Chapter 97 | The Vampire Princess Later Drew the Holy Sword

“Don't you think her mental state is a bit off?”

Noelle's voice came from the necklace, her tone serious.

Esper did not answer immediately. Her gaze swept over Eladia's face again and again.

That face was still the same as when they had parted. Her eyes were still those same eyes, and her lips were still slightly pursed.

The person standing before her was indeed Eladia, but the Saintess who always followed three feet behind her and softly called her name was not here.

Eladia hugged the Holy Sword a little tighter, the white light on the blade intertwining and merging with the holy light of her body.

Then, she freed one hand and raised it.

Within her palm, holy light began to condense.

Black mist wrapped around the edges of the milky-white glow like vines clinging to a collapsing stone pillar.

“No... something's not right. The aura of holy light and the Black Tide coexist within her, and they even seem to tolerate each other? Though we knew she was brainwashed, this state of balance is clearly abnormal.”

While Noelle was analyzing, a tiny pinpoint of golden light had already lit up in Eladia's pale palm. Like a morning star piercing through a thin mist, the light expanded and exploded.

The shell of the light bullet was expanding rapidly. Inside, one could faintly see pulsating blood vessels and the prototype of bones, as if something was growing rapidly within. Yet, it was immediately incinerated under the burning of the holy light, only to grow again and be incinerated once more.

The concentration of holy light released when the light bullet exploded in the air caused the very atmosphere to warp.

For Esper, even merely approaching this thing would cause a pain that seeped deep into her bones and spinal cord—a pain a hundred times more excruciating than ordinary fire.

Crimson Scale Surge activated instantly, and Esper dodged to the side, barely avoiding the trajectory of the light bullet.

“...Did you see that holy light bullet clearly?”

Esper asked in a low voice.

“I'm not blind... tsk...”

Noelle grumbled.

“That flesh and blood wasn't created by her will, but is a product born naturally from the condensation of excessive vitality.

The most basic flesh and life took shape the moment she unleashed the holy light bullet, only to be obliterated by the destructive nature of the bullet itself. Life is born there, only to be destroyed there...”

“...”

“Vampire lady, it looks like we're in real trouble this time. Do you know that she is a girl with a holy blood constitution?”

“...I've heard others mention it.”

“Then do you know what the pinnacle of the holy blood constitution is?”

Noelle's voice sank.

“It is the holder of 『Light』, 『φῶς』.”

A merciful and benevolent existence that illuminates everything in the world.

A power derived from 『Fire』, yet it destroys nothing, only nourishing all things to grow freely.

“If she becomes proficient, she won't need the help of any external objects. With just her own will and cognition, she can wantonly create and control life. Haha, rather than a Saintess, it's more like an authority possessed by a creator god...

And for a pure vampire like you, its purifying effect is enough to severely wound you just by getting close.”

“...What should I do?”

“Using 『Blood』 to counter it is suicide. You can only dodge...”

“How can I make her return to normal?”

Noelle's voice caught for a moment, and then she sighed.

“I'll look through some information. Try to recall if you've ever encountered a death marcher who was completely mindless at first, but suddenly became able to communicate normally later.”

“...”

Zhong.

“I met a death marcher who could use a Holy Sword that had been invaded by the Black Tide. His name was Zhong.”

“『Gluttony』?”

“Yes. At first, we couldn't communicate at all. But after my Holy Sword clashed with his, we saw each other's memories, and he regained his sanity afterward.”

“Oh? So you want to rely on this trick to help her recover her memories?”

“...Yes. I can't think of any other way...”

Esper's voice grew slightly quieter.

“Then go for it.”

There was no trace of gloom in Noelle's voice.

“If all goes well, the method you used last time should work here as well.

The Holy Swords resonate with each other due to sharing the same origin, thereby awakening her original memories. In theory, it is indeed feasible. The problem we need to consider now is how you will get close to her while she is fully unleashing her holy light. But I will take care of that part.”

Out of Esper's line of sight, the corners of Noelle's lips curled up slightly.

“You just need to focus on your own task. Don't forget what you came here for.”

Esper took a deep breath.

To bring her back.

That was why she had come.

Noelle began to chant an incantation at high speed in an extremely quiet voice.

Swoosh.

Esper dashed forward.

Under the guidance of 『Storm』, a wild wind enveloped and empowered her.

Eladia still stood in place.

The Holy Sword was held tight in her arms, not swung even once. She had no intention of using the sword; she did not need it.

Dozens of holy light bullets emerged around her.

Each one was larger than the last, and the flesh-and-blood structures inside them grew increasingly complex.

Inside some of the spheres, the prototype of a complete heart was faintly visible. In others, rows of fine bone buds emerged. Some had red filaments resembling muscle fibers constantly proliferating on their surfaces, only to be turned to ashes under the searing heat of the holy light.

There were so many of them that the air around her began to vibrate. The black mist was forced back several paces by the holy light, and the scorched black marks on the ground began to turn white, crumble, and shatter into powder.

“Eladia...”

Esper uttered the name once more, only to see those holy light bullets turn toward her in unison.

Dozens of purifying lights illuminated the entire wasteland like high noon. The grayish-black mist suppressed on the periphery churned violently under the pressure of the light, yet could not cross the boundary of the holy light.

At that moment, Noelle finished chanting her spells.

“『Fortitude: Vow Power Resistance』, 『Mana Barrier』, 『Anti-Holy Light Shield』, 『Elemental Protection: Anti-Consecration』, 『Agility Blessing: Wind Spirit's Protection』, 『Mental Defense: Consciousness Anchor』.”

As each spell was completed, a small patch of silver runes emerged on Esper's skin.

Noelle was forcibly projecting the spells onto her through the Mind Link and magic stones.

After a series of shifting lights, her arms, legs, and torso were covered in a faint, translucent coating, as if she were enveloped in an extremely thin layer of moonlight.

“I've cast five enhancements on you, mostly focused on defense.

Right now, she is no different from the 『Creator』 to you. So there is no way for you to defeat her, nor do you need to. You just have to charge in.”

All Esper needed to do was get close, and then clash the two Holy Swords together.

Charging at full speed, she silently counted how far she was from Eladia.

Twenty paces. Fifteen paces. Ten paces. With every step closer, the burning pain from the holy light grew a layer deeper.

Ten feet, five feet, three feet. The distance Eladia had once intentionally maintained to protect Esper was now being shortened by Esper herself. She had to advance to the distance where she could have held her in her arms back then.

Unleashed by the Winged King, even blood enhanced by 『Gluttony』 evaporated the instant it left her body. The load of Crimson Scale Surge inside her was also approaching its limit at an unprecedented speed.

The resistances applied by Noelle were being stripped away layer by layer by the holy light. Esper could feel her skin burning under the light.

But she did not slow down.

Gritting her teeth, she gripped the Holy Sword. Blue lightning exploded from the crossguard, surging down the blade.

“Ela! I'm right here!!”

She shortened the distance even further. The moment they were less than an arm's length apart, she aimed her blade's tip at the Holy Sword in Eladia's hands and thrust forward.

A crisp clashing sound rippled outward from the point of impact, sweeping across the entire wasteland. Even the air seemed to freeze after that single sound.