Chapter 1, Section 15: The Tainted Wings Church (Part 1)
What Igat said was beyond Verafia’s expectations. She turned her head slightly, gazing at a towering castle deep within the bustling city. Its magnificent structure hinted at the extravagance of its construction, a symbol of the Duke, the city lord; but now, it had changed.
Verafia still found it hard to believe, looking at Igat, and said, “Could it be that the fallen holy angel has caused Yaren, this fallen lord, to change?”
“If your initial judgment is not mistaken, it’s likely so.”
The fallen holy angel, Sariel, the foremost king of the demon race, came to Yannorcoron, and caused a notoriously cruel lord to turn towards good?
Surprise flickered in Verafia’s golden eyes.
Perhaps Sariel was doing this to better hide in the shadows of Yannorcoron, secretly orchestrating even darker conspiracies…
Verafia had a subtle feeling that this fallen angel, Sariel, was perhaps not as she had initially guessed.
At this moment, Misella and Andes returned to her side.
Andes raised his face and said, “Goddess Princess, there are quite a few patients suffering from disease in Yannorcoron. They are all newly afflicted with the plague. However, the city lord has dispatched holy officials to treat them, so it’s not a serious matter.”
“Previously, many people suffered from the plague, but they quickly recovered because they received ample care, and the number of deaths was not high. Because of this, many refugees from outside the city also came to this city due to the plague, seeking medical assistance.”
Listening to Andes’ description, Verafia couldn’t help but furrow her brows again.
Silently, her divine sense touched the citizens around her. A third of them had suffered from the plague before, but deep within their bodies, Verafia could still vaguely sense faint traces of a dark aura.
“Sariel… what exactly does he want to do? Could this just be his disguise, his true purpose being to use the plague to sow his demonic power, and thereby control everyone in Yannorcoron City?”
Verafia clenched her fingers slightly, thinking to herself.
“Miss Verafia, could this city really be under the influence of that fallen holy angel?”
Princess Misella lightly raised her face, her hands clasped around her staff, her beautiful, crystal-like blue eyes filled with confusion, and said haltingly, “Could it be that the priest deceived you?”
“No, at least, I did indeed sense the aura of demons. And there are several demons who have disguised themselves as human officers.”
Verafia murmured. Her gaze subtly lifted, indicating to everyone.
“Regardless, I don’t believe that a fallen holy angel has taken over this city merely to subtly educate the populace.”
Verafia said, her previous guess wavering, but she absolutely did not believe that this monarch of the demon race harbored any so-called good intentions. The golden-haired young girl raised her face, looking towards the large cathedral in the distance.
“My divine sense has touched his trace. Perhaps Sariel is hiding in the Grand Cathedral of Yannorcoron.”
Yannorcoron had a long history and was also a famous large city in the entire empire. However, what made it most renowned was the Yannor Grand Cathedral, located at the city center, which legend said housed the sacred shrine of the Three Holy Kings.
Verafia took Igat’s hand and led everyone towards the Grand Cathedral. The closer they got to the Holy King’s sanctuary, the purer the light and aura became, and the melodious chime of bells further calmed the mind.
Suddenly, the aura of light instantly turned icy, and a malevolent black energy emanated from the air. Heavy footsteps approached, led by a knight clad in heavy armor, wielding a blood-stained spear, exuding a weighty Sacred Domain authority. It was Duke Yann Vettins of Yannorcoron.
Verafia raised her golden eyes and noticed that this city lord’s aura was extremely powerful, yet it was permeated with a chilling aura, as if from the surrounding dark mist. His eyes were clouded, a sign of his soul being manipulated.
And beside the city lord followed soldiers. They were not acting as the city lord’s personal guards, but rather appeared to be temple guards, except that the光明 (bright) cross had been replaced by a symbol of a pair of black and white wings. Even as just a depiction, it still gave off a sense of impurity and fallenness.
Clearly, they were the guards of the “Tainted Wings Church.”
Verafia’s gaze shifted slightly. She could discern that the strength of these soldiers had been significantly boosted in a short time, and among them, four were disguised powerful demons.
The Duke on his warhorse swept his gaze, landing on Verafia: “As expected, outsiders have come to my city. Goddess of Life, have you come to my city to harm my lord?”
The other party had directly identified her.
Ever since Verafia had become the Goddess of Life, regardless of friend or foe, others would address her with respect, speaking to her humbly. This was a sign of respect for Verafia’s divine position of life.
But the city lord’s voice was exceptionally cold and filled with hostility. And in his clouded, corrupted eyes, a fanatical fervor was evident.
Almost instantly, the blood-colored spear in the city lord’s hand split out like a bright red lightning bolt. Before Verafia, verdant grass sprouted from the hard stone slabs, instantly forming a green shield to block the descending blood spear.
“Boom!”
The attack from the Sacred Domain struck the divine radiance of life. Although it did not shake at all, and the veil of life remained as tranquil as water, as the spear poured forth a torrent of energy, it erupted with thunderous roars in the air.
Verafia had not brought her divinity or Mistetinn’s Staff, and her divine spark had not fully recovered from its previous depletion. Currently, in terms of divine power and law strength alone, she could not match the former Lichen when she, as the Flame Goddess, burned the white kites of the entire city for revenge against Lancaster.
However, Verafia was, after all, a goddess. Even if the city lord before her was considered a strong individual within the Sacred Domain, he was by no means her match for even one move.
In ancient times, facing a deity, it would take at least a hundred Sacred Domain experts to have a chance of matching them.
But even though she was attacked, Verafia did not counterattack, crushing the city lord into powder with her divine power of life.
She looked up at the black mist that permeated the Sacred Light around her, her golden eyes shifting, her slender willow eyebrows knitting in displeasure.
The moment the city lord made his move, the surrounding soldiers of the Tainted Wings Church also brandished their weapons. The light of darkness suddenly devoured the colors of the world. Among them, four demons unleashed their true forms, and a terrifying dark aura surged like a dark tide!
But the dark aura suddenly stopped. Andes drew the Sword of Dawn from behind him. Dense, dazzling light surged, melting the darkness!
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No time to finish writing… I’ve excerpted a section from the previous chapter… (I repent)
