Chapter 73 of Shieldbro & Co Vs The Pope (Part 4)

Can also be read http://bakahou.wordpress.com/2014/09/26/chapter-73-of-shieldbro-co-vs-the-pope-part-4/
Chapter 73

Price

“————-!”
I shouted at the heavens.

Hate!
This whole world is hateful, I hate everything!
I’m going mad from everyone reproaching and accusing me.
Oh right.I should just burn down everything with this power!
My vision is stained red and black, everything I see is an object of my hatred.

“–!”

Someone’s voice enters my ears, but I and cannot hear it, I feel as if I’m being submerged under water.

“–!”

Something touched me and held on. Do you want to burn!?

“Master, do you really hate everything in the world?”

I am trapped, and everything that torments me will die by my hatred!

“Really? Is that what you really think?!”

Yeah, so what?

“Then, did you hate the days with Firo and Raphtalia onee-chan?”

That voice……I am reminded of something.
A young girl loyally follows me wherever I go and nothing separates us.
Even if she is injured she still listens to me…… The story fills my view.
And then a young bird hatches from an egg, grew up, and feelings of love continue to be transmitted.

“That……That is…….”
“It’s different. Because, master works hard Firo can do her best.”

The darkness is gradually clearing up.

“That’s why. Firo will eat master’s anger and hatred.”

My visibility completely clears up and I look around.

“Naofumi-sama!”
“Are you alright!?”

A few seconds have passed after I screamed. I am being looked at with suspicion.

“Master are you alright!?”
“Did you help me control it?”
“Yup. Master was in trouble.”

Firo hugs me from behind. If I look closely I can tell that she has been severely burnt by the black flame.
Not even Firo’s body could withstand the Improved Shield of Anger’s flames.
It must have been very painful. But Firo still worried about me without complaining.
(Tl note: I cried a little.)

“Firo, Raphtalia onee-chan, and Mel-chan. Everyone believes in Master. So, do your best.”
“Yeah.”

It is not necessary to be swallowed by anger.
After all, I can crush one of the ring leaders who made me suffer.
All I wanted to do was to simply beat the wave.

That bastard conveniently used Melty, the other heroes, all of us.
I will……kick that bastard’s ass!

“……I’m going.”
“There’s still a chance, even in this situation?”
“Yeah, I’ll be sure to kill him with my strongest shield.”
“What’s with that confident figure. You looked like shit just a little while ago.”

Shield of Anger 2’s dragon-like figure has become even more ominous compared to before.
The dragon’s features have morphed to be more devil-like, the horns curl around.

“I have a skill that I need to use. Please help make an opportunity for me to use it.”
“You…… Can’t be helped. I’ll rely on you for now.”
“Right. It is difficult to trust you, but we have no other choice.”
“All-or-nothing.”
“We’ll use magic to help somehow……”

The heroes and their companions nod and turn to face the pope.

“Oh dear Oh dear…… To think you would continue this futile resistance. I hope you are prepared because this is already over. Shall I perform the coup de grace?

Magical power gradually fills the area.
High-density light is going to be unleashed any moment now.

“Firo!”

On my signal the heroes charge at the pope.
Firo faithfully carries me as ordered.

“Fly!”
“Okay~!”

Firo jumps while the enemies start to chant.

“””High Class Synthetic Magic [Judgement]“””

A baptism of light falls from the sky.

“Goooooooooooooooooo!”

I raise my shield up high.
Crackling sounds can be heard as the light pours down on me.
But, it is impossible to penetrate Wrath Shield 3’s defence. It barely did any damage to me who was right under it.

“To not even suffer a wound from Judgement.”

The pope’s expression is one of surprise. His smiling mask is gone.
What a suitable price for using the shield.
I’ll teach him his place.

“No way. You won’t be able to block this!”

The pope points his sword at me and yells.

“Phoenix Blade!”

A Phoenix takes flight from the Pope’s sword and rushes towards me.

“I’ll receive it!”

I lower my shield in front of me.
Firo can understand what I’m thinking and casts support magic.
A chant comes to mind. Are these the conditions for the Clothing of Anger (Intermediate)?”

“I am the Hero of the Shield who commands the origin of power. I have read and deciphered a law of nature. May the devouring flames become my power!”
“Wrath Fire!”

Anger is now my power.
The flaming phoenix collides with us and doesn’t burn anything.

“Wha! To nullify my skill!”
“That’s quite ironic. Your bird became food for my holy bird.”

The barrier protecting the pope was shattered by the other heroes attacks, and Firo’s powerful kick.

“Phoenix Strike-“

Firo’s sure kill dash!
Firo’s finishing move is strong enough to combat the pope.

“Meteor Sword!”
“Meteor Spear!”
“Meteor Bow!”

The pope changes his sword to a spear and prepares.

“The stance of Heaven and Earth reversal!?”

Motoyasu yells in surprise.
Is that another High class spear skill?

“Tch…… How dare you go against God’s will.”

Firo’s skill is repelled as light overflows from the spear.

“Gua!”
“Gufu!”
“Gu…..”

Is that a counter skill?
Just how tenacious are you!

“But, I will not be stopped!”
“I wonder about that.”

This time the pope’s weapon becomes a giant bow and he jumps away.

“You think you can run!? Firo!”
“Yep. Let’s go~”

We instantly catch up to the Pope, and Firo adds a kick.
However, as Firo’s attack hit, the pope vanished.
If he escapes here he loses.
Where is he hiding.

“Hide Arrow!?”

Itsuki’s voice.

“That skill creates a large amounts of mirror images! Be careful!”

Damn…..If I can’t target him I can’t do anything.
There are currently 10 popes and increasing.

“fufufu, I was a little surprise, but shall we end this now?”

The popes hold up their bows and begin to cast a big skill.

“This is the strongest skill. Let your body have a test of it, devil of the shield.”

The bows shine.
Shit, I should be able to block it but I can’t counter attack.
“I am the queen who commands the origin of power. I have read and deciphered a law of nature. Restrain him with ice!”
“Doraifa ・ Icicle ・Prison!”

The lower half of a bunch of the pope’s mirror images froze.

“Now!”

Who is that!?
No, there is no time to worry about that.
I have to defeat this bastard now.

Blutopfer!
As expected, a chant floats into view.

“The name of the punishment for the foolish sinner who shall be sacrificed as a scapegoat to god! Become a sacrifice to the steel trap while experiencing the intense pain of a being drained of all your blood!”
“Blutopfer!”

Gufu……
Wh-What!?The moment I cast the skill, blood begins to overflow from my body, my muscles begin to tear,and my bones start to creak.
This……Was it a suicide skill?
The pope smiles as he sees me heavily injured.

But, the next instant– a giant red and black steel trap appears under his feet.
Unlike a normal steel trap, this one has multiple layers. It looks like the ground grew a shark’s mouth with the Pope in the middle.

“Wha-“


Gatun! A sharp metal sound can be heard the instant the Pope is bitten by the steel trap.

“Gugyaaaaaaaa–“

A scream echoes.
Red bloods splashes over the steel trap and shines.

“Something of this degree–“

This is…..harsh.

The pope tries to take countermeasures, but the steep trap repeatedly opens and shuts as if ridiculing him.

“Guha……It was all–for……Go-God……”

The pope fires off a single skills, but the steel trap wasn’t even scratched.
Two , three cracks start to appear on the replica of the legendary weapons, and as the fourth crack appears a shattering sound could be heard.
And then the steel trap falls to the ground and disappears, leaving the pope who has become nothing more than a lump of flesh.

“……”

It was so gruesome we couldn’t breathe.
All skills from the Curse Series are bloody.
Is it because the shield erodes the mind?
I am reminded to refrain from using this too much.

“Th-the Pope has been defeated by the devil!”

The Three Heroes Church mutters in utter despair.

“Yes…… It is also the end of the line for you lot.”

The punitive force surrounds the The Heroes Church remnants and captures them.
Now that the pope is gone our victory is certain.
But…… as the punitive forces work I slipped off Firo.

A new attack skill, Blutopfer was added to the Wrath shield.
It is strong, but the price is too great……