang forward and entered the area where he felt their presence was, only to find a horrific sight unfolded before him.

He hadn’t been gone for a long time. Yet, he could see that many of them were already dead, and the continent's strongest Transcendent-Class beings—the Great Saintess and the Sword Saint—were far from fine.

The ground was split open, and bizarre tentacles stretched out from the cracks, giving off a horrific aura.

‘Did the beruul curse get them?’

The utterly exhausted Sword Saint was trying to suppress and prevent his skin from turning black after suffering a severe wound.

The enemies were mutated monsters and imp leaders. However, most of the leaders weren’t even moving. In fact, only three of them were moving.

However, one other being, distinct from the leaders, caught his attention.

An imp stood facing Aris, possessing overwhelmingly greater height compared to the imp leaders, which were already much larger than humans.

Frankly, the scene was more of a one-sided massacre than a stand-off.

Corrupted energy constantly poured from the monster, eroding everything around it. It had clearly brought all others except Aris down to the ground.

Davey figured the monster was the Imp Lord, king of the imps.

The beruul curse could not yet corrupt Aris, of course. However, judging by the fact that it was affecting Mary and Girul, both of them were borrowing her power, the future of the expedition wasn’t looking bright.

Their lives were in Davey’s hands. If he didn’t intervene, that’d be the end for them.

The power of the gigantic imp was that strong, beyond the level of power any mere human could handle.

Around that time, Davey saw the power within Aris begin circulating faster. He didn't believe she'd lose her fighting spirit so easily. Not after coming so far with the single-minded resolve to protect others, even at the cost of her own life.

Although her light appeared dim beneath the overwhelming shadow cast by the imp, the light within her burned brighter than he'd ever seen before.

Aris told the Great Saintess she would use Final Light. She seemed to be trying to lay the groundwork for the next generation through her sacrifice.

“You think humanity can still win, even in this situation?” Davey complained to himself. “I don’t see any hope for the human alliance.”

If Aris burned her soul to sacrifice herself and create an opportunity, it would only buy the human alliance a few more moments before falling.

There was a limit to how unbalanced a game could be.

Davey began interfering with the space behind Aris as she prepared her Final Light.

Bzzt. BZZZZT!!

The Imp Lord, which had just finished awakening, was intoxicated with its own power. Elated by its godlike omnipotence, the monster toyed with Aris, but suddenly noticed Davey trying to enter from the outside. It quickly used its power to block him from closing in.

The arrogant flow of power seemed to dare him to try and enter.

Crack!!

As Davey tried to interfere with the space, a powerful current and resistance flowed back through his fingertips.

‘Even now, that Imp Lord is hiding its power.’

Of course, Davey didn’t care about whatever power it could burst forth with.

The Imp Lord spread its power like a barrier, stopping Davey. He in turn drew out his immense divine power and began to interfere directly. A massive repulsion occurred simultaneously, but he didn’t back down an inch. Instead, he burrowed deeper, put his fingers into the dimensional gap, and tore the rift open as if prying it apart.

“Hmph?!”

Creak!! CREAK!!!

The barrier, which had barely managed to hold, reached its limit and ultimately collapsed. Davey stepped through without hesitation to arrive on the battlefield, declaring, “I made a promise.”

‘That I would protect her.’

The moment he revealed himself, Davey saw Aris, shrouded in a dark shadow before him, as well as the gigantic monster pressuring her.

It was an avatar of destruction, devoid of reason. However, he had a feeling that was not all there was to it.

“Da... vey?”

Aris’s eyes widened in surprise at his sudden appearance. He immediately embraced her and poured divine power into her body.

“Uh... Uh? What?!”

Flustered, she awkwardly wriggled as Davey suddenly hugged her. Clearly, she hadn’t completely lost the sensibilities fitting a girl her age. Usually, a child her age would suffer from mental illness after experiencing the cruelty of the battlefield.

Aris dramatically flinched at his sudden actions and the power that seeped into her.

“Hmph?!”

Baffled by the strange sensation, she struggled to break free. Of course, Davey had already expected it, so he held her tight and didn’t let go. He called out, “Hey.”

Aris made a startled face. “W-what are you doing? Are you crazy?!”

Her frantic struggles continued, but he ignored them and suppressed the light explosively building within her, extinguishing it before it could progress any further.

She was shocked. “Wah?”

“Don’t just die carelessly,” he solemnly advised her. “You have a lot of work to do with me from now on.”

After extinguishing all the amplifying energy inside her, he slowly stepped away.

She stumbled, face red, and then her eyes widened. “But, the Final Light...”

Instead of responding, Davey asked, “More importantly, is that the Imp Lord?”

The monster in front didn’t move, as if eyeing its prey.

She realized she had been standing so close to the Imp Lord and screamed in a panic, “Ah! The Imp Lord!!”

At the same time, its sharp, horned tail flew toward Aris and Davey. Mary, whose body was already half-blackened, looked at the two with one eye. “Aris!!!”

But then.

Hearing her scream, Aris quickly swung her sword to protect Davey. Even in such desperate straits, she tried to protect him. Fortunately, the monster ultimately failed to accomplish its goal.

Boom!!!

A golden barrier burst forth from Davey, deflecting its tail.

‘God said not to mess around in her front yard.’

[9th Level Ultimate Holy Magic]

[Saint Sanctuary]

Magic he had not cast in a long time unfolded before them. Like the scattering feathers of an angel, a massive barrier spread out, instantly enveloping and changing the area several hundred meters around the two.

“Oh?”

The immense energy instantly shattered the pressure that had been crushing the expedition, including Aris, and forcibly converted the corrupted mana that had been eroding them back into pure energy.

Not only Mary and Girul, who were members of the party, but the few dying high-level knights and the severely injured Sword Saint and Great Saintess looked at him in astonishment at the massive change.

Mary stared in shock as the curse consuming her body instantly vanished. “Oh?!”

“I feel lighter...”

Struggling to stand up straight, Aris eventually managed to ask, “Davey... did you do that?”

However, he didn’t bother to answer the question. Since Perserque had already noticed him, he didn’t need to bother hiding his strength anymore. Having decided to interfere with the dimension regardless, the issues going forward would be for Willow and Goddess Freyja to resolve, regardless of how the dimension judged things.

Therefore, he didn’t have to worry about it anymore.

“Red Ribbon.”

Following his call, the air cracked like breaking glass, and a red sword emerged.

“Blue Ribbon.”

When he next called Blue Ribbon, the opposite side of the air split, and a blue sword flew out with intent, hovering around him.

Clearly bewildered, Aris asked with disbelief, “Davey... what exactly are you?”

He simply smiled broadly and didn’t say anything. Then, holding Red Ribbon in his hand, he looked at the Imp Lord.

It immediately attacked again, clearly disgusted by the fact that he was challenging it.

“No!!”

“Watch out, Davey!!” Aris reflexively ran forward, deflected its attack, and was sent flying and rolling several times. “Cough... cough, cough...”

Davey just turned to her, curiously asking, “What are you doing?”

“What are YOU doing? Are you planning to die?! That’s the Imp Lord!!! It’s not something a priest can endure...” She struggled to her feet.

‘Well yes, if I was an ordinary priest, I’d clearly be an extreme troll for making our main damage dealer Aris get hurt.’

But.

“I never said I only have the power of a priest, though?”

She looked dumbfounded at his words. “Huh?”

Slash!!!

A chilling metallic sound echoed as Red Ribbon immediately cut off one of the Imp Lord's arms.

Perhaps it had never imagined its arm would be severed. The monster let out a terrible scream and retreated from Davey. “GRAAAHHH!!!!”

If it only had the instinct for destruction and direct combat, it would've charged straight at him. Yet, judging him to be dangerous, it instead retreated without hesitation. It basically flashed away from him, but Davey wasn’t about to let it get away that easily.

Slash!! Squelsh!!!

Blue Ribbon instantly got behind the retreating monster and precisely stabbed its back. It hastily tried to raise its power to defend against the sudden combo, but it was unaware of one fact.

Blue Ribbon was a sword specialized in cutting non-physical energy.

It was completely caught off guard. It had effortlessly blocked the hero’s attack, yet a sword that carried no aura at all struck it before it could even react, somehow sending it flying back toward the attacker.

When it closed to within a certain range, Davey swung Red Ribbon once more. It reflexively tried to raise its power to defend, but Blue Ribbon’s power interfered.

The only defense it had remaining was its tough body, but such physical hardness was useless against Red Ribbon’s sharpness. The monster was massive, but its gigantic body was no use when facing an aberrant monster like Davey.

Davey heard people mutter behind him.

“Am I... dreaming?”

“What the heck...”

He also heard the Sword Saint, the only one who had noticed the secret behind his strike, mutter awestruck, “The trajectory of a sword that has transcended a realm... Wait... Swordmaster? No. That’s not at the simple level of a Swordmaster's swordsmanship...”

* * *

A being born with immense power.

The Imp Lord possessed a powerful force with nothing to fear from the moment of its birth. That arrogance could potentially lead to its downfall, yet considering its ludicrous power, it had good reason to be so arrogant.

However, such a powerful being had both of its arms severed before it could even lift a finger.

“Lost two arms, eh?” Davey said, mocking its arms as they scattered like dust the moment they hit the ground. “Aris.”

“Huh... yes?” she hesitantly replied, apparently still unable to believe the scene before her eyes.

“Conserve your strength. I won't steal the final blow,” he said calmly as he walked toward the Imp Lord.

The Imp Lord, which had stumbled back from Davey, quickly regenerated its severed arms while shaking. Even after just two attacks, the monster seemed terrified, having realized that Davey was the most threatening presence it faced.

Similarly aware, all the remaining imp leaders simultaneously tried to block him from getting close.

“Damn it! They’re trying to interfere?!’

Even the imp leader fighting the Sword Saint turned its back to him and moved to protect its king, collectively forming a wall of flesh surrounding Davey.

Nonetheless, the man in question couldn’t help but put on a cold smile. “Is this some BOGO deal? Or should I say Buy-One-Get-All-Free?”

Honestly, he couldn’t remember how long it’d been since he last had a target he could beat up to his heart's content. Now that he thought about it, it was the Imp Lord’s fault that Perserque had found and beat him senseless.

‘Yeah, that sounds about right.’

Sure, they might feel wronged, but that much didn’t matter to Davey. They’d soon kick the bucket, anyway.

“Aris,” he began. “He clasped his hands together, with Red Ribbon and Blue Ribbon floating in the air.

Boom!!

At the same time, another barrier formed within the Saint Sanctuary ability.

“Watch closely. These are things you’ll have to learn someday.”

Looking at the imp leaders, who were roaring immensely and pouring out attacks, Davey took a short breath and clenched his fist. Soon, a massive wind began to revolve over his hand.

The enormous energy resonated and circulated madly, creating wind that was desperately trying to escape from a confined space, pressure building nonstop.

[Devil Ylgr’s Crowd Suppression]

[Fierce Abdominal Strike]

[Raging Gale]

The hurricane in his hand erupted like a raging whirlwind the moment he threw his punch, releasing its restraints. It carved a massive circular crater into the ground and tore apart everything within its path.

Not a single person was able to find anything to say at the devastating sight.

Move finished, Davey turned back to Aris. “Well, how does that look? Doable?”

Aris strongly shook her head with a dazed expression at his question.

He flicked his finger with a hint of disappointment, and the immense devil energy began to wrap around the shredded imp heads

[In the name of the Death Lord, I command.]

[Rise. Heed my command.]

His red eyes flashed as he shoved both hands into his pockets.

“The lower ranks are about to revolt.”

He felt the Imp Lord greatly flinch.

‘That thing definitely understands human language, that fucking bastard.’