Chapter 298: Convergence

The two followed the battle aura of the demon and Celia, passing through a mess of battlefields.

“Up there!” Freya closed her eyes, concentrating for a moment before pointing toward a steep cliff. “That demon has already fled over there!”

The two hurried toward the cliff.

As they walked, Freya suddenly slowed her pace, her expression gradually becoming solemn.

“By the way, there’s one more thing I need to tell you.”

“What is it?” Seeing her serious expression, Ansu couldn't help but become serious as well.

Freya said softly, “Just now, I heard... a divine decree.”

When she used that Aiseweida's divine spark fragment, she clearly felt the gaze of the Goddess of Holy Light.

That feeling of being watched did not give her the warmth and protection a deity should provide; instead, it made her instinctively shiver.

Ansu hurriedly asked, “What did the god say?”

Freya lifted her wrist, and the pale green leaf mark glowed faintly. “She commanded me... to continue collecting the other fragments of the God of Nature.”

“The other fragments of the God of Nature?” Ansu’s brow furrowed.

“Mhm.” Freya nodded gently.

Ansu remained silent for a moment, secretly pondering the Goddess of Holy Light’s intentions.

The law of Immortality of Gods he had learned about not long ago flashed through his mind—gods are formed by the collective subconscious of all living beings; as long as faith persists, a god will never truly perish.

Although the Goddess of Holy Light had killed the God of Nature, according to this law, the position of the God of Nature would likely never remain vacant; the god would either be resurrected, or a new god would take their place.

Therefore, the Goddess of Holy Light sending Freya to collect the fragments was essentially to make this enemy... controllable?

Ansu grumbled inwardly: The Goddess of Holy Light is far too devious.

Furthermore, although the Goddess of Holy Light tacitly allowed Freya to hold the divine spark fragment, once all the fragments were gathered, it would mean the possibility of the God of Nature’s resurrection.

At that time, Freya would surely face unprecedented killing intent...

“There’s one more thing, and it’s about you,” Freya spoke again.

Her tone carried a hint of hesitation, as if she didn't know how to relay it.

Ansu looked at her suspiciously.

Freya paused, pointed at her own eyes, and then stared fixedly at Ansu.

The two had used this gesture before when Gulzan was monitoring them, and they both understood its meaning.

Ansu understood instantly and blinked: ‘She wants you to supervise me?’

Freya nodded with a complex expression, clearly understanding the sinister implications behind this.

Ansu let out a helpless sigh. “Mhm, I understand...”

What else could the Goddess be supervising? It was nothing more than urging him to quickly launch a holy war and spread the faith of the Holy Light... letting the Holy Light shroud every corner of the world.

I’m really spreading it, I’m spreading it...

To think the Goddess of Holy Light would actually be this impatient.

This was likely because after the system’s “divine residue cleared” message last time, he could no longer hear the Goddess nagging in his ear. In the eyes of the god, he had probably become an extremely rebellious fellow who didn't listen to orders.

That was why she specifically had Freya supervise, or rather, monitor him.

Freya said helplessly, “So, we really should separate for a while...”

Otherwise, being constantly watched by a god wasn't very comfortable.

As for how to solve this problem in the future, she believed Ansu would always be able to find a way.

After being with Ansu for so long, she had already realized what gods truly were; after learning the truth, she no longer blindly believed in those high-and-mighty gods who were indifferent to human suffering.

But she still believed in the “light” itself.

“What is there to fear?” Ansu shook his head. “It’s not like I’m not making progress. Once this trip to the north is over, Archbishop Paul’s side will definitely greatly expand the faith of the Holy Light.”

Of course, Archbishop Paul’s “Church of Holy Light” didn't look like a proper Church of Holy Light no matter how one viewed it...

Finally, he added another sentence.

“I am incredibly loyal to the Goddess of Holy Light; there is no Chosen One more pious than me!”

Freya’s lips twitched helplessly, and she suddenly felt like laughing.

After a long silence, Ansu suddenly asked.

“Is... She still there?”

“Right now... the god shouldn't be listening.” Freya shook her head. “She seems very busy; after briefly conveying the divine decree and watching us for a moment, she quickly disappeared.”

Ansu nodded. The Goddess of Holy Light was indeed quite busy; that great schemer was probably busy plotting against the other righteous gods.

He wondered whose turn it was next.

...

As the two talked, they soon reached the cliff.

Atop the cliff, the area had already turned into a terrifying battlefield. Mana surged wildly like a storm, and the scorched earth was covered in deep fissures, as if repeatedly torn apart by some immense force.

Zak-Eos’s massive body had been dragged out of the void by the witch in some unknown way. His two horns had been violently snapped off, and lava-hot blood constantly dripped from the wounds. The once powerful and arrogant ancient demon was now as pathetic as a stray dog.

Celia’s eyes were filled with cold killing intent, and under the surging mana, she approached step by step like a god of death.

Just then, the figures of Ansu and Freya appeared.

Celia was startled for a moment, and then those dark red eyes instantly lit up. All the hostility faded a bit, leaving only surprise and joy.

“Ansu! You... you’re back!?”

Her voice trembled slightly, as if a thousand words were stuck in her throat, yet for a moment, she didn't know what to say.

The two of them had truly been separated for a very, very long time...

Ansu looked at the bloodshot veins in her eyes and her hard-to-hide exhaustion. His heart softened, and he responded softly, “Mhm, I’m back.”

As his voice fell, he glanced at the pathetic ancient demon.

“Finish him off first; this demon is the source of all evil!”

“Alright!” Seeing that Ansu was safe and sound, Celia’s hanging heart finally settled.

Subsequently, a hint of feigned anger surfaced on her face, and she glared at Ansu, her eyes full of reproach.

I’ll settle the score with you after I finish this guy!

Ansu gave a sheepish laugh.

Zak-Eos on the cliff was already heavily injured and near death. What made him even more desperate was that, besides this female god of slaughter who beat him so badly he couldn't even fight back, Freya—who had dealt him heavy damage in the domain earlier—had also caught up...

It was over.

Celia and Freya moved against the demon almost simultaneously.

It was only then that Celia finally shifted her gaze toward Freya, who had appeared with Ansu.

When she noticed the power of holy light the other was currently wielding, a flicker of clear surprise flashed in her eyes.

It was completely different from the divine arts she used to perform; it was even significantly stronger.

This woman had actually become this strong?

Celia instinctively turned her head to look at Ansu again, a strange feeling emerging in her eyes.

During the time they were out of contact... what exactly did the two of them experience?

Thinking of this, a surge of resentment welled up in her heart, and Celia’s strikes became even heavier.

She raised her hand and waved, and violent mana exploded like a raging tide, crashing heavily into Zak-Eos.

Seeing the terrifying power of Celia’s attack, Freya pursed her lips tightly, unwilling to be outdone.

Thus, the holy light became even more dazzling, and countless judgment spears took shape, carrying divine pressure as they followed the magic and slammed into the demon.

Subsequently...

The two seemed to be vying with each other, each strike more ruthless than the last.

Caught between these two extreme forces, Zak-Eos’s pitch-black body constantly shattered, and his shrill screams pierced through the wind, echoing across the entire snow mountain.

Watching this scene from the side, Ansu’s lips twitched slightly.

This demon is truly miserable...

...