Aftermath and Retribution

The incident with the Abyss cultists drew to a perfect close after the collapse of the Mirror Space.

Or perhaps, it was as perfect as could be.

Although the Imperial Capital’s casualties numbered in the four digits, most occurred during the initial, sudden onslaught of the Abyss cultists, catching residents completely off guard.

Even before Ziyao cast the Forbidden Spell that enveloped the entire capital, its inhabitants had already begun to resist.

Once the capital was shrouded by the Forbidden Spell, the residents grew even more valiant. After all, they couldn’t truly die, and injuries might even come with compensation.

What was there to fear? They charged forward!

Just minutes after Ziyao retracted her Forbidden Spell and followed Youlan into the Mirror Space, a formidable figure arrived above the Imperial Capital.

The Pope, the divine representative of the gods in the mortal realm, had arrived at precisely the right moment. At that time, many Imperial Capital residents were still gravely wounded from the cultists’ attacks. Seeing this, the Pope recognized a golden opportunity.

She immediately unleashed Rain of Radiance over the capital. This Forbidden Spell was the most far-reaching healing magic in the Pope’s arsenal.

Golden clouds materialized above the capital, showering the land with radiant rain. Those injured who came into contact with these blessed drops immediately witnessed one medical miracle after another.

The Church, when it came to healing spells, was exceptionally proficient.

After a private meeting with the returning Emperor, the Pope unequivocally declared that the Church would absolutely not tolerate anyone associated with the Abyss cultists.

“I f***ing despise those sanctimonious bastards!” the Pope roared, slamming a hand onto the table during the meeting.

Thus, the Pope resolved to remain in the Imperial Capital until the primary culprits were brought to justice. This decision was partly because the Church’s facilities in the Roland Imperial Capital were even superior to those in the Holy City.

“Wherever the Pope resides, that is the Holy City,” she declared to her disciple, puffing out her rather modest chest.

Um, shouldn’t you perhaps consult the Empress beside you before making such a statement? Raphael watched the Empress, whose brow was furrowed with exasperation, and felt another headache beginning to brew.

To be honest, she truly had no contingency plan for this incident. All this time, she had believed her enemies were fellow humans. But then, oh-ho, Abyss cultists. What was there even left to play for? And they even brought their own sacrifices…

They were simply impossible to guard against. If not for Ziyao and a few other formidable individuals, the Imperial Capital would likely be nothing but ruins by now.

Aiya was still in a deep slumber. The Empress persistently refused to disclose the reason for the young girl’s unconsciousness.

However, after the Pope’s examination, Aiya’s body was found to be largely unharmed; she was merely suffering from mental exhaustion.

As for Elena, she had departed with her father early on. She had now become a leader of the rescue teams, her natural charisma proving incredibly useful in this time of need.

And Ziyao…

“This magic can be used like that?” The white-haired girl’s eyes widened in astonishment.

She was currently undergoing advanced magical studies. The location was the inn where Youlan and Sophia resided.

“Ziyao, your magical talent is truly the strongest I’ve seen in all my years. Give you a few more years, and perhaps even that little Empress will be surpassed by you,” the green-haired girl of unknown age said, covering her mouth, making no effort to hide her high regard for Ziyao.

Indeed, Ziyao was currently seeking magical guidance from Sophia. With a living relic of magic right beside her, how could she possibly let such an opportunity slip away?

Moreover, Ziyao had once again returned to her leisurely life. The reconstruction of the Imperial Capital was not her task, and the Church had already taken charge of all healing efforts. The scheduled treatment for Aiya’s condition had also been indefinitely postponed due to the young girl’s unconscious state.

Speaking of which, she still didn’t know who the girl was who had given her the Breath of the Abyssal Flow.

“You mean the red-eyed little girl? Her name is Ceres, and she has some connection to Youlan,” Sophia mused after hearing Ziyao’s question. She ultimately decided not to interfere with the relationship between those three.

But Youlan is being a bit too gentlemanly, isn’t she? Does she really intend to wait for Ceres to awaken before beginning their competition?

“I think I heard someone mention me,” Youlan said, poking her head out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel. Youlan was showering. The spear fighter claimed that the recent battle had left her feeling constantly nauseous, so she now had to bathe several times a day.

“None of your business,” Sophia waved her hand dismissively. “Alright, let’s continue.”

Their brief chat concluded, and Ziyao once again immersed herself in the joyous pursuit of learning.

However, other places were far from peaceful.

Bang! The Emperor slammed his fist onto the table with fury. He had truly never imagined that the mastermind behind this incident would be that corpulent man from Eiffel.

With the Church’s assistance, the Emperor had uncovered the foolish man, who thought he was well-hidden, in just a few days.

Was the Lord of the Eiffel Principality ignorant of the rules? Assassinations and the like were things an Emperor could endure, but to directly conspire with Abyss cultists and attempt to summon an Abyssal Demon God in another nation’s capital? That was a death wish.

Engaging in assassinations was understandable, but dropping a nuclear bomb was simply unacceptable.

“Tell Edward, within one month, I want to see that bastard’s head on my desk!”

He had originally considered granting the man a small plot of land for a peaceful retirement, but now… the Emperor considered it an act of profound benevolence that the man wouldn’t be drawn and quartered.

“And tell the others that no one is to protect that scoundrel. Otherwise, I wouldn’t mind having another head on my desk.”

The Emperor was genuinely enraged. Had the Empress not restrained him, he would have likely ridden to the border himself to personally lead the campaign.

Blossom Festival! The Imperial Capital! To orchestrate such a massive event at this time—did they truly believe Roland was a sickly cat?

And to collaborate with Abyss cultists? Was he trying to drag Roland down with him? The Emperor simply couldn’t comprehend it. How had he offended that fat man? Was he truly so determined to target him?

“I want to chop off that idiot’s head too… our Church can certainly contribute,” the Pope, standing nearby, declared with righteous indignation. No one understood the dangers of the Abyss better than she.

That Eiffel Lord actually intended to summon a Demon God in the largest human city. This was a direct slap to the Church’s face. The Church was already in a humble position; to be ridden over and slapped again—who could tolerate that?

“The Knights of Judgment have already been dispatched and are expected to rendezvous with your nation’s forces in five days.”

“Excellent,” the Emperor said, calming his emotions.

However, he wasn’t particularly keen on involving the Church in this war of annihilation. After all, the Church was not without its own ambitions. Just like now, a significant number of Imperial Capital residents had already become followers of the Church.

The clash between the Church and the Imperial Family had only just begun. Roland’s rising momentum was unstoppable, and the Church naturally desired to cling to this burgeoning power. If it could become the officially recognized state religion, that would be even better.

Therefore, the Pope was determined to contribute to Roland’s campaign of national annihilation, no matter the cost.