Chapter 132 — From the Apostle’s Perspective, This Is Too Much

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A wave of red mana bent the grass to its will.

Just as no one would dare defy an absolute being, even nature was crushed under the weight of this mana.

The pressure was so immense that even a grown adult would struggle to withstand it.

But no one here yielded to the Apostle.

With a deep red gleam in his eyes, Mathia swung his hand.

The black flames that had been gnawing at the barrier dispersed.

“These flames… they’re quite bothersome.”

“Come forth, my servants.”

[Call of Death]

Crack! With the sound of shattering glass, a crack appeared in the sky.

As everyone looked up, countless black beams rained down.

The black beams soon coalesced into black masks.

Demons, branded with the numeral ‘I,’ wriggled and took shape.

They all looked like humans, and their forms resembled the Apostle himself.

Phase 2.

It was time to face both the Apostle and his clones.

“Wow… isn’t this a bit much?”

“The mana… it’s identical to that of the Apostle.”

In an instant, they moved and merged into one.

As if the clones were becoming a singular entity, all the clones and the Apostle fused together.

Then, they split apart again.

Originally, the gimmick was to find the real one among four clones, but now there were dozens.

Even four clones had been a tough challenge, but dozens?

Manus was acutely aware that the difficulty of where he stood was far beyond what he had anticipated.

‘I can’t rely on what I already know.’

The patterns were the same, but the timing and combinations of attacks were unpredictable.

The groundwork for his next moves was now clear.

Manus quickly explained the pattern.

“One of those is the real one. Stay alert. All of them have a physical presence.”

“Do we have to attack them one by one?”

“For what?”

Nia finished casting her spell.

Her golden eyes sparkled more than usual.

Alano and Anais shared the same thought as Nia.

Kael cast a wide-area protection spell, while Melanie and Guillermo guarded the left and right flanks.

Manus, Pearson, and Albion stood at the center, catching the attention of the Apostles.

Pearson gulped and glanced at Manus nervously.

“This… it feels like they’re targeting us, Senior.”

“I know. Start casting buffs.”

“Y-Yes, sir!”

Pearson unleashed every buff he knew onto Manus.

A dazzling array of lights enveloped Manus, making him stand out even more.

The Apostles spoke in unison, addressing Manus.

“Yes, it’s you.”

“The calamity of the Tower.”

“The adversary of Death.”

“The leader of the rebels.”

Their jumbled words assaulted Manus’ ears.

Were they trying to cause confusion?

The ceaseless flow of words.

Their enchanting speech was like a sweet drug, trying to lure him in.

But Manus met their gaze with calm, unwavering eyes.

Words.

People said they had power, vitality, and the ability to shape the future.

Words were the most wicked of things, and nothing could more easily sway people than words.

[Caesar’s Mindset]

However, words held no power over those with an unshakable will.

“You will lead the world to ruin.”

“Everyone around you will die.”

“You, more than anyone, should be worshipping the God of Death.”

“Why do you stand there?”

Manus rubbed his ears.

It was as annoying as the buzzing of a mosquito while trying to sleep.

The Apostle knew.

Out of everyone here, Manus was the most dangerous opponent.

But what of it?

With all his skills stacked on top of each other, Manus was far from an easy target.

He brimmed with confidence, knowing he held the upper hand in terms of information.

His strength… should not fall short either.

‘It’s that one.’

Manus had already seen through the Apostle’s true form with the power of his passive skill.

It was a strange sight.

The real one stood out clearly, while the rest appeared like blurry shapes of mana.

Distinguishing between truth and illusion was easier than eating a meal.

The Apostle, oblivious, raised his hand and pointed at Manus.

At the end of that hand, intense flames surged, powerful enough to pose a threat even to Guillermo.

Melanie clenched her teeth as she witnessed this.

“Senior, I’ll-.”

“Leave it. Stay where you are.”

“But-.”

Manus glanced at the anxious Melanie and smiled slightly.

How endearing.

To think she’d be so willing to throw herself into harm’s way for him.

He felt an overwhelming urge to smile, but the mindset of Caesar suppressed it with great effort.

Manus, too, raised his hand.

If this were a game, he would’ve had to endure the attack for one turn.

But since this was reality, he could block as much as he wanted and counterattack as freely as he liked.

Let them come.

“I’m fine.”

“…”

Melanie trusted Manus.

She nodded quietly and focused on the battle ahead.

Once they were prepared, the Apostles launched their attack.

At the same time, Manus counterattacked.

Magic circles exploded into existence as the magic war began.

Simultaneously, the rest of the party unleashed their spells toward the Apostles.

“Let’s wipe them out!”

“Unleash everything!”

[Glacius: Latus]

[Fulgetra: Latus]

[Ignira: Latus]

Flames roared forward.

Ice followed, covering the battlefield, and a storm of electricity surged through.

The Apostles’ barrier trembled violently.

But despite the onslaught, the party’s magic failed to break through.

“Pathetic creatures, die.”

[Flames of Death]

The strongest attack was unleashed directly at Manus.

A red beam shot in a straight line, striking the still-standing Manus.

Kaboom!

The explosion sent dirt, rocks, and grass flying high into the air.

Melanie squeezed her eyes shut.

To take a hit like that head-on!

No matter how strong Senior was, wasn’t that too much?!

“Uwaaah-!”

Pearson tumbled backward, rolling across the ground, and everyone squinted against the blast’s aftermath.

Under normal circumstances, the attack would’ve left one party member near death.

That’s why tanks were crucial, and healers and revivers were just as essential in a party.

Everyone stared at the spot where Manus had stood, their faces filled with concern.

Would he be okay? What would they do if something had happened to him?

Many thoughts raced through their minds.

‘Senior…’

Their hearts called out to him.

And then, a gentle breeze blew.

The wind that cleared away the dust was unmistakably infused with mana.

“So, this is the power of an Apostle.”

Five petals swirled gracefully in the air.

At the center stood Manus, exuding an aura of unparalleled dignity.

Not a speck of dust or dirt touched him.

The countless particles of dust, grass, and stones that had rained down couldn’t even graze him.

The Apostle’s red eyes flickered ominously.

[Aegis]

It was the same spell that had blocked Aden’s previous attack.

Who else at his age could use 5th-Class magic?

Who else at his age could wield such flawless magic?

Anais clenched her fists, recalling a previous incident.

Indeed, that flame…

‘To think he’s already reached the 5th-Class.’

The time when he had burned the serpent’s body to ash.

Even back then, Manus had already reached the 5th-Class.

She had thought he was merely using 4th-Class magic like the rest of them, but clearly, she was wrong.

“Wow! Isn’t that 5th-Class magic?! As expected—! Senior Manus, I always believed in you!”

“Now, it’s my turn.”

Manus cast his second spell.

An ancient, non-elemental magic.

A spell from the constellation Orion detonated in the midst of the enemy ranks.

[Causus]

Like a falling star, a white orb appeared in the air.

It left a long trail as it plummeted down.

Had he manipulated time? Or was this world applying some sort of special adjustment?

Everyone stared blankly at the magic in awe.

Even the Apostle, the target of the spell, gazed dumbfounded at the descending star.

――――――――!

The world turned white.

As if a star had exploded right before them, Manus’ magic swept everything away.

The Apostle’s barrier shattered, and the magical aftershock reached his main body.

“Grrrrrrrr-!”

As a servant of the gods, an Apostle should never fall so easily.

They were beings tasked with delivering divine punishment to those who defied death and spreading the truth of mortality.

That was why they had been given life in the first place.

Because they were Apostles.

“Then, how about this?”

A massive magic circle appeared in the air.

Blood trickled from the corner of Manus’ mouth.

‘I wasn’t told about this penalty.’

No, it wasn’t a penalty but rather a natural consequence.

A pure white magic circle formed in the air.

Every time he inscribed a line of mana into the circle, his veins and nerves screamed in pain.

If there was a river of mana flowing through him, it had all dried up, leaving nothing to draw upon.

What he was attempting now was an act beyond causality, something that should never have been possible.

The Apostle’s face hardened as he watched the magic circle forming in the sky.

“This is absurd—.”

Instinctively, the Apostle launched an attack spell.

An unrefined, hastily cast spell meant purely to disrupt.

Even the most rudimentary spell could deal fatal damage to a mage in the middle of casting.

It’s the fundamental reason mages are positioned at the rear in battle.

And right now, Manus was standing in the heart of the battlefield.

The red beam shot straight at him.

Normally, Manus would’ve been gravely injured.

But—.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

[Aegis: Latus]

[Altus]

Boom!

A blue petal, resembling Kael’s hair, protected Manus.

The Apostle’s attack exploded uselessly, the force of it dissipating in vain.

As his final, desperate attack was rendered null, the Apostle’s mouth gaped in disbelief.

“Well done, Kael.”

Manus gave a deep smile.

A smile so mesmerizing, it could captivate anyone.

From the magic circle, pure white wings emerged into the blue sky.

It was a spell even more splendid and awe-inspiring than [Causus].

A spell that, by all accounts, should never have appeared in this battle.

[Deceptato]

The angel descended, wielding a spear of judgment against the Apostle who spread false teachings.

As always, judgment was something delivered by humanity.

–TL Notes–
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