Became an Apostle of an Ancient God

Chapter 16

Haru, surrounded by colorful light bugs. And Luther, smiling meaningfully. The two glared at each other for a long while.

He had somehow managed to prevent Divine Power from being injected into the Holy Relic of Light.

He had also managed to avoid the brainwashing.

The problem was what came next.

Haru was left with only one option.

To defeat this man, the Master Bishop of the Hall of Atonement and a former member of the six Heroes, right here.

'He's on a completely different level from the enemies I've faced so far.'

Haru had heard Luther mention star rank priests and Sun-level priests.

Considering the Holy Relic ranks Amelia had told him about, Luther, who looked down on Sun-level priests, must be a priest of a rank higher than Sun-level at the very least.

But above the Sun-level, there is only one rank.

The highest rank, 'Universe.'

Haru was truly facing one of the officially recognized strongest priests in Lusis right now.

"Haru-kun. Do you genuinely think you can beat me right now?"

"Well, wouldn't we not know until we try?"

Haru bluffed as he took his stance.

Could he really defeat this man before the other priests arrived? Haru racked his brain and surveyed his surroundings.

"A kid who doesn't know his place and climbs up needs some education. I will discipline you sternly."

[Summon Mace.]

Luther cracked his knuckles, pop, pop, and summoned a mace into his right hand.

The [Spatial Refraction] rite Haru had demonstrated offered excellent protection against ranged attacks, but it was somewhat difficult to deflect close-quarters combat attacks.

Added to that, the difficult-to-overcome difference in physique between an adult and a kid meant close combat would inevitably be disadvantageous for Haru.

'Is he planning to end this in one blow?'

Fwaaang!!

Luther crossed the office at a terrifying speed, arriving right in front of Haru's nose. Perhaps having enhanced his physical strength using Divine Power, he was clad in a vivid aura of lightning.

But Haru, as if he had been waiting for him to approach, focused the light bugs scattered all around onto Luther.

"Hmph. Even if they were made through a Holy Relic.... bugs are bugs!"

What could mere bugs possibly do, Luther shouted so. However, Haru had never intended to use these light bugs for attack purposes from the beginning.

Flash!

The light bugs clinging right before Luther's eyes began to emit a rainbow light all at once.

"Ugh..."

Although it was very brief, Luther's vision was engulfed by the flash. But for Haru, that 'brief moment' was enough.

Haru quickly ducked, evading Luther's horizontally swung mace. He then swiftly sent one 'pre-made bug' flying towards Luther.

With his vision completely blocked by the flash, Luther had no time to notice another bug flying towards him.

However, if there was one thing he could notice.

It was the fact that a massive lump of Divine Power was rapidly approaching.

"A mistake."

Luther reacted to Haru's strategy step by step, one beat too late.

"[Lightning Radiance.]"

Pzzzzzzzt!!!

A torrent of golden lightning raged from Luther's entire body. The range was short, but it was a sufficient strike to fry all the bugs attached nearby.

As his vision cleared, what entered Luther's eyes was a purple beetle.

Also called a Scarab, a type of bug often used as a religious symbol.

But Luther intuitively realized this was the hidden card the Chosen Child had tried to conceal.

"[Holy Barri...]"

Before Luther could even finish his chant, Haru smiled and snapped his fingers.

[Rupture, O Space!]

Fwaaaaaaaang!!!!

The beetle Haru had sent flying flashed its eyes, then exploded on the spot, emitting a purple flash. It wasn't a simple explosion. For a moment, space distorted and crumpled, shaking Luther's entire office.

"Keoheo-eok!!!"

'Impossible!'

Luther screamed inwardly.

A deadly rite containing an unknown origin. Such rites usually take a long time to cast. Yet the kid before his eyes had activated such a rite almost 'instantly'.

[Distort!]

Before he could even complete the protective rite [Holy Barrier], Haru was already unleashing another rite.

But this time was different from before.

There was a hand seal required to activate the rite, there was a chant, and there was a casting time.

Right at the spot where Luther had been knocked back after being hit by the Spatial Rupture stored in the Scarab.

Haru activated the long-casting [Spatial Distortion] as if he knew from the start that Luther would evade to that exact spot.

Although Luther had suffered a severe wound to his abdomen from the direct hit of [Spatial Rupture], befitting someone who was once one of the six Heroes, he wisely dealt with this disadvantageous situation.

"[Blink.]"

Pop, Luther's body momentarily turned into light.

Just before touching the swirling vortex of [Spatial Distortion], Luther teleported into the air, evading Haru's fierce rite of space.

"Hahahaha..."

Luther covered his face with his left hand and let out a mad laugh.

"Excellent. Wonderful. At an age not even twenty, this level of Divine Power. A powerful rite of origin. On top of that, an outstanding way of utilizing Holy Relics. You are a genius. A talent that might appear once in 100 years. No, once in 1000 years."

Luther muttered as he pointed his mace towards Haru.

"However, you still severely lack actual combat experience. You'd best not think that last strike will work again. I will come at you seriously. Haru-kun."

While Luther was muttering, Haru took out another Scarab he had hidden in his pocket.

These were rite bugs that Haru had made little by little yesterday, taking advantage of the weakened surveillance.

Lee Haru's rites, excluding the protective rite [Spatial Refraction], all have long casting times, making their power absolute but very difficult to hit the enemy with.

Long casting time and mandatory chant. And even hand seals.

Even Iron Mask, a complete novice regarding Divine Power, could easily notice the signs of Haru's rite activation. So Haru used Amber to solve this drawback.

A rite bug 'can store one rite and activate it at the timing Haru desires.'

Of course, adding the Divine Power needed for rite activation on top of the Divine Power used for the Holy Relic isn't very efficient in terms of consumption, but being able to bypass the long casting time and shower the enemy with rites of space is a huge advantage.

However, even if Haru's Divine Power was vast, it was limited, and the drawback was that he couldn't make many even if he worked all night.

He currently had a total of 5 rite bugs.

He had used one, so now about 4 remained.

"Haru-kun. Let me tell you in advance. I am a priest who uses the rite of [lightning]. And since this lightning possesses the property of light, it can be reflected."

"What?"

'Why is Luther telling his abilities to the enemy?'

Just as that question arose, Luther converted all the Divine Power flowing through his body into lightning and began to fiercely bombard Haru.

"[Lightning Blade.]"

A blade made of lightning instantly cut across the ground, fiercely approaching Haru. Naturally, Haru had the rite of refraction. He could deflect most ranged attacks with this.

[Deflect.]

The lightning blade, flying with the force to cut Haru in half, was deflected in a completely wrong direction by the refraction. However, right at the spot where it was deflected.

For some reason, a transparent protective shield of light had been installed there.

'Is there a reason for a protective shield of light to be in such a place...?'

That question flashed through his mind. When the lightning blade touched the protective shield of light, the shield began to fiercely absorb the lightning, then reflected it back towards Haru in the form of a beam.

"What...!"

Haru, having heard the information 'lightning can be reflected' from Luther beforehand, quickly tried to use the rite of refraction again to deflect the attack once more.

However.

The [Spatial Refraction] rite could not fully deflect Luther's lightning.

The reason was simple.

The lightning beam Luther reflected using the protective shield contained such immense power that it could break Haru's activated rite.

"Kk. Kkeuaaaak!!!!"

"Were you thinking, why tell the enemy the structure of the rite?"

Luther looked at Haru, who had taken the lightning beam head-on, and wagged his index finger back and forth.

"In technical terms, it's called a geas, or a vow. You see. In exchange for revealing the information of the rite to the enemy, I have placed a vow upon myself that strengthens the revealed rite.

While the activation condition is easy, the degree to which the rite is strengthened is beyond imagination, so many priests favor it. It's understandable that Haru-kun, with almost no combat experience, wouldn't know."

Luther slowly approached the paralyzed Haru, scattering black smoke.

"In other words, Haru-kun. You have more room for growth. Rejoice. I will make very good use of that talent. Your current potential is merely that of a Sun-level priest at best, but under my management, you could become a 'Universe'-level priest. Now..."

"Ah, right. Universe-level, you say. But, I don't think I'll need your help."

Just then, Haru managed to open his mouth with difficulty.

"What?"

"Actually, I... have an Alien God by my side."

"...What."

"The [Mother of Life], that Alien God whispered in my ear. And she is now trembling with rage. Because the mortal she cherishes most was scorched by lightning."

"N... No way...!"

Before Haru's deadly geas, Luther's face turned pale, and he stepped back.

"That's impossible! That Outer God was sealed by the six Heroes! There's no way she can appear here. Absolutely not!"

"How about this?"

Haru clenched his fist and smiled palely.

"Lend me your strength. Noona."

Haru, who had briefly whispered to 'Noona'.

shouted to the 'Alien God' with determination.

"Manifest! [Shub-Niggurath]!"