Pick Me Up!

Chapter 197: The Black Seed (5) (1)

Ping!

The dagger shot out from my left hand and embedded itself into the chest of the saintess.

Taking advantage of her stumbling, I pushed off the ground and ran backwards. I had no time to deal with them; finding Pria was my top priority.

‘All of them are boss-level monsters.’

A woman who fires magic like a machine gun, a beastman with immense strength, and even a saintess with strange powers.

I had seen them as major figures in the promotion ceremony, but I never expected them all to appear here together. If it was one by one, maybe, but against three, I couldn’t guarantee victory.

I moved towards the outskirts of the camp and looked back.

They seemed to be dealing with the troops first, as they were no longer chasing me.

In the distance, I saw thousands of soldiers being swept away.

Beyond the hill where the camp’s entrance was, I saw units among the fluttering flags.

It was the church’s army.

(T/N: I’m using Church instead of Cult from now on.)

‘Maybe they were never a match from the beginning.’

I thought they might be somewhat useful.

I clicked my tongue lightly and increased my speed.

[Church Army Soldier Lv.25] X 32

[Church Army Knight Lv.28] X 2

The church’s forces had already infiltrated the whole area.

I kicked away one rushing at me and stabbed his chest with my sword. Then, I cut down three more in succession and headed for Pria’s tent.

I lifted the entrance flap.

‘……She’s not here.’

The interior was neatly organized.

It didn’t seem like she had been here and left.

This meant she wasn’t in the tent when the invasion occurred.

‘Where could Pria have gone…….’

There was only one place that came to mind.

I turned and headed towards the path leading to the cliff.

“Ugh!”

“Save me! Please, save me!”

There, too, the massacre continued.

Soldiers were screaming in despair, swinging their swords.

They were killing and being killed by each other in terror.

Friendly fire.

In the midst of the screams and scattered corpses, the saintess stood. With each flash of violet light from her half-open left eye, the soldiers’ movements became more intense.

My sword pierced the saintess’s heart.

I threw the saintess into the bushes. Her body, spraying blood, wriggled on the dirt.

The scattered blood was gathering into the hole in her heart.

I had pierced her vital point with a blade, yet here she was, appearing unharmed.

‘Regeneration?’

Spitting out blood-mixed saliva, I ran again.

Good thing I didn’t deactivate my Ascend state. I almost got caught again.

Her technique seemed to be a type of magic eye. Likely some form of control magic.

I’ll keep that in mind for when I face her again later.

Gradually, a fog spread before my eyes.

From within the fog came the sounds of screams and clashing weapons.

I loosely gripped my blood-stained sword hilt and leaped in.

“Ugh!”

Pria, holding a rapier, was struggling against five soldiers.

However, she was outmatched. A thick spear blade grazed Pria’s forearm. She groaned and dropped her sword. Various weapons aimed at her vital points.

‘…….’

I intervened just then.

I spun my body as I approached Pria. The circular sword strike split two spear blades and one axe in half. Then, I kicked one who was about to stab Pria with a dagger and swung my left hand. I caught the sword aiming for Pria’s neck. Pulling the sword towards me, I disarmed the soldier. And then.

Crack.

The five soldiers fell simultaneously, their bodies shattered.

“Whew.”

I shook my left hand.

Blood was seeping out from the outside of my hand.

“Han……!”

“Why so surprised? It’s not the first time. Skip the greetings. Just by looking, you can tell the situation isn’t good.”

“What’s…… happening?”

“The church’s army invaded and is causing chaos. We’re getting thrashed.”

I steadied my breath.

[‘Han(★★★★)’s Ascend state has been deactivated.]

Staggering, I managed to suppress the pain and dizziness.

“Then we must fight back! Where is Sir Delphin……!”

“Follow me.”

“Eek!”

There was no time to explain.

I grabbed Pria’s wrist and led her out of there.

If we took the left path from the camp, we’d reach the landing zone. I planned to hijack an airship and escape into the sky from there.

‘But…….’

I held my forehead.

In the distance, flames were rising from the landing zone.

A few airships that had taken off were also turning into fireballs and crashing down.

‘Damn.’

“Han!”

Then where should we go?

If we exit through another part of the camp, it leads to the plains.

Though spacious, it’s wide open and not suitable for escaping.

‘There’s no other choice.’

With the landing zone blocked, the plains were the only option.

I pulled Pria’s wrist and changed direction.

“I said let go of my hand. I will follow.”

“Fine.”

I released her hand.

Pria rubbed her wrist, tears welling in her eyes, and looked at me.

“You have the key, right?”

“I always keep it with me.”

“Stick close to me.”

The main force of the church’s army seemed to have entered the camp as well.

Wherever we went, there was blood, and screams echoed loudly.

It was a one-sided massacre.

I moved, hiding my body among the trees and bushes.

Pria followed awkwardly behind me.

“What is…… happening…….”

Bang! Bang bang bang!

Persene was firing magic bullets from the sky.

Pria’s face turned pale.

“That is…….”

“Glad to see her again?”

“The calm and composed Sir Persene is acting like…… Mm!”

I covered Pria’s mouth.

I'm currently Translating the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!