The air in the cathedral itself seemed to tremble under the terrifying aura radiating from the Saintess of Destruction.
“Die, all of you!!!”
With all her strength, the Saintess of Destruction swung her sword. Blazing flames turned into countless crimson serpents, surging across the cathedral to engulf the executioner and paladins who barred her path.
Even gripping their weapons tightly, the executioner and paladins could barely withstand her life-burning assault. Their armor began to shatter piece by piece, while sparks seared black scars across their faces.
Behind them, the high priest’s strongest healing miracle unfurled—showers of divine light rained down, instantly mending wounds and replenishing their strength.
But under the torment of pain and fury, Adelice, the Saintess of Destruction, only fought more ferociously. Her power skyrocketed, yet her sanity plummeted. No matter how wildly she swung the cursed blade, the executioner and paladins still managed to block or evade with their combined effort.
Her rhythm faltered. The male guardian seized openings again and again, striking back when she least expected it.
Once more, the male guardian slipped into the shadows, circling toward her back.
Adelice, however, was like a wounded beast in agony. She knew the only way to escape that pain was to kill the white mage in the backline who was endlessly tormenting her.
“Lan Qi—!!”From afar—
“!”
Seeing Adelice’s fury, Lan Qi realized she was about to curse aloud. Without hesitation, he cast Friendly Exchange.
In an instant, Adelice’s voice caught in her throat.
She stared at Lan Qi in disbelief, her throat raw as if scraped by knives—she couldn’t even vent her rage through words anymore.
“Even if you are a cultist, you shouldn’t curse. That’s wrong,” Lan Qi explained calmly, as if it were the most logical truth.
“……”
The cathedral fell into silence.
Only the sound of throats nervously swallowing remained.
Adelice herself was the source of that dreadful quiet, like a black hole devouring all sound.
Her aura surged with such danger that even the executioner and paladins felt every hair stand on end.
They all knew—
Lan Qi had just upgraded her berserk state again!!
Behind him, the priest clutching his staff to maintain the barrier began to tremble.
“Brother, that’s enough… stop stacking more effects on her…”
Fear filled his voice.
None of Lan Qi’s cards bore effects like “Taunt,” “Rage,” or “Berserk.” Yet in his hands, every single one somehow gained those properties!
It sped up the battle’s tempo drastically, giving them a real chance to finish before sunset.
But now, the most likely outcome was that the frenzied Saintess would break through and slaughter every last mage in the backline!
At that very moment—
Adelice blurred forward, body like a black arrow cutting the air, charging straight for Lan Qi!
The male guardian reacted instantly, pouring everything into a strike at her neck.
But to his shock, Adelice didn’t dodge at all. Relying on the fact that killing her would summon a vampiric earl, she gambled he wouldn’t dare. Ignoring him, she unleashed a blazing fire ring, hurling him back with only a deep wound carved into her back.
The executioner, cloaked in battered red, charged like a raging bull, axe swinging down. The paladin followed close, his holy blade slicing the air like thunder, arcs of light flashing like lightning.
But Adelice no longer defended herself. Like a primal beast, she bore the attacks head-on, slashing savagely and wounding both men heavily, then surged forward again without pause.
“She’s gone mad?!”
The executioner gasped, scorched, every breath bringing searing pain.
The paladin’s shield was shattered, his chestplate torn open by her sword’s aura, blood gushing freely.
They chased desperately, but Adelice had already broken through.
The priest, panicked, fired spells, a blazing orb of light streaking toward her like a miniature sun.
But she was too fast—like a falcon in a death dive, her blade gleamed like a scythe of the reaper, aimed straight at Lan Qi. She would kill him no matter what.
“Someone stop her!!!”
The male guardian’s voice rang out as he sprinted in vain, wind roaring at his heels, unable to catch up.
The cathedral itself seemed ready to collapse under the tension.
Time slowed. Sound dulled.
Every challenger’s face was twisted with panic as Adelice, out of control, closed in on the backline.
The battle’s outcome would be decided in the next heartbeat.
If their defense broke, she would butcher the rear guard. Without them, the challengers would have no hope of resisting her.
But if she could be stalled—there was still a chance to fight on.
Only a few meters remained before she reached the barrier.
Covered in wounds, her face twisted with frenzy, Adelice poured all her remaining strength into a final strike at Lan Qi.
The priest still stood in front, teeth clenched, ready to hold the barrier for one last blow.
“Come, you damned heretic!”
Even one second of delay might tip the battle in their favor.
Yet—
In all the chaos, one person remained utterly calm.
From beginning to end, Lan Qi’s state had never changed.
He stepped forward past the priest’s shoulder, his footsteps quiet and steady, detached from the madness of battle.
There was no fear in him. He held a single card glowing with violet light.
The next moment—
A heavy crack rang out. Metal scraped sparks against stone.
The cathedral went deathly silent.
Because everyone saw—
Adelice’s eyes went wide with shock as she collapsed to her knees before Lan Qi!
Her dive had ended with a brutal, shattering kneel, her knees wracked with pain that left her unable to rise.
Beneath the stained glass glowing with radiant colors, Lan Qi stood tall, bathed in holy sunlight—like a god gazing down upon a supplicant.
He didn’t move, only looked at her with calm eyes.
“If you see the Headmaster, why don’t you kneel?”