Blue and purple sparks flared.
The barrier held up little against an attack that had never been tested before.
Jake felt this slash of thirst go through the barrier like butter. It went in cleanly before stopping just inches away from the ninth's heart, stopped by a leathery armor that he was wearing.
The barrier around the ninth collapsed, but another artifact of the ninth saved him.
[-1311 HP]
The attack still managed to do some damage to the ninth, who fell back, coughing out blood. This was an outcome that Jake did not expect.
"You… you broke the barrier? How did you do that?" The ninth said, trying to breath.
But Jake did not respond. Instead, he looked to the space behind the ninth, which was empty.
Spurt!
The ninth coughed out even more blood as he fell to the ground on his knees. There was a blue sword that stuck out of him. One fatal attack that was enough to end him.
But this attack was not one that Jake had orchestrated in the slightest.
"You should always look to your back. Did you really think that I would be incapacitated by a mere push?" Ganshin's cold voice came from behind the ninth.
As he said this, he pulled the sword straight out of this despicable opponent, completely vanquishing him.
[You have leveled up]
"I leveled up? Look like there is an exp share in play here. I guess I technically am a part of a party with Ganshin." Jake understood. He didn't expect that he would gain a level as well.
"The mission is over. We have gained control of the devilish rock that plagues the holy grounds, as well as dealt with the ninth follower." Ganshin nodded.
"That is wonderful, sword master. We are done with the important part. Now, all that we have to do is leave this place." Jake said, smiling.
"You have done things that are just impossible for a normal tier one knight. Even if you are a knight of sin, this is beyond your capability. I am surprised by this achievement. Without you, the ninth would have destroyed me and would have decimated the party that I brought here with me." Ganshin said.
"You flatter me too much, sword master. I have done nothing but support you a little." Jake smiled.
"Do not be too humble. The trial here is over, but we have much to do after this. Once we leave these holy grounds, you will have to fend off beasts that are far stronger than the ones that you faced here. After all, they will no longer have a restriction on their powers." Ganshin warned.
"Yes, sword master. But now that the devilish rock is in your safe hands, will the holy grounds return to the state that they should be in?" Jake asked.
"Not yet. For now, we must arduously wait for the others to come here. The rock must be purified of the evil that it contains before we take it across the border. Or else, we will taint even the grounds of the Loviel Empire." Ganshin said.
"So we must wait for Father Joseph?" Jake asked.
"Indeed. I am shocked that he is not here yet. I though that he would be the first one to leave the path of saints." Ganshin nodded.
"Maybe he did leave the path of saints. I suspect that many have left the path of saints, and they are just walking around in circles for the labyrinth is making sure that they don't come to the right place." Jake supposed.
"That does make sense. We cannot be waiting around here defenseless though. With this evil rock in my possession, every single beast in the vicinity will know that I have something that they want. They will come rushing here. I only hope that Father Joseph and the other priests and priestesses will be able to find us as well." Ganshin said.
"You do not need to worry, sword master. We have dealt with the ninth. We can deal with a few beasts, can we not? But do we have to stay in this circle? This feels like a disadvantageous situation. Monsters can come from any side." Jake said.
Ganshin did not respond though. His eyes were fixated on one particular location. He pointed his sword toward that direction, and suddenly swung.
Rustle!
The leaves that made the walls of the labyrinth started collapsing before that particular section of the wall just disappeared.
What it revealed was surprising.
Behind the leaves was the path that Jake had probably been through atleast once. And on the same path, were a few faces that Jake definitely recognized.
He recognized some of the mages there, one swordsman among them, but most importantly, the one who was leading them - Father Joseph.
"Ah! Sword master. I could feel the trembling in the air. I sensed that some vile evil had been unleashed and an equally vile evil had passed through these airs, only to be vanquished." Father Joseph smiled, his black beard vibrant as could be.
He stepped through the door that Ganshin had created for them as he slowly stepped toward Jake and Ganshin.
But then, he stopped walking. He looked at the stone coffin that stood at the center of the circle.
"So they built a coffin for the saint. Was the devilish rock buried with him?" Father Joseph softly asked.
"It was." Ganshin nodded.
"And you have retrieved the rock, and yet there was no change with the remains?" Father Joseph asked.
"Indeed. They might not have corrupted him enough, but he has not passed on yet. A sliver of his will remains, for his bones to be perfectly intact." Ganshin sighed and said.
"Then what I have feared for has come true." Father Joseph sighed and said.
And as if on cue, Jake heard a deafening voice coming from the coffin itself.
"I have been waiting for you, one who has been blessed by god!"
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