Only the minions of the Demon God Pillar and high-level corrupted monsters possess intelligence.
Logically, these monsters created by the Demon God Pillar’s corruption should have no pain receptors or the wisdom of intelligent beings. They shouldn’t feel fear or exhibit human-like behaviors such as fleeing.
Mirexia gazed at the fleeing puppet in the distance, her delicate face showing a trace of seriousness.
Every year, various nations and the church send people to cleanse the corruption left by the Demon God Pillar.
Although the results are minimal, the corruption does decrease each year. It should take a few generations to completely eradicate it.
Compared to the Demon God Pillar, humans are far too weak. It takes hundreds of years just to barely cleanse the corruption left by the Demon God Pillar on the Terraria continent.
Could it be that the monsters in the Reiswyn corruption zone have evolved intelligence over time?
If that’s the case, then things are troublesome. The sooner humans know about this, the better.
Originally, Mirexia had restricted her activity zone to the area beneath her feet.
This was also the designated cleansing area assigned to the top students of the Carillian Academy by the academy, advising them not to venture into areas with higher levels of contamination.
But since this had happened, Mirexia, with her strong sense of responsibility, couldn’t turn a blind eye, both for public and personal reasons.
Swinging her greatsword in a circle, she killed the surrounding monsters and then chased after the puppet that was moving away from her.
The tall and graceful girl sprinted under the sunset, her golden hair swaying behind her, dyed by the blood-like, hazy crimson afterglow.
To her surprise, the puppet was moving quite fast. She had initially wanted to avoid startling it too much, but as she slightly slowed down, she almost lost sight of it.
Mirexia had to increase her speed to catch up with the puppet. Her legs, clad in warm white stockings and brown loafers, stepped on the ground rapidly, propelling her forward.
During the chase, Mirexia vaguely sensed something was off, but she didn’t dwell on it. She knew that regardless of whether the puppet was special or if this was a trap, she had to investigate. This was a matter concerning the entire southern continent and all of humanity.
Soon, Mirexia stopped in her tracks. She realized that apart from the glaring afterglow of the setting sun, there was nothing ahead of her.
Just moments ago, when she was about to catch up to the puppet and see its appearance, it vanished.
It disappeared right before her eyes, as if it had melted into the ground.
Mirexia walked to the spot where the puppet had disappeared and looked down at the soil, which was no different from the surrounding ground, her brows slightly furrowed.
The puppet had vanished into thin air here, as if it had dissolved into the earth. What exactly was going on?
Was it because humans hadn’t fully understood the habits of these monsters, or was this a trap and a conspiracy?
The latter seemed highly unlikely because such a method would be foolish.
Reiswyn was vast, and the location where Carillian Academy took its students for training each year was never fixed.
No outsider could know in advance and set up an ambush here. Moreover, the area was patrolled by nuns and priests from the Church of Radiance, as well as Carillian’s instructors.
She also had the emergency token issued by the academy.
Because this was a dangerous zone, most prone to ambushes and schemes by hostile forces, Carillian Academy had taken extra precautions to protect its students. Who would dare to attack Carillian students here, knowing that the academy’s instructors would swarm out in full force?
Considering all these factors, Mirexia had pursued without fear.
Even the most foolish cultists and the most vicious outlaws wouldn’t dare to attack her here, not to mention that ordinary cultists and outlaws couldn’t handle her.
As a top student of Carillian Academy, Mirexia had the ability to retreat unscathed even when surrounded by a regular army.
Now, it seemed that the existence of an intelligent puppet was unlikely.
Mirexia couldn’t tell whether she was relieved or amazed by the audacity of those who had targeted her. She swung her greatsword with a mighty force, the resulting airwave cutting down a large tree not far away.
“Boom!” As the giant tree fell, several black figures leaped out, like aphids that had been parasitic on the tree.
They were cloaked in strange black robes, with a terrifying and twisted face painted on the front and back of their cloaks.
The edges of their hoods were adorned with countless tiny compound eyes, making them look unsettling just by their appearance.
“We have been waiting for you for a long time, Princess Pavone.”
“Please forgive us for arranging this rather ungracious private meeting with you. After all, the hounds by your side are completely uncivilized beings who cannot be reasoned with. If we tried to talk sense to them, they would only draw their swords against us,” said the leader of the black-robed figures in a melodramatic tone. His robe was different from the others, leaning more toward purple.
“To avoid unnecessary misunderstandings between us, I had to send away those uncouth individuals and bring you here to talk with me privately.”
“Privately? You call this private?” Mirexia raised her proud gaze, glancing at the purple-robed figure and the group of black-robed individuals standing around him.
Moreover, more black-robed figures were closing in, surrounding her.
“This is a necessary measure, Princess Pavone. We did this only to make you willing to sit down and talk with us. Please don’t be so picky. Everything is the will of our Lord, and no one can defy it,” the purple-robed figure declared grandly, spreading his arms.
“Who is your master?” Mirexia asked coldly.
“Our master is the one who wields absolute power, the generous and great Supreme Being, the God of Alchemy and Truth, the Purifier of the Sinful World, Erunes!” After uttering this name, all the black-robed and purple-robed figures knelt down and chanted in unison.
“Praise our Lord Erunes!”
“The [Blasphemous Demon] Erunes? You’re the [Bronze Blood]?” Mirexia’s cold gaze fell upon these fanatical believers.
“Indeed, we are the servants of truth, the most loyal followers of the Purifier of the World, the [Bronze Blood]!”
“You are the unforgivable cultists whose crimes are too numerous to list?” Mirexia’s expression remained unchanged, but she tightened her grip on her greatsword.
“What a pity, Princess Pavone. I had hoped that someone as enlightened as you could understand us, making our negotiations smoother,” the purple-robed figure shook his head.
“How are we unforgivable? This world has been steeped in sin since its creation, and humans are born with sin. Our Lord Erunes, unable to bear the filth of this world, has thus bestowed upon the world and all living beings a cleansing, giving everyone an equal chance to atone for their sins, and generously sharing his divine authority with humanity.”
“Without our Lord, this filthy and decadent world would have no reason to exist. Yet you sinners not only fail to appreciate our Lord’s generosity but also label him as an evil god! Truly, this corrupt world is beyond redemption!”
“By resisting our Lord, you are resisting the sins within yourselves! However, our Lord is generous and magnanimous. Even if you are misguided, he is still willing to give you a chance to atone,” the purple-robed figure recited with a neurotic fervor.
“Princess Pavone, it is said that you are a person who understands reason and discerns good from evil. Yet, it seems you are no different from those ignorant fools who resist our Lord. If this is the case, our Lord’s sacred purification will inevitably descend upon you!”
“What do you want from me?” Mirexia had no intention of engaging with these cultists from the start. There was no room for negotiation between her and them. However, she was curious to know why they had targeted her.
These were extremists with twisted beliefs, beyond redemption, spouting illogical nonsense. One should not attempt to communicate with them; their hearts were no longer human. They must be eradicated on sight.
This was a lesson learned through blood and tears. One must not show the slightest mercy to cultists, nor believe they can be reformed. To think they can change is to invite tragedy.
The history of the Camella Kingdom was filled with tragedies caused by the atrocities of cultists, resulting in countless deaths. For Mirexia, this was a red line. Anyone associated with cultists or evil gods must be eliminated, no matter who they were.
Otherwise, her people would be in danger.
Sparing these extreme villains would harm the innocent, putting many good people at risk.
Bearing the responsibility for so many lives, Mirexia could not afford to be soft-hearted.
Thus, from the very beginning, Mirexia had no intention of wasting words with these villains. It was a life-and-death struggle between them.
“Don’t be nervous, Princess Pavone. We are here to negotiate with you. Our Lord Erunes is benevolent and merciful. Even ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ though you are burdened with sin and have lost your way, unless absolutely necessary, our Lord will not harm you,” the purple-robed figure chuckled.
Then, spreading his arms, he continued, “As rulers of the mortal world, not only do you fail to restrain your subjects, but you also allow them to attack the generous and great Purifier of the World. This is your greatest sin! Therefore, your guilt is many times heavier than that of the lambs! The cleansing that awaits you will torment your souls unbearably! However...”
“Our Lord is merciful. If you are willing to cooperate with our Lord and persuade your stubborn father, who adamantly stands against our Lord, your sins will be greatly reduced, and you will face purification rather than annihilation.”
“I thought you might say something interesting. It seems I shouldn’t have expected anything from you beasts,” Mirexia’s eyes turned icy.
“What an unpleasant negotiation, Princess Pavone. It seems you are as stubborn as your father, who is steeped in sin!”
“Then, we have no choice but to use our own methods to make you understand the sins of your royal family.”
“All is the will of our Lord Erunes. You sinners must not resist!”
“Loyal followers of our Lord, cast the cleansing upon this filthy world! By the name of Erunes, seize the royal sinner, Princess Mirexia of Camella!” With the purple-robed figure’s command, the black-robed figures drew their serpent-hilted scimitars.
Mirexia swung her greatsword, and the sheer force of the blade sent the black-robed figures tumbling.
“Your sins will consume you. Everyone, cast the purifying flames of punishment upon the sinner!” The purple-robed figure took out a vial of alchemical potion and threw it at Mirexia.
The other black-robed figures followed suit, taking out vials of orange-red alchemical potions and hurling them at Mirexia.
Instantly, flames erupted. The orange-red potions exploded upon hitting the ground, turning the area into a sea of fire.
It was the Blazing Potion!
Mirexia dodged back and forth, her greatsword in hand. Her surroundings had become a fiery inferno.
“Stop! Do not harm the Princess of Camella. She is the target of our Lord Erunes’s purification. Capture her and offer her to our Lord, who will personally cleanse her into a loyal servant!” the purple-robed figure shouted, taking out a vial of dark green potion — a Paralysis Potion.
Mirexia cast a disdainful glance at the members of the Bronze Blood.
It seemed she was cornered, but in reality, she could kill them all in an instant.
From the earlier probing, she had already determined that the cultists’ strength wasn’t particularly high. Only the purple-robed figure was somewhat comparable to her, likely at the level of an Advanced Warlock. This was consistent with the Bronze Blood’s combat style.
Unlike other heretics, the Bronze Blood relied not on their magical abilities but on their diverse alchemical potions. Their over-reliance on alchemical concoctions meant their magical prowess was generally weak.
The probing was over. Having roughly gauged the Bronze Blood’s capabilities, it was time to unleash her killing move.
Although the purple-robed figure’s level seemed similar to Mirexia’s, they were not equals. After assessing her opponent’s strength, Mirexia was confident she could take him down in three moves.
Mirexia’s soul armament was the four-star talent [Dragon’s Eye]. The higher the requirement for magical aptitude, the harder it was to improve. Naturally, a high-tier soul armament with [Dragon’s Eye] was far superior to an ordinary high-tier soul armament.
Moreover, Mirexia possessed the blood of the [Saint] and had an exceptionally high compatibility with [Dragon’s Eye]. Even ten purple-robed figures wouldn’t be a match for her.
Mirexia opened her eyes, her beautiful blue orbs now filled with an imposing majesty and terrifying pressure.
[Wrath of the Golden Dragon]
All the black-robed figures, except the purple-robed one, were paralyzed with fear. In their vision, they saw a pair of enormous, bloodshot eyes — the eyes of a dragon.
The purple-robed figure wasn’t faring much better. He was trembling, his scalp tingling, and his legs weak, barely resisting the urge to flee.
After immobilizing everyone, Mirexia’s greatsword crackled with thunder.
Crimson lightning coiled around the blade, faintly emitting a dragon’s roar, surging toward the black-robed figures.
The crimson lightning was a transformed divine thunder, a manifestation of exceptional or higher affinity with the lightning element.
[Thunder Devourer Soul Burn]
Under the roaring thunder, the members of the Bronze Blood were like fragile straws, uprooted by the storm.
However, just as the crimson lightning was about to leave the blade, Mirexia’s eyes widened. She suddenly felt all her strength drain away.
Before she could react, her swing went awry, and she plummeted from the sky, crashing to the ground.
What was happening!?
“Ugh...!” Mirexia struggled to stand up, activating [Dragon’s Eye] once more. But the weakness returned, and she collapsed before she could rise.
“Stop struggling, Princess. Your [Dragon’s Eye] and dragon blood have been suppressed by our Lord’s alchemical power,” the purple-robed figure approached, holding a strange-looking magic stone, a smile on his face.
“This is the consequence of resisting our Lord.”