Chapter 684: Court of Light (Part 1)
The stream of light shot from the magic gun arrived in an instant. Count Hyde sneered, releasing a glow from his staff to form a barrier of light before him: “A mere trinket!”
The magic light struck, and as expected, was extinguished by the dark glow. Verafia’s counterattack only stirred a ripple; it could barely match the power of a golden-tier magic. Just as Hyde had always believed, magic guns were merely opportunistic weapons. How could they compare to the daily research of a proper mage… and in the hands of these noble young ladies, they were nothing more than toys. Just like the young girl before him, she could only hold on this long by relying on magic scrolls. If she were truly powerful, why would she resort to toy-like magic guns?
However, Hyde’s sneer was not yet over. In the distance, an elf maiden with jade-like beautiful long hair, wearing a light green long dress, broke free from the enemies beside her. Her slender, jade hand drew back her bowstring, and an arrow formed from concentrated life spiritual power unleashed with a “bang.” Count Hyde, startled, hastily raised his staff, but the emerald light arrow arrived before him in an instant. Its terrifying power, akin to a ballista, instantly shattered the defense. He was sent flying back over ten meters, spitting blood that splattered onto his luxurious robe. Fortunately, his soldiers, sensing Count Hyde’s danger, rushed forward and prevented the elf maiden from drawing her bowstring again. Count Hyde scrambled up from the blood, his distorted face filled with more fear than ferocity.
Although the elf maiden’s attack was blocked by his subordinates, Count Hyde knew that, at least momentarily, he was in a perilous situation. Not only was Trist held back, but the soldiers and priests around him were all at a disadvantage. Count Hyde did not believe he could hold out until Cardinal Bro arrived. He suddenly gritted his teeth, forcing his injured body to stand, his ferocious gaze fixed on the golden-haired young lady in the white nun’s habit. He could tell that this woman named Verafia, although she had no magic, possessed considerable status. If he could capture and hold her hostage, it would surely make Ig and the others hesitate.
With this thought, he suddenly roared, his magic surging through the casting of a secret technique. Terrifying magic condensed on his staff, aimed directly at the young lady!
“Miss Verafia!” A clear maiden’s voice urgently sounded. Before him appeared a pink-haired young girl whom Count Hyde had never seen. She also quickly chanted a spell, attacking Count Hyde, wanting to stall his advance.
“Sirius, you truly are a woman!” Count Hyde’s elegantly dressed person fluttered with the ripples of magic, his gaze settling on the maiden’s beautiful cheek. If it were any other time, with his noble and gentlemanly demeanor, he would have cast a greedy glance, fantasizing about whether he could take the young girl as his concubine after the deed was done, making this noble countess cry and moan beneath him, satisfying his perverse excitement. However, Count Hyde unhesitatingly hurled a great magic spell towards Shiel. Though lustful, he valued his own life more. Especially on the eve of such a bright future and grand dynasty, to fall before the final night would be the most painful thing.
Even though Shiel’s talent was outstanding, and she was in the Platinum tier, just like Count Hyde, the young girl who had been hiding her identity was far inferior to him in terms of combat awareness and skill. Within a few breaths, the pink-haired maiden was repelled by him. She looked up in alarm at his advance towards Verafia. With wind-elemental magic cast on him, Count Hyde’s speed far surpassed Verafia’s. In just a moment, he reached the golden-haired young lady, and the staff he swung erupted with dazzling magic, easily shattering the magic scroll’s shield.
Verafia’s golden eyes showed no panic. Her slender, jade hand raised the magic gun again. A faint silver light shimmered on its smooth metal surface, and the magic markings lit up. Count Hyde sneered coldly. Magic light flashed across his body, forming a magic armor. What could this young girl do to him, even if she fully charged and unleashed her most powerful attack?
But his expression suddenly changed. His eyes, wide with terror, saw a blinding light emerge from the young girl’s gun. Scorching gold flames ignited, instantly illuminating the entire space.
—Boom boom!!!
The bursting, blinding beam of light, like a meteor streaking across the heavens, struck his chest heavily. The magical armor was shattered, and his chest was almost torn apart by this starfall-like blazing flame. He was sent flying, crashing into the very deepest door of the Inquisition. The “Night Fire Meteor” released by the magic gun, with its full charge, was considered powerful even among Crystal-tier Archmages. The impact on Count Hyde’s chest would be a fatal wound for an ordinary person.
The noble youth’s chest, pierced by the flame magic, was grotesque and terrifying. The dark hole was so severe that even blood and flesh had evaporated in an instant. However, Count Hyde still had a trace of life. He pushed himself up from the ground, and from his damaged chest, wisps of frost-white mist emerged, its icy aura like a frost calamity devouring the earth in the wilderness!
The priests fighting Robert, Tais, and others sensed this icy aura, their gaze shifting in disbelief. “H-how is this possible? Count Hyde’s body… it truly carries the aura of the frost calamity? Could it be that what Lord Robert said…” “This is exactly the same aura as Lord Trist’s! Could it be that Lord Trist has also defected to the frost calamity?”
People murmured in disbelief even as the facts appeared before them, especially the presence of Trist and Cardinal Bro, which gave them the illusion of their faith being shattered. But more people, including the Silver Moon Elf who was wielding her sword to restrain Trist, were not looking at Count Hyde but intently at the scene behind him. Count Hyde had crashed into the deep door of the Inquisition. Cardinal Bro seemed to have made no protective spell as the door slowly opened. A wisp of golden light flowed out from the gap.
“Miss Verafia!” Shiel’s voice rang out. In the previous impact, Verafia’s delicate body had also been thrown aside, falling to the ground. Shiel rushed over and helped her up.
“Mm… I’m alright. Nothing’s wrong.” Verafia shook her head at the young girl. A strand of delicate golden hair spilled from her hood. The magic explosion had not harmed her at all; she was just a bit sore from the fall. After explaining to Shiel, Verafia slowly raised her golden eyes, her vision falling upon the scene behind Count Hyde, through the opened door. A holy and luxurious golden light pierced her pupils.
