At the battlefield’s center, the former military stronghold of White Maple Town had been reduced to rubble by two light-element magic spells, [Holy Light Manifestation Torrent of Light] and [Heaven’s Tremor, Solar Judgment].

The remaining core forces of the Church’s Knight Order, backed by both the radiant sun and sacred relics, had gradually stabilized their defense at the original town walls, relying on [Holy Radiant City].

At this moment, White Maple Town resembled the fortress of Liya Tower back then. Once the illusory City of Light was established, they could use it as a temporary stronghold to resist the storm, further nibbling away at Losterling City behind them.

Naturally, if the Church of Light had successfully completed its strategic objectives, killing Charles, one of the Empire’s Four Dukes; Charlotte, the chief researcher of magitech devices; and Lyra, the faithless usurper of glory, their subsequent will assault have been a full-scale, storm-like attack. Using the term "nibbling" would no longer be appropriate.

Bright light particles danced across the surface of Lyra’s Holy Light Armor, ensuring that all nearby light-element particles remained under her mental control, preventing a repeat of the previous incident where Hebrew had turned the tables by using [Severed Chains of Sin] to bind her. Lyra spread her light wings, and a downpour of light rained down, attacking the Pope of Light hovering in mid-air.

Seeing this, the man slowly raised his hand. The light rain dissolved into soft silken ribbons, scattering into the air five or six centimeters away from the sacred relic. Hebrew then channeled the ocean of mental energy, using fire born alongside radiant light to construct a destructive fire-element spell.

Across the entire battlefield, it wasn’t just Lyra who was at a disadvantage. Even Charles, the Empire’s Crusader, was facing immense defensive pressure.

With the support of the sacred relic, the top-tier combatants from the Church of Light had seen a tremendous boost. Although Lyra’s temporary breakthrough had leveled the numbers, the advantage currently lies overwhelmingly with the Kingdom of Velys.

Roaring thunder split the sky, and fierce winds carried mist, forming thick clouds at the dome’s apex.

Charlotte had no time to mourn the spatial ring she’d sacrificed into the blazing sun. Her slender white fingers lightly tapped the air, rapidly gathering frost-laden winds to coordinate with another Arcanist mage’s water magic, attempting to sever the sun’s battlefield enhancement.

Small tornadoes gradually formed, the air turning damp and cold. Hebrew glanced sideways at the continuous layer of clouds on the horizon, fully understanding Charlotte’s intentions.

Scorching waves of light erupted, igniting the clouds. The previously dense concentration of water-element particles evaporated under the high temperature, forming hazy water vapor.

Then, this ripple of lightfall plummeted from the sky, crashing toward the elegant, dark-haired beauty below. Charlotte gripped her staff tightly, layering multiple elemental spells, frost, thick earth, flowing wind, until the final elemental shield shattered, allowing the light particles to finally show inertia, unable to form a complete lightfall.

Indeed, the Kingdom’s elite forces were formidable. A single casual strike had forced her to expend such vast mental energy just to barely defend.

Her jet-black hair fluttered in the wind, obscuring her snow-white neck. Layers of pure white skirt swayed continuously, revealing a glimpse of smooth, fair silk-stockinged calf. Charlotte’s tea-colored eyes narrowed slightly, her delicate brows tightly furrowed.

At this point, the Church of Light’s intentions were obvious to anyone with eyes.

They didn’t merely want to capture White Maple Town and seize Losterling City. They intended to annihilate the Empire’s elite forces entirely within the barrier constructed by Hebrew, ensuring their subsequent military operations would proceed unhindered.

A spatial barrier capable of containing battles between multiple Arcanist mages without shattering... Logically, the Kingdom of Velys shouldn’t possess such a trump card.

Such magic was something only ancient humans, from eras untouched by cataclysm, could have wielded.

Meanwhile, taking advantage of Hebrew’s distraction from Charlotte’s spell, Lyra caught her breath and swung her sword again. Using pure mental energy as a spear, two intersecting slashes of sword energy swept toward the weaker Kales.

Faced with Lyra’s sudden shift in focus, the refined Church Knight immediately withdrew, his glasses flashing with light points rippling from the sword’s energy. He raised his weapon, and intense sparks erupted at the blade’s tip before rebounding and crashing heavily against the barrier’s surface.

At the same time, outside White Maple Town, Astrid, whose mental energy was linked to the surface of the Judgment Barrier, sensed a brief disorder in the arrangement of light-element particles, something was artificially interfering, significantly weakening the barrier’s stability.

To the naked eye, this manifested as glass-crack-like spatial fissures appearing behind Corton, a situation similar to the slash Lyra had delivered to server [Heaven’s Tremor, Solar Judgment] impacting the barrier surface, albeit on a smaller scale.

Seeing her attack actually loosened the barrier, a glint of light flashed in Lyra’s pupils.

Magic involving space and time was typically inaccessible until breaking through to Arcanist mage status. Even Anthony, the Academy Head who stood at the peak of peak tier Arcanist mages, couldn’t directly create an independent space.

Likewise, the Pope of Light Hebrew had to abide by this iron rule.

Although from Lyra’s perspective, she couldn’t immediately identify [Heaven’s Tremor, Solar Judgment] as a peak tier Arcanist mage spell, a series of experiments revealed it wasn’t specialized space-cutting arcane magic.

Hebrew had taken a shortcut, using the sacred relic as an amplifier, allowing light-element particles to exhibit external relic effects on space. This explains why only light from above could penetrate the entire barrier.

Then... thinking deeper...

Lyra raised her weapon horizontally. The radiant, sharp blade of Holy Light glowed like the first dawn light breaking through a long night.

A barrier amplified by the sacred relic, and a holy sword originated from the same source as the relic.

It had the potential to sever shackles.

On the other side, Hebrew also noticed the anomaly in the arena. The man, who had remained calm throughout, now lowered his eyes, sensing the vibrations within the sacred relic, and spoke slowly.

"My faithful, look up and behold..."

"The Lord’s decree bestowed upon me is to eliminate the faithless usurper of glory, Lyra Beckett."

The man’s tone remained as calm as ever, like the resonant tolling of a church bell. Upon closer inspection, however, it lacks the arrogance he’d shown at first.

Lyra, now marked as the primary target, immediately sensed the elemental shifts around her. Beyond the most harmonious light element, wind, ice, lightning, and fire were all being mobilized. Countless magic circles were forming.

Two peak tier, one middle tier, two early tier, five Arcanist mages forming an assault combined. Even Charles will have to temporarily retreat; let alone Lyra, who had just ascended.

Acute danger perception stimulated her brain, crises from all directions nearly sealing off all her escape routes.

Should she rely on the Holy Light Armor to withstand it? No...

Such dense elemental attacks would instantly overwhelm her. Even if she poured all her mental energy into maintaining the armor, she couldn’t possibly block all of it.

Fictional light sword afterimages shot toward the pink-haired girl hovering mid-air. Lyra nimbly dodged aside. The next second, red-haired Captain Kales charged forward from the ground, his knight’s blade slashing down sharply at the person before him.

Strong winds blew Lyra’s cherry-pink hair. The girl caught a glimpse of the cold glint at the blade’s edge from the corner of her eye. Using the light wing’s recoil, she sidestepped the blow. Her wrist twisted, and the pure, immaculate Holy Light Sword ignited with holy light, aiming straight for the man’s unprotected neck.

Kales quickly raised his weapon in defense. The fire burning on the holy sword repelled Kales’s advance. Scattered ice fragments fell from Lyra’s wrist, dissolving into moisture.

As they engaged in close combat, ice-element magic restricting joint movement continued to take effect silently. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Feeling her knees stiffen slightly, Lyra bent her legs after disengaging. The delicate white silk exposed between her leg armor creased slightly, then smoothed out as her legs straightened again, leaving only faint, translucent traces where the ice magic had seeped in.

She exhaled softly. Blinding holy light instantly covers her entire body, nullifying all restricting magic. Lyra also began to fall from the sky, escaping the casting area while using gravity and downward momentum to deliver a heavy slash toward Kales.

Although a one-handed sword, at this moment it faintly took on the form of a greatsword.

Kales raised his sword to block. The weapon collision caused the already flattened tiles of White Maple Town to sink half a meter, with numerous cracked tiles erupting in sand and stone, splattering near the man’s boots.

Lyra looked down at the face beneath her blade, her movements not pausing for an instant. She smoothly slid along the blade, slashing toward Kales’s hand.

At that moment, a cold chill prickled Lyra’s neck. Corton’s sword quietly approached her vital point, like a venomous snake suddenly attacking from the shadows.

If she stubbornly severed the man below’s fingers, Lyra would also suffer a severe blow.

The silver-white knight boots planted on the ground traced a graceful arc. Amidst the sharp sound mixed with the wind, Lyra turned her body while using momentum to grip the sword backward, slashing at Corton with the opposite sharp edge of the knight’s blade.

A strand of yellow hair was severed. The next second, lightning bolts shot from an unknown source, their reflection flashing on the armor. Lyra dodged rapidly, but the light wings on her back were still struck by electricity, one-third of her fully spread six wings destroyed.

Under the sun’s radiant light, Charles took the initiative, charging sword in hand toward Hebrew. The other Arcanist mages began moving toward Lyra’s position, attempting to lend her aid.

Mentally dazed from the destruction of her light wings, Lyra knew she couldn’t afford any lapse. She forced her body upright, preventing the surrounding light-element particles from dispersing, instinctively moving her joints to prevent ice buildup from hindering movement.

Peak tier Magnus dual-element light and wind magic, [Blazing Light Surge].

Surging light erupted among Lyra, Kales, and Corton, briefly blinding the two Holy Knights except for Lyra. Through the outward rushing strong wind, the girl escaped the dangerous close-range melee combat distance. Her light wings slowly reconstructed behind her, just as her mental state gradually repaired.

Wind sharpened rapidly around her legs, but no dangerous aura emerged. Lyra gripped her sword tightly. Wind blades infused with Charlotte’s mental energy shot like a downpour, temporarily forcing back the Arcanist mages’ assault. Seizing this opportunity, Lyra swung her sword again, directly striking the illustration barrier above her head.

[Heaven’s Tremor, Solar Judgment] continued to churn. The sacred relic in Hebrew’s hand vibrated in sync with the Holy Light Sword’s movements.

...........

Within her mental seascape, Astrid’s consciousness flowed with the light points, continuously sensing the entire Judgment Barrier.

Elise stood quietly beside her mistress, holding an umbrella to shield the Regent Princess’s delicate skin from the harsh sunlight during her exploration of the barrier.

This familiar arrangement method of light-element particles... extremely similar to ancient magic...

Closing her eyes, Astrid focused intently on this familiarization, gradually slowing her breathing until she could barely feel her own body.

After a period of exploration, she vaguely understood the entire circle’s operational logic. She then began searching for weak points and corresponding countermeasures.

Mental energy guided light-element particles, forming a phantom prison. Light from outside can freely enter, but not a single ray from inside can escape.

Seemingly defying light-element exclusivity, it actually emphasizes its inherent "purity" as defined in magical theory.

Thus, using dark elements for infiltration, disrupting the arrangement rules of light-element particles to lean toward "alleviation" rather than environmental construction, should be an excellent choice.

Astrid’s affinity for dark elements was exceptional, so casting dark-element magic wasn’t problematic. The only limitation is the current environment. The Church of Light had specifically chosen midday, when sunlight was strongest, capitalizing on the advantage of low dark-element activity and high light-element density.

"Both of you, I need your assistance."

Opening her crimson eyes, Astrid lightly tapped the ground with her high heel’s tip, turning to face the two Arcanist mages on guard, speaking softly.

"Immediately grasp a certain amount of dark-element particles from the void, letting them hover around the spatial barrier’s exterior. I’ll use them shortly."

Few people knew about arcane factor conversion for elemental particle mimicry magic. Teaching it on-site would be troublesome, ineffective, and the current dark-element particles were too scarce, possibly failing to meet the threshold for factor mimicry. It was better to have them directly gather the particles for her to cast.

Receiving the Regent Princess’s order, the two noble mages, obedient to the regent’s commands, nodded slightly. They then drew dark-element particles from the void, integrating them into reality.

Less than half a minute later, Astrid sensed the air’s dark-element particles becoming abundant. She turned her head, her hand in black silk gloves continuing toward the barrier, silently chanting an ancient spell in her heart.

If this spell was truly Brennild’s work, using ancient magic for reverse analysis and counteraction would absolutely be the best way to destroy it.

Fine black threads seeped into the barrier, instantly like an ink drop falling into clear water, gradually rippling out under Astrid’s mental guidance.

As Astrid expected, upon dark-element input, the Judgment Barrier displayed extreme exclusivity. The faint vibration frequency was clearly perceptible even to her hand.

Simply inputting dark elements seemed insufficient to completely destroy the barrier.

Recalling the spatial fluctuations earlier, and linking to the Arcanist mages’ descriptions, at the moment a suspected spatial storage device exploded, White Maple Town’s barrier developed a small hole, allowing other elemental particles besides light to pass through both ways.

Although the channel exists for less than a second, it at least proves such spatial tearing could temporarily disable the barrier.

At that moment, inside White Maple Town, Lyra’s sword energy slashed through again, striking the barrier surface. Astrid clearly felt light-element particles scattering wildly, the Judgment Barrier was nearing its collapse threshold.

Inside, someone was also trying to break the barrier... Was it Lyra?

An attack of this intensity didn’t seem possible for a peak tier Magnus, yet Astrid faintly felt that the person doing the same thing as her, separated only by a single barrier, was indeed Lyra.

But at this level... it still wasn’t enough...

The dark-element particles drawn by the ancient spell were being repelled by light. Astrid uses this to effectively disrupt light-element arrangement. The barrier was gradually weakening, but something was still missing.

Perhaps, both external force was lacking and internal power insufficient.

Lyra’s attacks weren’t strong enough to crack the shell, and her reverse analysis relied on a decisive, explosive moment.

Her fingers lightly touched her lips, sliding down her snow-white chin, continuing to the night-sky-colored silk dress front. Amidst the soft fabric, Astrid felt a cool, metallic hardness.

It was the ruby pendant she always wore around her neck, the keepsake left by her mother, Lorien, to her daughter Astrid Calliste.

Beyond this significance, it was also an incredibly precious spatial storage device.

..........

Inside White Maple Town, the battle grew increasingly intense.

After several rounds of skill clashes, Lyra’s breathing became exceptionally rapid. Acidic substances accumulated from high-speed physical movement continuously paralyzed her muscles, giving her body a pronounced sense of fatigue. Lyra controlled her breathing, constantly channeling whatever mental energy remained into her limbs, desperately reducing her wrist’s weakness.

Although allied Arcanist mages were continuously casting buffs towards her, helping her dodge or block enemy attacks, ultimately, passive defense always requires more consideration than active offense. Especially under magical laws, spells cast on others always have an extra layer of mental recognition, and the additional recognition step meant more energy loss, reducing spell efficiency.

Blocking a sudden slash from the captain, Lyra gripped the holy sword tightly. Sparkling embers from the impact flickered in her blue eyes as her figure withdrew several meters, her re-vaporizing light wings fluttering slightly.

Her arm leans against a solid stone block below, faint magical fluctuations. Lyra lowered her gaze, noticing they’d unintentionally fought near the protective cave. She fanned airflow, floating into mid-air again.

Having endured half a round of continuous combat, Charles, the duke, was already injured in his fight against Hebrew. Blood stained his sword hilt, and his breath was somewhat unsteady.

The blazing sun hung high in the sky, scorching light-element particles forming a blade circle, showering down on the man’s head.

With a raised sword, a grayish-brown blade energy surged out, sweeping aside several light blades before returning, then coiling around Charles’s wrist as gray mist, rapidly healing his wounds.

The battle situation was grim. Lyra had no chance to swing her sword at the barrier. Hebrew and another cardinal continuously controlled the battlefield, gradually draining their mental energy.

They had to restrain these five Arcanist mages from the opposing side, even if the Church Knights outnumbered and outclassed them in cultivation.

Early Tier Arcanist mage dark-element magic, [Eternal Dark Forest].

Forcibly grasping dark-element particles from the void, forming a gray-black mist tide within the light, automatically attracting large amounts of light elements. Charles added several protective spells to himself, quietly floating before Lyra.

"Baroness Lyra, focus on breaking the barrier," Charles said.

Looking at the man’s fluttering cloak, Lyra immediately acknowledged, then a warm wind formed a barrier, briefly isolating her from the front lines.

Charlotte and two other Arcanist mages also arrived at Lyra’s flank, providing support near Duke Charles at the front of the formation.

Elemental magic can be channeled and cast in midair, and solidified mental energy can be sharpened and used as ranged attacks. But physical combat still requires close-range engagement. Spreading out the formation at least ensures the two captains from the Church Knights couldn’t instantly rush to Lyra’s side and threaten her life.

Noticing the Valeria Empire reorganizing their lines, Kales urged [Holy Radiant City] to continue advancing while cautiously approaching Corton, not recklessly attacking.

The sacred relic still hummed faintly. The Holy Light Sword, dozens of meters away, seemed to resonate with it through the light points flowing across its blade.

Not just Lyra, but rats were gnawing at the barrier.

Were there Valeria Empire people? They actually had so many Arcanist mages they could mobilize?

Surprised by the new Empress’ political maneuvering, preparing so many trump cards shortly after ascending, Hebrew, who was mentally linked to the Judgment Barrier and aware of external movements, no longer hesitated, releasing his mental energy to the maximum.

Instantly, the sun in the sky paled, its light gathering like threads. Within moments, two even brighter, scorching light orbs appeared above everyone’s heads.

The temperature skyrocketed. The frozen ground silently thawed, becoming soft and moist. As everyone gasped, the second and third suns plunged directly toward Lyra.

As long as they reclaimed the Holy Light Sword, the enemy would have no chance of resistance. Even if it results in one or two Arcanist mages from the Church being severely wounded or killed in a last-ditch struggle, Hebrew could accept that.

The only regret is that the Regent Princess wasn’t in White Maple Town. Otherwise, this military operation would have been a complete sweep, crippling the Empire’s northern command system while effectively weakening the Royal Family’s vulnerable forces.

Blinding white light burst before Lyra’s eyes, blowing Charles’s long coat. Charlotte waved her staff, but the swirling wind seemed so feeble under the intense light and scorching waves.

Lyra didn’t hesitate, choosing to trust her back to them. She raised the holy sword, delivering a slash with all her strength.

The blazing sun fell, the barrier trembled, the moist land dried and cracked, forming numerous fissures.

Feeling the internal vibrations, Astrid frowned slightly, pressing the hand holding the ruby to her chest.

This power... still not enough...

She only had one spatial storage device. The rest were all in the national treasury and in Amalia’s imperial scepter.

If they fail, they’d find it extremely difficult to open the barrier again.

Wait a little longer.

The second sun fell. Charle, defending head-on, transformed gray mist into a shield. High temperature and intense light gradually melted it, exposing the blazing sun’s extremely bright core.

Then, water-element particles drifting in the air were evaporated by light, scorching air currents pushed aside the cold winds.

If she didn’t hurry... everyone would die here...

Lyra could feel the heat from behind. Mental energy flowed into her wrists and elbows. She gripped the sword hilt with both hands.

At the instant her spirit broke through its constraints... the slash she delivered...

How did she do it?

In that fleeting moment, what was she thinking?

In the alternating light and dark, a sharp sword energy cuts straight through, slashing along the light wave’s boundary.

In that instant, she saw the particles within the light wave, and millions of particles forming the overall wave, surging through the air.

Then, she completely let go of her nervousness, certain she would die at that moment. So she calmed her spirit, observed the connection points between light and fire elements, and gently swung her sword.

Lyra turned around, witnessing the third sun approaching. Her clear, bright sky-blue reflector reflects dazzling light points, like a sapphire refracting rippling light.

Everything seemed to slow down, as if time itself had been distorted.

The raised Holy Light Sword ignited with its remaining flame waves. All her mental energy, pushed to the brink after her initial promotion, poured completely into the blade. Lyra spread her legs, aiming at the horizon, twisting her wrist to release the sword energy.

Like a storm splitting ocean tides, this horizontal slash pierced the blazing sun again. Scorching air currents crossed both sides, then, under pressure conditions, crashed towards Lyra.

Chaotic floods of light elements prevent anyone from stopping the light and heat from striking Lyra. The pink-haired girl was enveloped in light, momentarily disappearing into the sun. Meanwhile, the sharp sword energy rolled forward, carrying immense kinetic energy to hit its target.

In an instant, [Holy Radiant City] was pierced by this blade capable of cleaving heaven and earth. The core circle was artificially destroyed, and the illustration City of Light began to disintegrate.

Wails echoed within the knight formation. A small portion caught in the sword energy died instantly. Then, the sword energy didn’t pause, continuing forward like rippling water, carving a long, thin gap into the Judgment Barrier.

At the same time, powerful spatial turbulence surged from outside. Through the fissure carved by Lyra’s strike, external chaotic spatial fragments tore through the coexisting barrier of [Heaven’s Tremor, Solar Judgment]. Dark elements previously planted by Astrid within the Judgment Barrier scattered and fled, dragging light elements into chaos. The surging elemental flood seized the opportunity to widen the gap, ultimately tearing it completely open.

Attacking from inside and outside, the relic stopped resonating but remained sacred firmly grasped in Hebrew’s hand. Feeling the wind brushing his cheeks, intense backlash on the mental level followed like a shadow, immediately attacking the aged pope. Knowing the barrier was broken, Hebrew looked toward the ultimate judgment capable of killing Arcanist mage-level beings, attempting to witness the faithless one’s final fate.

The blinding white light dissolved. Amidst the burning flames, two exquisitely crafted black high heels stepped on nothingness. Above they were beautiful legs wrapped in sheer black stockings. A silver-haired beauty in a pure black dress walked through the air, her body surrounded by faint white mist, the water vapor released as her ice shield melted under high heat.

Astrid temporarily hovered in mid-air using the wind magic provided by Charlotte. Her delicate white arms gently encircled a girl in holy white armor who had lost combat capability, the pink-haired girl half-burying her face in Astrid’s bosom.

The transparent wings behind the Holy Knight had already collapsed from nearly-empty mental energy, dissipating into light points. Even the Holy Light Armor had, in that final strike, fully completed its summoning mission and completely disintegrated. At this moment, Lyra had reverted to her pre-battle everyday attire, shirt, shorts, white tights, resembling a fragile neighborhood girl, cradled by Astrid around her back and knee creases, leaning in her arms.

"A... Astrid..."

Seeing the iconic silver hair and that incredibly familiar cold floral fragrance, Lyra’s gaze held surprise.

How did she get here...

Such a dangerous place. How could a peak tier Magnus casually step into it?

Sensing Lyra’s aura, different from before, guessing she had broken through to Arcanist mage, Astrid landed steadily. Layered Frost Novas explode from her shoe tips, instantly spreading over ten meters.

"The plan encountered unexpected variables. As the nominal ruler, I couldn’t continue to stand idly by."

Having spoken, the two Arcanist mages behind Astrid dashed past, immediately joining the battle. The number of high-end defenders instantly surpasses that of the Church of Light.

The Judgment Barrier was broken. If the Valeria Empire’s Arcanist mages wanted to leave, they wouldn’t face any restrictions.

From the moment [Heaven’s Tremor, Solar Judgment] was jointly dismantled from inside and outside, the Church of Light had already lost.

Hebrew looked at the knight corps restrained by Astrid’s ice rings, then at the sacred relic in his hand, his eyes faintly puzzled.

Lyra Beckett... how could she...

She was clearly a faithless usurper of glory. How could she defeat him, who was watched over by the Lord?

On the frozen ground, the knight formation disintegrated. The Bishop and captains had also sustained varying injuries in the previous fierce battle, their mental energy reserves nearly depleted.

Furthermore, Astrid’s personal arrival meant the Empire’s reserves were approaching. The situation within the Kingdom of Velys didn’t allow them to deploy more Arcanist mages for attack. Continuing the fight no longer makes sense.

"..."

Using the intense midday sun, they immediately withdrew.

No hysterics, no unbecoming remarks. Hebrew simply silently chanted a spell in his heart.

Peak tier Arcanist mage light-element magic, [Light Derivative River].

Flowing light formed a scorching wave river blocking advancement, separating both sides like a boundary line.

Astrid looked at the distant papal robes of Hebrew, basically deducing what had just happened, and spoke softly.

"Don’t let them escape so easily."

Arcanist mages from both sides were also arriving. Their enemy exhausted, their own forces full, this opportunity couldn’t be squandered.