Bear School Astartes

”I once swore an oath to the gods...”

Hapalos’s fish-like eyes, looked at Cassandra as if he were a fish out of water.

His mouth curled into a smile, but the smile was mocking and contemptuous, directed not at Lann and Cassandra, but at himself.

His former self.

”I once swore an oath to the gods, I would charge into battle with Demos, even if the target was the realm of Hades, I would never regret it. But now, to be honest, the noble [Hawk Trainer], and the [Son of the Giant God] who doesn’t admit his nobility...”

Hapalos spread his arms wide, while the Roaring Bear Head Badge on Lann’s neck seemed to leap as if it were dancing.

”You look like...”

”Just that.”

Hapalos whispered, but though his volume remained unchanged, his voice grew rougher!

His simple armor’s leather straps emitted a stretched to the limit ’creak’ sound!

Eventually, a chill emanated from his chest, instantly freezing the leather armor to a brittle crisp, with a continuous ’crack’ sound, the parts connected by leather fell from Hapalos’s body.

”Bloodline Cultivators pursue only the bloodline. I thought you were the noblest beings in this world, the purest bloodline, the continuation of the gods! But now...”

He laughed deeply and maniacally.

”Heh heh, haha! Now, compared to me, what do you count as?!”

Hapalos’s body began to grow larger.

He quickly reached approximately two meters five, the same as Lann, and lines that shimmered like golden circuit traces began to appear on his skin, orderly and simple.

However, these golden lines only formed a circle on his exposed chest, not spreading across his whole body.

As his height increased, so did his field of vision, seemingly granting Hapalos endless self-satisfaction.

He spread his arms, clenched his fists, and reveled in the power within his body while displaying this transformed body to Cassandra and Lann.

”Look! Look! I am the demigod who inherited the blood of the gods! No... I am already a god!”

”Malaka!”

Cassandra exclaimed in surprise, swearing unconsciously, but the broken spear in her hand did not waver.

She was a pious person, but if a mythological figure stood before her wanting a fight, she certainly wouldn’t lower her standards.

That was her style.

Lann on the side frowned gravely, his pupils narrowed into slits.

He was staring at the chest of his opponent.

In the center of the golden lines on Hapalos’s skin, something seemed embedded in the skin.

Like most Divine Artifacts, golden light emerged from there, and intense frost emanated from there as well.

The Roaring Bear Head Badge on his neck reacted sharply as the opponent tore away the obstruction in front of his chest, rapidly increasing the frequency of its movements.

”Local Divine Artifacts interacting with Magic World devices?”

Because of the golden light, Lann couldn’t see what it was, only a vague haze.

But there was no need to insist on clarity now... killing him and extracting it from his chest was just as good!

The only thing certain between both parties was: they both wanted the other dead!

No more words were exchanged.

The first to fly out was a broken spear with a golden blade!

Thrown with Cassandra’s strength, the broken spear almost left a golden streak in the sky!

With a ”zing”, the broken spear already struck Hapalos standing beneath Ares’s statue.

But unlike the previous instant kills, although Hapalos wasn’t quick enough to dodge Cassandra’s spear throw, he was able to react.

With a slight lift of his hand, the broken spear only pierced through his forearm, not causing significant damage.

Instead, Cassandra followed closely, instantaneously teleporting using the spear as a pivot point.

As she reformed from scattered golden particles, her eyebrows furrowed involuntarily.

Gripping the spear’s shaft, she thrust her feet against Hapalos’s waist to propel herself away.

It was too cold.

The closer the chill, the more irresistible it became.

Even in legendary armor, part of the Amazon Armor, just a push against Hapalos’s waist coated it with a layer of frost.

Finally, it was Cassandra’s golden light on the greaves that shattered the icy shell with a ’Kara La’, preventing it from affecting her speed.

Hapalos burst into booming laughter.

”Is this all you have? Demigod? Weak and pathetic!”

”Kneel before this superior bloodline!”

A golden glow appeared on Hapalos’s chest, then a beam of light shot out, slicing towards Cassandra!

Cassandra barely avoided being split like the rock behind her with a highly difficult quick maneuver.

Barely ten seconds had passed since the confrontation began, but on this battlefield where their reaction speed clearly surpassed mortals, they had already exchanged several rounds.

”He’s too cold, I can’t get close!”

Amidst Hapalos’s laughter, the sound of crumbling rock, Cassandra shouted at Lann.

After shouting, Cassandra calmly took a bow and arrow from her back. Arrows laced with green poisonous crystal flew out instantly.

The explosive poison fog enveloped Hapalos, resulting in coughing sounds.

Apparently, the power of Divine Artifacts could harm the opponent in this state, giving Cassandra some relief.

If it can break through the defense, it can be fought!

Meanwhile, Lann finally dug out his target from the depth of his Alchemy Pouch.

”I thought I’d never use this thing until it expired...”

[Demon-Blocking Gold Bomb].

It scatters metallic dust of Demon-Blocking Gold in the air upon explosion, naturally countering Chaos Magic Power.

Wizards wearing the Demon-Blocking Golden Shackles may experience intense nausea, vomiting, and visceral cramps due to Chaos Magic Power interference.

The Alchemy Bomb rolled to a stop by Hapalos’s foot.

”Greek fire? You think mortal flames can hurt me, a demigod?”

Hapalos’s sweeping beam did not spare Lann.

Lann deftly dodged the golden beam that swept past Cassandra.

The Demon Hunter’s legs twirled with spiral winds.

Using [Old Hunter’s Leg Bone] [Acceleration Spell] was activated the moment the Alchemy Bomb was drawn.

Intentionally or not, the Bear School Armor’s skirt had a tiny corner clipped by the beam.

”Mentos, report the armor damage status.”

”Sir, the destructiveness of the opponent’s beam is mainly thermal. The skirt’s edge rings were heated to a glow, but it shouldn’t damage the Valyrian Steel Armor Plate in a short time. If Quen Rune is activated, hypothetical damage may reduce further.”

The Grandmaster level armor greatly increased error margins.

Lann’s brain quietly calculated the situation.

But I hate mistakes.

Having completed the probing and estimation of the opponent’s strength, Lann activated a [Quen Rune] on himself.

”Divine Artifact? Ha! You think that thing can protect... boom!”

”Ah, Malaka!!!”

The golden glow of [Quen] did resemble this world’s Divine Artifacts, but before Hapalos could finish his mockery.

The Alchemy Bomb that had just rolled to his feet exploded fiercely!

Metallic dust inhibiting Chaos Magic Power wafted through the air.

The biting cold was suddenly suppressed, leaving only traces in the environment.