My Alter Ego’s Path to Greatness Chapter 62

#62

The Daesinjeon Attack Incident (1)

The incident proceeded smoothly.

“How are the preparations going? Do you have enough power to move right now?”

“Do not worry. Since we made some preparations in advance, we have enough power to spare. “After all, we were planning to send only the most elite personnel this time.”

The place where the energy was detected was at the western end of the continent.

Given the distance, there was a limit to the number of people that could be sent as quickly as possible.

If he gave a hint that the church had caught his scent, he would run away at any time and where, so he couldn’t summon a squad to attack the Immortal King from the Kingdom of Thalia like before.

Since power below a certain level would not be of much help anyway, it was decided that only Holy Knights and Combat Priests of High Priestess or higher would receive support from the Thalia Temple.

“There are four Paladins who will participate in the operation, and there are three Archbishops, including me. The Heretic Questioner is also planning to participate.”

A strategy to bring together all the strong players who can move immediately.

Three paladins and two archbishops from the main temple of Roselia participated, and a paladin and an archbishop who were dispatched to the west also decided to join on the spot.

Additionally, the top talent selected from each Holy Knight and Combat Priest were scheduled to be dispatched together.

“And… Cardinal Pirey also announced that he would join us at the Imperial Shrine of Geron.”

Even the cardinal, the chief officer of one of the few great temples on the continent, personally declared his participation in the war.

“Well… Well, he was particularly aggressive. He is also a former Holy Knight. “I heard that you were quite disappointed that you could not participate in the first subjugation battle.”

“It looks like you just happened to have time this time. “It worked out well because the situation required a small number of elites.”

There were two cardinals in the Grand Temple of Roselia, but they left all matters related to the Immortal King to the saint and focused only on running the temple and the entire church.

“Hmm… Now that it’s come to this, I too…”

“You can’t be a saint.”

Archbishop Latius spoke decisively before she could finish her sentence.

“Now that the Pope is bedridden from old age, the saint is the symbol of the main church. “In times like these, you need to stay where you are.”

“But there are also cardinals…”

“The main temple is already losing a lot of its power, so please, saint, protect this place. “No matter how secret an operation is, there are contingencies.”

“Ha… I understand.”

And the aftermath of that conversation came back to Heinrich as well.

“Hmm… Sir Heinrich Landgard, it would be better to guard the main temple with the saint this time.”

“Me too?”

Naturally, Heinrich, who thought he would also participate as he had been deeply involved in this matter until now, widened his eyes.

Archbishop Latius took him to a quiet place and spoke with a serious face.

“It looks like the saint is very heartbroken, so I hope I can at least be a companion and comfort her. And…”

The archbishop paused for a moment and then sighed.

“This will be a very dangerous operation. Since the Cardinal is going with him, he won’t be able to escape as easily as last time. “There will probably be a fierce battle.”

Since we missed Hans even after hitting the barrier last time, we will prepare even more thoroughly this time by joining the Cardinal.

“In the meantime, many people will die or get injured. “There’s no way I can’t do that too.”

And Heinrich was a talent too good to be sacrificed on such a battlefield.

Although his skills were sufficient to participate in the operation right now, he was at a similar level to the paladins selected this time.

The Archbishop decided that his true value would lie after he had fully grown up.

A seed of a hero that grows rapidly and even receives the attention of the main deity and saint.

There was a need to prepare for any emergency.

“We have to consider the possibility that the operation will fail. “There is a possibility that we will all be wiped out.”

Although we are already preparing excessive forces, no one can know what will happen in the future.

And if that time comes, the saint and Heinrich could become the church’s hope.

“…All right. “I will follow the archbishop’s wishes.”

“Thank you for understanding. “You must have been determined by now.”

Seeing Archbishop Latius’s determined expression, Heinrich could only make an awkward expression.

‘Hmm… it’s nice to see how enthusiastic you are.’

Transmission through the gate was carried out sequentially with the mobilization of priests who were not directly involved in the operation, including saints.

Although it was said that only a select few elites were dispatched, since there were dozens of people, it was inevitable that it would take another day for them all to be sent to the Thalia Temple.

“There is no need to rush too much as it is a distance that cannot be reached in a day or two anyway. “I won’t be in such a hurry to move from where I’ve been hiding.”

Archbishop Latius led the personnel dispatched to the Great Temple of Roselia and proceeded with the work step by step.

Woooow—

While the last transfer person was waiting, the gate started vibrating and working again.

And the archbishop, who was included in the group, turned his head and looked at those who came out to see them off.

He looked at the saint and his companions, including Heinrich, and nodded with a confident expression, then turned and headed toward the gate.

The solemn look behind him had an atmosphere that said, ‘If an emergency occurs, please ask for my help.’

‘…Please feel free to get some fresh air outside.’

Heinrich watched him disappear beyond the gate with a subtle smile.

Oooh—

the blue vortex of the vibrating gate.

Just like that, everyone finished moving to the Thalia Temple in the western part of the continent.

***

[Hmm… How long will it take for those gathered at Thalia’s temple to arrive here? Since they are all elite, it won’t take that long.]

From the capital of Thalia Kingdom to the depths of the Monster Forest.

Normally, no matter how quickly it arrives, it will take more than a month, but it is too early to make a hasty decision since we do not know what other blessings they will have.

Doesn’t Heinrich also have “Blessing: Leap” right now?

On the other side, you’ll want to shorten the travel time as much as possible.

As soon as they join us at Thalia’s temple, we’ll probably set off immediately, using any means possible.

[Now let’s get ready.]

Hans slowly left the cave.

Roaring—

With every step he took, the flames of hell rose up and melted everything that was left in the cave.

From the waste generated during the experiment to all traces of barriers remaining inside.

[There is no need to provide any other information. Sigh….]

As a result, the barriers collapsed, but his entire body was already covered with layers of hiding fields that could hide the existence of the fragments.

‘Then when is the best time to start work?’

This was the point when the defenses of the Great Temple of Roselia were at their weakest.

Because that was where the most effort was deployed to catch Hans.

‘Plus, the priests are exhausted from operating the gate too hard.’

Considering the level of seal spread around the fragment, breaking it seemed daunting.

It will probably take a considerable amount of time to obtain the fragment.

In preparation for that time, it was necessary to bring out as much of the power of the Great Hall as possible.

The timing was right, as the High Elves’ search had just begun.

He could have been lured in by deliberately showing his force, but doing so would have made the church suspicious.

So, I only prepared and did nothing to avoid being discovered naturally.

‘The cooldown time for the other world transmission line has been set in advance.’

Now he could have done something at any time, but Hans just stood there and waited until nightfall.

So that the personnel dispatched to catch him cannot do anything even if they are contacted late.

[Hehehe… It’s starting now.]

Midnight, with the moon rising high.

In the moonlight shining in the forest, all things cast shadows… but

Hans’ shadow no longer existed there.

***

《Transmission to the Outerica dimension has been completed.》

The first thing I saw was light.

An overwhelming amount of light coming from all directions as if threatening to blind one’s eyes.

[Hehe, I expected it, but it’s greater than I thought.]

The cloaking shield wrapped around his body was instantly consumed by light, and the dark magic hovering around him began to engage in a power struggle with divine power.

‘This isn’t very good.’

The whole place was a hostile space for Hans.

If this condition continued, the fragments could not be completely recovered.

I tried to finish the job as peacefully as possible and leave, but there was nothing I could do about it.

Hans raised his staff upward.

[Hahaha! All shatter!]

The black magic emanating from him was concentrated in one place…

The black flame rising from the tip of the skull staff grew in size in an instant.

In the meantime, the divine power continued to eat away at the black magic, but Hans was no longer capable of being swayed by that level of interference.

Grumble—gwagwagwang!

The enlarged hell flame split into several branches in an instant and exploded towards the walls in all directions, where golden emblems were shining.

Patter-patter—

the emblem on the wall fell off and melted, and the energy suppressing the black magic weakened.

‘I feel much better.’

It was originally a seal made to suppress the unclean energy inside.

There is no choice but to be less prepared for direct shock.

‘Once more!’

Swoosh—Papapod!

The ground around Hans turned black and spread out in all directions, and the shadowy blades that protruded from there began to cut in all directions.

The light of the damaged crest gradually dimmed, and the divine power weighing down his body weakened.

[Ugh, I feel a bit relieved now.]

Of course, his direct attack power was reduced, but he was by no means in his usual condition.

‘I don’t know how many sacred barriers were overlapped and activated.’

At the same time as Hans invaded, all kinds of barriers installed throughout the main temple were activated at the same time.

‘I have to hurry. Still, as the access road is complicated, it is good that it will inevitably take time for the church to get here.’

He headed to the central altar with a satisfied smile.

‘But this place is still fine.’

Even though Hans’ dark magic turned the surrounding area upside down, the altar and the pillar that sealed it were not damaged at all.

It’s shaky—!

When his hand touched the chain made of fragments, white sparks and flames erupted, covering his arm.

[Hmm, okay. It can’t be that easy.]

Hans muttered calmly, using dark magic to shake off the flames that stuck to his hands.

[It’s a race against time now.]

We have to break the seal and retrieve the fragments before outside interference comes in.

He reached for the fragment again.

***

The incident occurred in the middle of the night.

Hwaaaak—

the patterns engraved throughout the main shrine, which had been thought of as decoration, all began to shine…

“What?!”

“What is this all of a sudden!”

The Holy Knights on guard burst out in astonishment.

A sentence filled with divine power emerged from all over the floor, walls, and ceiling.

A type of sacred barrier that cuts off space, suppresses internal negative energy, and boosts the strength of those with sacred power.

At this moment, the Great Temple of Roselia was like an iron fortress.

‘Even though the intrusion was already allowed.’

The paladin who was guarding with him looked embarrassed, but Heinrich looked around and expressed his peaceful thoughts to himself.

He was currently standing guard at night on the passage leading to Bonginji.

Now that I was guarding the Great Hall, I naturally returned to the work of the Bright Guardian Holy Knights.

Since he was unable to participate in the punitive force, he also wanted to help in other ways, so he volunteered to guard this passage.

On top of that, I may have missed work during that time. Under the pretense of making up for it, I volunteered to work as a night guard, which everyone was reluctant to do, and here I am now.

‘If I stay here, I will be able to roughly understand the situation as it unfolds. While Hans was breaking the seal….’

That moment.

[Bisa—Ang—!]

A sacred power that resonated in my head exploded from inside the Great Temple.

[Emergency situation! All troops are ready for battle! As soon as they are ready, gather at their respective locations!]

[The Holy Knights move according to the leader’s command!]

A voice rings loudly in my head.

It was the voice of a cardinal I had never seen before.

The situation was moving quickly.

Hwiik—!

At that time, a group of about twenty people wearing black clothes came running towards us from one side.

Leading them at the forefront was the head of the Heresy Inquisitor whom I had seen once before.