Chapter 134: The Power Called Faith

“Boom!!!”

As if feeling enraged from suppression, a blood-red lightning bolt suddenly descended from the sky, heading straight for the black-haired girl who was deep in the caves of the Saint Bergan Mountain Range!

It was a terrifying bolt of lightning, thick as a hundred meters, capable of splitting the heavens and the earth in half, leaving behind vast voids of darkness that resembled the abyss itself—like the entire mountain was about to be turned into dust by this god-like wrath.

And this scene was clearly witnessed by the Priestess, who had left her SP avatar outside as a precaution.

In fact, such a powerful aura and attack couldn’t possibly go unnoticed by Vilyric and the Little Dragon Daughter, even without the former’s command; the blonde girl’s figure had already disappeared abruptly from the cave.

In the next instant, a roar rivaling the might of thunder echoed through the sky, as the majestic platinum giant dragon soared into the heavens from the peak of the Saint Bergan Mountain Range!

“Roar!!!!!!!!”

She threw her head back and let out a booming cry, her surging dragon breath converging beneath a naturally appearing gorgeous magical array. As it was unleashed, it transformed into blinding light that surpassed her own slender frame, enough to rival the height of mountains, colliding head-on with the blood-red lightning without any embellishments!

At the forward camp of the Expeditionary Army, the Saint of Bright Light, Yuna, had just used special means to contact the rear camp of the Grim Reaper’s Scythe. Through them, she confirmed that, indeed, the army was safe and sound as a certain Miss Fox had said, which offered her some relief. Yet, she couldn’t help but feel curious about certain details in the information reported by the latter.

“A miraculous girl with four snow-white wings… and an unbelievable power like that of an angel? Miss Xī’s companions are all quite extraordinary. Speaking of which, I remember Kleisius mentioning something similar in his report…”

Just then, the white dragon figure charging into the sky, clashing head-on with the blood-red lightning, accompanied by a majestic and sacred roar, appeared before all survivors in the forward army on the vast Saint Bergan plain, eliciting gasps of astonishment throughout the camp.

“Your Highness! Look quickly!”

Yuna lifted her head, sensing the mythical power contained within the dragon’s form.

“Angels, white dragons, and white foxes… incredible beings, yet all have descended upon the Sacred Nation at this life-and-death moment…”

Imprinting the miraculous scene that seemed only to exist in legends deep within her heart, the saint murmured, ultimately transforming it into a fervent prayer.

“Praise the Goddess.”

Praise the Goddess…

You are the embodiment of dawn and hope…

Please grant us redemption…

We praise your mercy!

May the Holy Light be upon us…

O Supreme Goddess, please save us…

We honor you…

Thank you for your salvation…

At this moment, the Priestess, locked in a standoff with the blood-red formation while cooking it with Holy Flames, suddenly heard such voices.

Countless voices filled with fervent praise.

She opened her mouth in surprise, yet no words escaped her lips.

This was the second time Vilyric had encountered a situation like this since her crossing over.

She still remembered that time when she had destroyed the Abyssal Demon Island, which had nurtured God-Made Beasts twisted by the Earth Mother Goddess. She had preserved the Alliance Defense Line in the Wasteland and saved thousands of people fleeing to the northern inland.

Once again, there were indistinct voices piled together—a warm aura that felt like a gentle stream but didn’t belong to the realm of energy.

However, at that time, the Priestess had never heard of the so-called Power of Faith, and she hadn’t delved deeply into the intricate powers derived from the Divine Spark, so she remained utterly bewildered.

But the current situation was different.

She could guess what this was; she was also aware of the source of this faith, to some extent, though it was a bit earlier than she expected, but it was basically within the girl’s anticipation.

Even if it might have taken something that was supposed to go elsewhere, the Priestess felt neither embarrassment nor remorse.

Regardless of who those believers were actually praying to, the one currently battling against disaster and death, personally helping them, was Vilyric and her familiars, not that Light Goddess who still remained somewhere beyond knowledge.

Doing as much as needed, taking as much as received, the Priestess felt no wrongdoing in this.

She just hadn’t anticipated that faith would arrive so soon. Logically, given the circumstances, it should have been after resolving the issues…

Was it because the faith of the Sacred Nation’s people was more universal and devout? Or perhaps… this Blood of the Reverse Cross…

Setting aside the matters that shouldn’t be tangled with at this moment, the girl focused her mind and grasped the converging power in her hands.

Though, to Vilyric’s eyes, it was still merely a fleeting little spark, absorbing it could only make her “feel pretty good,” with no substantial impact. But if she could channel this power of causation, which wouldn’t even qualify as energy, into her skills by manipulating SP…

With this thought, she had already set her plan into action.

Thus, the golden Holy Flame suddenly changed.

Not that the intensity had multiplied by several times, but… it was as if a hint of spiritual energy had been added, transforming it from a mere flame into something more special.

And this elevated crimson-gold flame, even without increasing output power or using any amplifying magic, still displayed astonishing power far surpassing its previous form.

The golden light was slowly merging into the blood-red glow it was contending against, dissolving it rather than just throwing brute force at it like before.

Vilyric saw at a glance that this was a characteristic of the Purification spell, one most light-based magic possesses, or rather, it was the basic ability of the light element to cleanse impurities and dispel evil.

Roar of the Holy Flame, as a classic 8th-level Holy Light magic, inherently carried such a trait, yet it was merely a side effect, akin to the properties of enchanting a weapon, with the main prowess concentrated on the overwhelming attack power of this skill.

Now, under the infusion of the gathered Power of Faith, the characteristics of Light were dramatically magnified or perhaps—advanced.

If… if we were to use a metaphor that might not fit perfectly…

It was like a being of semi-divine strength, suddenly gaining the enhancement of the Divine Spark within a short time. Though their level hadn’t noticeably changed, their abilities had leapt from “mortal strength” to “divine strength,” and naturally, the results of their attacks would vastly differ.

Thus, under the blessed flames of the Gods, the blood-like, alluring glow began to retreat.

The blood-colored symbols on the ground seemed unwilling to yield, continuously emitting stronger energy, attempting to achieve victory through sheer numbers, even as the thunderous symphony in the sky grew denser.

But no matter how hard they struggled or how vivid the blood glow became, the lightning could still not break through the white dragon’s blockade to reach this place. The blood-like veil could only continually retreat before the purification of that golden divine flame.

Even more so, every time a portion of the blood glow was purified by the Roar of the Holy Flame, it felt as if it had received a reward, further boosting its momentum. Even without Vilyric as the controller needing to consciously drive it, it actively expanded its attack, continuously consuming and closing in on the blood-colored symbols below.

Is this… the power brought by faith…?

Even Vilyric herself, as the one wielding it, couldn’t help but feel a hint of astonishment and disbelief.

Truly worthy of being the power that even gods yearn for.

From that roaring flame, the Priestess even felt a faint divine aura, perhaps this was the fundamental reason behind its transformed power.

If merely this little bit of faith infusion could temporarily accomplish such feats, then… what about the faith from an entire kingdom, a world, or even more?

Could it… possibly… forge a new deity?

   

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