Paladin of the Dead God-Chapter 426: Beneath the Beautiful Skin (1)

Dududududu—

The thunderous pounding of hooves struck fear and exhilaration into the hearts of the orcs.

Orcs loved their horses—resilient creatures that thrived on the sparse grasses of the plains.

But the warhorses of Elil were something else entirely.

Massive. Heavy. Fearless. Beasts bred for battle and nothing else. Their hooves struck the earth like war drums, shaking the battlefield with every step.

Orcs might not understand the human obsession with trumpets and war drums on the battlefield, but the sound of those hooves stirred something primal inside them—awe and terror in equal measure.

"Now those… those are warriors."

Even Atlan felt a twinge of admiration.

As he drew another arrow of the Netherworld, he studied Edelred with newfound interest.

He had heard of the knight-kingdom in the west, but aside from Isaac, he had yet to meet a warrior worthy of being called a rival.

Until now.

He didn’t know that Edelred was the King of Elil, but it was clear that he held high rank—after all, to withstand the arrows of the Netherworld, one would need the blessing of an Archangel.

’And even the rider isn’t ordinary.’

Atlan’s gaze flickered to Lianne.

Even as arrows of the Netherworld rained down—projectiles that could sever limbs with a mere graze—she maneuvered with precision.

She never rode in a straight line. She always positioned Edelred at the perfect angle to strike, guiding their charge through gaps in the enemy formation without hesitation.

Even an orc would have admired such fearless skill.

’The horse, the rider, the warrior—they move as one. A perfect combination.’

Thwang!

Another arrow streaked toward Edelred.

For the fifth time, he knocked it aside—his blade redirecting the deadly projectile.

Atlan smirked.

They were now close enough to see each other’s faces.

"Khan, should we fall back and shoot from a distance?"

One of his keshiks asked cautiously.

A sound tactic.

Orc mounted archery was legendary—at range, their accuracy was near-perfect.

If they continued firing while retreating, not even a knight blessed by an Archangel could withstand it forever.

But Atlan shook his head.

"No. The enemy commander has stormed deep into our ranks. As Khan, I cannot retreat."

A Khan was not just a leader—he was a chosen warrior, a guardian of faith.

Retreating in the face of an enemy champion would be a disgrace.

Besides—he had already asked the Archangel Manseungja to distract the Sword of May.

Instead of his bow, Atlan unsheathed his twin curved swords.

The arrows of the Netherworld were powerful, but they were not his favored weapon.

His real weapons were these twin blades, gifts from Archangel Manseungja herself.

"Did you think simply getting close would give you the advantage? You are sorely mistaken!"

Dududududu!

At last, Edelred and Lianne crashed through the final defensive line, charging straight at Atlan.

Their momentum was so overwhelming that one of the keshiks was trampled beneath them.

"Khan!"

"King."

That was all the greeting they exchanged.

And then—

They clashed.

***

"Elil! Elil! Elil!"

The knights’ chanting grew louder as king and khan collided.

But Edelred felt a growing sense of urgency.

If he wanted to minimize casualties, he had to kill Atlan quickly.

However—

Atlan was no fool.

He had already seen Edelred’s monstrous strength.

He was not about to meet it head-on.

Clang! Clang! Crack!

A human on horseback should have had the mobility advantage.

But Atlan—a centaur hybrid—was just as large, just as fast, and far more maneuverable.

As they clashed, Atlan suddenly slid under Edelred’s horse, slashing at its knees.

Lianne reacted instantly, leaping off the saddle before the strike landed.

But they were deep in enemy lines—

And the keshiks were ready.

They thrust their spears, cutting off her escape routes.

As the horse collapsed, both Edelred and Lianne were forced to dismount.

Immediately, the keshiks hurled nets, trying to entangle them.

But the knights of Elil crashed into the fray, turning the battlefield into utter chaos.

"Elil! Elil! El—!"

Crash!

Atlan grabbed a charging knight, slammed him into the ground, and crushed his skull.

The knight trembled—then went still.

Edelred, ensnared by a net, cleaved a keshig in half.

Atlan and Edelred stood amid the carnage, their respective armies parting around them, creating a natural dueling ground.

Atlan grinned.

"You’re the one in a hurry, King. Go ahead—make your move."

Edelred’s face twisted in frustration.

His knights were trapped in the enemy camp.

Tuhalin’s Dawn Army was advancing, but there was no telling when they would arrive.

Boom! Boom!

Kaldwin and the twin curved swords clashed, releasing thunderous shockwaves.

For the first time, Edelred’s expression shifted to shock.

Atlan had blocked him—effortlessly.

Isaac himself had once acknowledged Atlan’s monstrous strength.

Even with the power of the Lion Knights, Edelred was struggling.

He needed to win quickly—

Because his knights were dying.

And that was his responsibility.

Boom! Boom!

With each collision, the sheer force rippled through the battlefield.

The surrounding soldiers were pushed back, struggling against the pressure.

Atlan frowned.

"Strong. But… young."

He had expected Edelred’s skill to be even greater—

But now he realized—

Lianne had been the true mastermind behind the charge.

Edelred possessed raw strength, but his movements lacked refinement.

It was as if he was wearing armor that didn’t fit.

And it made sense.

Their difference in experience was massive.

Edelred was barely past boyhood, while Atlan was a seasoned warrior at his peak.

Even Edelred’s sword aura—while sharp—was predictable.

Atlan’s twin curved swords, blessed by Manseungja, could withstand them with ease.

And because Edelred was too focused on killing blows, he was easier to predict and counter.

’No matter how sharp a blade is—if it doesn’t land, it’s useless.’ fгeewёbnoѵel_cσm

Shhhh!

Suddenly—

Edelred’s blade grazed Atlan’s throat.

A thin line of blood appeared.

Atlan stiffened.

For the first time, a cold sweat ran down his back.

"What… was that?"

Thunk. Clang!

Atlan swiftly crossed his twin curved swords, trapping Edelred’s blade before it could fully unleash its power.

“I can’t let his attacks land completely.”

A moment ago, he had easily dodged Edelred’s sword.

But this time, the attack had come dangerously close.

The fight had only lasted a brief moment, yet Edelred had already grown stronger.

Atlan had only ever witnessed this kind of rapid improvement in one person before.

“Another monster like that exists?”

"You bastard!"

Edelred, enraged at having his strike blocked, wrenched himself free with such force that Atlan’s body shuddered from the impact.

And then—

Edelred’s sword twisted at an unnatural angle.

Isaac Swordsmanship: Eightfold Severance erupted forth, a relentless storm of blows seeking to devour Atlan whole.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Atlan remained calm, parrying each strike, slowly stepping back.

It was unmistakable.

This was Isaac’s swordsmanship.

Recalling the sheer devastation of Isaac’s blade, Atlan felt a chill run down his spine.

But compared to Isaac—

Edelred was still lacking.

Gritting his teeth, Atlan lunged forward just as Edelred prepared his final strike.

If there was one unfortunate fact about Edelred—

It was that Atlan had already fought someone who had mastered this technique.

Compared to Isaac, Edelred’s attacks felt sluggish, almost dull.

In Atlan’s eyes, Edelred was not yet a true threat.

CRACK!

Atlan’s curved sword slammed into Kaldwin, creating an opening.

Without hesitation, Atlan lashed out with a powerful kick—his massive hind leg striking Edelred’s chest.

A kick strong enough to decapitate a full-grown man.

Edelred was sent flying, crashing into the dirt.

Even with his blessed armor, pain exploded through his chest, making it nearly impossible to breathe.

His ribs—several were definitely broken.

"Your Majesty!"

Lianne tried to rush forward, but Atlan had already placed his hoof on Edelred’s chest, pressing him down.

The tip of his blade hovered over Edelred’s throat.

Lianne froze in place.

Atlan stared down at the fallen king, conflicted.

"This kid is a monster. Is that bastard’s spawn? Or could he really be… Elil’s incarnation?"

If Edelred was this strong already—

Then when he fully matured, he would be unstoppable.

A legendary hero, perhaps even an Archangel in the making.

For the sake of Olkan’s future, for the sake of winning this war, Atlan knew—

He had to kill Edelred here.

But curiosity won out first.

"What is your connection to the Holy Grail Knight?"

Edelred had ignored everything Atlan said so far.

But at the mention of Isaac, he couldn’t.

"He is my teacher."

Atlan grinned bitterly, sparks flying as he scraped his blade against the ground.

"I see."

The puzzle pieces fit together.

Atlan lowered his sword slightly and spoke in a commanding tone.

"Withdraw. Take your people and return to your kingdom. If you leave now, I will ensure you return safely."

***

Edelred narrowed his eyes.

Was Atlan trying to trick him?

But there was no reason for him to lie.

Atlan was stronger—that much was undeniable.

And Edelred’s knights were completely surrounded.

Atlan had no reason to deceive him.

"He’s offering me a way out?"

His gaze flickered to the battlefield—

To his dying knights.

He saw Lianne and the royal guard, still trying to fight their way toward him.

And beyond them—

The corpses of those who had already fallen.

Men groaning in agony, dragging themselves through the mud, missing limbs, clutching at their wounds.

It was a sight he had never truly noticed before.

From horseback, war seemed glorious—a stage for honor and courage.

But down here, on the blood-soaked earth, it was just misery and death.

"Fools."

"Leaving behind their wheat fields and families to die in a foreign land… for what?"

Edelred hated knights.

He always had.

Because they were the kind of men who would throw away their lives—

For honor, for glory, for something as intangible as "valor."

And now—

He had a chance to save them.

"Go back?"

The war had started with the expectation of death.

But the idea that he could bring his knights home alive…

His heart pounded at the thought.

It didn’t matter why Atlan was offering this.

All that mattered was—

Could he let this opportunity go?

Then, his eyes locked onto Holy Land Lua.

Where Isaac had thrown his life into battle.

"Leave my teacher behind…?"

His hands clenched into fists.

He made his decision.

Edelred grabbed Atlan’s leg.

Atlan’s eyes widened.

A sudden, immense force crushed down on his hoof—

Forcing him to leap back to avoid having his leg snapped in half.

Edelred coughed up blood, staggering to his feet.

No one watching could mistake it—

His body was broken.

A normal person couldn’t keep fighting in this state.

And yet—

Atlan could feel it.

Something unnatural had changed.

Edelred’s presence had shifted.

He was no longer the young knight-king that had charged into battle.

He was something else entirely.

"Forgive me, my knights."

His voice was barely above a whisper.

But a breeze carried it across the battlefield—

And every knight heard him.

They stopped fighting.

Their eyes turned to their king.

"Right here. Right now. This is where I need honor—not for myself, but to protect a friend."

"On this final battlefield, die bravely with me."

Leaves swirled in the wind.

For the first time since entering the Olkan Empire, the orcs smelled fresh grass and autumn air—

A scent they had never known in this land.

At the same time—

Hundreds of thousands of orcs felt it.

A pressure.

A killing intent so vast that it sent shudders through their bones.

[Atlan, fall back!]

A voice rang in his mind—Manseungja, the Archangel.

[That boy… Elil has manifested in him!]

[Is that mad god really planning to make this the final war?!]