Chapter 727

Chapter 112: The Devastating Power Part 2

At the end of the scorching wind, above the burning scorched earth in the center of the town, the massive mushroom cloud had not completely dissipated and had turned into a pitch-black smoke column several dozen meters in diameter. The dense black smoke slowly drifted up to the gray sky. From the ground, it seemed almost to touch the rolling dark clouds. Below the smoke, there was a deep crater formed by the impact of the flaming meteor.

The air temperature seemed to still be rising.

Outside the crater, amidst the swirling mist, the girl, who had transformed into a crimson demon, knelt down again in front of the swordsman.

She was tearing off pieces of the Pontiff Knight’s cloak she had pulled from the man’s back, gently wrapping them around the wounds on his wrists and chest. These actions were performed slowly and carefully, with an expressionless yet serious demeanor that made her look somewhat clumsy, as if she was not very proficient at it. This stark contrast with her terrifying appearance was striking.

But the girl was focused intently.

As if nothing had happened here.

After a moment, the sound of iron hooves echoed from the west, accompanied by faint golden light. Charging rhinos gradually appeared at the edge of the scorched earth, one by one, then two by two… increasing to dozens, then hundreds. The knights clad in golden armor lined up outside the burning land, using divine light shields to protect against the intense heat. Amidst the chaos, some people stared blankly at the terrible crater, while soon after, they all saw the girl’s figure over there.

“Who is that…”

“Where are our vanguard riders? Sir Salong, Brother Lariques, where did everyone go!”

“His Eminence, it seems we have not found any traces of the heretics! Where are the enemies? And where are the Pontiff Knights—”

Someone shouted loudly amid the commotion. Aresta had bloodshot eyes, staring fixedly at the center of the scorched earth in the distance, his face dark like a stormy sky, silent.

Gradually, more people followed his gaze, seeing a strange, tiny black silhouette in the heart of the scorching heat waves, flickering through the dissipating frost mist, as if slowly standing up.

“Who is that…”

“It’s too far to see clearly…”

“What! Is there a heretic over there?”

“No, that doesn’t seem right…”

“That black thing does not look like a person…”

Whoosh—

From afar, they heard the sound of wings spreading.

That black figure was still three to five hundred meters away, and with the fog covering, they could only vaguely see fiery wings suddenly unfolding from behind her, long strands flying wildly like white hair. There seemed to be another person lying in front of her, but they couldn’t tell who it was; everyone’s minds were still spinning.

In the next moment, thick ice walls rose heavily from that side, encircling the black figure and the person in front of her, disappearing from everyone’s sight.

“Ice Order…”

“That is not one of ours—!!”

“Grace Scales, prepare for battle!!!”

Amidst the military tide, urgent shouts rang out in all directions. The Holy Cross flag fluttered in the fierce wind, and the huge rhino hooves trampled back and forth on the soft soil. The vanguard already held their swords and shields at the edge of the scorched earth, while more knights continued to rush toward this place. The golden armored flood gradually deployed its lines beyond the burning land. In the next instant, someone heard the sound of wind singing overhead.

They looked up.

Boom—!

The thunder sounded like it exploded beside their ears. An astonishing red snake tore through the rolling clouds, casting a bloody hue across the gloomy sky. Amidst the blood-red sky, the knights saw a mysterious figure clad in black armor, with horns on its head and hair flying, its enormous bat wings burning and extending, hovering not far above, looking down with crimson eyes静静地

Looking down from above.

It was as if a demon was salivating over its prey.

“Enemy attack! Enemy attack!!!”

“Vanguard ready your swords! Prepare the Sin Barrier—”

“Engage!”

This scene instantly sent shivers down the spines of the Grace Scale Knights who witnessed it, the cold creeping up their spines to their brains. Some were stunned, but being the most elite warriors of the Holy Church, many reacted immediately. The two knights at the forefront began issuing commands through flag bearers, while behind them, members of the Faith Order shot brilliant golden light into the sky.

Even for these warriors, the enemies before them seemed beyond comprehension.

That terrifying figure that suddenly appeared from the thunderstorm was neither a fierce villain nor the heretics they had expected. Apart from vaguely resembling a girl’s form, the moment that thing appeared in the sky, everyone’s first thought was the chilling word “demon.”

These knights, seasoned veterans who had fought countless battles, brave warriors who had cut down bandits and buried heretics, some even with experience facing the Abyss, now faced this terrifying demon descending from the heavens, hovering there and exerting an immense pressure. None of them could immediately come up with a strategy.

They had no experience dealing with such unknowns, not even time to consider what the creature truly was.

Yet, the warriors acted swiftly, even though some were tense, others trembling, and a few nearly aimed their swords at their comrades’ backs. But at least in that moment, none considered retreating. They all assumed combat-ready stances against the demon.

Spears were raised, shields held firm, warhorses reared up, front hooves lifting as they let out long, shrill screams. Golden light spread through the crowd, more knights pouring in from the rear, forming battle lines. The first division of the Grace Scale Knights, the sub-unit, showcased the formidable qualities of an elite force, despite having fewer than a thousand men. Their aura was enough to intimidate even a ten-thousand-strong army.

Bishop Alersta alone fell silent at this moment.

When the thunder finally subsided, he gazed at the demonic figure suspended in the gray sky, his bloodshot eyes vacant for a long time, barely hearing those around him calling him. Then, as if seeing something unbelievable, his eyes widened further, his cracked lips quivering as he slowly opened them.

“No way…”

His voice was hoarse, as if thick phlegm clogged his throat: “That is…”

Alersta recognized the demon.

He clearly saw the cold, delicate, and exquisite face.

But before he could recover from the deep shock and confusion, the thin Sin Barrier above rapidly spread amidst the humming of divine miracles. From the rear, dozens of holy spears released simultaneously, rushing forward with a howling wind towards the demon, black as night.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh—

The fierce assault arrived in an instant.

Even as the holy spear lights approached, the demon remained motionless, expressionless.

She simply raised her right hand.

Crack crack crack crack crack!

With a massive sound of compressed ice, astonishing frost suddenly condensed from the sky, fragments of ice drawn by some vortex force from all directions toward the demon, quickly forming an arc-shaped ice wall. The holy spears struck the wall, creating a dense, muffled noise as they deeply embedded themselves, their momentum halted, pinned within the ice wall.

Then, the ice wall fell from above, revealing the black demon once more.

Her eyes now glowed with an even more intense crimson light.