SAINTESS [Chapter 56: How do you compare to the Demon God Pillar?]

'Virtue + 80.'

'Current Virtue: 2854.'

'Virtue + 80.'

'Current Virtue: 2934.'

'Virtue + 350.'

'Current Virtue: 3284.'

Virtue was skyrocketing, but Vanessa didn't notice.

The instant Vanessa carried Isatia into the sky, the ground beneath them was instantly bombarded by a massive chunk of energy-infused earth, shattered into fragments.

Isatia stared silently at the scene below. As she turned her gaze, a soft, pure feather happened to brush past her ear. Instinctively, she reached out to grasp it, but the feather dissolved at her fingertips, blooming into hundreds of warm specks of light. A soothing warmth spread across her palm, tingling slightly, and the ruptured wounds on her torn thumb healed instantly.

The scattered feathers of the Blessed Angel were gifts from the goddess, imbued with powerful healing effects.

Isatia suddenly recalled what she had once read about how the Church's Holy city celebrated the Festival of Holy Healing when the Radiance Saintess still existed.

When midnight striked, the bells of the City of Radiance used to ring exactly on time. At that moment, the Radiance Saintess, dressed in formal robes, would appear atop the bell tower of the Sacred Cathedral, spreading her immaculate wings of blessing and soaring above the cheering crowds, allowing her feathers to bathe every believer, accumulating injuries and illnesses.

This was the Blessed Angel's blessing upon all believers.

However, ever since the Varelis family fell into the Death Vein, this part of the Festival of Holy Healing naturally ceased to exist. Still, the tradition persisted, some girls would dress up as the 'Blessed Angel' and scatter feathers through the air. Yet, this was ultimately just a ritual; the feathers carried no healing power, and the figure soaring overhead was no longer the true Blessed Angel.

After reading about the descriptions of the ancient Festival of Holy Healing, Isatia had once imagined how lively and joyful the celebration must have been.

But alas, no feast lasts forever.

Even as the descendant of the Goddess of Radiance, Varelis could not escape the judgment of time and change, ending up in such a tragic state.

Currently, aside from the Church's Holy City, the 'Angel's Blessing' segment of the festival has disappeared practically everywhere else. Aside from various reasons, the main one was the Church of Radiance itself, they claimed that holding this celebration was their exclusive right. The interpretation of the goddess and the Saintess is now rested solely in their hands.

No one wanted to provoke trouble, after all, who didn't know that the Church of Radiance could accuse anyone of disrespecting the goddess or the saintess? And once accused, that person would indeed be considered disrespectful.

That was a heavy accusation, and no one wanted to bear it. Why bring unnecessary trouble upon yourself?

The 'Angel's Blessing', this celebration had been gone for nearly a century. Unless something unexpected happens, this festival will fade into history, leaving only cold words in history books for future generations to imagine and reminisce about. Even the people of the City of Radiance know that no true angel will ever soar above their heads again to bestow blessings.

Today, within this dead dungeon, Isatia personally experienced the scene of the Angel's Blessing from a century ago.

A feather had landed on her hand. According to tradition, did this mean she had received the blessing of the Goddess of Radiance and the Saintess?

At this thought, Isatia shook her head.

Why was she thinking about such things now? What meaning did blessings hold?

Her spiritual sea's central clock tower had already collapsed. The ancestral legacy of the [Eternal Imperial Crown] had disappeared, and with it, the complete decline of the Lanteville family was inevitable.

And she, right now, was merely being kept alive by temporary holy light, destined to become a living corpse who would never awaken.

Vanessa held Isatia in her arms, unaware of the latter's complicated thoughts. At this moment, she was fully focused on fighting her opponent, all her energy directed at confronting Cantarius.

As expected, Cantarius had revived again. Here, he couldn't be killed, and with his Soul armament, he was practically an unkillable cockroach.

However, Vanessa, possessing the [Flawless Holy Wings], had the ability to fly, while Cantarius could not. His magic was also relatively primitive. Air over ground superiority, this was a massive advantage.

Vanessa flapped her wings and dove toward Cantarius from the sky.

The upgraded feminine [Armour Fortress] had become more elaborate and detailed. Several luxurious feathered capes now adorn her back. Two tassels bearing the sacred flame cross hung down from the hem of her white lotus-leaf skirt. Her white high-heeled boots, hairpins, gloves, and the semi-soft armor over her chest now featured numerous ornaments and intricate golden filigree patterns depicting wings and sacred flames.

She flew gracefully through the air, like a celestial maiden descending to earth.

Vanessa dove down, but this was merely a feint.

As Cantarius swung his spiked club in retaliation, Vanessa instantly dashed to the other side. Her long-heeled boot delivered a powerful spinning kick straight into Cantarius's neck.

A sharp cracking sound echoed as Cantarius flew backward like a broken kite, smashing through several walls once more.

Isatia's eyes widened slightly.

Such terrifying strength.

Granted, it was enhanced by speed, but a single kick had shattered Cantarius's neck and sent that mountain of flesh flying so far. She remembered that before Winnie transformed, he had used both hands to swing his ice spear at Cantarius's neck, only for it to get stuck in the thick muscle.

“Hehehe…” After landing, Vanessa heard a chilling laugh from the direction Cantarius had flown.

“So that's how it is, still got 'fake appearance,' huh? Little beauty, you even fooled this king.”

“What tremendous strength,” said the unharmed Cantarius as he stepped out, his smile not reaching his eyes as he cracked his joints with exaggerated 'click-click' sounds. “I've never met a woman stronger than me before.”

“But speaking of which, what's your relationship with the Twilight Demon God?” Cantarius suddenly demanded.

“Twilight Demon Goddess Medilia?” Vanessa arched a delicate brow. She remembered that name, wasn't it from history class? Legend has it that the Goddess of Radiance founded the Church of Radiance for the sake of all beings and later led her followers to defeat the Twilight Demon Goddess, restoring peace and tranquility to the continent of Terraria.

The era of the Goddess of Radiance and the Twilight Demon Goddess belonged to ancient times, predating the Mars civilization. However, the Twilight Demon Goddess' fame at that time was likely much greater than that of the Goddess of Radiance. At least, the people of Mars had heard of the Twilight Demon Goddess, but they seemed unaware of the Goddess of Radiance.

Back then, the Church of Radiance should have already existed, but probably on a small scale. Plus, due to distance, after all, the territories conquered by Mars covered only the central portion of the continent, far smaller than the ancient Carillian Empire that spanned the entire land, the people of Mars hadn't encountered many distant civilizations.

But why would Cantarius associate her with the Twilight Demon Goddess?

“I have no connection with the Twilight Demon Goddess,” Vanessa replied truthfully.

If she had to count any relation, her ancestor had defeated and sealed the Twilight Demon Goddess. Whether that counts as a connection, she wasn't sure.

“I've seen paintings of the Twilight Demon Goddess,” Cantarius said, narrowing his eyes at Vanessa. “Could it be that you're the queen of a demon kingdom who worships the Twilight Demon Goddess?”

This left not only Vanessa bewildered but also confused Isatia, how could the descendant of the goddess who defeated the Twilight Demon Goddess be mistaken for a follower and leader of the Twilight Demon Goddess?

“You... really resemble the Twilight Demon Goddess,” Cantarius stared intently at Vanessa.

“Esteemed ancient king, could it be that your eyesight has deteriorated after too long in the tomb? Or perhaps your memory is failing?” Vanessa gently set Isatia aside and twirled her hammer a few times. “I have no connection with the Twilight Demon Goddess.”

“Ah, forget it. Whether you're connected to the Twilight Demon Goddess or not doesn't matter. This king is only interested in you, my beauty.” Cantarius laughed heartily.

“I hear countless wretched and bizarre souls weeping in agony within you,” Vanessa said calmly, staring at Cantarius.

“Weeping? No, you're mistaken, little beauty. They're happy, they're excited! As insignificant and trash useless, being able to offer their final value for their king, taking a blade meant for him, is their supreme honor!” Cantarius raised his arms high.

“Every slave, every soldier, every Mars individual you've seen since entering my domain, now all of them are draped upon me.”

“The gods boast my achievements, thus allowing me to revive. They've bestowed upon me the wisdom, fortune, life, prosperity, and decline of Mars civilization over the past centuries, expanding my Soul armament's capacity from merely holding a hundred souls to infinite!”

“Imagine, so many lives and fates upon me, more numerous than the sands of the desert. This power, capable of warping the world's trajectory, belongs solely to the King of Mars!”

“Do you even know what you're doing? Right now, you're fighting against the entire Mars civilization.”

“Barbarian ancient king, do you even realize that if the wronged souls bound to your Soul armament had the chance to rebel, they would without hesitation make you taste the same suffering they endured?” Vanessa's usual polite, gentle smile, present on her face most of the time, rarely disappeared, but now it was gone.

“Rebel against me? Ha! A joke! The biggest joke of all! I created the prosperity and glory of Mars civilization, how dare anyone rebel against the great Cantarius!” Cantarius roared with laughter.

“No. It wasn't you who created the prosperity and glory of Mars civilization. It was the Mars people and the slaves you forcibly conscripted who built its superficial prosperity and superficial glory,” Vanessa said, her soft, healing voice unusually serious. Behind her, Isatia listened intently.

“Mars civilization, once one of the strongest on the continent of Terraria, its achievements belong to anyone, but not to you, you depraved tyrant.”

“Insensible tyrant, have you ever felt remorse for your actions?” Vanessa challenged.

“Remorse? For those livestock and expendables? Little beauty, are you joking? I won't lie, I've felt every emotion in my life, but 'remorse' has never been one of them,” Cantarius said dismissively.

“King of Mars, you're unworthy to be a king, and unworthy to be human.”

“Set these souls free. After that, you will face judgment for your crimes,” Vanessa said, gripping her silver hammer tightly, each word deliberate.

The cherry-haired maiden before him, pure and righteous, resembled an angel executing divine justice and punishment. For a moment, Isatia felt slightly dazed.

“Judge me? Little beauty, speaking big words might get your tongue cut off. Who do you think you are, daring to claim you can judge the King of Mars, the King of Kings?”

“In the name of the Goddess of Radiance, in the name of Varelis,” Vanessa suddenly lifted her gaze.

She raised her hammer, pointing it at Cantarius.

A searing, intense light erupted, blinding Cantarius.

Although blinded, Cantarius didn't panic.

What was there to fear? In this immortal realm, could he truly die?

Then, in the next instant, a violent wind tore off his limbs.

[Hurricane Flow Wind God Leg]

Vanessa folded her wings, performed a backflip in midair, then slammed downward with her heels, carrying a mighty hurricane force.

She had previously wondered what spell the [Armour Fortress]'s innate [Annihilation Stomp] would transform into under the feminine [Armour Fortress] form. Now, she has her answer.

The feminine [Armour Fortress] replaced the earth-element [Annihilation Stomp] with the wind-element [Hurricane Flow Wind God Leg], shifting from primarily restrictive and hindering to primarily destructive.

This kick instantly crippled Cantarius, his limbs torn apart by the gale, leaving him limping on the ground.

The sensation of shattered bones brought Cantarius pain, but he showed no fear. Pain was something he had long grown accustomed to, it only excited him further. Lying there paralyzed, he still laughed aloud, as if the injuries weren't affecting him at all.

So what? He was immortal. No matter how many times he was killed, he wouldn't die. His tendons and bones will regenerate soon enough.

“Heh, that's it? Little beauty, not vicious enough, huh? Could it be that you've developed feelings during battle and started showing mercy to this king?” He still had the gall to taunt and provoke.

Vanessa ignored him, silently placing her pale hand over his chest.

Even though she deeply underestimated this abominable creature, she will carry out this final judgment to the end.

“Oh? Little beauty, what are you planning? You're actually taking care of this king's chest?” Cantarius laughed arrogantly.

Then, Vanessa softly whispered a few words.

“[Flames of Myriad Divine Blessings].”

“Huh?” Cantarius wondered what this pink-haired girl was up to. Soon, the rising heat on his chest told him.

Futile, right? He couldn't be killed...

No, wait?!

Cantarius's expression suddenly changed drastically.

He was despicable, but the intuition honed on battlefields of conquest, war, blood, and fire was surprisingly sharp, otherwise, he couldn't have survived this long.

This sensation, just like when he was a child, attacked by assassins, this strange yet familiar helplessness engulfed him like drowning.

He thought that once he held supreme power, he'd never experience this feeling again.

“[Archon of Enslaved Souls]!” In desperation, Cantarius hastily summoned his life-saving Soul armament.

For some reason, an overwhelming intuition told him, if killed by whatever this pink-haired woman was released from her hand, he would truly, utterly 'disappear'!

Armor formed of flowing white bones and flesh reassembled over his body. At the same time, multicolored inner flames and cherry-white outer flames emerged from Vanessa's palm.

The moment a single spark touched Cantarius's [Archon of Enslaved Souls], it dimmed, as if rendered ineffective, rapidly fading away.

What's going on? What's happening?!

Cantarius was utterly panicked.

His Soul armament, merely touched by a tiny spark of this strange flame, was neutralized?!

“Stay away! Don't come near me!” Cantarius roared. This shout was far louder than his previous taunting, mocking voice. After all, a person's voice was loudest only when they were most helpless, most at a loss, feeling death's approach.

At this moment, he felt like that child again, helpless, defenseless, without a single spell, unarmed, being assassinated.

Why? Why did this feeling return?

He had ridden atop everyone else, ascended to godhood, become an absolute powerhouse! Why was he experiencing this feeling for a second time?

No, no!

“Despair?” Vanessa asked softly. “Then savor it well.”

“Your despair, tyrant, isn't even a ten-thousandth of theirs.”

Sizzle!

Sparks strikes Cantarius's [Archon of Enslaved Souls]. The armor was visibly withering and fading at an alarming rate, like ants touched by sulfuric acid, instantly collapsing.

The cherry-white, rainbow-hued crystalline fire was about to spread over his body.

“No, no! I'm immortal! I can't die, it's impossible!!”

“I am the great Cantarius, resurrected by divine favor, granted divine authority! You cannot kill a god!”

"A god? How does that compare to the Demon God Pillar?" Suddenly, Isatia spoke up from behind. “This fire even frightens the Demon God Pillar. Burning you to death? That's too easy.”