Volume 1 Chapter 666
by post_apiChapter 666: A Fair Duel
An eerie, putrid scent permeated the sewer entrance of Kindness District in the Holy Capital, where a portal to the alternate plane harboring the malevolent deity gradually manifested.
Kanor gazed upon the rapidly decomposing remains of cultists, her lips curling into a mocking smirk.
"For you lot, this might be considered a worthy destination… The sensation of sacrificing yourselves to your master and merging with that accursed Divine Kingdom… must feel rather gratifying, no?"
The silver-haired girl clapped her dust-covered hands dismissively before hurling the grotesque idol back into the rainwater pool.
"Move out—you two. We’ve made enough commotion here."
As Kanor turned to leave, Lalea jolted awake as if shaken from a trance.
"Next destination? Where—"
Her question drowned in thunderous detonation that ripped through the stormy night.
KABOOM!
Pyroclastic flames pierced the heavens while acrid smoke defied the torrential downpour.
Both Lalea and the sorceress apprentice instantly recognized the coordinates—their daily map studies left no doubt about the explosion’s origin.
The dungeon gates of Heretic Tribunal.
"It’s commenced already—we must hasten!" Kanor declared, already striding toward the collapsing facility.
Meanwhile at the prison’s entrance…
Chaos reigned far beyond mere explosive aftermath.
The initial blast served simple purpose—prison break.
Given the dungeon’s roster of high-value captives, such attempts proved inevitable.
Yet complication arose from sheer quantity of VIP prisoners…
Three distinct factions now converged in the deluge:
Holy Lieto Empire nobles seeking to liberate captured dukes and crown princes from Lolth’s clutches;
Mages distrustful of Patricia aiming to rescue Philtes "Never-ending Night" alongside his radical loyalists from Wizard Association;
And precisely as Lolth predicted—shadowy elements from The Church of Light, likely here to eliminate their demon-corrupted brethren rather than save them.
Whether the final group sought rescue or silencing remained unclear…
Regardless…
Heretic Tribunal’s subterranean complex descended into absolute pandemonium.
Though superficially triggered by explosives, the true detonator proved far more combustible—human ambition.
However, that explosion was merely a ninth-level spell unleashed by the "radical faction" of the Wizard Association to breach the gates!
Meanwhile, the nobles of the Holy Lieto Empire had just finished changing into the guards’ uniforms during shift rotation…
Members of the "Infernal Sect" from The Church of Light were still advancing through the underground secret passage.
Thus, when the explosion echoed, it wasn’t the newly arrived "Merciful" Knights responsible for dungeon security or the lurking spies of the Heretic Tribunal who reacted first—
Rather, it was these nobles and the priests of The Church of Light themselves.
Upon hearing the blast, they instantly comprehended…
"Another prison break is underway!!"
Immediately afterward, both factions reached the same conclusion…
Infiltrate amidst the chaos!
The mages at the entrance charged toward the dungeon’s gateway, now widened tenfold by the explosion.
As they approached, they discovered…
Numerous dungeon guards and masked figures emerging from concealed wall panels were also sprinting deeper into the complex.
All parties froze momentarily upon seeing each other.
Yet soon…
They shared the same realization—greater numbers meant better odds!
But the full contingent of "Merciful" Knights newly arrived at the dungeon periphery and the Heretic Tribunal agents sensed trouble brewing.
"Prison break in progress—"
"Battle formations—!"
Amidst the pouring rain, the Paladins’ battle cries drowned the storm’s roar as they surged into the dungeon alongside gray-robed Tribunal agents.
Within the dungeon’s depths…
All internal guards lay unconscious.
Patricia and Dorothy, wearing peculiar respirator-like masks, moved through the corridors, astonished by the cacophony above.
"Actual prison-breakers… Your master truly has a prophetic touch."
"Incidentally, this concoction works marvelously. A mere dose… and the entire dungeon collapses."
Patricia marveled, clicking her tongue.
Dorothy nodded.
"The teacher’s predictions… may not be infallible, but they’re never far from truth."
"This solution was brewed by Senior Sister Kanor’s foster mother… That esteemed lady radiates formidable mystery. Such potency is only natural."
As they conversed…
They began methodically unlocking every cell door.
Each chamber confined either members of The Church of Light or nobles of the Holy Lieto Empire…
Nearly all were individuals of formidable power and exalted status.
They were temporarily rendered unconscious by the vaporized Magic Potion.
Of course, even upon waking…
they pose little threat.
After all, this is a dungeon where the Holy Light’s power is diminished.
After opening the cell door, the pair swiftly reached the dungeon’s deepest chamber.
"Hmm… this part here… let me see…"
Patricia murmured while channeling her magic into the stone wall.
Her senses soon detected the faint hum of a perpetually operating divine spell array.
Its structure matched nearly exactly what Lolth had described earlier…
meaning the "modifications" Lolth suggested could indeed be applied.
Patricia’s task wasn’t to dismantle this Holy Light-suppressing array…
but rather, paradoxically, to enhance it.
Following Lolth’s instructions, she merely needed to loosen specific structural constraints at critical nodes and infuse trace amounts of magic…
This array—likely crafted jointly by a former pope and the Director of the Heretic Tribunal—would then shift its restrictions from suppressing Holy Light to…
blocking all magical energy.
Considering the approaching forces included mages from the Wizard Association…
and those demon-colluding nobles who, despite ostensibly wielding only Holy Light…
(The Church of Light had even allowed its Holy Maiden to dabble in magic and mystical techniques, after all)
These dubious agents tasked with storming the dungeon…
undoubtedly carried alternative powers and hidden aces.
Thus, the purpose of Lolth’s scheme and Patricia’s current actions…
was to ensure the impending clash between jailbreakers and defenders…
occurred on equal footing.
As Patricia completed her adjustments…
The Paladins of the Compassion Knights finally intercepted the intruders on the floor above.
The dungeon’s first violent confrontation… erupted.