Volume 1 Chapter 674
by post_apiChapter 674: Don’t Uncork the Champagne Midway
"Dorothy…"
"That name sounds familiar…"
Lolth stood momentarily dazed.
The silver-haired girl called Dorothy met Lolth’s gaze, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
"Senior Sister Lolth…"
The unexpected address made Lolth blink before her lips curved into a delighted smile.
"Oh! You actually recognize me!"
She leaned forward with renewed interest, studying the girl’s features.
There was indeed something vaguely recognizable about that earnest face…
Though the specific memory remained elusive.
"I…I’m Dorothy from First Year Class Six,"
The trembling declaration sparked a faint recollection in Lolth’s mind – something about helping a tearful freshman during orientation week?
The details stayed frustratingly blurred.
"Apologies for this," Lolth scrambled to her feet, urgency returning as she remembered their predicament, "We’re currently evading the disciplinary officer, so…"
She hastily gathered the scattered homework and placed it into Dorothy’s arms.
"The disciplinary officer?"
Dorothy’s eyes widened like saucers.
After three rapid breaths, resolve hardened the younger girl’s expression.
"This way!"
Clutching the notebooks to her chest, Dorothy hurried toward an oaken door bearing a brass plaque that read "Reference Archives."
"As assistant librarian…I have access…"
Her trembling fingers produced an ornate key that clicked smoothly in the lock.
"No one checks this section during class hours,"
She whispered, ushering both Lolth and Isabella into the cathedral-like space before sealing them inside with a thunderous boom.
The cathedral-like chamber enveloped them in parchment-scented tranquility, endless rows of leather-bound tomes standing sentinel along walnut shelves.
"You’ve saved us, Dorothy," Lolth breathed, leaning against a study carrel as Isabella carefully set down her enchanted cauldron.
"Though I wonder…" The alchemist eyed their temporary sanctuary warily, "How long until this refuge becomes our cage?"
Isabella sighed, and Lolth pondered for a moment.
"I’m not sure, perhaps one class period?"
"You two could head back first…"
As Lolth spoke, Dorothy and Isabella locked eyes, then simultaneously shook their heads.
"I’ll be fine – this is our independent study period anyway," Dorothy murmured softly.
"We’ve already slipped out. Returning now would feel awkward…" Isabella added.
"I see. Then let’s wait here together for a while…"
"But it does seem rather dull."
The moment boredom crept into Lolth’s mind, a new notion surfaced.
"Why not take a nap?"
"Nothing better to do – might as well sleep!"
An inner voice seemed to whisper the suggestion.
When sleepiness beckoned…
Lolth had always yielded willingly to such impulses.
"Then I’ll rest awhile!"
With this thought, she fluidly drew out a chair from the reading table.
Before Isabella and Dorothy could express their surprise, Lolth had already draped herself across the desk…
…and slipped back into slumber.
Then…
Within the dreamscape, memory-restored Lolth clutched her head.
"Why has Dorothy appeared now too?!"
Her voice trembled with astonishment.
Moreover, Lolth became aware…
Her own recollections were actively blocking her from perceiving the "truth."
Whenever she probed deeper into the "discrepancies" caused by Isabella and Tina’s emergence…
Some unforeseen interruption would derail her thoughts.
"Fascinating… The ‘Cunning Demon God’s’ handiwork?"
"Yet His influence appears limited… These remain my memories after all."
"Wait – this being ‘God’s Domain’… Does this mean I’ve wounded Him? Weakened His avatar’s power?"
Lolth’s mind raced, formulating strategies.
"But regardless, relying solely on my own ‘conscious thought’ to detect those subtle flaws… appears rather implausible. It’s almost certain to be disrupted."
"Gradual accumulation might breed suspicion… but time isn’t my ally! Prolonging this works against me!"
"Yet this remains my memory… There must be a solution."
"What if I could perceive glaring inconsistencies without requiring active ‘contemplation’?"
"Such as encountering something fundamentally incomprehensible…"
As this realization dawned upon Lolth, enlightenment flickered across her features.
"Wait… I believe I’ve discovered the way!"
Delight illuminated her expression.
Then…
She commenced rapid self-implantation of mental suggestions.
Immediately thereafter…
Lolth emerged from her "dreamlike state."
This awakening seemed barely separated from the moment she’d closed her eyes.
Isabella and Dorothy remained frozen in their recent entrance postures.
Dorothy stood arranging the stack of exercise books.
Isabella observed her with mildly curious scrutiny.
Lolth’s gaze shifted between them, momentary bewilderment passing through her…
Before an irrepressible peculiar notion surfaced in her consciousness.
"Isabella—kindly approach me."
The request summoned perplexity to Isabella’s features.
"Eh?"
Despite her confusion, Isabella complied without hesitation.
Simultaneously, beyond the dreamscape…
The abandoned chapel in Devout District where Lolth’s physical form resided had become submerged beneath torrents of obsidian rainfall.
Viscous, sludge-like matter transformed the hundred-meter radius into surreal black quagmire, pulsating energies declaring this the manifested domain of formidable power.
Those with heightened perception might discern…
This "God’s Domain" bore divine signature.
Yet within current Holy Capital, few possessed such awareness…
And fewer still retained capacity for intervention.
Though the Hell Demon God’s presence permeated this sacred space, Lolth’s restraints ensured…
No tangible "corruption" had actually manifested.
Thus, The Church of Light’s champions remained preoccupied—save those entangled in subterranean prison conflicts…
They were mostly gathered at… the place where Kanor had previously been.
That is to say, the very site where the "Resurrected Evil God" had manifested!
The grotesque flesh monstrosity emerged from the rain-soaked darkness, spewing noxious miasma as its colossal form overflowed the street, looming over evacuated houses on either side!
The Evil God’s physical manifestation—forged from sacrificed souls and flesh of fanatical worshippers—channeled the Power of the Evil God from His Divine Kingdom, a corruption so potent it dwarfed natural life energy by a hundredfold. This abomination now embodied half the terror of the Evil God’s true form!
Ascetic monks, a high-ranking cardinal, and Paladin squads guarding the Holy Capital converged here, joined by endless waves of reinforcements…
Holy Light spells were cast relentlessly, bombarding the mountainous mass of pulsating flesh that crawled forward amidst the downpour…
The perpetual flashes of Holy Light pierced the rain-choked darkness like divine warnings, illustrating the fate awaiting those who dared invade the Church of Light’s sanctum!
Any Holy Domain master or demi-god declaring war here would inevitably perish!
Yet…
The target enduring this onslaught was neither Holy Domain expert nor demi-god.
But an authentic… Evil God!
Thus, despite the overwhelming barrage of sacred radiance, the colossal horror merely emitted wet, squelching noises. Fleshy tentacles occasionally lashed out where attacks clustered or caused minor "discomfort."
Though grievous wounds visibly marred its repulsive bulk…
The purged flesh and cauterized injuries regenerated tenfold faster than they were inflicted.
These assaults proved effective… yet insufficient!
Every passing second saw the abomination’s size and corrupt magic swell exponentially, as if His very purpose was to consume creation itself!
Hence, pain-inducing strikes couldn’t halt His advance… much less banish Him!
Truth be told, those opposing Him understood why this Evil God hadn’t yet wrought mass destruction…
Their efforts weren’t responsible.
Rather, the deity appeared deliberately drawn toward a specific destination!
Moving unnoticed among the Church of Light’s futile defenders, Patricia maintained a water-repelling barrier over Dorothy and herself. She stared aghast at the Evil God’s trajectory.
"An Evil God truly manifested!"
"And He’s actually heading toward the Devotion District!"
Her voice trembled with disbelief.
"But… Lolth hasn’t finished dealing with the Hell Demon God yet. Can she truly handle an Evil God simultaneously?"
Dorothy nodded faintly at Patricia’s question.
"I trust Teacher’s capabilities… but timing concerns me."
"Regardless, we should follow His path…"
"If disturbances from the dungeon divert His attention, we might mitigate the crisis."
Dorothy’s worried gaze drifted toward the prison complex.
Lolth’s initial strategy had anticipated that confronting the Hell Demon God would draw the Holy Capital’s scrutiny.
Should an Evil God descend—regardless of identity—the chaotic mentality of such deities and their less-than-rational avatars suggested…
They would immediately head towards the location with the most intense magical concentration in the Holy Capital.
After the Pope’s death, the God of Light’s connection to the main plane and the Holy Capital itself would weaken.
Thus, the most alluring spot for the evil god would undoubtedly be the location she had prepared in advance.
The only potential disruption might stem from the strange phenomena concocted by the Wizard Association’s long-dormant mages in the dungeon…
Yet even then, Lolth had contingency measures in place.
Dorothy’s Arcane Cube combined with the Holy Capital’s terrain-enhanced "Rod of Eden" would suffice to guide the evil god wherever required.
Of course, Lolth had strictly warned Dorothy to avoid risks unless absolutely necessary.
However…
Tonight’s dungeon had indeed introduced unforeseen variables!
Defying Lolth’s expectations, Kanor and the Great Sage Philtes of "Never-ending Night" were already locked in mortal combat within the dungeon’s depths!
Philtes poured his full power into the Star Spirit Magic incantation—a forbidden spell requiring lengthy chants even for a Great Sage—directly at Kanor.
Facing this unassuming girl, driven by primal fear and fury at her apparent disdain, the sage held nothing back.
His spells raged and thundered, celestial radiance spearing through Kanor’s very essence.
Even a demi-god caught defenseless against such an assault would face near-certain annihilation.
No being below Holy Domain could possibly survive!
Though the girl radiated uncanny power and carried traces of that dread entity he feared…
Her motionless stance showed no evasion, defense, or magical countermeasures. The mysterious magic device remained inert.
Philtes couldn’t suppress his triumphant grin as relief washed over him.
He sensed her life force dimming—her soul beginning its death spiral.
"Superior strength prevails after all!"
"Once taken seriously… this brat’s nothing remarkable!"
"Her combat instincts pale before mine… Surviving this onslaught? Impossible!"
In this moment, Philtes of "Never-ending Night" felt shadows of his internal demons recede.
Though not confronting that primordial terror directly… this girl clearly shared its essence. Regardless, she lay defeated!
Soon, completing the artificial deity "Spirit of Elemental Magic" would let him focus wholly on ascension…
No more nightly terrors haunting a Great Sage’s slumber.
His razor-sharp mind processed these comforting thoughts within nanoseconds.
Then—precisely 0.1 seconds later—
The thickening aura of "death" surrounding the girl’s soul stopped resembling dissipation.
Her dwindling vitality wasn’t leaking away…
But transforming.
Shifting.
Becoming armor.
"My mentor spoke of her homeland’s wisdom…"
"’Opening champagne at halftime’—fools celebrating prematurely meet bitter ends."
"To lower your guard in such combat… I expected better from you, Philtes."
"Strange… I truly respected you."
As starlight faded, quicksilver streams coalesced above Kanor’s brow—
A liquid argent crown taking shape.