Chapter 278

Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock—

A clock materialized beneath Theo’s feet, its gears spinning wildly. Mana coursed through his body with unprecedented ferocity, circulating faster than ever before.

“The Lightning Gate is burning.”

He had barely begun to process the insights gained from the Gate of Transcendence before plunging into the Beastlands to prepare for the succession ceremony.

Now, however, the situation was a rare opportunity. Before him stood an opponent strong enough to endure all of his unleashed power.

“A perfect offering.”

Theo fully opened his Nirvana.

[ activated: Expanding perception of the external world.]

At the same time, his Lightning Gate, heart, and dantian—the Triple Core he had forged—began resonating, functioning in perfect harmony unlike anything he had achieved before.

Crackle—

“Constantly hammer yourself,” Kyle’s words echoed in his mind.

A rush of sensation swept over him, bringing clarity to Kyle’s advice.

“Turn the unknown into the known.”

The moment he recalled Kyle’s guidance, Caliburn began to hum, its resonance filling the air.

VROOOOM—

It felt as if the sword itself was urging Theo to wield it. Its cry reverberated in his soul.

Shriiing—

Entranced, Theo drew Caliburn from its sheath.

“Still heavy.”

It felt as though the blade wasn’t fully his yet, but Theo didn’t care. All he wanted now was to release the surging power within him. And if Caliburn was responding so vehemently, there was no reason to hold back.

The blade shimmered with an icy brilliance as Theo swung it directly toward the Second Apostle’s neck.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The blade collided with the black torrent, sparks erupting from the impact.

“It’s cutting through!”

For the first time, the black torrent began to fracture. At the same moment—

VROOOOM! BOOM!

Harald’s massive blow crashed into the torrent’s equilibrium, creating subtle instability. He, too, had adapted to the Apostle’s strength and patterns.

Now, all that remained was to kill the enemy without hesitation.

“You lowly subspecies dare to mock me? I’ll make you pay with your lives!” the Second Apostle roared.

Harald’s bloodlust and fury exploded as he swung his axe with increasing ferocity. He had waited for this moment and refused to temper his emotions. With unrelenting strength, he smashed everything in his path, appearing almost berserk. Yet, his movements were razor-sharp.

Fwooosh!

Adding to the onslaught, Lodbrok unleashed a precise volley of magic aimed at the Apostle’s openings. The tide of the battle was clearly shifting.

“We’re dominating, but it doesn’t feel like victory is near.”

Theo felt a chill run down his spine. They had cornered the Second Apostle, even drawing blood. Yet, there was no hint of panic in the Apostle’s demeanor. If anything, he still exuded an air of composure.

“Apostle or not, this is… unnatural.”

Theo couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss.

“Even after being struck by Lodbrok’s magic, he remains unfazed?”

It was fundamentally wrong. Just as Theo began to piece together his thoughts, the Apostle’s power surged again, his presence growing even more menacing.

“You wretches! I’ll leave you neither alive nor dead, but as sacrifices to mark the end of your pitiful existence!”

Sizzle—

White haze began emanating from the Apostle’s body. The wounds covering his flesh healed at an alarming rate.

Theo immediately realized what was happening.

The Apostle’s resilience to Lodbrok’s magic, his unshaken composure despite being cornered—everything fell into place.

“So that’s it.”

No matter how strong an opponent was, even if their power bordered on the divine, Theo had never encountered something quite like this. There had only been one possibility, but he had dismissed it as too extreme. Now, there was no denying it.

“He’s drawing on innate energy.”

The revelation made everything make sense. While the Apostle was undoubtedly a formidable foe, enduring such relentless assaults was beyond any mortal’s capability.

Theo’s brows furrowed as he glared at the Apostle. If he truly was using innate energy, the nature of the battle was about to shift dramatically.

“Die with the honor of being crushed by me,” the Apostle snarled.

The rasping voice was like nails on metal, grating and unnerving. His oppressive aura grew more stable, its waves more vicious.

The balance of the battlefield tilted once again.

“That arrogant elf bastard is throwing a tantrum,” Lodbrok said with a warning. “Things are about to get much more troublesome. Stay sharp.”

BOOOOOM!

Explosions erupted across the ground, shaking the terrain violently.

Whoooom—

The earth behind Theo began to swell, rising unnaturally.

“The ground is scorching hot.”

The searing heat was unlike anything Theo had experienced, even in the Beastlands’ frigid winter terrain. The ground beneath his feet felt as though it might burn through his boots.

Suddenly, pockets of earth erupted like miniature volcanoes, spewing lava into the air.

BOOM! BOOM!

Though avoiding the erupting ground was manageable, the Apostle wasn’t about to let them off so easily.

“What’s wrong? Staring at a little fireworks display?” the Apostle mocked.

He moved into close combat, the black torrent twisting into claw-like shapes that lunged at Theo and the others. At the same time, the Apostle extended his right hand, conjuring a violet mass of energy.

The space around the energy warped unnaturally as the Apostle murmured an incantation, his mana condensing into a dense, pulsating sphere.

VROOOOM—

A heavy, reverberating sound spread through the air.

“My body feels heavier.”

The weight of the Apostle’s mana pressed down on Theo, making every movement more difficult.

Zzzzing—

Though Theo didn’t feel his mana being drained, the crushing pressure from earlier returned, weighing heavily on his shoulders. It was far worse than before.

“So this is why they say never to set foot in a mage’s domain.”

There was an old adage: never fight a mage on their own ground. Mages imbued their territory with mana accumulated over decades, coupled with intricate traps that made engaging them a perilous ordeal. Entering their domain was tantamount to suicide.

“Hmph. Cunning bastard. So that elaborate formation was just a smokescreen?” Lodbrok muttered, her expression grim as she countered the Second Apostle’s magic.

Despite her best efforts, even Lodbrok was struggling against the Apostle’s relentless use of innate energy, indicating how determined he was to see this through.

Meanwhile, the Apostle remained unscathed, even as molten lava spewed from the erupting ground around him.

Whoooom—

In the distance, a thunderous roar rose as a massive cloud of dust billowed into the air. Trees twisted together like serpents and shot toward their position.

“The Second Apostle plans to end this here.”

Blood vessels burst in the Apostle’s eyes as the overwhelming flow of mana began taking a toll on his body, evidence of internal injuries. Yet, despite this, he pressed forward with even greater fervor, determined to bury Theo and his companions once and for all.

This was far from the plan the Apostle had envisioned. Initially, his net of traps and the self-destruction of the blood priests should have cleansed the area, leaving nothing behind—not even corpses or bloodstains.

But now—

“Kuugh, cough!”

The Apostle spat blood as internal injuries forced him to stagger momentarily. The tide of the battle had reached a stalemate. Even with the power of innate energy, he hadn’t landed a decisive blow to turn the tide.

Fwoosh!

Lodbrok’s mana blast struck the Apostle’s side, searing his flesh and drawing blood.

“Grr…”

The Apostle let out a low groan before bursting into laughter.

“Ha… Haha! If this is a trial from the heavens, then I welcome it!”

His maniacal laughter echoed across the battlefield. The sensations he had long forgotten began bubbling to the surface, a twisted exhilaration coursing through him. To him, this was a divine trial bestowed by his god, a test of his unwavering faith.

Victory would reaffirm his devotion, while failure would bring death—a death he considered an offering to his deity. The concept of defeat or surrender was alien to him.

“If I die, I’ll ensure these enemies become sacrifices alongside me. That alone will please my god.”

Death alone was unacceptable. If he were to perish, he would drag his enemies down with him.

The Apostle began prioritizing his targets.

Lodbrok’s anti-casting disrupted his gravitational magic and continued to hinder his plans. Her sharp strikes and relentless interference were undeniably a major obstacle.

“But ironically, the true threat is him.”

Theo was the one who truly irked him. At every moment, Theo’s relentless attacks aimed for his core, threatening to pierce through.

“You dare test me?”

The Apostle growled, his eyes narrowing at Theo. It was infuriating how Theo withheld his full power, using the battle as a means to grow stronger.

Shlick!

A blade grazed the Apostle’s throat, carving a thin line of blood. Had he been even a moment slower, his head would have been severed.

Theo’s strikes were becoming sharper, more precise, and devastating with each passing second.

“I will kill you,” the Apostle spat, glaring at Theo with blazing eyes.

Whoooosh—

The heavens rumbled. Dark clouds gathered, and lightning crackled across the sky. A fierce wind howled as thunder roared.

Bolts of lightning rained down, and for a moment, it felt like the end of the world.

“So this is the Second Apostle’s true strength.”

Theo couldn’t help but marvel. The Apostle’s mastery of grand magic allowed him to manipulate the very forces of nature, casting one high-level spell after another—a feat unimaginable for most mages. The sheer malice radiating from him was suffocating, a clear testament to his intent to annihilate them, even at the cost of his own life.

The Apostle’s domain, bolstered by his innate energy, was a double-edged sword. Even if he survived this battle, the toll it took on his body ensured he wouldn’t live much longer. His face was already veined with bulging, crimson lines, his appearance grotesque and tortured. Yet he smiled with twisted glee, embodying the essence of the Holy Church’s madness.

“That damn elf is pulling out all the stops,” Lodbrok remarked. “But it doesn’t matter. While I’m here, focus on severing his head.”

She extended her hands, summoning dozens of overlapping magic circles that floated before her, glowing with fierce intent.

“Struggle all you want, you’re all sacrifices in the end!” the Apostle roared.

His aura grew darker, more menacing, but the surrounding mana—previously dense and oppressive—began to wane. Lodbrok’s interference was visibly weakening his hold.

“He’s nearing self-destruction, but…”

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The rhythmic pounding of Theo’s Triple Core reverberated within him, still craving more. And he wasn’t the only one.

“Leave the power struggle to me,” Harald declared.

The Sea Sovereign radiated boundless vigor, showing no signs of fatigue. A half-hearted victory held no appeal for him.

Crash!

The sound of a lightning strike marked the beginning of their synchronized assault. As if prearranged, they moved in perfect harmony, launching a decisive attack.