Volume 1 Chapter 550

Chapter 550: What a Pity, It’s Not Lolth!

Standing before the torture tower in Hillenbrand Town, the Director of the Heretic Tribunal observed the mystical technique closing in on him.

He could sense that this mystical technique, cast by an epic elf, was neither intricate nor formidable.

The structure of the magic was rudimentary, the quantity of magic was modest, and the purity of the power employed was notably low.

Even if it had been "enhanced," it appeared to be merely a level nine spell.

What does a level nine spell entail?

Consider the simplest example.

If one seeks sheer destructive force, a level nine elemental magic, such as the wind element’s Hurricane Blade,

purely compresses the wind element to its utmost, capable of slicing an unprotected legendary knight in two.

If one desires an extensive area and radius of effect, a level nine corrosive mystical technique like Painful Acid Erosion

can envelop an entire large city, unleashing acid rain for three to five days.

This represents the pinnacle of spells and magic that do not involve the power of rules before venturing into the realm of "taboos."

Beyond this lies the domain of "taboo,"

where the "forbidden spells" of mages and warlocks reside.

Additionally, there are the "ultimate skills" of warriors and knights,

the priest’s "divine spell,"

and the sneaker’s "transcendent technique."

All these are skills that surpass level nine.

Only upon reaching the legend level can one barely muster the strength to cast one or two, and only then can they grasp the nature of this realm.

Only such skills can directly impact the formidable beings of the Holy Domain.

The overwhelming power that defies rating, much like Patricia’s "Insaesya Fear Ray," possesses an incomprehensible might.

Yet, even spells above level nine can be effortlessly defended against by a powerful figure like the Director of the Heretic Tribunal.

Even without deliberate caution, there is no issue.

Not to mention a level nine spell.

Previously, the barrage of spells from the torture tower had left him unscathed.

Now, this attack has not surpassed its limit…

The Director of the Heretic Tribunal felt a sense of "awe."

It was not fear of confronting something "strong," nor was it fear of facing "danger."

It was a peculiar and familiar sensation.

He reflected on when he had last experienced such "awe."

The Director of the Heretic Tribunal’s thoughts wandered.

Gradually, his mind journeyed back to a time long past.

It seemed to be the time when he had just taken over the Heretic Tribunal.

Under the guidance of His Holiness, deep within Eden Palace, he was granted the "Sacred Tool" and the "Judgment Holy Light."

A powerful tool, a great strength… yet these did not make him tremble.

What filled him with "awe" was the very being that bestowed all of this upon him.

It was the Lord he faithfully believed in… the one who holds the power of the Holy Light.

He was not arrogant, but merely by existing, even just revealing a hint of His presence, made the director of the Heretic Tribunal unable to hold back his tears.

In that moment, he felt it for the second time…

A presence comparable to what he felt on that unforgettable day.

Even though it was a level nine spell, for the director of the Heretic Tribunal…

He felt a difference in "rank."

No, it could even be said that…

Status.

As the director of the Heretic Tribunal, he had judged many cultists and heretics over the years, and he had felt the power of other gods as well.

None of them made him feel this way.

Like facing his own master, it was filled with a sense of oppression.

He had no time to think about whether it was the nearby elf that was the problem or if he was the one with the problem; he didn’t even realize how "blasphemous" his thoughts and feelings were by his own standards.

The director of the Heretic Tribunal lost consciousness.

Tina’s magic then engulfed him.

The two Sacred Tools, the "Judgment Staff" and the "Mercy Whip," were freed and quickly flew to the Lady of Light’s side.

The young man in the black robe fell to the ground, not moving at all.

Isabella, Tina, and even the Lady of Light and Janine Irene were all stunned.

They all looked at the young man in the black robe, a powerful being on the same level as their parents and masters.

He actually just… collapsed?

Both his magical aura and life force showed that the director of the Heretic Tribunal had fallen into a coma.

Then, they looked in disbelief at Tina, who had just jumped out of the torture tower and was looking down at the staff in her hands.

"The gift from the Abyssal Demon King is simply amazing…"

Tina couldn’t help but admire.

This is definitely a Divine Artifact!

And it is one of the more formidable Divine Artifacts!

An epic-level person can use it to easily cast a spell that can knock out a demi-god—this is truly amazing!

The Lady of Light even seemed a bit incredulous.

"Is that it… all done?"

She hadn’t even exerted her full strength yet!

What is this feeling of dissatisfaction?

She gazed at the fallen Director of the Heretic Tribunal, feeling slightly disappointed.

Unnoticed by the girls, above the torture tower…

On the window ledge of the room belonging to the Lady of Light and Janine Irene, a turtle sat, observing the scene through a brass monocular telescope.

Watching Tina Leinster Newmoon wield the "Eternal Scepter" and the unconscious Director of the Heretic Tribunal, the large turtle stashed the brass telescope back into its shell, its expression turning to one of alarm.

"Oh no—oh no, oh no!"

It hastily leaped down from the torture tower and, unnoticed in the shadows, scrambled towards Hillenbrand Town, muttering incessantly.

"This is bad, really bad! This is a huge problem… It was just a forced demi-god… now this is going to be trouble!"

"The Abyssal Demon King is such a fool, daring to give a ‘Divine Artifact’ like the ‘Eternal Scepter’… I knew this would be a problem!"

It raced so swiftly that it nearly outpaced Qiong and Isabella, who were running at full speed.

Soon, it reached the town, weaving through the alleys, and finally tumbled into the tavern through the door.

"Landlady! Help!"

It began shouting as soon as it entered the tavern.

The landlady, sitting calmly behind the bar, remained composed.

"What’s the rush? Is something wrong?"

"Don’t play dumb," the turtle said, jumping onto the bar and holding its knees while panting, "that Elf Princess is a real troublemaker, using the ‘Eternal Scepter’ to strike the Director of the Heretic Tribunal from The Church of Light!"

"Calm down, what’s the big deal?" the landlady replied still calmly, "Even if it’s the ‘Eternal Scepter’, it’s just a legendary Divine Artifact hitting a demi-god. What’s so serious about that?"

"But that’s the ‘Director of the Heretic Tribunal’! That’s not a regular demi-god—it’s artificially made," the turtle said, dripping with sweat, "Holy Light, or Judgment Holy Light… Such an exclusive power meeting a Divine Artifact from the abyss will summon the judgment will of the Land of Light!"

The turtle babbled on, while the landlady tilted her head.

"Oh—so what?"

"So, Hillenbrand Town will be blown to pieces by the clash of the Land of Light and the Eternal Scepter’s will—if that succubus finds out, she will go crazy, and I will surely become turtle soup… as long as I can live through this."

The turtle showed a look of fear and said.

Then, it took a deep breath and spoke.

"Kululu is not here, Lolth is not here, and the Demon King is in hell… who can stop all of this…"

The turtle looked at the landlady, and the landlady spread her hands.

"Why are you looking at me? I’m just an ordinary person selling drinks," she said, noticing that the turtle wasn’t in the mood for jokes. She shook her head and sighed, "Even if I wanted to help, there’s nothing I can do; neither ‘Eternal’ nor the Land of Light is something I can get involved in."

The turtle fell silent.

After a long time, it finally spoke in despair.

"Then what should we do? If no one can act, not to mention… everyone in Hillenbrand Town, including those girls, is doomed."

The landlady looked at the turtle with a strange expression.

"Don’t you wish for them to die? That’s odd; I thought you were just pretending."

"Isn’t that nonsense?" the turtle said impatiently, waving its hand. "I do have feelings… It seems like you have a bit of a bias against me."

It irritably tapped its head.

"Damn it, damn it, damn it! If I weren’t stuck in this horrible form… I wouldn’t be afraid of anything, not even Plane Will!"

Fuenlandlady smiled faintly when she heard this.

"Oh dear… Do you think if you weren’t in this ghostly form, you could do something?"

"Of course! I could roam the Seven Seas, punch evil gods, and kick demons while joking with you," the turtle said unhappily, then paused, "Wait—do you have a way?"

"What way do I have? But… do you know what Kululu did before?"

The landlady said this, and Turtle’s eyes brightened.

"Really?"

"Of course it’s true. Go check at the bottom of the river," the landlady said as she took out a wine glass, "but you only have one chance."

"Got it, got it, got it!" Turtle jumped off the table and ran toward the door. "I understand the rules… Why didn’t you say it earlier? I’m going to be late!"

It ran away quickly.

Meanwhile, in front of the torture tower in Hillenbrand Town…

The group that had relaxed noticed a strong and strange aura coming from the director of the Heretic Tribunal.

"Holy and bright," it felt similar to the normal Holy Light power.

However, it had a stronger "rejection" quality.

In other words, it is even harsher.

Everyone looked towards the direction of the Director of the Heretic Tribunal. The young man in the black robe was still lying on the ground, unconscious.

Yet, a powerful force was continuously emerging from him.

As if some high-level will… was awakening.

Isabella, Qiong, and Tina immediately looked toward the Lady of Light and Janine Irene, the duo from The Church of Light.

"What’s happening?"

Isabella asked.

"I’m not sure, but it seems to be caused by the ‘Judgment Holy Light,’" the Lady of Light said, her expression not looking good. "Even though only one person can receive the God of Light’s favor at a time, and it has to be the Holy Maiden, many people could possibly be granted the ‘source power’ of the Divine Kingdom."

"The ‘Judgment Holy Light’ is a power exclusive to the director of the Heretic Tribunal."

When she said this, everyone understood.

If it has to do with the God of Light, then there’s nothing more to say.

Any strange event can be explained with the word "God."

This is almost common knowledge on this continent.

But the reason is often not important.

What matters is what will happen and how to respond.

Just when a few people were thinking quickly…

The Eternal Scepter in Tina’s hands underwent a transformation as well.

As if responding to the burgeoning aura of Holy Light, the scepter slipped from Tina’s grasp and soared into the air.

Then…

A similarly formidable presence began to emanate continuously.

It bore a trace of "chaos," but predominantly, it was the essence of sheer "power."

This was a collision between Plane Wills.

A single "Judgment Holy Light" might not have alerted the young girls present to anything; they merely sensed a "superior" pressure.

But when the two auras clashed…

The resulting burst wasn’t terrifying, yet it was overwhelmingly difficult to resist, instantly making them realize…

This was a situation beyond their control.

It wasn’t about the disparity in power levels.

Just as a ninth-level spell could topple the director of the Heretic Tribunal…

But once a certain rank is surpassed, the sheer strength of power becomes irrelevant.

It’s like… no matter how robust the flesh, it cannot withstand a blade.

A fish cannot contend with the ocean.

The only one qualified to engage in such a battle is the Lady of Light.

But she is still too weak…

If it were a Holy Domain High Level casting a Supreme Divine Spell, there might still be a chance…

But at this moment, she, like everyone else, could only feel the two opposing "wills" colliding in the intangible space, beyond all physical entities.

The magical turbulence was so intense that even legendary knights and rangers like Isabella, Qiong, and Janine Irene were nearly knocked off their feet.

Yet, this was merely the aftershock of a clash on the "will level."

In that instant, the first thought that came to the girls’ minds was one thing!

"Damn it… If only Master Lolth were here!"

"If Lolthlinda were here, she would surely have a solution…"

"Think about what our senior would do!"

The girls thought this, and then…

They heard the sound of waves.

"Whoosh—Splash—"

It was as if the sea, carrying countless lost souls and magic, had traversed a vast expanse of time and half a continent.

In the distance, a figure stood in mid-air.

With horns and a tail, it immediately caught the attention of all the girls.

But after half a second, the figure removed its "tail" and "horns."

"What a shame—it’s not your dear Master Lolth!"

"But let’s make do with it!"