Don't confiscate my identity as a human race

Even for the Saint Polante Pope, receiving this spell directly at full strength would be quite the ordeal.

"So that means..."

Antanas tentatively raised a hand to shield himself from the white light, asking.

As all the elements simultaneously erupted, converging into a beam of creation, the radiance intersected with Hesintos in the air, unleashing an unprecedented brilliance.

In an instant, heaven and earth lost color, while sun and moon ceased to shine.

All colors were absorbed into this point of intersection, only to explode once more a second later.

The shockwave from the explosion spread outward from the battlefield in all directions.

"As long as Loren's Divine Retribution strikes Hesintos, he will win."

Migaya agreed with certainty, already seeing the moment of victory being sealed.

...

...

Hesintos was dripping with blood, his silhouette nearly turning a dark crimson.

He staggered, using the Cyrus Spirit Sword for support, steadying himself atop the ruins, as blood seeped through his fingernails, pooling black on the ground.

"How foolish, Great Priest Loren."

Hesintos raised his head with a smug victor's smile, looking at the distant, lifeless Loren lying on the ground,

"To protect those weaklings, you made a wrong decision at this crucial moment."

Hesintos's eyes could not conceal the mockery and joy as he assessed Loren.

With both hands gripping the longsword tightly, the sword tip plunged deeply into the charred earth, supporting his damaged body.

Outside the barrier, everyone's lips parted slightly.

In the initial moments, no one moved, no one spoke.

All were frozen, as if time itself had stopped.

Their eyes were wide open, staring in disbelief at the distant battlefield.

They even forgot to breathe, mouths slightly agape, faces painted with shock and bewilderment.

"What is happening..."

Only now did they understand the true strongest spell of Hesintos.

Even though the identification besides Pranay was incomplete, they had nearly grasped Hesintos's ultimate spell through its actual effect.

[Unbalanced Devourer]

[Category: Active Spell]

[Grade: Orange Epic]

[Attributes: Counter/Seal]

[Level: 8]

[Effect: Consumes and defends against all attacks, traps, and items within range, temporarily storing them in the Soul Space, and can return them completely within thirty seconds, cooldown one minute.]

"No, the reason for the Divine Retribution's rebound is not the root cause of this spell."

Migaya was the first to break the silence.

Just in that moment.

Loren saw that Hesintos might have a counter spell, and perhaps only the Divine Retribution could force out Hesintos's true hand, preparing the corresponding defense.

But what no one expected was that Hesintos did not aim the Divine Retribution absorbed by the Unbalanced Devourer at Loren.

Rather, he straightforwardly targeted the civilian area outside the Holy Astore Barrier and Loren's other companions.

This small action might be overlooked by ordinary onlookers, but Loren would definitely see it.

Hesintos observed Loren with a smile.

As if forcing Loren to choose—

Even with barrier protection, the Holy Astore Barrier cannot withstand a direct hit from Loren's Divine Retribution.

At that time, not only would Lanci and the others suffer severe casualties, but countless families of Brilda would also face disaster.

Thus, the decision Loren made at that moment was to block the Divine Retribution himself, and attempt to detonate the Divine Retribution between himself and Hesintos, dragging Hesintos into it.

However, as the spell's controller, Hesintos obviously suffered far less damage than Loren.

"Hesintos!"

Migaya's angry shout seemed to break a spell, instantly awakening everyone else.

Immediately, anger spread like wildfire among the crowd.

"That despicable scoundrel!"

Julius clenched both fists, knuckles turning white, violent flames flashing in his eyes.

"He knows it is difficult to defeat Loren if the fight continues, and Loren is still growing stronger, so he needed a means to end the battle quickly."

If Loren were allowed to continue fighting, even if Loren temporarily couldn't find a way to break through Hesintos, Hesintos similarly lacked a definitive means to completely defeat Loren, and the pressure of the attack would shift entirely to Hesintos.

Initially feeling assured of victory, Hesintos now realized that Loren was the sole threat in this world, so he used this tactic to end the battle with no more concealment.

At this point, no one noticed that two people nearby had already vanished.

On the northern side of the barrier, the War Gods clearly also saw Hesintos's decision.

"This..."

Even if Hesintos won.

The victory was somewhat dishonorable.

And they originally did not believe Hesintos would employ such a strategy at the climax of life-and-death combat.

The center of the barrier was a ravaged battlefield.

Deep furrows were scattered across the scorched earth, as if torn by a giant's claws.

"Alright, once you're dead, there will be no one to stop me."

Hesintos's eyes carried a ruthless edge as he laughed heartily.

Whether believers or skeptics alike.

Those enemies, those traitors, he would come for them one by one.

Erasing Loren was the most important thing now.

Just as Hesintos recuperated slightly on the battlefield, wounds starting to close, and prepared to completely dismantle Loren.

A spatial fire arc buzzed by Loren's side, Dimensional Bishop Toriyado leaped forth from it, grabbing the half-dead Loren from the ground and flashed toward the barrier's exterior.

"This time I'll be a hero!"

Toriyado shouted, bolstering his own courage.

If Loren were given another chance, the stronger Loren certainly wouldn't lose to this base Hesintos!

"You thief, I've tolerated you for long enough."

Seeing this, Hesintos's eyes ignited with rage.

If not for the Dimensional Bishop's tricks, the real Loren might not have been rescued.

Though Loren was now lifeless, unless he tore Loren apart completely, he could never rest easy.

Hesintos immediately swung his sword at Toriyado's back.

Before the sword Qi reached Toriyado and Loren, it shattered completely with a metallic crash.

A figure, like a silver comet descending from the sky, crashed between the retreating Toriyado and pursuing Hesintos.

The immense impact instantaneously dissolved the sword Qi, dispersing into countless tiny lights in the air.

As the dust settled, a figure radiating silver brilliance stood before Hesintos.

"Hesintos, I don't think I've encountered someone who deserves a thrashing as much as you."

Sigrid shook her wrist, clenching her creaky fists, advancing toward Hesintos.

No time left to mourn Loren's defeat; now entering the battlefield was the Bishop of Hegemony, Sigrid!