Isabella poured all her spiritual power into the Sacred Flame at this moment.

The surging Sacred Flame rapidly burned, spreading outward using the church's floor, walls, chairs, tables, and even a section of rope as mediums.

Massive energy fluctuations further disrupted the old priest's Illusion Manipulation.

His figure emerged not far away, also surrounded by the Sacred Flame. This large-scale Sacred Flame could no longer be defended against with simple breath isolation.

"Since you still call me teacher even now, let me give you one final lesson." The old priest showed no panic at being surrounded by sea of fire, instead maintaining his composure.

"The most important thing for a spellcaster isn't just knowing spells or casting them, but connection!"

As the Sacred Flame approached the old priest, his body began to ripple in the next instant, and the flames that touched him disappeared without trace.

"The essence of spellcasting is using spiritual power to connect with other forces, then channeling them through."

"Priests use spiritual power to connect with gods."

"Witches use spiritual power to connect with natural elements, demons, and so on."

"Curse masters use spiritual power to connect with calamity and suffering."

"Therefore, beyond the connection during spellcasting, daily connection is even more crucial. This is why you should never schedule fights with spellcasters."

"I've been in Beiqi Village for twenty years now..."

"This is..." Isabella stared in disbelief at this scene, spitting out a mouthful of blood before collapsing into unconsciousness.

Whether out of appreciation for Isabella or need for self-preservation, the old priest forcibly interrupted this large-scale Sacred Flame. Though this caused Isabella to suffer backlash, it also cut off her mutually destructive approach, leaving her with her life intact.

The old priest manipulated black threads to wrap up Isabella, then slightly closed his eyes. Some of Isabella's recent memories surfaced.

Naimes' message to Isabella was subsequently read by him.

"Naimes... why bother?" The old priest turned, numerous black threads wriggling as they followed him.

As he walked out of the church with the black threads, the building behind him—already half-collapsed from Big Black's breakout and further burned by the Sacred Flame—completely crumbled.

Standing before the ruins, the old priest raised his head to look at the sky.

The sun was preparing to rest at this moment.

Its remaining rays shone upon the clouds in the sky.

Echoing the lingering flames on the ground, the golden-orange clouds made everything seem as if placed within a sacred heavenly kingdom.

"The god guides me!" Everything, everything resonated with the old priest's heart.

He had overcome another obstacle, taking one more step toward redeeming his sins and entering the god's heavenly kingdom.

However, he then felt darkness before his eyes.

Light abandoned him, jolting him out of his self-indulgent emotion.

The old priest looked at the shadow enveloping him, following the elongated shadow to see its owner.

In the direction of the setting sun, on a small hillside, Naimes stood supporting himself with the holy sword he had taken from him, both hands resting on the weapon.

The remaining sunlight fell upon him, stretching his shadow long and large, just covering the old priest.

Then figure after figure climbed up from the other side of the hill—Pur, Tangs, Op, and the village guard stood on both sides of Naimes in various postures.

Together, their formed shadows seemed ready to cover everything.

"Naimes and Op!" The old priest muttered Naimes' identity name, then looked toward Op who stood beside Naimes wiping sweat stains with a handkerchief.

He had thought Naimes killed Op and the others, never expecting that Naimes had actually turned them against him.

Rage mixed with killing intent began to spread along with spiritual energy fluctuations.

The shadows that had enveloped him were immediately covered by illusions, golden light spreading throughout the surroundings.

Perceptual Spell · Illusion Manipulation · Ideal Heavenly Kingdom!!

Building upon the foundation of illusion, he infused it with his most steadfast belief, convinced that his ideal heavenly kingdom would inevitably be realized. Through this method, he enhanced the illusion, dramatically increasing its realism.

Then this scenery completely enveloped Naimes and his group.

However, unlike before, the old priest did not conceal his form.

Because this ideal heavenly kingdom was a place he would definitely reach—he would inevitably redeem his sins, then reside within the heavenly kingdom.

Here, he needed not hide his existence!

What greeted him were several arrows shot his way.

Numerous light rays whipped about before him, deflecting those arrows.

Behind the old priest, two angel petitioners rose up.

These light rays emanated from these two angel petitioners.

However, Naimes naturally wouldn't be disturbed by such interference.

Before being enveloped by the illusion, he had seen clearly what these things actually were.

"The old priest has become paranoid to the point of madness." Naimes leaped down the hillside, charging forward with sword in hand, gaining increasingly clear judgment about the old priest's condition.

Behind Naimes, Pur, Tangs, and others followed suit in launching their charge, while the village guard retreated backward.

Op quickly began casting his first spell.

Since he had decided to betray, he would see it through to the end!

No matter what, the old priest must die bearing the identity of a sinner.

Op's heart actually understood clearly—with things escalating to this extent and himself deeply involved, there was basically no way to escape blame.

Thus he had only one path forward.

That was to assist Naimes. Only if Naimes could successfully kill the old priest, then use this achievement to advance and attain higher status within the church,

Could he continue to receive Naimes' protection, just as he had been sheltered by the old priest before.

"So, go die already!"

Summoning Spell · Feather-Air Snake!

Invisible snake swarms descended from the air.

Then these feather-air snakes rapidly spread to various locations.

For illusion-type spells, the most crucial aspect was covering reality with falsehood.

This extremely tested the caster's own perception ability.

If the covering illusion missed something, then that thing's movements would become flaws in the illusion. New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on novel✶fire.net

Op's summoning of feather-air snakes now wasn't just for their combat power, but to use their invisible existence to interfere with the illusion.

This was why Op chose feather-air snakes—having fought the old priest before, Op knew the potency of the old priest's illusions.

Though his preparations still fell far short, he had indeed been making preparations to resist the old priest all along.

And after meeting Naimes, he employed all of these preparations.

At the forefront, Naimes had already engaged with those light rays.

While continuing his spell preparations, Op placed all his hopes on Naimes.

"Let me see, Naimes, or whatever existence is now called Naimes."

"Let me see if you possess the abilities you claimed to have."

"Whether you're worthy of me plunging into the Abyss, offering my true loyalty!"