Journey to Become the Zenith

The Weight of Unknown Fear

Far above the battlefield, Ruby slowly opened her eyes. It felt as though a lead weight was on her eyelids, as if her entire body was encased in iron chains.

Her muscles screamed in agony.

She had pushed herself to the very limits of the blessing of the Dragon War Goddess Kia. Her body was broken and wounded in dozens of places, and the pain was drilling through her skull with every heartbeat. Blood soaked through her clothes, and her breaths were shallow and uneven, the air scratching at her lungs.

Natalia pressed down on her shoulder with one arm, the other holding Ruby up as she knelt on the ground, gazing up at the sky.

They said nothing.

There was no need to.

They both felt it.

The oppressive power pressing down upon the battlefield, rolling over it like an endless sea. It was suffocating, chocking the air from one’s lungs, so mighty that it made one’s bones turn to jelly.

Even her breathing was labored, Ruby’s tongue sticking to the roof of her mouth.

”...Natalia.”

Natalia didn’t answer immediately. Her eyes never left the distant figure hanging above the battlefield.

Ruby forced out another shaky breath.

”...Tell me I’m imagining this.”

Silence lingered between them.

Natalia slowly closed her eyes, extending her divine senses.

The blessing bestowed upon her by the Goddess of Justice Jenna allowed her to perceive far more than ordinary sight ever could. As her senses reached toward that terrifying existence above the battlefield, the color gradually drained from her face.

When she finally opened her eyes again, even her normally calm expression had become unusually solemn.

”...You’re not.”

A fierce gust of wind swept across the ruined battlefield.

The smell of blood, ash, and scorched earth filled the air, refusing to fade no matter how hard the wind blew.

For the briefest moment, the golden radiance surrounding Natalia flickered.

It was almost as if Jenna’s divine blessing itself had reacted to the overwhelming presence now standing before them.

Natalia slowly pushed herself upright despite the sharp pain shooting through her ribs.

”I’ve encountered Divine Envoys before.”

”So have I,” Ruby replied quietly.

Natalia gave a small nod.

”We’ve fought saints... ancient guardians... even beings who carried the authority of the gods themselves.”

Ruby lowered her gaze for a moment before nodding in agreement.

”I remember.”

Natalia’s eyes returned to the distant figure in the sky.

A long silence followed.

When she finally spoke again, there was something unfamiliar in her voice.

Not fear.

Not panic.

Only disbelief.

”...None of them...”

She paused, unable to find the right words.

”...None of them ever felt like this.”

Her sentence trailed away.

She couldn’t find the words.

Natalia finished it for her.

”...None of them felt like this.”

Silence settled between them.

It wasn’t awkward.

It was the silence of two people whose understanding of the world had just been shaken.

Ruby stared toward the distant horizon.

”I thought the Dragon War Goddess Kia’s divine aura was already beyond mortal comprehension.”

Natalia gave a faint, complicated smile.

”So did I.”

”But this...”

She unconsciously tightened her grip around her staff.

”This doesn’t feel merely powerful.”

”It feels...”

She hesitated.

”...absolute.”

Ruby slowly exhaled.

”The mana...”

”It doesn’t feel like it’s overflowing.”

”It feels like everything around it is being swallowed.”

Natalia’s expression grew solemn.

”And the bloodlust...”

For the first time since becoming a Holy Maiden...

Her fingers trembled.

”I’ve spent my entire life judging criminals.”

”I’ve stood before murderers, warlords, and monsters.”

”I’ve never...”

She looked down at her trembling hand.

”...I’ve never felt my instincts scream at me to run.”

Ruby lowered her gaze.

”I thought I was the only one.”

A bitter smile appeared on Natalia’s lips.

”No.”

”We’re both feeling it.”

The two Holy Maidens silently watched the battlefield below.

Every defender.

Every undead.

Every creature had stopped.

Even the undead dragons hovering in the sky no longer advanced recklessly.

It was as though the entire battlefield had unconsciously acknowledged the arrival of a being that stood above everyone present.

Ruby quietly laughed.

”I almost feel bad for the enemy.”

Natalia glanced toward her.

”Oh?”

Ruby’s tired smile widened slightly.

”If that person is really on our side...”

”...then today’s battle might finally end.”

Natalia didn’t answer.

Not because she disagreed.

Because she wasn’t certain.

Whatever had arrived...

Whether friend or foe...

Its existence had already surpassed everything they had expected.

Meanwhile, the remaining members of the Redcliffe Family stood motionless amidst the sea of undead.

Ramona Redcliffe slowly pulled her spear from the shattered remains of a skeletal commander.

The battlefield around her had become eerily still.

One of her younger clanswomen cautiously stepped closer.

”My Lady...”

Ramona didn’t take her eyes off the horizon.

”Yes?”

”...Should we attack?”

Ramona slowly shook her head.

”No.”

Another veteran frowned.

”The undead aren’t moving.”

”They’re waiting.”

Ramona’s purple eyes narrowed.

”No...”

”They’re not waiting.”

”They’re hesitating.”

A ripple passed through the surviving members of the Redcliffe Family.

To hear such words spoken about an army that knew neither fear nor hesitation was almost impossible to believe.

Another knight swallowed nervously.

”My Lady...”

”...what kind of person can make monsters afraid?”

Ramona remained silent.

After several moments, she answered quietly.

”I don’t know.”

”But...”

A faint smile appeared on her bloodstained face.

”Whoever it is...”

”...has just forced an entire battlefield to stop breathing.”

Around them, the surviving Redcliffe warriors slowly straightened despite their exhaustion.

Their battered armor was cracked.

Their weapons were chipped.

Their bodies stood on the verge of collapse.

Yet for the first time in two days...

Hope returned to their eyes.

Far away...

The monstrous mana continued rising.

The overwhelming bloodlust grew denser with every passing heartbeat.

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Authors Notes: Dear Readers, Thanks so much for joining me on this adventure! Your enthusiasm, feedback, and encouragement really keep me motivated to keep bringing *Journey to Become the Zenith* into existence. If you’re loving the Chapters, I’d love it if you supported my book with a Powerstone, review, or even a Golden Ticket—it helps me develop as a writer and lets more readers enjoy the story. I look forward to hearing your ideas and thoughts, so please don’t hesitate to share!

With love,

Scorpio_saturn777

Creator of Journey to Become the Zenith

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