Chapter 609 : True Ancestor Appears |
Gregory’s words were shocking.
In an instant, all eyes turned to Charlotte.
“The True Ancestor of Blood…?! Is Her Holiness truly the True Ancestor of Blood?”
“Is… is what he’s saying true?!”
“No… impossible, right?”
“Yes, Her Holiness’ holy power is so strong… how could a bloodborne possess holy power?”
“But… last year, the Inquisition did obtain similar intelligence…”
“Could it be… could it…”
The clergies were filled with doubt, quickly falling into disarray.
Of course, if it were just shocking claims, the clergies might not have been so shaken.
What truly caused the commotion was the fact that the Holy Court had indeed conducted similar “investigations” in the past. Nearly all high-ranking clergy within the Theocracy knew that Charlotte’s invitation this time was originally meant to confirm suspicions raised by the Bishop and the Inquisition regarding her identity.
However, the information the Inquisition had obtained back then was far less terrifying than what Gregory XII had just revealed.
The Inquisition had suspected that Charlotte might be an ancient Bloodborne Demigod, a favored servant of God Nyx.
“Silence! Gregory XII has fallen! This is an illusion he created using the Myrick Shrine! Don’t be deceived by him!”
Grandmaster Angus of the Templar Knights shouted.
Afterward, he glanced at Charlotte and continued.
“Her Holiness’ holy power is unmatched! She has been blessed by our Lord! Her Holiness is undoubtedly our Holy Court’s Saintess!”
“Gregory’s so-called intelligence comes from the Blood Demon Cult! Do not fall for their divisive schemes!”
The holy light swept over the clergies, and they quickly regained their composure. However, their gazes toward Charlotte had undeniably become more complicated and subtle.
“Haha, your self-deception is truly laughable. But… it doesn’t matter. In the end, you will all remain here today.”
Gregory XII chuckled.
As he finished speaking, he slammed his staff onto the ground. A subtle wave of energy spread outward from him, lighting up illusory elven runes around the palace.
Soon, a complex, massive array appeared within the temple, enveloping everyone inside.
Silver-blue light flickered like soft moonlight, shining down on the clergies.
As they were bathed in this “moonlight,” the clergies were horrified to discover that their holy power was quickly becoming sluggish, as if their bodies had been filled with lead, rendering them unable to use their powers.
“The Moon Seal! This is the Moon Seal, an infamous elven forbidden spell! The Legendary spell that can even seal Gods!”
An elderly cardinal gasped in horror.
The ground began to tremble.
Suddenly, with a chorus of maddened howls, grotesque monsters rushed in from all sides of the temple.
They emitted an evil aura, each unique in form, but they all shared the same crazed, violent blood-red eyes.
“Blood fiends! They’re out-of-control blood fiends! So many of them!”
A priest cried out in alarm.
However, Cardinal Selina’s expression grew more serious than ever. Her gaze lingered on the torn robes the creatures wore and the evil, chaotic divine power they emanated.
She said in shock and confusion.
“No…”
“They aren’t blood fiends… they’re the ‘missing’ rebellious priests! They’ve been corrupted by some kind of fallen divine power and turned into unholy aberrations!”
At this, Selina looked toward Gregory XII showing horror in her expression.
“He… turned all those heretics who followed him into wicked monsters!”
Gregory XII showed a hint of surprise.
Narrowing his eyes, he glanced at Selina and smiled.
“As expected from the Inquisition’s chief. Your strange knowledge is indeed extraordinary.”
“But… you’re wrong about one thing.”
“They aren’t wicked monsters. They… are the chosen ones of my Lord, the fortunate ones… the saints who have sacrificed themselves for my Lord’s grand plan!”
With that, Gregory XII’s expression became fanatical. He slammed his staff onto the ground again and pointed toward Charlotte and the others, shouting.
“Leave none alive! Kill them all!”
“Roar—!”
With a deafening roar, the monsters surged toward the clergies.
Seeing the tide of monsters rushing at them, Grandmaster Angus and the others’ faces turned grim.
“Prepare for battle! Activate the magic formation!”
“Protect Her Holiness!”
“…”
The battle erupted in an instant.
But as soon as they clashed, the clergies discovered something horrifying.
“I-it’s useless! Holy power is ineffective against them!”
“Hold the formation! We must hold the formation!”
The chaotic battle began.
Facing insane monsters that felt no pain and had lost all reason, the clergies, suppressed by the forbidden spell, quickly fell to a disadvantage.
Although the disciplined Templar Knights and their powerful magic formation barely held their formation, anyone could see that it was only a matter of time before they were overwhelmed by the monstrous tide.
Gregory XII squinted as he observed the battlefield.
He chuckled softly and raised his staff once again.
“Atar… Cataruna!”
He chanted an ancient incantation, his staff erupting with dazzling holy light. A ring on his finger suddenly lit up, growing even more brilliant under the amplification of the holy light.
Terrifying magical power began to gather above the temple…
Lightning surged across the temple’s dome, tearing open the sky.
Then, a massive, blazing “meteor” emerged from the rift, hurtling toward the clergies!
“Ember Meteor! You’ve gone mad!”
Grandmaster Angus’s eyes widened in rage.
Forbidden spell—Ember Meteor.
A Legendary spell said to have destroyed the elves’ homeland on the western continent.
Of course, the power of a forbidden spell cast by a God differed from one cast by a mortal. Even so, this spell could easily wipe out a small city!
And now, with the divine artifact “Holy Hand” Gregory XII wore, the power of the forbidden spell had reached a new level. Though the meteor’s area of effect was confined within the temple, its destructive force had nearly doubled.
As soon as the meteor appeared, the towering temple collapsed under the sheer magical force!
The blazing meteor plummeted into the crowd.
With a deafening explosion, the entire world seemed to tremble. A violent magical storm tore apart the remaining “monsters,” leaving only Gregory XII standing, protected by a translucent Legendary shield.
However, even his shield began to crack under the residual force of the magical storm, shattering the moment the storm subsided.
The temple… had vanished.
All that remained were roaring flames, thick smoke, and a sky blotted out by dust.
Gregory stood still.
He calmly observed the raging fire before a slow smile crept across his face.
“It seems… the True Ancestor of Blood is nothing special.”
“Hmph, just a mere God who hasn’t fully regained her power, and yet she dares to stand in the way of my Lord’s grand plan!”
But then, he froze.
The dust cleared, the flames extinguished, and the clergies stood unharmed before him, their expressions dazed.
There was no trace of the meteor on the ground, as if the Ember Meteor had been nothing but an illusion. Only the collapsed temple confirmed that great power had indeed wreaked havoc there moments ago.
At the front of the crowd stood a tall, elegant figure, casually toying with a small fireball in her hand.
No, it wasn’t a fireball. It was a “meteor,” compressed into the size of a small clay ball.
The graceful figure toyed with the “meteor” before slowly opening her eyes.
Her eyes were deep like an abyss.
Golden-red pupils flickered with flames, radiating an unimaginable power that seemed to draw in anyone who met her gaze.
Her silver hair danced along the wind, and her stunning face carried an aura of both transcendence and unmatched beauty, bearing an uncanny resemblance to Charlotte.
It was Charlotte, in her “Saint” form.
Her original saintly robes had disappeared, replaced by a magnificent black divine gown, adorned with intertwining thorns and roses that depicted ancient and mysterious patterns.
Crimson and platinum light intertwined around her, swirling in a way that made her appear both eerie and divine.
The clergy’s attention was quickly drawn to Charlotte.
As they gazed at her, their eyes widened in shock, as if struck by an unprecedented revelation. Her appearance was nearly identical to the figure depicted in the murals of the temple.
“T-t-t…”
The elderly cardinal stuttered, his expression frozen in awe as he stared blankly at Charlotte.
Grandmaster Angus, too, wore a complex expression, gripping and releasing his holy sword repeatedly.
Gregory XII, however, stood frozen, staring at Charlotte with a mix of fear and panic.
“True… Ancestor of Blood!”
Charlotte glanced at the “fireball” in her hand and then at the retreating Gregory XII.
She chuckled softly, her now more mature and melodic voice like a whisper from the depths of hell.
“This fireball is interesting, but its power… is a bit lacking. How about… I return it to you?”
With a flick of her wrist, she tossed the “fireball” back toward Gregory XII.
The “fireball” grew larger as it left her hand.
As the rapidly expanding “meteor” hurtled toward him, Gregory XII’s face twisted in horror. He hurriedly raised his staff, casting layer upon layer of magical shields while retreating as fast as he could.
But in the next instant, with a thunderous explosion, he was engulfed in a nuclear blast-like eruption.
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