Paladin of a Fallen Order (Novel) - Chapter 122 - Elbridge, Eighteen Years Old (Part 2)

Chapter 122 – Elbridge, Eighteen Years Old (Part 2)

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Translated by Pratt

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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The representative effects of the authority of no retreat were largely two-fold.

Reinforcing the shield, and absorbing the impact received by the one holding the shield.

Simple though it was, it was an authority that had saved Elbridge’s life hundreds of times.

And now, the number of times it had saved his life increased by one more.

‘…If the authority had not manifested, I would have certainly died.’

Even though the authority of no retreat had manifested and absorbed the impact, his knees and shoulders were so stiff they felt as if they would break.

Without the authority, he would have become a corpse barely recognizable in form.

Today alone was already the second time he had been granted the authority without finishing his prayer.

Although there had been times when the authority had descended a bit late, today was the first time it had manifested before the prayer was even completed.

‘How nice would it have been if it were like this in the past?’

While Elbridge grumbled in his mind, the second demon stood up.

Crunch—

An appearance as if its entire body were made of stone. Its build was several times larger than Elbridge’s. Every time the demon moved, a faint tremor could be felt through the soles of his feet.

Leto and Elbridge’s gazes crossed.

“What do we do?”

“…I don’t know.”

According to basic combat doctrine, when there was more than one demon, battle must be avoided.

The only time one would not retreat despite the appearance of two or more demons was when retreating was expected to cause irreversible damage—such as massive casualties or the collapse of a stronghold city.

Both Leto and Elbridge knew. Retreating was the correct choice.

However, the problem lay in a more fundamental part.

‘Is retreat even possible?’

The knights on the hill had volunteered to act as decoys and were surrounded by magic beasts. They could not retreat.

And there were two demons standing in front of Elbridge and Leto. It did not seem like the demons would let the two go quietly. Likewise, retreat was difficult.

“El. What should I do?”

“Hold that hunter bastard’s feet. I’ll deal with the rock.”

Elbridge had chosen the rock demon because that demon felt more threatening.

If Elbridge took charge of the hunter demon, Leto would certainly die to the rock demon.

‘There is no choice.’

Elbridge and Leto dashed toward the demons.

The rock demon took a step forward and swung a massive fist at Elbridge.

“Authority of no retreat!”

Elbridge’s shield shone white as it absorbed the demon’s attack.

The moment he blocked the attack, Elbridge charged at the demon once more and swung his sword. However, Elbridge’s sword could not penetrate the demon. Leaving a tiny scratch was the best it could do.

As expected, that demon’s hardness was not at the level of ordinary rock.

‘The matchup is bad.’

When facing such a demon, a knight who could receive overwhelming power through a divine authority was needed.

Or at least a knight who handled heavy weapons like maces or war hammers.

However, Elbridge was neither.

Whoosh—

The rock demon’s fist flew in once more.

Elbridge did not unleash the authority. Instead, he absorbed the attack with his shield and leaped in the direction the demon’s fist was moving.

Boom!

With intense pain, Elbridge’s body was sent flying back.

A technique that used the opponent’s power to widen the distance. It was a little trick a certain dwarf had shown on the battlefield.

So making use of the brief time thus created, Elbridge glanced to the side.

The hunter demon was aiming its bow at Leto. And the moment the demon was about to release the bowstring, Leto shouted.

“Authority of the disrupting hand!”

With that shout, the arrow’s trajectory was twisted.

Leto ran toward the hunter demon and shouted once more.

“Authority of the blocking hand!”

The hunter demon, which was about to step back, faltered, obstructed by something invisible.

Exactly the flow Leto had hoped for. Joy welled up in Leto’s eyes.

“You fell for it, you piece of shit!”

Leto charged high-spiritedly toward the hunter demon.

However, one problem remained: the hunter demon was not outmatched by Leto even in close combat.

The hunter demon blocked Leto’s sword a few times with its large bow, then eventually swung the bow like a club with both hands.

Thwack!

Leto blocked that attack with his shield, but could not hold his ground and was pushed back.

Perhaps the authority granted by the God of the Third Hand had already expired, as the hunter demon retreated and began to shoot arrows at Leto.

Unlike Elbridge, Leto had no guarantee that he could block those arrows with his shield.

Leto had to throw away his shield and roll here and there to dodge the arrows.

‘…This is bad.’

Even if both Elbridge and Leto had held the upper hand, it would have been a close call, but now both of them were driven into a corner.

Elbridge made a decision immediately.

“Leto! I’ll create an opening, so run!”

“What?”

“You’re the only one who has a chance of surviving!”

The knights on the hill were tied down by the magic beast horde.

No, it was not merely a matter of being tied down. Even now, nearly two hundred magic beasts were driving the knights toward the cliff.

Even now, a couple of knights could be seen tumbling down the cliff. If one fell in that manner, no matter how great a knight they were, the result would be minimum combat-incapacitation and maximum death.

‘The knights cannot escape from the battlefield.’

The rock demon kicked off the ground, accelerating at an enormous speed, and rammed into Elbridge.

“Authority of no retreat!”

Elbridge received the authority and blocked the demon’s charge. If he pushed himself a little, he felt he might be able to block the hunter demon’s attacks once or twice as well, opening an escape route for Leto.

But Leto could not create an escape route for Elbridge. It was because Leto’s skill was insufficient.

Leto understood Elbridge’s judgment and clenched his teeth.

“No, there’s still a chance!”

Just then, the hunter demon aimed its bow at Leto. Leto lowered his posture, preparing to dodge the arrow.

Ping—

However, the direction of the arrow fired this time was not particularly threatening.

Leto lightly dodged the arrow without unfolding any authority.

At that moment, a shiver ran down Leto’s spine.

A demon that had shown such amazing archery skills until now would not suddenly display a sloppy attack.

‘This… it doesn’t seem like it was aiming at me…’

Then who was it aiming at? The knights on the cliff? Elbridge?

It was neither. The hunter demon’s target was the one no one had paid attention to until now.

The mage Elbridge had jumped down the cliff with while holding onto.

“…!”

The mage’s eyes snapped wide open. The mage extended his staff in the direction of the arrow.

Like an experienced mage, the spell was completed almost instantly. A translucent barrier materialized, defending the space in front of the mage.

It was certainly swift. It was just insufficient to withstand the demon’s attack.

The arrow shot by the demon pierced through the translucent barrier and struck the mage.

Splat!

The mage’s body ruptured and burst apart.

A red flower bloomed on the cliff behind the mage.

The absence of a mage meant that even if they subdued the demon, they could not seal it.

It would have been great if they had a sealing tool, but sealing tools were not common items.

“…There is no victory in this battle.”

Elbridge said so, looking at Leto.

“You’re the only one who can escape from the battlefield. You must deliver the information to the next expedition, Leto.”

Leto could not answer easily.

Was it right to sacrifice Elbridge, who was several years younger, and survive himself?

He did not know. But it was clear that this was the best answer.

Damn it, damn it. Leto muttered so as he backed away.

Then Leto turned around and began to run. The hunter demon raised its bow and aimed at Leto.

At the same time, Elbridge charged in the direction of the hunter demon.

The hunter demon shifted the direction of its bowstring, targeting Elbridge instead of Leto. The rock demon was also charging toward Elbridge.

The hunter demon released the bowstring aimed at Elbridge.

Ping—

Elbridge muttered.

“Authority of no retreat.”

Elbridge swung his shining shield to deflect the black arrow and approached even closer to the hunter demon. It felt as if he would be caught by the rock demon at any moment.

In front of him was the hunter demon, and behind him was the rock demon. The distance closed rapidly.

At the very moment the distance between the hunter demon and the rock demon shortened, Elbridge shouted.

“Authority of blockade!”

Rumble—

Massive pillars dropped from the air, trapping the two demons and Elbridge.

Until Elbridge died, the demons could not escape from the authority of blockade either.

Leto looked back even while running.

Thanks to Elbridge’s sacrifice, he had saved his life just before dying. However, he was not happy at all. His heart sank with guilt and regret.

How did it end up like this?

He had not escaped Fort Hebron for this.

He had intended to take Elbridge and return to the order.

He had wanted to build up some achievements and live in luxury.

He had only wished for Elbridge to live like others…

*

Inside the authority of blockade, Elbridge devoted himself to defense in a fully crouched posture.

While absorbing the hunter demon’s attacks was not difficult, even Elbridge found it hard to endure the rock demon’s blows. More so because it was inside the authority of blockade, where there was not much space to dodge.

Boom!

Defending against an attack loaded with massive force shook his entire body.

‘Did my shoulder joint pop out?’

Elbridge popped his left shoulder, which had been holding the shield, back into place himself, and held the shield with his right arm.

He had already thrown away his sword. Since his purpose was to buy time for Leto to escape and then die, a sword was not necessary.

Boom!

Elbridge blocked the attack once more, gasping for breath.

‘I shouldn’t have come here.’

Just as Leto said, they should have gone to another order in the East or West, or taken a long detour.

‘…Well, it’s already too late.’

Giving up actually made his mind feel at ease.

A demise like this might not be so bad.

If he could hold out as much as possible, and then die cleanly without pain…

“…I did all I could.”

Just then, there was a voice reaching Elbridge’s ears.

– There shall be no victory, yet there shall be no defeat either.

A voice heard for the first time in his life. Yet Elbridge realized it instinctively.

This was an oracle. It was not a voice that could be made by a normal human body.

However, Elbridge did not understand the meaning of that oracle.

Right before Elbridge could ask the meaning of the oracle, the authority of blockade that had enclosed Elbridge and the two demons—the massive pillars—scattered, turning into dust.

Elbridge, the fleeing Leto, and the few knights still holding out on the hill before breathing their last, suddenly felt a massive presence manifest.

Everyone looked up at the sky.

There was a figure descending, piercing through the ominous purplish clouds.

It was a diminutive figure. The distance was also exceptionally far. Yet that figure was visible with strange clarity.

A blonde woman with chillingly blue eyes.

Though it was the first time seeing her in person, he knew who that woman was.

“Goddess of the Rusty Shield…”

The Goddess’s voice echoed from the heavens.

– I have resolved. Since you have staked everything, I too shall stake my divine seat.

Elbridge thought.

‘…You’ll stake what?’

Just then, a pure-white beam of light shot down from the heavens, piercing the purplish clouds.

The beam of light struck the rock demon without a single inch of error.

” …! ”

The demon let out a scream that seemed as if it would tear their eardrums.