Lord of Caldera - Chapter 81

Chapter 81: Chapter 81
Lydia’s inability to move was due to the people. Although they had recovered from their exhaustion, they weren’t going anywhere. Lydia could now protect them better than before, but she was still tied to their safety, unable to leave the city’s survivors behind.

“As a result, I won’t be able to participate in the assault on the demon. Aside from the two holy knights who will remain as my guards, everyone else will take part in the attack,” Lydia explained.

“Hmm,” Ulrich groaned softly. The most powerful asset against the demon was the saint herself, yet she couldn’t participate in the battle. It was a frustrating situation.

“Thanks to Sylas, we were able to channel the power of the holy sword. With the consecrated weapons and armor, we should be more than capable of fighting the demon.”

“We also have our own countermeasures against the demon. While not as powerful as Lady Saint’s abilities, we believe we stand a fighting chance,” a holy knight chimed in, trying to quell the rising anxiety. After much thought, Ulrich finally nodded in agreement. Time was on the demon’s side, and waiting any longer would only make things worse. It was better to gamble than to sit idle and lose.

“Agreed. Let’s proceed,” Ulrich said firmly.

“Then, let’s arrange the battle formations,” Lydia suggested.

The formation was quickly finalized. With every able-bodied fighter needed for the assault, few could be spared. The only ones not joining the attack were Lydia, her two bodyguard knights, and Ulrich, the Corleone family’s heir.

“You’re not going to fight, Lord Ulrich?” a holy knight inquired.

“This is family business,” Ulrich retorted sharply. His tone carried the unspoken message: If I die, will you take responsibility? The holy knights understood his position, though some couldn’t help but feel a tinge of disappointment.

‘So much for the courageous man who fought his way through a demon-sealed city,’ one knight thought.

‘Well, nobles always prioritize politics and self-preservation,’ another mused.

Ulrich noticed their looks but remained silent. It was far too dangerous to throw himself into the heart of battle with the demon. If he could guarantee his safety, he would have shown some bravado. But right now wasn’t the time.

“I will lead the family knights,” Sylas declared.

“…Do so,” Ulrich agreed through gritted teeth, trying to mask his displeasure. Although he didn’t like it, there was no one more suited for the role than Sylas.

Once the battle teams were formed, Lydia consecrated each person’s weapons and armor. A small shimmer of light flowed into their swords and armor. While it wasn’t a dramatic transformation, everyone could feel the difference immediately.

‘The sword feels like it’s an extension of my hand, and the armor… as if I’m not even wearing it,’ one knight thought.

‘Amazing. So this is the true power of a saint’s divine blessing,’ another marveled.

For those experiencing divine power for the first time, it was a revelation, while those more familiar with it were still impressed by the saint’s extraordinary abilities.

After completing the consecrations, Lydia closed her eyes and prayed over the group.

“May the goddess’s blessing be with you all.”

“Thank you, Lady Saint. May you remain safe as well.”

With those brief words of farewell, Sylas and the others plunged into the black mist, marking the beginning of the battle.

“Haha, this is incredible!” Toby laughed as he charged through the mist, exhilarated by how easily it retreated from his consecrated armor and weapons. The fog, which had once filled him with dread, now recoiled the moment it touched his sword or armor.

Sylas didn’t even need to ignite any flames to clear their path. The sight prompted a concerned holy knight to offer a word of caution.

“Be careful. While this works on the regular mist, it will only reduce the power of the demon’s direct attacks.”

“That’s more than enough. We couldn’t even touch this stuff before,” Toby replied, and the others nodded in agreement. Just being able to carve a path through the mist was a significant advantage.

Sylas surveyed the area carefully before turning to the holy knight.

“The map indicates this should be the right location.”

“Yes, but it’s not here. A false lead,” the holy knight confirmed.

“Let’s move on, then.”

The group quickly moved to the next location, but that, too, turned out to be a dead end. After checking a few more spots, they arrived at the fourth location, and it was immediately clear they had found their target.

“No need for further checks. This is the place,” Max muttered, staring at the thick, pitch-black mist that covered the area. The oppressive energy was far more intense than anything they had encountered before. Everyone instinctively readied their weapons and steeled themselves for the battle ahead.

Sylas quietly approached Max and whispered, “You’ve got what I asked for, right? Hand it over.”

“You’re really going to use it?” Max asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Just once. It’ll be fine.”

“Sigh… I give up. Here,” Max muttered, handing Sylas a small glass vial filled with a glowing red liquid.

Sylas examined the vial before downing its contents in one gulp and casually tossing the empty bottle aside.

“Ugh, bitter.”

“I’ve minimized the side effects, so it won’t hinder your movements. But be careful—your body will feel sluggish, and your senses might be off,” Max warned.

“I’ve fought with a sword while on sleeping pills before. This is nothing.”

“Prepare yourselves!” a holy knight shouted before the conversation could go any further. At that moment, the shadows around them began to writhe.

-You wretched fools. You’ve crawled all the way here.

The demon’s voice was as grating as ever, but it lacked the smugness it had before. Now it was laced with anger, irritation, and anxiety.

-So, you’ve received blessings. Is that why you’re so confident? Do you truly think you can defeat me with those toothpicks you call weapons?

“Everyone, battle positions!” the holy knight commanded, ignoring the demon’s taunts. The group assumed combat stances, and the holy knights pulled out various sacred relics. They shone their light upon the black mist, chanting prayers that radiated divine power.

“Vile creature, vanish before the power of the goddess!” one of the holy knights intoned.

Flash.

The mist evaporated as if washed away by the holy light, leaving the group momentarily awestruck by its effectiveness. Once the mist cleared, a massive, coiling serpent-like shadow appeared, its eyes fixed on the holy knights as it chuckled.

-Ah, how bright. Is that all you’ve got? Come on, show me more! Surely there’s something truly impressive hidden up your sleeves!

“You bastard! If that’s how you want it…!” one knight began, but another voice cut him off.

“Wait! Fall back!”

Before the knight could pull out another relic, a shadowy figure in black armor lunged at him from behind.

Crash!

“Ugh!”

The knight managed to block the attack with his sword, but the sheer force sent him flying backward. His arm twisted at an unnatural angle, signaling that he was now out of the fight.