I Became the Guild Leader in Exile

32 – 6# Hydra Guild (4)

Hydra had been the strongest guild in Hades, executing numerous prominent guilds. And Veronica, the master of the Hydra Guild, felt her own death approaching without a doubt.

A heavy force pressed down on her shoulders like a mountain, and a relentless aura teased her. It wasn’t an empty threat. She would truly die. But even faced with death looming before her, she laughed instead.

“You can’t be a true hero if you fear death!”

She could risk her life for what she loved. It sounded twisted, but that was undoubtedly her belief. Isaac didn’t deny that either. It was the right thing to say.

Isaac tried to draw the sword hanging at his waist. However, his hand wavered in empty air with nothing in it. Sensing something strange, Isaac’s eyes turned towards his own sword.

“Didn’t I mention it?”

“…….”

“I’ve investigated everything about myself.”

“Tsk.”

Clearly, the sword that Isaac had been wearing at his waist was now shattered into pieces with a gesture from Veronica’s hand. After carefully investigating Isaac, Veronica came to a conclusion.

[Isaac cannot win if he draws his sword.]

Even though he was weakened, he was the man who killed Behemoth, the king of the earth, using only a single sword. Naturally, he would lose in a direct confrontation, but that didn’t mean there was no way out.

“A guy like you doesn’t need a sword.”

“You’re right. But is the kid behind fine?”

“……!!”

“I truly don’t know.”

Before Veronica’s sarcastic voice could reach him, Isaac had already made his move. The spear protruding from the ground aimed for Zek’s neck, but it was blocked by Isaac.

“Master!!!”

“I see, so this is a hostage situation.”

“We have such a good weakness. We can’t just ignore it, right?”

Even if he didn’t have a sword, Veronica couldn’t defeat Isaac in a direct confrontation. Isaac was the one who could shatter even the northeast ruler, Lion King Vulkan, head-on.

No matter how much of a monstrosity she became through her mastery of countless spells, before her magic could pierce through Isaac, her own neck would burst like a watermelon. She witnessed that outcome firsthand.

A virtual reality created by combining her own information and Isaac’s information without any omissions. And among them, there was never a single probability of winning in a head-on fight. Only up to a certain extent.

“I will thoroughly target only the kid behind you from now on.”

“……”

“Of course, if I give up that child, I could easily kill you. That would be fine too.”

But it doesn’t really matter. It’s the same as killing Isaac Silverterra’s beliefs. Of course, if that happens, he’ll definitely die too. But even that doesn’t matter, she thought as she added.

A strategy that could never be considered normal. Isaac remained silent and assumed a stance. He firmly raised both arms like shields. Understanding the meaning, Veronica laughed and shouted.

“I’ll admit it! You’re an excellent hero!!”

“Master!!!”

“Kuk…!!”

Veronica also had her doubts, but there was no room for trust. Based on the information she had gathered so far, she had come this far by creating magic that could inflict wounds on Isaac Silverterra.

“I’ve interpreted and combined all the magic in this world. Magic created solely for you.”

All the magic in this world, specifically combining properties that penetrate defenses. The ultimate spear that no shield can block. Right now, it appeared in front of Veronica.

Longinus

“Longinus.”

The spear denying the gods struck Isaac’s raised arms. It was magic that could penetrate any kind of protection in an instant. Isaac resisted staunchly, but it was not without effect.

“The wound is a bit deeper?”

“……”

“Master, that wound…!!”

Zeke was astonished. It was a wound so deep that it exposed the bones. Not even when fighting the Lion King Vulkan, did he suffer such a serious injury. This woman won’t feel satisfied unless she tears him apart!

Meanwhile, Isaac silently stared at his own arm. This was the first time he had suffered such a serious injury. Naturally, tremendous pain traveled from his arm to his brain.

He may not know anything else, but he is sure of one thing. If he continues to just block like this, he might really die. However, without a moment’s hesitation, Isaac raised his arms again.

“Oh? Does our little guy really intend to die?”

“Who said anyone is going to die? This is a duel.”

At first, she thought it was reckless and was about to lose interest. However, Veronica soon realized it was not the case. How did she know? Because his eyes were still burning.

“The ultimate spear and the ultimate shield.”

Chilling.

“Whose magic power will drop first, mine, or yours?”

It’s a duel.

Even in such a desperate situation, he hadn’t given up. Such a resilient spirit was something she had never seen before. Therefore, she was even more excited. How exhilarating would it be to make that man submit!

“Yes, that’s right! That’s the only way it’s worth making you submit!!”

Excitement blurred her mind and vision. Originally, Veronica had planned to attack Zeke intermittently as well, but she completely succumbed to Isaac’s provocative words.

Completely dominated by excitement, Veronica, from head to toe, dripped madness, throwing countless spears only at Isaac. Watching Isaac withstand them all, Zeke bit his lip.

‘Master, it was intentional for my sake…!’

Master’s provocation of that woman wasn’t in vain. It was done intentionally to divert all threats, even the ones that could come to Zeke himself. He provoked that woman on purpose.

The reason was clear.

To protect me.

Only then did Zeke realize the meaning behind Isaac’s given name, “Iron Shield.” The unwavering determination to protect his family like a shield. That’s what the name Iron Shield meant.

‘I can’t do anything….’

There still existed an overwhelming gap between Veronica and Zeke. Well, there’s no way around it. How could the current Zeke possibly face the executioner Veronica, who executed numerous prominent guilds?

However, despite knowing this obvious fact, Zeke felt hopeless and angry about his powerlessness. He wanted to be helpful to the Master somehow. But instead, he seemed to be nothing but a hindrance…

“It hurts, damn it!!! It hurts like hell!!!”

However, Isaac, whom everyone regarded as having strong mental fortitude, was actually suffering like hell inside. His fight with Ursken was already intense, but now it was particularly brutal. Holy sh*t, Longinus? Are you kidding me!

Where the hell is that bullsh*t magic!!

Are you kidding me! Fix the balance, damn it!!

But even while complaining and discontented, Isaac didn’t budge an inch from his position. Because that was his concept! He will uphold the concept he decided on even if it costs him his life.

That’s what being a true concept enthusiast means.

Eventually, the relentless attacks from Longinus gradually subsided. Perhaps it thought that it had fulfilled its role. And now Isaac, who had been staunchly holding on like a shield, finally saw his two arms crumble.

“It seems the victory is mine.”

“….”

“Even though it may look like this, I’ve accumulated centuries of mana. Don’t underestimate it.”

“Master!!!”

He knew. Veronica, she was a witch who had lived for centuries according to the setting. Naturally, the knowledge, experience, and mana she had accumulated all these years must be formidable. But even so, it didn’t matter.

“The fight isn’t over yet.”

“What did you say?”

“If I don’t have arms, then I’ll use my body to block.”

“Please, Master! Please stop now!!”

Isaac’s arms, which had endured countless spears, were now barely hanging on. However, he didn’t retreat. Witnessing such determination in Isaac, Zeke couldn’t hold back his tears.

He no longer wanted to see the sight of his Master getting hurt. Even if it meant taking his own life, he wished that somehow the Master could survive. That was Zeke’s sincere emotion.

“Don’t worry, my child.”

However, despite his sincerity, the girl’s voice trembled. Well, how could it not? There were countless spears of death hanging in the air. How many people can remain composed in the face of death, right in front of them?

“I will definitely protect you.”

However, not even his unwavering determination could stop the unstoppable momentum that surrounded him from all directions. The spear that denies the gods pierced through Isaac’s body and head without missing a beat.

No matter how hard he tried.

Even if he never gave up.

Despair that could never be changed.

With this, Veronica’s prepared stage came to an end. Veronica descended to the ground with a smile. The sight of Isaac, bleeding while pierced by numerous spears, was truly magnificent.

“I wanted to make you surrender. It’s slightly disappointing.”

“Who would surrender to a woman like you?”

“……What?”

There was definitely a feeling that his life had been cut off. He wanted Isaac not to feel lonely on his way, so he even sent the child behind him as well. That’s what she thought. However, she underestimated him too much.

Quaaang!!!

The spear, which was filled to the point where no flesh was visible, shattered completely without leaving a single piece. And what appeared from within was Isaac’s figure with no wounds whatsoever.

“This can’t be real, how…?”

There were no wounds at all. No, you could say that all the wounds were healed. But in an instant, Veronica immediately grasped what had happened.

“The power has awakened? Right now?”

The power is akin to a divine trial. If you overcome the divine trial, it will become the ultimate power for you. Otherwise, it will become a curse. At least that’s how a divine power works. But still, it doesn’t make sense.

“That means, the power hadn’t even properly awakened until now. To achieve such a feat…”

Pshoo!!!

A creepy sound of flesh being torn spread. When she regained her senses, Veronica was floating in the air. However, her lower body was still attached to the ground. What on earth is going on?

But she soon understood. The fact that her upper and lower body had been separated. As Veronica suspected, the power granted to Isaac had not awakened until now.

It was a kind of test. Can Isaac with overwhelming power maintain his original intentions? In any desperate situation, will he choose the safety of others over his own well-being?

“Well done, Isaac.”

And Isaac passed the trial beautifully. He didn’t drive away those who were useless or turn away from other people’s families. He protected his family until the moment before his own life was cut off.

“You are my glory.”

God rewards humans who have passed their trials with appropriate rewards. And the god who had been watching Isaac from the beginning finally considered him as his glory.

Passing God’s trial.

The power that finally awakened.

Herakles

The glory of Hera.

And the god who granted that power was Hera.

Goddess of Marriage.

Also, a deity of the household.