Amplicia rapidly retreated as white light enveloped her. The power of purification engulfed the battlefield, shattering her magic formations and spells. Its sacred energy assaulted her, suppressing her power, burning her skin, numbing her mind.
Other Condensation Phase Monster Girls suffered the same degree of suppression, while the Archbishops got amplified by the flowing streams of Faith. For a moment, the battle paused as the Monster Girls and the Archbishops regrouped. They glared at each other, but the situation had already shifted its tone.
The Monster Girl side grew weaker as the Archbishops took over the rhythm of the war. The help from the purification formation was substantial, with countless Faith from multiple churches congregating into one. It greatly suppressed the Monster Girls and healed the Archbishops.
The Pure Races and the Divine had planned this Crusade for a long time. They used the excuse of the Sinking to invade the Sinking Dark Forest, but their objective was to kill the strong Monster Girls.
"Your reign of corruption shall end today." Purpalus turned towards Amplicia. "Especially you, Ambassador of the Broken Empire. Your empire will fall under the wrath of the Divine, and the world will rejoice, for the evil that had plagued our lands will vanish, never to return."
"The Divine has been trying to get rid of us since time immemorial," Amplicia said. "But no matter what they did, our race continued to thrive. Lady Lilith is watching over us, blessing us with freedom and power. We will continue to exist and thrive while your glory will wither through the corrosion of time."
"That is because your continuity benefits the Divine. Now that you have lost your values, it is time for you to become history."
Amplicia frowned and raised her hands. Countless silver formations manifested behind her, creating a wall of symbols. They flickered and rotated, generating a tide of pale fogs whose shape resembled a skull. It crackled at the Archbishops and spat out a cloud of ghostly mist, which submerged the sky under a dull, haunting atmosphere.
The other Monster Girls also conjured their spells and used their legendary artefacts. Their power surged and bloomed atop the sky, overturning the landscape, painting the world colourful. Despite the suppression, they remained fierce, their determination blazing.
The Archbishops didn't underestimate the Monster Girls. They held their legendary artefacts and prayed to their respective Deities, calling for miracles and magical phenomena. The miracles manifested above them, clearing the dark clouds, instilling hope throughout the Sinking Dark Forest.
The battle of the Condensation Phase Monster Girls and the Archbishops impacted the whole Crusade. The holy light and the white skull crashed, spitting countless lights throughout the forest, some corrupting the surrounding, others purifying them. They brightened the world with their flares, attracting all attention.
Amplicia and Undrila fought against Purpalus, but the exchange had shifted from the Monster Girls dominating to a stalemate. The other Archbishops slowly grained the upper hand as the purification formation intensified its effect. If nothing unexpected happened, the Monster Girls would lose the exchange.
Something is wrong. Amplicia frowned.
As she turned her attention towards the Labyrinth of Love, a golden radiance shot towards the sky, setting the clouds aflame with the holy flame. It devoured the strayed spells and purified the Corruption Power in the air. Even the dark energy of the Sinking couldn't withstand the holy flames.
"This flame," Amplicia said. "Golden Cardinal of Virtue? Why is he here!"
There weren't many Condensation Phase Monster Girls, or Archbishops, in the world. Unless they deliberately concealed all their traces, the powerful within the same area would recognise each other.
They always kept track of the whereabouts of their enemies and allies.
"That place!" Corane recognised the Golden Cardinal too. "How could this be? Undria is in danger. We must retreat, please!"
"We can't!" Amplicia tensed. "Sandoris is still inside the main force of the Crusade. If we retreat, our formation would be broken, and the Pure Races will pick us off one by one."
"But Undria is—"
"She still has Carefree Reflection Chamber." Amplicia took out the scroll bestowed to her by the Second Princess. "She can still hold on for a while. We only need to wait until Sandoris rejoins us."
Though anxious, Corane understood the circumstance. Her heart gradually calmed as she glared at Purpalus, her eyes gleaming with fury and dismay. Her crystal wings and shiny hair glowed brighter than before, creating even more raindrop-shaped gems. They flew in the air and exploded. Their impact thundered across the Sinking Dark Forest, flooding the landscape with devastating spells.
Purpalus concealed himself under the Archbishop Robe, but the intensity of the attacks far surpassed the previous ones and broke the threshold of the cloak. The magical spells tore through the purple fabric and injured Purpalus, forcing him to stop his assault. He didn't think she would be so ruthless and powerful.
Since the battle had begun, this was the first time Corane revealed her peak power. Nevertheless, her heart remained uneased as she looked at Purpalus, whose expression exposed confusion and uncertainty. Though he concealed them well, Corane still discerned it.
If the Golden Cardinal were a part of the plan, why didn’t he join with the Archbishops? Why did he choose to go to the Labyrinth alone?
What could have been more pressing than our death?
Corane looked down at a pierce of purple crystal hanging on her necklace and shuddered. The Shadow Heart Fragment shimmered, radiating a faint amount of Corruption Power, corrupting the surrounding and her soul, infusing into her power left behind by Lady Lilith.
It was the most precious item inside the Labyrinth.
"Damn it!" Corane flew towards Amplicia. "Something's wrong. The Golden Cardinal is likely after the Shadow Heart Fragment. Undria is in real danger now. Our secret is exposed!"
Amplicia turned to Corane, but Corane didn't back off. They stared at each other for a moment before Amplicia gravely nodded.
She sent secret transmissions to the other Monster Girls. Everyone gathered together, preparing to leave. The Monster Girls and the Archbishops had been fighting for a long time, but Sandoris still hadn't arrived. The situation didn't bode well for her.
"Everyone, I'm sorry," Amplicia said. "I'm the organiser of this operation, but our network is compromised by the Pure Races. We, the Broken Empire, will compensate you for your contribution. But now, we have to return to the Labyrinth of Love. One of us is in danger!"
Corane clenched her fists and lowered her head. The other Monster Girls didn't say anything, but their gazes remained on Corane's sorrowful expression. They knew about the relationship between Corane and Undrila.
The two Monster Girls were best friends since when they were still of the Pure Races, Undrila a Human, Corane a Beastkin, the races of those rumoured to have descended from the beings of powerful bloodlines.
Unlike Monster Girls, the Beastkins had both male and female. They could worship the Divine and control their beastly desires. While most Beastkins had so thin of the bloodlines that they merely had enhanced strength and characteristic features, some lucky Beastkins would have special talents originated from their concentrated bloodlines.
"Please, everyone, please help me," Corane said, her voice hoarse. "Undria has done much for me, too much."
There were many stories hidden within those words, but no one had the time to listen nor explain them. The Monster Girls conjured their spells while the Archbishops also regrouped, letting the Monster Girls do as they please.
Both sides knew the decisive moment was here, and no one could interrupt the process. The Monster Girls protected Amplicia, who slowly unravelled the scroll, while the Archbishops commanded the purification formation to help them.
For a few moments, serenity returned to the sky. The grey skull and the golden lights vanished, replaced by emptiness before the end.
Everything halted their activity as the grand, all-ending pressure enveloped the Sinking Dark Forest.
The ordinary Monster Girls inside the forest and the believers of the Crusade stopped their battle and raised their heads. Their eyes traced the overcast sky, moving towards the endpoint where the strong ruled.
Above the sky, Amplicia tore open the scroll and read the decree of the Second Princess. Behind her were Corane and the other Monster Girls, who also prepared their strongest spells. Those who had legendary artefacts used them while those who didn't protect them.
On the opposite, Purpalus looked at the Monster Girls, his gaze solemn. He raised his hand and channelled the Pure Power into his artefact, the magical ring on his finger. An array, a divine construct, manifested behind him, forming a web of golden light, which extended far into the horizon.
The other Archbishops also prayed and supplied their Faith into the purification formation, amplifying its power. Countless radiances glowed around the Archbishops, each forming a pair of angelic wings, waving in the air, raining feathers into the world.
"Today marks the beginning of your downfall," Purpalus said. "It is time to end this long-lasting war."
"Today will be the beginning of our rise." Amplicia pointed at the sky. "The shackles of the Divine will be broken. We Monster Girls will reign supreme. May the corruption last forever!"
"May the corruption last forever!" the other Monster Girls shouted.
"May the Divine graces us!" Purpalus clasped his hands. "May you guide our souls to your Heavenly Kingdom!"
The wall of purification erupted with an endless amount of purification power. It formed into a gigantic ray and beamed towards Amplicia, who raised the scroll.
An illusionary maiden emerged out of the decree. Her long azure hair fluttered with the winds, her clear azure eyes gleaming with clarity. She raised her head and looked at the incoming beam, smiling. Her delicate hand reached forwards and tapped the air.
"The power of purification?" The Second Princess giggled. "Has Lady Fate forgotten that I'm still a human?"
The Second Princess's fingers tapped the ray of purification. It withered away, merging with her illusionary figure. Once silence and stillness returned to the surrounding, the Second Princess smiled at the sky. Her silhouette gradually faded. Despite being a mere shadow of her true power, she effortlessly stopped the formation powered by the Archbishops.
Such was the power of those who stood at the boundary between the ordinary and the legendary.
Before she vanished, her bright blue eyes gleamed as she glanced behind.
Trilal and Lalit both created a ray of black light in their hands, gripping onto them tightly. They glanced at each other and smiled, their eyes shining with frantic devotions. While other Monster Girls focused on unleashing their power, they pushed their hands towards Amplicia and Corane, aiming at their hearts.
"May the Seven Goddesses reign supreme!" they shouted and pierced Corane's and Amplicia's hearts.
The black lights exploded into countless fragments, infesting their victims' bodies, devouring them. Once inside, the black lights lifted their concealment, turning into golden light of holiness.
The other Monster Girls shifted their power and attacked the twin Rose Girls, but they were prepared and defended themselves. Though they suffered severe injuries, it was worth it.
Corane grasped her chest, feeling the numbness gripping her mind. If not for the illusionary Second Princess, she would have directly died.
Shuddering, Corane abruptly clenched her fists and activated the Shadow Heart Fragment. Her figure plunged into the Shadow Plane. Her injuries were too troublesome to remain in the material world. She didn't know if she could survive, let alone going back to help Undrila.
While Corane escaped, Amplicia didn't and couldn't. She stared at the Archbishops while her silver body cracked, producing anxiety-inducing noises. She was stronger than Corane, but the situation had turned to the worst outcome.
The risk of complete annihilation had become a real possibility.
Not sure about others, but I'm still reading and loving it. ^-^
Thanks for sticking around!
I wonder WHY condensation girls would turn heel? I hope Amplicia makes it through, Iris really needs to not lose more friends and I enjoyed their banter...