The Great Sword is not the Main Body!
Chapter 188 – The Primordial Beast

The murmurs of relief from the Liberation Army could no longer be heard. The sobs of lovers embracing each other through tears could no longer be heard. The voices of couples whispering love while reminiscing about days past could no longer be heard. The laughter of children smiling brightly at Heinzel’s head could no longer be heard.

All that remained in the ruins was the sound of thick, red droplets falling to the ground.

In this hellish scene, a massive man rose to his feet.

“No need to calculate anymore.”

He showed no expression. He revealed no emotion.

He simply stood and gripped his halberd.

Crack—Crunch—

As if responding to Heinzel’s will, his prosthetic arm made of Mistilteinn began to emit harsh shrieks.

Meanwhile, Leviathan’s reaction remained detached.

As if to say “try everything you can,” it watched with contemptuous eyes, utterly unconcerned.

“Delia.”

“No.”

“While I buy time, escape beyond the barrier surrounding this place and request reinforcements.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

Zap—Crackle— Fierce electrical currents surged from Delia’s body as she stared blankly at Heinzel.

“I’ll fight too—”

“It’s impossible for me, but possible for you. Only you can do this. You certainly can break through the barrier surrounding this place.”

It wasn’t his usual thoughtless manner of speaking. His hearty laughter didn’t burst forth. It wasn’t his confident voice.

Sensing this change in Heinzel, Delia’s lips grew heavy.

They had to. Because Heinzel’s words were logical, she couldn’t refute them.

Heinzel and Delia. The two of them alone couldn’t hope to subjugate the massive beast before them, let alone survive against the numerous beasts surrounding the area.

In this situation, their connection to Juur had been severed. They were trapped in an unknown barrier. Their existence couldn’t be detected from outside.

That’s why one of them had to leave and request reinforcements.

But Delia couldn’t be the one to stay. A mage couldn’t exert their full power without someone on the frontline, and because this weakness was even more pronounced in Delia’s case, Heinzel—who could fight at full strength alone—had to remain.

“But…”

If that happened, Heinzel might die. No, he would definitely die.

Hadn’t he said it himself? Not that he would endure, but that he would buy time.

This was Heinzel, who had always radiated limitless confidence when facing any powerful beast. Even when confronting a Master, he had advanced without hesitation and ultimately claimed victory.

This was Heinzel, who always laughed heartily while proclaiming victory.

And yet now, he said he would buy time. He didn’t declare certain victory. He didn’t laugh.

Delia couldn’t respond.

A moment later… As Delia sat slumped with her head bowed, a deep shadow fell over her.

“Kid.”

Delia heard a voice identical to the hero who had saved her as a child during a beast invasion.

“Don’t be afraid. This old man is the strongest around.”

The same words that had reassured her younger self.

“Believe in me. And believe in yourself. You who have survived and endured until now—you can do anything.”

She recalled the hope that had guided her, once so powerless, to this point.

That hope. That faith. It raised Delia to her feet. It brought clarity to her eyes, cleared her mind, and kindled a new spark within her heart.

“…I’ll come back as quickly as possible. Don’t die.”

Nodding with satisfaction, Heinzel’s hand gently stroked Delia’s head.

“Return safely.”

Then, without hesitation, he turned his back. His halberd, once free of hostility, now bristled with killing intent. His back, once casually hunched, straightened proudly. His legs, once bent to meet others’ gazes, now stood firm. His arm, which had lost its warmth, filled with tremendous power.

“…Yeah.”

Feeling the gentle touch on her head, Delia left the battlefield, leaving behind a streak of light.

And then, thud—

The heaviest step he had ever taken was placed forward.

***

The countless beasts spread throughout the area ignored Delia, rushing instead toward Heinzel. Because of this, nothing obstructed Delia’s movement.

Though this fact twisted her insides, she clenched her teeth and pressed forward, focusing on what she needed to do and thinking of Heinzel standing alone.

“Huff…”

Finally reaching the edge of the barrier Leviathan had created, Delia exhaled an urgent breath.

What she needed to do now was simple. Identify the barrier’s spell formation, find its source, and break it.

Then escape this place and request reinforcements from other Challengers.

Delia didn’t even allow herself the luxury of calming her mind. She immediately stretched out her hand to decipher the spell.

At that same moment—

BOOM—!

Not far away, an intense wave of magical energy erupted.

“Please, please… please, please, please.”

She closed her eyes, blocked her ears, shut her heart.

She extended her hand and channeled her magic along the path forming in her mind.

A barrier she had never encountered before. An incomprehensible spell formation. An unfindable source.

The overwhelming uncertainty of searching for a single human hair in a vast ocean engulfed Delia.

This unknown barrier beyond human comprehension began to suffocate her. Information beyond a human’s understanding invaded her mind.

Delia didn’t possess Serr’s overwhelming talent. She lacked Yuria’s delicate precision. She didn’t have Mia’s composure. She wasn’t as bold as Alex. She didn’t possess Hermilla’s knowledge.

But Delia never compared herself to others. She didn’t look upward. She didn’t look downward. She only focused on herself, feeling her way forward. She embraced her poison and clawed her way upward.

That’s why she never gave up. She could push herself harder than anyone.

Even now, it was the same. No matter who the opponent was. No matter her situation. She tackled the task before her.

By the time the sounds behind her grew louder—

Drip— Hot blood trickled from her nose. As if that weren’t enough, blood began flowing from her eyes, mouth, ears—every opening on her face.

And then—

Crackle—

She identified the formation. She found the hidden source.

To ensure she didn’t lose what she had painstakingly discovered. Slowly. More meticulously than any work she had ever done. She directed her magical power toward the source.

Delia’s magic crept forward and made contact with the barrier’s source.

Like unraveling a tangled thread, her magic latched onto the edge of the source and pulled.

Layer by layer. Peeling back the source’s shell, digging into the flesh within, she found the seed that formed the center of everything.

Sweat or blood—she couldn’t tell which—ran down her chest. Her overexerted mind screamed in agony. Radiant True Energy filled the void left by her depleted magic.

Delia’s True Energy, carrying her desperate wish, split open the belly of the seed at the barrier’s center. It released the mysterious magic hidden within into the world.

Crack— The barrier began to fracture. The endless sea split apart. Her breath, her magic, her body—all became lighter.

Delia thrust her hand through the widening fissure. She clawed and tore, forcing the gap wider.

Finally, the barrier tore open enough for her to slip through.

Confirming she had fully escaped, Delia turned away from the collapsing barrier and unleashed sharp lightning as she looked toward the distant spire.

Juur’s startled expression came into view.

———!

The overwhelming presence erupting from behind confirmed Heinzel was still alive.

Barely containing the rising corners of her mouth, Delia located the magical thread connected to Juur and sent a transmission—

—Juur! Send reinforcements here immediately—

But she couldn’t finish. The transmission was cut off.

A different interference, unlike the barrier that had imprisoned her, severed her link to Juur.

“…Huh?”

Gwoong—

A massive resonance like a proclamation of the end.

Gwoong—

The earth shuddered.

Gwoong—

The sky screamed.

Gwoong—

All magic across the area scattered.

Gwoong—

As if it possessed awareness. As if it felt fear. Trembling, it fled from this place.

Gwoong—

At last, from the center of the empty ruins…

Gwoong—

A being comparable to the giant beast seen inside the barrier…

Gwoong—

An indescribably massive beast rose up.

Bull’s horns that appeared unbreakable, capable of piercing anything. Armor-like hide that constantly writhed. Tough muscles visible between the gaps. A solid waist and thick legs with bulging tendons. An eight-pronged tail that cleaved the earth. A massive maw that devoured all magic in the area.

Born as an apostle of foreign gods, having devoured even its master.

The Primordial Beast, ‘Behemoth’ revealed itself upon the earth.