Surprise encounter!
Seeing the incoming barrage of light magic, I dive through the nearest window I find. Cold sweat drips down my brow. Those things were deadly, at least I don't think I would've survived being hit by those.
I know this because looking behind me, I can see that half of the estate has evaporated.
My actions seem to bring the fight outside, as the other dark artists rally around me. Lazari was also waiting outside as if anticipating this would happen. Heavy, full plated knights had already surrounded the area and with the support of this priestess, the friars won't be buckling any time soon.
Nodding toward a hedge, I have Lazari and Lily assault the heavy knights.
Turning over just in time to see a beam of light shoot toward me, I just barely dodge in time.
Damn! She's a lot stronger than those knights. I should've waited a bit longer before jumping in, but too late to have doubts!
Pulling out the bow that I haven't used for over a month, I draw the string back as it feeds off my essence, creating a pale lacklustre arrow. I release the arrow at the priestess before she can dish out another spell, I really hope that this rushed shot hits her.
Thinking on this point, the arrow splits into two then four, before raining down on her. But almost instantly she cancels her spell and erects an essence barrier around her.
Hmm, yes, that was very normal.
Though I've done virtually no damage to the priestess, I at least stalled her. With her attention focused on me, the friars were already dispatched and those knights…
Again, it looks extremely pathetic for them to cower in front of a little girl, granted she was standing atop the body of one of their comrades. Looks like she's doing alright
Nonetheless, with the priestess in an immobile state, I take this opportunity to attack.
Like the intellectual I am, I rear my fist back as I punch the barrier, causing it to ripple from the point of impact. But that was not all, pressing onto the barrier, I slowly exert more strength into my punch, causing it to crack and shatter. The light barrier falls apart into small essence particles, as my punch follows through and lands a square blow onto her face.
Heh, she's as good as dead.
Or not, because she returns a gut punch making me fall back, winded. Her fist was covered in a dazzling light.
Her face withers and decays, however, it's limited to a certain area only, she's managed to block the spread of the corruption somehow. Stumbling up, she clasps her hands together as she mumbles a mantra of some sort,
"... May we not be besmirched by the false apostles of this land…"
"Praying to some idol won't save you now,"
"... lend me your power…"
As she continues her mantra, obscene amounts of light essence gather around her. I mean, it's the dead of night right now! This shouldn't be happening, the logic just doesn't make sense.
Praying to her idol might actually save her… Why are these heathens so strong?!
Well, we can't have her finish that verse now, can we? In the last stretch of her final verses, she is left vulnerable, however, it looks like the knights have caught on and are attempting to shield her. Rookie mistake, as breaking off their engagements with the other dark artists has sealed their fate. Lazari took full advantage of this, ruthlessly knifing under the overlapped parts of their plate armour.
So close. As I'm within reaching distance of the priestess, a translucent body slams into me.
A Star Summon!
I place my hand against the summon, dissipating the essence forming it. But it's too late, the priestess has already finished her mantra.
"Light God's DESCENT!" a brilliant flash of light enveloped the whole yard, as it burned everyone's retinas.
It would be more accurate to call her a high priestess, after all, such a powerful ability is limited to high level units within the Pantheon. The God's Descent ability worked for any of the 'gods' that the Pantheon worshipped however, it was just my luck that this happened to a light high priestess.
Light was a nigh all encompassing essence range, meaning that its applications were wide and its uses were flexible. Not to mention that it was also easily gathered.
Well, now that she activated the Descent skill, she was practically emitting the stuff from her body, no need to wonder where she's getting her essence from. She heals up her wounds and somewhat heals the corruption, but the traces are still there. Flicking her wrist, a thin blade of light appears and slices off the arm of an unlucky bastard. It's hard to look at her and it seems the skill has also tremendously boosted her powers greatly.
Pondering a bit, I deduce that there must be a drawback to this ability. Most likely that it drains her life essence proportionate to how long she stays in this state. Because, that light essence has to be coming from somewhere, and there's no way that it's being supplied from a source outside of this realm. Like matter, essence cannot be created nor destroyed, merely changed.
Of course, I'm not standing still as I contemplate this fact, I'm running the hell away. It's better to just let her exhaust herself then deal with her later, then face her now and be crushed. Likewise, my comrades, too have all started fleeing through the city streets.
Though, the priestess isn't simply letting that overflowing power go to waste. As we vault and maneuver behind walls and obstacles on the city streets. The high priestess doesn't give a second thought as she blasts her way through everything, evaporating bystanders and dark artists alike. By now, everyone in the city can hear the commotion we're making.
With her attention on another cultist. I take this time to plink an arrow at her, but of course, the overflowing light essence has made a natural repulsive barrier around her, making my arrow suddenly reverses direction as soon as it pings the barrier. And follows its trajectory right back to me…
Yikes. I jump to the side as the arrow bores a hole straight through the ground, it seemed that it had even more power than when I shot it. And now I have her attention, which is made even more obvious when a beam of light as thick as a pillar is shot at me.
I'm a fool.
I should've been more conscious of things like this since the incident.