Chapter 141

Chapter 141: Mortal Flesh Rivaling the Divine!

"All combat-ready!"

"That’s…"

"Damn! It’s the etheric worm!"

The warriors who’d just finished blasting the "World Nails" never expected enemies to charge from the flank!

Though the creature merely arched its massive spine above the sea, stirring violent waves without directly assaulting the shore, the towering surges already spelled disaster!

"Hu… Hiss…"

A Valaharl warrior gasped heavily.

She was just a regular "line soldier," lacking the impact-resistant gear of those "heavy armor" units.

But now…

"Hold tight, brother."

A giant steel hand seized her.

The Valaharl warrior looked up to see a towering soldier bearing the "Solar Flame" badge on his armor.

A Chosen Warrior.

While gripping her, the tall warrior hurled a thick rope outward.

"Brothers nearby—grab hold!"

Seeing warriors firmly grasp the line, the Solar Knight nodded.

"We retreat temporarily after weathering this tsunami!"

"Avoid confronting ‘true gods’ like the etheric worm unless necessary!"

"Even a legion or two wouldn’t stand against its assault!"

"Zii—!"

Magic hummed beneath the Solar Knight’s boots.

Then…

"Thud—!"

"Clang—!"

His iron boots anchored to the earth.

Just in time, for…

"Boom—Boom—Boom—!"

Mountains of seawater crashed forth, ruthlessly crushing everything in their path!

Though stationed on high ground, they were swiftly engulfed.

"Urgh…"

"Hu… Hiss…"

The warriors of Valaharl felt the intense waves battering against their bodies.

Without the demigod-like Chosen Warriors, such ferocious swells would’ve swept them into the sea to drown!

Many Valaharl warriors grew perplexed.

They’d always believed themselves and their line soldier comrades were mere "tools" manufactured to reclaim the world—and as line soldiers, they were the lowest-tier "products."

With Valaharl liberated, their purpose as "tools" seemed fulfilled.

Though scattered skirmishes might linger, the chaos’s corruption would soon be blocked now that Valaharl had fully reclaimed the Crystal Walls.

Victory had arrived.

Yet for the Valaharl people, the post-victory peace…

Was hell!

Overnight, life and combat lost all meaning.

Their mission complete, they held no worth saving.

By their old logic, Valaharl’s low-tier line soldiers should’ve charged headlong at that etheric worm, repaying Valaharl and the Giant God’s grace through death!

But now this demigod-strength warrior from another world offered rescue—even telling them to keep living.

But…

Why?

What purpose did living serve?

Dozens of eyes fixed upon the Solar Knight.

Squirming under their gaze, he sheepishly scratched his head.

"It’s nothing."

"The Giant God teaches us: all life, regardless of origin, is an irreplicable miracle."

"Countless interwoven miracles compose our world."

"Respecting and cherishing every living being—that’s what the Holy Light from the Sun instills in us."

"Lady living saint Sulya teaches this too!"

"Ah, but ‘respect’ and ‘cherish’ don’t mean vegetarianism. More like… maintaining balance and seeking mysteries."

"It’s… complicated."

"Simply put, liberating Valaharl isn’t just expelling chaos. It’s freeing every person, every being—fostering new life and balance atop chaos-shattered ruins."

"Hahaha… that’s the essence."

"Apologies—political theory wasn’t my best subject."

"Ahaha…"

……

Hearing muffled laughter from inside that "canned helmet," the Valaharl people finally understood: they were no longer world-reclaiming "tools," but true living humans!

"Hsss… hiss…"

The sound beneath the respirator grew more urgent.

The Valaharl warriors seemed to have found a new purpose beyond revenge—following the Giant God, devoting their lives to repay, liberate, and create!

For some reason, the eyes of the Valaharl people showed less deathly resolve and more vitality.

But just then, an anomaly struck!

"Boom—!"

The colossal etheric worm suddenly breached the sea surface. Roaring, it lunged shoreward, churning up towering waves one after another.

"What are those artillery fools doing? Why no cannon fire?!"

The etheric worm’s massive form now arched high above the water, exposing vast stretches of its body. A single shot would almost certainly strike true.

Even if they couldn’t kill or cripple it, they could inflict heavy wounds and drive it back.

Past invasions on Themis had proven that concentrated firepower hurt these meddlesome creatures—teaching them that tormenting mortals carried a price!

Yet now, the artillery regiment remained inactive.

"I commanded them to hold fire."

"Tap… Tap… Tap…"

The clack of powered high heels announced the tall figure before the Solar Knight and Valaharl warriors.

"Purity Officer, madam!"

The Solar Knight snapped to attention and saluted.

"Hmm."

Sylvia nodded toward the violently twisting etheric worm.

"Observe what clings to its head. That is why I forbade cannon fire."

The Solar Knight shielded his eyes, squinting through his helmet’s visor.

"Oh!?"

"Is that… a white blotch on its head?!"

"No!"

"That’s no blotch! It’s some white object!"

"Thump…"

Sylvia’s fist struck his helmet before he finished.

"Mind your tongue. Calling the Living Saint born of Bubble World Valaharl an ‘object’ is disgraceful."

Only then did the Solar Knight realize—clinging to the etheric worm’s crown was a Valaharl Climbing Mech!

"Hsssk—hk! Hsssk—hk!"

The Valaharl warrior’s respirator rasped faster, fervor and excitement boiling beneath her icy exterior.

They witnessed it—Valaharl’s pride, the Living Saint Loseta, had returned!

She was doing something incredibly reckless.

"Is Living Saint Loseta battling the etheric worm?!"

"Is she dueling a deity?!"

Sylvia was so shocked her tall hat nearly flew off.

"Has she… lost her mind?!"

—-

Loseta wasn’t mad.

She merely sought to eliminate enemies of her master, the great Giant God.

"This is a trial."

"Divine grace must not be betrayed."

The newly awakened living saint felt complete fusion with the "mechs"—or "biomechs"—sensing divine grace surging within her; feeling astonishing transformations across the entire mech guided by grace’s invisible hand.

"Composite divine grace magic fiber generator."

"Divine structure marrow fluid."

Loseta silently recited these two cumbersome names.

"With the Giant God’s weapons,"

"must wield wisely."

"By the Giant God’s blessing, let me…"

"rival deities as a mortal!"

"Action commences."

At her mental command, the former "spider-type climbing mechs" bared fangs and bit savagely!

"Buzz—!"

Loseta’s bite injected "divine deconstruction marrow fluid" into the etheric worm’s mouth lining.

Just a few drops entered…

"Roar—!"

The etheric worm unleashed an earth-shattering bellow.

He howled, gaped his maw, and thrashed wildly.

The dreadful "venom" dissolved the deity’s oral flesh, bringing excruciating agony.

"Whum—!"

The colossal head whipped violently, hurling the "spider-type construct" away.

"Damn it—!"

“You little bug, when you fall into the water, you’ll be my dinner!”

The etheric worm held back its pain and roared loudly.

It really wanted to see how that little bug floated or sank in the water.

But…

“Whoosh——!”

The “little bug” didn’t fall into the water but swung gracefully through the air as if flying, coming around to its nape.

Then…

“Wham——!”

Fangs shot out again!

And then!

“Crack——!”

“Roarrrrrr——!”

Sharp pain shot from the back of the etheric worm’s head.

This time, it was truly furious!

“Foolish!”

“Go——!”

The magical energy near the etheric worm’s body surged wildly, and then…

“Whoosh——!”

Magic fire burned along its skin, and the powerful invisible magical force field turned into sharp spikes, bursting out suddenly!

“Bang——!”

“Clatter!”

The sound of shattering glass rang out.

The Ball Joint Armor broke!

“Ugh……”

Loseta let out a muffled groan.

“Boom!”

The thread she had attached to the etheric worm snapped.

“Splash!”

The living saint’s spider-like construct fell weakly into the sea, slowly sinking.

And the etheric worm followed right behind!

“Pay the price for your offense!”

“Foolish mortal!”

“Once I’m done with you, I’ll deal with your backers.”

“No matter who your backers are, against me, they’re doomed! Hahahaha!”

But for some reason, the etheric worm saw no fear in the little bug’s “eyes.”

Instead, it seemed amused and mocking.

“Look, behind.”

The voice in the spider-like mech was cold and deadly.

But the etheric worm didn’t care.

“Ha!”

“Trying to distract me and run?!”

“You think I’m stupid…”

“Uh…”

The sluggish etheric worm finally sensed trouble.

The sea in front of it seemed covered by a huge shadow.

That shadow was so big it swallowed the whole etheric worm!