The blood-red stones in Ye Chui’s hands resembled gems but were far rarer, so valuable that when Ye Chui and Debbie once tried to trade a dragon bloodstone at a Windrock City jeweler for thousands of gold coins, the owner dismissed it as a common rock. Nobody recognized its worth, a testament to its rarity.
For Gilga, it was an invaluable power-up, a krypton gold supplement.
Ye Chui tossed the dragon bloodstones to Debbie, who knew his plan. She eagerly threw the stones, imbued with dragon’s breath, toward Gilga. Upon touching her, they vaporized into golden sword aura, merging into her body.
Gilga, previously exhausted, instantly radiated energy, glowing with golden light like a sun. She rose slowly, emitting soft, almost indulgent moans. “Mmm~~”
What did you do to this spirit lady!? Many thought, shocked.
As others felt a twinge of embarrassment, Gilga, enveloped in golden light, adopted a valiant expression, aiming her longsword at Black Sword. Debbie shouted gleefully, “Take as much sword aura as you want!”
The girl was acting like a reckless tycoon splurging on power-ups.
Black Sword’s face shifted, sensing danger, and moved to flee.
But a golden flash blocked him. Gilga’s sword aura rained down. Clang! Black Sword parried, golden aura uncontrollably surging into him—not only was his sword absorbing it, but Gilga was actively forcing more in.
It felt pleasant, yet terror gripped him.
Gilga’s sword slashed again. Clang! Black Sword, aiming to dodge, was cornered by her cunning angle, forced to block—a mark of her swordsmanship mastery.
Clang, clang, clang—
Their swords clashed relentlessly.
Black Sword’s cursed blade absorbed others’ magic and aura, a domineering tactic that had felled many, earning his fame. But against Gilga, it was a shackle. Her dragon bloodstones provided near-infinite aura, while his absorption had limits.
His aged face grew youthful and flushed, then red as if drunk. Yet Gilga’s golden aura remained vibrant, streams of it pouring into him.
Absorbing aura boosted his strength, enhancing each strike, but for elite swordsmen like him and Gilga, raw aura mattered less. Their swordsmanship was already peak; in non-skill-based combat, there was little room for growth.
With more aura absorbed, his power grew, but he feared engaging Gilga. Using a sword skill risked her flooding him with even more aura.
Another strand of golden aura entered, shifting his sensation from pleasure to pain, his body swelling like an overinflated balloon. He took slight comfort in Gilga’s aura dimming—perhaps it was nearly spent.
“Hey, he’s not burst yet? Let’s keep powering up!” Ye Chui called, tossing more dragon bloodstones to Debbie, who hurled them at Gilga.
Several swordsmen tried to intercept, but the stones, drawn to Gilga, dissolved into golden mist, bypassing them and merging into her. With dazzling light and more shameless moans, Gilga shone anew.
Black Sword: “…”
How could a regular player compete with a pay-to-win one?
Some mages and swordsmen attacked Ye Chui’s group.
The situation was clear: Ye Chui’s six against all other adventurers. Trapped earlier in [Ice Queen’s Fortress], others had no chance to act, but now, with the spell broken, they seized their moment.
At the prince’s signal, a group attacked.
But Dragon Baby, vigilant in the sky, had been instructed by Ye Chui. After blasting Makenzie with dragon fire, it circled, ready. Now, it targeted the sneaking adventurers. Though only a fraction of its peak strength, it overwhelmed ordinary foes.
Boom, boom, boom—
Dragon fire rained down, keeping adventurers at bay.
Dragon air superiority!
The prince, dodging dragon fire, stood at a distance, a translucent shield from a magical item protecting him. His expression flickered as he watched the chaos: nearly twenty elite adventurers, including top-tier fighters like Makenzie and Black Sword, couldn’t subdue these youths?
A three-star magic guild… their strength far exceeded that level!
He reached into his collar, grasping a small jade tablet, hesitating. Should he use this one-time trump card? They’d only been in this world an hour, with unknown dangers lurking. Using it now risked disaster later.
Some swordsmen and mages dodged the dragon fire, reaching Ye Chui’s group, but Cass’s greatsword held them off. The prince noticed a dual-wielding swordsman sneaking from behind, only to be knocked out by a floating brick—Green, the least noticeable, had struck.
What kind of fighting style was this?
A gentle chant rose.
“Wretched souls cry to God of their suffering. Disease, poverty, calamity, hunger—why is the world so unjust? God says, in hell, yearn for paradise; trials strip sin, cleanse souls. God says, sin enables redemption, redemption brings salvation…”
Lesha tensed, looking toward the sound. Bishop Talbot approached, Bible open, his serene face radiating holy aura, exuding immense pressure. She explained, “That’s [God’s Redemption], a key scripture. Normal spells and sword skills can’t counter it!”
As she spoke, a giant, translucent hand descended, enveloping Ye Chui, Debbie, Green, Lesha, Cass, and Windsor in holy aura. Born from Talbot’s chant, it deemed them sinners, redeeming them through death.
The hand tightened, threatening to crush them.
Cass swung his greatsword, but his aura couldn’t harm the hand.
Ye Chui looked to Debbie.
She shook her head. “Gilga’s fighting full force. I can’t summon adult Jiji…” Jiji’s holy power could counter [God’s Redemption], but with Gilga active, Debbie could only summon child Jiji, useless now.
The hand closed in, Ye Chui’s [Guardian] activated. [God’s Redemption] nullified spells and skills but not the divine power of his iPad grimoire.
Yet, the grimoire’s magic drained rapidly; [Guardian] wouldn’t hold long.
A soft chant came from Lesha, reciting [God’s Redemption]. But not all believers could wield such profound scripture—only bishops mastered it. A faint glow coated Lesha’s body.
“…God says, in hell, yearn for paradise; trials strip sin, cleanse souls…”
She faltered.
Since early on, Lesha had questioned the Bible’s teachings. She believed in justice, told God embodied it, but was that true? Leaving the monastery, she saw fallen nuns, arrogant priests, and faced exclusion in Windrock City’s church, deepening her doubts.
Talbot’s choice regarding the mercenary’s evil act amplified her skepticism.
She hadn’t abandoned faith.
But she had issues with God.
Closing her Bible, she shouted at Talbot, “To hell with your God! I don’t need your redemption!”
Boom!
The closing hand shattered like glass.
Talbot gasped, stumbling back in pain. The blonde nun caught him, both shocked. What had Lesha done to break [God’s Redemption]?
Ye Chui’s group stared at her, stunned: That worked!?
