News of Victory?

A scene where nothing could be seen disturbed the Pope more than seeing a horrific scene. The Temple of Light had risen and even developed to its current dominant position by relying on its ability to see the future—the Great Prophecy. Once that advantage was lost, the Temple of Light was likely to fall into unknown danger and eventually sink, like those smaller sects that had died out.

He didn't know what had happened. As far as he knew, the light of the God of Light was everywhere, past, present, and future. And wherever the Light God's radiance enveloped, it was under the gaze of the Great Prophecy. Yet, the Great Prophecy had failed now! Had the Light God abandoned him, or was the Light God's radiance blocked by some unknown being? He could only choose to nip all danger in the bud!

He gathered himself and asked quietly, "The Allied Army of Light will have reached Skadi's borders by now, won't they?"

One of the archbishops, the Great Archmage Caluxfa replied, "Yes, I believe good news will come soon."

All of this continent belonged to the people of the God of Light, and all of them should be subject to the divine radiance of the God of Light. Whatever it took! All the territories of the continent were to be incorporated into the Temple of Light, and he wanted all potential dangers to the Church to be nipped in the bud. If these dangerous fires were put out in time, then it would be safe for the Church.

Thebes immediately stepped forward and said, "Your Holiness, the Allied Army of Light reached the borders of the Skadi five days ago. And the allied forces had launched an all-out attack on the fortress."

The Pope's face remained still as he listened to Thebes.

Then Archbishop Austin of the Bat Temple glanced at the Pope and said apprehensively, "Could it be—are you worried about the allied forces, Your Holiness?"

The Pope glanced up at Archbishop Austin's words.

Austin calmed down a little. Then he said firmly, "Your Holiness, they can't fail!

It's only right for the Allied Army of Light to win this battle."

The 12 Archbishops saw the slight pallor on the Pope's face and realized that their Pope was actually worried about the Allied Army of Light's expedition to the east. They were all puzzled. The Allied Army of Light had always been a powerful presence. What did they have to fear about the small eastern countries? Even if the Allied Army of Light faced the small eastern countries grouped together, they would be powerless. The Allied Army of Light would not take the slightest effort to crush them.

In fact, most of the bishops agreed with Thebes. They should have sent the Allied Army of Light to the east long ago. If they had acted early, the world would have been filled with believers of the God of Light. How could those clowns from the small eastern countries cause trouble? As for those small countries causing the Great Prophecy to fail… that was even more impossible!

Everyone actually suspected that the Pope had made some mistake in guiding the Great Prophecy. After all, although the Pope didn't say that he failed the previous two times, he didn't say anything about the previous prophecies either. Although the speculation was somewhat blasphemous and disrespectful, it seemed to be the only possibility after some thought. After all, which being on this continent could threaten the Temple of Light and even cause the Great Prophecy to fail?

Archbishop Caluxfa continued to speak. He said respectfully to Pope Themis, "Your Holiness, for this expedition to the east, Great Archmage Adams is leading four archmages to suppress the border.

The number of Archmages across the entire continent are few, and most of them are in the Temple of Light camp. It's a one-sided slaughter.

Let's not even mention the fact that we've sent five Great Archmages this time. Even if Adams alone were to lead the Alliance on an expedition to the east, we will still win."

"I even think it's a waste to send five mages," added Thebes, another Archbishop.

Besides, in a small country like Skadi, only the old Royal Preceptor could fight a little. But after all, he was very old. How could he fight the Temple of Light? The Ather archbishops nodded in agreement. When the Eastern Expeditionary Alliance set off, victory was certain. Even if someone casually asked a passer-by, that person would not hesitate to say that the Temple of Light would win.

Finally, Archbishop Caluxfa said with finality, "Your Holiness, good news will come back soon."

Pope Themis felt a little more at ease. He had to admit, everyone had a point. His eyes suddenly shifted, and he turned to look down Mount Kaffa.

"Good news has come, it seems."

Pope Themis looked at the door of the Temple with calm eyes. Everyone waited in silence. An army of tens of millions led by five Great Archmages could flatten a huge mountain into a plain. But just when they thought they would see a mage in high spirits and full of joy, they saw a ragged, flustered mage like a wandering poet on the street stumbling into the temple.

All the Archbishops in the temple froze. Could this be a beggar mage who'd stumbled into the Temple by mistake? There weren't many of them. This was the exalted Temple of the God of Light. Any mage who had nothing to do with the Church would be bounced off the 12 sacred pillars at the door. How could anyone break in? Besides, the legions of guards outside weren't to be trifled with!

Merle Temple's Archbishop Caluxfa, was the first to react. He beckoned to someone to silence the intruder who rushed in and fell to his knees in the great hall.

"Your Holiness—the Allied Army of Light—the eastern expedition has failed."

At those words, the Pope shot to his feet on his throne. A powerful pressure weighed down on Kaia. "What did you say?" a serious voice demanded.

At this moment, there was another dead silence in the spacious Merle temple. Everyone was stunned by the news. They were incredulous.

—The Allied Army of Light had failed in its quest to conquer the East? The Allied Army of Light had marched east, invincible and unstoppable, and no one was worried about it. Everyone in the Temple of Light had seen it as a one-sided slaughter. In any case, the outcome of the Allied Army's expedition to the East could only be victory. There had been absolutely no surprises, and it was as natural as a thirsty man needing a drink of water. But the sorry state of the Great Archmage before them told everyone in the Temple that the outcome of this expedition was not what everyone had expected—absolute success.

Archbishop Caluxfa was the first to lose his footing. He shot to his feet, his body like a destroyed image as he hurried to Kaia's side. His brow was furrowed as he fixed his cold stare on her. The questions in his heart surged, one after the other. Five Great Archmages, a compound spell with boundless power, tens of millions of soldiers marching east. How could a mere border town turn a Great Archmage into such a sorry state?

He asked sharply, "What happened?"