The Angelic Warrior and the Unyielding Light

A pair of arms wrapped tightly around Lu Wei. A sudden warmth surged through her, enveloping her in its embrace.

Though Lu Wei was still on the verge of breaking down, the cerulean eyes of the person before her brought her reason back to her body.

“Anto… little Anto…”

“I’m here,” Anto murmured. “That was truly close, Sister Lu Wei.”

“I… I just… I just…” Lu Wei stammered, tears streaming down her face. “I almost lost my faith… I almost let myself… lose my faith.”

“It’s alright. To have held on this long, Sister Lu Wei, you are already an extraordinary holy practitioner,” Anto soothed her gently, then used his light to comfort her body.

“There’s no need to think anymore. Just sleep well. From now on, leave it to me,” Anto whispered into her ear.

“Leave it to me.”

He lifted his head, facing countless eyes that stared at him as if he were a lamb cast into a pack of wolves. Yet, he would not be the lamb torn asunder, nor was he without defense.

“Lord Anto,” Ilivy declared, positioning herself before the dark creatures that had descended into a frenzy under the night sky. Her longsword met every threat.

“Please, quickly depart this dangerous place and move to a safer position.”

“Understood, Knight.” Anto stood behind her, his gaze devoid of fear. Instead, the fierce spirit of a tiger shone within his eyes.

“There is no issue, Knight. Simply advance,” Anto stated. “The light will guide your every step.”

In an instant, Anto’s blessing enveloped Ilivy. Throughout their journey, Anto had been casting large-scale group blessings.

This power, however, was so immense that Captain Vincent believed he was merely applying the blessing to each individual as needed, thinking it was a standard application.

In reality, Anto’s capacity for Holy Light and his spiritual energy far surpassed what anyone imagined. This wasn’t a marginal difference; it was a vast chasm.

It meant that if Anto truly wished to fully empower a single person with his Holy Light, that individual’s combat prowess would achieve an astonishing surge.

This was not even the full extent of his power, not when he unleashed the Holy Flame. Once the Holy Flame was released, everything connected to the abyss in the vicinity would be utterly purified.

“Fight for me, Knight,” Anto said to the now-blessed Ilivy. “Fight… for us.”

“Understood.”

Beneath the immense Holy Light blessing, Ilivy underwent a striking transformation. Light surged through her, rendering her worn armor smooth and brilliant once more.

Her eyelashes gradually turned pristine white, and new radiance burst forth from her eyes.

In that instant, the light around her even manifested ethereal wings behind her. Coupled with her current stance, anyone witnessing it might exclaim:

“This might be an angel.”

Indeed, such a sight only occurred with profound Holy Light blessings. Individuals were imbued with power by this light, becoming incomparably sacred.

Of course, the manifestation of this power depended on whether the blessed person was truly devout, or rather, how their devotion was expressed.

An angelic warrior—this was Ilivy’s answer. If Anto’s mastery of Holy Light had been even more refined, this light might have momentarily altered Ilivy’s very existence.

“Now, my sword will carve a path for you, and my armor will deflect all attacks against you.” The angelic Knight brandished her battle-blade, now imbued with light.

“These dark, hideous, sorrowful beings shall also be… utterly eradicated by this blade!”

With that, her blade tore through the air. One sword stroke after another, the ferocious monstrous beings were ripped apart beneath the Knight’s onslaught, like defenseless tofu.

Without exception, one after another, no matter how savage they were, they could not resist this power—this absolute power.

The young man stood behind the Knight, cradling the sleeping, weary nun. He appeared utterly defenseless, seemingly without the ability to protect himself.

Yet, as the evil entities truly surged forward, one after another, they simply vanished before his eyes.

Indeed, they dissipated. Countless rays of light formed a barrier around him.

The ghouls paid no heed, charging forward, only for their decaying bodies to spontaneously collapse and purify. The young man didn’t even glance at them, focusing solely on the girl in his arms, ensuring she wouldn’t stir.

He walked steadily, one step after another, the Knight clearing his path. His stride was firm, impervious to any dark corruption.

In this forest shrouded in gloom, he was the sole beacon of light—a sacred radiance that even the darkness dared not touch.

He said nothing, simply moving forward, and the surrounding darkness was dispersed. Was he a king in that moment? Or some other, distinct entity?

Perhaps there was no mercy in his heart; he harbored only disgust for the vanishing creatures.

Gazing at Lu Wei’s pale face and trembling form, he felt a rare surge of fury.

Perhaps he himself didn’t realize it, but his light reflected his true thoughts. This light formed an insurmountable chasm; to approach it meant instant annihilation.

The young man lifted his head, his face devoid of expression. His release of this power was both a demonstration and a declaration: he would no longer allow these beings to touch a single hair on the person in his care.

“This way,” Ilivy directed. The surrounding dark creatures, one after another, either parted or fled.

It was interesting to note: precisely because they possessed only instinct, they were fearless and valiant in battle.

Yet, simultaneously, it was that very instinct that now screamed at them to flee—that the being before them was an insurmountable presence.

The true wielder of the Holy Flame, for the first time, displayed the authority befitting an inheritor. It was a majesty, and even more so, a stark demonstration of power.

This dazzling, searing light burned away the last vestiges of reason within all the dark creatures.

Just then, a colossal figure slowly emerged. Unlike the other dark creatures, its twisted, massive form seemed not to repel this light.

“Light… light…” Cracks appeared between its lips. Under the glow of the light, its eyes gradually revealed a flicker of humanlike intelligence, but this was swiftly replaced by pure greed. It advanced step by step towards the sacred presence, seemingly distinct from the other monsters.