Chương 298: Chapter 281. Do Conditions Matter?

" What is that!?" Count Gorse called to me as if I had an answer for him. The reason for his question was simple, a black plant was standing in the center of this field when the smoke had cleared from all of the fireballs that Lady Kina had fired. Something tells me from the marks on the ground that she may have gotten a bit... Trigger happy with her Magic. Well, I'd feel bad about it, if it wasn't for the fact that the "victim" in this situation already had a laundry list of crimes that stretched a mile long.

Back to the plant however, it looked as if it was a black flower that hadn't bloomed yet, if I had to guess, it's some kind of godforsaken plant that can resist fire and ice from an ancient time when the God Of The Blackwoods could still roam the land. I looked back at Count Gorse and began to explain what I think it was, but before I spoke... /Whoosh!

/ I sent my Holy Flames towards the flower-like bulb to probe it and then I started to speak to Count Gorse while also explaining it to Count Sark and Princess Alice at the same time." It seems to be a defensive measure, probably some kind of plant that can resist fire and ice. Let's see how it defends against my Holy Flames." /Whoosh! / And just like that, a golden bonfire seemed to appear out of nowhere. Seems my probing caused a fire to start.

My Holy Flames returned to my side and hid behind me like a scared puppy. I'd almost think that it was cute, if not for the fact that it's a literal ball of flame." What happened!?" Count Sark seemed concerned, I guess he hasn't seen what my flames do to these black plants yet." I sent my Holy Flames to reach out and set the plant on fire, as you can see, the plants burn like dead wood to my flames.

I don't really have a concrete explanation for why it works, but if I had to guess, the God whose Favor I have, which makes me a Paladin, must be at odds with Gods that are similar to the God Of The Blackwoods." / THOOM! /"!" GRIP! PUSH! SLAM! /CRASH! /" You'd be right, TRASH!"

"HUF!" Again, he grabbed me by the back of my head and crashed it into the ground. I'm getting sick of this! /WOOSH! / Without even speaking, I flash my Holy Flames above us to threaten him. Release! / THOOM! / It was good enough to get him off of me." Matthew!" Grip! Pull! Stand! Princess Alice helped me to my feet." I'm getting fucking sick of you! Phew!" I yell at the God and spit the blood out of my mouth. I must've bit my cheek on the way down on that last one." I'm going to kill you all."" What the hell?""

What is that?" Both Princess Alice and I spoke at the same time, I was able to finish my sentence first. We were both surprised to see the appearance of our enemy now." What? Did you think I was solely defending from such low-quality Magic? You mortals continue to be such fools. Even though I'm not at my full strength due to this low-class vessel, behold! One of my oldest arms, My Epidermis Armor!"

He proudly called attention to his outfit, it was such a weird sight, what looked like black wood and green plant flesh mixed together and incorporated itself into the God's very own skin in a way where I wasn't sure where his skin ended, and the armor began. All of this tied together with what looked like multiple horrified faces in the armor that he wore. The faces looked like a twisted version of a jack-o-lantern from my world.

Regardless, it didn't matter what it was, all that mattered was that we were all here now. The battle was going to end up going one of two ways regardless of anyone wearing a new piece of armor or not." You all should feel Blessed to be able to see this. No mortal has seen this Armor in eons."" So, you got dressed up to fight us, I'd take it as an honor, but considering who you are... Well..." Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. /WHOOSH!

/ I sent my Holy Flames towards him through the gap in-between Count Sark and Count Gorse. But unlike before, he stood still and simply waited for my flames to make contact. I had an uneasy feeling about his new demeanor. /BOOM! / My flames hit him square in the chest. The smoke took some time to clear. During that time, an unsure voice spoke to me." Did you hit him?" Princess Alice questioned me. I turned my eyes to her and nodded." Dead on, it hit his chest. But don't get excited."" I know."

The smoke began to clear and that's when my fears were confirmed. The smoke and dust cleared completely and there he was, smiling like an infant just threw a punch at his shin and he felt nothing from it." Again, you try to struggle. All of this, and you still can't even touch me with your best weapo-" /CLANG! / Just as he began to gloat, a giant axe clashed with his chest and caused him to stop speaking." Really?"

Count Sark had tried to land a sneak attack against our opponent, unfortunately, his axe was stopped by that armor." You talk too much for a God." Count Sark seemed to grow tired of the God Of The Blackwood's speeches. It's nice to know I'm not the only one." And you mortals, die much too quickly." The God Of The Blackwood raised his hand with the speed that I've come to expect from him now. He reached for Count Sark's head." Allow me to demonstrate." /WOOSH!

/ Before the God Of The Blackwood's could wrap his fingers around Count Sark's head, a crimson fireball flew and crashed into the Evil God's face." Good work! Kina!" /CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANNGGG!!!! / Count Sark yelled his praises to his wife. During that time, at a speed that could almost seem to rival a sports car, Count Gorse ran at the God Of The Blackwoods and started to land thrust after accurate thrust against the hand that was reaching for Count Sark.

At this same time, I decided to run towards him as well, while it's not at the speed of Count Gorse, I can still make it in time for an idea of mine, here's hoping it works." Like a flea, you continue to try, don't you?" Our enemy spoke to Count Gorse and Count Sark who seemed to be the center of his attention, that works for me. He attempted to land something against the two of them, but I was able to run up right behind Count Sark. I raised my hand at the face of the God Of The Blackwoods."

Comparing yourself to an animal makes a lot of sense! Holy Bolt!" / BOOM! /" Now! Get back!" I scream at the Counts, and they did as I said. With as fast a movement as I could muster, I summoned Scarlet quickly and attempt to slash the God as the smoke from Holy Bolt was still covering his face. Swing! / Thoop! THOOM! /"!"" Don't you understand that you're too slow and ineffective, Scum?"

I look behind me and see him standing there, he tries to raise his hand and grab me as he tried with Count Sark, only I had my own helper as well. /CLANG! /" Mutt... You still don't get it?" Princess Alice tried to cut the back of the God Of Blackwoods's neck. He turned quickly to grab the blade with his hand covered in the glove of his Epidermis Armor. Because of that, a loud clang sounded like Princess Alice had collided with a wall of steel instead of a set of armor made of wood.

It was at this point where I started to wonder what the hell that thing is made of? Regardless of that, Princess Alice began to speak as well." No! You don't! You're going to lose today!"" No. I won't. You all will die, and I'll continue on my path."" I'm not so sure about that!" / Thoop! BOOM! / As they spoke, I raised my right hand and shot another Holy Bolt. It hit him square in the back... Wait?... Why didn't he just run away like he had been? Maybe... /THUMP! CLANG! WOOSH! /" LOW CLASS SCUM!" Pain!" HUAH!"

I was kicked in the chest and sent flying. The wind was knocked out of me on contact with his leg. And that still wasn't enough for my transgression apparently. /THOOM! Clank! CRASH! / Pain!

"GUAAH!" He did that fast movement again and punched me into the ground. If I wasn't wearing Julia's Armor, I'd probably have a hole through my chest from that punch." I'll crush you! How dare you try and harm me like this!" /THUMP! / PAIN! He stomped my stomach with his foot after I had crashed into the dirt from his punch. The pain was nearly unbearable, but thanks to that, I could confirm something. I fought through the pain and emptied my mouth of all the blood in it first." Phew!" Grip!

After the blood in my mouth was gone, I grabbed his foot and screamed at him as I raised my hand towards his face." FUCK YOU! HOLY FLAMES!" / WOOSH! BOOM! /" HNNG!" I felt the weight of his foot give way, but he was still there! The Holy Flames exploded directly on his face, with the smoke covering us, I released his foot and rolled away to safety. I saw where the Counts and Princess Alice were.

Thankfully, his rage got the better of him and he struck me not too far from them, they were already running over towards us." Matthew!" Princess Alice called for me, but I didn't answer her, I kept my eyes on the smoke and waited for it to clear, it did eventually, and what I saw was for the first time today, good news for me." Scum..." He spoke through gritted teeth and singed hair. My Flames hit him, and they caused some damage, it was like I thought."

He can't teleport like that while holding onto something or someone is holding onto him!" I screamed so everyone could hear me. But to my words, all he did was laugh at me." Fool..." He smirked at me and then bent down." Whatever, it's been so long since a mortal has landed a blow on me, maybe I should Bless you with a Reward? A God should give things every now and then, right?" / Woosh! / The God Of The Blackwoods placed his hand on the ground and a malignant green and black energy began to circle him.

It even generated a gust of wind as it began to surround him, because of this, the God Of The Blackwoods raised his voice as he spoke." You were only half right, you ignorant trash! My speed can only be used when I am by myself or whatever I am holding isn't touching the ground! I tell you this because it's a huge achievement for a mortal to figure something like that out! But as for landing a blow on me!" / RUMBLE! RUMBLE!

/ As he explained his conditions for his speed, the light around him faded and he stopped talking. A rumbling began to fill the lands like a massive earthquake! How could he be near empty and be able to do all of this!? /SHING! / As the rumbling reached a fever pitch, the God Of The Blackwood gripped the grass that was beneath his hand and pulled out a black and green sword that glowed with a sickening hue of dark-red energy.

He looked at the blade like it was an old comrade before shifting his gaze back to us, he spoke calmly... So, his message was loud and clear." For landing a blow on me, a God. You mortals must be punished."