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Chapter 320: The Second Light

Yuna remained silent.

Philomina appeared shocked.

Fleidetrika frowned but subtly revealed a hint of realization.

“I see, Princess Yuna, you think that saving the Holy Nation this way would justify those who died because of your actions? I’ve said it before; your method is wrong. It’s not about specific tactics; it’s your attitude towards gains, losses, and sacrifice that is the issue.”

She stood up and positioned herself beside her sister.

“Yuna Summerfield, the weight of life cannot be measured by benefits, numbers, or power. I won’t let you continue down this wrong path… I oppose you becoming the ‘Swordbearer.'”

“Ah…? Well, I can’t accept Princess Yuna just dying. It’s too strange to think someone must sacrifice themselves to save everyone…”

Even Miss Philomina, who usually followed the Saint of Bright Light, stood against this notion. Yuna, regained from her shock at Edwina’s sudden appearance, turned to the three women with a complex expression.

“Edwina, did Miss Xī help you get here?”

“Don’t change the subject; that’s not the point.”

Seeing that the Holy Knight did not give a clear answer, Yuna shook her head in resignation, almost as if speaking to herself.

“I should have seen it coming. When she had the ‘Soul’ bring that message, she was probably preparing for this moment…”

“Sometimes, the right choice is not the best choice, huh… what an unexpected arrangement and means.”

The Saint lifted her head, gazing at the infinitely majestic and unfathomable Tree of Creation, bowing her head respectfully.

“Oh Holy Light of Origin, if this is also Your guidance, I will attempt to change.”

She shifted her gaze from the divine sword floating in the river of time and settled back on the three women.

“Then, since you wish to pave the way to the future without any sacrifices, a choice better than the ‘most correct’ one, allow me to hear it.”

“Edwina Cecelia, do you have the answer?”

“Of course.”

The Holy Knight stepped forward, her expression serious.

“The answer is, I shall wield the sword.”

“Xiaona!?”

“Miss Edwina, you…”

Unlike the two other saints whose expressions changed slightly, Yuna merely blinked in surprise before showing a familiar, bright smile.

“How incredible, Edwina Cecelia. I admit you are the most extraordinary talent I’ve ever seen among the descendants of the three gods. You could even be considered the biggest variable in my plans aside from Miss Xī…”

“But to say you can master the supreme Sword of Origin surpassing the three divine artifacts, I don’t believe the conditions you’ve shown so far would suffice. If you’re planning to risk your life, is that really a better choice than having me wield the sword?”

Edwina shook her head and raised her hand, signaling her anxious sister to calm down.

Clearly, all those present were peak saints within the Holy Nation, yet she single-handedly overshadowed everyone’s presence, becoming the center of this debate and resolution.

“I certainly cannot master a true artifact, nor am I arrogant enough to think I can become a pioneer or a savior of a nation by my own strength. The power of a deity must naturally be wielded by a true divine being, should it not?”

“Gods are not omnipotent, but some things can only be done by ‘God.’ If He is willing to bestow upon me, I will willingly dedicate myself.”

“…?”

Yuna frowned again, the other two saints also looked puzzled, but the Holy Knight didn’t elaborate further. She stepped forward, facing the divine sword that floated above time and the grand, indescribable Tree of Creation.

“Ha…”

Taking a deep breath, the girl knelt on one knee, gripping the golden gem hanging around her neck. Her golden eyes suddenly blazed brightly, emanating an endless light from her being.

That light broke through the River of Time, transforming into a beacon and lighthouse, intertwining with the girl’s prayers towards the distance!

“Oh Most High Lord, your humble disciple offers this prayer, calling upon Your true name — oh Light God, please guide this body and let the Light of Origin descend!!!”

“Boom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

A light shone, piercing from afar, descending into this void that transcended time and space, enveloping the figure of the Holy Knight!

It was a column of light, pure and unsullied, interwoven with white and gold.

Endless divinity spread from the light, sending forth vast ripples across the River of Time. Even the light leaves of the Tree of Creation swayed gently in the breeze of that descending aura, creating specks of dazzling brilliance.

“This… how is this possible…?”

The River of Time is a realm that does not exist in reality, more ethereal than a soul; aside from the Tree of Creation transformed from the Light of Origin, even true gods would find it challenging to reach this place, for it is a space of ‘non-existence.’ Even now, Yuna and her company had not truly arrived in person.

They merely underwent the summoning of the supreme light in a form beyond words.

That Edwina could appear here was already shocking enough, but Yuna thought it might be because her true form was close by the ‘Holy Ceremony,’ and perhaps she got recognized by the Tree of Creation through some means and was summoned as well. But…

This couldn’t be, this couldn’t be…

Yuna suddenly realized a terrifying truth.

She had thought Miss Xī was a messenger from the Tree of Creation, her actions, including guiding Edwina here, were all part of the unseen will and guidance of the Light of Origin. However, the ‘Light God’ mentioned by the Holy Knight was an unfamiliar name she had never heard of and did not exist in her recollections.

If… if the Church of the Light was an organization different from the Church of the Goddess’s predecessor, the Church of Mourning Light, then what god did some of its members worship… who was regarded as the Light of Origin?

If all these were interconnected, Xī, the Church of the Light, Edwina’s worship of the ‘Illuminating Light’ could perhaps only be explained in one way.

It was not the original faith of the Holy Empire—the guidance of the Tree of Creation. Xī… was not the saintly messenger; the Light of Origin spoken of by Edwina isn’t what Yuna thought, either.

Many things had been wrong from the start.

“Wait! What are you really trying to—”

However, the towering will of light already responded to the call and descended from afar in an instant before Yuna could intervene to stop it.

A hand as snowy and jade-like reached out from the brilliance.

All the light of heaven was absorbed into its form, and then, its figure appeared before the three saints.

It was still the appearance of Edwina Cecelia, but she was no longer herself.

She bore six wings as pure as white snow, and ten splendid divine rings moved subtly behind and beneath her, golden hair cascading like a sea of stars, shimmering with bright brilliance.

Her armor was replaced by a white-gold divine robe constructed from light, and though she merely borrowed the body of a disciple to descend, her boundless divine aura soared, challenging even the distant Tree of Creation.

She scanned her surroundings and revealed a smile.

“Seems it worked.”

“You… who exactly are you…?”

Though she should have felt wary of the unknown divine being, the moment Yuna saw her and experienced her presence, an overwhelming sense of closeness and admiration surged within her, causing her to instinctively adjust her address.

And this feeling was something she had only experienced before when facing the Tree of Creation, the Light of Origin that birthed the three divine artifacts.

Something that shouldn’t happen, an absurdly strange unbelievable thing, struck the heart of the Saint of Bright Light.

She turned her gaze, which had been directed towards the distant indescribable Tree of Light, back to Yuna and chuckled slightly.

“Yuna, I told you… if the opportunity arose, you would see my true form. In a sense, you have already seen it now.”

The familiar tone and promise made the Saintess instinctively take half a step back in wavering shock.

“Miss Xī…?”