Chapter 175
Thwack-!
A clear, fine sound echoed throughout the world.
At the same time, Cannavaro’s eyes rolled back in his head.
‘…Guhk?’
His head was ringing.
The floor and ceiling swam.
The world had suddenly become much lower.
No, had his body collapsed?
Even the sensation of the cold floor hitting his face felt distant.
‘What the…’
Cannavaro thought he had to get up.
He desperately squirmed.
He pushed his hand against the ground.
But his attempt ended there.
Thwaaack-!
Once more.
A clear, fine sound echoed throughout the world.
‘Gack.’
That was Cannavaro’s last cry before he lost consciousness.
A smirk spread over the body of the fallen man.
“My, my. He’s tougher than he looks.”
Lloyd shook his head, looking down at Cannavaro.
What a resilient man.
He never imagined the man would squirm and try to get up even after taking a Steel Shovel Full Swing to the back of the head.
“Well, I just have to hit him one more time, then. In any case.”
Lloyd raised his head.
He looked toward where Javier was.
“Need a hand, Lady Ella?”
Javier didn’t answer.
No, he couldn’t answer.
He was still barely holding on against the Hell Knight’s relentless assault.
However, even in the midst of it all, he did send Lloyd a look of welcome.
Lloyd understood what it meant.
“Got it. I’ll head over after I take care of things here. Just hold on a little longer.”
First, he needed to eliminate any future trouble.
To do that, he had to completely subdue the insidious Black Wizard.
With that in mind, Lloyd turned around.
“Ggoming?”
“Ggoming!”
At his call, a reply came from the upper floor of the public hall.
A large parrotbill spread its wings and descended.
It was Ggoming, who had carried him here.
“You know what to do, right?”
“Ggoming!”
There was no need for a detailed explanation.
Lloyd pointed at the fallen Cannavaro.
Ggoming then shook the bag on its back.
Pshhhht!
Spider silk, tougher and stronger than steel, sprayed out.
It bound Cannavaro’s hands, sealed his legs, and wrapped tightly around his body.
Like a wild spider binding its prey.
It trussed Cannavaro up more meticulously than a 30-layer bubble wrap package.
Just like that, the Black Wizard was completely subdued.
Lloyd didn’t stop there.
“Hey, you there.”
He helped up the man who was lying next to Cannavaro, barely breathing.
Wiping the blood flowing from the man’s neck, he asked.
“Can you move?”
“A-a little…”
The man nodded with difficulty.
“Are you Young Master Frontera? It’s an honor… to meet you.”
“I knew it. I wasn’t mistaken. You’re the knight who came to our domain with Lady Namaran, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Then you’ll probably recover a little faster than the others here, right?”
“Of course… Uht?”
The knight, who had been replying, gasped.
Lloyd’s hand was on his shoulder.
A small amount of Mana had flowed from that palm without any warning.
“Whoa, whoa. Don’t be alarmed. I’m the one putting it in. To give you a little boost.”
“Why on earth…”
“Why do you think?”
Lloyd gestured around with his eyes.
“See the people who’ve collapsed?”
“Yes.”
“Please move them outside. It looks like it’s going to get even messier in here.”
“I understand.”
No complicated explanation was needed.
The knight had experienced the situation firsthand from the very beginning.
Fortunately, no citizens had been seriously injured by shrapnel or shockwaves so far.
But there was no guarantee that such luck would continue.
The knight struggled to his feet.
Thanks to Lloyd’s Asrahan Heart Technique, he seemed to have recovered some of his strength.
He lifted his daughter, a nearby old woman, and a middle-aged man all at once, carrying them on his back and in his arms as he spoke.
“Please be careful. I will join the fight soon.”
“Don’t count on it. Just move the people first. I gave you Mana for that, not for you to fight.”
“…I understand.”
“A little faster.”
“Yes, yessir.”
The knight moved hastily, beginning to carry people out of the public hall.
Ggoming also helped the knight evacuate the citizens, wiggling its plump bottom and flapping its short wings.
Only then did Lloyd catch his breath.
“Hoo.”
The surroundings were more or less cleared now.
He would be able to fight without worrying about people getting hurt.
Reassured, he readjusted his grip on the Steel Shovel.
With his other hand, he grabbed the hair of the unconscious Cannavaro, who was now gift-wrapped(?) in spider silk.
“Alright, let’s get started.”
Dragging Cannavaro with one hand.
He walked toward the center of the spacious public hall.
Toward the scene where the fierce battle between two transcendent beings, Javier and the Hell Knight, was taking place.
Meanwhile, Lloyd’s expression grew a little complicated.
‘Wow. How did I end up in a place like this?’
It was truly a clash of titans.
Watching Javier and the Hell Knight fight, unleashing continuous shockwaves, Lloyd instinctively flinched.
He hated fighting.
He’d never enjoyed it.
Originally, he was just an ordinary citizen of the Republic of Korea, Kim Suho.
When did he become like this?
Why did he get involved in such a battlefield?
‘It’s all for the sake of making a living, I guess.’
He had come too far to return to his ordinary old life.
No, he didn’t particularly want to go back, either.
He steeled his heart.
He gripped the Steel Shovel.
He internally timed the rhythm of the fierce battle.
And at the moment the Hell Knight was about to unleash a powerful blow at Javier.
He lifted the Steel Shovel.
He aimed it at Cannavaro’s head.
He shouted with all his might.
“Hey, you! Hell Knight! Freeze! If you don’t stop, this guy dies by my hand!”
Lloyd’s shout, amplified by Mana, echoed clearly and seeped thoroughly into the Hell Knight’s skull.
Perhaps that was why.
—…!
A slight opening appeared in the swing of the Hell Knight’s greatsword, which had been brandished with ferocious power.
Of course, Javier was not one to miss such an opening.
Thwack! Kakang!
The silver Longsword sliced through the chilly light.
It deflected the black greatsword in a single motion.
Thanks to that, Javier was able to safely withdraw from the Hell Knight’s range of attack.
Since he had lost the initiative in the fight earlier.
This was the first time he was able to create distance and catch his breath.
But the Hell Knight’s gaze was not on Javier. It didn’t even show any regret for letting its cornered enemy escape.
Instead, it turned to Lloyd, expressing its bewilderment.
—What?
As if in disbelief, the Hell Knight glared at Lloyd.
Faced with that murderous gaze from hell, Lloyd flinched instinctively for a moment. But he quickly composed himself and retorted nonchalantly.
“Didn’t you hear me? I shouted so loudly. Did you go deaf from being just a pile of bones?”
—…What are you trying to say?
“What am I trying to say? I told you already. If you don’t stop your attack, I’ll kill this guy.”
—Are you taking a hostage? Against me?
“Yep.”
He nodded as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Confidently, as if to say, *You’re finished now*.
“This guy summoned you, right? But if he dies by my hand, you’ll be reverse-summoned back to hell. Did you really think I wouldn’t know that?”
It was true.
Cannavaro was the one who had summoned the Hell Knight.
He had carved his blood onto the statue. The Hell Knight had descended to this world using that magical sigil as a medium.
So what if Cannavaro died?
The Hell Knight’s summoning, which was established through Cannavaro’s blood, would be canceled.
“It’s simple. It’s the same as the loan process at a financial institution. This Cannavaro here acted as the guarantor and provided the certification documents with his own blood. That’s why the world permitted your summoning. But oh dear? The guarantor, Cannavaro, is dead? Then what happens to your summoning?”
It was truly simple.
The guarantor was gone.
The guarantee documents had become scraps of paper.
Wasn’t it only natural for the loan process to be canceled?
“So drop that murderous sword and surrender. If you want to breathe this fine world’s air, which is free of fine dust unlike hell, for even a little longer.”
Lloyd’s confident threat echoed.
The Hell Knight’s reply was tinged with bewilderment.
—Hah. How dare you. Human, are you perhaps not from around here?
“What?”
—Your words and actions seem more suited for our hell. Could it be that you were cast out of hell and are merely wearing a human shell?
“Not at all. You’ve got the wrong person.”
—Is that so. But in any case, I understand the point you’re making. However, it seems there is a fact you are overlooking.
“Something I’m overlooking?”
—Indeed.
“What is it?”
—Even if that human dies, my summoning will not be canceled until an hour has passed.
“What?”
It was at that moment.
The Hell Knight raised its greatsword.
An incredibly fast and sudden movement.
From the tip of its sword, an aura of death gushed out like a tidal wave.
It swept through the air, rushing toward him.
“……!”
Lloyd kicked off the ground.
He threw his body aside, pulling the spider-silk-wrapped Cannavaro with him.
He barely dodged the tidal wave-like force.
But the next moment, he had to witness the black greatsword descending upon him.
—I shall slice you into two pieces along with the human who summoned me.
“Huh?”
Swhoooooosh-!
The greatsword sliced through the air and plummeted down.
It was too fast.
Too powerful.
He didn’t even dare to think of blocking it with his shovel.
He couldn’t even find the timing to react, let alone dare.
If the silver Longsword hadn’t intervened then, Lloyd might have been split in two.
Krakak-!
“……!”
A Longsword shot out, abruptly blocking his view.
It blocked the greatsword as if slicing vertically through space. It parried it. Thunk! He wondered if his eardrums would burst. The tremendous roar that exploded above his head sent Lloyd tumbling backward.
“Keuk!”
“Get up. If you don’t want to die.”
Javier’s cold voice flew into his ear.
Without a moment to think, he got up.
He reflexively raised his shovel.
He quickly retreated and took a stance.
He aimed his shovel, standing shoulder to shoulder with Javier.
Toward the Hell Knight, standing tall and firm before them.
Gooooooh…….
Had he unknowingly gulped?
Lloyd finally realized what a tremendous being the Hell Knight was.
Facing it head-on from up close, its presence was no joke.
And this was with it not even riding its horse of death, and with one arm and one leg missing.
‘This feels like being a low-level newbie who accidentally stumbled into a high-level fight.’
Goosebumps erupted all over his body.
His entire body tensed up.
The palm gripping the Steel Shovel instantly became damp.
He hadn’t intended to get so deeply involved in the fight.
He had only planned to help Javier from a distance with his scams and Detonation.
“It seems he has deemed you this side’s weak point, Sir Lloyd.”
Javier’s voice reached him.
Lloyd gave a stiff laugh.
“I know. Seems like it.”
He’ll probably focus his attacks on me.
Then Javier will overexert himself trying to protect me.
‘So that’s his plan, to create an opening on our side. Like focusing on a crack that’s formed in a dam. Just like how a small hole can make the entire dam collapse. He’s trying to take care of both of us at once.’
He thought he understood the Hell Knight’s intention.
But it seemed too late to back out now.
“Do not retreat rashly. You are already within its attack range. If you move away from me in a clumsy attempt to withdraw from the fight, you will be taken down in an instant.”
“I know. I know that too.”
“Then apologize.”
“Apologize for what?”
“For calling me Lady Ella earlier.”
“Alright. I’m sorry. I apologize. You’re a good boy, our Javier.”
“……”
“So, what should I do now?”
“Endure.”
“What?”
“It’s coming.”
The moment he said that.
Fwoooosh-!
Is this what it feels like to be hit head-on by a typhoon?
The Hell Knight leaped on its one leg and charged.
It swung its massive greatsword horizontally.
No, it swept it.
‘Geut!’
I can’t face this head-on.
If I do, I’ll be split in two along with my shovel.
Sensing this, Lloyd instead rushed forward.
He thrust his shovel toward the greatsword that was sweeping toward him.
And without a moment’s hesitation, he unleashed his most powerful single attack.
It was the Triple Blast.
Thwack-!
—…!
It was a Triple Blast whose momentary power was truly immense.
That sudden eruption collided head-on with the greatsword.
However, the greatsword was not pushed back.
Instead, it cut through the force of the Triple Blast horizontally and dug in.
Shuck!
The greatsword completely split the Triple Blast in two.
But it couldn’t split Lloyd’s body.
The greatsword’s swing had been dulled ever so slightly by cutting through the pressure of the Triple Blast.
Lloyd had used that opening to roll his body low.
“Now!”
Lloyd shouted as he rolled under the swinging greatsword.
At the same time, he stretched out both his hands.
He grabbed the Hell Knight’s pelvis and leg.
The hell knight’s balance wavered ever so slightly.
In that instant, Javier’s Longsword glinted coldly.
Thwack-!
The Aura-infused Longsword dug nearly halfway into the greatsword.
The Hell Knight tried to shake off Lloyd, who was clinging to its leg.
But it couldn’t.
Javier’s continuous attacks poured down without giving it a moment to breathe.
Kwater-ter-ter-ter-tung!
—…!
A leech-like human was clinging to it from below.
From above, a knight surpassing a Swordmaster was charging in with full intent.
The light in the Hell Knight’s eyes wavered slightly.
The situation grew worse for the hell knight.
Lloyd, who was tightly hugging its leg from below.
He had suddenly started spewing out a bizarre magical chant in an endless medley.
“You! Were born to be loved! In your life! You are receiving that love!”
—…!
The light in the Hell Knight’s eyes wavered even more.
From the front, Javier’s sword strikes rained down like a bombardment.
From below, a bizarre song wrapped around its hearing like brainwashing.
Riding the dissonant vibes, it presented the Hell Knight with a double hardship.
What’s more, the two attacks of opposing natures were endless.
Thwack-kwakwakwakwa!
Having seized the opportunity, Javier went on an all-out offensive.
Lloyd’s Exorcism Song medley also became more melodious and artful.
“Maha Prajna! Paramita! Hridaya Sutra! Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva! When practicing deeply the Prajna Paramita! Perceived! That all five skandhas are empty! And was saved from all suffering and distress-eeeeess!”
—…Geuuut!
What kind of bizarre sorcery was this?
The Hell Knight fell into even greater confusion.
Of course, there was no actual damage received from that song.
However, its mind became extremely distracted and dizzy.
It was already dealing with Javier’s relentless assault.
It was a situation where it had to devote all its strength just to block that.
But with some guy clinging to its only leg like a leech and chanting a bizarre spell at will, it was enough to make it go crazy.
The pitch of the human chanting the spell was also the absolute worst.
Was this what it sounded like to scratch a steel plate with fingernails?
Or was this the sound of a cicada stuck to one’s earlobe?
Putting aside how loud it was, it was the definition of dissonance.
That’s right.
Lloyd was so tone-deaf that even a knight from hell would be genuinely sick of it.
—…Stop!
In the end, unable to bear it any longer, the Hell Knight shook its head violently.
It kicked off the ground with the leg Lloyd was holding onto.
It tried to shake Lloyd off even if it meant doing that.
That was the Hell Knight’s mistake.
Shuck!
—…!
Through the gap created when the Hell Knight’s attention was briefly distracted.
The silver Longsword, infused with Aura, dug into the Hell Knight’s skull.