Chapter 683

Chapter Sixty-Eight: An Impending Ambush

“Sister…”

In a daze, I heard someone calling me.

“Sis…ter…”

Crackling—

The surging karma fire burned fiercely in my vision.

It was a sea of blood-red flames, spewing thick black smoke, consuming everything within a thousand miles. A woman with peculiar attire stood at the center where the flames were most intense, her fiery red hair reaching her back, creating an elegant and graceful silhouette.

However, as my vision zoomed in, I realized that the figure was as massive as a mountain, turning its head slowly amidst the trembling, bending down, its eyes filled with hatred, shimmering with golden light, as if fixated on me. A flickering flame danced within the golden glow, and the face gradually became clearer, revealing a terrifying visage from the land of dragons.

“**Abyssal Language** Rabish…Hermes…”

Her voice was hoarse and sharp, as if coming from the edge of the world: “**Abyssal Language** We…have not yet determined the outcome…we will…engage once more…with the rite of karma fire, through this body, I shall…ignite anew…the spirit…revive…”

Whoosh—

The scorching flames swept past me, and suddenly, everything vanished, leaving behind endless darkness. But deep within the darkness, a piano floated suspended, sparse golden light pouring down like stage spotlights, illuminating the slender back of a white-haired girl seated before it.

Melodious music began to play, and the girl smiled charmingly, glancing back slightly.

Those eyes were crimson like blood, yet incredibly lively.

“**Abyssal Language** Chaos, karma fire, Gideals…the pure power of deities…”

She tilted her head playfully: “**Abyssal Language** You already have two…no, three such powers inside you, don’t you?”

The music stopped, and the girl stood up from the piano.

“**Abyssal Language** Hey, do you understand what the abyss is now?”

I couldn’t speak, couldn’t respond to her.

“**Abyssal Language** The abyss isn’t a force of destruction; it’s a fusion…a fusion of all things, even deities.”

The face identical to mine quickly faded, and the outline of the girl’s body also dimmed.

“**Abyssal Language** You can’t accept me, but in fact…fusion has been happening quietly. Look, you’ve long ceased resisting the power of the abyss, haven’t you? Hehehe…”

“**Abyssal Language** I—”

She looked at her disappearing hand, drawing out the last note, blinking her eyes cutely: “**Abyssal Language** You know who I am, right.”

“Sister…”

Suddenly, that faint call came again.

“Sister—!”

The silhouette of the girl ahead completely faded into the darkness.

In the next moment, I abruptly opened my eyes.

“Sister, wake up! Get up, something’s happened, something’s wrong!”

I sat up instantly, my vision blurry for a while before gradually clearing to see the messy-haired little girl, her tired but anxious face.

Something’s happened…

!

I stared at Betty’s face, and after a few seconds, I reacted sharply.

“What’s going on… Haah~”

My mind was still buzzing, not fully awake from the chaotic dream. Rubbing my eyes and yawning, I asked her subconsciously as I got off the hard bed and put on my boots, still unsteady on my feet when the little girl threw her robe over me.

“Knight, it’s knights! So many knights!!”

“Knights…?”

I hurriedly started dressing.

“Yeah! From the east. No, from the west… Uncle Mund was the first to see them. The town is in chaos now. Grandpa is discussing what to do with others. Sister, we need to get out quickly!”

I hastily put on the robe and slapped my face. Little Betty didn’t wait for me, dragging me by the hand towards the cellar door.

I was still confused, not understanding why there would be so many knights appearing suddenly. It felt like I was still dreaming, my mind foggy, as she dragged me out of the cellar, up the narrow and steep stairs to the mud hut. Hearing the commotion,

The clamor came from outside. Pushing open the door, I saw chaos before my eyes.

“What’s going on? Explain what’s happening! Why do we have to leave…”

“It’s those false believers from West Continent! Pack up your things and return! Return!”

“They’re coming this way! With knights!”

“May the goddess protect us…”

“Kabata, take some people and scout the west again!”

“Mayor—”

Under the night sky, cries echoed by the yellow earth road. People ran about, and the guards stomped out their torches. The wind blew sand across faces, and everywhere was chaos.

“Sister, this way! This way—”

Little Betty pulled me through the dirt road to the building across the street. There stood Old Robert, looking dejected as he spoke with several men holding knives. Beside them, a woman held a wailing baby. As we ran over, all eyes turned to us.

“Milady…”

The old man called to me, his voice somewhat dazed. His hand holding the pipe trembled slightly, and his lips quivered as he said in a bleak tone, “The Church’s knight army is coming…”

“Mom…”

Betty let go of my hand and rushed to the woman holding the baby, hugging her tightly. I watched that scene, then looked at the old man’s pale face and at the men with clenched teeth staring at me. It was only then that I truly woke up from a dream.

What the hell…

Are there really Church knights coming?

And in such numbers?!

No way!

This place is remote and desolate, with barely any places to rest or get supplies along the way. A knight army from the Church? How many are there? They just appeared out of nowhere!?

A series of questions raced through my mind. Instinctively, I asked, “What’s going on?”

“Golden light! It’s golden light… I saw those knights, the false believers, emerging from the golden light… right there!”

The rugged man named Mond suddenly pointed towards the western sky.

Following his finger, I saw strands of lingering golden light amidst the gray clouds, much like auroras, illuminating a vast expanse of the night sky.

That…

Crap, that’s teleportation!

They’ve set up a teleport node here!!!

Who?

When!?

My heart raced.

Damn it…

Who would come at a time like this…

Angel!?

“They clearly came for Meser Town, milady,” Old Robert said, shakily approaching me. “The situation is dire now; staying in town is no longer safe. You… you should…”

He hesitated for a moment, then bit his lip and said, “You should leave as soon as possible.”

“…”

Leave?

Where to…

I haven’t seen that woman yet…

“Mayor!”

Before I could speak, one of the men hurriedly stopped the old man: “She can’t leave here. What will we do then? Those knights from the Church are coming, surely to attack Meser Town! We can’t just sit here and wait. But Miss Elina isn’t here. At this moment, only Lady should… she should fight with us!”

The man glanced at me nervously, then quickly looked away, his voice lowering, “We… we need her strength…”

“Nonsense!”

The old mayor took a deep drag on his pipe and scolded him, “Fight together? What qualifications do you have to resist the Church’s army! Do you know who they are? The Sword Saint Ryan! You cough! Cough cough…”

The old man coughed violently from the smoke, and Betty hurried to pat her grandfather’s back. When the men heard the name “Sword Saint Ryan,” they were stunned, their anger dissipating instantly into collective silence.

“But…”

After a moment, the burly man named Mond gritted his teeth with a sorrowful expression, “But even if we give up resistance, those knights… might not spare us either…”