I found myself in a dark place. There was nothing around me, just an endless void. Pitch-black darkness, as if everything had been swallowed. "Is anyone there?" I shouted, but even my voice disappeared into the emptiness. No echo, no response… Only silence.
I began to walk slowly, trying to find my way in the darkness. A reddish light appeared around me, causing everything to take on a strange and menacing shape. For a moment, the only thing I could perceive with my eyes was a beam of light. Within that light, my gaze froze in shock.
Fidelis.
He was lying motionless on the ground. He was so familiar, yet so distant… His eyes were frozen, expressionless. His body seemed to carry traces of the life he had just left behind, but capturing that moment was impossible. There were no wounds on his head or body. Yet, there he lay, lifeless. This had to be a nightmare…
Next to Fidelis, there was someone. But their figure wasn’t clear. It was blurry. I couldn’t make out who it was.
Then, another light turned on, this time to the right. I focused my eyes there. The image around the light became clearer. Suddenly, I had to fall to my knees.
This… It couldn’t be…
Eleanor.
There was a large hole in her stomach, as if something had pierced through her. In that moment, something inside me shattered. A sob seemed to get stuck in my throat. Yes, in my throat. There was pain, but it wasn’t just physical. It was the sound of destruction, as if everything I had was being torn apart. Her lifeless body struck my eyes mercilessly. Everything that held meaning for me vanished in an instant. And I realized then that a void had opened in my life, one that could never be filled.
I couldn’t protect Fidelis. I couldn’t protect Eleanor. The two people I was supposed to protect were dead before my eyes. Everything that had happened was my fault. I wasn’t strong enough. They had trusted me, but I… Tears filled my eyes as a knot tightened in my throat. Struggling to take deep breaths, words got stuck in my throat. “Fi- Fidelis… E- Eleanor…” I began to cry.
My tears deepened the pain building up inside me. Each drop, each tear, tore my heart apart even more. “I… I…” I tried to say something, but the words wouldn’t come out. The anger and sadness within me suddenly erupted. My vision blurred as the darkness around me deepened. At that moment, a scream burst out from within me.
“Raaaaaaah!” I screamed. As I screamed, I felt that raw power inside me spilling out everywhere. I was no longer normal… My body, my mind… Everything suddenly transformed into something different. It was as if an explosion was occurring in every cell of my body. At that moment, I realized that a colossal power was pushing the limits of everything and flowing into my body and soul. Energy echoed throughout me, coursing everywhere. My head began to spin, but it was only the pressure of that power. I felt as though I was under the influence of a massive, overwhelming force.
This power inside me had begun to act independently. A crimson, dense wave of energy spread into the air. Everything around me was shaking. There was a sound reverberating everywhere, like an earthquake, but it wasn’t just about the ground—it was also about my body. My hands, my feet, were trembling as waves of power rippled outward. Rocks beneath the ground, stones floating in the air… Everything was trembling before me, feeling my presence.
The expression on my face had vanished. I had become something I could no longer control. My vision, blurred with tears, saw nothing but darkness in my mind. All I could feel was the void, the anger, the pain, and the madness within me. At that moment, I thought everything would collapse under the influence of my own power—that everything would be destroyed by this rage and despair. I lost myself. I was so powerful that I didn’t even realize what I was doing. I was like a storm, uncontrollable and lost within itself.
The destructive force of my power was so immense that everything around me had begun to collapse. The ground tore apart and flew into the air, stones cracked and scattered violently. The earth trembled as if it were on the verge of crumbling completely. A deafening noise echoed from wall to wall, growing louder with each step. It was like an earthquake—rocks groaned beneath the surface, and everything seemed to spiral toward a catastrophic end. Everything shifted under the influence of my power, swaying as if on the brink of falling apart.
The madness within my body consumed everything before my eyes closed, leaving destruction in its wake. It felt as though the chaos around me struck me with force. And finally, a massive boulder came crashing down on me with a thunderous roar.
"Shinya! Shinya! Shinya! Calm down!" Fidelis shouted, shaking me gently. When I opened my eyes, I immediately saw his worried face right in front of me. But this wasn’t just worry; he was afraid. Truly, he was afraid for me.
My body was drenched in sweat. I had perspired so much that symptoms of dehydration could be felt in every corner of my body. My heart pounded as if it would burst, each beat shaking me to my core.
"Are you alright, Shinya? I think you had a nightmare," Fidelis said, holding my head. He was sitting next to me. I clung to him so tightly that it felt like I might crush his ribs.
"Alright, alright, it's over," Fidelis said, stroking my head as I cried uncontrollably. What I had seen felt like a nightmare, but it was so vivid that my soul was still trapped in that horrifying moment.
"Fidelis, please don’t die. I can’t lose you," I said, my voice trembling.
"Calm down, Shinya. I won’t die that easily, don’t worry," he said with a slight smile. His smile eased the fear in me a little. But no matter how much I calmed down, the echoes of that painful nightmare still lingered in my mind.
Suddenly, five paladins stormed into the tent. "Commander Shinya! Are you alright?" one of them asked. Fidelis gestured with his hand to indicate that everything was fine. The paladins bowed respectfully and left the tent.
"Now, tell me what you saw," Fidelis said, his eyes still filled with concern, though his tone was composed.
I told the nightmare to Fidelis. My voice still trembled as I spoke. Fidelis was a bit surprised but didn’t seem horrified. "It’s likely the fight with Gor’Karash and that state of rage affected you. But don’t worry, it’s just a bad dream," Fidelis said, trying to reassure me.
I washed my face to calm myself, attempting to quiet the echoes of the nightmare swirling in my mind. If I got stuck in these thoughts, I wouldn’t be able to use my power effectively in battle.
Fidelis and I stepped out of the tent. The surroundings were beginning to brighten slightly; it was probably early morning. "Shinya, the demons we rescued are waiting in another tent. I held off interrogating them until you woke up," Fidelis said.
When we arrived at the tent where the demons were staying, the two paladins standing guard at the entrance turned toward us. "Bring us some food and something to drink," I said to one of them. He bowed respectfully and left without a word. Fidelis and I stepped inside.
Inside the tent were five demons. One of them was a large creature with a face resembling a wild boar. Two others looked like winged gargoyles. However, what caught my attention the most were the two demons who appeared almost human—one male and one female.
The male had medium-length curved horns on his head. His skin was bronzed, and his brown eyes gave him a stern and intense expression. He was slightly shorter than me, with a lean but muscular build, not overly bulky. At the tip of his thin tail was a leaf-shaped protrusion that swayed gently.
The female demon, in contrast, looked delicate. Her horns were smaller, and her skin was pale, almost like porcelain. Her striking wine-red eyes had a faint glimmer. She was even shorter and more slender than the male demon, with a graceful, elegant figure. The small heart-shaped tip of her tail added an enchanting charm to her appearance.
The moment Fidelis and I entered, the demons immediately tensed, taking defensive stances. Their faces were tense and expressionless as they watched us warily. Raising my hands slowly in a gesture of peace, I offered them a sincere smile. "Don’t worry. We’re not here to harm you," I said. But the demons didn’t appear reassured.
"My people have suffered enough at the hands of the Knights of Light. Trusting you is impossible," the female demon said coldly, her voice cautious. I was well aware of the prejudice the Knights of Light held against demons, but I believed in the equality of all races.
I lowered my head in a deep, respectful bow. Both Fidelis and the demons looked visibly surprised at my gesture.
"I am Shinya Kage, Commander of the Knights of Light. I apologize for the suffering you’ve endured in the past. I don’t know the details of what happened, but I will do everything in my power to ensure such tragedies don’t happen again. Let’s strive for harmony," I said, sincerity shining in my eyes.
"Uh, Shinya-sama, there’s no need to go that far," the female demon said, softening slightly. "I’m Lilith," she added, introducing herself. Then she gestured toward the male demon beside her. "And this is my twin brother, Zareth."
Lilith and Zareth were twins who resembled humans, though they looked nothing alike physically.
"It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lilith-san and Zareth-san. Please, no need for formality," I said, smiling warmly.
Just then, the paladin I had sent returned, carrying a tray of freshly cooked meat, vegetables, and drinks. He placed everything on a table, bowed respectfully, and left the tent.
"You must be starving," I said. I could see in their eyes that they hadn’t eaten properly in a long time. They hesitated briefly before moving toward the food. Soon, they began eating. I joined them as well, offering Fidelis to do the same, but he declined, saying he wasn’t hungry.
After a while, I asked, "So, what are you demons doing in Mordath?" carefully observing their expressions.
"We have a private mission," Zareth said, maintaining his composed demeanor.
"Would that special mission have anything to do with the mana emanating from the undead?" I inquired. Lilith and Zareth immediately stopped eating and turned to face me, their expressions surprised.
"How do you know about that?" Lilith asked, her eyes showing a hint of suspicion.
"Because we're here for the same reason," I replied calmly. "The guild master mentioned needing our help."
Zareth, with a pensive look, said, "In truth, there were fifteen of us demons assigned to this mission. But ten of us died fighting the orcs. Only the five of us remain." His voice was cold, devoid of any sign of grief or sorrow.
Lilith tilted her head slightly and added, "We would have died as well if you hadn't come to save us. Your battle with Gor'Karash was truly impressive, Shinya-sama," she said with a faint smile on her face.
"But the strange thing is," Fidelis interjected from behind, "aside from the undead at the dungeon's entrance, we haven't encountered any others."
"I can't make sense of it either," Lilith said. "Perhaps there was an error in the readings."
"Or they are hiding," Zareth added, his voice steady and analytical.
"Whatever the reason, we'll clear the dungeon and uncover the truth. After we finish eating, we'll deal with the other mini-bosses. If you'd like, join us. The more allies we have, the better our chances," I said, turning toward the demons.
Lilith and Zareth took a moment of silence to consider my offer before nodding in agreement. Then, after a deep breath, Lilith asked, "Shinya-sama, may I ask you something?" Her thoughtful expression suggested she had something weighing on her mind.
"Of course, Lilith-san. What would you like to ask?" I responded.
"Why did you help demons like us? You could have just left us there," she said. The idea of a Knight of Light aiding demons still seemed astonishing to her.
I looked at her reassuringly and answered with heartfelt sincerity:
"Because every life is precious. Human, elf, dwarf, beastman, or demon—it doesn't matter. As long as I live, I will value the life of every being. I will fight for every soul in danger. Showing compassion is the most important duty of a paladin."
My words caused all the demons in the tent to turn toward me, their expressions marked with astonishment. Each face reflected the unexpected impact of my response; their eyes widened, and their mouths were slightly open.
"Is there a problem?" I asked, smiling.
"N-No, not at all," Lilith stammered, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
"Alright then, let's head back into the dungeon when you're ready," I said. Everyone nodded in agreement. Fidelis and I stepped out of the tent.
"What do you think?" I asked Fidelis.
"They’re probably telling the truth, but Lilith and Zareth seem a bit... different from the others," Fidelis replied.
"How so?" I asked, curious, looking at him intently.
"I had a glance at their gear while we were in the tent," Fidelis said. "It's different from what a normal warrior or mage would use. Their armor and daggers are light but radiate a strange aura. I also noticed it when we were fighting the orcs. Chances are, these two are assassins."
Fidelis’s observation surprised me. During the battle, I had only focused on the enemies in front of me, and even in the tent, I hadn’t paid attention to their equipment. It seemed I needed to be more aware of my surroundings.
"There’s that possibility. If they had hostile intentions toward us, they could have taken us out without us even realizing it," Fidelis added thoughtfully. "But they stayed silent all night in the tent. If they wanted to kill us, they would have done it last night. Perhaps they’re genuinely grateful that we saved their lives."
Fidelis’s logic made sense. We hadn’t faced any problems throughout the night.
"Even so, let’s stay cautious," I said, my expression serious. Fidelis nodded in agreement. We all gathered our belongings and set out toward the dungeon once more.
We entered the chamber where the Minotaur boss resided. This time, the atmosphere was unusually quiet. There was no foul odor, nor were there any corpses lying around. As we stepped into the main hall, the absence of anyone stirred suspicion within me. The Minotaur, the mini-boss, was still alive; if it had been defeated, the glyph at the room's entrance would have glowed.
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"Comrades, something feels suspicious. Be care—" My words were cut short by a thunderous roar that echoed through the room.
We turned toward the source of the sound and saw a pair of rage-filled red eyes staring at us from the darkness. A few seconds later, the creature charged at us at full speed. It was a Minotaur. While not as massive as Gor’Karash, it was still larger than any of us. Its enormous horns jutted out from its sides, and its entire body radiated raw power.
However, this Minotaur wasn’t like the mythological two-legged warrior. Instead, it charged on all fours like a colossal bull, its hooves pounding against the ground with terrifying force.
"Everyone! Scatter to the sides!" I shouted. We all leaped to the left and right as the Minotaur charged forward, its horns swiping at us. While its speed on all fours was impressive, its ability to make sharp turns was limited. Because of this, it missed as we dodged, needing several seconds to come to a stop.
"We need to figure out a way to kill it," Zareth said, panting.
As the Minotaur prepared for its next attack, we were all thinking of strategies. I could see the steam-like vapor coming from its nostrils as it snorted, its front hoof scraping the ground in anticipation of another charge. It was acting just like a...
"Just like a bull!" I realized aloud. Everyone turned to me in surprise.
"Guys! I have an idea. Fidelis, after its next attack, give me your red cape," I said. Fidelis looked puzzled but nodded in agreement. I then turned to Barca. "Barca-dono, does anyone in your team use ice magic?"
A mage stepped forward from Barca's group. "I can. My name's Rufian," he said.
"Perfect. Now, listen carefully. After the next charge, everyone pull back. I'll draw the Minotaur's attention to me. Rufian-san, can you create an ice path starting behind me and extending all the way to the wall?"
Rufian nodded.
"And at the end of the path, can you form sharp ice spikes that stretch toward the walls?" I added.
"It’ll take quite a bit of mana, but I can do it," Rufian said.
"Good. Once the Minotaur takes damage, all melee fighters will strike together. Healers will share their mana with you. Don’t worry," I reassured him.
"Shinya, how are you going to draw its attention?" Lilith asked.
"Ah, in true matador style," I said with a grin.
"Matador?" they echoed, puzzled. Of course, it was a concept unfamiliar to this world. In my old world, I’d seen matadors provoke bulls on television. Contrary to popular belief, the red cape wasn’t the real trigger—it was the matador’s movements that incited the bull’s rage.
Just then, Fidelis yelled, "Here it comes! Scatter!"
The Minotaur charged at us once more, and we quickly dodged to the sides just before it could strike. This time, it halted almost immediately, turned around, and growled angrily. Despite its monstrous appearance, it was still, at its core, a bull.
Taking Fidelis’s red cape, I moved to the center as everyone else retreated. The Minotaur locked eyes with me, its gaze blazing with fury. Slowly, I began to wave the cape, stepping lightly as if dancing.
"Toro! Toro! Come on baby!" I shouted, shaking the cape.
While "Toro" meant "bull" in Spanish, it was a term nobody in this world understood, which only added to the oddity of my actions. The Minotaur's rage intensified, and it let out an earth-shaking roar.
Using the cape and my deliberate movements, I provoked it further. The others watched in stunned silence as the massive creature prepared for its next charge.
"What is he doing? Does anyone have an idea?"
"I think he's lost his mind."
"I've been an adventurer for 10 years, and I've never seen anyone as crazy as Shinya-sama."
While they were talking among themselves, the Minotaur charged at me furiously. I cast a boosting spell, and the Minotaur quickly closed the distance. The icy path behind me was complete. Just as it was about to strike me, I quickly did a flip in the air and watched as the Minotaur passed under me. As it missed me, it started sliding on the ice. It gained speed and crashed into the icy spikes, letting out a painful scream; it was injured.
I drew my sword and shouted, "Charge!"
With my command, Fidelis, the paladins, demons, and warriors all charged forward. The Minotaur barely managed to get back on its feet, but before it could make another move, we all joined forces and easily killed it.
"Shinya-sama, you're the craziest person I've ever seen," Lilith said, astonished. In fact, everyone was still shocked by the strategy I had used.
"Ah, there's my Shinya!" Fidelis said, patting my back friendly. "Sometimes, you have to do extraordinary things to win," he added with a smile.
"Ahaha, thanks, everyone," I said with a nervous smile. After the adventurers and demons collected the valuable items from the Minotaur's room, we left. Now, we only had two mini bosses left before reaching the main boss: the snake and the spider.
As we made our way toward the next target, the snake boss's room, we encountered a number of snake skins in the corridor. It was likely shedding its skin. "Barca-dono, what do you know about this boss?" I asked.
"This snake is a Stone Cobra," said Barca.
"A Stone Cobra?" I asked, curious.
"Yes," Barca explained. "The Stone Cobra has a very potent venom. Even a small dose of its venom can kill you very quickly. To neutralize its venom, a powerful purification spell is required. Also, the Stone Cobra's eyes are cursed. If you make eye contact with it, you'll turn to stone."
"Ah, that sounds pretty bad," I said, feeling uneasy.
"However, the Stone Cobra's field of vision is limited. It can't turn you to stone from a distance. But it can still spit its venom. As soon as the venom touches your body, you'll feel a burning sensation," Barca continued.
"Is the transformation into stone immediate?" I asked.
"Not immediately, but it happens very quickly. If you can cast a purification spell at that moment, you might have a chance to survive. Because turning to stone is a curse," Barca explained.
Since curses are independent of time, using a light-speed attack spell could have been problematic. Making eye contact with the snake would have been enough for the curse to take effect. If I were going to use this ability, I needed to make sure I wasn't in the snake's line of sight. It was essential that the others distracted the snake's attention.
While I was thinking through my strategy, we entered the Stone Cobra's room. The room was quite small, with stone statues in each corner: humans, elves, dwarves, monster men, and demons... all victims of the Stone Cobra.
At the far end of the room, the Stone Cobra was asleep. It was either unaware of our presence or lying in wait.
"Well then, what's our plan?" Barca asked, looking at me.
"We need to somehow distract the snake. I'll move behind it. Once I'm behind it, I'll use the light-speed attack ability to cut off its head," I said.
"A reasonable plan," Fidelis replied.
I turned to the team behind me. "The snake has a powerful venom, so be careful. Also, don't make eye contact with it. If you do, you'll turn to stone," I warned.
I equipped my sword and shield. "I'll go to the left. One group will move from the front, and the other group will go to the right. We'll approach quietly," I added.
Once everyone confirmed they understood, we slowly began walking toward the Stone Cobra.
With each step, my tension increased. We were all on edge. If the snake woke up, this could turn into a disaster. My heart was pounding faster as we got closer to it.
Suddenly, the Stone Cobra opened its eyes. Everyone, including me, froze in place. When the soldiers looked at me, I nodded my head as if signaling them not to move. The snake was scanning the surroundings. It had noticed us, but hadn't yet reacted. Slowly, it began moving toward us. I signaled for the soldiers to bow their heads. This way, they could avoid making eye contact.
The Stone Cobra moved right in front of the central group. The group started shaking in fear. The snake then hissed loudly and opened its mouth, lunging at the soldiers in front of it.
"Light Speed Rush!" I shouted, activating my light-speed attack ability. As time slowed down, I cast a boosting spell and ran toward the snake. I jumped into the air and, with a single slash of my sword, severed the snake's head.
As time returned to normal, the body of the Stone Cobra and its head were separated.
"Is that it?" Fidelis asked in astonishment.
However, before I could even process what was happening, the severed head of the Stone Cobra disappeared, and a new head grew back from its neck. As soon as the new head appeared, the snake lunged toward a few paladins with a sudden movement. The paladins had unintentionally made eye contact. Within about ten seconds of making eye contact, they turned to stone.
We were still in shock. "This is impossible. The Stone Cobra can't possibly regenerate," Barca said, his face showing clear fear.
"Paladins! Attack its body! Mages! Cast magic on its eyes! Healers! If anyone turns to stone, immediately use purification magic!" I ordered. Everyone shouted, "Understood!" and launched their attacks. As a result of the assault, the snake was injured. However, its wounds were healing rapidly. "Everyone, retreat!" I shouted. At that moment, the Stone Cobra began using its tail to throw everyone around.
The Stone Cobra started spitting poison at those retreating. The poison was highly acidic, slowly dissolving anything it came into contact with.
While I was trying to devise a strategy, the Stone Cobra suddenly grabbed Lilith and threw her into the air. Lilith was falling toward the snake's mouth. "Lilith!" Zareth yelled.
"Light Speed Rush!" I shouted, activating my light-speed attack ability once again. I cast a boosting spell and started running. Lilith was very close to the snake's mouth. I jumped into the air and shoved her aside. But as time returned to normal, I was the one who fell into the snake's mouth.
I was inside the snake. The environment wasn’t as hot as I expected, but the stomach acid was slowly starting to envelop me. The Stone Cobra was still moving. I needed to find a way out of here. I stabbed my sword into the snake. With a loud hiss, the Stone Cobra started moving from side to side. But the wound inside healed quickly.
Then, a fluid began flowing from the snake's throat. When it touched my body, I felt a burning pain. This was nothing other than the Stone Cobra's venom. It was trying to kill me by swallowing its own poison. I quickly placed my shield over me to prevent more venom from coming in. No matter how powerful the poison was, it couldn’t melt my shield.
I needed to get out of the snake. Since the Stone Cobra was healing rapidly, cutting my way out wasn’t an option. Only one choice remained: I had to damage the snake from the inside until it spat me out.
I began stabbing my sword into different parts of the snake. With each strike, the snake shook with a loud hiss. Meanwhile, I could sense that the others outside were also dealing damage to the Stone Cobra. After continuing to damage it from the inside for a while, the snake finally began to spit me out.
I quickly moved upward and was launched out of the snake's mouth. My entire body was covered in stomach acid.
"I guess it didn't like your taste," Fidelis said in a mocking tone. Despite how serious the battle was, he somehow managed to add a touch of humor.
"Only Eleanor likes my taste," I said with a slight smile. However, when I looked around, I was shocked. Half of the team had turned to stone. An indescribable sorrow filled my chest. But the battle was still ongoing, and I needed to stay focused.
"What do we do now?" Fidelis asked, his face showing clear tension. My eyes briefly drifted to Fidelis's sword. When I saw my reflection in it, a plan came to mind.
"Fidelis, give me your sword. Take Lux Divina," I said. Fidelis seemed surprised, but without hesitation, he handed me his sword.
After receiving the sword, I turned to my team. "The remaining mages and healers! Cast light magic on the snake, but make sure that the magic doesn’t harm it. Light up the surroundings!" I commanded. Everyone immediately sprang into action, and a bright light surrounded the Stone Cobra.
"What are you going to do?" Fidelis asked.
"I'm going to let it taste its own medicine," I said, with a confident smile on my face. I began running swiftly toward the Stone Cobra. The snake noticed me and turned its face toward me. At that moment, we made eye contact.
I could clearly see the meaning in its eyes; it was mesmerizing yet equally dark. I noticed that my feet were slowly turning to stone. Time was running out. I quickly raised Fidelis's sword and aimed it at the Stone Cobra's eye.
Seeing its own reflection, the Stone Cobra began to turn to stone with me. It hissed in fear and fixed its eyes on me. I could feel the anger in its gaze. I, however, kept looking at it with a victorious smile.
Eventually, we both turned completely to stone.
The moment I turned to stone, it felt as though my entire body was locked in a prison. I couldn’t move; my muscles were frozen, and my veins felt as if they were frozen within the stone. Breathing was impossible. Time seemed to have stopped. I couldn't tell if my eyes were closed or open, as I was completely engulfed in darkness. But above all, my consciousness was still intact. Even in this absolute silence, my thoughts flowed clearly.
Had I died? Had I fallen into that unbearable void of nothingness again? Probably not. Because even this stone prison seemed lighter compared to the terror of nothingness.
But I couldn’t stay like this. There had to be a way to break this curse. As that feeling grew stronger with every passing second, Barca's words echoed in my mind:
"If you can cast purification magic at that moment, you have a chance to survive. Because turning to stone is a curse."
This was it! To break the curse, I had to cast purification magic. But there was a major problem. I couldn’t move my mouth. Words couldn’t escape my lips. However, what Zenita once said appeared in my mind:
"You just need to visualize the words you'll say in your mind."
These words gave me hope once again. I gathered my thoughts and dedicated myself to envisioning the magic in my mind. This couldn’t just be an ordinary purification spell; I needed something much stronger. I focused intensely, and the magical words began to echo in my mind. I shaped every syllable, every word, clearly in my thoughts.
“O Light!
The one who scatters shadows in the darkness, hear my voice!
Purify this body tainted by the curse with your holiness!
Break my chains, set my stone body free!
Holy power from the sky, show me your mercy!
Let your touch lighten the burden of the cursed!
Take the heart of darkness and turn me back to the path of light!
Revive my soul, cleanse me in your pure being! Purification!”
The moment I cast the spell, I felt intense energy surrounding me. Light began to spread like waves dancing around me. It was as though everything was overflowing with the sacred power of light. A strong aura rose within me, and it felt as if all the darkness surrounding my body and soul was retreating.
I slowly began to feel my body move again. A tremor in my fingers, a deep desire to breathe in my lungs. The cold, heavy burden of petrification was replaced with warmth and life. Finally, I broke free from the stone form. When my eyes opened again to see the world, I noticed the glowing faces of the mages and healers around me, all shining with the power of light.
“I’m back,” I said with a soft smile. At that moment, everyone in the room shouted with joy, and the victorious voices of the paladins echoed.
“I’m glad you’re back. Otherwise, I was wondering how I’d explain this to Eleanor,” Fidelis said, his usual mocking smile on his face.
“How did you do it, Shinya-dono?” Barca asked, admiration clear on his face.
“Your words came to mind. I cast the purification spell,” I replied, looking around.
Barca looked at me in disbelief, “I didn’t know that purification magic could work after turning to stone.”
“But it worked,” I said, then looked around again. “By the way, what happened to the Stone Cobra?”
At that moment, Fidelis pointed behind me.
When I turned around, I saw the statue of the Stone Cobra. The statue still looked threatening, but now it was motionless. I raised my sword and struck it. The sound of the blow echoed through the room, and the statue shattered into pieces.
“Why did you do that?” Fidelis asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Because when you turn to stone, you don’t die. Your consciousness remains intact. That means…” I froze as the realization hit me.
“That means everyone who turned to stone here is still alive!” Fidelis said, reaching the conclusion at the same time as I did.
“Everyone! Carefully bring all the statues here. The ones turned to stone are still alive. If the statues break, they will die,” I ordered. My words made everyone act with more caution. The stone statues were being carried like sacred relics.
After a while, all the stone statues were placed in the center of the room. Light magic beams illuminated the middle of the room, and everything seemed to be filled with a magical atmosphere.
“I’m going to use the purification spell. However, my mana might not be enough. Therefore, I ask all mages and healers to share their mana with me,” I said. Everyone nodded in agreement and began to transfer their mana to me. I could feel the mana waves gathering around my body.
I started the spell again. As the words echoed in my mind, the light spreading around me reached an immense intensity. The room felt like it had transformed into a sacred temple. The light touched every corner, and the darkness had no place to hide.
My mana was almost depleted. The mages’ and healers’ mana was also running low. But the light declared its victory; everyone who had turned to stone slowly began to return to normal. The faces of those who had been turned to stone first showed confusion, then deep gratitude.
“Everyone!” I shouted to get their attention. “I am Shinya Kage, Commander of the Knights of Light. You were all cursed and turned to stone because of the Stone Cobra. But we saved you by using the purification spell,” I said. My words echoed through the room, and everyone hugged each other in joy, shouting victorious cheers.
“Good job,” Fidelis said, placing his hand on my shoulder. I looked at him and gave a tired but happy smile. Then we all left the room.
As we stepped out, I noticed the glyph of the snake boss glowing. However, something unexpected had happened. The glyph of the spider boss was also glowing. Someone had killed the spider boss. But who and why? There was only one way to find out. We had to enter the spider boss’ chamber.
to be continued...