After a suffocating silence, a figure dressed in black prayer robes and wearing a crown of thorns appeared on the altar.
He walked step by step up the steps stained with sticky blood, and with each step he took, the evil aura emanating from him grew stronger.
Leonis only glanced at it from afar before a wave of nausea surged up from her stomach.
After gagging a couple of times, Leonis recovered, but was also deeply shocked.
Leonis's eyes widened, her face filled with disbelief.
"How...how could this be? Sarn? He's still alive?"
This matter involves the tragic sacrifice ceremony of the Kree Empire. The man named Saen was a Bronze-level Holy Knight who died in the battle, and his strength was far above that of a Gold-level Knight.
"I never expected that he would survive and even become a high-ranking member of the Darkblasphemy Church."
The man named Saen raised his head, and with a calm expression, began to chant a prayer with fervor.
Seeing the dark power gradually gathering around her, Leonis knew that she could not let this apostate continue, or the consequences would be unimaginable.
Leonis immediately pulled the holy emblem from her neck, and the silver chain fell to the ground.
"Holy God, hear my words."
She held the emblem tightly in both hands, raising it high above her head, her long silver hair fluttering even without wind.
"I entrust my life and soul to the light, and pray for your power..."
As Leonis prayed, Saen on the distant high platform seemed to sense something and looked over.
With just a glance, a powerful dark force poured out, enveloping Leonis completely, but it was blocked by a thin layer of light around her.
Then, with a flash, Saen, who had just been on the altar, appeared in front of Leonis, shattering the seemingly indestructible light barrier.
Then, with lightning speed, he grabbed Leonis by the throat and lifted her up.
Leonis's feet left the ground, she struggled to breathe, and her hands instinctively tried to pry Saen's hands off the ground.
Saen frowned and made a hoarse sound, like a broken bellows.
"A rat from the Holy Church has somehow infiltrated... What a nuisance."
As he spoke, Saen increased the pressure on his hands, the immense force almost crushing Leonis's neck.
Just as she felt she was about to suffocate, the holy emblem in her hand suddenly emitted a dazzling light, which shone on Saan, passing through the layers of evil barriers on him, and burning layers of blue smoke on his body.
Saen instinctively let go of her hand, and Leonis fell to the ground, gasping for breath.
Looking at the marks on his body from the holy light, Saen couldn't help but sneer.
He then reached out, and a viscous black substance gushed from his sleeve, solidifying into a bizarrely shaped black longsword made of bones and rotting flesh.
Looking at the powerful Saen before her, Leonis knew she was no match for him, so she gritted her teeth and went all out.
He picked up the holy emblem, which was still radiating a strong light, and slammed it directly into his chest with tremendous force.
The holy emblem, along with the shattered armor, pierced deeply into Leonis's flesh, and the blood-stained emblem now emitted an even stronger light and heat.
A sizzling sound, like roasting meat, rang out, and the holy emblem was branded onto Leonis's chest.
Leonis shone brightly, and divine power erupted like a surging tide.
She slowly stood up, a holy glow spreading across her originally pale face, her eyes becoming sharp and resolute.
Saen sensed this powerful force and a hint of surprise appeared on his face, but he quickly regained his indifferent expression.
He gripped the black longsword tightly with both hands, and with a sudden swing, a huge black sword aura slashed towards Leonis.
Leonis neither dodged nor evaded, but raised her hand and waved it, creating a dazzling barrier of holy light in front of her, blocking the black sword energy.
Immediately afterwards, she flashed forward like lightning, rushing towards Saen, her right fist, imbued with holy light, slamming into Saen's chest.
Saen dodged to the side and thrust his sword at Leonis with a backhand motion.
Leonis reacted quickly, dodging to the side while grabbing Saen's arm and throwing him away with a forceful jerk.
After landing, Saen steadied himself, a flash of annoyance in his eyes. He began chanting his prayer again, and dark power surged wildly, making the surrounding air feel oppressive.
Seeing that Saen was about to unleash even greater power, Leonis picked up the sword that had just fallen to the ground and smeared her blood on the blade.
"Holy God, grant me the power to purify evil... Holy blood surges, and all wickedness vanquishes!"
The blood-stained longsword emitted a light, as if it had been plated with a layer of gold. A powerful, scorching energy ignited from the sword, forming a flame-like glow.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Saen also condensed a terrifying black flame, which enveloped the black sword.
At this moment, the two opposing forces seemed to reflect each other like mirrors, each wanting to devour the other and make it their own.
With his power at its peak, Saen struck first, raising his sword and slashing at Leonis.
This sword strike came with overwhelming force, like a black avalanche, like black lava, mixed with the wails of living beings, all surging towards Leonis.
Leonis stood motionless, like a holy statue, the light on her sword gradually condensing until it was all contained within the blade.
As the last wisp of light receded into the sword, time seemed to stand still. The blade in Leonis's hand erupted with an unparalleled radiance, sweeping out in fury, threatening to pulverize every inch of darkness around it.
Just as Sarn's black blade was about to strike Leonis, Leonis moved as well, her sword, now imbued with holy light, met the black blade at an even faster speed.
The instant the two swords clashed, a powerful shockwave erupted from the point of impact. Dark power and flames intertwined, unleashing streaks of lightning-like fire that seemed poised to obliterate everything around them.
The aftershocks completely destroyed some of the surrounding towns, and the intertwined forces of light and darkness spread throughout the towns like blood, igniting black flames.
As the aftershocks subsided, Leonis, who had just been wielding the Radiant Sword, had vanished, leaving only a large, empty crater in her wake.
Looking at his vanished wrist and the blasphemous sword stuck upside down in the ground, Saen was somewhat angry.
"She got away! Chase her! She can't get far! I'll make her the next sacrifice offered to our Lord!"
Immediately afterwards, a group of cultists dressed as guards swarmed out of the cave and chased after Leonis in the direction she had fled.
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