Chapter 185: Chapter 183: Vanessa Is Actually a Tier Four Mage?!

"The aura of the blessing... It’s you!"

The leader suddenly exploded with killing intent and momentum, pressing down on Hilia in an instant.

They were heretics from the Deep Sea Mutual Aid Association, who had just come out of the Star Spirit Forbidden Land and were heading to Star Ash Town to seek healing from priests.

Because they were going to the Divine Hall to seek treatment, they hid all traces of pollution from themselves, along with any sense of the "Spiritual Object of Divine Blessing."

Of course, it wasn’t entirely hidden; there was still a vague sense.

And as they got closer, his sense of the Spiritual Object grew stronger.

Making him certain that the thief was in Star Ash Town.

He was already imagining the scene of catching the culprit after treatment.

But just now, as he exchanged a glance with the girl next to the High Priest, his sense of the Spiritual Object suddenly exploded.

The Spiritual Object was on her.

And the stronghold was destroyed by her!

She’s inside the Divine Hall, even wearing an assistant priest’s robe.

This is a move from the Divine Hall!

Sensing it burst forth, stirring his emotions, and he was instantly blinded by rage—the suppressed tier pressure erupted!

The pressure from a Tier Four suddenly pinned Hilia down, unable to move, until Rose’s spiritual power acted upon her, easing the situation.

Just as she was about to summon her Magic Puppet, Vanessa was already standing in front of her.

"Hilia, you leave first. Leave this to me."

Vanessa’s voice came, and Hilia paused, shocked at how Vanessa seemed unaffected.

"Vanessa, Mom, you’re Tier Four now?"

"Now’s not the time to talk. You leave, I’ll handle them."

"Alright!"

The confidence radiating from Vanessa made Hilia feel very assured.

She nodded heavily, then slowly backed away.

But before she could leave, the shark—releasing the Tier Four pressure—spoke coldly: "Trying to leave? Did I say you could?"

"Sir, who are you? What grudge do you have with Hilia? Let’s talk it out. This is the Divine Hall—before you do anything, I suggest you consider the consequences."

Vanessa frowned, sizing up the stranger in front of her. She could sense his escalating momentum and the thick aura of pollution within it, making her cautious.

"Heretic?"

"Hmph, so what if it’s the Divine Hall?" Shark sneered coldly, "You stole our Mutual Aid Association’s Spiritual Object—you’re all dead! Divine Hall, dead! Holy Court, dead!"

"So you are heretics. Getting bolder, I see—even daring to barge into the Divine Hall."

Vanessa’s aura rose along with the shark’s, stirring everything around them into motion, forming two opposing energy fields—black and white streaming violently, shredding anything coming too close.

Shark said coldly, "Go stop that girl. I’ll handle the High Priest."

"Yes!"

The others immediately moved past, ready to seize Hilia.

Vanessa had just tried to intercept them, but Shark was already rushing forward.

"Your opponent is me!"

Vanessa sighed helplessly and shouted, "Hilia, run to the backyard. There’s a flower there—pin it on your chest, it’ll help shield you from these heretics’ attacks."

"No need for all that!"

Hilia summoned her Magic Puppet—rather than retreat, she advanced. But since it was inside the Divine Hall, she didn’t want to wreck the place in a fight, so she slipped out the side door, turned in the Divine Hall’s side courtyard, and faced the six attackers.

Hilia sized them up carefully, "Five seriously wounded, one lucky enough to be only lightly injured—and with this, you still want to fight me?"

The one who’d only suffered a light injury sneered, "Just a Tier Two Mage—against you, even half-dead, we’re enough."

As the sardine leader, he was confident—maybe can’t beat the High Priest, but a mere assistant priest?

All present were Tier Three, and though the other sardines were injured, the sardine leader was fine.

Lightly injured basically meant unhurt.

If so many of them couldn’t defeat a Tier Two Mage, then they might as well give up on Deep Sea and just sacrifice themselves!

Every sardine thought this. They didn’t even bother to summon their Magic Puppets—just rushed at Hilia.

Hilia gave a slight smile, "Oh, I’m so scared."

If they were in peak shape, maybe she’d hesitate to fight.

But five half-dead Tier Three mages, barely able to muster a tenth of their strength? What’s to fear?

Plus one barely normal Tier Three mage—Hilia wasn’t scared at all.

"Let’s deal with those five sickly ones first."

Hilia quickly set her tactic.

She looked at the six charging enemies and smiled.

"Hold on!"

At her command, the six slowed down instantly.

Not because they stopped when Hilia spoke.

But—

Water of Stagnation!

When she ran out, she secretly cast Water of Stagnation along the route, using the Mage’s Hand so the effect stayed attached to it and didn’t dissipate as she moved.

The unsuspecting bunch instantly fell under the effect of Water of Stagnation, their speed stalling.

Sardine leader sneered, "Tier One Water of Stagnation? You think that alone will stop us?"

Just as he was about to force his way through, the sticky Water of Stagnation abruptly became fluid, and in the moment of confusion, the temperature plummeted around them.

They felt their bodies begin to freeze, hurriedly channeling magic power to resist.

But before they could react, Hilia’s voice rang out.

"Shatter!"

The icy sensation suddenly tore at their bodies, as if ripping them apart.

Except for the sardine leader, the others immediately showed signs of agony.

Because Hilia targeted them specifically, tearing at their wounded bodies.

The first to go down were the two female heretics among the five.

Under the Ice Shattering Skill, they collapsed in pain, instantly falling unconscious.

They weren’t torn to pieces thanks to their self-protective magic and the resilience Tier Three offered.

The remaining three weren’t much better—collapsing under the skill, though still conscious.

Only the sardine leader, being uninjured and stronger, was barely affected.

He glanced back at the five, annoyed: "Useless bunch. Should’ve come with Lord Shark alone—not brought you at all."

The three who stayed conscious looked aggrieved.

Weren’t we supposed to pose as ordinary mages to get healed in the Divine Hall?

Yet instead, we’ve ended up brawling here.

Are we even fit for fighting right now?

The two unconscious still wanted to fight, but the three who remained didn’t anymore. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

They screamed in pain, faces twisted in agony, pretending not to hear the sardine leader.

Seeing this, sardine leader flicked his sleeve.

"Hmph, who needs you—even just me is enough to finish off this brat."

A thick pollution aura began to rise from him.

"Hey, brat. Hand over the God-blessed Spiritual Object, or suffer."

Hilia said nothing, only radiated a divine glow from her body.

"God’s Direct Blessing—Purification Skill!"