Subscriber of the Gods Chapter 325 - The 3rd Apostle (2)

The 3rd Apostle Sandra Rachel Wood was a young apostle.

That was all the information Ethan had.

‘No information. What abilities she has, how she fights. Not even her tendencies.’

There were a few individuals who weren’t in Ethan’s information network, and this 3rd Apostle was one of them.

Because of this, Ethan was quite tense.

However, he didn’t show it outwardly.

Perhaps because of this, the 3rd Apostle following behind Ethan was rather intrigued by his composure.

A wide open space.

When Ethan stopped, the 3rd Apostle stopped as well.

Ethan chose a clearing in the forest near the office to minimize damage.

“Hahaha-. I thought you would have called for reinforcements or set up a trap. But you didn’t?”

“It would be meaningless. It would only increase casualties unnecessarily.”

“Looks like you know who I am? And you seem to have grasped the situation. Really interesting, really strange.”

The 3rd Apostle’s eyes gleamed.

The situation was turning out interestingly. Clearly, until this attack on Ivecar, security had been maintained perfectly.

Since she had come out personally, there was no way information could have leaked even if it tried.

Yet this product created by the Rosicrucian Order didn’t seem surprised at all.

Moreover, he even seemed to know her identity already.

“How did you know? It seems you knew about the attack coming. And… you seem to know who I am too. That boldness to fight me one-on-one even knowing who I am. Hmm hmm.”

The 3rd Apostle raised the corners of her mouth and nodded.

“My judgment was right.”

And as soon as she finished speaking, she stomped her foot.

Boom-. Booooom-.

Footsteps could be heard from far away.

Ethan frowned at the sound.

Of all the variables he could have anticipated and prepared for, there was just one he hadn’t expected.

“What the hell.”

The 3rd Apostle’s judgment.

He had thought the 3rd Apostle would bring troops with determination, but this was unexpected.

The forces the opponent brought were far more than anticipated.

“Looks like you even anticipated how many troops I would bring?”

Huh, the 3rd Apostle let out a dry laugh.

“I must kill you here, Ethan Whiskers. I was certain our god had descended upon you. But you are a false god. A false god who descended in the wrong way, so I must kill you immediately. And even if you’re not a god, you must die.”

It wasn’t just at the level of a few hundred.

At least in the thousands, and on top of that, a powerful magical aura could be felt.

At this level, it could be said she had brought an army. She even seemed to have brought First Order-level individuals among the demons.

It was practically the same as bringing all the available forces of the Dawn Council within the Holy Empire.

“Isn’t that… too much of a judgment?”

The 3rd Apostle laughed at those words.

It was a laugh that seemed to find it really amusing.

“Everyone seems to have been fooled by that meticulous appearance. The most basic thing in battle is understanding your opponent.”

The 3rd Apostle began to emit mana.

Due to that mana, the mana restriction array spread over the Ivecar Academy grounds began to distort, allowing the use of more than half the original mana, though not as much as originally possessed.

“I’ve brought enough forces to destroy about half of the Holy Empire. Some subordinates were anxious, saying if we bring this many, there won’t be enough troops left to defend our castle. What do you think? Looks like I brought them well.”

The 3rd Apostle grinned.

Dong-. Dong-. Dong-.

White smoke rose from the 3rd Apostle’s body.

Ethan frowned deeply.

‘I prepared as much as I could. Now I can only do my best trusting in the arrangements I made.’

Ethan focused all his attention on the 3rd Apostle. The 3rd Apostle was an unknown figure. He had never fought her directly or seen her fight.

With no information, he could only fight based on his predictions.

Therefore, there was no room for other thoughts.

‘What I need to do is… eliminate her.’

“It’s unexpected, but I can bring it within expectations. I’ll quickly deal with you and leave.”

“There are too many people who want to kill me, can you cut in line? I don’t think you can.”

Ethan entered a dive state with a few breaths.

The 3rd Apostle moved first.

“Strange. I can’t see the aura that can’t be hidden even if you try to hide it.”

Eye of Horus and Sleeping Dragon’s Sight. The 3rd Apostle’s movements were visible due to these two powers. Ethan’s eyes, which had grown even more through conducting simultaneous lectures for 150 people, clearly captured the 3rd Apostle’s movements.

Swoosh-!

In an instant, something white flew towards Ethan’s neck.

Ethan drew out Frost Sword and Thunder Sword and swung them.

It was a sword that utilized the subtlety of Counter Radiance in a moment’s breath.

Clang-!

Ethan’s swords and the 3rd Apostle’s white mass collided directly.

At that moment, an enormous shockwave spread around.

It was literally a clash of power against power. Lightning and cold air spread around, then collapsed the ground in the area.

Craaaaaash-!

The one who retreated from the first clash was the 3rd Apostle.

“……”

Ethan had fought and defeated the 5th Apostle in Watopia before.

He realized then.

That he had surpassed a certain level and risen to the ranks of the continent’s strongest.

‘It’s definitely different.’

But the 3rd Apostle before him was clearly different. She offset and deflected the Ethan Swordsmanship that the 5th Apostle had been so wary of.

“Hmm.”

Of course, Ethan wasn’t the only one surprised.

The 3rd Apostle, also surprised by Ethan’s swordsmanship, no longer joked around and took a serious stance.

With just two exchanges, the two clearly grasped each other.

“Soul of the Abyss.”

Shaa-. Shaa-.

The number of white things around the 3rd Apostle began to increase.

It was that white mass that had just attacked Ethan. They quickly increased in number, then soon grew to eleven and positioned themselves around the 3rd Apostle as if protecting her.

“Divine Punishment.”

The Soul of the Abyss instantly transformed into weapons. Then they were fired at Ethan at an even faster speed than before.

Swoosh-!

Ethan gripped Frost Sword and Thunder Sword tightly.

He took a long breath with Immortal Hero’s Breathing and fully utilized the subtlety of Counter Radiance in the motion of swinging his swords.

Ethan Swordsmanship Second Form

Moonforce

Shaaaaaa-.

The entire area instantly froze over.

The 3rd Apostle could have dodged Ethan’s swords, but she took the attack head-on without avoiding it.

“Quite powerful. If I hadn’t deflected it midway, I might have lost the use of one arm.”

The 3rd Apostle clicked her tongue.

“But you know… why is that power of yours so similar? It’s so similar. The feeling is so similar to the power bestowed by Moon Mother.”

She frowned deeply as she said this.

She acknowledged that a god of the Dawn Council had descended upon Ethan.

But something was different. That power Ethan had just used was a power of a different nature with infinitely cold yin energy.

“There isn’t just one god in the world, you know. Gods are everywhere. The gods of the Dawn Council aren’t that omnipotent if you think about it. All she can do is destroy the world.”

The 3rd Apostle’s expression sank at Ethan’s mockery.

The playful look from earlier could no longer be seen on her face.

‘The power of Moonforce is certainly similar to Moon Mother.’

They’re both goddesses, and they both have authority centered on cold and yin energy.

‘But they’re not the same god. That’s for sure.’

However, only Ethan knew this fact.

‘Should I try to shake the 3rd Apostle?’

“But the god I believe in might be the same god you believe in.”

“……”

For a moment, the 3rd Apostle’s movements stopped.

“I think I need to do something about that nasty mouth first?”

The 3rd Apostle gestured, and the Soul of the Abyss spread around transformed into spear-like forms. Then they quickly began to divide.

The eleven masses continued to divide and increase in number.

“Spears of Divine Punishment.”

The total number after dividing was 66. Each one was the size of a huge horse.

Swoooooosh-!

Those white spears flew straight towards Ethan.

Ethan’s eyes moved quickly.

He could see the movements of all the fired spears. Even the figure of the 3rd Apostle who had thrown the spears and risen into the air.

When he put strength into his eyes once more, their speed slowed down even further.

Bullet Time.

In the slowed time, Ethan took a step forward.

Swoosh-!

“…!”

It was clearly a slow speed visible to the eye. But in an instant, the spear accelerated.

‘What?’

Ethan twisted his body to avoid the spear, but there were 66 spears.

The remaining 65 spears attacked Ethan from all directions, blocking his escape.

‘I’ll deflect them.’

If that’s the case, there’s no choice but to deflect them.

As Ethan swung his swords, the 3rd Apostle once again controlled the white spears.

“Wrath of the Moon.”

At that moment, the spears began to glow blue. Simultaneously, the spears accelerated once more, trying to pierce Ethan’s neck.

Ethan quickly swung his swords to cut down the spears, but he didn’t escape unscathed.

-Enemy of Thousands!

-Absorbing damage!

As soon as Enemy of Thousands activated, other spears flew in from outside Ethan’s field of vision.

‘I can’t keep up with the speed!’

Those white spears surpassed the recognition range of the Eye of Horus when they suddenly accelerated.

For a very brief moment, that one moment, they disappeared from view.

‘It’s hard to see even with Sleeping Dragon’s Sight.’

Ethan gritted his teeth and swung his swords down hard. Cold air spread like a curtain, forming a defensive barrier.

“Charge.”

At the same time, Ethan surrounded himself with lightning.

If it’s difficult to keep up with the speed, defend first.

He had various countermeasures, after all.

Thwack-.

Craaaaaash-!

The 66 white spears attacked Ethan like mad. They attacked Ethan as if moved by strings, and some of them pierced straight through Ethan’s defense.

‘It’s not just fast. The power is considerable too. The power of each of those spears is equal to that finishing move the 5th Apostle used.’

Fast and powerful.

It was a very simple power, but because of that, its effectiveness was fierce.

It felt like facing 66 apostles simultaneously.

Clang-! Clang-!

Ethan Swordsmanship First Form

Frost Thunder

Starting with the 1st form, he spun around deflecting spears and blocking with charged lightning. What finally pierced through the charged lightning was blocked by the Spirit King’s earthen wall.

Ethan Swordsmanship Second Form

Moonforce

Ethan once again scattered cold air to push back the oncoming white spears and took a step forward in return.

“!”

But that was only for a moment. The white spears transformed into a huge shield, obstructing Ethan’s path.

Ethan took a deep breath and cut the wall.

‘The hardness has increased from just now.’

But he could still cut it.

Ethan took another strong step, sliding across the ground using Earth Slide while simultaneously imbuing lightning power, and the 3rd Apostle couldn’t respond to that speed.

Crack-!

However, he couldn’t reach the 3rd Apostle.

The white masses had already gathered around the 3rd Apostle, forming a circle to block Ethan’s sword.

It cracked but couldn’t be completely cut.

‘She couldn’t respond to this. I’m sure.’

It wasn’t controlled in response to seeing Ethan’s movement. The white masses gathered on their own to block Ethan’s sword.

‘These white masses move as fast as I do. No, when they accelerate, they move even faster than me. But the 3rd Apostle controlling those masses couldn’t react to my speed? This is evidence that she doesn’t directly control them when it comes to defense.’

From this, he could be certain that those white masses automatically defend against attacks like Ethan’s earthen wall.

‘If that’s the case, there must be a gap. But since she doesn’t have to focus on defense, she can concentrate elsewhere. It’s not something to be entirely happy about.’

He had found a weakness, but it didn’t seem easy to exploit.

However, Ethan had to aim for this weakness.

Swoosh-!

-Enemy of Thousands!

-Absorbing large damage!

Once again, the accelerated white spears attacked Ethan.

Ethan frowned at the unwanted situation.

On the other hand, the 3rd Apostle was smiling leisurely.

“You were surprised, weren’t you, Ethan Whiskers.”

‘These white masses. They moved as if reading my movements. Are they learning?’

Learning means those masses have their own consciousness.

‘If I drag this out, it’s disadvantageous for me.’

Now there wasn’t much damage left that Enemy of Thousands could absorb.

‘There are still many opportunities.’

“As expected, you’re dangerous.”

The 3rd Apostle was pretending to be relaxed, but she was clearly on guard against him.

“Oh Moon Mother, I shall proceed with the ritual of divine punishment.”

As the 3rd Apostle chanted, the white spears returned to their mass form, then merged into one.

“Moon’s Net.”

As soon as Ethan saw this, he instinctively realized.

‘I mustn’t get caught!’

Whoosh-.

The white net tried to envelop Ethan like a high wave.

Originally, he would have tried to cut it, but Ethan retreated without cutting.

“Isn’t your intuition too good?”

The end of the white net that missed Ethan transformed. It was a snake’s head. The snake’s head bared its sharp fangs, trying to bite Ethan.

‘This isn’t an ordinary magic. There are numerous magics combined. Like wearing many layers of coats.’

The main body of the magic couldn’t be seen.

It seemed he would have to dispel the magic on the outside to eliminate the magic inside.

‘To eliminate it, I have no choice but to take the hit.’

If that happens, the damage absorption from Enemy of Thousands will end there.

Ethan slightly offered his shoulder to the heads of the rushing white snakes.

Chomp-!

The moment Ethan was bitten by the snake head, he once again activated bullet time.

In the slowly flowing time, he began to dispel the magic spread on this white mass.

Shaa-.

Unravel, unravel, unravel, and unravel again.

‘Huh?’

And he saw. What was inside it.

“What the hell? I definitely hit you, but there’s no damage at all. Are you some kind of incorporeal ghost?”

“That’s my line.”

Ethan clicked his tongue.

“Those white masses, how many people did you use to make them?”

At Ethan’s words, the 3rd Apostle lowered her eyes for a moment, then grinned.

“You figured that out too? About a thousand per one. So… roughly sixty-six thousand.”

These white masses weren’t ordinary magic.

It was a horrific magic that extracted people’s souls and engraved magic on top of them.

Ethan clicked his tongue and put away his swords.

Shaa-.

Ghost Power rose from Ethan’s body.