The subordinate of the Demon King standing before her was strong.
Artina raised her shield as she watched Roain continuously regenerate.
*Boom!*
She blocked a massive arm swung by the creature.
“Ugh!”
Although she was blocking the erosion of Demonic Power with her Divine Power, she couldn’t completely negate the impact.
If time continued to pass like this…
She could only imagine falling into defeat once her Divine Power was entirely consumed. She had to find a way before then.
*Slash!*
The wing that Ropenheim cut off fell to the floor and transformed into a clone, immediately lunging at him.
“Sir!”
*Ka-boom!*
Ropenheim emerged from the dust following the explosion and approached Artina’s side.
“Artina.”
“Sir, what should we do? His regeneration makes no sense.”
“His regeneration isn’t infinite. Every time he heals his body, the Demonic Power within that Orb he’s holding decreases.”
“So if we break that Orb, we can win.”
Artina racked her brain as she looked at the bead held by Roain. However, there was one major problem. Could she break it even if she poured in all her strength?
“For now, I’ll try to reduce it as much as I can. You conserve your strength and wait for an opportunity.”
“Can I do it?”
“Do not doubt yourself.”
Sword in hand, Ropenheim smiled at Artina.
“You’ve done well enough so far. And you will continue to do well. So, believe in yourself.”
Kicking off the ground, Ropenheim dashed forward, avoiding Roain’s attacks while delivering rapid sword strikes.
Two strikes.
*Slash!*
*Slash!*
As the horizontal and vertical strikes overlapped, a cross-shaped Aura Blade carved through Roain.
*Splurt!*
Three of the four pieces of Roain’s severed body turned into clones and lunged at Ropenheim. A series of explosions occurred from three directions.
Meanwhile, Roain quickly restored his body and thrust a fist toward the thick cloud of dust. Ropenheim was at the end of the fist that pierced the dust. He ran quickly up the arm and swung his sword at Roain’s head.
“It seems your strength is slowly fading.”
Twisting his body to avoid Ropenheim’s attack, Roain launched a counterattack. His other fist slammed directly into Ropenheim.
*Thwack!*
Hit by a fist as large as a giant’s, Ropenheim was sent flying and crashed into the ruined Great Temple. Roain raised his foot to trample the spot where Ropenheim had fallen.
“Sir!”
Artina used her Mana to move quickly and raised her shield. She blocked Roain’s foot as it dropped heavily.
She turned her gaze to the side to check on the fallen Ropenheim. Ropenheim, who was stuck in the ground, brushed off the dust and walked out.
“Are you all right?”
“I can still hold out for now. I think I can drain his strength one more time.”
Ropenheim took out a Potion from his robe and drank it. It was an Elixir that instantly refilled his depleted Stamina and Mana. This effect could only be gained once a day; once used, no other Potions could be consumed.
“The Demonic Power consumption is faster than expected, so an opportunity will arise this time. Aim for that moment.”
“Let’s do it together. No, let’s call the Dragon Lord…”
“If he comes to help us, that creature will target the soldiers and Knights. The two of us must take him down.”
“…”
*Whoosh!*
The dust vanished in a strong wind, and Roain revealed himself. Ropenheim dashed out once more, pressuring Roain.
*Slash!*
*Ka-boom!*
*Slash!*
*Ka-boom!*
Slicing, clones exploding, and Ropenheim evading. By repeating this process, the Demonic Power possessed by Roain was rapidly depleted.
However, Ropenheim’s movements were also slowing down just as quickly. It was to the point where even Artina could see it with her two eyes.
‘…I have to do this.’
If Ropenheim hadn’t mentioned it, she might have forgotten the existence of the soldiers and Knights. That was how overwhelming Roain’s presence felt.
‘…I must be the one to do it.’
If they retreated here, not only the soldiers and Knights but also the Kingdom they had worked so hard to reclaim would fall back into the hands of Demonkind. Then, they would become slaves to the demons without even being able to resist.
Artina gripped her sword and shield tightly and stared at Roain. The Orb he was holding…
‘It’s definitely… decreased.’
She hadn’t felt it well at first, but now she could see it clearly. She still wasn’t certain whether she could break that Orb or not. Nevertheless, she had to succeed.
‘I will protect everyone.’
At that moment, a powerful surge of Divine Power flowed into Artina’s body.
*Whirr!*
The infinitely generated Divine Power couldn’t even be contained in her body and began to overflow. The Divine Power spreading through her entire body turned into a pure white light that illuminated Artina.
“This is…”
Within the Divine Power, the prayers, support, and faith of the soldiers and Knights were contained. She could feel every single one of them in great detail. She realized she wasn’t fighting the subordinate of the Demon King alone — they were fighting together.
If they were all together, they could defeat that creature. Artina raised her sword toward Roain.
*Hum!*
Divine Power extended from the tip of her blade, forming a massive sword. It was the Sword of Judgment, formed purely of Divine Power. She swung the sword down toward Roain, who was distracted by Ropenheim.
*Rip!*
The Sword of Judgment split Roain in half. The Divine Power spread out, annihilating the Demonic Power that Roain emitted.
“Aaaaaagh!”
Roain, who hadn’t let out a single scream whenever he was cut before, let out a shriek of agony. One half of his split body did not become a clone; it was simply extinguished by the Divine Power.
The main body tried to regenerate using the Demonic Power in the Orb, but the Divine Power in the Sword of Judgment blocked it.
“Sir!”
Artina transferred all her Divine Power to Ropenheim, who had leapt into the air. Ropenheim’s sword was dyed pure white. Falling from the air, Ropenheim’s sword sliced through the Orb Roain was holding.
*Slash!*
*Screech!*
The screams of those who had become slaves to Demonkind spread in all directions. Artina prayed for them. Then, she put their wishes into her sword and kicked off the ground to leap. She thrust her sword toward Roain, whose Recovery speed had slowed down.
“This is the end!”
***
**[Exerting Influence on this world]**
**[Restrictions are reduced]**
**[Artina’s rank increases]**
**[Saint of the Sword Artina (SS+)]**
Artina grew after killing the subordinate of the Demon King and gaining the trust of the soldiers.
‘If she kills the Demon King, she’ll probably reach SSS Rank.’
I teleported to where Artina was, bringing along the soldiers and Knights who had briefly evacuated.
“Queen! Congratulations on the victory!”
“We won!”
“Is it for real? We… we defeated the Demonkind?”
“Waaaaaaaah!”
Shouts of joy spread around the ruined Great Temple. I let them rejoice for a moment. Instead, I focused on the shimmering golden lines before my eyes. My Golden Dragon Eye found something special in the vicinity.
I considered saying something before leaving, but seeing Ropenheim and Artina surrounded by the soldiers and Knights, I just moved my feet quietly.
Following the lines, the place I arrived at was where the Great Temple stood. The Golden Dragon Eye was pointing inside the ruined temple.
“Hmm.”
Should I just clear it out and go in? I decided to restore it instead. Once the temple was built, it would help improve their faith. I knelt for a moment and reached out to the floor.
Using the Mana in my Dragon Heart, I drew a Magic Circle around the temple.
*Hum!*
The lines extended to draw a circle, and by drawing various lines and shapes within it, I completed the Magic Circle.
“Recovery.”
I activated the Magic Circle with an incantation.
*Rumble!*
*Thud thud thud!*
The pillars that had collapsed and turned into dust began to take shape, and the ruined Great Temple began its restoration. It was as if a video were being played in reverse. The pieces of the Great Temple that were scattered around floated into the air one by one and returned to their places.
And thus, the Great Temple was completed. It was a magnificent and beautiful building that could elevate one’s faith. I moved inside, following the Golden Dragon Eye that led further in.
I entered the vast interior of the temple and looked around. When I arrived at the spot pointed out by the Golden Dragon Eye, there was a box. I opened the box to check the contents.
**[Using Golden Dragon Eye]**
**[Sealed Sacred Relic: Goddess’s Crown]**
– A Sacred Relic bestowed by the Goddess upon the Saintess who followed her.
– It possesses the ability to grant Divine Power to others.
– Can appoint Holy Knights.
– Currently, it does not function properly due to the Goddess’s death.
Its ability was different from the Goddess’s Cloud, but it was the same in that it was sealed due to the Goddess’s death. A Sacred Relic that could help Artina grow. Since I was personally collecting items like this, it did feel like I was nurturing Artina.
‘She’ll become even stronger if she appoints Holy Knights, right?’
As I was about to take the crown and head outside, I saw the group running over, surprised to see that the Great Temple had been rebuilt.
“Ah, good timing. Artina, come here for a moment.”
“Yes.”
“Here.”
I used the authority given to me by the Goddess on the crown. As the seal on the Sacred Relic was released, Divine Power flowed out, making the crown glow. I placed that crown on Artina’s head.
“…Ah.”
“Do you feel what it is?”
“Yes, I feel it.”
Artina turned her head to look at the soldiers and Knights, then called out exactly ten names to have them come forward. Some were soldiers who had been active in the battle against Demonkind.
“Did you call for us?”
The ten people called stood in a row before Artina. Artina stood before the first person and raised her hand. She placed her hand on his forehead and infused him with Divine Power.
*Whirr!*
A pure white light flowed in, leaving a cross pattern on his forehead. He knelt as if possessed by something. Artina smiled at him.
“I appoint you as a Holy Knight.”
“I will serve you with all my loyalty!”
Following that, she appointed all the remaining nine people as Holy Knights. Those who became Holy Knights were now able to use things like Holy Magic, blessings, and Purification.
‘It’s only ten for now, but that number will grow over time.’
Since my business here was finished, it was time to move to another region. This time, the Lopes Kingdom’s largest Granary Region. Shall I pick up the pace a bit?
***
Thanks to the appointment of the Holy Knights, subjugating the Demonkind became much easier. The Subjugation Force, which had been in disarray, grew in skill as they experienced more battles.
Five villages and three major cities.
As we moved toward the Granary Region, we reclaimed many cities from the hands of Demonkind, and the number of people in the Subjugation Force nearly doubled compared to the beginning.
After one week had passed, we arrived at the Granary Region, where a subordinate of the Demon King was stationed. Everything was stained black. It was a cursed land where not a single trace of vitality could be felt.
Tens of thousands of Demonkind were waiting for us there. However, no one was trembling. Determination dwelt in the eyes of the soldiers, and the Holy Knights looked at Artina with confidence in their victory.
And Artina stood before them and raised her sword. She now carried a heavy yet calm aura, to the point where the word ‘Queen’ suited her better than ‘Knight.’
“All troops, advance!”
With Artina’s shout, the Subjugation Force rushed toward the Demonkind.
“Waaaaaaaah!”
The Holy Knights stationed in various places cast blessings on the surrounding soldiers. Artina, Ropenheim, and the regular Knights handled the high-ranking Demonkind.
The speed was different now that they had accumulated experience. They had reached a level where they could clean up around tens of thousands of Demonkind with minimal damage.
‘I won’t even need to step in.’
At the moment I was feeling relieved.
*Boom!*
Magic Circles activated all around, and more Demonkind appeared. They surrounded us as if to hem us in. Their numbers were so great that they filled the visible plains.
In the center stood a subordinate of the Demon King. He looked at us with a sickening smile.
“Welcome to hell.”
*Smirk.*
Since things have turned out like this…
‘Should I use some of my power after a long time?’