Kalein's body crashed heavily into the ground.
A terrifying gash stretched from his right shoulder down to his left waist, as if he had been slashed by a blade.
A hand chop was still a chop—no arguing with that.
Kalein lay on the ground, struggling for a long time, unable to rise.
"Just who… are you?" he spat out a mouthful of blood, feeling the life force within him rapidly draining away.
The last divine art he had attempted was forcibly interrupted by Xia Lun, causing severe backlash.
Kalein found it hard to believe. He had exhausted every means at his disposal, yet he hadn’t even scratched his opponent.
He had always been confident in his strength—with the support of the divine priests behind him, those capable of defeating him could be counted on one hand.
How could such a terrifying existence exist in this world? Even the Demon Kings of the other races wouldn’t possess such power.
"Didn’t I say it already? I’m the Hero," Xia Lun’s voice carried neither joy nor sorrow, merely stating a fact.
But it was precisely this indifferent attitude that infuriated Kalein even more.
"No matter who you are… if you stand in our way, then die!"
A violent heartbeat suddenly resonated through the world, spreading outward from Kalein in invisible ripples.
Kalein’s right hand pierced through his own chest, gripping his weakened, faltering heart.
He poured all his divine power into it.
Musen shouted in alarm, "Not good! He’s going to self-destruct!"
Kalein grinned maniacally at Xia Lun. "Come to hell with me—Divine Art: Holy Light Burial!"
Xia Lun remained expressionless, allowing him to act. The divine art had already been activated—he had missed the best moment to stop it. Now, it was too late.
It really was going to explode. At this point, Xia Lun couldn’t prevent it… Though he wouldn’t die in the blast, he might still suffer minor injuries.
At this distance, Liyana and Musen behind him could be in danger, and the weak, helpless Mo Lini would likely not survive.
Xia Lun had never forgotten—they were a team.
He wisely took a step back.
Aina had somehow appeared in front of Xia Lun, raising her right hand.
"Oh, right," Xia Lun suddenly turned to Mo Lini. "Mo Lini, close your eyes."
Liyana: "Huh?"
Mo Lini obediently complied, while Musen retreated into the pages of his book.
Then, an intense light flooded the area—so bright that even with her eyes closed, Mo Lini could see a deep red glow. She quickly covered them with her hands.
"Ah! My eyes!" Liyana screamed beside her, writhing in pain.
It was as if a miniature sun had risen before them, its scorching heat completely blocked by Aina’s single hand, as though it belonged to another world entirely.
As the light gradually faded, Liyana rolled on the ground, rubbing her eyes, while Mo Lini kept hers covered, too afraid to open them.
"Amazing, just amazing," Xia Lun praised Aina.
"Naturally," Aina replied smugly, lightly brushing her snow-white hair.
While their teammates were still blinded, Xia Lun took the chance to plant a quick kiss on Aina’s lips as a reward.
"Xia Lun! Why didn’t you warn me to close my eyes?!" Liyana complained, tears streaming down her face.
"I did warn you."
"You only called Mo Lini’s name!"
"Ah… sorry, I thought you’d close yours too." Xia Lun’s tone carried not a hint of remorse.
Liyana’s eyes were only slightly irritated—nothing serious. But if Mo Lini had stared directly into that light, her eyes would’ve been truly damaged.
As for Xia Lun… he had clearly seen Kalein’s body shatter into pieces.
Mo Lini cautiously peeked through her fingers, confirming the light was gone before daring to open her eyes just a slit.
Liyana blinked rapidly as her tears gradually restored her vision.
Before Aina and Xia Lun, the ground looked as if it had been bombarded by countless magic cannons—covered in thick ash, charred black.
Where Kalein had once stood, there was now a massive semicircular crater hundreds of meters in radius, its destructive force perfectly contained by Aina’s barrier.
Even the divine priests Kalein had brought with him hadn’t survived the explosion—those closest were reduced to dust, while those farther away were left as charred corpses.
"These maniacs really don’t care about killing their own people," Liyana muttered, still shaken.
But regardless, the battle was over.
What a shame—she had been ready to fight too. Her arrows were nothing to scoff at… but Xia Lun had hogged all the action, leaving her with nothing. Liyana grumbled inwardly.
"As expected of Captain Xia Lun, still as overpowered as ever," Musen emerged from his book like a genie. "Anyone need healing?"
"Me! My eyes still hurt!" Liyana raised her hand frantically. Even if she hadn’t fought, getting injured was still a given.
A green spark flew from Musen’s fingertip into Liyana’s eyes.
"Ah! My eyes!" she shrieked again as her vision was engulfed in a green haze.
"Ah, sorry, forgot the Healing Light is still… well, light," Musen scratched his bald head sheepishly. "But it’s harmless."
Xia Lun watched Musen floating in the air, deep in thought.
"Something wrong, Captain?" Musen immediately straightened up.
"If even a bishop has become a Twilight Apostle… Musen, do you know the current state of the Goddess Church?" Xia Lun asked slowly.
"I left three years ago," Musen admitted awkwardly.
The implication was clear—he had no idea what the Goddess Church had become since then.
Xia Lun grinned. "Then our next destination… seems decided."
If the Goddess Church had fallen into the hands of the Twilight Apostles, Xia Lun wouldn’t stand idly by.
Liyana cracked her whip excitedly and cheered, "Wings of Dawn, move out!"
……
Lessa steadied herself, taking a deep breath.
Her abdomen still ached—though treated, the wound might reopen if she moved too violently.
Outside, everything had gone quiet.
What was happening now? Had those adventurers fled? Or had they already lost?
She couldn’t believe that a handful of adventurers could stand against Kalein and his divine priests.
A fully armed priestly order versus some random adventurer party—the outcome was obvious.
Still, even if she died, she would tear a piece of flesh from Kalein. She would protect this place to her last breath.
Steeling her resolve, Lessa stepped out of the village.
What she saw left her stunned, her understanding of reality shattered.
Kalein had vanished without a trace, leaving only devastation in his wake.
Lessa murmured, "What in the world happened here?"