novelraw Chapter 1180: 492: Take Away the Pain
Chapter 1180: 492: Take Away the Pain
Chapter 1180: Chapter 492: Take Away the Pain
‘——No wonder she’s the Big Sister.’
The darkness spreads like a tide, swiftly engulfing everything, including the Mute Girl’s figure, completely hidden in the shadows.
With the entire cave Sanctuary losing its light, even rendering eyes useless, cries of surprise from Divine Basin believers rose one after another.
Yet, the Catcher’s gaze remained unchanged, closely watching the battle unfold.
It was only natural that he, having the Mute Girl’s Magic Power residing within, wasn’t troubled by such deep darkness.
But this didn’t hinder him from understanding the strength of the Mute Girl’s ability.
Extinguishing the light while also stripping away vision, granting absolute darkness.
If it weren’t for the Ethereal Magic Power in his right hand that had seeped into his marrow, he’d probably be blind now.
Even with his exceptionally keen information capturing ability, he wouldn’t become completely like a blind fly, but for most people, losing sight in an instant was enough to throw them into chaos, at a loss, just like the Divine Basin believers now.
The Catcher’s gaze locked onto the Shield Woman, watching her stand immobile amidst the dark tide, or rather unable to move, he calmly made a judgment.
‘Although uncertain if she can successfully blind a Legendary, at least we’ve gained the initiative and don’t need to worry about being instantly killed.’
“——Truly sacred.”
Suddenly, a soft sigh came from behind, causing the Catcher’s breath to halt, his whole body instantly tensing up.
But he quickly recognized the owner of that voice, soon relaxing again, glancing at his side.
“…It’s you.”
With a respectful tone, tinged with a hint of instinctive caution, the Catcher spoke.
At some point, the gray-winged Boy stood beside him, mysteriously watching the battle, voicing that sigh just now.
Having formed a pact with the Mute Girl on the fourth floor, becoming the third comrade of the team, this Boy didn’t follow them but chose another path, disappearing without a trace.
Now seeing him suddenly appear in the Divine Basin Sanctuary, a place hard to reach without guidance, the Catcher didn’t feel much surprise.
“No need for honorifics.” The Boy smiled slightly, his tone soft, “We’re teammates, so why be so formal? Just relax.”
“…If you’re interested in Big Sister’s combat, why didn’t you come along initially?” The Catcher hesitated briefly, then smoothly said.
Pleased by the Catcher’s change, the Boy nodded approvingly.
“Although this gathering seems like those not officially acknowledged by society as heretics, it doesn’t lack sharp-eyed individuals among them.
“If I directly appeared here, wouldn’t it be stealing the spotlight?”
He smiled as if stating an undeniable fact.
“Spectators shouldn’t interfere with the duel. This basic etiquette I do understand.”
“…Indeed.”
Listening to the Boy’s somewhat boastful words, the Catcher instead nodded slightly.
Without the Boy intentionally hiding it, the information he vaguely captured indicated that this supposedly reversion Winged Boy possessed a rank equivalent to Fantasy Species, namely Ancient Angels.
Moreover, his growth likely was nearing completion.
Despite his young appearance, this was an unequivocal monster.
Once he acted, not to mention himself, even all present combined, including the Shield Woman and Divine Basin believers, wouldn’t necessarily be opponents for the Boy.
That’s why he easily relaxed his guard just now.
Not due to establishing any “trust in teammates” during the short half-hour interaction.
Purely because he knew his vigilance was meaningless.
Just like beasts and lambs temporarily coexisting peacefully by the water’s edge, in front of this Boy, his life wasn’t under his own control, even escape wasn’t possible, only hoping the Boy’s desire for “water” would make him overlook the insignificant prey beside him.
No, to him, I probably don’t even count as prey.
In that case, rather than scaring himself, it’s better to just relax and coexist.
“Didn’t you previously say she’s not sacred enough?”
The Catcher returned his gaze to the arena, focusing on the Shield Woman.
At this moment, the Magic Power blazing like an inferno around the Shield Woman suddenly dimmed, her pupils scattering.
Without missing this change, he realized that the Legendary Knight had successfully been blinded.
[Shield Woman’s resistance failed, entering Dark Status, Agility/2, Perception/5]
[Mute Girl activated skill: Star Shifting, Agility default maximum, higher than opponent’s agility, default success]
‘No wonder she’s the Big Sister, could she actually win?’ He praised once more in his heart, refocusing on the duel.
Suddenly losing the most relied upon vision usually leads to stiffness and panic.
Yet, at the moment when her vision was stripped, the Shield Woman didn’t sit idle, instead she let her Magic Power surge even more fiercely.
Thick shields gathered around her, overlapping and arrayed, constructing an almost impenetrable fortress of light.
Lions fight rabbits with all their might, and although judging by the Mute Girl’s Profession, no one thinks she can break through the Legendary Knight’s defense, the Shield Woman still cautiously erected this fortress-like shield wall.
However, the hastily patched-up defensive line in the blind state contained numerous weaknesses that even the Catcher could easily capture.
Though lacking vision, there are still hearing, smell, Magic Power Perception as substitute senses, but far from filling the void left by the sudden disappearance of sight.
Like abruptly entering darkness from a bright environment, even if it’s not complete darkness, with some faint light, it still feels pitch black.
This holds true even for Profession practitioners with powerful Perception.
Even if calm enough to cope, adapting to this absence requires time.
Always looking forward, even shields won’t block the Shield Woman’s vision, evidently she’s no exception.
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The sharper the vision, the stronger the sense of deprivation.
The powerful abnormal resistance she usually had, ironically made it difficult for her to swiftly adjust her status at this moment.
The more she tried to mobilize other senses, the easier it was to cause confusion.
The result was the uneven light walls before her.
However, spotting a flaw didn’t mean it was simple to break through. But as the ring on the Mute Girl’s little finger flashed, her figure disappeared from the original place. Immediately reappearing, she had already crossed a light wall.
Though unable to directly leap over all obstacles due to the strong magic interference released by the Shield Woman, the Mute Girl clearly didn’t miss the flaw exposed by the opponent.
Her figure kept flashing, weaving through the gaps in the light walls, while rapidly nearing the Shield Woman without making any sound.
Despite being unable to see, realizing the situation wasn’t favorable, the Shield Woman began to transfer her position, but her slow movements failed to create distance and, instead, caused more gaps in the defense.
Observing the Mute Girl’s continually flashing figure and noticing her gradually widening grin, suddenly realizing her intent, the Catcher’s look towards the Shield Woman was like watching a tragic martyr.
“Earlier?” Then, beside her, the Winged Boy pondered for a moment before suddenly shaking his head, “Ah, when I mentioned holy, I didn’t mean that Vanguard, but our leader.”
“…Big Sister Head?”
Though still watching the chase and escape duel, upon hearing these words, the Catcher couldn’t help but pause.
“Isn’t that right?” The young boy chuckled lightly.
“People always admire those unstained by the mud, but for the sake of that flower, even if the means are somewhat rough, it should be uprooted from the mud and transplanted to a place more suitable for its growth.
“Otherwise, it’s merely enjoying other’s pain to fill one’s void.”
Enjoying other people’s pain… Holy?
Upon hearing this, the Catcher’s expression slightly confused, unconsciously shifted her gaze towards the Mute Girl.
She was showing an eerie smile that would send chills to anyone, ghost-like, continuously flashing towards the Shield Woman.
“Though what you said seems somewhat logical…”
“It seems you still don’t understand.” The young boy sighed, while looking at the Mute Girl with focused eyes, guiding patiently.
“Tenderly praising other’s pain.
“Brutally ending other’s pain.
“Humankind always focuses on appearance, satisfies only with the former, indulges in spiritual masturbation, even fanatically follows it…
“But true liberation and redemption have always come from the latter.
“— You should understand, right?”
The Catcher instinctively looked at her right hand.
“She bestowed you rebirth. This act of kindness should be enough to make you wholeheartedly devoted, but because she never showed you kindness, you still maintain your independent self, even able to speak with her equally…
“Try to imagine, if—”
The young boy’s tone slightly paused.
“She had saved you with a gentle grace?”
Listening to these words, the Catcher’s mind uncontrollably conjured a scene.
On that cold street corner, in the most desperate of times, Big Sister Head revealed a soft smile, kneeled down, enveloped her right hand, which she once wanted to cut off, in warm hands, saying she would save herself—
Imagining such a scene, the Catcher shuddered violently.
“She is exercising miracles only because she’s unwilling to part ways with you, thus acting immaturely as a mortal.
“She could have done better, enough for you to willingly offer your emotions, life, even your soul— yet, due to the eventual separation, she selfishly held back her gentleness, pushing away the devotion meant for her.
“But the core essence doesn’t change. This immaturity is precisely her proof of holiness!”
The young boy’s speech continued, tinged with a hint of vague fervor.
“Therefore, someone must guide—”
Then, due to changes in the field, his words abruptly stopped.
“Hmm, looks like this ‘salvation’ is about to end.” Gazing at the battlefield’s center, the young boy squinted.
Watching the continuously flashing Mute Girl, she had successfully passed through multiple barriers, now approaching within five steps of the Shield Woman.
At this distance, although the Shield Woman’s perception hadn’t fully recovered, she vaguely sensed something, immediately adjusting posture, ceasing efforts to expand defense, instead rapidly condensing the released magic to envelop her.
‘Is it coming now…’
Unable to delve deeper into the young boy’s thrilling speech just witnessed, similarly watching this scene, the Catcher’s throat slightly dry, instinctively swallowing.
He knew what would happen next.
Big Sister Head may be a Physician, but she was expertly skilled in martial arts, so smoothly assaulting patients, akin to a well-practiced Martial Monk.
The Catcher understood, if the target was ordinary metal armor, the Mute Girl could completely ignore the sturdy exterior, directly delivering force into the soft tissue behind.
Just that, though the Shield Woman’s eyesight was deprived, and she was breached at close range, her defensive stance hadn’t collapsed. With her refined skills and the shield’s heaviness, even if retreating without counterattacking, Big Sister Head likely couldn’t achieve triumph.
Therefore, Big Sister Head has only one course of action—
[Mute Girl activates skill: Medical Care (Bone Destruction and Heart Piercing)]
[Utilizing the magic lodged within the opponent’s body to ‘sanitize’ the flesh and spirit, accompanied by immense pain (D Charm, Medical Care +60, Human Anatomy +1.2)]
(D52+60)*2.2=(37)=213
[Due to Medical Care being a beneficial effect, Shield Woman’s skill: Steel Virgin couldn’t activate, only performing My Heart is Like Fire willpower determination]
D100+D169=(7+5)-30=-18
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