Chapter 96: Illusion

Though the gospel had dissipated, the holy light surrounding the bishop remained, acting as a protective armor around him. Fars pondered how to strip away this bothersome layer of holy light. Judging by its strength, even high-level spells would struggle to penetrate it.

As his mind raced for a solution, Fars kept moving to avoid being locked onto by the enemy's attacks. Close combat was traditionally a weak point for priests and clerics, who primarily relied on divine spells for offense and defense—much like mages. However, the temple knights were a different story; they excelled in both divine magic and melee combat, making them formidable opponents born to protect the church.

Fars communicated his intentions to the recovering old count through mental waves, and together they advanced. This was the first time Fars was utilizing close combat as an advantage. Although he was not skilled in melee fighting, he supported the old count's attacks. The imposing greatsword he wielded made it difficult for the bishop to focus on the count, who was attempting to create distance.

The old vampire fought with a pair of daggers, his ghostly agility allowing him to dance around the bishop, who was flapping his wings to evade. Fars's keen perception enabled him to anticipate the bishop's movements, and he occasionally struck down with his sword, causing the thick layer of holy light to tremble under the pressure of his attacks.

Sensing that the cross he held was nearing its limit, the bishop, desperate to escape the melee, unleashed all the divine power stored within it. The sudden burst of holy light forced Fars and the old count back, and amidst the blinding radiance, the bishop retrieved a thick tome. This was not just any holy book; it was a replica of the sacred scripture penned by the God of Light himself, a rare and powerful artifact.

The clergy often used typical items in their rituals, everyday objects that had accumulated divine power over time. Many clerics would copy a scripture by hand at the beginning of their training, using it as a basis for daily meditation. Over the years, these items would develop their own divine essence.

As the pages of the tome flipped open on their own, the bishop, having regained his breath, began to recite a passage with a solemn expression.

"All men are born with sin; they must remember my commandments, invoke my name, and perform good deeds to cleanse their sins. Evil arises from the heart, and it is only through light that the darkness within is revealed, not the other way around. Do not use my name for wickedness..."

These sacred verses acted like incantations, each word resonating with the power to communicate with the gods above. However, the divine spells manifested differently depending on the caster's understanding of the scriptures.

The bishop's solemn demeanor intensified as the holy light around him surged, coalescing into the form of a winged angelic apparition. This was not an angel descending from the heavens but rather a manifestation of the caster's own divine power, borrowed from the celestial realm. Though it was only a fraction of the bishop's own accumulated power, it was still formidable.

The appearance of the angelic figure heightened Fars's sense of pressure. However, he noted that while the angel had form, it lacked true divine intent; the bishop had not mastered this technique yet. Even so, when the angel's sword pointed toward Fars and the old count, a wave of fear washed over him.

While the bishop was casting his spell, Fars was not idle. He concentrated on gathering the moisture and coldness in the air. Having practiced ice and snow spells with Danys's assistance, he had gradually learned to control the two ice runes in his mind, allowing him to cast ice spells with greater efficacy than his dark spells. As the cold air enveloped the area, Fars shouted:

"Congeal!"

A massive ice mirror formed several meters in front of him. Did he really think he could block the angel's judgment with this mirror? The bishop felt a surge of confidence that he could eliminate both vampires in one fell swoop. The entire space was locked down; unless someone was stronger than him with the angel's blessing, there was no escaping this.

Fars and the old count had no choice but to unleash their full power. Fars's aura surged, matching the intensity of the bishop's, who was cloaked in the angelic figure. The old count gathered his dark energy, forming a shield to brace for the aftermath of the ice mirror's shattering.

The angel's great sword finally descended, its radiant blade seemingly intent on purging all evil from the air. However, something strange occurred: the ice mirror, which had seemed to rival the angel's might, merely obstructed the sword's light for a moment before shattering into countless ice crystals. The sword's light then bore down on Fars, threatening to dissolve him entirely.

No! The bishop's thoughts barely formed when a wave of cold washed over him from behind. The divine power he had left was dwindling, and having expended all his strength in the strike, he found it difficult to regain control. The angelic figure provided him with a moment's respite, allowing him to narrowly evade the sword that would have pierced his chest.

Yet, the angel's sword was not so easily evaded. Fars successfully severed the bishop's arm with a precise strike. The black flames on his sword attempted to enter the bishop's body but were immediately repelled by a surge of holy light, making no progress.

Wounded and in excruciating pain, the bishop desperately flapped his wings, fleeing toward Yao City like a falling star.

This strike had nearly drained Fars of his strength, but he had managed to break through the angelic figure's protection. As for how Fars had suddenly appeared behind the bishop to launch a surprise attack, it all began when he started casting his spell. He had never intended to withstand the descending sword; instead, he employed a sophisticated casting technique, a derivative application of the ice mirror spell.

The so-called "flowers in the mirror" were not Fars's true form left behind but rather a lifelike illusion he had created. To the bishop, it appeared as if Fars was still there, and the intensity of his aura was convincing enough that the bishop had no reason to doubt it, even fooling the old count behind him.

Speaking of the old count, he had suffered greatly. The angel's sword had primarily targeted Fars, and when the ice mirror shattered, it had only slightly diminished the sword's power. The residual force from the sword's light had sent the old count crashing to the ground, barely clinging to life.

Exhausted, Fars landed and slowly approached the old count, a glint of malice in his eyes as he plunged his sword into the count's body. A torrent of blood essence flowed from the sword into Fars, temporarily restoring some of his strength. The unfortunate old count, who had survived the holy light, met his end at Fars's hands.

This alliance had been forced and lacked any formal contract. Had Fars found himself in a vulnerable position, the old count would not have shown mercy. By eliminating him, Fars could regain some strength to deal with any opportunistic onlookers in the future. Fortunately, the battle had created a wide area of chaos, and those observing dared not approach too closely, retreating several miles away. This gave Fars the time he needed to deal with the old count, perhaps a better fate than being captured and burned at the stake.

Fars removed the spatial ring from the old count's hand. A vampire who had lived for over two hundred years should have some wealth. After living off his resources for so long, Fars had once again engaged in a little "murder and looting."

Where to escape to now? With enemies rapidly closing in, Fars had no choice but to fly southwest toward Yao City. Daylight was approaching, and the situation would only become more unfavorable for him.

The fleeing bishop faced no obstacles along the way; the situation in Yao City had already been settled, and the church's influence had been thoroughly uprooted. To pursue a defeated foe would risk incurring the church's wrath, something no principality could withstand. Given the circumstances, even the scouts who had been gathering information ceased their pursuit of Fars, returning to report to their superiors. However, a few individuals, convinced that Fars was still a threat, continued to follow.

Among them was a one-armed middle-aged man, moving swiftly on land, closing the distance between himself and Fars, while an old mage flew closely behind him. The two seemed to have a tacit understanding, forming a pincer movement against Fars from above and below.

In Yao City, the news had reached the nobility, causing a stir. The destruction of the church was seen as a minor issue; they could easily allocate funds for its reconstruction. As long as the bishop remained, they could eliminate the vampire threat and maintain a foothold for the church in Yao City. This could even be an opportunity to grow strong enough to rival the Magic Guild. However, the defeated bishop could no longer bear such hopes. Regardless of how he healed, having failed to eliminate the vampire and being reduced to a hunted dog was a stain on his reputation that would be hard to erase.

Hearing the reports from his subordinates, Marquis Osyka angrily smashed the cup in his hand to the floor. This useless bishop! The marquis cursed loudly in his own home, not caring who might overhear. Just then, another servant approached hesitantly, gathering the courage to report, "My lord, the bishop is outside seeking an audience."