Solo Max-Level Newbie - Chapter 427: The Saintess’s Duty (1)

‘Thump! Thump! Thump!’

Jinhyuk’s heart pounded rapidly.

It wasn’t because he had encountered a divine being from the upper floors.

It wasn’t because one of the ancient dragons stood before him.

Not even when he was surrounded by primordial gods did he feel such overwhelming pressure.

“Kang Jinhyuk, the Hero?”

That damned Tuna Sushi kept pressing him relentlessly.

‘Bzzzt!’

Even the little vampire queen inside the ring was ramping up her tantrum.

‘…Honestly, fighting the Kraken would be less stressful.’

If he agreed to one side’s demands, the other side would become impossible to handle.

But doing nothing wasn’t an option either; it would mean losing both sides entirely.

Caught between a rock and a hard place, Jinhyuk slowly opened his mouth.

“If I am deemed to have the qualifications of a true hero… then I shall abide by the laws of the merfolk, as Your Majesty wishes.”

He needed to buy some time.

Even if the queen’s laws seemed absurd, it wasn’t as if she’d force him into marriage immediately.

“…Such humility.”

Fortunately, the queen took his words as a positive gesture.

“I thought humans were a species driven by desires… but are you saying your duty as a hero outweighs even Her Majesty’s favor?”

“Humans aren’t all bad, after all.”

“I must reflect on my doubts.”

“Indeed, he is the epitome of a hero.”

Even the ministers seemed stirred.

While this was a life-or-death matter for Jinhyuk, they were interpreting it entirely differently.

At least, the situation with the merfolk had been defused.

The problem was…

[‘The Ring of Braham is being forcibly released!’]

The other side wasn’t convinced.

‘Rumble!’

Scarlet energy swirled within Atlantis as Alice, having gathered every last bit of magic, manifested in her original form.

“You… filthy anemones! Who decided anyone’s having heirs with whom?! I’ll turn you all into bugs!”

Alice began to rampage.

“A vampire?”

“A high-ranking one at that! But how is a pureblood even here…?”

The royal guards immediately drew their weapons.

As magic circles overlapped and spells activated, chaos erupted in the hall.

Naturally, suspicion fell squarely on Jinhyuk.

“Surely, you’re not….”

“…”

If this continued, the narrative would turn into one where a supposedly righteous hero had allied with a wicked vampire.

The merfolk’s support would be out of the question.

That had to be prevented at all costs.

With a determined expression, Jinhyuk pulled out Barnard.

The subtle glow of the [Blessings of the Stars] activated as an extra measure.

“A vampire? Never seen one before.”

Years of honing his poker face and acting skills in battle shone through.

The key was to tilt his head slightly, about 7 degrees, for effect.

“You didn’t know, Hero?”

“Of course not. Mosquitoes are annoying in summer, but I didn’t expect them to invade underwater too. Let’s exterminate it quickly, shall we? Such impudence in a sacred place.”

[Magic power is being restricted.]

Jinhyuk cut off all the magic flowing to Alice.

“Huh?”

‘Poof!’

Alice’s body shrank back to her tiny form.

“Even a vile vampire cowers before the hero! Chase it down immediately!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

The soldiers, now incensed, rushed forward.

“Kyaaa!”

Alice darted between the pillars, desperately evading capture.

“So, the support is guaranteed now, correct?”

“Yes. We will summon our finest warriors to aid you.”

Truthfully, Jinhyuk dreaded the backlash Alice would bring later.

But… well, that was a problem for future Jinhyuk.

He resolutely ignored Alice’s anguished cries that echoed with a mix of desperation and fury.

—

‘Crack… snap!’

Onboard the Pain Pirates’ ship, Aruty watched as his fleet was obliterated. Unable to contain his rage, he smashed everything within the cabin.

“Squeak! Screeeech! Aaargh! What the hell is going on?! Why?! Why?!”

Expensive ceramics and antique wooden tables were reduced to rubble.

Then, suddenly…

‘Wooooong!’

A portal glowing with green light appeared within the cabin.

That aura…

Could it be?

Aruty’s pupils shook violently.

There was no doubt.

A high-ranking administrator was coming.

“…”

‘Step.’

A figure appeared, radiating an air of displeasure.

The high-ranking administrator ‘Hastings,’ resembling a goblin, stepped through.

This was the very being at the top of the command hierarchy for this operation.

“Squeak! Squeak! Y-you’ve arrived?”

“Aruty.”

“Y-yes!”

“You were provided with ample resources. You were even connected with the Gandara Guild, which holds the support of the Angels, not to mention the Pain Pirates and the Spear of Atlantis. If I’ve said anything incorrect, feel free to correct me.”

“N-no, sir.”

“Of course not. Because it’s all true. So then…”

Hastings snapped his fingers.

The shattered fragments of the ceramics on the floor floated into the air.

“How could you botch this so badly? You couldn’t even stall the enemy?”

‘Crash!’

The shards smashed into the wall next to Aruty, leaving it in tatters.

“Squeee! I-I’m sorry! I’ve committed a grave sin….”

“There’s no need for apologies. Fortunately, even a maggot like you still has a role to play.”

‘Crrrumble!’

The floor of the cabin began to disappear.

Beneath them, the vast ocean spread endlessly.

And below the surface, an enormous shadow loomed.

“Squeak! Kraken?! Surely you don’t mean….”

“Yes. To stop him from meddling further, we must hasten the Apocalypse. You and your crew will serve as sacrifices for the Kraken’s awakening.”

‘Splash! Splash!’

A dozen hamsters plunged into the water, one after another.

“Uwaaa!”

“Squeee!”

The previously calm waters began to ripple.

At last, it was stirring.

A calamity capable of annihilating an entire floor.

—

‘Krrrummmble… BOOM!’

The sky darkened as if painted black.

The sea mirrored the ominous atmosphere, like the calm before a storm.

“Almost there.”

“Just a little more, push harder!”

The raid leaders of each guild in the allied fleet shouted until their voices cracked.

It had been over five grueling hours since the fight against Gigantdalos began. Finally, the long battle was nearing its end.

Thanks to their relentless efforts, the tide had gradually turned in their favor.

‘Boom! Boom!’

Various spells flew through the air in chaotic patterns.

‘Kieeek!’

Gigantdalos roared as massive flames engulfed its body.

Even after hours of wearing it down, the beast’s fierce resistance was astounding.

‘Damn those murderous twins… How many ships have sunk because of them?’

The battle had been made even harder by the withdrawal of the European forces, including Maria, and the Red Fang Guild led by Oh Ji-won.

A middle-aged man clenched his teeth in frustration.

Lothain Pelliani of the Holy Cross Order, one of the paladins directly under the Vatican, had planned to use this raid to solidify the Holy Cross Order’s reputation across nations.

‘At least Teresa has exceeded expectations. She’s been our best card so far.’

Additionally, they had secured support from the divine beings associated with ‘Eden.’

Failure was not an option in this scenario.

However…

‘Wooooong!’

A strange sound cut through the battlefield, piercing Lothain’s ears.

“Did you hear that…?”

Lothain walked to the railing.

From the depths of the sea came a low, beastly wail.

Amidst the fierce battle, the eerie sensation prickling his skin demanded urgent attention.

“Deputy Commander?”

“What’s the matter?”

The paladins near him approached.

“Don’t you feel…?”

Lothain’s doubt turned to horror.

‘Krrrumble!’

From beneath the waves, a massive shadow appeared.

‘SPLASH!’

A colossal spray of water erupted.

“GROOOOAAAR!”

A tentacled behemoth of unimaginable size wrapped itself around Gigantdalos in an instant.

‘Kieeek! Keek!’

The once-ferocious Gigantdalos was dragged under the waves without even a chance to resist.

‘Crunch! Snap!’

The sea turned crimson in mere seconds.

The entire event unfolded in under ten seconds.

“What the… what is that?!”

“I-it’s the Kraken!”

Shouts of terror erupted from the fleet.

The mythical monster they had never faced before.

Even for the battle-hardened raiders who had conquered numerous bosses in the Tower, this was beyond comprehension.

Fight it?

That wasn’t even an option.

Every instinct screamed at them to flee immediately.

But could they even escape?

At the Kraken’s speed, it was doubtful if even 3% of the fleet would make it back to shore.

Someone had to be a sacrifice.

Yes, a decoy to buy time for the fleet to retreat.

And if that sacrifice could elevate the Holy Cross Order’s prestige, even better.

Lothain’s hesitation didn’t last long.

“Summon Teresa.”

—

The fleet retreated, leaving the vast ocean empty except for a single ship floating alone.

“Foolish. Are you really planning to die here?”

A voice from another personality spoke.

Teresa didn’t respond.

She simply gazed ahead with a resigned expression.

“If I don’t stay, thousands of people will die.”

She had to buy time.

Enough for everyone to escape.

“And the Zion Guild and the Holy Cross Order have promised to act.”

The descent of the Archangel.

If they could make that happen, even against the Kraken, there was hope.

“Believing in such nonsense… You’re the biggest idiot I’ve ever seen. You know that, right?”

“Yes… I think so too.”

Teresa smiled faintly, her voice weak.

‘Shudder.’

Her white armor trembled lightly.

Facing imminent death, her composure began to waver.

‘Krrrumble!’

Even the currents caused by the Kraken’s mere movement were enough to generate tsunamis.

The monster was now only a few meters away.

And then…

‘Boom! Boom! Boom!’

The sea split apart.

A massive tentacle rose, towering as though to block out the sky.

The sheer size of it defied reason, like dozens of skyscrapers stacked together.

Its enormous suckers wriggled endlessly.

“ROOOOAR!”

The deafening roar felt like it would rip her eardrums apart.

“…”

But Teresa barely managed to steady herself, opening her subspace inventory.

What emerged was a pure white flag.

It was a relic once possessed by one of the Tower’s heroes.

[The relic is being activated!]

A brilliant light enveloped her as the memory of a hero merged with Teresa’s body.

The Saintess of Salvation, Jeanne d’Arc.

Born in a small village, she was an ordinary girl who one day received a divine revelation from an angel.

Whether the revelation was real or fabricated, no one could say for sure.

It was likely a fabrication—an invention of the nobility seeking a beacon of hope.

But Jeanne believed it.

At least, she believed she had received the angel’s revelation.

Whether it was true or a convenient lie…

Jeanne became the symbol of victory and reclaimed lost territories.

An unnamed girl from a rural village saved a crumbling nation.

But her story didn’t end in triumph.

A saintess more popular than the king was dangerous in peacetime.

Ultimately, the hero of salvation was branded a heretic.

A tragic tale.

[The hero’s memory continues.]

The scene shifted.

A towering pyre.

A girl bound to the stake.

No longer a saintess.

No longer a hero.

Just a fragile human awaiting death.

Yet.

Even in her final moments, she remained true to her role as a saintess.

That was why she was called by the stars.

[The hero ‘Saintess of Salvation’ seeks permission to activate the special ability ‘Devotion Embodiment.’]

Thus, the ‘Blessings of the Stars’ was also a curse.

The divine power, fueled by the caster’s sacrifice, would ultimately consume even its wielder.

What remained was whether the successor to the saintess’s name would make the same choice.

To that question…

“I’ll accept it.”

Teresa unleashed her magic.

[Unique Holy Chant is being activated….]

There was no hesitation.

Not before the Tower of Trials appeared, and not after it did.

Her wish for the happiness of everyone around her had never changed.

[‘White Flame’ has been activated!]

‘Whoosh!’

The sacred fire.

Blinding white flames began to engulf the surroundings, illuminating everything.