Chapter 28: Let Fear Take Root in People’s Hearts

The floating eye glowed with an eerie green light, as if flames were swirling around it.
Its profound gaze stimulated my nerves like needles.
Just a moment’s glance at the eye, and I felt as if I had been plunged into an ice cave, as if I were being watched by some ancient being.
The intense palpitation was overwhelming.

What is that thing?!

And what’s with this feeling it gives me?
It feels a bit familiar… like… the feeling of being watched when I first entered the city…

This thing, could it be that the church has been using this eye to track us all along?
No wonder they were so well-prepared.
No wonder I didn’t find anyone in the city!
Even those three airships were probably just decoys they deliberately set up…

Looking at the densely packed inquisitors surrounding us, my heart couldn’t help but sink.
I subconsciously squeezed my wound to draw more blood and summon the thorns, but I was grabbed by a hand.

“Don’t push yourself. I can handle it,” Elvira said in a deep voice.

“I’m not pushing myself! This is nothing compared to one of your feedings.”

“That’s not allowed either!”

Elvira held my arm tightly, so I could only do my best to control the few clusters of thorns I had to form a defensive line, while also paying attention to the movements around me.

The fleet’s cannon fire had stopped for a long time, which was not a good sign.
Moreover, I couldn’t hear Nadiesse and the others’ movements anymore.
I just hoped that they had successfully boarded the ship and were preparing to retreat, and not that something else had happened…

A thousand thoughts flashed through my mind in an instant.
When I came back to my senses, a few black objects were thrown towards us.
I couldn’t see them clearly under the night sky, but Elvira reacted first.

“They’re powder flasks! Hide behind me!”

Elvira took a step forward and pulled me behind her.
Lightning flashed again, and just before the powder flasks were about to land, a crimson bolt of lightning shot past.
The powder flasks were all detonated one after another, exploding into orange-red fireworks.

The flames of the explosion formed a wall of fire that occupied my vision.
The scorching waves surged, and I squinted my eyes behind Elvira, observing my surroundings.
But the firelight of the explosion was too bright in the dark night, so bright that it was blinding.
I could only hear a dull buzzing sound.

Wait! A buzzing sound?!

The next moment, the wall of fire was forcibly broken through.
The giant, swinging his heavy hammer, broke through all obstacles and charged straight towards us.
Every time he landed, the ground would tremble.
His unstoppable charge could not be hindered by thorns or flames.

The slender black figure in front of me slowly bent down, her knees bent.
She stomped on the ground and shot out.
Elvira met the small mountain with an unparalleled momentum.

Bang—!

The sound of the collision echoed in my ears.
The steel giant was stopped in his tracks by Elvira’s blow.
He swung his giant hammer down, but it hit nothing but air.
Elvira flexibly dodged the attack and kicked the giant’s knee with a whip kick.
Then, taking advantage of the moment the giant lowered his body, she prepared to pursue.

But the floating, eerie green eye suddenly shone brightly!

A deep green light fell, and Elvira was enveloped in it.
Her entire figure was frozen in time, unable to move.
The giant hammer fell again, smashing towards the defenseless figure.

‘Why am I just standing here watching? Verona, do something! Thorns, move, move quickly! Faster, even faster!’

In that tense moment, my breath and heartbeat both stopped.
In a flash, the thorns, with unprecedented speed, wrapped around Elvira’s waist and quickly pulled her back, narrowly dodging the giant hammer’s attack.

But in my haste, I used too much force.
Elvira’s body crashed straight into me, and the two of us rolled into a ball, falling in a heap.

“Fly up! There’s something wrong with that eye!”
The first thing I did after catching my breath was to shout at Elvira.
Her actions were even faster.
Her wings suddenly spread open, carrying me straight up into the sky.

Thanks to the multiple “game” experiences from before, I didn’t feel much discomfort during the rapid ascent.
I could even look down and take in the whole scene at the port.

Nadiesse’s ship was slowly leaving the port platform, but it was held tightly by several grappling hooks with thick hemp ropes.

The gnomes fearlessly jumped out of the railings, raising their swords and desperately hacking at the hemp ropes.
Even when the gnomes in front were hit by bullets, the ones behind continued to rush forward.

Suddenly, the green eye shone with a brilliant light.
The sense of oppression in the air suddenly increased, as if the entire world had frozen at that moment.
The green light was deep and cold, like a call from the abyss, deeper than death, striking directly at the soul.

Is it… charging up?!

“Elvira! An attack is coming, be careful to dodge it!”

“Hold on tight.”

Just as her words fell, a huge torrent of energy burst forth from the eyeball.
The beam of light grazed past Elvira’s wings, piercing the boundless night sky and chasing relentlessly after us.

Our speed suddenly increased.
Diving, ascending, and circling.
After a series of “defensive maneuvers,” the beam of light was still not a single bit farther away, but it couldn’t hit us either.

Elvira’s expression was grave, but her body was flexible and at ease.
If this continued, we should be able to stall until Nadiesse and the others leave.
At that time, we could also—what!

A gleam of golden light suddenly appeared, flying towards us with the speed of lightning… it was a golden spear…

Our flight speed briefly stagnated to dodge the golden spear, but we could no longer dodge the beam of light behind us.
I could already feel the scorching temperature of the energy turbulence…

Gritting my teeth, I pushed Elvira away with both my feet.
Our warm bodies separated.
The beam of light passed between us.
I was grazed on the thigh, but fortunately, Elvira was unharmed.

By the light, I saw Elvira’s illuminated face, which was gradually becoming panicked.

“Verona!”

My body fell.
Watching Elvira’s figure quickly shrink, I had already prepared myself for what was to come…

The descent only lasted for a few seconds before it abruptly stopped.
But it wasn’t because I had hit the ground, but…

A giant hand had caught me firmly.

“Well done, Uncle Galdos.”

A voice I had never heard before entered my ears.
Beside the giant, there was… a young girl with short, golden hair.
Another hound of the church!
It’s the one who threw the golden spear in Norn City!

I’m really popular.
Every time, it takes three Grand Inquisitors to capture me.
What does the Church of Mancius want from me…

“If you don’t want her to be injured, please come down, Miss Black Dragon,” the golden-haired girl said calmly.
There was no emotion in her placid eyes.

“Don’t listen to her! Don’t mind me—ugh, cough, cough!”

The giant hand holding me suddenly squeezed, almost forcing all the air out of my chest.
With a series of bone-cracking sounds, I coughed up two mouthfuls of blood…

“Don’t touch her. I’ll do as you say…” Elvira landed on the ground, standing a short distance in front of the golden-haired girl.
“What do you want?”

“Nothing. You and this witch have violated the doctrines of the Holy Nation.
We are just here to capture you and take you back to the Holy City for punishment.
For safety’s sake, please turn your back. I need to cut off your wings.”

“Hmph… easier… said… than done…”

I squeezed out a few words from my mouth in rebuttal.

“Letting you roam free will only cause panic and chaos among the people.
Such things are not allowed under the protection of Mancius…”

“Oh? Panic? So… you’re afraid of me?”

“Mancius does not fear any heretic.
You will all find your slumber under the sharp sword, and that includes witches and dragons.”

“Hoh… you’ve got a tough mouth.”

In just a few short sentences, the golden-haired girl gave me the impression of someone who had been brainwashed by religious superstition.
Dull, rigid, and strictly adhering to the rules.

But her answer confirmed one thing for me—the church, or rather, certain people in the church, were indeed afraid of me.

Then, let this fear sink deep into their hearts.
Let me see what those secretive priests are afraid of.

Blood soaked my arm.
I drew my arm out, still holding the small knife.
I raised the cold blade high, but the giant and the girl remained unmoved.

“It’s useless. You can’t possibly break through Uncle Galdos’s armor.”

“Which of your eyes saw me aiming for this lump of iron?”

Hearing this, the golden-haired girl’s expression faltered.
A crack finally appeared on her cold face.

Very well.
The people of the church, the people of the Holy Nation, will all remember this night.
Let your fear of me be deeply rooted in your hearts