Chapter 26: Hero made

A sharp crack of a whip echoed across the battlefield.

A young girl stood at the front of the carriage. Her right hand gripped the reins tightly, and her left held up the flagpole. She led the charge at the very front of the heavy cavalry formation.

Flanking her on both sides rode two white horses—on the left, Hilda; on the right, Yuna.

Behind her, nearly eight hundred heavy cavalry followed closely.

The entire formation looked like a sharp blade plunging into the disorganized center ranks of the demon army.

Luo Li stared directly at that butcher—Zuka, one of the twelve Demon Generals.

That title, “Demon General,” was only granted to beings who had reached levels 60 to 69!

In other words… this enemy had surpassed the deadly threshold of level sixty—he was one of the continent’s top-tier powers!

Zuka had also noticed them. When his eyes landed on the girl standing atop the carriage—dressed in a white robe trimmed with gold, wearing a golden crown, with silver hair and red eyes—he sneered.

“Oh? So it’s Her Holiness, the Moon Saintess. I didn’t expect this. A pampered little Saintess hiding so much strength? As I thought, that failure Marsha should’ve been executed long ago.”

Luo Li’s expression didn’t change as she stared at Zuka. She didn’t need to guess what he was doing to the women behind him—her gut already knew.

But she didn’t respond. She didn’t even give him a glance. She just whipped the reins again.

The horses pulling the carriage, spurred by pain, accelerated once more. The Guardian Knights on either side—Hilda and Yuna—also sped up without hesitation to keep pace.

Zuka watched the Saintess charge at him. His eyes gleamed with a disturbing greed.

A girl this beautiful? Letting her stay in the human world was such a waste!

“Your Holiness, are you confused? I’ve been looking for you! And now you come to me willingly? Do you even know who I am? I am… Butcher Zuka!!”

A terrifying aura exploded from Zuka’s massive body. Even when facing a rushing tide of heavy cavalry, there wasn’t the slightest trace of fear on his face.

Instead, a bloodthirsty grin appeared on his twisted, ugly features.

“If you’re that eager to receive my love, then don’t blame me for being rough!”

As he spoke, he suddenly raised his hand, aimed at the incoming cavalry, and roared:

“Dark Devour!”

The skill activated instantly.

In this world, level 30 and level 60 were two major power thresholds. Crossing either brought an explosive increase in power.

And this Demon General had already surpassed level 60!

The strength he unleashed could rival that of an entire army of ten thousand!

However, Luo Li had already anticipated this.

She had accounted for every possible scenario.

If she hadn’t, then charging in like this would have been nothing but suicide.

“Hilda, get ready!!”

Luo Li shouted back to Hilda, then turned again to face Zuka.

Her left hand gripped the flagpole tightly.

“By the banner of the Moon, to protect the glorious night—O Holy One! Please shield me and my people!”

The dramatic line rang out again, but Luo Li remained completely focused.

Above her, the full moon suddenly flared with blinding light!

At night, the power of the Moon Saintess reached its peak.

In that instant—

The Moon Banner in her left hand burst into dazzling silver light, shooting upward into the sky.

At the same time, the moon—once hidden behind dark clouds—suddenly bathed the earth in moonlight.

All of Radiant City was now completely enveloped in it.

A massive beam of silver light, even greater than the first, rained down from the heavens.

Every human within Radiant City was bathed in the light of the moon.

And at that very moment, **Zuka’s spell—Dark Devour—**arrived.

From the center of Zuka’s palm erupted a cloud of thick black mist, reeking of blood and rot. It spun like a tornado, howling straight toward Luo Li.

“Hilda!”

Seeing this, Luo Li didn’t falter. She turned sharply to Hilda.

“Your Holiness, I’m ready!”

Hilda rode alongside the carriage, her face firm and resolute.

Luo Li gave a nod, released the reins, and drew the Sword of Devotion from her waist, raising it toward the moonlight.

“O sleeping hero, in the name of Luo Li Saint Shalya, I call upon you to rise from your eternal slumber and bring forth the light!”

No sooner had she spoken than a silver streak flashed across the sky. It looked small—but it radiated unmatched power.

In an instant—

Everyone on the battlefield noticed that light.

Even Zuka’s expression shifted into shock.

“Hero’s Descent!? Damn it!”

Luo Li twisted the Sword of Devotion in her hand, and the silver streak in the sky followed the blade’s direction like a shooting star—crashing down onto Hilda’s forehead.

Hilda, still on horseback, felt a violent force surge through her. Her body jolted back, and her vision went dark—she lost consciousness.

In that exact moment, the entire battlefield’s roaring chaos—

fell into complete silence.

Then slowly, Hilda’s eyes reopened.

In her blue pupils, a faint golden glow began to shine.

“This is…”

She looked around, slightly dazed, then suddenly turned to Luo Li, a look of clarity dawning.

“I greet Her Holiness, the Moon Saintess. Though I am among the dead, if I can be of help to you, I—
the Holy Knight Julius—am willing to give everything.”

With that, Hilda—no, she was no longer Hilda.

Hero’s Descent had summoned the soul of a legendary hero, allowing it to possess her body.

That hero who, at the youngest age in history, earned the title:

Holy Knight — Julius!

Julius turned toward the battlefield. Her gaze fell on Zuka, and her brows knit slightly.

“So it’s a Demon General. No wonder Her Holiness would call upon me. It seems… this will be a glorious fight!”

“Julius… I entrust this to you.”

Luo Li’s voice rang out with power!

“O moonlight, protect my knight!”

Moonlight swirled around Hilda’s body like flowing water, forming a semi-transparent armor.

The Banner of the Moon to guard the Glorious Night.

Hero’s Descent.

Moon’s Blessing.

One unique skill. Two divine authorities—all activated together!

At this moment, Luo Li had revealed all her trump cards!

“Thank you, Your Holiness. I go now.”

Hilda—now Julius—glanced back and gave Luo Li a respectful nod. Then she turned forward, her eyes flashing with brilliant gold.

“Demon General, I don’t know your name, but as a knight, I shall still announce mine.
I am the Holy Knight—Julius!”