[Vol. 8] Chapter 277: Cleansing All Evil
The holy spear fell from the clouds with a deafening roar, like a giant weapon of the gods descending into the world. Its dazzling light swept away the darkness across the entire battlefield and even the far-off Purple Mist City, driving it away for hundreds of miles around, making it seem like daylight had returned.
Earlier, the light from the Saintess’s Holy Sword had already been grand and magnificent as it shot into the sky. But compared to this solid, real-looking divine judgment spear, it was like the glow of a firefly before the full moon, on a completely different level.
This was the power of a god. The real power of a god. A miracle that no mortal could ever control!
The earlier cannon blast that shot into the heavens… its real purpose had been to call down a strike from the gods? Could they… actually summon the goddess herself?
Feeling the countless surprised and respectful gazes from those around them, the two young girls in the center of the Holy Empire’s formation, still adjusting the giant cannon, looked at each other, then both turned to stare at the dazzling golden spear in the sky with strange expressions.
“Hey… since when can our invention bring down something this scary? You didn’t secretly change it while I wasn’t looking, did you?”
“Wake up. If I had that kind of skill, I’d already be a legend in the academy, not just a scholar.”
“Then what’s going on?”
“Who knows? No one can guess the goddess’s thoughts. All I know is… we might be in trouble later.”
Their whispers did not reach anyone else’s ears. No matter what they felt in their hearts, the holy spear falling from the sky would not slow for even a moment.
The spear seemed slow, yet carried an unstoppable divine weight, impossible to dodge or block. For a moment, it was as if the battle itself had paused. Under countless shocked gazes, the mountain-like spear of gold crashed down from the heavens!
[It’s you! I knew you were here!!! Come out! Face me!!!]
A thunderous roar shook the heavens and the earth, echoing far and wide. Yet, even after the voice faded, there was no reply, as if the target had been mistaken, or the other being simply couldn’t be bothered to deal with something so insignificant, radiating pure disdain.
[How dare you!!!]
The massive fleshy arm, already strong enough to casually fight off several fighters of mythical level or close to it, suddenly swelled several times larger, as if provoked. It clenched into a fist and smashed upward toward the golden spear coming from the sky!
Sensing something, both the Judgment Saintess and the Sword Saint’s faces changed at the same time. The Saint even poured holy power into her voice and shouted with all her strength:
“All members of the Church, form the battle array! Prepare for impact!!!”
BOOM!!!!
In an instant, a hurricane-like force erupted. Heaven and earth shook as the two overwhelming powers collided. The resulting shockwave, far more terrifying than any before, spread outward like a tidal wave!
The next moment, the gale became a raging storm powerful enough to destroy everything in its path. Without hesitation, Frederica turned into a streak of golden light, rushing to the very front line of the Holy Empire’s army. She held her holy sword across her body, creating a golden barrier more than a hundred meters wide, becoming the first shield against the oncoming wave of destruction.
Even without her command, the soldiers behind her understood the danger instantly. They abandoned the enemies in front of them, gathering in groups, dozens, tens, or even just two or three nearby holy knights, combining their power to create the strongest defenses they could muster, in a desperate attempt to block the sudden, world-shattering surge.
But soon, they were surprised to find… it seemed like all their actions were completely unnecessary.
At some point, no one knew when, every soldier of the Holy Empire, along with their mounts and even the heavy weapons that couldn’t be moved easily, became surrounded by a faint golden glow. The light came down from the sky in streams, like the feathers of a god falling onto the faithful. Holy patterns flowed within it, blocking all the raging wind and rain that came toward them.
“RUMMMMMMBLE!!!”
The strange monsters that had been fiercely fighting them were suddenly blown away by the storm winds. Some of the weaker ones were torn apart in midair and turned into unrecognizable pieces of flesh. Sand and stones were thrown high into the air, the ground shook, mountains trembled, and even trees were ripped out by their roots. But the Holy Empire’s army was completely safe.
Many soldiers just stood there in shock, staring at this scene that looked like a miracle. If the moment weren’t so dangerous, those devout believers might have already fallen to their knees in worship.
No… maybe the words “looked like” a miracle weren’t needed anymore.
“What… is this?”
Realizing her own barrier had been unnecessary, the Saint lowered it and looked around at the wondrous sight that seemed beyond human imagination. She quickly glanced down at the same holy light falling on her body. The power was spread out among many people, so compared to her own strength it wasn’t especially great. But the purity of the light element within it… she had only felt it from one being in her entire life.
Seeing the confused and awed looks of the holy knights around her, the Saint suddenly raised her holy sword high, her voice booming like thunder:
“Praise the Goddess! The Primordial Light is with us! Kill the enemy!!!”
Her shout was like a spark. Even though the storm of energy all around drowned out most of her voice, it instantly ignited understanding and faith in the hearts of the army. Eyes lit up with burning determination, and cheers spread like wildfire.
“Praise the Goddess!!! Praise the Goddess!!! Praise the Goddess!!!”
“Purify these heretics!!!”
“In the name of the Goddess—charge!!!”
With miracles appearing one after another, the morale of the Holy Empire’s army surged. The flesh carpet on the ground, which had been strengthened by the enemy’s master, had already been completely destroyed by the storm. Many weaker monsters had been torn apart and blown away.
As the enemy’s strength weakened and the Holy Empire’s side grew stronger, the remaining flesh creatures, barely able to keep their shape, were quickly surrounded by holy warriors and smashed to pieces under the light.
The battle, which had been going badly after the enemy’s hidden master interfered, was suddenly turned around. In fact, the fight’s outcome was now almost decided. Everyone could see what this meant:
Two god-level beings had appeared at the same time and fought across the distance, yet the Goddess could still split her attention and protect tens of thousands of Holy Empire soldiers at once. What did that show?
It showed the vast difference in strength, in level, in divine rank! It showed that the arrogant being on the other side was just a pseudo god, completely powerless against the true power of a real deity!
“Tch. Just because you want me to show up, I have to show up? That’d make me look weak. And trying to act all high and mighty with just half a hand showing… who do you think you’re scaring?”
Far above in the sky, the one who had started it all pulled her hand back and stood calmly, curling her lip in disdain.
This, of course, was the kind of “necessary action” one took only when there was no other choice.