I Quit Being a Priest

Edwin always takes challenges seriously. Even if it’s against a monster beyond common sense or a delicate woman from whom not even a tiny bit of mana can be felt.

That’s why the spectators swallowed dryly. Of course, if it looked like something serious was about to happen, the commander would intervene, but this time, the match seemed completely imbalanced.

That’s certainly what they were thinking until the battle began.

With just a light wave of Illia’s hand, a massive storm arose.

No one knew how she did it. The aftermath of the storm was just powerful enough to push back Edwin, who was wearing heavy armor, and ruffle the hair of those in the spectator seats.

At that moment, the expressions of everyone present changed. To slight bewilderment and fear.

When Illia extends her hand, the golden light enveloping this area greatly fluctuates. Again, no one knows how she did this.

Within the golden light that engulfed this area, Illia was dominating the space itself.

“The subject is Bondage.”

As Illia placed both hands on the ground, a massive circuit was drawn on the floor. Though the spell itself was simple, the holy power poured into it was by no means light.

Dozens of golden light clusters extending from the floor grab Edwin. The light that bound him was too tenacious to be broken by mere human strength.

“Kugh…”

However, it was unreasonable to try to block Edwin’s advance with just that light. The lights made of holy power are cut and scattered by the axe he swung.

Having escaped the bondage, Edwin stepped heavily on the ground. Following his footsteps, the ground physically shakes.

Edwin, who shook the earth with overwhelming weight and physical force, reminded the spectators once again that he was a great hero who actively traversed the front lines.

But he wasn’t the only one shaking the ground. Though infinitely smaller and lighter than Edwin’s, the moment Illia’s foot touched the ground, holy power taking root in the ground made it vibrate.

Edwin realized it then. That she was absolutely not an easy opponent, and that it would be okay to show his true self here.

-Whish.

Having broken through all the holy power’s interference with an unimaginable, monstrous strength, Edwin swung a massive axe towards Illia.

It wasn’t a blow that could be held back by mere holy power. Even if she spread the golden light scattered around to block it, the heavy axe blade with Edwin’s power would easily tear through it.

Originally, Edwin himself had swung this blow to tear through even the holy power trying to block the attack.

And just before the axe blade touched Illia’s body, everyone present tightly closed their eyes.

Surely a bloodbath would occur. A scene too horrific to bear with the eyes.

-Clang!!!

A collision sound, hard to believe as the sound of tearing human flesh, was heard. Only then did the spectators cautiously open their eyes to face a truth.

The axe blade swung by Edwin was blocked and stopped by Illia’s palm. In this scene, which was hard to believe even when seen with the eyes, Illia smiled slightly.

“Do you know? Holy power is specialized for defense rather than attack.”

Before Edwin’s axe touched Illia’s body, she extended holy power to spread a transparent barrier.

Holy power, even if just a little is extended and solidified, is not easily destroyed. Though its attack power falls infinitely, if the tactics are shifted towards defense, holy power is a substance that shows the highest efficiency.

Moreover, it was a barrier constructed by Illia, who had reached the pinnacle of handling holy power.

No matter how much of a destruction incarnate Edwin’s attack was, it couldn’t penetrate it.

“The subject is Creation.”

After emitting a storm of holy power and pushing Edwin back, Illia weaves a circuit to construct a spell formula.

The subject she recited is Creation. A sword made of holy power was placed in her hand.

Though Illia had never learned swordsmanship in her life, this time, the basics of swordsmanship were in place.

It was Edwin’s result. The basic swordsmanship that he had forcibly injected while scolding and rolling Illia shone.

Illia’s leap is fast. Each time her feet alternately touch the ground, the holy power flowing along the floor vibrates.

As if this entire space is bestowing all blessings upon Illia alone, she, enveloped in golden light all over her body, produced superhuman speed even with strength below that of an ordinary person.

Where Illia’s sword is directed is Edwin’s body.

However, before her sword can reach, a massive shield blocks its path. Illia’s meager attack power cannot penetrate Edwin’s iron wall.

-Clang!!

“Huh…?”

As expected, the moment Illia’s sword touched Edwin’s shield, it stopped its movement and couldn’t advance further.

Although it was a thrust she made with all her heart, Edwin’s shield didn’t even get a tiny scratch.

Insane defense power befitting the epithet of “Iron Wall.” The reason Edwin is evaluated as strong isn’t because of the destructive power of the axe he wields.

It’s because he possesses defensive power that blocks all attacks while having such destructive power that he is called a Star of the Empire.

The Iron Wall Edwin, the 5th Star of the Imperial Knight Order. That was his name.

“Huh… fuck.”

After blocking the incoming attack with his shield, Edwin immediately brought his axe down. Illia’s body was thrust to the ground by the attack that accurately hit her head.

Though Illia’s body is protected by the holy power barrier, making her immune to all attacks, her face was thrust to the ground, so there was a small scratch on her pride.

She slowly got up from her spot and dusted off the dirt on her hair with her hand.

“…Did you just hit me, you bastard?”

Illia summoned her main weapon, the staff, with her hand. The specially crafted staff from the monastery she belonged to resonates with Illia’s holy power.

After all, it was like a part of her, made with Illia’s hair, blood, and holy power as materials.

The moment that staff is raised in Illia’s hand, the surrounding air changed.

No, the holy power that filled this place finds its direction and is placed under Illia’s dominion.

She lightly swings the staff from top to bottom. With just that, the direction of all holy power in this area changes downward.

-Thud, thud.

The holy power that changed direction downward becomes like gravity, pressing Edwin down.

It further burdens his already heavy body.

“The subject is Creation.”

Illia engraved circuits in her holy power and constructed hundreds of golden swords.

The direction those blades point is Edwin’s flesh. It was a spell that targeted the weakness that while his heavy shield shows absolute defense against attacks coming from one direction, he has no way to respond to attacks coming from all directions.

Yes, that’s why she had failed when she tried to swing the sword directly with swordsmanship that didn’t even have proper basics.

She should do what she usually does.

“In the name of the Sun God…”

Illia closed her eyes while reciting a short prayer. At a glance, it might look like she’s showing composure during battle, but anyone who had studied holy power even a little would have immediately understood that action.

It’s a realm so marvelous. She is now bestowing the Sun God’s protection upon the swords aimed at Edwin.

Using her blood as a medium.

-Slash.

Illia cut her pristine white skin with a small golden dagger in her hand. The red blood that flowed from the wound carved on her arm flowed out and flew through the air.

Though it was a small amount of blood, the blood of one who possesses holy power, especially Illia’s blood, holds immense value even in such a quantity.

The golden swords that have ingested her blood blaze red. Edwin’s instinct warned that those swords, which felt a dimensionally different energy from before, would absolutely not be light.

However.

“It’s already too late.”

It was already too late for him to react. There was no way to block hundreds of blades flying from all directions with just one shield.

Illia lightly flicked her finger.

The red-light blades surrounding Edwin flew in all at once. To pierce his flesh and demand blood.

Clang, and then, thud.

Some of the blades flying in all at once were blocked by the shield and armor, and some pierced his body, the sound echoing.

Drip, drip. Blood, seemingly flowing from Edwin’s body, fell to the floor, staining it red.

His knees touched the ground, and the shield held in his left hand fell.

At that point, Illia, who had expected her victory, slowly recovered her holy power.

Through that process, all the holy powers binding Edwin were released, and that was a mistake.

-BOOM!!!

Edwin’s foot, freed from bondage, heavily stomped the ground. Just with that, the ground shook, and the foundation burst open.

That wasn’t all. Dark red mana flowed around Edwin, and his eyes glowed red.

What he held in his hand was no longer a shield or an axe. Having put both down on the ground, he took out a greatsword from his back.

The flow of air settled heavily.