Chapter 27: Victory

“Holy Charge!!”

With a loud shout, the white horse beneath Julius was suddenly wrapped in a layer of golden light.

That glow spread like a comet’s tail, quickly extending backward and enveloping all the heavy cavalry riding behind Luo Li.

The moment the demonic beastmen touched this golden light, it was as if they’d been hit with acid—their skin sizzled with a burning sound, and they screamed in pain!

In that instant, the whole cavalry formation surged forward with even more speed. And then—Julius finally collided with the black tornado head-on!

Zuka’s skill was completely ineffective. Under the protection of Luo Li’s “Radiant Banner”, all the knights became immune to the first wave of damage.

They burst straight through the black vortex. The entire cavalry formation became a golden sword, or perhaps a roaring wave of golden light, crashing fiercely into the heart of Zuka’s central army!

Even though the demonic creatures stationed there were all elite-level—most above level ten—they were like fragile membranes in front of a heavy cavalry led by a Holy Knight. They were pierced through easily!

The cavalry swept through everything like a flood. Whether it was elite generals of level 40 or 50, or ordinary soldiers at level 10, nothing could survive in the path of that golden wave.

Even though the Holy Knight’s spirit was merely possessing Hilda’s level 50 body, the skills Julius wielded could still crush anything below level 70 with ease!

Wherever they passed, black blood sprayed into the air. Severed limbs flew everywhere.

The black blood, normally corrosive to humans, couldn’t even reach the knights—it was burned away by the holy light before making contact.

As expected of a top-tier warrior—even with their level restricted, they could still destroy everything.

At the very front stood Julius. Though the power of this skill only lasted ten minutes, it was more than enough.

Looking ahead, there were less than a hundred meters between them and Zuka—for heavy cavalry, that was a blink of an eye.

Still, Luo Li didn’t blink. In the instant her eyes met Zuka’s, she released one of her Divine Authorities without hesitation!

As the Moon Guardian, the angel Shalya watches over souls—and passes judgment on evil.

“Under the holy moonlight, no sin can escape judgment. Demon General Zuka—receive the judgment of God!”

Eye of Judgment—Activated!

No one could escape the power of a Divine Authority.

Even though humans were far weaker than demons, they had still managed to hold their ground across the continent—sometimes even overpowering other races.

The reason… was Divine Authority.

In an instant, even the level-60 Zuka was overwhelmed. His thoughts tangled in self-contradiction, his body froze in place.

And in the next second—a silver, spiral-shaped knight’s lance pierced his body without resistance!

Golden light surrounded him.

Zuka let out a shrill, pained scream.

But his body wasn’t torn apart. He was impaled on the spiraled lance, both hands gripping it tightly, eyes full of rage as he glared at Julius, who held the weapon.

He spat out a mouthful of black blood, which was instantly burned away by golden light.

“Good… Moon Saintess… Luo Li Saint Shalya… I’ll remember you!”

Suddenly, wings spread from his back, and he pulled out a massive three-meter-long greatsword, swinging it down toward Julius!

Julius held the lance in her right hand, but her left didn’t stay idle. She drew the cruciform greatsword at her waist and blocked the strike.

The two weapons clashed with a deafening boom—like a massive bell being struck!

Dong—!

With a loud sound, Zuka was thrown backward by the recoil. He spread his wings and soared into the air.

A gaping hole remained in his chest. His gaze turned dark and vicious as he looked back at Julius and Luo Li.

By now, he understood—there was no hope of turning this battle around.

Even though Marsha the demon had warned him the power of that skill only lasted ten minutes, he was too badly injured to hold out that long.

The heavy cavalry that had charged out from the west gate had already crushed the front lines. Most of the central army had been destroyed.

Standing at the head of the carriage, holding the Moon Banner, Luo Li looked up at Zuka in the sky.

At this moment, Luo Li was certain:

This war—was hers to win.

She had gambled everything, used every tactic she could think of.

And in the end—she had won.

Zuka stared at Luo Li.

But right then, Julius suddenly raised her silver spiral lance, as if preparing to throw a javelin. She aimed it at Zuka in the sky and shouted:

“Demon General! How dare you look directly at Her Holiness?!”

The spiral lance shot upward like a flash of light!

Zuka had still been locked in eye contact with Luo Li and wasn’t prepared. He only reacted when the golden flash was right in front of him.

He raised his arm to block.

The glowing golden spiral lance tore through his arm instantly.

Zuka stumbled in the air, nearly knocked from the sky. He barely managed to stay aloft and no longer dared to linger.

He glared once more at Julius, then turned and fled.

“Demon Army, fall back on my command!!”

With that shout from Zuka, the already chaotic demon central camp finally collapsed completely.

The scales of battle had completely tipped in Luo Li’s favor.

Seeing this, Luo Li finally let go of the tension she had held onto this whole time.

There was no need for her to do anything more. She stood calmly at the head of the carriage, watching as the two golden waves merged and swept away everything in their path.

The demon army was routed. The surviving demonic beasts fled northwest in panic.

Luo Li was just about to give chase, to strike while the enemy was down and vent her anger—

But just then, the time limit for Hero’s Descent ran out.

“Your Holiness, the battle is decided. There’s no need for you to remain here in danger. Please return to the sanctuary—that is where you’ll be safest.”

Julius sensed that the time had ended. She pulled back on the reins and rode back to the side of the carriage.

“No! I want to see these demons die with my own eyes!”

Luo Li was still unwilling to back down.

However, the Holy Knight’s authority was not lower than that of the Saintess—in some cases, it could even override hers.

Even though Julius was just the soul of a hero long dead, the presence she radiated still carried power.

“Knight Yuna,” she said, “I’ve read about you in Hilda’s memories. Now… I invoke my rights as a Holy Knight—escort Her Holiness back to the sanctuary, and wipe out the remaining demon forces!”

Yuna froze for a moment, then gave a serious nod.

“Understood. Even if it costs me my life, I will protect Her Holiness the Saintess!”