None of You Will Escape

“Have you seen enough?”

Hearing Tina's voice, he stepped out slowly, showing no fear.

The sharp-edged, golden holy armor made the Inquisitor's height a staggering three meters, making him look like a mobile combat robot. Their powerful physical condition allowed them to move freely even while wearing armor weighing hundreds of jin.

The mace gripped tightly in his hand was as large as the bodies of two adult men, looking like a wall made of metal.

The Inquisitors was the name of the Church's highest authority, exercising the duty of oversight.

These powerful figures underwent rigorous physical and magical training, making them veritable "all-rounders."

“An abyssal magical beast is at its weakest right now. Apprentice Saintess—no, accomplice to a magical beast—I shall send you both to hell this instant.”

With a flick of Tina's hand, a streak of golden light shot from her fingertip.

She had absolutely no desire to explain herself. Since he had witnessed this, there was only one path left for him: death.

The golden light pierced the Inquisitor's ankle.

Heaving his giant mace, the Inquisitor closed the distance to Tina in just three steps and swung it down with crushing force, intending to execute both Tina and Sathya on the spot.

But before it could land, Tina had already scooped up Sathya and leaped away. The violent shockwave whipped through Tina's beautiful hair, enveloping her and the girl in her arms in a cloud of dust.

The Inquisitor spun around, drawing a holy bow and firing several golden arrows that streaked like meteors. Yet, in the blink of an eye, Tina appeared atop a broken stone pillar behind him.

The golden arrows erupted in midair like a second sun. The resulting blast of wind kicked up dust and debris, making it difficult to keep one's eyes open.

Countless fiery meteors scattered in all directions, triggering a secondary explosion as they crashed to the ground.

Only then did the Inquisitor realize that the Saintess before him was no ordinary opponent.

“Little Ya, wait for me here, okay?”

Tina smiled, gently stroking the silver hair of the girl in her arms. As if understanding her intent, the black flames crawled up the stone pillar, gathering around Sathya to form a translucent shield of miasma.

“Just wait for me for a moment.”

From the Inquisitor's perspective, the scene unfolding before him was utterly shocking.

He had learned from textbooks that anyone defenseless who approached a magical beast would be devoured entirely. Yet, not only was the apprentice Saintess before him not being devoured, but she was even interacting with it in such an intimate manner.

In the next second.

Just as he saw Tina let go, turn around, and fix her hollow eyes upon him, a sharp pain flared in his chest.

Tina had instantly closed the distance, appearing right before him. His golden armor shattered under the violent impact, sending the Inquisitor flying backward at an angle until he crashed heavily against the wall behind him.

He couldn't move a muscle, his body completely drained of strength. The slightest movement brought a wave of agonizing pain.

Apprentice Saintesses were supposed to be inexperienced girls who hadn't even seen the Tower of Stars. How could she possess such overwhelming power?!

She walked straight to the dead bishop, Sheffield, dragged him by one arm, and brought him over to the side of the abyssal magical beast.

Then, the black flames coiled around the bishop's body like tentacles, slowly tightening as if feeding. In the end, the dead bishop's body melted away, completely vanishing.

“Eat. This might help restore some of your strength.”

Abyssal magical beasts could increase their strength by devouring humans.

Though her own blood was an excellent supplement, these wicked people made for decent rations as well.

Looking at Sathya, who was protected by the shield atop the stone pillar, Tina felt a quiet joy in her heart and smiled happily.

But to the fallen Inquisitor, this smile seemed like the mocking sneer of a demon.

However, when the system's notification rang out, Tina felt a touch of helplessness.

【Magic Core Integrity: 2.1%】

They said the Church's ranks were highly inflated, and it seemed that rumor was indeed true.

Then again, it could also just be that Sathya was too powerful.

Tina walked over to the Inquisitor and squatted down, her expression devoid of any pity.

“Inquisitor Joel, shall we make a deal?”

“W-What?”

The Inquisitor had assumed he was going to die, but he hadn't expected Tina to be so naive.

But this was fine too. As long as he could relay this information to the principal of the Holy Academy, both Tina and Sathya would be executed.

These two Saintesses were nothing more than playthings in the hands of the Church's high-ranking officials anyway.

When the time came, they would be sacrificed to pave the way for other Saintesses. Either way, they were doomed to die.

The abyssal magical beast didn't seem to have reached its complete form yet. Otherwise, the entire campus would have probably been wiped out overnight, and the Holy Academy completely ruined.

“I agree! I agree to anything! Please, spare me!”

“Bishop Sheffield was someone who prioritized his personal safety above all else, so you couldn't have been the only Inquisitor protecting him, right? Take me to them.”

There was no particular emotion in Tina's voice, yet Joel felt an overwhelming sense of dread.

But then, a surge of secret joy rose in his heart.

Who were the Inquisitors?

They were the peak combat force of the entire Church. Currently, there weren't even a thousand clergymen who had risen to the rank of Inquisitor. Just a handful of them possessed the power to rival an entire army. Tina was indeed unexpectedly strong, but there was no way she could withstand several Inquisitors at once.

“I'll tell you where they are. Just spare me, okay?”

“Of course.”

“If you go out of the Soul-Purifying Hall, there is a special brick about ten meters away. Pressing it will open a hidden door leading to a safe room. With the magical beast awakening, they must have taken refuge there!”

“Ah, thank you.” Tina nodded, looking as though she understood.

Just as Inquisitor Joel thought he had escaped death, he felt his throat tighten. Before he could react, Tina picked up a shard of armor and plunged it into his neck. After a brief struggle, he drew his last breath, dying with a look of false relief on his face.

After "feeding" the Inquisitor to Sathya in the same manner, Tina slowly walked in the direction Joel had indicated.

How could Tina not remember the "safe room" he spoke of?

Familiar with the layout, Tina easily activated the hidden mechanism. Amidst the ruins, a secret door slowly swung open, revealing a staircase leading downward.

Following the stairs down and passing through a narrow corridor, she arrived at a closed space about the size of an indoor basketball court.

However, after a century of development, this place had now become an exclusive shelter for the high-ranking members of the Church.

The moment Tina stepped down, many of the clergymen hiding inside slowly rose from their tables and turned around.

They wore the exact same attire as Joel, looking identical to him in appearance.

“Apprentice Saintess Tina? Where is the Bishop?! Did you escape all by yourself?!”

“Is it dangerous outside? How do you know about this shelter?”

“We will be able to contact the Principal soon. As long as he can bring Master Astral Sage along...”

But Tina ignored all of their words.

After all, the people in front of her were just like Sheffield.

They were "accomplices."

With a heavy clang, Tina shut the iron door tight. The gentle smile on her face looked incredibly chilling at this moment.

“No need to trouble yourselves. Today, none of you will escape.”