Chapter 185: First Act 54: The Holy Sword

Siena's eyes widened in disbelief as Elaniel suddenly vanished before her, dissipating like mist in front of her eyes.

The celestial battlefield, once host to a fierce clash, now seemed eerily quiet and empty.

'What happened?'

Siena wondered, her confusion evident.

The demonic adversary had vanished without a trace, leaving both her mana senses and physical instincts unable to decipher the nature of Elaniel's sudden disappearance.

It was as if she had evaporated into thin air.

'Is she dead?'

Siena contemplated, but after a moment of reflection, she dismissed the thought.

A master swordswoman like her could discern the difference between a fallen foe and one who had simply eluded capture.

'She got away... Tsk!' Siena grumbled, frustration evident in her voice.

Despite the searing pain that coursed through her body, she pushed herself to stand.

Her guard remained steadfast, a testament to the seasoned warrior's resilience.

"It took some time, but now I'm getting used to this" Siena muttered to herself, clenching and unclenching her fists.

She adjusted the dense mana coating that enveloped her body, both inside and out.

The intensity of the mana was such that any nearby mage would likely recoil at the sight, overwhelmed by the sheer density emanating from Siena.

Siena's resolve to overcome the curse inflicted upon her was a simple yet relentless pursuit: she strengthened and trained her body, mind, and mana to their absolute limits.

Slowly but surely, the debilitating pain began to dissipate.

The extraordinary effort she invested, using more mana than usual to coat her body, was a necessary sacrifice to withstand the sun's presence, especially for someone cursed like her.

Despite harboring no ill intent towards the saintess, Siena's thoughts were already crafting plans for revenge against the church.

Her mind churned with scenarios of retribution, a debt she intended to settle.

However, before she could set her plans in motion, an abrupt and swift projectile shot towards her.

Zzt..!!!

With widened eyes, the last thing she saw was a flash of vibrant green.

A tingling sensation swept over her body as the realization hit her.

"Tsk..." Clicking her tongue in frustration, Siena identified the source of the attack.

There was only one being in the entire world capable of casting such a potent lightning spell, especially with that distinct green hue—an entity she fervently hoped to avoid crossing paths with.

The guardian of the empire and its founder—a formidable storm dragon—loomed before her

"Did the princess call for that old man's help?" She tightened her grip on her chest, feeling the residual tingling sensation.

Under normal circumstances, she would have effortlessly shrugged off such an attack, either casually evading it or deflecting it with ease.

However, the stress that currently enveloped her body rendered such feats impossible.

Siena's thoughts turned introspective, a twinge of betrayal seeping into her emotions.

The flying lizard in the sky, once a trusted ally and friend, had now become an unexpected adversary.

'Is this how dragons greet each other in a reunion?'

"I don't know why you attacked me all of a sudden but...."

'Don't blame me for what's to come stupid old man'

White light slowly covered Siena's blade.

Meanwhile...

Deep within the tempestuous storms, a dragon adorned in sparks of green electricity hovered in the air, its eyes as hazy as the murky waters of ugly swamps.

From its vantage point high above, it peered down at Estelle Academy, its gaze penetrating through the roiling clouds.

The dragon sensed that its descendant was safe, protected by the goddess's representative.

With a reluctant nod, I invoked the goddess's authority.

A warm, golden light bathed my arm, a strange mix of divine power and uncertainty.

Swiftly, I redirected every bit of that celestial energy into the hungry sword.

As the energy flowed, an odd sensation crept over me. It was almost as if the sword, this supposedly holy weapon, had a personality—a face of satisfaction as it absorbed the divine energy.

'Was this really a sacred sword?'

The brilliance within the sword intensified, flooding my senses with heightened awareness.

The searing pain that had haunted me began to subside, consumed by the insatiable appetite of the sword.

It felt like the sword itself was alive, eagerly feasting on the excess divine power within me.

The Swords of Light, initially aimed at my heart, paused in their advance.

A shift occurred within my soul—the grip of the goddess's influence gradually loosened.

The overwhelming weight on my consciousness began to lift, granting a momentary reprieve from the relentless divine intrusion.

Huff...

Exhaling a weighted breath, I took a moment to survey my surroundings.

Strangely, the once-intense brightness of the sun no longer had any adverse effect on me.

Vision sharper than ever before, I could discern the details of my surroundings with unparalleled clarity.

My breath steadied, and an acute awareness of everything around me settled in.

The excruciating pain and extreme heat that had gripped me just moments ago dissipated like morning mist.

As I rose to my feet, an overflow of newfound energy surged through my body.

I felt invigorated, as if fatigue had become an alien concept.

The flames that had engulfed me moments before now subsided, drawn into the radiant embrace of the golden sword in my hand.

"Adrian...?" Bella's bewildered voice reached my ears.

Turning to face her, I found her covered in flames.

Oddly, she appeared unharmed.

It seemed that only those aligned with negative aspects faced the intense burns, while others were either healed by the divine sun's flames or empowered by it.

The scene was surreal, and yet, there was an unexpected humor in the situation.

Bella, under the flames, maintained her characteristic sleepy demeanor.

Engaging in casual conversation with someone engulfed in fire was an unusual sight, and the absurdity of it all brought a hint of amusement with in me.

Her nonchalant expression, unaffected by the fiery display, added a touch of ridiculousness in the serious situation.

As I rose to my feet, an overflow of newfound energy surged through my body. I felt invigorated, as if fatigue had become an alien concept.

The flames that had engulfed me moments before now subsided, drawn into the radiant embrace of the golden sword in my hands.

Bella, seemingly shocked by the disappearance of the flames around me, couldn't tear her eyes away from the sword.

Her gaze remained fixed on the weapon, a cascade of unspoken questions evident in her eyes.

Walking closer to her, I pointed my sword near her thigh, and like a magnet, it absorbed the flames surrounding her. Bella's face contorted in disbelief, her eyes widening for the first time.

"You were a paladin?"

Chuckling a little at her assumption, I shook my head.

"Let's just say I'm more than a paladin"

'Aunt is setting up the stage Ian, play it well'

'Huh?'

Boom...!

A flash of green exploded near us.