The First Pope - Chapter 102

Chapter 102

While humans had gained considerable strength through swordsmanship, they were still at a disadvantage against the Power of Darkness.

A knight's longsword was only a threat at close range. Unable to approach, or even see their enemies, the knights were forced onto the defensive. Beyond using their sword auras to resist the onslaught of Dark Magic, they could not mount any effective counterattack.

Although Susan couldn't practice swordsmanship, it didn't hinder her ability to analyze the situation. Seeing her knights struggling to advance an inch against the Dark Magic, she pondered for a moment before decisively ordering them to retreat.

Humans were still at a disadvantage against the Power of Darkness. This battle was a confrontation between the God Race and the Sethite wizards. The best she could do was have her knights protect the God Race, the believers with the Light Constitution, and even the Light Knights.

Only the Power of Light could make the darkness fear. Protecting the God Race so they could chant their spells and use Light Magic undisturbed was more effective than sending the knights to attack the witches.

Susan didn't look down on humans; on the contrary, she understood them best. She was very clear about her own position, and the position of humanity.

This was what they were supposed to do. Susan stood behind the barrier Chloe had erected, watching the heavily protected God Race and believers at the rear, a satisfied smile gracing her red lips.

However, even though the God Race and believers using Light Magic were protected by layer upon layer of guards, the situation did not improve. The God Race had no shortage of members with superior talent and aptitude. Figures like Darcy and Chloe had not neglected their training despite managing various affairs, and their strength was not weak.

They wouldn't be at a disadvantage against the Sethite elders.

However, the God Race had been given too little time to develop. The Sethite wizards had a Grand Elder whose power was comparable to a Second Generation Vampire, but the God Race had no one who could match him.

If Cynthia were here, she could. If the God Race were given more time, someone among them might have reached that level.

But unfortunately, no one had given the God Race that much time.

The God Race fought as they retreated, and the Sethite wizards had already taken a third of the Slade Sea Region. Fortunately, the humans had mostly evacuated, and the Sethite wizards found no offerings for their sacrifices as they scoured the cities they passed.

But dragging this out was still disadvantageous for them. Their spiritual energy would be depleted, and their Power of Light would be exhausted. At that point, defeat would be only a moment away.

I wonder what the situation is with the Elves, and if Cynthia can make it back in time... Susan gripped the railing, sighing with a complex expression. Several days without rest had left her head feeling heavy. She raised a hand to rub her temples, then belatedly realized the person beside her had been silent for a long time and couldn't help but glance over.

Chloe, who had retreated from the front lines to rest, wasn't watching the battle. Instead, her head was lowered, and she seemed to be holding something. Susan craned her neck for a look and saw it was a piece of parchment with a spell written on it.

"Is that a Light Magic spell?" Susan asked curiously. "Is it powerful?"

Having fought together for several days, Chloe had finally started to show Susan a bit more warmth. But she was a person of few words by nature. Hearing Susan's question, she didn't answer, but put the parchment away and said flatly, "I'll be taking over for Darcy in a moment. Tell her to rest a while longer."

Chloe had just retreated a short while ago. Susan sensed something was wrong and frowned. "What are you planning to do?"

"Nothing." Chloe looked up, her golden eyes fixed on the place where the darkness was thickest. The Sethite Grand Elder was there-the man who had killed her people one after another, who wanted to eradicate her entire race, was in that direction.

Chloe withdrew her gaze and, with a cold expression, turned and walked down from the lighthouse. How could she continue to watch that man's hands become stained with the blood of more of her people?

Even if it meant trading her life for his... she would be saving the lives of her own people.

Cynthia, whom Susan was hoping would return soon with reinforcements, had just parted ways with the Morgan Witches and was heading to the Forbidden Land. The God Race was at a great disadvantage when it came to speed. Although she had scrolls, it still took some time to get back to the Forbidden Land.

Cynthia knew that besides the barrier protecting the Forbidden Land, the Tree of Life had other protective measures. When she had been a guest of the Elves, she had come into contact with the Tree of Life many times and had discovered from the very beginning that a powerful force resided in the stream beneath it.

That was why she had dared to leave the vicinity of the Forbidden Land to lure Edeli to the array.

Even if someone had ill intentions toward the Tree of Life, they wouldn't be able to succeed in a short amount of time.

When Cynthia rushed back to the Forbidden Land, the barrier was still intact, and the Tree of Life was stretching its branches as usual under its protection. But the Elven warriors who had been ordered by Olivia to stay behind and guard the Tree of Life were all gone.

Without Olivia's command, these Elven warriors would never have left. Cynthia frowned, stepping through the barrier into the Forbidden Land. It seemed no different from when she had left, but a closer inspection revealed signs of a struggle.

Someone had passed through the barrier and fought the Elven warriors. Cynthia bent down to carefully examine the marks of the fight on the ground, her long silver hair brushing past her shoulder and draping onto the soft grass.

The signs of the struggle here had been cleaned up. Cynthia's gaze deepened. As she raised her head to search for other traces, she suddenly sensed something and turned to look outside the Forbidden Land.

Several tall wolves exuding a powerful aura appeared outside the Forbidden Land. They looked as if they had just finished a battle; their white robes were stained with blood, and their long, fair hands clutched pieces of mangled flesh.

Her golden eyes narrowed slightly. Cynthia shifted the Light Crystal from her left hand to her right. She stared at the wolf in the center and called out, "Vice Clan Leader Joanna?"

Joanna seemed to only notice Cynthia was in the Forbidden Land after hearing her voice. She tossed aside the pieces of flesh in her hand, took out a handkerchief, and wiped her hands as she said in surprise, "Cynthia? What are you doing here?"

She glanced in a certain direction and said with understanding, "You're here to reinforce the Elves, too, aren't you?"

Cynthia sized up Joanna impassively, a slight smile playing on her lips. She said softly, "Yes. Are you as well, Vice Clan Leader?"

Her gaze shifted, sweeping over the wolves beside Joanna. "Did the Wolf Race only send the few of you?"

One of the elders, feeling Cynthia's tone was disrespectful, scowled and was about to speak when Joanna stopped her. Joanna smiled at Cynthia and explained, "The clan leader and the others are in Yezreet. They probably don't know about the attack on the Elves yet."

"A few elders and I were originally on our way to Yezreet to rendezvous with Clan Leader Helen, but we passed by the Elf Territory and noticed the unusual fluctuations in the aura here, so we came to investigate. I didn't expect…" Joanna's tone grew serious. "The Vampires are getting more and more audacious."

"The path from the Wolf Race territory to Yezreet shouldn't pass through the Elf Territory." Cynthia met Joanna's gaze, her eyes filled with inquiry, and said in a joking tone, "Does the vice clan leader enjoy taking the long way around?"

Joanna remained calm and composed. "We ran into some trouble along the way, which is why we passed through here."

Cynthia raised an eyebrow, making it impossible to tell if she believed her or not.

An elder beside Joanna spoke impatiently, "We're here to help the Elves. What's with your attitude?"

"A friendly one." The power of nature within the Elf Territory was growing denser, as if something was about to erupt. Cynthia was worried about Olivia, and seeing the aura over there fluctuating more intensely, she became somewhat distracted.

The ground beneath their feet suddenly began to tremble. A pale green light overpowered the dense black fog that covered half the sky. Influenced by the power of nature, the trees and plants in the Elf Territory began to grow wildly, blotting out the sun in an instant. From a distance, the intertwined vines looked like a slender figure holding a longbow.

The strange phenomenon captured everyone's attention. Joanna looked up, her eyes deep, and whispered, "The divine power of the Goddess of the Forest…"

Truly... one should never underestimate the strength of a woman like Olivia.

I wonder if the Vampires will have to deploy the Brujah clan, their strongest fighters, to defeat Olivia.

Cynthia was concerned for Olivia's safety. The moment the phenomenon occurred, she had already taken out a scroll and unfurled it, temporarily setting aside her suspicions about Joanna.

After Cynthia's figure teleported away, the smile that had been fixed on Joanna's face slowly vanished. She raised a hand to her chest, her complexion visibly paling.

"...Why didn't you kill that member of the God Race?" an elder beside Joanna asked resentfully, staring in the direction Cynthia had disappeared.

Joanna, who had been injured by the branches of the Tree of Life while trying to uproot it, frowned upon hearing the elder's words. "Even Edeli couldn't kill her. Do you think you can?" she said, displeased.

She had thought Cynthia was as good as dead, but unexpectedly, she had returned. And since Joanna was injured, leaving rashly might have exposed her trail... forcing her to appear in this manner.

"When did the Vampires become so useless?" The elder, having been rebuked by Joanna, fell silent for a moment before starting to complain about the Vampires. "It's one thing that they can't beat Olivia, but now they can't even handle a single member of the God Race."

The Tree of Life had been within their grasp, but one incident after another had occurred. The elder was unwilling to give up just like that.

Joanna was also unwilling, but the opportunity was now lost. She closed her eyes, burying her emotions deep inside, and reassured the elder beside her, "There will be other chances."

To be defeated by the same person twice-given the pride of the Vampires, Talia would never let this go. So, they would have another chance.

As long as Talia doesn't underestimate her enemy again... Joanna pressed a hand to her brow, her gaze sweeping toward the Forbidden Land for a moment before she retracted it. "Let's go," she said in a low voice. "Don't forget, we're here to provide support."

"She might already suspect us," an elder behind Joanna suddenly said. "Cynthia's words just now were full of probing questions. It's obvious she sensed something was wrong and is suspicious of us."

However, the timing of their appearance was indeed suspicious. But there was no other choice; if they hadn't shown themselves and Cynthia had detected them, it would have been even harder to explain.

"I've already made preparations. Don't worry." Of course, Joanna knew Cynthia suspected them. However, she had always been cautious by nature, always leaving herself a way out no matter what she did, and this time was no exception.

She and Helen had grown up together, and she had been the one to stay by Helen's side after she went blind. Joanna was confident she could make Helen trust her.

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