Extra's POV: My Obsessive Villainous Fiancee Is The Game's Final Boss-Chapter 226: Fury In Edenhold

The prison shuddered beneath them as Ren activated his Push resonance.

A blast of invisible force erupted from him, and they were launched up into the air as they stood on the now hardened surface of Thorn's cloak.

It felt like riding a platform with no guardrails at a carnival. Of course, Thorn whooped as they flew through the trench of the parted lake.

Ren's eyes squinted against the sunlight as they ascended, the surface of Lake Nihilum fast approaching.

A few seconds later, they burst through the top of the lake, just as Lilith, from her position atop the nearest hill, released her loop.

"Pull: Release."

The walls of water roared with sudden freedom, crashing together in a deafening torrent. A wave rippled across the lake, quickly covering the destruction that was taking place beneath its depths.

Within moments, the surface returned to its natural stillness, as if nothing had ever happened.

The group floated downward in silence, the cloak fluttering around them like a falling banner. They landed in the grass, damp and weary, each of them wanting to rest.

Lilith met them halfway down the hill, her white hair wild in the sudden breeze, her expression expectant.

Ren stepped forward, wiping blood from his face.

"He's not there." He said, voice flat. "The Blood Chosen. The Pope took him. A week ago. He's in Edenhold."

Lilith's eyes narrowed, but she nodded, already knowing what was coming.

Thorn muttered something under his breath and dropped to a seated sprawl on the grass. "Well, that was a scenic waste of trauma."

"Not a waste." Ren said. "At least, we know where to go. And what we're up against."

Lilith stepped closer. "Edenhold won't be easy. But if anyone can do it, it's us."

Ren nodded. "Which is why we have to be smarter this time. We can't brute-force our way in. The city's protected by the full force of the Church, and Chosen patrols flow in and out daily."

He turned to face the group. "We need to blend in."

Thorn raised an eyebrow. "Blend in? You do know that you and Lilith are the most eye-catching part of our group, right?"

"And let's not forget that Lilith glows." Elias said and everyone turned to stare at him in awkward silence. "Sometimes." He added, the silence growing. "Come on, that was a joke!"

That broke the atmosphere, everybody chuckling.

"Your jokes need work, man." Thorn grinned, before turning to Ren. "So, what now?"

"At this point, as much as I hate to say it, we'll be needing Soul Dominion." Ren admitted.

"Now, I'm interested." Lilith tilted her head, a big smile on her face.

"We're gonna need your soul threads, Lilith." Ren continued. "With that, we should be able to take control of a Chosen unit that will be our cover for this infiltration. As long as we don't use Soul Dominion too much, it shouldn't affect your emotions."

Lilith smiled softly. "So you're finally relying on me."

Ren met her gaze. "I always have. But now, I need you in front. Not behind."

She beamed, stepping just close enough for her fingers to brush against his.

Thorn whistled. "Alright, that's enough of that. Let's move before we get turned into roasted chicken."

Ren's gaze rose to the sky, searching for anything odd. Like flying people.

"We can't stay here for too long." He said. "The Warden may have sent a message before he came up to die. Reinforcements could be on the way."

They didn't need to be told twice. They all climbed back up the hill to their horses, saddling them.

Minutes later, they galloped away from the now destroyed prison of Lake Nihilum.

They'd come, leaving intact protections in the water, but a broken prison.

A puzzle that the Church would spend time pondering. Time that they won't spend looking for them.

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Far across the kingdom of Elnoria, in the holy city of Edenhold, the Pope's rage filled the air.

The throne room shook with every word he screamed, his resonance loop thrumming like a hurricane encased in flesh.

"He did WHAT?!"

His white cloak whipped around him as he rose from his throne, eyes glowing with raw power.

Around the room, the robed clerics were gone. But below the dais, the Synod knelt. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

Twelve pairs of Chosen, priest and priestess, representatives of the most sacred pairs in the Church. All had gathered in haste after receiving word about Rainhold.

Father Francis's widow had been removed from the Synod, and a new pair had been installed. And it was the male member of this new pair in the Synod that finally dared to speak.

"We confirmed the reports, Your Holiness. King Mikael has taken Rainhold. The Shivering Tree remains untouched and is under his control."

The Pope's jaw tightened as he fought against his loop, holding it tightly under his control. "That tree is ours." He snarled. "It has always been ours."

One of the priestesses spoke hesitantly. "He's building an army of soldiers with Resonance magic. An army that rivals our Chosen."

The Pope slammed his fist into the armrest of the throne. The force cracked the stone and sent a ripple through the walls. The lights flickered.

"This is treason!" He yelled, his fists trembling in rage. "King Mikael dares to defile sacred ground, to usurp what was gifted to us! We are the voice of the Creator!"

The Synod exchanged glances, wondering how this was treason. Wasn't treason supposed to be a word for crimes committed against the crown?

One of the more senior Synod members stepped forward, attempting to calm the Pope. "Your Holiness, perhaps we can settle this with diplomacy. With the decree still in the minds of the people, it would be disadvantageous. If King Mikael believes he is acting under divine favor—"

"SILENCE!"

The Pope's resonance flared. A dome of light burst outward from his body, sending the man flying backward into a column. He groaned but did not rise.

"My word is divine law! I am the Church! The Church is me!"

The Pope's breathing was heavy now, but his fury showed no signs of cooling.

He stood tall at the edge of the dais, eyes sweeping the Synod pairs like judgment incarnate.

"Mobilize the Chosen." He growled. "Every able bodied pair that can be spared. We will show the king what happens when you challenge the heavens."

One of the priestesses tried to speak, but her partner subtly pulled her arm. None dared risk the Pope's wrath again.

The Pope turned his gaze to the far wall, where a massive mural of the Creator stood, arms outstretched.

"Let Mikael come. Let him bring his soldiers, his faithless toys. He will know what it means to face divine wrath."

Then, his voice dropped to a whisper, barely audible but filled with venom.

"And the Blood Chosen will rip the blood out of his flesh."