Solo Max-Level Newbie - Chapter 428: The Saintess’s Duty (2)

The darkness lifted.

A single ray of light broke through the storm clouds.

Even the raging waves grew calm.

‘Krrrumble!’

The purity of Teresa’s magic, burning through her very being, was unmatched.

‘Thud!’

Teresa planted ‘Jeanne d’Arc’s Banner’ firmly into the deck.

[The Hero-Exclusive Skill ‘Miracle of Orléans’ has been activated!]

[By the power of Orléans, the defense of all ships has increased by 1000% for 10 minutes!]
[Magic resistance has increased by 100%, and morale has risen by 200% for 10 minutes!]

A golden barrier spread across the ship.

It radiated an unyielding resolve to never back down, no matter the circumstances.

“You will not pass through here,” Teresa declared.

Like a solitary lighthouse standing against a storm, the last saintess stepped forward to fulfill her duty.

‘ROOOOAR!’

The Kraken let out a ferocious roar.

The atmosphere trembled from the sound.

As if irritated by the dazzling light and holy energy, one of its massive legs crashed down toward the barrier.

‘BOOOOM!’

The enormous impact struck the shield.

Cracks spiderwebbed across the golden wall.

As expected of the harbinger of the Apocalypse, even a simple attack from the Kraken was on an entirely different scale.

However…

“…”

Teresa endured the blow.

Although the ship swayed violently, it did not break.

Naturally, the Kraken was not pleased by such defiance from what it deemed an insignificant being.

‘Krrrumble…’

The Kraken’s numerous legs coiled around the ship, ready to crush it completely.

At that moment…

‘Tap.’

Teresa leaped forward.

Kicking off the ship, she landed on one of the Kraken’s legs and swiftly swung her sword.

Divine energy flickered along the blade.

‘Slash!’

Several deep wounds appeared on the Kraken’s leg.

Even with its incredible defenses, the Kraken could not fully withstand Teresa’s strikes imbued with the power of the ‘White Flame’.

Blood spurted from the cuts.

Teresa gracefully leaped toward another leg.

Her movements were swift, leaving afterimages as she dodged the tentacles attempting to snatch her.

‘Tap!’

[Lv19 ‘Holy Name’ has been activated!]
[Lv24 ‘Holy Name’ has been activated!]

Two distinct auras gathered on Teresa’s blade.

The holy energy of Teresa and Jeanne d’Arc combined.

A pair of golden crosses appeared, radiating brilliance.

‘BOOM!’

“GRRAAAH!”

One of the Kraken’s legs was shredded into a mangled mess.

The wounds inflicted by the divine energy worsened rapidly.

The Kraken writhed in pain, letting out a deafening roar filled with fury.

It wasn’t because the injury was severe.

It was the mere fact that a lowly human, whom it regarded as less than an insect, had managed to harm it.

That fact alone infuriated the Kraken.

It retaliated with overwhelming force.

‘CRUNCH!’

The bottom of the ship was destroyed in a single blow.

Not even the barriers created by the ‘Miracle of Orléans’ or the layers of magic could save the vessel.

[The deities of Eden remain silent.]

Though she cried out repeatedly, Eden’s divine beings did not respond to Teresa’s call.

The reason was unknown.

For whatever reason, the angels chose silence.

Teresa steadied her resolve.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

Her goal was to buy time.

Defeating this monster was never even a consideration.

Now, all she could do was use the scattered debris to keep dodging and hold the Kraken’s attention.

Balancing on a piece of floating wreckage, Teresa prepared herself.

…It’s coming.

‘Krrrumble!’

From below the surface, the Kraken’s legs moved like colossal buildings rising from the depths.

The sheer size was paralyzing.

Fear threatened to freeze her body.

‘Tap!’

But she moved.

Trusting in Jeanne d’Arc’s blessing and the power of the ‘White Flame’, she resolved to fight until the very end.

It was the only thing she could do.

—

“A saintess… how irritating.”

Hastings, who had been observing everything from above, gnawed at his nails incessantly.

He wanted to wipe out the humans and eliminate all the minor variables, but…

Teresa was ruining his plans.

The fact that she had gained recognition from Jeanne d’Arc, a hero even the gods and administrators found challenging to deal with, only added to his frustration.

“A fool immersed in heroics and sacrifice paired with her idiotic successor… what an infuriating combination.”

Every second mattered, yet Teresa was buying far too much time.

And then there was Jinhyuk, whose whereabouts were still unknown.

The Kraken’s appearance should have guaranteed an unchangeable outcome, but…

Why did he feel so uneasy?

He couldn’t sit still.

Hastings had seen Jinhyuk destroy countless meticulously crafted plans in the past.

“Damned Tiamia. If only she weren’t tied up, I wouldn’t have to resort to this.”

The bones of the ancient dragon, Tiamia—along with Excension—were supposed to be the ultimate weapon.

Had the plan gone as intended, it would have been their trump card against any foe.

However, infighting among the ancient dragons and elders had delayed its completion.

Their factions, vying for the position of successor, had turned the upper echelons into chaos.

For now, Hastings was forced to rely on the Kraken.

He tapped anxiously on the window.

“I’ve spent over a thousand years climbing to this position. I won’t let a single human topple everything I’ve built.”

The thought of losing his rank as a high-ranking administrator—or worse, his life—sent a cold shiver down his spine.

—

‘BOOM!’

“Aagh!”

Amid the chaos, Teresa’s body was flung into the air by the Kraken’s relentless attacks.

She had dodged as long as she could, but her strength was reaching its limit.

“Hah… hah…”

Her breathing was ragged.

Even ‘Jeanne d’Arc’s Banner’ had lost its initial brilliance.

Still…

She had bought a considerable amount of time.

By now, most of the fleet had likely escaped to safety.

– “Are you okay?”

Another voice within her spoke.

“I’m fine. This… is enough.”

But she wasn’t fine.

How could she be?

Yet now, it was far too late.

The Kraken’s towering legs rose high into the air, ready to crush everything remaining on the sea.

Lowering her head in resignation, Teresa closed her eyes.

‘WOOOOOSH!’

The Kraken’s legs began to descend in unison.

But then—

‘BOOOM!’

A dazzling explosion erupted.

“ROOOAAAR!”

A completely different kind of groan escaped the Kraken’s maw.

Was it possible… that reinforcements had come?

Teresa’s pupils trembled with shock.

No, it couldn’t be.

She had confirmed everyone had fled to the opposite direction.

Who would willingly return to this deadly place after escaping?

Surely not…

‘No, that makes even less sense.’

That person, the one who coldly pushed her away, the one who said they could no longer walk the same path—there was no way they’d come back.

And yet, just in case…

Just maybe…

Teresa slowly lifted her head.

Standing there was Jinhyuk.

“Why…?”

She could only ask.

It was the only question that came to mind.

“Our company doesn’t let employees leave unless I fire them first. Besides, we’ve been colleagues since the corridor expedition, haven’t we?”

Jinhyuk spoke casually, a faint, practiced smile forming on his lips.

As the company’s CEO, ensuring his staff’s safety was his top priority.

More importantly, thanks to Teresa’s connection to Jeanne d’Arc, he had copied the unique holy chant, ‘White Flame.’

He wasn’t about to let the Holy Cross Order or any other guilds use her as a sacrificial pawn.

Still, he couldn’t say that outright, so he added a lighter comment.

“You don’t have to carry all the responsibility alone, Teresa.”

The ideal of saving everyone was just that—an ideal.

In reality, it was impossible.

And if it meant sacrificing herself, what meaning or happiness could such a life hold?

His words were short, but their weight was immense.

At least, to the saintess, they were.

“Maybe….”

Teresa’s eyes reddened.

“…I can let go, just a little?”

The overwhelming pressure.

Like the time she saved Amsterdam.

Like when she had to rescue Europe from the lich.

The burden of saving people from every danger felt unbearable.

“You can let go. At least when you’re with us.”

Jinhyuk’s words didn’t mean abandoning everyone.

It was something her nature would never allow.

Even if forced to abandon others, Teresa would spend her entire life in regret and anguish.

He just wanted to share a bit of her burden.

“The Kraken dared to mess with one of our company’s employees? Apocalypse or not, let’s teach it how stupid that decision was, shall we?”

The others aboard the ship joined in.

“Tch, maybe having a debt over the saintess isn’t such a bad idea,” Alice grumbled, her lips still pursed with lingering annoyance.

“Damn it. He talks big, but I can’t just stand by and do nothing.” Chun Yoosung unsheathed his sword.

“Just give the command, my lord.”

Wolyoung prepared to leap from the ship at any moment.

The final raid to decide the fate of the 29th floor was about to begin.

—

‘BOOM!’

“GRAAAGH!”

The battle commenced with Goguma’s fiery breath.

The veterans of Veteran Corporation launched a coordinated assault against the Kraken.

An enormous storm of magic struck the Kraken head-on.

Even the mighty Kraken was shaken by the devastating power.

Following up, drones deployed by Lee Tae-min rained white phosphorus bombs onto the target.

‘Clink! Clink!’

‘BOOM!’

Flames burned even underwater, sending thick steam rising from the ocean’s surface.

—

“Let’s retreat now.”

Seizing the opening created by his allies, Jinhyuk scooped up Teresa and leaped toward the ‘White Pearl,’ one of their remaining ships.

He gracefully stepped across debris, covering the 100 meters separating them from the ship.

“Thank… you.”

Teresa managed a weak smile, though it looked like she might collapse at any moment.

Her condition was dire.

The reckless use of ‘White Flame’ had drained too much of her life force.

At this rate…

She wouldn’t survive.

—

It was then.

[Some of Eden’s deities reveal their presence!]

A status window appeared as if waiting for this exact moment.

The angels, who had remained silent even as Teresa faced death, had finally arrived.