Chapter 42: A Good Show
A young female priestess, who had been quietly standing at the periphery of the altar, suddenly pulled out a water pouch from her sleeve. Before anyone could react to the sudden turn of events, she quickly ran to Dave’s side, uncorked the bottle, and splashed it with force!
“Ugh…” Dave, caught off guard, was instantly drenched. Before he could even react, a golden-red flame burst forth. The young man, who had just moments ago looked resolute, let out an extremely shrill scream and stumbled, falling to the ground!
“Luo Na and La Da are watching!” Little Ai gently brushed aside the few strands of light golden hair from her forehead, revealing her pale face tinged with a slight flush. She looked down at Dave and softly said, “Do you think they might feel a little comforted now?”
Golden-red flames now engulfed Dave’s entire body, while several divine lights of various colors continuously flashed. Although they left no physical wounds on Dave, anyone could tell from his screams that his situation was dire.
At this moment, even the most oblivious onlookers somewhat realized that something was wrong. The mysterious power, rising and burning, was tormenting… their hero…?
This power was so pure and surging, faintly carrying a hint of anger!
And the Holy Church United’s clergy were in utter disarray. Their understanding of this power was much clearer; no matter how they looked at it, the power that suddenly erupted from Dave, who had just been splashed with water again, was indistinguishable from the divine power they knew!
What on earth happened!?
“This…” Bishop Mo Tan was utterly stunned. He watched Dave frantically rolling on the ground, shaking his head in disbelief, and muttered, “Punishment! Why? Why would a God-blessed one receive punishment from God!?”
Dong~~
Suddenly, an incredibly piercing bell chime interrupted everyone’s thoughts. Subconsciously looking up, the white-robed man, who had just moments ago been utterly pale and seemed to have 'panic' written all over his face, was now comfortably leaning against the iron bell behind him, one hand over his mouth, lightly whistling.
“Oh my, oh my!” Mo Tan seemed to have just noticed that everyone below had once again turned their gaze to him. He rubbed his nose rather sheepishly, “What exactly is going on here?”
【We also want to know what exactly is going on here!!!】
Everyone was being driven mad by the constant surprises…
“Didn’t I say it several times already~” Mo Tan shrugged, “I still have more to say… The face-to-face confrontation hasn’t even started yet, has it? Why are you making such a fuss about arresting someone, causing Dave… Tsk tsk… He must be medium-rare by now, right?”
Confrontation, my foot! If you were really sincere about confronting, why did you make us feel like you were panicking just now… Ah!
“Alright, alright, then let’s invite our hastily appearing student from the Holy Church United, serving the sun god, a second-year at Pading Knight Academy, from the Warm Sun Squad ~ Ai Fan Ye, to say a few words to everyone.” Mo Tan said this, but his playful gaze remained fixed on Lang En, whose face had been ashen since earlier.
Glancing at Dave, who was desperately rolling in front of her, displaying an unusually tenacious vitality, Little Ai turned to face everyone and softly said, “My name is Ai Fan Ye, one of the victims Dave mentioned earlier. In fact, I was originally supposed to die outside the city, but unfortunately, that night Dave didn't deliver the final blow, which allowed me to survive!”
The scene erupted in an uproar…
Perhaps this slightly slender, delicate-faced girl didn't have a strong presence, but Pato City was only so big. Someone was bound to recognize her, and so, within a few seconds, a huge commotion had already been stirred up among the crowd!
She wasn't dead, and she had just said something with a huge amount of information!
“So, from a certain perspective,” Little Ai’s gaze towards Dave was very gentle, “he might indeed be considered my benefactor, it’s just that I can’t rest in peace yet.”
“Fan Ye!” In the dead silence, Lang En finally began to act, casting a ‘benevolent’ gaze at the little priestess beside him, “I’m glad to see you’re alive, but I’m a bit worried about your mental state, after all…”
He looked up at Mo Tan, who was leaning back with his arms crossed as if watching a show, and said in a deep voice, “You might have been Bewitched. Some malicious people are never stingy when it comes to manipulating simple and kind people like us.”
The implication was clear…
That guy on the bell tower clearly isn’t a good person, how do we know you haven’t been manipulated by some unknown means by him?
“I know exactly what I’m saying.” Little Ai shook her head, “And I am equally willing to take responsibility for every word I speak.”
“But you just listened to that blasphemer’s words!” Lang En pointed at Dave and sternly shouted, “You attacked a God-blessed one! Someone blessed by God!”
A strange situation occurred; after Lang En’s shout, Dave’s cries of pain suddenly subsided, and the golden-red flames on his body instantly softened a few degrees, as if hesitating and confused about something…
“Yes…” Dave’s consciousness immediately regained a trace of clarity. He hoarsely roared, “I am a God-blessed one, I am a blessed person, I am so devout… God will not harm me…”
Although his words were filled with daze, and the content sounded somewhat strange to others, the punishment Bishop Mo Tan spoke of seemed to have suddenly faded.
“Everyone, look!” Lang En suddenly raised his voice, “God’s followers will not be easily defeated, even amidst such a meticulously planned and malicious ambush!”
The public began to hesitate again…
Although doubts had arisen in their hearts, no matter how they looked at it, Dave seemed more trustworthy than that madman who appeared to be constantly toying with everyone.
“Splashing some Water of the Gods on him, can that be called a malicious ambush?” Little Ai looked at Lang En in confusion, “Only blasphemers and Evil Cultists are harmed.”
Seeing that the situation had almost stabilized again, Lang En immediately appeared much calmer. He shook his head with a benevolent smile and said, “Who knows what you splashed out just now? And if we’re talking about blasphemers and Evil Cultists, I think that guy on the bell tower seems more like one, doesn’t he? Fan Ye, please forgive us for not being able to trust you.”
The use of ‘us’ was quite clever, immediately tying his stance to that of the public. Sure enough, as soon as Lang En finished speaking, it resonated with many in the crowd.
Moreover, the divine light of punishment on Dave’s body had almost extinguished by now…
“What do I need to do to prove it?” Little Ai calmly looked at Lang En. It was hard to imagine that not long ago, she was a shy and introverted little girl.
“I’m afraid you cannot prove it now.” Lang En shook his head, “Unless you and that blasphemer immediately accept the guards’ custody and stop causing further commotion. The matters thereafter are not something an old and useless man like me can be responsible for.”
Little Ai fell silent, while Mo Tan on the bell tower slightly raised an eyebrow, just about to speak…
“I think I can prove it for her.” Unexpectedly, a not-so-quiet murmur came from below the altar. Everyone looked closely, and lo and behold, wasn’t it that Half-Orc little priestess with Mammoth bloodline!
“What nonsense are you spouting!” Lang En felt utterly distraught. Who could tell him what kind of trick this ‘little’ girl, who looked like a Berserker, was playing!
“Um…” The Mammoth little priestess lowered her head shyly, “I was right there when she was filling the water, so it shouldn’t be fake.”
Lang En immediately retorted, “Then how do you know she didn’t swap it out later!?”
“Tsk tsk, swap~” Mo Tan suddenly chuckled softly, “Well said.”
“Uh…” However, the Mammoth little priestess was genuinely stumped. She stood there in a daze for a long while, until Lang En couldn’t help but smile, when she suddenly clapped her hands, “I have the real thing here!”
What!?
To everyone’s astonishment, she picked up a large bucket from her feet and said cheerfully to the several little nuns beside her, “I also poured myself a big cup at the time, many people saw it, and I’ve always been with everyone, right?”
Holy cow, what a big ‘cup’!
Not to mention others, even Mo Tan was a bit surprised…
Several clergy members who were usually friendly with Little Mammoth nodded blankly, confirming that she was indeed not lying.
“Then I’ll Try!” This girl loved to show off and had a straightforward personality. Without another word, she carried the bucket… I mean, the cup, and strode towards Dave.
Lang En’s eyes turned red, and he quickly exclaimed, “Wait…”
Splash!!!!
“Ah ah ah ah ah!!!” Dave, who had just managed to suppress the power of punishment with some mysterious force, was thoroughly drenched and instantly couldn’t hold on. His entire body spontaneously combusted on the spot, like a moving human torch. He ran two steps before crashing to the ground with a splat, while wisps of pale white mist rose from within him.
“Whoa!” Little Mammoth immediately jumped back, “It’s burning! Wait… What kind of aura is this!”
“Evil God power!” Bishop Mo Tan immediately retreated several steps, looking grimly at Dave, “He is an Evil Cultist!”
Even ordinary citizens could now feel the chilling coldness contained within it!
It could no longer be hidden!
“Guards! Surround him!” Lang En shouted decisively, “Everyone has been deceived! I never thought Dave Sager would actually…”
“After perfectly following your arrangements~” Mo Tan suddenly burst into maniacal laughter, “He was still exposed! How does it feel, Lord Lang En, to meticulously protect him only to fail at the last moment?”
“You are right.” Lang En immediately bowed deeply to him, “I was blind. Afterwards, I will certainly…”
“No need for afterwards.” Mo Tan yawned, covering his mouth, and waved his hand lazily, “I’m tired of playing. Cole, it’s your turn.”
Cole? Who is that?
Before anyone could react, a young man in ordinary cloth clothes suddenly swept from the crowd onto the stage, raising his hand and unleashing a sheet of water curtain~
“My name is Cole Shulen.” Cole stood in front of Little Ai, and said coldly to Lang En, who was already starting to smoke, “It’s a pity I’m also still alive. Long time no see, Lord Lang En…”
Mo Tan, at this moment, opportunely pulled out a black paper filled with greyish-white characters from his pocket and chuckled, “This was found in Lord Lang En’s room at the City Hall. What do you all think is written on it?”
It no longer mattered…
From the moment Lang En started smoking after being splashed with the Water of the Gods, the citizens and Holy Church members who felt the chilling coldness from him no longer needed further explanation.
Lang En’s various actions in defending that hero earlier were the best explanation!
“Die for me!” Lang En, finally cornered, didn't say another word. His entire body shrouded in a pale white mist, he lunged with a claw towards Cole, who was closest to him, “You are powerless to resist my might!”
Cole, who had originally been preparing to pull Little Ai away, suddenly froze. He couldn’t move from his spot, only able to watch as his opponent lunged towards him.
“Wall of Prosperity!”
A delicate shout came from not far away. Lang En’s claw, which was about to strike Cole’s head, was blocked in mid-air by a swirling emerald green magic barrier. At the same time, elemental vines frantically wrapped around his arm.
Lady Lei Duo’s figure appeared on a nearby attic, her slender staff pointing directly at Lang En, “You dying alone is enough! Don’t even think about touching my nephew!”
At the same time, the Pading Knight Academy instructors who had been observing the ceremony also began to surround Lang En, all making their moves!
“Wheel Sweep!”
“Flame Flow Demon Hand!”
“Meteor Arrow!”
“Meat Tank Chariot!”
…
Bishop Mo Tan and a large number of Holy Church members also began preparing their divine spells!
But…
“Weak! Powerless! Worthless!” Lang En stood in place, sneering. He actually withstood this wave of attacks head-on, and loudly declared, “In the name of the God of Whisper! Followers, let them see what true divine power is!!”
As soon as his voice fell, nearly a hundred figures scattered from the crowd, charging out to kill. Each of them was dressed ordinarily; students, merchants, farmers, elders, instructors – everything was represented. The only commonality was that their faces were now filled with fanaticism and ferocity, and they were all whispering something softly.
“You cannot stop…”
“Tremble and die…”
“Offer your souls to our Lord…”
“Shudder in fear…”
“Your attacks are worthless…”
In just one encounter, seven or eight Pading Knight Academy instructors fell, and they didn’t even know how they met their end!
And under this sudden, unexpected assault, the encirclement, which had originally been aimed only at Lang En, immediately developed a breach!
“Your reactions are too slow!”
Pfft!
In the blink of an eye, he appeared behind a Holy Church Warrior, plunging a grey dagger, which had appeared in his hand at some unknown moment, into the latter’s heart.
“Light of Piety!” Although Bishop Mo Tan was advanced in years, he was still the strongest in Pato City for the Holy Church United. He raised his hand and unleashed a golden curtain of light, covering Lang En.
Unexpectedly…
“Your divine power is fragile and lowly!” Lang En casually swatted away the light unleashed by Mo Tan, and with a flash, appeared in front of the mayor, who was already slumped on the ground, kicking him towards Mo Tan.
At this very moment, Mo Tan also leaped down from the bell tower, joining Bayes, who had been standing below for a long time, and rushed towards the scene, laughing maniacally, “What a good show!”
“I don’t think so.” Bayes, while fiercely smashing an Evil Cultists who tried to block him until he vomited blood with two warhammers, glanced in Lei Duo’s direction and muttered, “When did Cole become her nephew…”
Five seconds later!
“Don’t come any closer!” Lang En half-crouched on the ground, his hands gripping the mayor and the bishop, two of the most influential figures in Pato City. He sneered, “One more step, and I’ll kill these two good-for-nothings!”
Bayes instinctively stopped, his hands holding the warhammers, his face as dark as water.
Then…
Mo Tan pouted, taking a huge step forward in a split-leg stance, “Go on, kill one, let me see!”
…
Crack!!
Two necks, one thick and one thin, snapped in response!
“You thought I wouldn’t dare?” Lang En tossed the two corpses aside and grinned at Mo Tan.
“No, I didn’t.” Mo Tan returned his smile, “Didn’t you also say they were good-for-nothings? So, if they’re killed, they’re killed~”
To Bayes’s utterly bewildered gaze, after a moment of silence, the two suddenly burst into laughter simultaneously~
One was surrounded by evil shadows, fanatical and arrogant.
The other was like a madman toying with the world, reckless and flamboyant.
Chapter 40: End