Chapter 801
Efnelle Heaven Island.
Zwadong Cathedral.
Among all of Heaven Island, Zwadong Cathedral was the place that received the most sunlight, and for the longest time.
As sunlight passed through the stained glass, it shattered into brilliant fragments, becoming a feast of art that shimmered brightly.
The pulpit of Zwadong Cathedral stood empty, no one dared to step upon it.
On the straight-backed pews beneath that pulpit sat three elderly priests. With hands clasped and eyes closed, they were offering prayers.
Click–
At that moment, the chapel doors carefully opened, and a young officer entered, muffling her footsteps.
She approached the priest seated in the middle of the three and whispered quietly.
“I apologize for interrupting your prayer, Your Grace, but there is something urgent I must report……”
The elderly woman in the middle, her expression kind and serene, paused her prayer and lifted her head. When she smiled, the wrinkles at her mouth and brow bent softly, giving her a benevolent and graceful countenance.
“Speak.”
“There has been a small-scale skirmish on the southwestern front. It is presumed that necromancers of the Dark Alliance came to rescue prisoners.”
“Why are there prisoners in that area? All captives at the front should have been transported to Heaven Island.”
At that pointed remark, the young officer tensed and leaned close to whisper in the archbishop’s ear.
The archbishop let out a short sigh.
“Continue.”
“Y-yes! After the skirmish, the necromancers succeeded in rescuing and taking the prisoners. And……”
“And?”
“A large explosion occurred not far from that place. At the site where that Sheily Museum stands.”
The elders at her sides clicked their tongues.
“To think that vile facility still remains?”
“It has been years since the order to dismantle it was given.”
The archbishop in the middle spoke again.
“Was that explosion for the destruction of the museum?”
“It appears to have been the result of battle, nothing more.”
The young officer bowed her head and continued calmly.
“After confirming the origin point of the blast, it was determined to have occurred some distance away from the museum. The analysis suggests the building was not directly targeted.”
“And the combatants?”
“Well, it seems that……”
“The Inquisitor Chief.”
Bang!
The doors of the chapel burst open, and a woman appeared.
In this place, which ought to be solemn and quiet, her heavy bootsteps resounded loudly.
Wearing the holy armor reserved for paladins instead of priest robes, she was the notorious “Saint of Judgement”, Dana.
The three archbishops all rose to their feet.
“Gratula mi Kibilis. We greet the daughter closest to the Goddess.”
The kind-faced archbishop in the middle offered a bow and a smile.
“We were just about to inquire regarding the matter of the prisoners, so we are honored by your precious presence.”
Dana smiled faintly and snapped her fingers behind her.
The young officer who had reported bowed so low her forehead nearly touched the floor, then hastily departed the chapel.
As the doors closed once more, the elder on the right spoke.
“May we ask, why the Inquisitor Chief was at the front lines, Saint?”
“Do your prying later, you sly old foxes.”
Dana’s expression did not change as she retorted.
“About that unsightly museum that was destroyed, rumor has it that ‘her’ remains were in the basement there.”
Though she said only that, the three archbishops’ eyes widened.
“Is that true!”
“How could such a sacred person’s body be in such a blasphemous place……!”
“Shh.”
Dana pressed her finger to her lips, then frowned and turned her head.
“The cunning she-cat always catches a scent like this.”
“Pardon?”
Tap, tap.
The sound of approaching shoes grew near to the chapel. Dana looked at the archbishops and said,
“All of this must be buried. No one must know.”
* * *
The last chimera carrying Simon’s group and the students crossed safely over the border’s barrier.
As the chimera’s mouth opened and sunlight streamed in, the students finally let out cries of relief and rushed outside.
Loraine, supporting Simon, asked,
“Can you stand?”
“Yeah.”
Simon’s group also exited the chimera.
When Simon stepped outside and looked back, he could see the border’s barrier in the distance.
“Hey guys!”
“Why are you all so late?”
The students who had arrived earlier on the first chimera welcomed them warmly. Eshu burst into tears and hugged Simon, Loraine, and Toto all at once.
Grerion and the teaching assistants, supported by others, also came out. Grerion seemed to have regained his senses.
“Time to rebuild my muscles.”
Judging by his jokes, he was in far better shape than expected for someone who had been tortured by Leight. As befitted a necromancer who specialized in chimeras, his physique was monstrous.
Still, they needed examinations, so Grerion and the two assistants were carried off on stretchers.
By fortune within misfortune, all the students were safe, and they had succeeded in securing materials for the Death Knight.
The head teaching assistant of Materials Science received a message through the communication crystal and nodded.
“Professor Aron and the agents who had crossed the border on their mission are all safe. Their mission was successful as well.”
The students burst into cheers and clapped their hands.
“We made it!”
“I really thought we were done for.”
As tension finally eased and everyone felt relief—
“Huh.”
Someone pointed toward the sky.
“What’s that?”
In the blue sky, a cross had appeared.
In the middle of the cross was an eye, scanning its surroundings.
“Creepy.”
Eshu muttered. The other students reacted about the same, but Loraine and Simon turned pale as they stared at it. So did the head teaching assistant.
“Oh my.”
Serne folded her arms and gazed up.
“Looks like the catastrophe is about to begin, doesn’t it?”
The head assistant, his hands trembling, gripped the amplification crystal.
“This is outside the border, in Dark Alliance territory. No matter how insane Leight is, he wouldn’t break the barrier and pursue us all the way here……”
Rumble rumble rumble rumble rumble rumble rumble rumble!
The ground shook violently, as if the world were turning upside down.
“Gahhh!”
“Kyaaah!”
The students stumbled, collapsing to the ground or crouching in fear. The tremors grew fiercer, and then, light suddenly flashed down from the sky.
Loraine urgently reached out her arm.
“Everyone be careful! Fall back!”
Fwooooooosh!
The light that descended from the sky erupted into a pale cloud of dust. The students scrambled to their feet and retreated, and soon within that dust cloud, a blue glow flashed.
“Found you.”
Skkkt—
The sound of paper being sliced by a blade rang out three times.
In an instant, all the chimeras the students had ridden shattered apart, scattering into blood-soaked scraps of flesh.
Step, step.
Through the downpour of blood, Inquisitor Chief Leight emerged, shouldering his Cross Blade, his face twisted into a chilling smile.
“You can’t run anymore.”
Loraine hastily shoved Simon aside, and Serne cast an illusion barrier, cloaking Simon’s body.
In that moment, the two moved together as if in perfect harmony.
“Wa—…!”
Simon tried to speak, but no voice came. Serne’s feathers clung to him, flinging him far away. He couldn’t even resist.
“Your opponent is me.”
Loraine unsealed the ability necklace she had just bound and stepped forward.
Leight answered casually, as though it were of no importance.
“Daughter of the witch, I’ve just found a more interesting prey. If you wait your turn, I may hang you up later.”
Without a word, she slipped on her gloves and drew upon ability and Darkness. Leight, after briefly observing her, shifted his gaze behind her.
“So there you are!”
Leight leapt with instantaneous speed. Loraine hastily released a red flash, piercing his thigh and waist, but he did not stop.
As he tore through Serne’s illusion and was about to reach Simon—
“!”
A man clad in crimson Bone Armor appeared right before Leight’s eyes.
Claaaang!
Their weapons collided, and Leight was forced back, landing on the ground.
“So, it’s your turn to show up.”
Leight sneered and looked up at the sky.
From high above, a man in Bone Armor, leading a massive skeletal warship, was glaring down at him.
“Plenty of old men of the Federation are after your head, Aron Deia.”
Aron descended to the ground, standing against Leight.
But Aron’s state was not good either, having just returned from a mission. His crimson Bone Armor was half shattered, blood streaming down his forehead. Clearly, he had endured a fierce battle.
“P-Professor Aron…!”
“Everyone, fall back!”
Aron roared at the students, swinging his arm.
<Grave Creation>
Thud!
Crash!
Around Aron and Leight, tombstones erupted from the ground. The surroundings darkened, shrouded in black clouds.
“You look gravely injured. Do you intend to fight me in such a body?”
Leight stomped the ground hard.
That single motion burst into light, scattering the black clouds of the graveyard in an instant.
Then, with a fierce sweep of his Cross Blade, the tombstones split apart, the barrier shattered. Aron calmly clenched his fist and thrust it backward.
The lingering black clouds swirled together, forming the massive head of a dragon.
Tuuuwaaaaagh!
The black breath of the Bone Dragon fired in a straight line. Leight ceased all movement, springing upward to evade the attack.
Beep-beep-beep—
Beep—
Leight lowered his head.
A strange noise was coming from his body. And from beyond the sky, a voice shouted loudly.
“Tuuuwaaang!”
Boooom!
Leight’s body exploded in blasts of green and crimson, tumbling across the ground.
The students gasped in amazement.
“Professor Lin! Professor Rune!”
It was none other than Lin and Rune, the former professors of Keyzen, ancient undead.
The twin sisters descended back-to-back, arms joined.
“Professor duties at Keyzen are on hold, and yet we’re babysitting again, Lin?”
“Looks like it, Rune.”
Aron, panting, bowed his head in thanks.
“My gratitude for your aid.”
“Professor Aron~ you look like you’ll die any second now.”
“Lin thinks so too.”
And it wasn’t only Lin and Rune who had come.
Clank!
Clank!
Clank!
Necromancers dispatched on this mission, and even the Border Guard stationed at the frontier, arrived all at once.
Necromancers took aim with their prepared black magic, eyes fixed upon the smoke and flames.
“It’s rare to see such giants crowd the battlefield.”
Even as he stood surrounded by overwhelming forces, Leight laughed in delight.
“How could I not thank the Goddess for this!”
Rumble rumble rumble rumble rumble!
From his body, Holiness poured out like a mountain. The necromancers murmured, frowning in dismay.
“That, that’s the problem with Leight.”
Aron muttered.
Leight’s Holiness was infinite.
The more his fighting spirit burned, the more Holiness surged forth. No matter what wound he suffered, he recovered, and no matter the enemy, he pursued them to death. He was a monster among monsters, once recorded fighting without food or rest for a hundred days and nights.
Leight thrust his arm back. His weapon, the Cross Blade, reacted, swelling larger and larger.
It outgrew its wielder, swelling to the size of a house, and soon it seemed as though he were bearing an entire island. Half of the cross embedded into the ground.
“Not a single one of you will be left alive, and I’ll savor the main dish after.”
Aron prepared his next black magic, Rune and Lin extended their arms back-to-back, the other necromancers raised their hands with tense faces.
It was uncertain who would strike first—the atmosphere ready to ignite at any second.
“Stand down, Inquisitor Chief.”
A flash of Holiness, and a woman in priestly robes appeared.
“This is the order of the Efnelle.”
Leight’s face stiffened.
“Another damnable Israfil? This time I won’t back down!”
“This time, it is not her.”
Her eyes flared.
“It is the command of Saint Dana. Withdraw at once.”
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