Chapter 195: In The Darkness of The Night (1)

It was a subtle change at first when the Damask Insurgent used an ancient artifact that cast Mashiro Temple into the darkness. The world that the women knew didn't shift quickly as Tomura had still been able to use her Ao moment's before she died.

But the longer the darkness seeped and permeated into the lands of Mashiro Temple, it became harder to cultivate Ao or even use it. Similar to a sponge, or perhaps it was the nature of darkness itself that soaked and absorbed everything available in the air.

The vast majority of the younger and unlearned Priestess were rendered helpless.

They started going down by the numbers, falling prey to the intruders that hid themselves in the darkness and with a cut of their blade ended the women's lives without any hint of remorse or hesitation.

This was their justice.

And it was bathed in blood.

Princess Mitsuko noticed it the fastest as she tried to use the Ao in the air but found it quickly fading and dying away without her control. She dodged the Damask Insurgent's blade that glinted past her with an unnatural silver-glow and then swept him off his feet.

The Ao in her immediate surroundings had waned, but the one stored in her body and energy core—and most importantly, the very artifact that hung in her neck allowed her to create a sheet of pink Ao that sliced through the man's entire body.

His blood desecrated the floors of Mashiro Temple and yet she went back inside one of the rooms.

Mitsuko turned to the younger women she encountered and grabbed one of their shoulders.

"We don't know where everyone is, the vast majority of the Inner Court and Elder Priestesses are in the forest, but going there is a death wish. I can't protect all of you… so you must protect yourselves."

"Elder Sister Mitsuko—"

The sound of something tearing up and exploding suddenly filled their ears. It was as if the entire rooftop of the Mashiro Temple was blasted apart by an immeasurable power. Mitsuko couldn't tell whether it was an artifact brought by the Damask Insurgents or something different.

The younger women in front of her were now shaking in fear and Mitsuko was quick to force a smile.

It was up to her to reassure all of them. "I know you guys can do it. Barricade the room and don't let anyone in—when worst comes to worst, summon all the Ao available in your core just a little before the last drop and use it to kill the intruder in a heartbeat."

"Didn't you hear what sounded outside?"

"That's nothing compared to what I can do. I'm not one of the High Priestess Rhelea's advisers for nothing."

"But it's still—"

"Dangerous I know, but it can't be helped. So does the time if someone finds out where you guys are. If it comes to that point then fight with honor. I have to find the others or at least stop the one who's in charge of everything." 

If nobody was going to stop them, then it was up to her to do that. At this very moment, Mitsuko's thoughts suddenly shifted back to Li Yang. She had no idea where the man was or what he was doing.

Mitsuko wasn't exactly worried about him that much.

She was aware of what Li Yang was capable of and if Setsuko had caught a whiff of the man being endangered then they'd surely find each other amidst the fight. Mitsuko's lips twitched together at a sudden thought.

This was the perfect opportunity for the two lovers to escape the Mashiro Temple without any hindrances at all.

Well, Mitsuko herself couldn't make that happen tonight with everybody else's lives at stake. The best she could do right now was wish for it to happen. Her fingers touched the necklace and artifact around her neck.

While she wanted to give this prized object to him—it was a crazy thing she knew that was tantamount to giving up almost everything for him. 

In a way, it was also a chance for her to not be bound in this life of hers. A Princess prized by the High Priestess. Bound by the help that Mitsuko received to use Ao.

But now she needed as much Ao this royal treasure contained to save everyone here.

It was the worst of timing.

Throwing one last look at the young women in the room, Mitsuko finally tensed up and stepped out of the room. Her gaze shifted all around the empty hallway as she kicked the corpse of the man away from her.

Mitsuko left the Inner Court Hall half an hour ago already and the sound came from that direction. A part of her heart trembled and told her that she wasn't supposed to go in that path at all unless she wished to immediately encounter a quick death.

Suffice to say, she went in a different direction that led to the forest. Another part of her felt a tug that led back to the High Priestess Chambers and she ground her teeth. Mitsuko was aware of the metaphysical chains that bound her—and yet wasn't she also bound by blood to Li Yang?

One of its prerequisites was protecting them if she were able right?

Finding all of the Inner Court Priestesses and more importantly Setsuko was one of the key plans she had in mind to stop the Damask Insurgents. 

Even if the Mashiro Temple itself was ambushed and was taken by surprise… the elites in their temple should be alive and protecting the rest of the people. That was what Mitsuko herself was relying on. She wouldn't be able to do this alone and all by herself.

Right as Mitsuko emerged from one of the side doors of the temple to enter the Sacred Forest—it was at the exact same time that a certain man did the same from the other end of the building.

Li Yang and Mitsuko shared a look with one another.