Chapter 26: Saintly Bearing, Night as Bright as Day

“The Witch of Evil has appeared!”

“Full assault!”

“Magic: Radiance of Light!”

“Magic: Explosive Flame Barrage!”

“Magic: Frozen Blade!”

“Magic: Wind Bind!”

……

On the rooftops of all the taller buildings surrounding the viscount’s mansion, priests of the Holy Church filled every edge, holding various magical weapons.

The moment Yiluo carried Coco out of the mansion, the fully-prepared spells erupted simultaneously, sweeping across the entire estate.

Different elemental spells intertwined like a gorgeous fireworks display—except beneath that beauty lay nothing but destruction.

Boom———

The viscount’s mansion was reduced to dust in an instant.

In the next moment, Yiluo moved with incredible speed, dodging the violent wave of magic while clutching Coco tightly.

The Church had deployed nearly three hundred priests of the 3rd and 4th ranks.

A combined spell of such magnitude— even a 5th-rank expert would be unable to withstand it.

Even after escaping the center of the blast, the residual shockwave almost knocked Yiluo off her feet.

Enduring the pain spreading through her body, she grit her teeth and continued running with Coco in her arms.

Waiting for her, however, was a massive encirclement—

Over a thousand knights of ranks 3 and 4, and more than three thousand mercenaries, some even at rank 5!

A true net of heaven and earth.

Yiluo slowed her steps.

Ahead stretched an endless sea of armored bodies, weapons drawn, eyes filled with murderous anger—eager to tear her apart.

She set Coco down, ignoring the priests preparing for a second volley of spells, and the knights and mercenaries staring like hungry wolves.

Turning her head, Yiluo looked at Coco.

Her pale-gold hair fluttered in the cold night wind.

Her white dress was stained with dust, yet it did nothing to diminish her purity and beauty.

“Regretting it, my maid?”

“Before us… is hell.”

Coco showed not even a trace of fear.

She shook her head happily and smiled at Yiluo.

“Miss Yiluo.”

“No… my master. Please allow Coco, a half-blood demon, to accompany you—
to witness what hell looks like.”

Yiluo burst into laughter, her clear ringing voice echoing across the night sky above the ruined mansion.

The distant knights were even further enraged, shouting as they charged.

Yiluo lifted Coco onto her back and spoke gently:

“Hold tight. If possible… I still want to take you to explore this so-called Star Continent.”

“Mm.”

As Coco responded and the enraged knights closed in, the cloth around Yiluo’s sword slowly slid off, revealing its true form.

“Damn it—it’s a holy relic! The Holy Ring of Heavenly Judgment!”

“And she still dares stain a sacred artifact—damned demon!”

“Kill her!”

“Kill her! She who slaughtered a hundred thousand believers!”

Weapons clashed, the air roared.

The knights charged carrying overwhelming hatred.

Yiluo did not understand the source of their hatred.

Nor did she need to.

The only one she would protect—

was the girl on her back.

Everything else before her was the enemy.

Either they die, or she dies. That was enough.

She tightened her grip on the sword, feeling its faint warmth.

Brother… I leave it to you again.

The sword seemed to respond, erupting with brilliant gold light.

Overwhelming presence surged from its blade.

The night wind howled.

A girl carried another girl on her back, sword in hand.

Even facing ten thousand—she would advance.

The next instant, she leapt into the sea of enemies.

The priests could no longer risk casting offense spells.
They frantically cast blessings onto the knights:

Elemental enchantments.

Magic shields.

Mental boosts.

Healing.

Curse spells thrown at Yiluo—though none worked.

Shouts filled the battlefield.

Amid the storm of blades, Yiluo’s movements were fierce yet precise.

Her first priority was always protecting Coco.

Her sword’s golden arc extended five meters, sweeping wide to keep enemies at bay.

Each swing sent blood spraying—
high-rank knights were cleaved apart as if their armor and blessings meant nothing.

Kill.

Kill.

Kill.

Only by slaughtering everyone—
only by making them tremble in fear—
could escape become possible.

Yiluo expelled all hesitation, all reserve.

Her strength surged endlessly.

What rank are they?

What rank am I?

Hah.

What use is that?

Those who block me—die.

She was not the only one going mad—
the surrounding knights also charged recklessly, throwing their bodies into her attacks.

Yet none could break through her golden blade.

Ten minutes of brutal fighting passed.

Thousands of high-ranking knights—half were dead.

But Yiluo she… had not even a scratch.

The hired mercenaries trembled, fear rising.

Money is worthless if you die before spending it!

And Yiluo grew only stronger.

None could restrain her.

The priests watched helplessly, grinding their teeth.

But the Holy Church had prepared more.

Far away, atop a tall tower one kilometer distant—

Holy Knight Lumbarte gulped down three expensive alchemy potions.

Behind him, twelve 4th-rank priests continuously poured blessings into him.

His face twisted with hatred.

He gripped his shining bow—
light magic gathering until it shone blindingly bright.

He waited for Yiluo to be fully absorbed in combat—

Then he would fire a killing shot.

“You witch who deceived my feelings—
Go die!”

“Rank 6—Sacred Stigmata Feather!”

With Lumbarte’s shout, a burst of radiant power illuminated the sky—

Then vanished.

But before he released it—
Yiluo hurled her sword with all her strength toward his tower.

She had always been aware Lumbarte wasn’t present.

She had fought him before—she remembered the Stigmata Feather vividly.

She had been waiting to strike him the moment he appeared.

The golden sword clashed with the holy arrow—
The arrow vanished instantly—

The sword accelerated.

Straight toward Lumbarte’s face.

It happened too fast—he could not react.

“Aah!”

Clang—!

He fell backward, eyes shut in terror—
then opened them—he was alive.

The sword had veered and fallen to the base of the tower.

Caw——!

A piercing bird cry echoed across Green City.

“Radiant Knight Aransa!”

“Radiant Knight Hard!”

“Our Lord’s brilliance eternal!”

The knights cheered wildly.

Their reinforcements had arrived.

Aransa, clad in golden armor, rode atop a massive four-meter griffin.

He drew his mithril bow—three golden arrows glowing—
then vanished as they launched.

Meanwhile, Coco clung tightly to Yiluo—arms around her neck, legs around her waist—
refusing to burden her any further.

Yiluo grabbed a fallen greatsword as her own sword flew out.

She had expected to land a decisive kill—

Instead, she sensed overwhelming danger.

She stepped back instinctively—

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Pshh—!

Three near-invisible golden arrows pierced the air—

And struck.

Yiluo felt searing agony in her left wrist, left knee, and shoulder.

The greatsword slipped from her hand as her body collapsed.

“Mm—!”

Coco’s small pained gasp reached her ears.

Yiluo knew—
three beams of unimaginable speed had been fired.

She could not dodge them.

Her golden hair was stained with red as she twisted mid-fall—
hugging Coco with her right arm—
shielding her as they rolled across the ground.

“Our Lord’s brilliance eternal!”

“May the Radiant Knights extinguish the witch!”

Radiant Knight Hard had reached rank 7 three years ago.

He knew light magic was useless against the Sword Saint Alice.

So he came prepared—
with enchanted arrows empowered by speed blessings from a Heaven-rank priest.

He unleashed his killing technique: Lunar Thrust.

Yiluo’s left wrist was pierced.

Her left knee shattered.

Blood gushed from her shoulder.

She endured, on the verge of unconsciousness—
but her first thought was to look at Coco.

But…

Blood poured endlessly from Coco’s mouth.

She could no longer speak.

One arrow that pierced Yiluo’s shoulder…

had gone through Coco’s organs.

“Coco…”

Yiluo whispered her name.

Coco couldn’t reply—
but her trembling hand rose weakly, wiping away Yiluo’s tears.

“……”

Coco still smiled.

Still looked happy.

Still tried to speak—
but no sound came.

Yiluo pulled her close, pressing their cheeks together.

“I’m sorry… Coco…”

“I’m so sorry…”

“I should have realized sooner…”

Boom————!

A massive griffin descended behind them, its wings blasting wind across the ground.

Against its enormous size—
Yiluo and Coco looked heartbreakingly small.

Radiant Knight Hard lifted his purple spear—
and thrust downward with all his strength—

“Radiant Knight Hard—
Desperate Thorn of Doom!”

The surrounding knights cheered wildly—
waiting for the final blow that would end the Witch of Evil—
a scene they believed would go down in Church history.

But before the spear struck—

The purple flames surrounding the attack went out.

Hard felt a burning, searing pain.

The griffin screeched and retreated.

“What—?!”

“What happened?!”

“Radiant Knight Hard—finish her!”

The knights were confused—
but Hard knew the truth:

If he had not stepped back— he would have been purified by the overwhelming holy power that burst from Yiluo.

But why?!

She had fallen into darkness—
she fought alongside demons—
Yet she still commanded such pure divine energy?

Then—

Golden lights appeared around Yiluo.

Countless tiny motes—like fireflies—
but far more brilliant.

They illuminated her broken, blood-stained body—
making her appear holy.

As if receiving a divine blessing.

These were pure, condensed light and sacred energy.

The motes gathered around her—
more and more—
until they lit up the entire city of Green.

It looked like ten thousand lights rising at once.

『Sadness.』

『So sad.』

『My sword was meant to protect people.』

『……』

『Self-sacrifice. Fearless.』

『In the name of protection—forge a blade of pure judgment.』

A girl’s whisper echoed in Yiluo’s mind.

A voice so familiar—
as if it were her own.

Who… are you?

What should I do?

The whispering girl’s voice soothed her despair—
a trust deeper than emotion—
something Yiluo had never felt.

『Just an ordinary girl named Alice.』

『You came because of me. The one you want to protect— I shall protect as well.』

Yiluo’s consciousness drifted into a trance.

.

Radiant Knight Hard did not dare attack.

Not even a Saint-rank warrior could command such pure primordial energy.

He raised his spear high:

“Our Lord eternal—
my life, become the thorn in my hand!”

His spear shone—
ten meters of swirling purple light—
forcing others to back away.

Priests poured blessings into him.

Lumbarte readied another arrow, laughing hysterically.

If Hard struck the killing blow and he followed with a finishing shot—
history would remember him beside two Radiant Knights.

Only Radiant Knight Aransa stayed back, wary.

He had seen the Sword Saint Alice thirty years ago.

Even then—he was unsure if she could wield this level of power.

.

Then Yiluo—
bleeding, broken—
slowly stood.

“Die—
Doom Thorn Piercing Strike!”

Hard thrust his spear—
power roaring like a dying god.

The wind screamed.

The earth split.

Buildings collapsed.

Ten seconds of annihilation passed—
then the purple light faded.

Hard nearly collapsed from exhaustion.

At that moment—

Lumbarte fired his second Stigmata Feather—
laughing in triumph.

“This is it!
A perfect kill!”

“History will honor me!”

But—

His laughter died.

The explosion cleared—
and Yiluo still stood.

Golden motes wrapped her completely—
untouched.

His arrow hit the golden light—

and vanished with a faint ‘pop’.

Like an ant biting an elephant.

“No…”

“That’s impossible!”

He tried gathering energy for another arrow—
but none came.

Yiluo lifted her head.

Raised her right hand—

“What is she doing?!”

“She can’t attack from this far—”

“You think you can kill me—”

From the sky—

A pillar of pure gold descended.

No sound.

No warning.

One second later—
the tower, Lumbarte, the priests—

Were gone.

Reduced to nothing.

A crater remained.

Yiluo rose fully—
bathed in golden radiance.

Her blood-soaked dress fluttered.

Her hair rose weightlessly.

The Holy Ring of Heavenly Judgment returned to her hand—
glowing fiercely.

She lifted it high—
eyes blazing with golden flame—
eyes no one could meet.

The mercenaries fled in terror.

The knights trembled, stepping back instinctively.

The light they prayed for—
was pouring from her.

When she raised the sword overhead—

The golden motes burst outward—
gathering into the blade.

A massive pillar of incandescent white-gold tore through the sky—

Turning all of Green City bright as daytime.

No—

The entire Western Continent lit up.

All who were awake looked up, stunned.

Night became day.

A girl stood within the divine glow—

Expressionless.

Holy.

Untouchable.

.

In the Holy Capital Kubabire—
the 300-year-old Pope snapped his eyes open beneath the statue of their god.

“It has come…
at last…”

.

In the Eastern Continent’s royal capital Saint Likaia—
the Grand Sage stared at his shattered crystal ball in horror.

“I must inform His Majesty!”

“A new calamity…”

“A new calamity is being born!”

.

And at the continent’s greatest academy—
a pink-haired loli lay on a plush carpet drawing cartoons.

Just as she finished the final stroke—
her hand slipped.

Her drawing was ruined.

She frowned, annoyed.

Her big watery eyes blinked.

“Huh?Didn’t little Alice die thirty years ago?”

“Don’t tell me she missed her cute master so much—
she crawled back from hell?”

She instantly looked happy.

With a lazy wave of her hand, the ruined drawing fixed itself.

She pulled out a fresh sheet of paper and resumed doodling.

“But my cute disciple—
that level of immortal-rank energy shouldn’t be used like that.”

“You’ll drain yourself completely, you know.”

……