Volume 1 Chapter 694
by post_apiChapter 694: Holy! Light! Bomb!
Maria Diana’s curiosity did not linger for long.
She swiftly discerned the source of Dorothy’s unwavering confidence…
The fearless composure before a demi-god naturally stemmed from her mentor.
Upon Dorothy’s alabaster neck, violet radiance materialized into three enigmatic cubes. Their crystalline surfaces emitted pure amethyst energy that whirled through the surrounding space, establishing a small domain around the blonde mage.
Then came the soothing embrace of Holy Light.
Though wielded by a self-proclaimed "non-believer," the Rod of Eden – having obtained full authorization from the God of Light – channeled torrents of luminous power through Dorothy’s grasp.
In certain perspectives…
The designation of "daughter-in-law" to the divine household wasn’t entirely baseless, given her intimate connection with the accompanying succubus – a purer descendant of celestial blood than even the Lady of Light herself.
Layered sanctity enveloped Dorothy’s form, crystallizing into resplendent wings of pure radiance.
A celestial avatar incarnate.
Though lacking the grandeur of Lolth’s awakened state or the Lady of Light’s divine election, this manifestation commanded Maria Diana’s undivided attention.
The fused technique – Lolth’s original anti-deific strategy – now revealed itself through her protégé.
The unified form of "Three Inch Divine Kingdom" and "Eden Angel" materialized through Dorothy’s being.
While her execution paled before Lolth’s divine craftsmanship or the God of Light’s chosen heir…
Maria Diana was no Murphy Yates either.
A god-slaying technique proved equally effective against demi-gods.
The dual assault of dimensional rules from the Three Inch Divine Kingdom and Holy Light’s purifying essence shattered the cursed domain’s hold. Within the ominous circle blanketing the royal court, Dorothy carved her sanctuary – a sliver of paradise amidst corruption.
"How typical – still only clinging to others’ power!"
Maria Diana sneered, sensing energies utterly foreign to the young mage’s essence.
Dorothy’s laughter chimed like silver bells.
"Teacher Lolth… is not an outsider in the slightest."
Her luminous wings unfurled, fractaling into flocks of animated light-sparrows. Guided by the Magic Cube’s energy, the radiant avians swarmed toward Maria Diana.
This avian assault reflected Dorothy’s primal combat instincts.
Before encountering Lolth, her sole arcane talent had been magical beast manipulation.
Even with ascended powers, her fundamental approach remained unchanged – and why shouldn’t it?
The Magic Cube and Rod of Eden granted inexhaustible reserves of magic and divinity.
Precisely as their creator had intended.
Moreover, the Rod of Eden, core of the Land of Light – Lolth understood perfectly well that the God of Light’s authority absolutely contained fragments of "creative dominion"!
Creating magical beings that mimic living entities as offensive measures presented no difficulty whatsoever.
These diminutive light-sparrows soared toward Maria Diana’s position…
Yet Maria Diana could distinctly perceive the dreadful power concealed within these deceptively charming, ethereal creations.
In some respects, Dorothy had grasped essential elements of Holy Light divine spells.
The seemingly "pure and adorable" magic formation that appeared almost weightless harbored catastrophic destructive force!
Moreover, cursed energies inherently fell within the purview of Holy Light’s counteractive domain.
Traversing through this ominous curse-saturated atmosphere, the Holy Light dissolved all forces it encountered like molten steel through frost.
Naturally, Maria Diana wouldn’t remain passive!
Her fluttering tome released grotesque, writhing obsidian sigils that leapt from its pages.
The flickering runes collided violently with the approaching Holy Light manifestations.
Then…
"Boom!"
Holy Light detonated in radiant blossoms, resembling both pyrotechnic displays and countless lanterns flaring to life simultaneously!
The gloomy palace hall became blindingly illuminated, the explosive whiteness eventually consuming all visual perception.
Lolth, Maria Diana, and even Dorothy herself experienced momentary blindness and mental disorientation from the brilliant flare.
As the radiance dimmed and Holy Light energies receded…
"Screech—"
A teeth-grating metallic shriek pierced the air as curse-forged chains coiled around Dorothy’s former position.
"Borrowed implements and external powers never truly become yours!"
Maria Diana’s haughty declaration echoed through the chamber.
Dorothy’s mocking laughter swiftly responded:
"Ahahaha… Dearest aunt, could this be your self-introduction?"
"Having traded your soul to infernal fiends for cursed strength… Do you now claim it as your own?"
As luminosity fully dissipated, the space Dorothy occupied revealed not the caster, but…
An immense cluster of magically-contained, violently unstable…
Holy Light energy!
The restrained Lolth displayed faint surprise – even she’d been deceived by her disciple’s ploy!
Outer magical layers shrouding inner Holy Light reserves, combined with that critical instant of Magic Perception disruption…
Through arcane senses, the decoy had perfectly mimicked Dorothy’s presence!
"What is this?"
Sensing the restless Holy Light energy within the cursed runic chains, Maria Diana inquired with curiosity.
Her question was met only by Dorothy’s declaration.
"A gift, Aunt."
As the words left Dorothy’s lips…
Lolth’s sigh resonated simultaneously.
"Holy crap, a Holy Light bomb…"
The trapped Lolth immediately layered herself with dual defensive spells, donned sunglasses and shut off her sensory perception.
The mere collision between a fragment of Holy Light energy and a single cursed rune had already produced a blinding flash that nearly vaporized all three of them.
But now…
An entire massive chain of cursed runes stood ready.
The Holy Light side… had been stuffed with unimaginable quantities by her own deranged disciple.
Who could have guessed Dorothy harbored such passion for explosive payloads?
Under Lolth’s warning…
Maria Diana’s expression shifted subtly as realization dawned.
But the moment for intervention had passed.
The volatile interaction between curse energy and Holy Light defied all control.
As she herself had declared – borrowed power…
Would never truly obey!
Neither combatant here commanded the forces they wielded!
Thus, none could halt the inevitable!
Like primordial adversaries, the Holy Light and curse energies strained toward mutual annihilation.
Their proximity triggered…
Cataclysmic collisions and matter-erasing reactions!
Within milliseconds…
The unstable Holy Light sphere underwent catastrophic expansion.
Cursed runes disintegrated, their structural integrity obliterated.
Ambient neutral magic transformed into combustible catalyst…
Culminating in a deafening detonation and light beyond measure!
"BOOM!!!"
All-consuming radiance and arcane shockwaves engulfed the domain.
At the epicenter, the still-bound Lolth adjusted her sunglasses with a resigned sigh.
Dorothy’s progress proved admirable indeed – though achieved through the Magic Cube and Rod of Eden provided by her…
The depth of her combat experience and wisdom was undeniably formidable.
This brought Lolth immense comfort, as it appeared both her disciples were now capable of standing on their own. When confronting demi-god level entities, they could hold their own or even emerge victorious. In the main plane, where deities could not manifest directly, this nearly guaranteed "absolute security."
Yet…
The sole imperfection, the reason for Lolth’s sigh, was…
Dorothy appeared utterly oblivious to her proximity to the explosion’s epicenter!
In a sense, this reflected her near-blind devotion to her teacher and the fanatical conviction that "Lolth is invincible"…
Still, Lolth couldn’t help thinking…
"You could have at least warned your teacher, you know…"
Yet the Holy Light’s power posed no threat to her—half the blood coursing through her veins originated from the Land of Light. In that moment, Lolth experienced an almost homecoming-like serenity.
However…
For Maria Diana, this development spelled nothing but disaster.
The "Holy Light Detonation" had erupted within her domain… For those at the Holy Domain or demi-god level, their domains function as extensions of their very beings, much like how Divine Kingdoms serve as extensions for deities.
Thus, this Holy Light bomb detonated as if within Maria Diana’s very core!
Compounded by the cursed energies saturating her domain… the incompletely combusted Holy Light inflicted secondary burns through relentless purification.
Maria Diana couldn’t even scream as excruciating agony, akin to having her supernatural essence flayed layer by layer, wracked her being.
The cataclysm, lasting a full dozen seconds, stripped Maria Diana of nearly all cognitive function!
Beyond the grand hall, Lalea and Patricia stood transfixed, gazing at the radiant heavens.
"That succubus’s teaching methods… actually have substance."
Lalea found herself earnestly contemplating immediate apprenticeship under Lolth.
Enrolling now meant gaining two elder martial sisters capable of rivaling demi-gods…
The prospect radiated impregnable security.
This wasn’t limited to Lalea… Even Patricia, in that instant, felt a flicker of reverence for the seemingly fragile girl called Dorothy.
She had never acted in the Holy Capital of Light, and Lolth had persistently treated her as someone requiring safeguarding…
Patricia had naturally found herself shielding Dorothy through countless unconscious gestures.
Now it became clear…
Both she and the succubus had fretted needlessly.
Should true peril arise in the Holy Capital, Dorothy might well become their protector instead!
Perched on the entrance steps, Kanor didn’t bother turning toward the grand hall that now resembled an open gateway to the Land of Light.
Her eyes remained fixed on the luminous night sky, her face illuminated by an earnest, triumphant, yet weary smile.
"You are truly formidable, Sister Dorothy."
Kanor spoke with a sense of relief.
The brilliant light that had persisted for over a dozen seconds finally dissipated.
Within the grand hall, nestled in the corner, Dorothy’s form materialized after being scoured by the purifying force.
Lolth, now without her sunglasses, observed Dorothy’s emergence with evident astonishment.
"Hmm… I considered numerous possibilities…"
"But manifesting the exact effect of an ‘Invisibility Potion’ truly catches me off guard."
Dorothy’s vanishing act relied on a high-tier Magic Potion known as the ‘Invisibility Potion.’
Its potency ranks between fifth to ninth grade, with higher grades yielding superior effects.
Yet Dorothy hadn’t ingested any potion—nor had she the opportunity since the clash began.
The clever girl had opted for a more ingenious approach…
Utilizing the Magic Cube’s spell-materialization function, she directly conjured the active magical essence of the potion and infused it into her own being!
This ingenious application hadn’t even crossed the mind of Lolth, the Magic Cube’s own creator.
"Your victory over Maria Diana… is no mere coincidence after all."
"I’d prepared to intervene, yet now see no necessity."
Lolth’s gaze drifted toward Maria Diana’s direction.
The once-arrogant Golden Peacock Regent Queen, Dorothy’s former internal demon…
Now sat enfeebled against the throne’s base, the cursed tome beside her as powerless as its mistress.
Dorothy offered a timid smile, her eyes deliberately avoiding Maria Diana.
"From the instant Teacher explained the Magic Cube and Rod of Eden’s applications, I’ve pondered their combative uses… with my aunt as the foremost adversary in my strategies…"
As Dorothy spoke, Lolth gave an approving nod.
"You’ve endured much."
Her hand brushed Dorothy’s hair, met by the girl’s gentle grasp.
"The hardship matters not—this is my chosen path…"
"My gratitude, Teacher Lolth."
Only then did Dorothy turn her attention toward Maria Diana.
The fallen queen lifted her head, offering her niece a voiceless twitch of lips.
"Victory is yours."
The words carried weary resignation.
In truth, Maria Diana understood… even triumph over Dorothy would alter nothing.