Volume 1 Chapter 539

Chapter 539: Regret

Lolth did not intend to deliver a fatal blow.

Though she harbored a strong dislike for the Golden Peacock and sought to avenge her disciple, Lolth had no intention of killing her opponent.

This was a self-created divine spell, which essentially involved compressing Holy Light energy to its utmost limit—just enough to severely injure someone at the legend level—and then releasing it. It was a move of stark simplicity.

Compared to Lolth’s other self-created techniques, this one was notably straightforward and unrefined.

Thus, Lolth believed her opponent should be capable of withstanding it.

The actual effect of this technique was not as the other had anticipated; it was not a move designed to annihilate her entirely.

Of course, if she failed to block it and perished, Lolth would feel no remorse.

She could only blame herself for not being skilled enough!

However, the woman from the Golden Peacock experienced something entirely different.

In her view, this move could only be described with two words.

"Terrifying!"

Unstoppable, unblockable, the Holy Light energy continuously locked onto her, gathering into a radiant sphere…

For a moment, she could think of no way to counter it.

Though it moved slowly, it relentlessly forced her to expend all her energy in a frantic dance of evasion to avoid being overtaken.

As for dispersing it… that was utterly impossible.

She had no doubt that the moment her magic touched the Holy Light energy, which had reached a certain "critical threshold," it would explode.

Coupled with the backlash of her own magic, the consequences could be more dreadful than the impact itself!

She had to devise a strategy; continuing like this would only lead to her exhaustion…

She had already noticed that the sphere dissipated much more slowly than her stamina and magic were depleted.

After some thought, she finally arrived at the only solution!

Since she couldn’t destroy this Holy Light energy…

Then let its creator deal with it!

The woman in the stealth cloak abruptly changed her direction and surged forward with increased speed.

She charged straight toward Lolth’s position!

Lolth, observing this rapidly approaching figure wielding a sword larger than herself, felt no sense of threat.

"A wise choice, indeed the best option to counter this move…"

Lolth even had the leisure to commend her opponent.

She showed no trace of panic.

This was, naturally, within Lolth’s expectations!

At the moment when her opponent, with the glowing sphere trailing far behind, raised her massive sword to attack, completely abandoning any defense…

Lolth extended a single finger, pointing directly at her adversary.

"Bang."

With a soft sound from Lolth, a surge of Holy Light power burst forth from her fingertips.

The pure white light exploded like sudden fireworks, transforming into a million threads that rushed towards the approaching woman.

This, much like the glowing sphere, is a unique technique Lolth has devised using the power of Holy Light.

No…

Lolth doesn’t even consider these as techniques; she hasn’t bothered to name them.

To her, such a straightforward use of divine power is merely a skill to be mastered!

Because it’s too simple.

If Lolth were to name all these… even though her naming is casual and straightforward, it would unnecessarily complicate her repertoire of techniques.

Simply put, these "techniques," which she can conceive by the hundreds in an hour, aren’t worth recording.

She can just create them as needed.

When the Holy Light power is transformed into threads, its inherent purifying qualities also undergo new changes.

Originally capable of "melting" other magical powers, it now more closely resembles "disintegration."

The magic imbued in the broadsword met these soft, invisible threads of Holy Light power.

Then, it was fragmented into scattered parts, its flow disrupted, rendering it unable to function as a cohesive whole.

This is the effect of Lolth’s technique.

But the impact doesn’t end there.

After the Holy Light power entwined around the sword, the spreading threads of Holy Light climbed up the blade, winding around her arm and body.

Simultaneously, the Holy Light power’s properties of "gathering" and "pulling" seemed to influence the glowing sphere behind her.

The sphere, which had been moving at a constant speed, suddenly accelerated, almost "colliding" towards the direction of the Golden Peacock woman!

Then…

"Bang!"

A loud explosion echoed, but this time it wasn’t Lolth who caused it.

Instead, it was the bursting Holy Light power.

It resembled a water-filled balloon being punctured by a needle; less of an explosion and more of a deluge.

The tangible Holy Light power cascaded down upon the woman, dazzling and somewhat terrifying.

This is Holy Light.

Sacred, beautiful, accepting, kind, and loving, but also…

Dangerous.

It is both the blessing and the wrath of the God of Light.

Though only the sound of an explosion filled the space, the woman engulfed by the Holy Light power seemed to hear a majestic and sacred decree resonating in her ears.

"Repent for your betrayal!"

"Repent for your weakness!"

"Repent for your sins!"

Her stealth suit, imbued with magic, was "purified" by the power of Holy Light, disintegrating into tattered shreds that fluttered to the ground.

Her face and form were fully exposed to the radiant light, bathed in its glow.

Just like her soul, branded with "countless sins."

A core member or leader of a major nation’s intelligence agency could hardly be without blood on their hands.

Those who belong to such organizations walk in darkness; sin is to them as natural as wine in a cup.

It is an inevitable part of their existence.

She wasn’t severely injured, for the power of Holy Light is remarkably "gentle."

Both her magic and body were shaken, but for someone of legend level, it was entirely bearable.

Especially since she is a legend level warrior.

However, this was not a technique aimed at her physical form.

Lolth may not excel in mental assaults, but that doesn’t mean she lacks methods to target the soul.

This is precisely why she was certain her opponent wouldn’t perish from this attack.

Rather than seeking her opponent’s death, she desired to see them weep in anguish and remorse.

This is what they had inflicted upon Dorothy, and as her mentor, she was determined to make them… experience it firsthand.

This time, it was merely the head of an intelligence agency from the Golden Peacock.

Next time, it would be their ministers, their generals, their chief mage, and their foreign minister…

And their current de facto ruler, Maria Diana.

Lolth would settle the scores with each of them, one by one, for Dorothy.

But for now, she silently stowed the Rod of Eden and gazed down at the woman sprawled on the ground.

She was nearly naked, save for a snug pair of underwear.

The girl on the ground displayed a cascade of delicate purple hair, which draped over much of her body.

Even after the light dimmed, and despite her magic and physical state being intact, she was utterly incapacitated.

The figure writhed in agony on the floor, clutching her head.

Lolth looked down upon her, both towering and imbued with profound compassion.

"This is your sin and your burden… Do you now understand regret?"

Lolth murmured softly, using the Rod of Eden to gently lift the chin of the girl who knelt on the ground, curled up and hugging her head.

She yearned to glimpse the expression on the other’s face.

A "wretch" from the Golden Peacock, trained as a professional intelligence operative, would surely reveal a visage of fear and repentance under the baptism of Holy Light’s power.

But then, Lolth was taken aback.

What the Rod of Eden revealed was a strikingly handsome face.

Gentle and lovely, with a touch of charm in her eyes, she seemed more like a big sister from the neighborhood than the leader of an intelligence agency or someone decisive in the dark side of a large force. She appeared very caring and kind to others. However, this was not the reason for Lolth’s surprise. As a succubus, she had seen many beautiful people and knew that appearances could be misleading—she had nearly lost her purity to someone who seemed innocent on the outside more than once.

Although she recognized the differences between humans from the mainland plane and Abyssal Demons, Lolth thought that since they were both intelligence agents, in some ways, her "charm" was not much different from that of a succubus. Despite being the nominal head of the intelligence department of the Demon Army, Lolth sometimes proved to be quite incompetent. She had never investigated how the intelligence departments of other forces on the mainland operated or how they trained their agents, and she always had little understanding of it.

In Lolth’s eyes, intelligence agents were probably not much different from those in the previous world. It was likely just about teaching them how to be ruthless, how to destroy humanity, and how to deceive and disguise. Through a glimpse of Qiong’s past experiences, Lolth somewhat confirmed that her thoughts were not wrong. But the expression on the girl in front of her was not normal. In the presence of the Holy Light’s power, she could not have the time to disguise herself. If she had that time, there would be no need for her to disguise.

Because of this, Lolth had reason to believe that she was truly showing her feelings, which was also Lolth’s goal. However, the expression on the girl’s face was different from the "fear" and "terror" Lolth expected to see from the possible consequences of her cruel actions. In her eyes, tears sparkled like clear crystals. The corners of her mouth turned down slightly, and her nose was a little red. That was something Lolth did not expect—sadness.

This indeed contained "regret," but instead of repenting out of "fear," she seemed more to blame herself for her weakness. She blamed herself for being so compliant and for feeling powerless—neither brave nor strong. Her tears rolled down, as if silently confronting her small and weak past. Lolth looked at the other person and couldn’t help but feel a bit dazed. She originally thought that since the other person was the one who harmed "Dorothy," she would never forgive them no matter what. But this look of having a difficult reason—what was going on?

And before Lolth could fully grasp what was happening, the woman with tear-filled eyes lifted her head.

"You are very strong," she said, her voice as gentle as a kindergarten teacher praising a child.

"This is good… I truly… cannot defeat you."

She delicately wiped away her tears, then offered a serene smile as she slowly rose from the ground.

Her powerful, curvaceous form was now fully visible to Lolth.

"I heard Dorothy call you teacher…"

"That’s nice, treat her well."

"But I won’t be the last one… I hope you… are strong enough."

As she spoke, she clutched her great sword, steadied her swirling emotions, and summoned all her magical energy.

"Boom!"

A massive wave of spatial magic emanated from her.

The collapsing spatial coordinates were crudely executed, and Lolth realized the woman was utilizing a pre-set spatial spell.

No scroll was in sight, but the magic seemed to be etched into her very being.

This was likely one of her trump cards as the head of an intelligence agency.

Though Lolth could have easily halted this rudimentary spell, she chose not to.

She sensed that the woman was speaking sincerely.

Even if she was a member of an intelligence agency.

In the Golden Peacock Kingdom, there might be those who genuinely care for Dorothy but are unable to assist her due to circumstances.

Lolth watched the fading figure and gave a slight nod.

"I will protect and take care of Dorothy."

"No matter who it is… I will not give her up."

Lolth declared this with unwavering resolve.

"You don’t need to teach me that," she muttered to herself, indifferent to whether the other could hear.

In mere moments, the woman’s figure had completely vanished.

Lolth turned her gaze to the "Sacred Land," her expression one of mild exasperation.

"What is this…?"

She shook her head, masking her emotions, and assumed a composed demeanor as she unsealed the Sacred Land.

Dorothy, engrossed in a book, appeared before Lolth.

She looked up at her "Master Lolth," her expression one of pleasant surprise.

"Teacher—it’s been a long time."

Dorothy said softly, closing her book and skipping over to Lolth.

"Long time no see," Lolth said, ruffling her hair, "it’s only been about ten minutes!"

"But it feels like a long time!"

Dorothy pouted slightly as she spoke.

She glanced around at the disarray and tilted her head.

"Teacher, did you handle the intruders?"

"Of course, but… they managed to escape."

Lolth hesitated, then chose to keep the recent events from Dorothy.

Before Dorothy could inquire further, Lolth deftly changed the subject.

"Alright, that’s it for this impromptu lesson—let’s continue with the official cooking class!"