Was that Kai’s trump card?
I instinctively assumed the attack came from her, but when I noticed the description of the stun effect on my status bar, it clicked—
Hall Magic: Holy Bind.
Magic in Epoch is divided into many categories, deeply tied to magical heritage and faith. Most magic players learn falls into the third or fourth tier.
But things like Hall Magic, Dragon Tongue Magic, or Mage Tower Arcana are the most powerful first-tier magics in Epoch.
[Holy Bind] is just an entry-level spell in the holy branch of Hall Magic, but even an entry-level spell is incredibly potent for players.
I never expected someone to access Hall Magic this early in the game. Even in my past life, it was extremely rare.
But the situation didn’t allow me to dwell on it. After the 2-second stun ended, I ignored the surrounding Warriors and Paladins, charging straight toward Kai.
Too late. In the distance, the tall figure had already raised her knight’s lance, glowing with golden light.
The next moment, the radiance exploded dozens of times brighter, descending toward me with an imposing aura.
“Crap.”
I instinctively raised [Eternal Night] to block, but to my surprise, I took no damage.
Stunned for a moment, I checked my status bar and spotted the issue.
Light Beacon.
One of the most shameless Paladin skills from my past life.
It marks a target, linking it to allies. Linked allies’ holy attacks gain extra effects, always hit regardless of distance, and the mark fades after a set number of magic hits or damage taken. Up to twenty allies can be linked, and the mark can be applied to allies too, allowing healing or buffs even outside a Priest’s range.
Obviously, I’m not an ally in this case.
But I clearly remember this is an ultimate skill Paladins learn after their third job advancement. Even an Elite NPC shouldn’t be able to use it at level 30, unless…
“Hey, was that really necessary?”
I sighed, casually blasting away nearby players while looking at Kai, now in a weakened state.
“Miss Lilina, you’re very strong. This is the least I can do to fulfill my duty.” Kai’s pale face managed a smile as a magic circle appeared beneath her, teleporting her weakened form back to the Radiant Monastery.
System: Knight Kai has been successfully defeated.
Regional Announcement: Knight Kai of the Radiant Monastery has been defeated. All players, please do your utmost to protect the remaining knights and clerics to complete the subjugation of [Lament of Eternal Night – Lilina].
Looking at the completed objective in my quest log, I felt no relief.
The reason was the [Light Beacon] Kai left on me. The golden mark, subtle but glaring in the darkness of [Eternal Night Sanctuary], made me a target.
Nearby players, as if finding their crosshairs, unleashed a torrent of magic and arrows. Warriors and Paladins charged like an army from an adventure novel, storming toward me with unstoppable momentum.
But these were just a drizzle. The real threat came from Kai’s teammates—specifically, the clerics’ attacks.
A brilliant golden light rose, igniting the surrounding darkness into rippling distortions before surging over the crowd’s heads toward me.
“Damn, they reacted that fast?”
Dodging was futile. Under my control, dozens of Dark Bats abandoned their fights with players, sacrificing themselves to block the attack. At the same time, I spread [Eternal Night] to form a defensive barrier.
But the holy radiance pierced through the Dark Bats’ bodies like Odin’s spear, shattering my [Eternal Night] barrier.
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Even with layers of defense, it carved a visible chunk from my HP.
No need to think about what to do next.
Without hesitation, I reshaped the broken [Eternal Night] into an arc of blades, mowing down nearby players in one sweep. Then, I soared into the air, charging toward the Radiant Monastery clerics.
With no obstacles in the air, I took another holy attack head-on, losing more HP before finally nearing the two clerics’ position.
The reason I say “nearing” is obvious when you see the two remaining knights ahead.
Bemira and Daisy drew their shields and lances from behind, ready for battle.
“No passage here.”
“Sorry, Miss Lilina, we won’t let you through.”
“Your big sister Captain couldn’t stop me, you know.”
I looked down at the two in their guarded stances, playfully winking. “Wanna know how your Captain described me? My real…”
“We completely agree with the Captain’s assessment,” they interrupted before I could finish.
I paused, then resumed my playful demeanor. “In that case, big sisters…”
But I was cut off again.
“Personally, I think Miss Lilina’s charm lies in her contrast—speaking seductive words like a succubus but being a shy child at heart.”
“W-Wait a sec…”
I was caught off guard. Not just me—even the surrounding players seemed stunned by this bizarre situation, standing there dumbly as the two discussed odd topics.
“Yes, that unintentional allure paired with her pure, innocent nature is just so captivating.”
Soon, players joined in.
“Exactly! She’s like a little devil tempting you at every turn, but deep down, she’s a shy kid.”
“Yeah, now that you mention it, that’s totally the vibe.”
“I don’t know what’s going on, but pink hair supremacy!”
“You guys are beating around the bush. I just love my wifey’s legs—white stockings would make them even better!”
“Girls with blue-and-white striped panties are definitely pure.”
“Are they blue-and-white?”
“Just look up and see for yourself.”
As the prompted players prepared to look up, countless black blades rained down like feathers, obscuring the sky and scattering them in panic.
“Stop talking about weird stuff and fight seriously!” I pressed my skirt down, shouting with a flushed face.
But as my words fell, my peripheral vision caught a dazzling white light.
Like a rising sun, it had appeared in the sky unnoticed and crashed down before I could react.
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The surrounding players, as if signaled, snapped out of their daze and launched a fierce assault.
If I didn’t realize what was going on by now, I’d be an idiot.
“So you’ve been teasing me this whole time.”
I took a deep breath. The Dark Bats, sensing their master’s mood, launched a ferocious attack, halting the players’ advance.
“While we had a purpose, Miss Lilina’s cuteness is genuine.”
“Our praise is sincere. Knights never lie.”
Bemira and Daisy spoke earnestly, but their ready defensive stances showed they anticipated the consequences.
And they were right.
“Enough! Lilina’s mad!”
Whether it was a stray magic spell or arrow, one attack struck the petite figure in the sky, dropping her HP—already near 40%—by a perfectly timed amount.
Or, more bluntly, the Lord of Eternal Night has descended.
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