[Original Novel] Sword of the Heavenly Wind, Episode 181

Chapter 10: The Window in the Sky, and Toward Each Morning
— Episode 181: The Last Bastion —

The entrance to the cave was covered by a sacred linen cloth, upon which a large protective talisman was drawn.
That linen cloth had been woven using special materials and dyes with protective properties, following a method dictated by specific dates and rituals, and had been worshipped by mages for many years. Even within the strong barrier of the defense army, that linen cloth generated an even more powerful protective effect.
A single thin piece of cloth served as a door separating this side from the other. In a sense, it represented the last bastion.
Mage Olivia stood before that entrance.

Onyx, one of the Four Heavenly Kings, seemed capable of moving through space with some degree of freedom. I don't think he would suddenly break in here, but—.

Even as she thought this, Olivia believed that as a high-ranking mage, the place she should be right now was in front of the last bastion.
Besides Olivia, there were elite mages present. There were young ones, old ones, men, and women. All of them possessed considerable skill in magic.
The Four Sages on the other side of the linen cloth continued to offer their prayers as always.
Inside the cave, information from the outside world was blocked by magic. Even if a battle were to occur near the entrance, it would never reach the Four Sages.
The other side of the linen cloth and this side were different worlds.
It happened suddenly.
Olivia and the mages sensed an approaching demonic presence.

Rumble, rumble, rumble...

An eerie sound came from the depths of the earth, and the frozen ground shook.
Olivia pointed the magic staff she held toward her feet.
Something was about to appear.

"Sub-ice Sealing Earth...!"

Olivia shouted the incantation.
Golden light poured from Olivia's magic staff, drawing multiple golden circles on the ground, and the light spread out like ripples.
The mages around Olivia also chanted their own magic spells.

"May our focus become a wall of pure light! Evil souls, you shall not manifest in this sacred place...!"

Olivia and the mages—a powerful sealing magic swirled within the narrow space. Olivia's long hair swayed as if blown by the wind.
Olivia was startled.

This feeling, the feedback rebounding... The one trying to manifest on the surface is not Onyx—!

Her right hand holding the magic staff trembled. Even if it wasn't Onyx, she felt that its power was several levels stronger than she had anticipated.

"Ugh...!"

Finally, with a loud noise, ice and dirt burst into the air.
What appeared from beneath the ground was a minion with thick arms and a mouth that seemed to be split all the way to its ears.

"Humans. I suppose I should introduce myself. My name is Kuroretsumaru."

The minion who called himself Kuroretsumaru said this, and then opened his large mouth even wider.

"Well, I doubt you'll survive long enough to remember my name anyway."

The mages shouted attack spells. Aimed at Kuroretsumaru—.
Olivia's entire body bristled.

Onyx—! He is coming here too...!

Several sharp beams of light struck Kuroretsumaru's body. Smoke rose from various parts of Kuroretsumaru's body, and blood sprayed out. The mages' attack magic had hit its mark.

"Holy Seal Binding Curse...!"

Olivia turned to face the opposite direction of Kuroretsumaru and swung her magic staff while chanting the spell.
In the empty space, the shape of the same talisman hanging in front of the cave was carved in golden light.

Onyx...! I must seal him for as long as possible...!

Close the space before he actually appears in front of me. Unlike Kuroretsumaru, who had emerged from beneath the ground, sealing him before he could materialize in this world was relatively easy as a spell.
He is one of the Four Heavenly Kings, but Olivia reasoned that it would be effective if done before he appeared.

Hmm. As expected of the humans in the deep layers. It seems you have some backbone.

Kuroretsumaru's voice could be heard from behind Olivia's back.
Olivia had trusted them.
Her fellow mages here. She believed they were highly capable individuals to whom she could fully entrust her back.

But, I apologize. I want to get inside quickly. If you want to live, leave this place.

Kuroretsumaru's voice heard from behind.
Followed by the mages' offensive spells. Light flickered, and she felt intense sounds and blast waves.
However, the tone of Kuroretsumaru's voice remained indifferent.

As if he hadn't taken any damage at all—.

Your attacks don't do much damage. They're not even worth worrying about. However, in the upcoming battle against the Four Heavenly Kings, even the slightest thing could lead to a fatal result. Therefore, I will show no mercy. This is a warning. Those who value their lives, leave.

Olivia was concentrating on the spell to seal Onyx.
The offensive spells did not stop. The air was filled with magic. There was no sign of anyone moving.
Not a single person tried to run away.
For a moment, a thought crossed Olivia's mind.

Run away.

The mission to protect the Four Sages. The desire to protect the Four Sages.
If the Guardian Army doesn't protect them, who will protect the Four Sages?
But Olivia wished for as many of them to live as possible.

I wouldn't think of them as cowards. It's fine for there to be people who look for a way to survive—!

Olivia screams.

Run! I will handle this—

An instant. A dull sound. Something hot splashes onto Olivia's exposed neck, her ears, and her hands.

Eh...?

Olivia turns around.

Everyone—!

The offensive spells had stopped.
The dense magical air was cut off, replaced by a chilling atmosphere.
The sound of her own breathing echoed in Olivia's ears.
No one was standing. No one had their back turned.
Everyone had been fighting. No one had shown any sign of running away. They had continued to fight until the very last moment, and then they perished.
There was no need to confirm that the hot substance covering Olivia's entire body was everyone's blood.

Woman. You are the one holding Onyx back, aren't you? I will leave you as you are.

Kuroretsumaru reaches out toward the hemp cloth inscribed with talismans.

Crackle, crackle, crackle...!

Fierce sparks fly between Kuroretsumaru and the hemp cloth.

"Hmm. A barrier again. This one has been refined with quite a lot of time and effort. It's delicate, seamless, and truly impressive. I'm not good with tools made by humans like this, rather than actual combat. Well, I suppose I'll try pushing through with brute force."

As Kuroretsumaru muttered that, angry shouts, chanting voices, and impact sounds could be heard from a distance.
It seemed there were other enemies, intruders besides Kuroretsumaru and Onyx.

I—!

Olivia had thought she didn't mind fighting alone. However, she was doing everything she could just by continuing to send spells toward Onyx.
Olivia's body trembled as she continued to exert powerful spells.
Exhausted from using too much energy, she planted her feet firmly, desperately bracing her body to keep from collapsing. A massive amount of sweat erupted from her entire body, mixing with the blood on her and slowly trickling down.
The sparks between the hemp cloth and Kuroretsumaru became even more intense. Kuroretsumaru's power was clearly pushing through.

Someone—! Ciaran...!

She couldn't stop Kuroretsumaru. Her attempt to stall Onyx wasn't perfect either; it was merely a temporary measure. On top of that, new intruders—.

The Four Sages, please—!

Olivia bit her lip and screamed in her heart.
The trembling of her entire body grew stronger.
Blood oozed from her bitten lip.

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