Chapter 49
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Quintuple skills provides the world’s strongest defense at this very moment.
However, even as Ashley deflects the sword saint’s fierce attacks and the mage’s powerful spells, she feels an indescribable unease about the Saint’s lack of movement.
Unease stems from fear—does that mean I’m afraid of them?
Ashley ponders this amidst the dizzying tides of battle.
「Perhaps I do feel some fear towards you.」
She mutters softly, her words unheard by anyone else. But precisely because she voiced it aloud,
「—But no matter. I’ll crush that fear along with you.」
In this extreme situation, Ashley exerts total self-control.
There are five minutes remaining until her Fools Fixate on Fleeting Hours skill wears off.
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To ensure mission success, Ashley needs to endure until about two minutes before the time limit. And that moment approaches.
「Water Spear!」
Angelica’s powerful voice rings out.
Its formal name is 《Aqua Septuple Spiraling Spears》—one of the mage Angelica’s trump cards.
Seven twisted water lances float in midair.
Whirrrrrr—with a roar like a motor, they spin at high speed and all launch simultaneously like missiles.
Ashley effortlessly deflects the seven vicious water spears into the ceiling with a single swing of her shield. Adding centrifugal force to the shield’s momentum, she viciously smashes it into the sword saint who lunged in amidst the water spears’ barrage, sending her flying far behind. From behind the distant sword saint—《Chain Bind!》—the mage’s next spell activates without delay. Mana-infused metal chains writhe and squirm like snakes, shooting out with a grating, ear-piercing clatter.
But Ashley’s extremely enhanced eyesight tracks the high-speed chains. She instantly grabs them, yanking the mage holding the other end and smashing her away with the shield.
「Phew.」
Ashley takes a breath after the dizzying exchange.
Though she’s still on thin ice, she feels a response. The mage remains sprawled on the ground.
As infuriating as Angelica and the others’ lackadaisical approach is at this stage, she’ll defeat them while their guard is down.
The sword saint Eris springs to her feet and pounces without pause. Blocking her flurry of attacks with the shield, Ashley guides her to a specific point.
It was a long, grueling few minutes for Ashley.
Just as she finishes luring the sword saint to the target location, the Fools Fixate on Fleeting Hours skill duration hits two minutes remaining.
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Holy Knight Ashley’s equipment consists of the Purifying Sword and Holy Shield, both of Legendary Grade.
However, she rarely draws her sword in this three-versus-one battle.
She allocates nearly all her resources to defense due to the nature of her most potent skill.
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She’s lured the sword saint to the desired point.
It’s a desperate checkmate Ashley’s devised.
Eris swings her blade with enough force to rend the gaps in Ashley’s holy armor, as if she hadn’t just fallen. Targeting both her and Saint Mika in the line of fire,
「《Ash to Ash》!!」
Ashley activates the skill, bringing down the Purifying Sword with a rallying cry.
Her strongest, most powerful strike engulfs the sword saint and Saint in light.
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Ashley is completely spent.
In just one more minute, the Fools Fixate on Fleeting Hours effect will expire.
Her ultimate skill Ash to Ash—which can fell multiple hero-class foes in one blow—functions by 「discharging an attack with double the power of all the damage taken since the start of battle.」
Facing three hero-class opponents was a nightmarish fight. The mage mentioned that the Hero instructed them to go easy. Without that, she might have lost before the skill activated. The thought of them being serious made her shudder.
「I- I can’t move anymore.」
Her body is as heavy as lead. Thinking of what she still needs to do fills Ashley with dread.
Strip their equipment, tie them up, restrain them, fire a rescue flare, drag them back to the manor.
Even with the battle over, the work is far from done.
Ah, once things settle down, a nice long bath sounds wonderful.
If Yamada from Earth were here, he might call that a ‘flag’.
But it’s already too late.
An ornate nun’s habit emerges from a gap in the clearing flames.
「To break my barrier, pierce through the protection of my Sanctus Choir, and land a direct hit on me… As expected of Holy Knight Ashley Noble.」
Despite some visible injuries, the Saint is completely unharmed.
She brushes off her nun’s robes.
「Impressive as always, Devourer Ashley.」
That was Ashley’s moniker from before becoming a Holy Knight.
Knowing her past and epithet means they likely predicted her skills to some degree, even if not the specifics.
「I won’t… lose.」
That’s all Ashley can utter.
Her shield, heavier than usual, feels impossible to lift.
「Heal.」
At the Saint’s word, the fallen sword saint and mage awaken slowly, rising to their feet without a scratch.
「Ha… ha…」
She underestimated the Saint.
Her barrier was far too sturdy. How much mana must be poured in to make it that robust?
Even finally shattering the Saint’s barrier, she then had to pierce the automatic Sanctus Choir barrier she maintains.
The barriers and equipment aren’t the only issues.
Who would believe that two utterly incapacitated people could be instantly restored with a single word?
Terror. Despair. Regret. Resignation.
They all swirl together inside Ashley.
「But I…」
She refuses to accept it.
Driving her forward at the end are the smiling faces of her loved ones.
Her body’s already in tatters.
Using it consecutively, she likely won’t make it back alive.
But—
「《Complete Strengthening+》」
Ashley hears the sound of her muscles tearing.
「Again? The outcome is clear, as you might know.」
Saint Mika calls out.
Undeterred, Ashley continues.
「《Divine Guardian》」
Ashley’s heart pounds at a dangerously rapid pace.
「Angie! Eris! Stop her!」
Even as she coughs up blood, slicing away her life force to stack skills, the Holy Knight’s determination terrifies Saint Mika.
Eris has risen quite far from Ashley. Realizing this, the mage Angelica lightly traces a sigil. 「《Release!》」
The water spears embedded in the ceiling dissolve, drenching Ashley in a deluge and crushing her.
But she endures even that and persists.
「《My Body is a Living Shield》」
Ashley realizes she’s treading into a realm of no return.
Angelica attempts a simplified chant, pouring in mana.
「《Exalt in Agony》」
Her brain feels seared by the excruciating agony.
With this, Ashley has used quadruple skills twice in one day. With vacant eyes, she tries to use her final strengthening skill, right at that moment—
「《Violet Lightning》」
Angelica’s magic activates faster than Ashley can use her final skill.
The water she’s drenched in from the dispelled Water Spear, infused with Angelica’s mana, serves as a target. The spell assails Ashley at blinding speed.
「Gyaaaaaaaah—」
An electrical discharge.
Crackling and blinding light.
Finally able to open her eyes, the Holy Knight still stands, leaning on her shield, smoke rising from her body.
「Hiii—」
The mage Angelica gasps in fear at the sight.
「I… can’t lose…」
The sword saint shakes her head at the mage upon hearing those words coughed up with blood and seeing Ashley’s state.
「I can’t lose—」
Thud.
Holy Knight Ashley Noble finally collapses before the usurpers.
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「So, Low.」
Anon calls my name.
「I talked about the Holy Knight and the Hero’s party.」
I never imagined the failed dungeon raid would lead to this.
「I wonder how you’ll act from here.」
How would I act?
That’s what I wanted to know myself.
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