Chapter 307

Chapter 93: Caught You!

“No, this can’t be… You… Cough, cough—”

The old man couldn’t even get out his painful words.

His aged and emaciated body was clearly unable to withstand the excessive stimulation of rapid ascent. His arms flailed in the air, trying to grab my arm but fearing the black flames. Blood from his wounds splashed into the fire tongues, making a faint “hissing” sound as it was consumed entirely, not even a drop touching my armor.

I gripped tightly onto the collar of his robe, almost suffocating him. He let out low growls from his throat, his eyes starting to roll back.

Find a place…

After flying to a certain height, the clamor below from the knights gradually became indistinct, and I could no longer make out what they were saying. Occasionally, arrows of light flew by, but they were off-target.

I turned direction mid-air, not caring about east or west, controlling the black flames to fly at full speed, increasing the distance from the Church knights while keeping an eye on the bishop’s condition. Under the white light, his face changed from flushed to purple and blue. He seemed eager to say something to me, but could not utter a single word. Gradually, even his tongue protruded.

It’s time…

Put him down now.

Whoosh—

The black flames flickered in the wind, gradually weakening, slowing the flight. I adjusted my posture in the air, holding the bishop as I swooped down toward the grassland. When close to the ground, I swung my arm, throwing the bishop out, then slowly descended, landing on the soft earth with a gentle touch.

The flames on my body flickered and went out. Thin black smoke rose from the armor and dissipated into the air.

“Guh—”

A muffled groan came from the front.

He was thrown hard onto the ground, his body rolling uncontrollably for nearly ten meters before finally stopping. Face down, he seemed to sense my approach and struggled to get up, but only managed to stay on all fours. His left elbow pressed against the grass as he coughed violently, fresh blood gushing from the severed right arm.

“Hrr… Ugh… Ugh…”

His body trembled, and heavy breaths escaped his mouth. A mixture of saliva and dirt trickled from his open mouth.

I walked step by step toward him, stopping. Captain Gray held his right hand tightly, the blade pointing downward.

“You…”

The old man’s voice shook terribly.

He struggled to lift his head, eyes bloodshot, looking at me with a complex expression.

“You were hit by… cough! The Goddess’s Judgment…”

He was in great pain, barely maintaining his expression. The muscles on his face twitched continuously.

Only then did I notice that the bishop’s right leg was wrapped in bandages, swollen beyond recognition… This wasn’t done by me; he had already been injured in previous battles. But after that fall, blood seeped through the bandages, staining the bottom of his robe, preventing him from standing… No wonder he was left behind.

“Why… are you still alive…”

Hearing his disjointed words, I frowned slightly.

The Goddess’s Judgment?

What is that… Is it the miracle that struck me at last? How powerful?

So what if it was powerful…

In the end, it didn’t kill me; I’m still alive.

“You… threw me into the Abyss,” I said softly. “So… I survived.”

Of course, this was a lie, but maybe it would make him feel even more unacceptable.

“It’s impossible, impossible…”

The old man’s pale, dirt-streaked lips quivered uncontrollably, disbelief in his eyes.

With great effort, he straightened his upper body, left hand gripping his right arm tightly, fingers turning white as he tried to stop the bleeding, but it was futile.

He seemed to look at me, or perhaps somewhere else behind me, muttering, “This isn’t right… You were coughing, before falling into the Abyss… Before that, you should have… already died… You’ve already died… Even if you are from the Abyss…”

The old man felt extreme confusion. He seemed convinced that I was dead… I don’t think he was lying to me.

So, have I actually… died once before?

Looking at the haggard and pitiful face in front of me, I felt an indescribable discomfort, a hint of sorrow spreading throughout my body.

Unable to hold back, I clenched my small fists.

“You…”

Ah, my voice sounds a bit hoarse…

Clear my throat slightly.

“You… really hope I die?”

The softly spoken words drifted away in the night breeze of the grassland.

The old man suddenly jolted.

As if suddenly regaining consciousness, he struggled to control his increasingly twisted face due to pain, shouting frantically, “No, it’s not like that! I don’t want you to die! That’s just Cardinal Nero’s idea… I cough, I’m just under his jurisdiction, I can’t go against his will, I could only do what I did, I had no choice…”

“I am merely a dedicated bishop… We don’t know each other, so why would we wish for your death? That… Miss Hil, Miss Silvado, I’ve heard of you… You are a brave Papal Knight…”

How ugly…

“Nero said you are an Abyss monster. I believed him… But he lied to me, how could you be a monster… Monsters can’t talk here, right… You have clean and beautiful eyes, you must be a very kind girl… Damn it, I was deceived…”

… Is this the kind of person who has been blessed by the gods?

I don’t want to hear any more of his nonsense.

“Tell me where Margaret is. Where is Nero.”

Upon hearing this, the bishop’s eyes instantly lit up.

“I know, cough, I know where they are, I’ll take you there, I’ll take you there—”

“Not necessary.”

I shook my head gently.

“Just tell me, I’ll find them myself.”

The bishop paused slightly, then his eyes revealed fear.

“No, you won’t find them… Let me take you… Only I know where they are…”

I interrupted him, “They are in a nearby town, right?”

Unfortunately, I had already heard the knights mention it. I just didn’t remember the name or how to get there.

“Uh… Miss, I need… to stop the bleeding…”

The bishop tried to tear his robe, but I held the scythe to his neck.

“Don’t move. Tell me where the town is. Otherwise… when you die, I can ask someone else.”

I extended another hand, pointing toward the direction from which the sound came, smiling at him.

The bishop fell silent.

“You don’t have much time.”

Slowly, I lowered the scythe. Then I raised my left hand, concentrating.

Tiny black smoke snakes erupted from my palm, winding around my fingers for a moment before darting toward the bishop’s face.

“Aah!”

He cried out, instinctively raising his hand to block, but the black smoke snake bypassed his arm, flying to his head, swirling like playfully dancing, ready to consume its prey at any moment.

“Do you know what this is?”

The old man’s eyes were filled with fear, his face pale, cold sweat dripping down his cheeks. He couldn’t speak for a long time.

I raised one finger, looking at him expressionlessly, starting to count.

“One.”

Then raised a second.

“Two…”

“Wait!” the old man finally couldn’t hold back, “I’ll tell you! I’ll tell you… Cardinal Nero… He’s in Vendôme Town, I received this information recently, the Holy Maiden is hiding there, Nero has gone there with people, we need to join him immediately…”

He lifted his left hand, pointing southeast.

“Vendôme Town is over there—”

I subconsciously looked in that direction.

There…

Suddenly, golden light bloomed in my peripheral vision.

!

My heart sank sharply, and before my consciousness could react, my body moved first.

Whoosh—

The wind whipped up black smoke, which suddenly surged beneath my feet, engulfing everything around me.

“Ahh…”

“Ah ah ah—”

I heard the bishop’s miserable cries. It was only for a brief moment before the cries abruptly stopped.

After a moment, a wisp of white smoke seeped into my chest.

“Mmm…”

A sensation of devouring rushed into my brain. I clenched my fists and held them in front of my chest, my body trembling slightly.

As the dead smoke slowly returned to my body, there was nothing left in front of me; nothing remained except for the black dead land and drifting ashes.

He died…

I devoured him…

I stood still, my mind repeating this sentence over and over.

This wasn’t…

Something decided long ago…

I was supposed to eat them, those who dared to harm me…

But I really did devour him… Why do I feel uncomfortable, so miserable…

It’s not really anything…

Let’s go.

In the distance behind me, countless flames were already lighting up. The shouts of the knights and the clashing of armor could faintly be heard.

Go…

Don’t think about it, find Margaret.

In the next moment, the black flames beneath my feet roiled, sending me soaring into the sky.

Southeast…

Following the direction the old man had pointed out, I concentrated and propelled the black flames, flying at full speed.

Don’t think about anything else…

But I couldn’t help but look back, gazing at that small patch of scorched earth far behind me, which I had left far behind.

…I had already made up my mind to devour them.

Carlos told me I was a papal knight, not an indecisive fool. I shouldn’t regret my actions. I didn’t make a mistake… I can’t let those who hurt me go unpunished, or they will keep hurting me.

If I hadn’t retaliated just now, I might have been ambushed again… What I did was right.

Don’t think too much…

The pale moonlight flickered in the distance.

Its faint glow illuminated the darkness, casting a shadowy outline of the wilderness below. Wrapped in flames, I flew low, immersing myself in the ethereal elegance of the night scene, which brought me some comfort.

Although I couldn’t see it yet, I should be very close to the capital city… Once I find Margaret and return with her, all problems will be smoothly resolved…

Then maybe… I should rest properly…

I felt a bit homesick…

Rumbling…

Suddenly, a loud thunderous sound came from afar.

!

What happened…

I was startled by this terrifying noise. Before I could figure out what was happening, a thousand-foot golden light suddenly appeared on the horizon. Instantly, the entire night was bathed in radiant glory, as if a god had descended. Myriad golden rays broke through the clouds, tearing apart the thin veil of moonlight, piercing the heavens and illuminating the plain and rivers below. The solitary windmill tower standing on the grassland, the mud fields beside it, and countless distant tiny houses were all revealed.

It’s the town…

Miracles are being performed there!

Who is it?

Margaret… or Nero…

Adjusting my posture, I propelled the flames, charging straight towards the direction of the golden light.

Rumbling…

The deafening thunder continued to echo.

In my vision, countless white arcs of lightning flowed and weaved within the clouds, gathering in the distant night sky, resembling monstrous serpents intertwined with golden rays, dispelling the dark half of the sky.

In the next moment, a thick beam of light pierced the sky.

“Mmm…”

I couldn’t help closing my eyes.

The world seemed to quiet for a few seconds.

Immediately after, a sound like the collapse of heaven and earth reached my ears.

Boom—!!!

“Aah!”

I seemed to let out a scream, but I couldn’t hear my own voice.

I could barely open my eyes.

The light ahead hadn’t disappeared, but the terrifying beam of light that had struck down from the sky transformed into a shower of white stars. The terrifying energy gradually dissipated as the stars scattered. The town, which had once been filled with countless houses, was now completely buried under the billowing dust, with the faint glow of a raging fire visible amid the smoke.

!!!

What kind of terrifying power is this!

I was a little scared.

The shock wave hit, and the black flames wrapped around me swayed violently in the wind. Suppressing the shiver rising in my heart, I drove the chaotic power, flying against the strong wind.

Who is it…

Soon, I saw a hill outside the town where the rolling dust didn’t reach. Two rows of scattered knights riding on rhinos stood there, their rhinos lifting their front hooves, twisting their bodies, and nervously stirring.

In front of the knights, two old men in long robes and Bishop Nero, also riding on rhinos, were still enveloped in the lingering golden light.

It’s them…

The miracle was performed by them… Why did they attack the town… Could Margaret be there… But aren’t you part of the Holy Church!

Why…

How could you perform such an act comparable to the Abyss…

People live in the town!

At this moment, intense anger filled my consciousness. My body sharply turned downward, diving toward Nero.

The distance wasn’t far, and my speed was very fast.

He hasn’t noticed me… He hasn’t noticed me… Getting closer… Only dozens of meters away…

Someone looked back!

“What is that…”

“The Abyss…”

“It’s the Abyss!”

I was discovered…

With a sweep of my left hand, several black smoke snakes shot out.

Nero reacted quickly. As soon as the knights shouted, he glowed with golden light again, forming a glowing arc-shaped barrier instantly, enveloping him inside. The dead smoke twisted its body and collided with it, but was entirely blocked outside, circling rapidly above the barrier. Then, I saw him raise his hand.

!

Don’t think you can hit me with the same trick again!

I manipulated the black flames to quickly dodge to the side, while a blazing white light almost grazed my shoulder and shot backward.

Close call…

Only thirty meters away!

Flames raged around my body. I could feel the scorching energy of the chaotic power surging within me.

Buzzing…

Golden light gathered on the barrier, gradually forming the shape of a golden bell, covering half of the panicking knights below.

Ding—

The bell rang.

The two old men originally preparing to perform miracles instantly fell off their beasts’ backs, along with many knights and rhinos, tumbling to the ground.

Twenty meters…

With a slight wave of my left hand, the dead smoke circling the barrier suddenly spread to both sides, swallowing the two old men in long robes and the rhinos on the ground.

The instant the white smoke approached, a black fireball ignited in my hand.

Compress… Compress more…

Almost all the black flames on my body converged into the fireball in my hand. The powerful wind pressure hitting my face even caused me pain.

Then, I swung my arm.

Whoosh—

The fireball whistled, rushing toward the incomplete golden bell still in mid-air.

Clang—嗡嗡嗡！

There wasn’t an explosion as violent as expected. The black fireball instantly pierced through the golden bell, leaving a hole the size of a head, and dissipated into the air as sparks.

Almost simultaneously, I raised Captain Gray, and my petite figure transformed into a dark meteor, crashing directly into the thin light barrier.

Boom!

Flames raged in my vision.

The immense recoil force made Captain Gray slip from my grasp. The golden light barrier shattered under this impact, and I even saw Nero’s slightly panicked face.

I caught you!

“Ah ah ah—”

At the moment I landed, I rolled to dissipate the remaining force. A burst of astonishing power erupted beneath my feet as I leaped, landing in front of him in an instant.

Clenching my fist.

A straight punch slammed into his fleshy cheek.

Pang!

Nero, unable to react in time, instantly contorted his face. His cheekbone deformed, and a few teeth flew out of his misaligned mouth, grazing past my ear and flying behind me.

His body was sent flying back.