Chapter 575

Chapter 197 The Land of the Great Dragon – Part Four

It was as if a vast expanse of dense forest had suddenly lost its lushness in one corner. This was an unusual terrain. From a bird’s-eye view, this emerald grassland seemed to be surrounded by towering forests. However, the closer one got to the grassland, the darker the trees became, and the fewer leaves they had. It was as if they had been corroded by some powerful force until they withered completely and turned into black, dead trees, even the land turning into a swamp.

Such an environment made me wonder if it had once been corrupted by the chaotic power of the Abyss. Yet, the flourishing grass and the countless strange flowers blooming between them directly negated this speculation. At the center of this marshy wasteland was such a scene full of vitality.

How strange…

But now was not the time to think about these things. This wilderness was not peaceful. Distant rumbles of thunder constantly echoed from what seemed to be the heart of the grassland. Following the sound, I saw a chaotic storm carrying purple lightning, surging and ravaging over the verdant grass. A gray fog whirlwind almost formed a giant sphere. Within this terrifying storm, I could faintly make out…

It looked like a tree…

A tree… of unknown size…

That stormy chaos had roughly lifted a tornado at least a hundred meters high on the grassland. The tornado was turbid and deep gray, as if it was swirling with countless dark clouds. Purple lightning flickered, making it impossible to see what was inside. But above the tornado, countless thick branches emerged. The hundred-meter-high tornado could not completely hide that tree.

At least a hundred twenty to thirty meters tall, with unknown thickness…

I was stunned, never imagining that there was such a place in Woodward Forest, with such an ancient tree. Frowning, I pointed towards the direction of the storm and shouted loudly at the monk ahead, “What’s that over there!”

“That is the entrance to the Land of the Great Dragons!”

“… What?”

I was somewhat confused, thinking I had misheard.

“Sir Silviana, did you see the tree in the storm!”

“I did…”

“That tree is the entrance to the Dragon Land! It is where the ancient gods sealed it a thousand years ago!”

The monk rode his beast forward while looking back and telling me, “The two people at the Gate of Truth are now on the other side of the storm! We have been in a stalemate with them for two days! Not long ago, one of those female heretics seemed to have done something, and then the terrifying storm appeared, surrounding the tree! She entered the storm, leaving the old one guarding outside. We tried twice but couldn’t get close—”

The man gritted his teeth, his eyes fierce: “That damned old dog killed many of us…”

“… Is that so.”

I looked in the direction of the storm, frowning in deep thought.

The monk was probably referring to the old servant of the dancer… That woman, has she already entered the Dragon Land? Or is she trying to break the seal… That tree is the seal… What do those two loud noises earlier mean… And…

Where is Whitey… Carlos said it was still alive…

I rubbed my hair anxiously, my mind in turmoil.

“We’ve arrived!”

Suddenly, the monk shouted again. He immediately raised his voice to the maximum, almost shouting hoarsely far away, “We’re back!”

“We’re back with Sir Silviana—!!”

Have we reached the battlefield…

The hooves of the beasts galloped swiftly. I leaned to the side of the beast’s back, peering forward.

About dozens of meters away, there were more than a hundred priests sitting or standing, scattered around. Among them, there seemed to be quite a few knights clad in golden armor. When they saw the approaching rhinos, everyone stood up. Many priests, hearing the shouts just now, turned their heads and stretched their necks to look this way.

“Sir Silviana is here—!!”

The monk who carried me shouted again. The rhino ran very fast. In just a few breaths, it reached the distance. The man in front sharply reined in the rhino, which turned around and stopped. At this moment, everyone noticed the commotion here. Those farther away quickly gathered, while those nearby all looked up at me.

Then, the commotion spread through the crowd.

“Sir Silviana…”

“It’s her, I’ve seen her before, she is Sir Silviana…”

Such commotion rapidly turned into a thunderous cheer within two seconds. The cheering wave surged like a tide across the entire wilderness.

“Silviana! Silviana! Silviana!”

I don’t know who started it, but gradually everyone began to shout my name. Their condition wasn’t good; some were injured, and some were too weak to stand up. Most of the monks’ robes were stained with blood. Some had bandages on their heads, and their faces were dirty. It was hard to imagine these were the once gentle and refined believers of the Faith Order, even during the battle outside Alareth City, they had never been so disheveled.

Yet, it was these people who were shouting my name now. Even though they looked exhausted, their eyes seemed to be burning with a flame.

I stepped down from the beast, standing in front of them, looking at them. My cheeks felt hot, and my nose was a bit sore.

They were all…

Here they had fought for their lives…

To protect the people of Silgaya…

I kept inhaling and exhaling, my gaze sweeping over every pair of eyes, that intense, fiercely determined emotion, from each of them, reaching deep into my heart.

Soon, the clamor subsided, the crowd parted, and an old man in a robe staggered forward. He came to stand before me, looking at me, his clouded eyes flickering with indescribable joy. His bony hand stretched out, patting my shoulder guard, gripping it tightly.

“Blessed by the gods… We have waited for you at this most difficult moment. I am Archbishop Ansheel. Miss Sylviga, should we say heroes always appear when needed? You have come… just in time…”

Suddenly, I felt this old man looked somewhat familiar.

But after thinking about it, I couldn’t recall where I had seen him before. Maybe all old men in robes look like this… I bowed to the old man, the situation being urgent, there was no time for formalities.

“What do you need me to do?”

I asked bluntly. The old man nodded, releasing my shoulder, and pointed toward the distance. “Do you see that storm?”

At this moment, the monks had already begun reorganizing. Whether monk or knight, everyone here was among the most elite warriors of the Holy Church. They mobilized swiftly, forming battle lines quickly under the shouts of what seemed to be the leaders. The man who had brought me here roared behind me, “Lady Sylviga has arrived! Now is the time to strike with one final push and defeat the demons!”

“Roar—”

The cries of over a hundred men echoed across the open field. The old man pointed at the swirling storm, his hoarse voice clearly audible.

“The entrance to Dragonland is at the center of that vortex. There are only two heretics there. You’ve fought one of them before. Those two broke through the outer defenses of the forest and made their way here, intending to open Dragonland and obtain even more terrifying power from the demons… I led the faithful monks and those surviving knights, we charged twice but were stopped by the elder guarding outside. Before your arrival, these survivors, over a hundred people, were preparing to regroup and make one last attempt.”

“As elite members of the church, your swords and holy spears should tear apart that old heretic from the East! Your honor must be defended by yourselves!”

Behind us, a rhinoceros let out a long, mournful cry; the clashing of armor and weapons resounded. The man’s powerful roar echoed thunderously, filling the sky: “After today, your names will be inscribed in history! Your names will be carved on the hero monument in the Holy City! Your families and children will be proud of what you do today!”

“The entrance to Dragonland is about to open…”

The elderly archbishop stood with his hands clasped behind his back, coughing weakly. His voice was barely audible over the deafening shouts. I had to lean in closer, standing on tiptoe, tilting my head, to hear him clearly.

“Previously, energy fluctuations emanated from the tree at the center of the storm, indicating that the heretics were using the power of divine relics to breach the entrance. It might happen again soon. Children, we will launch our third offensive. This time, our goal is to break through the defenses of the old heretic and allow you to reach the center of the storm, touch the tree, and enter Dragonland.”

“We will hold off that powerful enemy for you. Do not engage in combat with him. Remember, no matter what happens, do not concern yourself with us, do not look back. Enter the center of the storm. Once Dragonland opens, do everything in your power to prevent the other heretic from entering. That demon, the source of the power of the Door of Truth, lies within.”

Tattered golden banners fluttered in the wind, and the call to arms sounded melodiously. Someone led two rhinoceros beasts over. The man’s desperate shouts at the front of the formation reached their climax.

“Remember your resolve today, remember how you feel at this moment!”

He turned and mounted the beast, drawing his spear from its sheath, slashing it downward with a loud clang. A brilliant purple light flashed from the tip of the spear.

“After this battle, whether you live or die, you will become heroes forever remembered by your people! The great gods are watching you, and the holy light will always accompany you—”

At the forefront of the formation, I and the elderly archbishop mounted the rhinoceros beasts simultaneously. The old man stroked the beast’s neck, his eyes seemingly filled with a smile. “Miss Sylviga, this time, you don’t need to charge ahead. Let these young ones show their heroism first; they’ve been talking about it for a long time.”

“…Alright.”

I looked at the old man for a moment, nodding emphatically.

My voice was somewhat dry.

“Faith团! Judgment Fist! Prepare the army!”

Clang, clang, clang, clang—

The knights drew their swords, the monks murmured prayers, and golden light spilled down from above the formation. Everyone’s bodies glowed faintly. I unstrapped Captain Gray from my back. The trigger of Captain Gray was damaged, so I had to unfold it piece by piece with my hands. As the scythe took shape, the chipped blade seemed to flash with blinding sharpness once more.

I caressed the blade, thinking: I’m sorry, but you’ll have to stay with me one more time…

“Follow me into battle—!!!”

A fierce, howling roar fell from behind, and the thunderous hoofbeats echoed across the open field. The old man riding beside me turned and made a prayer gesture toward me.

“May the holy light bless us, Miss Sylviga.”