Why Am I a Priestess When I Reach the Maximum Level? - [Vol. 5] Chapter 209

[Vol. 5] Chapter 209: Intensification

Regarding the general principles behind faith-based magic, the scholar from the Lightborn Tribe hypothesized as follows:

Believers concentrate their thoughts and spirit, transforming them into the special power known as ?Faith?. This energy is funneled into a kind of ?Transfer Station?, which then converts these powers into holy light elemental energy, returning it to the believers to help them perform powers that transcend common understanding.

While the actual process is certainly much more complex, this simple summary outlines the cycle of faith-based magic, explaining the mystery of how this power can seemingly generate from nothing despite the law of energy conservation.

It also clarifies why faith-based magic does not require the absorption of magical energy like traditional mages, but rather strengthens through the honing of mental will.

Then, why did the faith-based magic lose its power when the ?Blood Calamity? broke out in the St. Bergen Mountains?

Ayla believes that this is likely due to the power of that blood-red barrier, which shielded the connection between the believers and the ?Transfer Station?. However, if this divine power truly comes from the omniscient and omnipotent goddess, as the doctrine describes…

How could a barrier created by mere mortals possibly block divine power?

This is the general situation. Of course, there is much Ayla has yet to fully understand. The idea that ?Faith? can convert between two types of energy is merely her baseless hypothesis, and the true nature of the so-called ?Transfer Station?, or whether it exists at all, has yet to be supported by clear evidence. Therefore, further in-depth research is necessary.

Nevertheless, based on the current theories, it poses a significant disadvantage for the Goddess Church, which upholds the doctrine of ?The Grace of the Goddess of Light, Supreme, Omnipotent?. This would greatly damage the image of Goddess Aurora, making her appear less great, and undermining the Goddess Church’s status in the world.

Because… if what Ayla has researched is confirmed to be true, the actions of the “Goddess” would essentially be no different from those of demons. One simply accepts everything, while the other offers something in return. It’s just a matter of degree.

To be honest, while Violet had previously delved into Ayla’s still immature hypothesis and intended to fund her continued research, she held a mindset of “It sounds reasonable. After all, there’s nothing to lose by trying,” and did not fully believe it.

However, now, seeing the Knight Templars before her, spiritless yet clearly full of energy and vitality. Violet felt that Ayla’s theory was likely the truth.

For the moment, let’s return to the battlefield.

The sword of light that had just been wielded undoubtedly reached a level that could be considered transcendent-level, fully matching the strike that Edwina had aimed at Leopold under the enhancement of the priestess’s cooperation back then.

Of course, the former had now grown far stronger through training and relentless effort, further propelled by ?God’s Blood?, and with the full support of thousands of Knight Templars launching a combined attack, it was not surprising that it could showcase power comparable to its previous strike.

Having prepared in advance, the replacement on the city wall was completed in just a few minutes. The refreshed Knight Templars filled the gap of over a thousand, and Edwina, who had led the previous combined attack, showed no signs of being overwhelmed. After a short rest, she had fully recovered.

Thus, the current situation was that the Holy Empire had temporarily sacrificed the combat effectiveness of over a thousand Knight Templars to replace over ten giant hammer demons and a large number of cannon fodder, successfully stifling the enemy’s first wave of the most intense assault.

Although it could indeed be considered a case of “killing a thousand while injuring eight hundred,” it was absolutely worth it.

As Violet pondered, the residual wave of the sword of light, which had surged far away, gradually lost its power after achieving sufficient results, dissipating into specks of light.

On the southern land of Sacchino City, a diagonal cut nearly a thousand meters long and dozens of meters wide was left behind. In its wake, at least over ten thousand demon beasts perished, leaving no trace behind.

Watching the attack marks on the ground and the tall silhouette of the white-armored holy knight, Miss Violet suddenly felt a slight confusion in her heart.

Speaking of which, if the Holy Empire possessed such a powerful combined magic, why were the demons completely unprepared? They took quite a significant hit this time… Could it be a new technique developed recently?

Combined attack… combined attack… I see now, it’s the ?Reaper’s Scythe?… No, is it the support provided by the Spirit Veil Merchant Guild?

However, it seemed that such a degree of damage was not enough to make the demons abandon their plans for continued assault. Although no new giant hammer demons had appeared, the enemy’s main force had not truly suffered any damage, and the strong demon units were far more than just these few.

The land that had been swept clean by the sword of light was soon filled again by the surging sea of demon beasts.

In the heart of the demon army, guarded by legions of demon cavalry and demon guards, dozens of monstrous, bone-constructed machines, each at least three times the size of the Violet’s Crystal Bright Beast carriages, came into view.

“That is…!”

The well-informed Bright Light Saintess made a judgment almost immediately.

“?Defilement? minions, the ?Nightmare Executioners?… They’ve actually mixed in directly with the army of ?Slaughter?. So they have indeed formed a deep collaboration…”

Before the enemy could act, Yuna quickly turned her head and asked in a voice faster than usual, “How long until the city’s protective barrier can be reestablished?”

“Your Highness, the barrier was just shattered by the enemy. Even if we work at full capacity to repair it, it will probably take at least fifteen minutes.”

“Fifteen minutes…”

The Saintess frowned, seemingly hesitating and contemplating something. Upon hearing the name, Miss White Fox immediately recalled information about the corresponding target from her mind.

The ?Nightmare Executioners?, one of the distorted minions of the King of ?Defilement?, Pleg.

Although they move as slowly as snails and struggle to maneuver quickly on their own, lacking close-range self-defense capabilities, they can be easily taken out if a strong enemy gets close. However, in this large-scale fixed-point offensive and defensive battlefield, they can exert effects that surpass even the giant hammer demons under Slaughter.

Though they appear to be mere machines, the ?Nightmare Executioners? are actually living creatures, a very special type of demon.

They can generate explosive substances filled with potent plague toxins within their bodies and launch them using their catapult-like structure, enabling them to conduct large-scale precision bombardments from several kilometers away or even farther.

These plague-based compounds are very similar to bombs on Earth. Upon impact with the ground or walls, or when subjected to external attacks and pressure, they explode instantly, releasing a shockwave and deadly toxins with a vast area of effect.

Apart from intercepting them in mid-air or forcibly blocking them with large-scale barriers, there are almost no efficient countermeasures. The minions of ?Defilement? always have the effect of “spreading toxins” in almost all their attacks. If they are not completely isolated and dealt with in time, it could easily lead to an outbreak of a severe plague.

This is why ?Defilement? has always been the most hated and taboo among the four demon lords. Although the frequency of its minions appearing in the present world is only slightly higher than that of the isolated Chaos, the visible casualties and losses it has caused throughout history are far more devastating than those of Slaughter and Corruption.

“Distance… five kilometers? Considering the interference from the defensive forces…”

The Saintess was still raising her hand to estimate certain things, but the demons wouldn’t give her the time to think slowly. Their hatred for the Goddess Church had been ignited by Edwina’s earlier attack.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have revealed one of their trump cards, the ?Nightmare Executioners?, so early.

With the assistance of other demons, the preparation speed of dozens of ?Nightmare Executioners? to attack significantly increased. Within just a few seconds, the ominous dark green “stones” were pushed onto the catapult.

“Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang…!!!!!”

Dozens of sickly green lights shot up into the sky!