Chapter 44: Deathly Shadow
Huxiro, who had been handed a massive burden, stood at the center of the Grand Cathedral. The clergy members approaching from all sides had icy gazes, paying no attention to whatever Huxiro was saying.
Was the Spider Woman·Younis powerful? The answer was that she was extremely strong. If Su Xiao faced her one-on-one, there was a very high probability he would die in battle.
The clergy members before him had once surrounded and trapped the Spider Woman·Younis. If they were to besiege Huxiro, although he possessed an immortal body, he would certainly be captured alive.
One by one, silver chains appeared behind the clergy members. These chains intertwined, vaguely forming a large net.
The Red-Eyed Woman tapped the ground with her staff. With a *pop*, a wave of energy spread out, causing Huxiro's mind to blur momentarily.
With a *clang*, a metal tube was thrown down, crashing onto the floor. This object had appeared out of thin air.
*Boom!*
The floor of the Grand Cathedral cracked open. The Red-Eyed Woman was pressed face-down, her head slammed hard against the ground. Debris flew everywhere, and her black court dress fluttered.
*Ding, ding, ding!*
Three crystal spikes pierced into the Red-Eyed Woman's collarbones on both sides, while the last one entered from her lower back, penetrated through her abdomen, and embedded itself into the ground.
With a *sizzle*, the Realm Severing Thread tightened, wrapping around the Red-Eyed Woman's neck.
Iron-sand-like energy appeared on the floor and walls of the Grand Cathedral. All the clergy members inside felt their power draining away, as if it were floating out of their bodies.
A shockwave spread out, causing all the clergy members to feel dizzy. One female clergy member fell to her knees, clutching her shoulders tightly. The fabric on her back bulged from the inside, writhing.
"Ah!!"
The female clergy member screamed as the fabric on her back was torn open. Black tentacles extended out, twisting and writhing menacingly.
The female clergy member stood up from the ground. All the black tentacles on her back wrapped around her body, causing her form to enlarge. A pair of curled goat horns vaguely formed on her head. This was Shenfu's "Lamb."
"Everyone, withdraw."
A shout came from the inner part of the Grand Cathedral. An old man draped in a red robe walked out. His body was withered, like a decaying dead tree about to rot.
All the clergy members retreated to the sides, eventually entering the hidden doors in the walls. Only the female clergy member who was transforming into the "Lamb" remained.
The Red-Robed Divine Envoy approached the female clergy member, gently placing his hand on her head, his gaze kind.
"Child, you will be fine."
Golden light flickered from the Red-Robed Divine Envoy's body. But in the next instant, the black tentacles on the female clergy member surged up. Over a dozen black tentacles wrapped around the Red-Robed Divine Envoy, with one even drilling into his mouth.
The Red-Robed Divine Envoy convulsed as if electrocuted, blood flowing from his eyes and ears.
Seeing this, Huxiro's expression turned strange. He had thought a big shot had arrived, but he didn't expect the other party to be so weak, about to kick the bucket immediately.
Black smoke spread over, enveloping the female clergy member. After a series of pulling sounds, the tentacles writhed within the black smoke. The smoke rolled, tossing the now-naked female clergy member out, landing near the hidden door in the wall.
This time, the one who appeared was the true big shot of the Healing Church, or rather, its strongest member: Deathly Shadow·Ovia.
Outside the Grand Cathedral, Shenfu opened his eyes.
"Deathly Shadow has arrived. They say that woman is strong? Roggesh, what level is she at?"
"Not weaker than you or me."
The words of Tuanzhang·Roggesh made Shenfu's mood heavier. If it were just strength, that wouldn't be a problem. But if another old yinbi showed up, the joke would be on them.
"The entire Healing Church is controlled by Deathly Shadow·Ovia. Her power is more centralized than mine."
With that, Tuanzhang·Roggesh stopped speaking, and Shenfu let out a sigh.
Inside the Grand Cathedral, the black smoke converged. A woman with pure white hair walked out from a hidden door. She appeared to be in her early twenties, wearing a misty long dress made of black smoke, its hem trailing two meters behind her on the floor.
Deathly Shadow·Ovia's hair wasn't gray but snow-white. Her lips were thin, and there was black eyeshadow at the corners of her eyes.
"Intruders, your goal is the Sun Disc, isn't it?"
Deathly Shadow·Ovia spoke. Her black smoke dress and white hair naturally drew people's attention to her.
The appearance of Deathly Shadow·Ovia calmed the clergy members hiding behind the nearby hidden doors. She was the strongest of their Healing Church.
"Can Lady Ovia repel the enemies? They are..."
"Shut up. Are you doubting Lady Ovia?"
Whispers came from behind the hidden doors. Ovia didn't seem cold; instead, she appeared somewhat alluring. The corners of her thin lips seemed to be perpetually smiling.
It could be said that Deathly Shadow·Ovia's status in the Healing Church was second only to the deity they worshipped.
Setting aside her power, Oivia was like a cultured beauty. In this world dominated by soul energy and slaughter, Deathly Shadow·Ovia was one of the few neutral-good aligned powerhouses.
As for her title, which gave off a strong villain vibe, it was entirely due to the deity she worshipped and had no direct relation to her personally.
"Ovia, where is the Sun Disc?"
Shenfu walked in through the main entrance. Vague tentacle shadows seemed to writhe behind him, radiating malice—an incredibly intense malice.
Iron-sand-like energy drifted through the air. The entire front wall of the Grand Cathedral gradually disappeared. A figure stood in midair, long hair flowing down past his waist. Tuanzhang·Roggesh had the full moon behind him, and his eyes were so dark they made people uneasy.
*Crack, crack.*
The sound of bones being realigned came. Huxiro pressed his hand to his head, confirming his spine was back in place. He casually tore off one of his ears, which had been shot to pieces. A new ear quickly regenerated, with flesh buds writhing like tiny worms.
*Sizzle~*
The Realm Severing Thread tightened. The Red-Eyed Woman gasped for air. Ovia looked up. Above her, a dozen meters up in the cathedral, several figures with red light in their eyes stood or sat on metal wires, all staring at her.
At this moment, Ovia realized the seriousness of the situation. If she didn't handle this well, she would die here today.
"Ovia is different from us. Let's eliminate her."
Tuanzhang·Roggesh spoke, his black hair beginning to float.
"Did you bring the secret mages?"
Shenfu placed one hand on the ground, already ready to strike.
"5,726 secret mages. Enough to suppress the Healing Church. Bai Ye, will you make a move?"
Tuanzhang·Roggesh's gaze turned to Su Xiao. In a one-on-one fight, among the Sun Gate team, Su Xiao had the fastest kill speed.
"Alright. Shenfu can interfere from the side."
Blood energy spread around Su Xiao as he gripped his sword hilt with one hand.
"I'll limit her range of movement."
As soon as Shenfu finished speaking, Su Xiao drew his blade.
Below, Ovia looked around. She could confirm that these people weren't joking. They really intended to kill her here, triggering an all-out war between the Magic Association and the Healing Church, leading to large-scale chaos and conflict.
These people would do anything to get the key. Even if they said they wanted to destroy the Eastern Continent, Ovia wouldn't be surprised; instead, she would find it normal. The blood energy, malice, darkness, and pressure were all too intense.
"The Sun Disc cannot be handed over to you. But... I can join you. Do you really think that having five keys will allow you to enter the Sun Gate?"
After Ovia spoke, the Grand Cathedral fell silent, so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.
"Hahaha, I was just joking with you earlier. You didn't take it seriously, did you, Lady Ovia?"
Huxiro looked at Shenfu, who nodded and said:
"We are rational people too. An all-out war between the Magic Association and the Healing Church benefits no one. Roggesh, this is your intention as well, right?"
"Yes."
Tuanzhang·Roggesh withdrew his ability. At the same time, the secret mages within a two-kilometer radius quickly retreated. Had they been joking with Ovia just now? Of course not.
"Bai Ye, the negotiation was successful. Lady Ovia is willing to join us. Why are you still drawing your blade?"
Shenfu and Huxiro both had smiles in their eyes. They had just shown Ovia what it meant to flip faster than turning a page.