Irene shouted her name, staring at the blood constantly spilling from the corner of her mouth, a bitter feeling swelling within her.
Of course, she knew what Roswither was doing! Although she had no combat ability, with the knowledge of the Archmage at her disposal, she could see Roswither’s rapidly depleting life force!
‘The Goddess’s Sanctuary’—that was the ultimate divine art that could only be unleashed by burning one’s own life!
“Lost Emissary of the Goddess!”
Jeloru’s giant voice rang out, cold with fury and disbelief, as if a deity was questioning a mortal: “Why do you stubbornly shelter these doomed insects? The path you lead them on is nothing but a road to oblivion! Humanity’s future has long been sealed by their own original sin!”
Roswither closed her eyes tightly, golden blood dripping from her pale jaw.
Her voice did not travel through the air but resonated directly within Jeloru’s consciousness—weak, yet unyieldingly resolute:
“Jeloru, the ‘future’ you foresee is a cold end, a ruin steeped in despair. But I… what I protect is humanity, stumbling and battered in the darkness… yet still struggling forward… every step a faint glimmer of light.”
“Even if it’s a dead end, even if the future ultimately fades into nothingness. That is… a path walked by humanity’s own will… their own choice!”
“Gods have no right to write their endings! Nor do they have the right, in the name of ‘purification,’ to strip them of their right to struggle, to err, and even… to be destroyed!”
“Obstinate fool!” Jeloru’s voice burned with utter rage at this complete defiance. “Then let your hypocritical sanctuary and your pitiful mercy be reduced to cosmic dust! Tiga! Destroy it utterly!”
The dark giant withdrew its massive foot, clenching its enormous fists tightly. Dark red energy surged like converging rivers, wildly gathering at the knuckles! The energy thick as blood, radiated a terrifying destructive pulse, like two supernovae on the verge of detonation!
It was about to unleash a final strike powerful enough to shatter the Sanctuary!
“Warriors of the Empire! Brothers of the Church! For the Goddess! For the last hope! For all that stands behind us!” General Horn’s voice was ignited by Roswither’s sacrifice and the Sanctuary’s power, letting out a blood-chilling ultimate roar, “Attack! Target—the giant’s core! With our flesh and blood! Buy the Holy Maiden a sliver of life!!!”
“For the Holy Maiden!!!”
Inside the Sanctuary, the allied soldiers, enveloped by the powerful enhancement of the [Goddess’s Sanctuary], were as if injected with divine courage!
Wounds healed rapidly, exhaustion vanished, and their strength, speed, and resilience soared beyond mortal limits! Despair transformed into a desperate, do-or-die fighting spirit!
The black tide of the Empire and the silver waves of the Church no longer held back. Like a breaking dam unleashing an apocalyptic flood, they charged out from the Sanctuary’s shelter, howling war cries, recklessly throwing themselves at the dark giant—an end-of-the-world demon!
Arrows swarmed like locusts, magic rained down, and the gleam of swords and blades merged into a deadly river flowing against the current!
The soldiers climbed the giant’s rough legs like ants ascending a divine mountain, stabbing with spears, smashing with warhammers, biting the tough, stone-like skin!
Though their damage was minimal, countless tiny wounds accumulated. More importantly, they drew the giant’s attention with their very lives!
“Raeve! Lilisa! Helga!” Irene watched the soldiers fighting bloodily, saw Roswither’s light dimming and her form growing more transparent. Her golden eyes were bloodshot, filled with endless pain.
She had no power, but she had to do something. “Target—the dark red core on the giant’s chest! I have a feeling that’s its weak point! Helga, strike it with your strongest magic! Raeve, Lilisa, protect Helga’s casting!”
“Understood!!”
Helga raised her staff, magic surging wildly throughout her body. The four elements—wind, fire, water, earth—gathered, compressed, and fused above her head, coalescing into a seven-colored elemental spear radiating terrifying energy waves, nearly tangible!
The Seven-Color Elemental Spear’s damage wasn’t as devastating as a Comet Duck, but its penetration was stronger, fitting for this situation!
“Leave it to me!” Raeve transformed into the strongest barrier. Slamming her holy shield onto the ground, it expanded with the force of a fortress wall, blocking the terrifying gust and flying debris stirred by the giant’s swinging arm.
“Master, command received!”
Lilisa’s eyes sparkled. Her small frame exploded with strength beyond her size. Her fists, clad in steel gauntlets, shimmered with magical light as she darted around Helga like a phantom, smashing any stray stones or residual energy with precise, violent punches!
Helga’s Elemental Spear of Annihilation was finally complete. With a piercing shriek, she hurled it straight at the dark red core on the giant’s chest!
However, just as the spear was about to strike, the giant’s core suddenly flared! A layer of dark red energy shield instantly appeared!
“Boom—!”
The Annihilation Spear slammed into the shield, unleashing a tremendous energy storm! The shield trembled violently, cracks spreading, but it did not break!
“Not enough! Core defense is too strong!” Helga’s face went pale, magic consumption immense.
At that moment, the destruction energy accumulated in the dark giant’s fists finally reached its peak! With an earth-shattering roar, its fists, like two falling dark stars, smashed down with a force capable of crushing space itself, aimed straight at the trembling golden crystal dome!
“No—!” Irene screamed in despair.
Roswither’s body trembled violently. The light of the [Eternal Sanctuary] suddenly dimmed to its limit, like a candle flickering in the wind!
A moment before destruction struck—
A silver figure, brimming with resolute will, like a moth drawn to the flame, suddenly charged to the very top of the Sanctuary’s dome, directly facing the crashing dark giant’s fist!
It was Raeve!
She raised her holy shield high above her head, pouring every ounce of her holy light into it!
The shield instantly expanded and deformed, transforming into a colossal glowing barrier etched with countless sacred runes! She was prepared to use her body and shield to buy Roswither and the Sanctuary one last thread of hope!
“Bang––!!!!!”
The dark giant’s fist slammed heavily onto the glowing shield!
An indescribably terrifying shockwave!
The shield shattered instantly with spiderweb cracks like fragile glass! Raeve was struck as if by lightning. Blood gushed from her mouth, ears, and even the gaps in her armor! Her bones cracked with sickening sounds!
The holy shield let out a mournful wail as it flew from her hands, its light extinguished completely!
Her body, like a kite cut loose, plummeted violently from the sky, crashing into the ruins below. Her fate was unknown!
Almost at the moment Raeve was struck away, the dark giant’s other fist smashed down without obstruction onto the now defenseless and dim [Goddess Sanctuary] dome!
Like the shattering cry of crystal, the golden crystal dome shattered with a deafening crash under the despairing gazes of all!
It turned into a scattering of golden shards, like tears of mourning, drifting down in a swirling rain!
Roswither, as if all support had been ripped away, spat a mouthful of golden blood mixed with fragments of internal organs and collapsed limply. Her staff tumbled beside her.
Her sacred power was completely exhausted. The flame of her life was like a flickering candle, ready to be extinguished at any moment.
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