The Evil God Summoned by the Saintess

"Student... casualties?"

Hilia’s pupils contracted.

She knew that casualties were inevitable when clearing a Heretic Base.

But when it really happened, Hilia still felt... something she couldn’t quite describe.

It was a bit like... feeling sorrow for one’s own kind? A sense of shared fate?

Very complicated.

No wonder Mr. Blake’s mood was off.

Benovia said, "This news will spread to all the trial teams soon. When that happens, issues might arise—so that’s why we’ve stopped pressing the assault on the Heretic Base."

Yesterday, Hilia’s group was one of the first teams to return, thanks to the timely arrival of the Holy Maiden Squad and Alina risking injury to block the first wave of the sudden attack for the fleeing students. They managed to avoid casualties.

After returning, they handed the captured heretic over to the Law Enforcement Knight Order. Hilia didn’t involve herself any further, focusing solely on practicing Wind Domain, not knowing what happened next.

When the injured from the main force returned, she was already out practicing, so naturally, she had no idea what had happened.

Today, hearing Benovia’s explanation, Hilia looked up and saw that many teams’ spirits were very low.

Their team guides were injured, too.

The guides were using words to soothe their emotions.

"No wonder Ms. Meilina the bishop emphasized that you could submit an application before setting out, and the school wouldn’t punish you."

Hilia remembered what Meilina had said two days ago.

Back then, she thought withdrawing would wipe out her grades.

Probably many students thought the same at the time.

Now, it seemed... maybe not.

Though it would lower their evaluation, it likely wouldn’t drop to zero.

Your life is your own—the school shouldn’t force you to risk death. It’s just a holiday trial; it shouldn’t cost your life.

Thinking this, Hilia was about to head back when Blake came over.

"Hilia, come with me for a moment. I need to talk to you."

Hilia nodded. "Okay."

Following Blake away from the student camp to the Law Enforcement Knight Order’s base, Hilia saw ahead Meilina and Shuoen’s figures.

Seeing Shuoen arrive, he immediately came over and asked, "Hilia, how’s it going?"

Hilia replied, "It should work, but I haven’t tested it in the Golden Apple Stone Forest yet, so I’m not sure of the results."

Shuoen waved his hand, "Come on, I’ll take you into the Golden Apple Stone Forest. With me here, the chaotic pollution won’t touch you."

Blake said, "Old man, why are you more impatient than me?"

Shuoen lifted his eyes. "You’re not anxious?"

"Of course I’m anxious."

"Then let’s go."

So Hilia, led by three Tier Six Mages, headed to the edge of the Golden Apple Stone Forest.

Blake stared at the gray mist ahead and suddenly said, "Wait for me a moment."

With that, he instantly ran far off.

Before long, he returned dragging a heretic.

Hilia saw that it was indeed the one Alina had captured yesterday.

The other, seeing the Golden Apple Stone Forest so close, chuckled, "You want me to guide you inside, huh?"

"Shut up!"

Smack!

Meilina slapped the heretic hard across the face.

Spurt!

The Tier Four heretic spat blood, but didn’t care, kept giggling.

Blake looked at Hilia. "Hilia, you said after blocking the pollution, you could use Purification Skill. Try it—here’s the perfect test subject, use him however you like."

Hilia looked at the Tier Four heretic. He stared back, cackling, "Heh, it’s you. Don’t let our leader, the mighty Deep Sea Envoy, catch you, or you’ll suffer."

Hilia didn’t reply, stepping into the chaotic pollution zone.

Wind Domain, Holy Word Skill, and Shadow Binding Scroll were used one after another, quickly forming a pale violet domain.

This domain had only a three-meter radius, but it could envelope everyone.

When they saw the demonic qi pollution inside the domain quickly separating out, the three’s faces lit up with increasing joy.

Hilia turned to the Tier Four heretic, raised her magic staff, and the light of the special Purification Skill shone, covering the whole domain.

The heretic’s face immediately twisted in discomfort.

She roared, "Turn it off! Dogs of the Holy Court, your disgusting Purification Skill is forcing out my Deep Sea power. I order you to stop!"

No one responded.

Blake held her firmly, Meilina circled around, inspecting the domain and clicking her tongue in awe.

Meanwhile, Shuoen watched the Tier Four heretic closely, feeling how the demonic qi pollution inside her was rapidly dissipating, his surprise growing.

However, since she was Tier Four, Hilia’s Purification Skill was fast, but with limits; overall, it was still rather slow.

After all, she couldn’t do what Rose did: probe every inch of the target’s body with Mage’s Hand, using every drop of magic power for Purification Skill, wasting nothing.

If Rose’s Purification Skill was like a reactor, with energy efficiency reaching 90%, then Hilia’s was more like grilling with charcoal—energy efficiency pitifully low.

To use Fireball Technique as an example: others detonate it outside a body, but Rose stuffs Fireball Technique into the enemy and detonates it inside.

Hilia was amazed, but didn’t try to learn it. That’s not something she could work on right now.

The domain’s duration depended on how long the scroll lasted. Feeling the shadow binding inside the domain starting to dissipate, Hilia stopped the Purification Skill and broke the domain.

The endless demonic qi pollution once again shrouded the area.

Watching this, Hilia asked curiously, "Why doesn’t the pollution inside here spread outside the Golden Apple Stone Forest?"

Shuoen replied, "Because the whole Golden Apple Stone Forest is a huge array, like a waste containment field, holding all the pollution inside."

He paused, worry flickering across his face. "But... this array has been here five hundred years. Too long. No one knows how much longer it can last."

Blake said, "No problem—Hilia is here. We have to trust Hilia. She can solve the pollution in the Golden Apple Stone Forest."

Shuoen glanced at him and said nothing.

Meilina shook her head, thinking Blake was hopeless.

Trusting Hilia so much... Has he become Hilia’s... fan?

Meilina had a weird look, staring at Blake.

You old fossil, even following trends and acting like the youth, being a fan?

Blake turned to Meilina, frowning. "I keep feeling you’re thinking something pretty outrageous."

Meilina didn’t blush at all. "Not at all. You’re the one with wild thoughts."

With the experiment a huge success, all three broke out in smiles.

Back at camp, Hilia said, "This combination skill involves dark element magic—Shadow Binding. Those of us practicing Holy Word Skill can’t learn it, so—"

"I’m planning to integrate the entire system into a scroll—so just like any scroll, activating it kicks off the domain."

The three were shocked, staring at Hilia.

"What?"

"You mean... record the combination skill on a scroll?"

"That’s... way too far-fetched."

Hilia secretly glanced at Rose, then said firmly, "With God’s blessing, I’ll definitely succeed!"