Two worlds, one shield

Chapter 25: Cardinal Heroes vs Three Heroes Church: Part 5

Working together as the Cardinal Heroes, the Bow Hero fired arrows from a distance to both protect his comrades as well as attempting to land a hit on the Priest. 

The Sword Hero and the Spear Hero were attacking from close range, trying to break through the Priest's defenses in order to land a hit on him while the Shield Hero's role was to protect the two from whatever attack the Priest throws at all four of them. 

With the four doing their best with their given role in an attempt to gain an advantage against the Priest, the barrier surrounding him was durable. 

Despite their combined efforts, the Priest remained unfazed, his calm smile unwavering as he effortlessly deflected their attacks. 

Each strike, each desperate attempt to penetrate his defenses, was met with the same impenetrable wall of golden light, a near-divine force keeping him untouched. 

This is due to his barrier making him into an untouchable deity to those that were spectating the fight. 

He watched as Motoyasu and Ren were giving it their all in their latest attack, leaving themselves open for him to counterattack. 

He transformed the Replica weapon into the Bow variation before preparing to fire first at Itsuki, viewing him as a problem. 

A glowing arrow of pure energy formed within the Replica Bow, humming with deadly precision as it locked onto Itsuki. 

Right as he fired his attack, Naofumi managed to block this attack away with the Chimera Viper Shield variation. 

Since he had blocked the attack, the counterattack trigger had activated which caused the snakes from the shield to attack the Priest. 

Unfortunately for those snakes, the barrier protecting the Priest was still too strong for the snakes' attacks. 

Naofumi gritted his teeth when seeing this, which annoyed him.

"This damn barrier...!" His hands clenched tighter around his shield as frustration gnawed at him. 

As he said this under his breath for only his ears, he observed as Ren and Motoyasu swung their respective cardinal weapons towards the Priest. 

While the two returned on doing their best to break the barrier, the Priest switched the Replica weapon once again from the Bow variation into the Sword variation to block away Ren's attack first in an attempt to disarm him long enough to land a hit of his own on the Sword Hero. 

He knows that it would only take one hit to take him out of the fight and maybe out of commission for good.

Ren saw this and immediately attempted to summon back his sword right before the Priest could land his attack.

"May God find a place in heaven for you, Fallen Sword Hero." A golden gleam flashed as the Replica Sword slashed downward—swift, precise, and merciless.

"Tsk."

Right before landing the hit, Naofumi managed to just barely block away the attack, saving Ren from getting possibly hit. 

A deafening clang echoed through the battlefield as the Replica Sword crashed against Naofumi's shield, sparks flying from the impact.

"You need to be on your guard!" Naofumi shouted as his counterattack was triggered, though like before, did nothing to break through the barrier. 

The snakes lunged forward, hissing, but shattered upon impact, dissolving into mere embers of magic. 

Ren was stunned by Naofumi's scolding for only a moment before nodding with a serious expression, recalling that he was in no position to get hit even once.