Bai Yue Ling quickly reacted, casting five holy orbs again.
Due to the death penalty, she had dropped from level 8 to level 7, but this didn’t stop her from casting holy orbs and self-destructing against Aiya.
Yes, self-destructing.
The only way Bai Yue Ling could think of to win was to exploit the player’s resurrection mechanic, repeatedly dying and reviving, sacrificing herself nonstop to deal damage to Aiya.
Even though death came with penalties—losing a level, dropping gold, and temporary weakness—she couldn’t afford to care.
If she defeated Aiya, she could complete the quest and jump straight to level 10. If she failed, she’d drop to level 1, and the newbie village would cease to exist.
Bai Yue Ling cast a series of holy orbs in front of her, deliberately reaching out to trigger the explosion—
Boom!
***
Watching the holy orbs detonate like a small sun, Luoluo Yue’s eyelids twitched.
Madwoman. That crazy girl was absolutely a madwoman.
Only a lunatic could come up with such a reckless, death-defying self-destruction tactic.
Suddenly, a golden streak of light burst through the black smoke, shattering the incoming wind blades.
Aiya stomped forward, rushing through the castle gates in the blink of an eye, appearing before Luoluo Yue.
Her gaze was resolute, her right fist faintly glowing with holy light.
“The vile stench of a succubus… disgusting!”
Her pure white dress swayed in the wind as Aiya raised her fist and swung.
Just as the punch was about to connect with Luoluo Yue, a heart-wrenching pain surged through Aiya’s mind, causing her to falter. Luoluo Yue seized the chance to retreat.
“Phew, that was close. I almost died…” Luoluo Yue muttered with lingering fear, casting a grateful glance at the newly resurrected Bai Yue Ling nearby.
[You have successfully applied the “Charm Wound” status to “Aiya.”]
Taking advantage of Aiya’s mental disarray, Bai Yue Ling cast another five holy orbs, while Ying Ye charged forward, unleashing her highest-damage skill, “Backstab.”
Aiya struggled against the Charm Wound effect, trying to step back, only to find skeletal claws emerging from the ground, gripping her ankles tightly.
With a boom, the holy orbs exploded again, the shockwave turning into a gust that lifted the girls’ skirts.
[Your teammate “Ying Ye” has died.]
“Hah… hah…”
Bai Yue Ling’s cherry lips parted slightly, her snowy thighs clutching the Charm Wound staff as she panted heavily.
Luoluo Yue hovered in the air, relentlessly launching wind blades at Aiya’s position.
Ming Die, expressionless, summoned a steady stream of skeletons with ghostly flames in their eyes from the ground beneath her feet.
According to Bai Yue Ling’s calculations, even though Aiya was level 30, with her defenses stripped away, their relentless, desperate onslaught should have reduced her health bar by at least half.
Just a few more rounds, and if they could bring Aiya’s health down to 10%, pushing her into a weakened state, they might have a chance to corrupt her.
But Bai Yue Ling’s instincts told her it wouldn’t be that easy.
Because Aiya didn’t seem like an ordinary holy knight.
As the black smoke cleared, Aiya slowly stood, brushing the dust off herself.
“A bunch of maggots festering in the sludge of darkness… your very existence is a disgrace,” she said, her resolute and icy gaze sweeping over Ming Die and Luoluo Yue.
“Do you dark creatures have any idea how many people have died unjustly, turned into puppets by necromancers? How many can’t sleep at night, fearing a succubus will come to drain their essence?”
In response, the necromancer Ming Die tilted her head. “Do you keep count of how many chickens, ducks, cows, or sheep you’ve eaten?”
The succubus Luoluo Yue scoffed dismissively. “If you want me dead, just say it. Tell me, how’s a succubus supposed to live without draining essence?”
Aiya froze, caught off guard by their unapologetic retorts, their complete lack of guilt.
Knowing she wasn’t skilled at debating, she didn’t dwell on it.
Instead, she turned to Bai Yue Ling and Ying Ye, about to speak—
Bai Yue Ling cut her off. “Stop, stop, stop… no need for persuasion. We’re here to defeat you, plain and simple.”
Aiya frowned but pressed on. “Don’t you know how much effort humanity has put in? A thousand years ago, to eradicate darkness, all races set aside their grudges and united. Even the Goddess sent angels from Heaven’s Peak…”
“Shut up!”
At the word “angels,” Bai Yue Ling suddenly clutched her head in agony, letting out a furious shout.
In an instant, the entire castle fell silent, with only Bai Yue Ling’s voice echoing.
Everyone stared at her in shock, stunned by her intense reaction.
Even Bai Yue Ling herself was taken aback.
What was that… No, that was Lisa’s voice.
The fallen angel lurking within Bai Yue Ling’s body had reacted instinctively to the word “angels.”
Was this the source of Lisa’s overwhelming hatred?
What kind of story lay between fallen angels and angels?
Seeing Bai Yue Ling’s descent into darkness, Aiya sighed, her gaze turning cold once more.
If they were all irredeemable dark maggots, then they should all be eradicated!
These people… they were all guilty!
“Little White, I admit your tactics are quite effective. You tricked me into discarding my weapon and armor, and after several rounds of attacks, I’ve taken considerable damage.
“If I were an ordinary holy knight, I might have been defeated by now. But unfortunately… I’m no ordinary holy knight.”
Aiya clasped her hands together at her chest, holy light enveloping her body like golden foil.
A circular shockwave rippled outward.
“In the name of the Judgment Knight ‘Aiya,’ I summon the will of the Goddess of Judgment to descend upon me…”
Oh no… Bai Yue Ling’s delicate frame trembled as she shouted, “Quick, stop her!”
Luoluo Yue and Ming Die stood frozen, not because they didn’t want to move, but because they couldn’t.
Aiya slowly floated into the air, radiant as the sun.
An invisible force of judgment enveloped the area, turning everything starkly black and white.
In a daze, Bai Yue Ling and the others felt as if they were standing in a courtroom, with Aiya, the judge, looming above them.
A massive golden silhouette materialized behind Aiya, godlike, her pupils filled with holy light.
She raised her hands, and the silver-white giant spear flew back into her grip.
“Judgment Avatar!”
[Skill Name: Judgment Avatar]
[Quality: Epic]
[Cost: Equivalent to divine power in health and mana]
[Learning Condition: Chosen of the Goddess of Judgment]
[Attribute Bonus: Faith S]
[Description: Summons a trace of the Goddess of Judgment’s divine power to descend upon the user, granting the power of judgment. Weapon damage to judged targets is doubled; armor reduces damage from judged targets by half. Requires prior prayer at the Goddess of Judgment’s church. Duration depends on the user’s capacity to withstand divine power. Cooldown: 7 days.]
[Note: Even a mere trace of divine power is beyond what mortals can withstand.]