Chapter 423: 423

Martina saw Roosevelt fighting and her heart tightened for a moment.

Her sword clashed with a cloaked figure who attacked with a scythe made of shadows, but even while fighting, she couldn’t help glancing at Roosevelt.

The golden light that surrounded him was something she had always envied. Out of all of them, only Roosevelt,the emperor’s first son had inherited the Divine Intent of Majesty.

A power that gets stronger with people’s support.It was like a cheat code.

Her eyes burned with jealousy and determination. "I will not fall behind."

She parried a blow, sparks flying as metal met darkness. "Crimson Arc!" she shouted, slashing horizontally. Her sword erupted in red energy, cutting through the enemy’s scythe and cleaving him in two.

Hans, beside her, fought three of the cloaked ones at once. He twisted his blade and spun around. "Silver Cross!" His sword traced bright lines in the air, forming a cross of light that exploded on impact. The explosion threw the enemies backward, their robes catching fire.

Rein was still in the backline, his hand moving faster, casting spell after spell. "Void Compression! Chain Reaction!"

The ground trembled as countless runes lit up, linking together like a spider’s web. The dark mages screamed as invisible pressure crushed their bodies. One of them tried to resist by casting "Soul Corrosion," but Rein countered instantly with "Barrier of Aether."

The spell clashed violently, creating a blinding flash. When the light faded, several of the dark followers had been reduced to ash, leaving behind nothing but faint whispers.

The fight grew more violent. Roosevelt leapt forward and clashed swords with a cloaked commander. His blade struck with a burst of golden fire. "Imperial Swordsmanship—Form Three: Majestic Execution!"

The blow sliced through the enemy’s barrier like paper. The dark mage tried to retaliate by chanting "Whisper of the Deep Void!" Shadows began to twist around his arm, forming a giant hand that lunged at Roosevelt.

Roosevelt raised his sword, divine light bursting out. The golden aura exploded outward, consuming the shadow and the mage with it. The ground beneath him glowed with holy symbols.

Martina gritted her teeth as she watched him, frustration bubbling inside her. "Damn it... even the darkness bows before him."

"Focus,Lady Martina!" Hans shouted, deflecting an incoming spike of darkness. "This isn’t the time to admire him!"

She nodded quickly, her eyes burning with resolve. She slashed forward again, her sword cutting through another cloaked figure’s chest. "Fine then. Let’s finish this."

As their battle raged, the world around them shook from another clash nearby.

On the far side of the battlefield, the monstrous being known as Cthulhu raised its massive body. Its tentacles flailed wildly, each one crackling with dark lightning. A shriek that tore the air echoed through the frozen plain.

Crebs, Fred, Dominic, and Hobbins stood against it, their faces grim.

"Spread out!" Dominic shouted, his eyes glowing red. "Domain of Wrath!"

A crimson field expanded from him, filling the air with suffocating heat. The snow melted instantly, turning to steam. Dominic’s veins pulsed as flames wrapped around his body. He charged straight toward Cthulhu and slammed his fist into one of its tentacles. The explosion shattered the ground.

Crebs raised both hands. "Light Manifestation—Blades of Sanctum!"

Thousands of glowing swords appeared in the air, forming a halo around him. "Go!"

The swords shot forward like a rainstorm of light, piercing into the monster’s flesh. Each impact caused an explosion of golden sparks.

Hobbins jumped next to him, spinning his spear. "Azure Spear Arts—Sky Tempest!" His spear moved so fast that it blurred into a storm of thrusts. Each thrust released waves of energy that tore apart the creature’s tentacles.

Fred followed, chanting in a low tone. "Luminous Arrow, guide the path." A beam of light formed in his hands and shot forward, piercing through one of the creature’s eyes.

Cthulu roared, shaking the heavens. Black ichor poured from its wound as it thrashed violently, knocking debris across the field.

Dominic charged again, his fury growing hotter. "You monster won’t live through this!" He struck another blow, his domain flaring bright red.

The combined attacks of the four created a spectacle of chaos and destruction. Light and darkness clashed, divine power against ancient evil.

The sky itself trembled. The war had turned into something beyond human comprehension. And amidst all the screaming, the fire, and the blinding light—no one could tell who was winning anymore.

The ground cracked under their feet as the four SS-ranks faced the towering horror that loomed before them. Cthulhu’s enormous body pulsed with grotesque energy, each tentacle radiating a sickening green glow. The monster’s eyes burned with madness, and the air itself trembled as if refusing to exist near it.

Fred, Crebs, Hobbins, and Dominic stood in a broken semicircle, panting but unyielding. They were covered in blood and dirt, yet none of them took a step back.

"Keep your distance!" Fred shouted, his spear glowing faint blue. "Don’t let those tentacles touch you!"

Before anyone could answer, the creature let out a deafening roar that shook the entire battlefield. Several massive tentacles slammed into the ground, creating shockwaves that sent everyone flying backward.

Dominic skidded across the ice, his hands bleeding from the impact. "Damn it! This bastard is stronger than I thought!" He spat blood and raised his sword again. His eyes blazed crimson. "Domain of Wrath—Ignite!"

A crimson flame erupted around him, melting the snow in a wide circle. He charged straight toward the monster again, his sword dragging behind him like a streak of red lightning. With a furious roar, he swung upward, cutting one of the tentacles in half.

The ground shook violently as the severed piece fell. Black ichor sprayed out like a waterfall, sizzling wherever it landed. But before Dominic could move again, another tentacle whipped around and slammed him into the ground. The impact carved a crater where he stood.

"Dominic!" Hobbins shouted. His muscles bulged as he spun his spear in a blur. "Azure Spear Art—Storm Break!"

He thrust forward, unleashing a barrage of spear strikes so fast they blurred together. Each thrust released shockwaves that collided with the monster’s body, tearing chunks of its flesh. Yet the creature didn’t even flinch. Instead, the wounds began closing, the dark flesh knitting back together almost instantly.

Crebs gritted his teeth and raised his hand toward the sky. "Light Manifestation—Judgment Blades!" Thousands of golden swords appeared again, hovering like a radiant storm. He swung his arm down. "Fall!"

The swords shot forward, raining upon Cthulhu’s body in endless succession. The air filled with blinding flashes as holy light collided with the beast’s corrupted flesh. The monster screamed, its voice so deep and twisted that even the air rippled.

Fred seized the chance. His spear burned with silver energy. "Heaven’s Descent!" He hurled the spear forward with all his strength. It spun like a comet and pierced straight through one of the creature’s eyes.

A piercing shriek followed. The beast thrashed wildly, slamming its tentacles into the ground in a frenzy. Huge fissures spread across the battlefield. The four barely managed to dodge, each jump sending them rolling across broken stone and burning snow.

Dominic crawled out from the crater, coughing blood. His eyes burned brighter, his fury rising. "You think that’s enough to stop me?" He raised both hands, and the crimson flames surrounding him exploded outward. "Domain of Wrath—Full Release!"

The flames erupted like a volcano, and he charged again. Every step cracked the ground beneath his feet. He leapt high, his sword bursting with red energy, and brought it down with a roar. The impact cleaved through several tentacles and exploded in a wave of fire.

But the victory lasted only a second. The monster’s body twisted unnaturally, and black liquid began to flow upward instead of down. The severed tentacles regenerated almost instantly. A sickly green aura spread out, burning the very air.

Hobbins cursed under his breath. "It’s regenerating faster now!"

"Then we hit harder," Fred replied sharply. He summoned his spear again, his arms trembling.

Crebs clasped his hands together, his voice steady despite the chaos. "Light Manifestation—Heavenly Purge!" The light above them condensed into a single massive blade, descending like divine judgment.

The holy sword struck Cthulhu’s body, cutting deep into its side. The monster screamed, the sound echoing across miles. For a moment, it seemed to weaken.

"Now!" Dominic roared.

The four attacked together. Flames, light, and divine energy collided with the corrupted darkness. The explosion was blinding, shaking the mountains around them.

When the light faded, all four stood on trembling legs, breathing heavily. The monster’s massive frame was scorched and torn apart, but it was still alive. Its countless eyes blinked open again, glowing with fury.

Crebs wiped blood from his mouth. "This thing just won’t die."

Fred tightened his grip on his spear. "Then we keep fighting until it does."

The creature raised its tentacles again, roaring loud enough to shatter the clouds. And the four, despite their exhaustion and wounds, stepped forward once more—ready to clash again in a battle that felt endless.