Sacrifice

However, although Monica was in a bizarre state, as if corrupted by Pollution and completely devoid of reason, she didn't explode.

On the contrary, her body had swollen several times over. Countless streams of black Pollution burrowed in and out of her skin, and Theus thought he could hear an unwilling roar in his ears.

"Revenge..."

Countless streams of Pollution gradually gathered from the sea, clustering over Monica's body like leeches.

She had become a monstrous giant. She had been petite even among the Banshees, but now she stood in the cavern like a giant.

The water pressure's disappearance and the interruption of Flesh Magic hadn't made her explode. Instead, the Pollution's erosion had made her even stronger.

She sent Nora flying as if she'd flicked away an ant.

After Nora was flung aside, Monica's blood-red eyes fixed on Theus. He was the closest to Nora.

The next moment, she charged at him.

Theus tried to dodge, but as soon as the thought crossed his mind, Monica's twisted face appeared right before him.

So fast!

Her warped arm reached for him. He saw the Pollution on her hand, seemingly boiling with glee, arc through the air and lash toward him.

There was no escaping it.

Was he going to die? So suddenly again? Would he have to start over? Theus clenched his teeth.

Splash!

Red blood burst before his eyes, warm and reeking of blood as it splattered across his face.

The scene felt familiar, but this time, he hadn't been pierced through.

Ash had braced all six arms against Monica's Polluted body, shielding Theus. A massive, hideous wound gaped in her abdomen, blood gushing from it and staining her silvery-white tail.

"Quick, go...!"

Ash forced the words through her clenched teeth. Her face had turned even paler. The weakness brought on by her depleted magic left her vision darkening. She was in terrible shape.

After holding out for only a moment, she was flung away by Monica and slammed hard into the cavern wall.

Just before she was thrown, she managed to flick her tail and give Theus a light shove, knocking him aside.

Then Monica's Polluted limb came crashing down. The place where Theus had just been standing was smashed into a massive crater.

Shattered rocks flew through the air, and dust filled the cavern.

Monica slowly rose to her feet.

Theus struggled to lift his head. He and Ash shared a Symbiotic Pact, so he was gravely wounded too, and the pact was still continuously draining his life force.

A creature that was too weak would have its life force drained until it died.

Theus felt his life rapidly slipping away. He might return to the Golden Throne before Monica even had a chance to kill him.

Monica spotted Theus, barely alive on the ground, and crawled toward him in a strange, twisted posture.

It was over.

Theus's heart sank.

Just then—

Bang!!

Something square struck Monica on the head, then fell to the ground and bounced a few times.

It was a Holy Scripture, its eight corners fitted with copper studs. The cover depicted a White Crow with nothing left but bones.

Monica turned around angrily and bared her teeth.

The next moment, the dust parted.

A small figure slowly emerged. Mud smeared her armor, and blood ran down from her temple, but there was no fear in her eyes. Facing Monica, who towered like a mountain, she swung the Flail in her hand and charged forward.

"The Holy Hall will never fall!!"

"Roar!!!"

Monica, transformed into a monster, collided with Nora.

Everywhere they passed looked as if it had been struck by a giant hammer; chunks of the cavern wall were smashed to pieces.

Theus gasped for breath. He could tell that Monica was completely overpowering Nora. It was only a matter of time before Nora fell.

And he couldn't even last that long.

Wave after wave of weakness washed over his chest as the Symbiotic Pact frantically drained his life force.

The Banshees were anxiously milling about underwater, but there was nothing they could do. They would die if they left the water, and they had no strength to attack while maintaining Flesh Magic. If they ended Flesh Magic, they would still die.

Nini glanced at her kin beside her and gritted her teeth.

She was relatively strong. If she left the seawater, she might last a little while without dying immediately. If she was fast enough, she could reach Monica before she died and trigger an explosion of Flesh Magic, inflicting massive damage.

That was the Banshees' final bloom.

When they had fled the Fishmen, they had used this same tactic—blowing themselves up to fight the Fishman soldiers and the Ghost Ship.

Nini closed her eyes, trembling slightly.

It was a shame she had only just arrived at their home... Looking on the bright side, at least she could die on the soil of her homeland.

"Stop!!!" Ash barked. Nini turned to look.

Ash's voice was quick and urgent. "I'm gravely wounded. The pact will drain Theus dry. Even if you succeed, it'll be pointless. Besides, Monica is growing stronger by the moment. You can't handle her anymore."

"Then what do we do?!"

"I'm going to break the Symbiotic Pact," Ash said calmly.

Nini's eyes widened in an instant.

Theus fought through the darkness closing in on his vision and struggled to lift his head.

He remembered Ash saying that if she broke the pact herself, she would die on the spot, and all her remaining life force would then be transferred to him.

Ash closed her eyes. She had already made up her mind.

"After I break the pact, take him and our people away by sea... Run far away, find somewhere else, and live!"

"But..." Nini's face was full of anxiety.

"Don't you understand? Castel isn't our home, and neither is the Storm Ocean. But he is!" Ash shouted, pointing at Theus.

"Wherever he is, that's the Banshees' home! Theus is our Promised Land!"

"Follow him, and live."

Ash glanced at the battle nearby. Nora was starting to falter.

"Forgive me, warrior of another race. You've lived up to your courage. I'll stay here with you," Ash called out to her.

Nora wasn't far from them. She had heard everything they'd said, and as she listened, the look she gave Theus and the Banshees grew more and more complicated.

Perhaps the Silent Temple's hope lay with this lord...

Was it worth the gamble?

She clenched her teeth, suddenly lifted her head, and shouted:

"No need! You don't have to flee. I can deal with her!"

She hurled the Flail in her hand, smashing Monica back a step. Facing the monster, now as huge as a mountain and still growing, she stood right where she was and slowly spread her arms. Her body gradually rose into the air.

"The moment of death is when the Burier is strongest. There have been a few more twists and turns, but we've still reached this point..."

She gritted her teeth, then abruptly turned to Theus. "Theus, I want you to promise that Castel will take in the refugees of the Northern Territory!"

"In return, I'll save Castel for you." She turned to face Monica, blood welling between her teeth.

Her long white hair lifted slowly into the air, though there was no wind.

Her eyes were stained red.

"Let me bury you!"