Taming the Evil Saintess

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Thanks to Ophelia’s timely support, I was now wielding a new sword. I half-expected Elgore to comment on it, but instead, he seemed to actually want me to engage in battle at my best.

“Thanks for the consideration.”

“Don’t mention it. It’d feel awkward for me to have to fight my brother with a broken sword, you know?”

What a disgusting metaphor.

I let out a hollow laugh as I lifted the sword.

“Does it fit nicely in your hand?”

“Well, sort of.”

In response to Elgore’s question, I wiggled the new Holy Sword I held. Aside from the slightly extravagant pommel, there wasn’t a huge difference from the sword I used before.

It was just about a hand’s length longer than my previous sword. It was also heavier, suggesting it was designed for two hands, but given the Hero’s Divine Mark supporting me at the moment, I could swing a sword this big like it was a stick.

“Brother, I’m coming!”

Elgore announced his intention kindly before charging forward.

Standing nearly three meters tall, he was reminiscent of a giant elephant. But unlike an elephant, Elgore wasn’t clumsy at all. His agility was more akin to a bear, or rather, a cheetah.

In the blink of an eye, he was in front of me, swinging a left hook. As I infused the new sword with mana, it seemed to shine brightly, and Sword Energy surged up.

I brought the sword to meet Elgore’s fist, and a shockwave rippled through the area. Bricks from the castle walls rained down around us.

“Brother, you’re exposed!”

Elgore didn’t seem phased in the slightest by his attack being blocked. Instead, he cocked his right fist and aimed it straight at my gut. As I stepped back and twirled my sword to counter the attack, he suddenly turned his back to me.

I pivoted my body. Anticipating his next move, I saw the muscles twitching, predicting a roundhouse kick. I tilted my head as I thrust the sword forward. Just at the spot where my head had been a moment before, Elgore’s sharp leg passed through.

A few strands of my hair fluttered away.

At the same time, my Holy Sword stabbed into Elgore’s unprotected side. I invoked Cecilia’s hidden technique. A golden flower blossomed from his side and exploded.

KABOOM! The new Holy Sword appeared to absorb mana much better than Olmen’s sword. A massive explosion erupted, sending me flying backward.

“Gyeh!”

I was thrown back, covered in dust. I hurriedly steadied myself. Having taken a direct hit from the mana flower, I figured even someone like Elgore would have suffered significant damage.

“Hmm. You have an interesting technique. I might not be skilled in mana or magic, but that was quite a decent attack.”

“…Ha, what the hell. Are you kidding me?”

Aside from some torn clothing and flesh exposing his bright red trapezius, Elgore didn’t seem to have any visible injuries at all.

In terms of pure physical ability, he was superior to Geldmier.

If he possessed intelligence and skilled swordsmanship, the Demon King’s Army’s strongest officer would have been Elgore and not Geldmier.

‘Should I aim for his head?’

No, even if I did aim for his head, I doubt I could kill him.

The only way to defeat Elgore was through a battle of attrition, gradually wearing him down. It was like walking a tightrope. But beneath the tightrope was a pit of lava. One misstep could result in death.

That said, I couldn’t just run away. Considering stamina, I’d still be the one faster. The duration of the Divine Mark was about ten minutes in total.

Has it only been half the time?

“Tsk.”

I clicked my tongue and raised the Holy Sword.

Elgore, showing a pleased expression at my undaunted demeanor, charged at me with a grin.

We exchanged some blows. Not a single hit landed on me, yet Elgore’s body was already drenched in blood. While the injuries were shallow, the accumulative effect could cause considerable harm. Indeed, with every move he made, his wounds opened and blood oozed out.

“Brother, you’re like a damn rat.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“It’s the highest of compliments.”

His punches were straightforward. As long as I focused on their sheer power, I could read his movements with difficulty.

It seemed Elgore was aware that his martial skills weren’t all that. He could clearly sense that if this pattern continued, he’d lose.

“Hahahaha! I’m on fire right now!”

Elgore shouted.

It must be a strange sensation for such a hulking figure to feel threatened by a mere human.

Well, considering his stature and combat power, no one in his life had likely ever made him feel the weight of the word ‘defeat.’

Except for me.

“However, brother, I’m not going to just go down easily!”

With a battle cry, Elgore charged again.

A typical attack, one I could block.

I used Sword Energy. As I deflected his punch, I aimed to stab him in the chest. Elgore would likely dodge this attack and retaliate. Preparing for a barrage of incoming strikes, I tensed my entire body.

“What?!”

However, Elgore took the sword directly into his body. The sword left a deep mark on his chest, but the blade was firmly grasped by his muscular pecs. No matter how hard I pulled, it won’t budge. Infusing mana, a series of golden flowers burst from his chest.

Blood spilled from Elgore’s lips.

“Ugh! Pain hones a warrior!”

Even so, Elgore remained steadfast. He endured the pain while roaring.

Then his punches came raining down. I couldn’t relinquish my sword. I raised my now less-injured left hand to counter his punches. My intent was to absorb the blow, but it was futile. My left hand twisted grotesquely and broke.

As if that wasn’t enough, Elgore’s fist landed hard on my side.

“GUAH!”

I barely dodged the full brunt of the attack, but it still hurt significantly.

A clean hole, like it had been carved out by a scalpel, appeared in my side where Elgore’s fist had passed.

Blood oozed forth. I surrounded my internal organs with mana to prevent them from falling out.

“Giving bones and taking flesh! Hahaha! That’s martial arts!”

‘That’s the opposite, you idiot.’

…Not that I was in a position to backtalk with my condition.

I pressed my side to staunch the bleeding, kneeling on one knee.

I was still okay. Fighting wasn’t a major issue yet. I had fought through worse injuries before.

“Brother, it’s a shame. My body seems to be much stronger than yours.”

“I know, to a degree. Urgh.”

The sword remained lodged in his chest. An explosion of mana erupted from the wound. Yet, Elgore still stood.

Though his injury was greater, his monstrous physique could withstand enough damage that a normal human would have exploded from.

“If you were a demon, you could have been among the best officers.”

Elgore muttered sadly.

That remark struck a nerve.

“Hey.”

I used the sword as a makeshift staff to rise.

“Why do you think you won?”

“…”

“It’s not over yet, idiot.”

Indeed, Elgore’s durability was overwhelmingly superior to mine.

In that case….

“Did you just mention giving bones and taking flesh?”

As I spoke, blood dripped from my mouth.

In the distance, Ophelia looked ready to charge at any moment, her eyes welling with tears.

But there would be no interference from Ophelia.

“Alright then. Let’s see you try.”

Because I am going to win.

After roughly aligning the loose bones in my left hand, I gripped the sword with both hands. I could endure any pain that came my way.

Elgore’s eyes widened in surprise. A regular human would be dead by now with a side like mine gone. But I wasn’t a regular human.

I disregarded defense. If I can’t evade, I take the hit as best as I can.

But as long as I don’t die, it suffices. As long as it’s not a lethal wound, I’ll be fine.

No matter how rough my condition gets, Ophelia will heal me.

This time, I planned to strike first. I slammed my feet into the ground. In an instant, I closed in on Elgore. He extended his fist to block my approach.

I should deal with it, but I didn’t have the luxury for that. I didn’t even have the strength for it.

Sacrificing my newly aligned left hand, I offered it up. CRUNCH. I heard the sound of bone shattering. However, thanks to that, Elgore’s punch merely grazed past my cheek.

On the other hand, there was no fist to block my sword. I aimed for the deep gash in Elgore’s chest.

Essentially, hit him where it hurts, again.

“GAH!”

The sword sank in, but it felt oddly heavy, like it was snagged on something solid.

Shallow. This won’t do. I released my grip on the sword and stomped down with my foot to bear down on it. Elgore grimaced, writhing like a mosquito struggling to shake off its bloodsucker.

In alignment with this title of “Black River,” his fist ooze with dark energy.

I didn’t bother to evade. Instead, I adjusted my body angle to minimize the damage.

CRACK!

No matter how much I tried to minimize the pain, Elgore’s punches were strong. His attack shattered my collarbone. However, it was still better than having my skull crushed.

I gripped the deeply embedded sword and unleashed its Sword Energy. Elgore’s chest began to burn. I twisted my right hand and yanked the sword free.

“GRAAAAH!”

For the first time, Elgore screamed in agony.

So, giving bones and taking flesh, huh?
Well, it seemed this nonsense was indeed correct.

Elgore’s skin and muscles ripped apart, exposing pristine ribs and crimson innards.

“Demons bleed red too.”

I laughed desperately, raising my sword.