75: Chapter 75: War Begins! The Priestess of the Radiant Moon! The Power of Judgment! Crimson Light Pierces the Sky!

In the crowd watching from afar.

Rowan restrained his aura, disguising himself as the most ordinary townsman, and looked at the pure white figure in front of the manor.

This was the first time he had seen Aria stand before others in the identity of an "Arbitration Priest".

It was different from the calm, profound depth she displayed in the church's prayer room.

At this moment, her entire being was permeated with a cold, solemn, and unquestionable absolute majesty.

Her long, silvery-white hair was meticulously tied beneath her priestess crown, with only a few strands brushing against her ice-sculpted, jade-carved cheeks.

Just by standing there quietly, she silently repelled all restlessness, fear, and bloodshed, forming her own awe-inspiring and inviolable sacred domain.

"Is this her true appearance..." Rowan whispered in his heart, a flash of wonder and curiosity crossing his eyes.

An Arbitration Priest from the Imperial Inquisition!

In front of the manor, seeing Count Farrell appear in person, the expressions of Aria and Commander Calvin did not change in the slightest, as if they had long expected this.

The surrounding townsfolk, however, erupted in an uproar, with exclamations rising everywhere.

"Count Farrell?! It's Lord Golden Flame Count!"

"Oh heavens! Why is Lord Count here?"

"Could this manor belong to the Count's family?"

"The Church is going to search the Count's property?!"

The Farrell Family, the de facto rulers of Gino County for hundreds of years, had a name that sounded like thunder to the ears of ordinary people.

Fear and curiosity began to mix in the eyes of the townsfolk, and more and more people gathered.

Commander Calvin glanced at Aria, his gray eyes filled only with inquiry.

Today's operation was entirely based on the will of this Arbitration Priest.

Aria's indifferent gaze swept over Count Farrell, who was feigning composure.

Then she tilted her head slightly and glanced at the pale red mist in the sky, which was becoming increasingly dense and faintly flowing with blood-colored veins.

"Immediately cease resistance, disarm, and submit to investigation!" Her voice was clear and cold, like an ice spring striking stone. It was not loud, but it sounded like a verdict delivered by a deity:

"Or—"

"Be dealt with as accomplices to heresy and the evil god!"

"Execute on the spot!"

The lingering sound was like a blade, hanging in mid-air.

Her indifferent gaze returned to Count Farrell, carrying only a chill that seemed to freeze all things.

The entire scene was deathly silent.

The watching townsfolk also held their breath.

On Count Farrell's face, anger, like exploding thunderfire, suddenly slashed across his brows.

It had been too long, far too long, since anyone had ground his dignity underfoot and trampled upon it so wantonly!

A violent, scorching current suddenly ignited in his blood, rampaging wildly.

He clenched his knuckles until they cracked.

He was almost on the verge of losing control on the spot!

But, just at this moment—

His mind suddenly flashed with the origin of the other party—

The Inquisition! Arbitration Priest!

Finally, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he could only forcibly suppress his surging anger and fear, wanting to make one last attempt at maneuvering:

"Priestess Aliyah! Do you know who you are speaking to? Without proof or evidence, relying solely on speculation, you want to force your way into an Imperial Count's property, and even speak recklessly of execution?"

"Even if you are a Church priestess, this is too rampant! I will report this to Duke Witton, to the Imperial Senate..."

He couldn't finish his sentence—

His voice came to an abrupt halt!

Because Aria had already gently raised her right hand.

Her five fingers, slender as jade, suddenly clenched.

Emitting a faint glow in the red mist.

It was just an extremely simple action.

Yet it was like a silent thunderclap!

Commander Calvin's eyes shot with brilliance, and without another word of nonsense, he roared:

"Temple Knight Order! In the name of the Goddess, attack!"

"For the Dawn!!!"

Sixty Temple Knights roared in unison!

The battering ram, which had long been ready, carried the force of a landslide and slammed fiercely into the manor's heavy oak gate!

Wood splinters flew!

Several knights slammed the Blazing holy light charms in their hands onto the perimeter wall!

The charms touched the stone wall, erupting with blinding white light and the crackling sound of purification!

The elite squads, like sharp knives, fiercely broke into the manor from different directions!

The offensive was like a tide, erupting instantly!

"You—!" Count Farrell's eyes were splitting with rage.

He didn't expect the other party wouldn't even bother with superficial formalities, attacking immediately and so decisively!

Just at this moment—

Deep within the manor, a cold, insane, and violent aura, mixed with a thick scent of blood, erupted with a boom!

Dozens of dark red figures, like filthy blood gushing from the ground, accompanied by low roars, quickly formed a formation in the manor's front courtyard.

The leader was none other than the Pale Knight!

He was still shrouded in a gray-white cloak, his smooth mask turning toward Aria's direction.

Although his expression couldn't be seen, he transmitted a fluctuation of will mixed with wariness, resentment, and madness.

"I have long heard of the prestige of the Church of Dawn's Inquisition and the Temple Knight Order..."

The Pale Knight's voice was ethereal and eerie, like countless fine needles scraping against the eardrums:

"Today, I shall have the pleasure of experiencing it!"

He turned to Count Farrell, whose face was livid, his tone carrying a trace of mockery and cold resolution:

"Lord Count, things have come to this, why waste your breath on these mad dogs of the Church?"

"Let's see who's stronger in battle."

"The ritual... must not be interrupted!"

Aria's ice-blue eyes became serious for the first time, landing on the Pale Knight.

That gaze was no longer the indifference of ignoring something, but like the sharpest ice pick, carrying the fierce and cold killing intent unique to the Inquisition when hunting heretics.

Her red lips parted slightly, and she whispered to herself, yet it sounded like the crisp clinking of icicles:

"Heretic... I've found you!"

Only six words.

Yet it caused the shadows around the Pale Knight to shake violently, as if an invisible pressure had crashed down.

His cloak moved without wind, and the aura beneath his mask clearly faltered for a moment.

Seeing this, Count Farrell's extremely ugly expression slowly calmed down, even twisting into a grimace.

The last trace of luck and hesitation was completely severed.

Since there was no retreat, then...

"Then... let's fight!"

He roared, and the violent battle aura of a Great Knight erupted without reservation!

A condensed, tangible dark golden battle aura shot into the sky!

The terrifying pressure of a Great Knight crushed toward the surroundings like a mountain!

He reached out and grasped the air, and a two-handed greatsword wreathed in dark golden flame patterns appeared out of thin air in his hand.

The blade pointed directly at Aria!

The battle instantly entered a white-hot stage!

The Temple Knights and the low-to-mid-level members of the Crimson Knights collided fiercely.

Holy light and crimson battle aura intertwined and collided!

Roars and screams instantly resounded throughout the manor!

Commander Calvin roared, his figure surging!

He went straight for the Pale Knight, his silver battle aura like a storm, and the two instantly engaged in battle!

Sword energy crisscrossed, energy exploded, and wherever they passed, the ground cracked and walls collapsed!

And on the other side.

Facing Count Farrell, who was charging ferociously with the momentum of a Great Knight, Aria's expression did not change.

She did not take a single step back, only raising her white, jade-like hands to form a simple seal before her chest.

Her fingertips traced through the air, leaving faint golden light trails.

"Divine Oracle: Radiant Shackles!"

She whispered a short prayer.

The voice carried a strange resonance.

Following her words, a heavy phantom of a holy scripture, condensed from pure holy light, suddenly unfolded before her.

The pages rustled without wind!

Above the holy scripture, several chains composed purely of light, inscribed with countless fine sacred runes, shot out instantly like living snakes of light!

The speed of the chains of light exceeded sound!

In Count Farrell's horrified eyes.

They precisely wrapped around his limbs and neck, as well as the ferocious greatsword in his hand!

"What?!" Count Farrell only felt an irresistible sacred binding force coming from the chains.

This not only bound his battle aura circulation but also acted directly upon his soul, bringing burning agony and heavy pressure!

He frantically drove his battle aura, roaring and struggling, the dark golden flames on the sword surged, yet he found it difficult to break free from these seemingly slender shackles of light!

This was definitely not a divine art that a Morning Star-ranked priest could perform!

The purity of the holy power it contained, the strictness of its rules, and the strength of its binding far exceeded Count Farrell's understanding of the power of a Morning Star priest!

"You are not a Morning Star priest!"

"You are—a Moon-Radiance Priestess?!"

Count Farrell exclaimed, his eyes filled with unbelievable horror.

Morning Star, Moon-Radiance, Blazing Sun.

The three major ranks below the Holy Priest.

A Moon-Radiance Priestess has strength comparable to a Great Knight!

But, such a young Moon-Radiance Priestess?!

Aria did not answer.

There was only the coldness of judgment in her eyes.

Her left hand maintained the seal, her right hand pointed like a sword, and she pointed through the air at Count Farrell, who was bound by the chains of light.

"Judgment: Spear of Radiant Light!"

Within the phantom of the holy scripture, a Blazing white spear, seemingly composed of liquid sunlight, condensed in an instant.

"Whoosh—!"

The Spear of Radiant Light shot through the air, emitting a piercing shriek.

Wherever it passed, the pale red mist permeating the air dissipated rapidly, like snow encountering a scorching sun.

Leaving only a Blazing and clear trail.

Pointing directly at Count Farrell's heart!

"Roar!"

Count Farrell felt a fatal threat!

He roared, not hesitating to burn a portion of his source battle aura, forcibly breaking two of the chains of light.

Then he held his two-handed greatsword horizontally before his chest, his dark golden battle aura condensing into a thick shield!

Boom—!!!

The Blazing white light spear and the dark red shield collided fiercely!

There was no stalemate—

The light spear, with the force of crushing dry weeds and smashing rotten wood, instantly pierced through the battle aura shield and stabbed fiercely onto the spine of the two-handed greatsword!

"Clang—!!!"

A deafening explosion.

Accompanied by blinding strong light.

Instantly exploded in front of Count Farrell!

He was struck as if by lightning, spat out a large mouthful of blood, and staggered backward.

Every step back left a deep pit on the ground.

His face turned as pale as paper instantly!

Only two moves!

And he was defeated!

A dignified Great Knight, the uncrowned king of Gino County, appeared so vulnerable before this young Arbitration Priest!

The terrifying strength of a Moon-Radiance Priestess, combined with the combat divine arts specialized by the Inquisition, was suffocatingly powerful!

The entire battle situation also presented a one-sided crushing defeat due to Aria's absolute dominance.

Under the leadership of Commander Calvin, the Temple Knight Order shattered the lines of the Crimson Knights.

Although the Crimson Knights were crazy, they retreated steadily before the Temple Knights who were bolstered by the priest's holy power.

Just as Aria was about to raise her hand again to deliver a fatal blow to Count Farrell—

Beneath the manor.

Suddenly, a roar mixed with endless pain and ecstasy came!

Immediately, a violent red light, as solid as blood, shot into the sky like a volcanic eruption, smashing through the roof of the manor's main building and piercing straight into the sky shrouded in red mist!

...