Chapter 401: Karmic Fire (Part 11)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 401: Karmic Fire (Part 11)
"You... isn't this exactly why you came here? O Saintess of that deity."
The old woman’s face, a roadmap of deep wrinkles, was alight with fanatical fervor. Liya instinctively took a step back, shaking her head.
"Saintess? No... I am not a Saintess yet."
"You will be soon!"
The old woman raised her voice, her withered hand sweeping behind her.
"Look! There are a full million people here waiting for salvation. Think of it—what a monumental achievement it would be to save them. Once word of your deeds here spreads, you will undoubtedly become the Saintess. The most exceptional Saintess, perhaps even surpassing the First Generation. Your name will be praised by countless believers. Even after you pass, your statues will stand across the continent, dwelling alongside the gods!"
"But..."
Liya’s gaze flickered, her mind momentarily dazed.
A million people. If she could truly save them, the position of Saintess she had worked so hard for would be within her grasp. The Glimmer she would obtain from saving these people would be enough to fill a thousand crystals.
Even without the temptation of the title, Liya could not simply stand by and watch as these people suffered, struggled, and wailed in agony.
Just like every Saintess throughout history, they would stand up even for a single crying infant—how could she ignore a million souls mired in misery?
It had nothing to do with rank or expectations; it was simply the most fundamental kindness of a young girl.
"I want to save you, but my power isn't enough."
Liya shook her head in distress. She looked down at her slender hands and whispered, "With my purification magic, I can only save a few thousand at most... If I push myself and use recovery items, I might manage a few more, but compared to a million... it’s a drop in the bucket."
Possessing only a fraction of the necessary power, she felt nothing but despair in the face of this vast sea of mud.
"Per... perhaps we can wait a little longer. Once the Church successfully opens a passage to the inner region, you all—"
"There is no time!"
The old woman raised a trembling hand, her voice thick with terror. "I can feel it. I can feel the presence of that loathsome Evil God. He is not far from here. He will return soon, and He will devour the souls of all million of us. When that happens, no living being on this earth will be able to stop Him!"
"But..."
"I have a way!"
The old woman suddenly interjected. "We haven't just been sitting here waiting for death all these years. Look up."
Liya looked up.
The magnificent, massive cylindrical walls stretched into the depths of the void, shimmering with intricate patterns. On the grand dome that loomed like a sky curtain, an incredibly complex tapestry of magic was woven.
In that moment, Liya finally realized where she was. Unsurprisingly, she was inside that tower. However, the tower she saw now was far larger than its exterior suggested. From the outside, it looked like a remarkable piece of architecture, but standing deep within it, she felt like a lost insect that had wandered into the legendary Great Tree where the sacred serpent dwelled.
A breathtakingly massive magic array was inscribed at the very peak of the tower.
"With your knowledge, you should be able to judge the purpose of this magic array."
"The purpose of this formation is... amplification?"
The image of this unprecedentedly vast magic array was reflected in Liya’s eyes. And yet, its sole function was amplification?
Amplification formations were extremely common; both mages and magic instruments used them to enhance the power of spells.
But Liya had never seen an amplification spell so massive and complex. If its function was so singular, how staggering must its effect be?
"Exactly, amplification!"
The old woman shouted, "With this tower as the foundation and the resources we’ve accumulated over the years, this array can amplify your power to the extreme. A hundredfold, even several hundredfold, is no problem!"
"Is... is that so?"
"Of course."
The old woman lowered her eyes, then looked back at Liya with burning intensity. "We have been waiting for you all these years."
"Why me?"
"Because you came, didn't you?"
"..."
Liya closed her eyes and let out a sigh.
At the same time, she felt the weight of their expectations grow even heavier.
She understood the meaning behind those words. These suffering people had waited too long; they didn't care who came, as long as the newcomer could save them.
"Yes, you shall save us all."
The old woman pressed her hands together in prayer. "I believe that great deity will also be moved by your grand achievement."
"It is not 'that deity.' It is the Goddess."
Liya gave the old woman a deep look. "Goddess Emiel, the Goddess of Life."
"Yes, Goddess Emiel, the Goddess of Life," the old woman repeated submissively, keeping her head low.
Liya took a deep breath. "What do I need to do?"
"You... you only need to stand in the center!" the old woman cried, overjoyed. "Release your power, and the array will activate on its own."
Without much hesitation, Liya followed the old woman’s instructions and walked to the very center of the sea of mud.
It was a wide platform, resembling an altar. Liya looked down and saw complex patterns inscribed beneath her feet, seemingly echoing the array far above.
Standing alone in the center of the platform, Liya felt as though heaven and earth were both infinitely far away.
It wasn't that she hadn't noticed something slightly off about the old woman—it felt as though she was hiding something.
However, the pain, the despair, and the longing for salvation... those things were undoubtedly real.
There were a million souls here yearning for redemption, and she was a Saintess Candidate representing the Church.
Therefore, there was no need to overthink what she had to do.
Just as Muen had once speculated, the Church had sent them in to save these indigenous people.
"I'm beginning."
Liya focused her mind. A crystalline, holy light began to seep from her skin, turning into countless points of starlight that rose into the air.
The patterns beneath her feet gradually lit up. A massive amount of pre-stored mana rose from the base, climbing up the pitch-black tower walls and pouring into the gargantuan magic array overhead.
The magic array activated, and a grand, resonant sound echoed over the sea of mud.
The suffering people all knelt devoutly, waiting for salvation to descend.
Liya felt a powerful tugging sensation. The Holy Light stored within her body was being swallowed by the patterns beneath her feet at an incredible speed. Simultaneously, a rain of holy light began to fall.
"Ah... salvation... salvation is finally here."
Everyone tilted their heads back with all their might, their faces ecstatic as they welcomed the falling rain of light. The old woman craned her neck so far she looked like a starving old tortoise.
As the light rain fell, the twisted deformities on the sufferers in the sea of mud began to dissipate at a visible rate. Those with less corruption had already mostly returned to normal.
They shed crystalline tears, praising the miracle and shouting the Saintess's name.
The crystal the Saintess had given her suddenly floated up of its own accord. Countless glimmers flowed into it, making it even more magnificent and radiant.
Liya couldn't help but smile. Encouraged, she exerted even more effort to release her Holy Light.
But soon, she noticed something was wrong.
The source of the problem was the degree of purification. It seemed... different from what she had expected.
Even though the Holy Light in her body was nearly exhausted, the only people who had fully recovered were those with minor corruption. The vast majority of the severely deformed remained; though they had recovered to some extent, they were clearly a long way from being completely purified.
"Not enough... it's still not enough."
The old woman was also muttering. Though her deformities had receded slightly, she still looked twisted and hideous.
"This isn't enough... it must... it must..."
"I am sorry, Saintess."
The old woman suddenly bowed her head, her face covered in tears.
Liya was momentarily stunned, but she soon understood why the old woman was apologizing.
Because when the patterns beneath her feet could no longer draw enough Holy Light, they began to draw her... blood.
Liya realized the truth in a flash of insight. There was no magic in this world that could truly amplify power several hundred times; no matter how massive that magic array was, it couldn't achieve such an effect on its own.
However, she wasn't the only source of purification power.
As a Saintess Candidate who had received Holy Light Baptisms since childhood, her blood, her bones, her flesh, and even her soul were saturated with the purest power of the Goddess.
That was the true power capable of purifying everyone. But the price... was everything Liya was.
"You lied to me?"
Liya’s face grew pale. "You knew that my Holy Light alone wouldn't be nearly enough!"
"Yes, I deceived you."
The old woman’s face was a mask of grief. "But for the sake of my people, I had to resort to this. I was afraid that if you knew, you would be too scared to stand there."
"However... if you are angry and wish to leave, we truly have no power to stop you. This is already better than I imagined. Many have already been saved, even if many more remain in pain."
The old woman looked at Liya and forced a smile of resignation.
"If you wish, you may leave, Saintess. We will not blame you."
"..."
A deathly silence fell over the sea of mud where a million people drifted. Everyone looked up again, silently watching Liya.
They just watched, saying nothing.
But deep within those pained eyes, having tasted a salvation that was now within reach, that hope became... heavy.
So heavy it was suffocating.
Liya forced her eyes open with all her strength, scanning every single person, feeling the weight deep within their eyes.
In that moment.
Perhaps a long time passed, or perhaps it was only a fleeting second.
Liya gave a tragic, beautiful smile. Her long eyelashes fluttered like butterflies about to take flight.
"Continue," she said. "Continue."
As if a great burden had been lifted, Liya’s entire body relaxed. She allowed the array beneath her feet to drain the blood from her body, her strength fading bit by bit.
But now, the girl’s hair danced in the air, and the holy light traced a perfect silhouette around her. Watching the countless people being saved, she wore a smile, looking as if the Goddess herself had descended to walk the earth.
"Is... is this really alright?"
The old woman was shocked. "You know what the result of this will be."
"I know. But continue anyway," Liya said.
"As you said, I am now the Saintess you praise. And isn't a Saintess supposed to sacrifice herself selflessly to save everyone?"
"How... how great you are."
The old woman trembled with emotion. "My people will honor you as our Saintess for generations. Your statues will be passed down for eternity!"
"Alright, alright, don't waste time."
Liya closed her eyes. "I didn't do this for those things anyway. I'm just doing what I should do."
"Yes... noble Saintess."
The old woman pressed her forehead to the ground respectfully, looking incredibly devout.
But at an angle Liya couldn't see, the old woman’s dry, bark-like lips slowly curled into a bizarre, eerie arc.
"We shall follow your decree."
The array began to operate even more powerfully. The sky filled with a rain of light, as if a deity were personally bestowing a merciful blessing.
All filth was being purified step by step.
Liya, however, felt her body growing colder and colder.
Her blood was draining away, and soon it wouldn't just be blood—it would be her bones, her flesh, until finally, her soul.
"For me, this is quite a grand finale," Liya whispered to herself.
"But to die in the way I always admired, by saving countless people... that's a beautiful thing, isn't it?"
She had no regrets.
Except...
Why did her heart feel so empty?
"I'm sorry, Muen. Even though there are still so many things I wanted to say to you, so many things I wanted to do with you... and feelings I never got to convey."
Liya murmured softly, "I broke our promise. I couldn't wait for you. I'm leaving without saying goodbye. I hope you won't be mad at me, okay?"
"Of course I'll be mad."
A familiar voice answered her. "Don't apologies like that usually require a beautiful girl's lap pillow? Talking like you're in a dream has zero sincerity, Miss Liya."
"Eh?"
Liya opened her eyes in shock.
She realized the voice wasn't a hallucination born of her longing. A blond figure was truly standing right in front of her.
He was as handsome as ever, his profile softened by the rain of light, but his eyes were filled with anger. He curled his thumb and middle finger together, aimed at her forehead, and gave it a sharp flick.
"Dummy."
"Ow! That hurts!"
Liya clutched her forehead. Under that sudden flick, the Saintly aura she had built up instantly collapsed, and she was reverted back to a pouting, innocent girl in a heartbeat.
Liya habitually puffed out her cheeks and huffed, "What was that for? Who are you calling a dummy!"
"I'm calling the dummy a dummy."
Muen stepped onto the patterns on the ground, forcibly interrupting the ritual. "You don't even know you've been tricked. If that's not a dummy, what is?"
"Tricked?" Liya blinked. "What do you mean?"
"Who are you?"
Seeing the rain of light stop, the old woman looked at the man who had suddenly appeared with a mix of shock and rage. She barked, "Do you have any idea what you're doing? This is the Saintess's sacred ritual! Get lost!"
Muen ignored her completely. He didn't even glance at the millions of angry people in the sea of mud. He simply looked into Liya’s eyes and said softly:
"My silly Liya, don't you understand yet? These people aren't the poor souls you imagine them to be. Think back to that diary we saw earlier."
"The diary..."
Liya froze for a moment, then her beautiful eyes widened. "You mean..."
"Exactly."
Muen finally turned around, his gaze cold as ice as he looked at the old woman and the million people drifting in the sea of mud.
"These wretches... are the true sinners!"