Volume 1 Chapter 684

Chapter 684: Purification

From the Lady of Light’s trembling voice, one could discern…

Even having received divine blessings from the deity she devotedly served, even while basking in the adoration of countless faithful beneath the Holy Capital’s skies, even when exercising the God of Light’s sacred authority, even as she attained the "Divine Selection and Bestowal" that would etch her piety into Church history…

None of this brought her joy in confronting Lolth.

Just as she harbored no anger toward Lolth’s "misdeeds" within the Holy Capital.

True, the sacred city now lay in disarray – scarred by calamities both natural and man-made, its ecclesiastical ranks thinned by tonight’s casualties…

Yet this remained the same Holy Capital that had endured cultists summoning eldritch horrors, survived the Hell Demon God’s seditious whispers among its leadership, and withstood the Wizard Association’s reckless god-forging experiments.

The Lady of Light understood Lolth might have catalyzed these events, but…

Could blame truly be laid at the demon’s feet?

Though Lolth appeared determined to shoulder full responsibility – ensuring every Church of Light member would identify a mastermind after tonight’s chaos.

Disguised as the Heretic Tribunal’s second-in-command, the Chief Interrogator Succubus had schemed to topple the Church, install a puppet pontiff, and unleash primordial deities alongside the Hell Demon God – the Lady knew Lolth’s plan intimately.

This "external factor" would help purge entrenched corruption during the Church’s reformation.

To such designs, the Lady of Light… could only acquiesce.

Choice had never been hers to make.

Nor could she deny the plan’s cruel logic.

Yet comprehension didn’t breed tranquility in her heart.

As the Church’s radiant figurehead, she sanctioned this scheme.

But as Lolth’s self-proclaimed protégé, as the transient dweller of Hillenbrand Town, as the human woman Lily Milado…

Only profound sorrow filled her being.

That the Church required such sacrifice – forcing this noble soul to bear infamy for its salvation – revealed institutional decay… and personal failure.

Her own weakness and naivety had necessitated this "Divine Selection" charade to legitimize her papacy.

"How pitiful we’ve become,"

the Lady murmured,

first tasting true powerlessness in her immortal existence, its bitter aftertaste sharper than any blade.

Now, with events irrevocably set in motion, her sole consolation lay in action.

She would commit fully to this crafted conflict,

battling the worthiest adversary Lolth could design…

And seeing her mentor’s will fulfilled to perfection.

"Face me, Succubus!"

The Lady’s clarion cry echoed as stone eyelids slid open on the divine effigy, its Holy Light annulus commencing celestial rotation.

I’m sorry, senior.

"You shall perish here!"

As the Holy Light annulus rotated, it showered countless rays of Holy Light across the sky and earth. The radiance suffused the rain and space itself, steadily transforming the entire magic environment—gentle yet inexorable—into a purified realm dominated solely by Holy Light.

I will never… betray your earnest efforts!

Within the mech’s "control room," Lolth observed the Lady of Light and the spinning Holy Light annulus, sensing the unwavering resolve behind her actions.

"Magnificent work, Lily…"

She smiled amidst the coalesced divine energy.

Now, there remained no cause for concern.

Though the "control room" appeared equipped with control panels and thrust levers, these were merely manifestations of Lolth’s whimsical flair and relentless pursuit of perfection.

All were conjured from magical energy… For Lolth reasoned that a proper mech demanded more than merely a simulated shell.

Thus, she had fashioned this meticulously detailed interior.

Yet despite its ethereal origins, these controls became utterly real beneath Lolth’s hands—a genuine command center for the colossal machine.

Her grip tightened on the lever as she slammed it downward. Scorching white steam erupted from every exhaust port across the mech’s frame!

"Hisssss—"

The collective exhalation of some primordial giant beast tribe.

In that heartbeat, Lolth’s palm descended upon every ominous button labeled with hazard sigils.

All weapon ports along the arms and back disengaged their safeties, swiveling to target the Holy Light-embodied maiden.

Crimson runes ignited across the metal hull, flickering like dancing flames before streaming into glowing channels that converged at roaring cannon maws.

"Even ‘deities’… shall crumble before artillery’s majesty!"

Lolth’s amplified proclamation thundered across the battlefield—its final syllables drowned by blinding detonations and apocalyptic resonance.

"KABOOOOOM—!"

Ten thousand thunderstorms roared as arcane payloads detonated in unison.

Darkened cavities yawned across reality, their explosive light banishing shadows before birthing dozens of projectiles that tore through the stormy night—some streaking straight as light-piercing rapiers, others arcing like guillotine-blades seeking fatal angles.

A relentless barrage, flawless in its synchronization, hammered the Holy Light avatar and her annulus without respite.

To this world’s inhabitants, such warfare defied comprehension.

This was Lolth’s steel titan unleashed—a natural evolution for one whose battleground signature involved obliterating foes with forbidden spells. Were she to forge war machines, "total firepower supremacy" would inevitably reign supreme.

Each earth-shattering salvo carried divine essence potent enough to erase townships, projectiles that laughed at defensive ranks and magical barriers alike.

Against such onslaught, even the "Divinely Anointed" Lady of Light, having intercepted every strike…

It was enough to shake the sacred statue of Holy Light!

When the smoke from explosions dissipated and the blinding energies of collision retreated, the revealed scene chilled every heart within the Church of Light.

The colossal Holy Light statue they’d regarded as their spiritual anchor mere moments ago – their invincible idol empowered by the God of Light and controlled by the Lady of Light – now bore visible wounds.

Both the annulus and statue’s radiance had dimmed threefold, their surfaces pockmarked with glowing cavities where impacts had struck.

Like irregular bite marks on melting ice cream, the jagged edges exposed pure white luminous cores within.

Though the light spread steadily across these wounds in visible self-repair…

None could deny the damage dealt by the succubus’ terrifying metal leviathan in that barrage – both the Holy Light statue and Lady of Light had clearly suffered substantial harm.

Should three or four more such assaults follow…

Irreparable damage to the sacred statue seemed inevitable.

The metallic beast showed no signs of weakening – its oppressive aura remained undiminished.

This proved the recent attack, while perhaps not casual routine, was certainly no resource-draining final trump card.

Should the Lady of Light lack countermeasures…

This confrontation had already tilted toward catastrophic disadvantage.

Within the statue’s luminous matrix, the soul-linked Lady of Light…

Felt physical disorientation from the blast’s aftermath.

Lolth’s violent energies coursed through her like ravaging claws – every inch of skin tingling with residual vibrations, impact zones throbbing with delayed pain.

Her premature regret now mocked her…

As if her mentor whispered reminders that this trial remained ongoing.

Was "holding nothing back" truly respect for one’s opponent?

No…

Revelation struck the Lady of Light.

There had never been room for complacency from the start.

Failure to surpass her mentor meant unworthiness to inherit her legacy.

Total commitment became imperative.

Her mentor had indeed paved the way forward…

Only to establish this ultimate test upon that very path.

"So it seems… Unknowingly, I succumbed to pride’s sin!"

"This power… it nearly made me lose myself."

The Lady of Light – Lily Mirado – now crystallized her resolve.

Guilt toward her mentor, anxiety for the Church, self-reproach for past naivety…

These distractions had no place in this moment.

Not mere commitment… but absolute focus became essential.

Every stray thought must be purged.

And solemn readiness… embraced.

I must be prepared for a life-or-death struggle with my senior!

"Thank you, senior, this is yet another…"

"An extraordinarily precious lesson."

She murmured silently within her heart, then…

The six Holy Light wings upon her back stirred, causing the Holy Light annulus to accelerate its rotation slightly.

A colossal pillar of Holy Light pierced through the ominous clouds, bathing her and Lolth in its radiant embrace.

Every droplet of rain underwent "purification" into absolute nothingness.

Within this sanctified illumination, no existence apart from Holy Light itself was permitted – not the precipitation nor any unapproved magical energies.

Lolth could perceive the forces surrounding her gradually dissolving – though the sheer magnitude of power still obscured immediate consequences…

Yet this phenomenon already posed genuine peril to her mechanized armor and divine constructs.

More crucially…

This wasn’t even an offensive technique.

"The descending radiant domain of purification…"

Lolth identified the technique currently employed by the Lady of Light.

One of the Supreme Divine Spells it was, yet paradoxically…

Merely a "supportive" halo-type divine spell!

However, just as its expanded scope and elevated rank had multiplied exponentially, so too had its "potency" increased.

Originally designed to merely "repel" and "impede" foreign magics and substances while suppressing other elemental arts…

It possessed particular efficacy against impurities and chaotic energies during "purification."

Now, augmented by heightened rank, even the slightest "purifying" effect had been magnified beyond measure.

Though still termed "purification," its manifestation resembled utter annihilation!

Regardless…

When a "supportive" divine spell gains lethal capacity, it would inevitably be paired with inherently offensive counterparts.

If even rabbits turn ferocious, imagine…

What horrors true predators might unleash?

Before Lolth could ponder further, she witnessed the Lady of Light’s genuine assault materialize.

The Holy Light effigy spread its hands, golden luminescence coalescing between its fingers into falling petals, drifting feathers, glimmering particles, flowing sands, and fluttering butterfly wings – ethereal visions of sanctity materializing from empty air.

Soon, these luminous illusions multiplied beyond the statue’s hands, filling the entire "radiant domain’s" expanse.

Yet Lolth needed but glance…

To comprehend the dreadful nature of these delicate apparitions.

The first luminous feather alighted upon her mech’s shoulder joint.

The ostensibly indestructible alloy – a conceptual construct forged from divine power itself – instantly liquefied beneath the feather’s touch.

Each plume bore the weight of mountains and the searing intensity of stellar cores.

The paradoxical truth revealed itself – the feather became molten metal while the divine steel transformed into mere gilded butter.

Under overwhelming purifying force, the metal first lost physical cohesion before disintegrating into primordial concepts and divine energies, then further refined into "purity."

Pure concepts and forces devoid of attributes – in essence, non-existence masquerading as existence.

As the feather descended inexorably, this annihilation process replicated wherever it contacted.

Lolth’s miraculous creation from void-born substance reverted to its original state of nothingness.

Only when the luminous feather’s power finally dissipated did this process cease.

And this…

Was merely the vanguard of the light-feather onslaught.