Chapter 208: Escalation

Regarding the general principles of faith-based magic, that scholar from the Light Tribe made a hypothesis.

Believers concentrate their thoughts and spirit, transforming into the special force known as “Faith,” which then flows into a sort of “Transfer Station.” This “Transfer Station” converts these powers into holy light elemental energy, returning it to the believers and aiding them in unleashing extraordinary powers.

While reality is certainly more complex than this, this simple summary outlines the cycle of faith magic and explains the mystery of why faith powers can seemingly generate from nothing, despite the conservation of energy.

It also explains why faith magic… doesn’t require absorbing magic power like orthodox mages do, but primarily strengthens through the honing of mental resolve.

Why did the faith magic in the vicinity lose its power just as the Blood Disaster at the Saint Bergen Mountain erupted?

Ella believes that it’s likely due to that blood-colored barrier, which blocked the believers’ connection to the “Transfer Station.” However, if this divine power truly comes from the all-knowing and almighty goddess as the doctrine describes…

How could a mortal barrier possibly block divine power?

That’s the general situation; of course, Ella still has much to learn. The notion that “Faith” can convert two kinds of energy is her unfounded assumption, and the true nature of the so-called “Transfer Station,” or whether it even exists, hasn’t been definitively proven. Thus, further research is needed.

Regardless, based solely on the existing theory, it’s quite disadvantageous for the Church of the Goddess that adheres to the doctrine “The Light Goddess bestows grace upon all, supreme and omnipotent,” as it greatly tarnishes the image of Goddess Aurora, making her appear less selfless and magnificent, all-knowing and omnipotent, thereby undermining the church’s status in the world.

Because… if the contents of Ella’s research are confirmed as truth, then the actions of the “Goddess” are essentially not much different from those of demons.

Just one accepts everything as it is, while the other spits out some returns, that’s all.

To be honest, while Vilyric had previously gained an in-depth understanding of Ella’s still immature hypotheses and intended to sponsor her continuation of this research, it was merely with the mindset of “sounds reasonable; can’t hurt to try,” without full belief.

But now, seeing these temple knights who are clearly dispirited yet brimming with vitality, Vilyric increasingly feels that Ella’s theory might very well be the truth.

At this moment, let’s put that aside and return to the battlefield.

That luminous sword just now undoubtedly reached a level considered to transcend the peak, completely rivaling the same strike that Edwina delivered to Leopold’s Vengeful Spirit under Priestess’s “joint battle” enhancement.

Of course, the former has improved tremendously through experience and relentless training, coupled with the divine blood’s push, now possessing strength that far exceeds her previous self. Adding to that the overwhelming support of thousands of temple knights launching a cooperative strike, revealing power comparable to her past pinnacle moment, isn’t surprising.

Thanks to prior preparations, the fortifications on the city walls finished switching defenses within mere minutes. The recovered temple knights filled the gap of those thousands of knights lost, and Edwina, as the previous leader of the cooperative strike, showed no signs of being overwhelmed. After a bit of rest, she has completely recovered.

So, the current situation is that the Sacred Kingdom temporarily sacrificed over a thousand temple knights’ combat power to take down over a dozen Giant Hammer Demons and a lot of fodder while curbing the enemy’s initial wave of intense assaults.

Though it amounts to killing a thousand at the cost of eight hundred, it’s still absolutely a worthwhile trade.

As I pondered, the residual waves of the luminous sword gradually lost their might after establishing sufficient results, dissipating into specks of light.

On the land south of Sacheno City, a diagonal gash stretched wide from several dozen meters to nearly a thousand meters long, where it passed, over ten thousand Magical Beasts perished in this strike, their remains obliterated.

Watching the attack marks left on the ground and the tall back of the Holy Knight in white armor, Miss Vilyric suddenly felt a tinge of confusion.

Speaking of which, if the Holy Empire possessed such formidable joint attack magic, why were the demons completely unprepared? This loss was no small feat… Could it be a recently developed technology?

Joint attack… joint attack… I see! Could it be the support provided by the “Grim Reaper’s Scythe”… No, the Lingyin Merchant Association?

However, such a degree of damage appears insufficient to deter the demons from continuing their offensive plans. While no new Giant Hammer Demons emerged, the enemy’s true main force is yet to be harmed; the strong demon troops have never been just a handful.

The land that the luminous sword had swept clean was quickly filled once more by the surging sea of Magical Beasts.

Then, in the center of the military formation protected by the Demon Cavalry and Demon Guardians, dozens of giant, menacing devices that seemed to be made of bone and were at least three times the size of the crystalline beast carriages that Vilyric and the others rode came into view.

“That’s…”

The well-informed Saint of Bright Light almost immediately made a judgment.

“The ‘Impure’ minion, the Nightmare Executioner… they are actually mixed in directly with the forces of ‘Killing’, so they really are cooperating deeply…”

Before the enemy could act, Yuna quickly turned her head and urgently asked at a speed much faster than usual.

“How long until the city barrier can be rebuilt?”

“Your Highness, the barrier was just shattered by the enemy once, and even with full restoration efforts, it will likely take at least fifteen minutes.”

“Fifteen minutes, huh…”

The Saintess frowned, seemingly considering something. Upon hearing that name, Miss White Fox immediately recalled information about the corresponding target from her mental reservoir.

The “Nightmare Executioner”—one of the distorted minions of the King of Impurities, Plegr. While they move as slowly as snails and find it hard to navigate quickly or defend themselves up close…

Once approached by a strong opponent, they can be easily taken down. However, in the context of this large-scale fixed-point offensive and defensive battlefield, they can be more effective than the Giant Hammer Demons under “Killing.”

Looking like machinery, the Nightmare Executioners are actually living beings, a very unique kind of demon. They can generate explosive substances laden with potent toxins from within and, using a catapult-like body structure, launch them, bombarding large areas from kilometers away.

This toxic compound closely resembles virus grenades on Blue Star; upon impact with the ground, walls, or being struck or compressed by external objects, it immediately detonates, unleashing a massive shockwave and virulent toxin.

Unless intercepted in the air or blocked by wide-range barriers, there are almost no effective countermeasures.

The minions of “Impurity” are always like this; all their attack methods inevitably include the effect of “spreading toxicity.” Any failure to completely isolate or process them in time can result in a major outbreak of plague.

Thus, “Impurity” has always been one of the most hated and feared targets among the four demon princes. Though their minions appear in the world less frequently than the solitary “Chaos,” the documented casualties and losses throughout history have been far more severe than those caused by “Killing” and “Corruption.”

“Distance is… five kilometers? Considering the interference from defensive forces…”

The Saintess is still gesturing and estimating certain things, but the demons won’t give her time to think slowly. Though Edwina’s stunning cooperative strike had granted the Sacred Kingdom certain advantages, it seems to have thoroughly enraged their ancient rivals from the Church.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have brought out one of their trump cards, the “Nightmare Executioner,” so early.

Load, draw the bow.

With assistance from other demons, the dozens of Nightmare Executioners prepared to attack at a significantly increased speed, nearly within a span of several seconds, those ominously dark green “rocks” were pushed onto the catapult.

“Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang…!!!!”

Dozens of gruesome green lights shot up into the sky!

   

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