Chapter 186: A Prophecy that Comes True
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
A fallen paladin had noticed Laeticia's behavior at this moment. He temporarily let go of the sheep that was about to be slaughtered in front of him. He leaped up and landed in front of Laeticia who was helping the wounded trainee to flee.
Colors instantly drained from both of their faces. The trainee was so petrified that he did not even dare to breathe. To his surprise, Laeticia suddenly pushed him away. She struck a fighting pose and bravely put herself between the fallen paladin and the trainee as one hand gripped tightly onto the scripture in front of her chest.
In truth, she was actually very terrified, but the look of unwavering determination on her face did not falter at all. However, she began to tremble slightly when the smell of fresh blood from the fallen paladin entered her olfactory sense --- even her fighting posture became shaky as well.
The demonic fallen paladin sneered. He was not in a hurry to wave his sword around. Instead, he sized up Laeticia's flawless face with great interest before he lowered his gaze and stared at her bare legs. A lecherous look appeared in his eyes as he slowly licked his lips. It was apparent that her beauty suited his appetite.
He did not plan to do anything to Laeticia yet. Instead, he turned his head sideways and looked at the trainee who was limping and trying to flee from the both of them.
"NOOOO!" Laeticia saw through his thoughts, and she shouted desperately. She clenched her fists as she ran over to the trainee and threw herself at him.
She knew that she might die under the paladin's sword. However, she still wanted to save everyone with all her might, even if it meant that she would have to sacrifice herself…
This was Laeticia's faith.
"P-Please, my Lord! Please end this futile battle..." The girl prayed in her heart as she held on to the pendant on her neck.
God could not hear her voice.
However…
Baiyi could.
In just a flash, a sharp glint of silver flashed before it suddenly cut across the fallen paladin's neck when his sword was about to pierce through Laeticia's chest. The head that was now severed from its body flew into the sky, and the blood that was spewing out from the body spilled onto the girl. It dyed her white dress red.
The fallen paladin's headless body tumbled weakly to the ground as it revealed a fully black-cloaked Baiyi behind him, a blood-stained long sword that was taken from some unknown body was in his hand. He lowered his gaze and looked at Laeticia. When he noticed that she was not injured at all, he secretly sighed in relief. It was fortunate that he came in time.
"Are you alright?" Baiyi asked in a cold voice. As he asked her, he threw his sword up in the air and caught it before throwing it fiercely towards another fallen paladin. A screeching sound could be heard as the sword flew in the air and pierced through the paladin's chest. It nailed him to the ground.
At this moment, the two fallen paladins that were killing the trainees were finally dead. The rest of the fallen paladins were locked in a battle with the judicial paladins so they did not notice what was happening on this side. The remaining trainees quickly seized the chance and fled for their lives.
However, Laeticia was acting a little strange. A gleam of surprise flashed across her eyes before it was replaced by a questioning look. She whispered in a small voice, "I-It's you?"
Baiyi was stunned. However, there was no time to idle and think so he immediately grabbed her waist and carried her under his arm before he ran off.
The sound of wind whistled past Laeticia's ears, she shouted as she struggled to get loose from Baiyi's tight grip, "Let go of me! Put me down please!"
Baiyi did not expect this soft petite body to be so strong and fully developed. Nonetheless, her strength was nothing in Baiyi's eyes.
After struggling for a while, Laeticia noticed that there was no effect at all on the arm that was gripping her tightly. With no other option, she begged in a tearful voice, "P-Please... Please let me go! There're still many people out there that I need to save!"
Why's this girl so foolish? Baiyi grunted to himself. She's exactly the same as Mia! You can't even save yourself, and you're trying to save other people? Are you Mia's older twin or something?
When he brought her into the woods where it was safe, he put her down and bluntly pinched her cheek. He said to her sternly, "Are you crazy? You still insist on going back there? Aren't you afraid of death?"
Tears formed in the corners Laeticia's eyes, but it did not stop her from uttering such strange words, "Urghhhhh, i-it hurts... You were clearly so gentle when I met you last time,"
"W-What did you say?" Baiyi was really taken aback by her words. He was certain that he was still wearing Sven the Rogue Knight's attire at this moment. It did not matter if it was his appearance, voice or the aura his body emitted, they were obviously different from Master Hope's. These two were two different people. Let alone outsiders, even Mia who was the closest to him would not be able to recognize him.
However, the disguise that he took great pride in had been seen through by a little village girl? Please don't tell me you know my real name too!
"I-I know that it's you. You're the kind gentleman who pointed me in the right direction last time," Laeticia seemed to have calmed down from the pain. She gently shook Baiyi's arm and looked at him with a pitiful expression, "C-Can you release your hand first?"
"How did you recognize me?" Baiyi retracted his hand and quickly queried.
"Well, although you've changed your clothes and your voice, you still smell the same !" Laeticia explained innocently.
What kind of explanation is that?
"Everyone has a very distinctive scent. Your scent makes me feel very safe and relieved, that's why I have a strong impression of you. I'm not wrong about you," the girl said confidently.
Since she had seen through him, Baiyi decided to be himself again. He took out the sorcerer armor from his storage pouch before changing to his usual guise in front of her.
"I knew it! It's you after all!" Laeticia exclaimed excitedly. She did not show any puzzlement at all as to why Baiyi had to change into another armor. Instead, she said in a hurry, "Kind-hearted-Gentleman, thank you so much for saving me! I know that you're very powerful so can you return with me and help those who are suffering?"
"Calm down!" Baiyi stopped her while he put the militia's armor back into the storage pouch. In order to change the topic, he said, "You can call me Hope. What about you? Bigger Mia? Jeanne d'Arc?"
The girl looked at him strangely before she replied solemnly, "I'm Laeticia. I don't have any surname because I'm a commoner. I don't know any of these people that you just mentioned!"
Then, she quickly pulled Baiyi's arm, "Mr. Hope, please! Please follow me to help them out, okay?"
Baiyi sighed loudly. He was beginning to think that the con artist, better known as the Oracle, was just toying with him. How the hell is this fate? It is more like a fated burden okay?
Just as he was about to open his mouth to reject her, a familiar wave of fluctuation suddenly shrouded him --- It was the fluctuation of that shield barrier.
Accompanied by the expansion of the shield barrier, a series of spatial ripple began to flow through him. Baiyi quickly activated his Psychic Energy and scanned the entire area. SH*T! There were at least ten cracks that were opened in Arfin city! Furthermore, five of them were at the Celestial Fortress Academy!
This was a portent of the devil's massive invasion!
The timing of the invasion was perfect! The church's main force had just been sent away and many powerful men were gathered at the fort of the southernmost area in the south. Even the talented students and teachers were all absent from the academy.
And at this moment, a lord from the deep abyss was forming his body in this exact place. Many of his followers had already infiltrated every corner of human society…
This crisis was unprecedented in the entire Southland, no, Isythre realm.
Meanwhile, the Fifth Walker who was caught in the midst of the storm was being tormented by an eccentric Oracle and a stubborn little village girl.
Fortunately, Laeticia could also sense the strong ripple that was coming from the multiple cracks. Her brows knitted together as she whispered, "W-What filthy evil is this..."
Faced with such a situation, Baiyi immediately made a wise decision. A few fiery red formations quickly emerged from behind him. He decided to use a forbidden spell to blast open the barrier so that other powerful humans could sense the calamity that befell Arfin city.
Just as fast as the formation appeared, it disappeared again in a blink of an eye. It turned out that Baiyi had stopped the incantation. He suddenly found out that something was not right with his strength. The limit of his power seemed to have increased again. Somehow, the limit of his power was at least 30% higher than it was a few minutes ago.
Did Mia become stronger all of a sudden? B-But that seems unlikely! Perhaps the multiple cracks somehow managed to weaken the realm barrier between the Void? This doesn't sound plausible as well! Wait a minute! Could it be... Baiyi quickly turned to look at Laeticia who was staring up at him in concern.
After a moment of pondering, Baiyi transformed turned his Mana into the Void Energy. He infused it into his hand before picking up Laeticia's small hand. "Do you feel anything?"
Astonishment flashed across her face over the way Baiyi acted, but it quickly disappeared again. With a relaxed look on her face, she replied earnestly, "Your hand is very warm. It gives me a pleasant feeling."
Nobody else in the world had ever found Baiyi's cold hands to be warm before, not even Mia and Tisdale. And no one would ever find the Void Energy pleasant…
In this world, there would always be some people who had an inexplicable affinity for all kinds of things. They would have a sort of unexplainable and favorable impression towards many different things. For example, an affinity towards animals, nature, elements, or even beauties...
Naturally, someone with an affinity towards the Void would exist as well, like the girl before him.
"I can't believe this. She is actually the second elect?" The Archmage exclaimed in surprise. "So that's what the Oracle's prophecy means..."
"Could this be fate? Looks like the destiny that the con artist spoke about is not mine, it's hers after all!" Baiyi whispered in a low voice. "A girl who longs for the light, is faithful and pious yet has a great affinity towards the Void that's a symbol of endless darkness…"
"What f*cking destiny is this?!" Baiyi suddenly yelled out loudly in the Void as if he was aiming his words towards the Oracle. Back in reality, he could not help but have mixed feelings about the whole situation. Unconsciously, great terrifying aura burst out of his body.
Laeticia was appalled by the bloodcurdling aura and immediately went quiet. However, it did save Baiyi from having to keep rejecting her request. After returning to his normal state, he put one hand on her shoulder and stared into her light blue eyes before he told her solemnly, "Listen, I don't have much time to explain, but you must believe in me! You have to believe in me no matter what and follow whatever I say, understood?"