Silphiel froze for a moment, then burst out laughing. "Sorry, couldn't hold it back. Soul Sacrifice? Guess they really hate traitors with a passion!"

Soul Sacrifice, as the name implied, burned one's soul for a fleeting surge of power. That was why Lelia could match Silphiel's strength.

She must also be under a potent control spell, forcing her to fight against her will.

Huh. Kinda pitiful when you think about it.

These spells were tricky to cast—especially Soul Sacrifice on others. The cost was enormous, requiring special rituals.

Silphiel stopped laughing and shook her head at Lelia's deathly pale face. "You brought this on yourself. You killed your Heretic buddies, burned half your hideout to cover tracks, even wrote me a letter selling out your comrades for a deal. And you still dared show up here?"

"When Sophia reported it, I thought it was a trap."

"Seriously, if you're gonna betray someone, go all the way. What's this half-hearted mess? Can't let go? This is what happens!"

Lelia shot back, voice trembling. "I'm not a traitor! I didn't betray them! I aimed away from Master and Senior Brother's vitals—they shouldn't have died!"

Silphiel blinked. "Then why are they dead? If not you, who?"

Lelia's lips moved soundlessly. To anyone watching, it looked like she'd killed them herself.

"...No. Someone's framing me."

Lelia felt like dying. She'd told the High Priest the same thing, but he'd reacted just like Silphiel: If you didn't kill them, how did they die?

"And that letter? I never wrote it!" Lelia's voice cracked. "Why would I betray my comrades? I'm just a low-level outer disciple—I don't even know all the hideouts! I was wondering if the Divine Court really got a divine revelation. How else did they catch Heretics so precisely?"

Silphiel's eyebrow lifted. Something felt off.

Lelia didn't seem to be lying. Her bizarre actions didn't fit a traitor.

As Silphiel had said earlier—if Lelia were a traitor, why walk into a trap tonight?

To the Heretics, it looked obvious: the traitor arrived, and the Divine Court's Knighthood followed right after.

If the Heretics couldn't touch the Knighthood, they'd take it out on her alone.

It made no sense!

Was someone pulling strings behind the scenes?

Digging deeper, Silphiel saw another flaw. Only a high-ranking Heretic—or someone from the future—could know all the Holy Capital hideouts.

But top Heretics never betrayed their cause. This felt like a setup: a leader sacrificing the entire Holy Capital cell just to frame Lelia.

Was he insane?

Compared to that absurd idea, Silphiel preferred to believe Lelia had been betrayed and controlled by the Heretics after her own betrayal. Her words and actions were bait to lower Silphiel's guard.

After all, Silphiel had wiped out many Heretics this time.

Trusting Lelia would mean walking into a revenge trap.

Silphiel never trusted easily. She always assumed the worst.

"Heh heh. Almost fell for it, Lelia. And as a Heretic, you dare beg the Holy Maiden for help?"

Silphiel sneered, eyelids drooping. "You look so pitiful. I'll be merciful and send you to the Goddess early."

Lelia's expression darkened. She'd said her piece. Since Silphiel refused to believe her, she might as well go all out. From their first meeting, Lelia had sensed Silphiel's hostility.

The Holy Maiden had targeted her relentlessly. This wretched fate? Silphiel was to blame.

If not for her pressure, would Lelia have executed her fellow disciples publicly?

If things had gone smoothly—even without assassinating the Hero—she and her comrades could've fled the Holy Capital for freedom. Instead, she was branded a traitor.

All Silphiel's fault!

Since she was doomed anyway, she'd drag Silphiel to hell with her.

As Lelia's killing intent surged, the control spell tightened. Her body reacted: "I'm beyond saving. But you won't walk away either!"

Silphiel narrowed her eyes slightly, unafraid. "Showing your true colors at last, you wretch."

Kill this woman. Expose her Heretic schemes to the Hero. Gao Ying would lose interest. Then, with no rivals left, everything would be simple.

While Silphiel thought this, Lelia emptied her mind. Hatred and instinct took over. Her eyes flooded with blood-red fury as she charged like a rabid beast.

Azure soulfire blazed behind her, leaving ghostly blue afterimages.

Her speed was unreal—but Silphiel was ready. Before the fight, she'd layered herself with Divine Art blessings: Courage's Boon, Witch's Favor, Oracle's Pearl, Heaven's Echo. She was armed to the teeth. Her warhammer felt weightless. She swung it like a baseball bat, slamming Lelia away.

Silphiel held nothing back. Lelia flew backward like a broken kite. *Crash!* She smashed into a wall, dust billowing.

Silphiel yawned. "So weak. Is that all you've got?"

A direct hit like that should've left Lelia dead or crippled. She wouldn't get up.

Confident of victory, Silphiel strolled toward the dust cloud. But as it cleared, the Holy Maiden's pupils snapped tight in shock—

Lelia was gone! She'd faked weakness to catch Silphiel off guard.

The basement was pitch-dark. Silphiel, strong but inexperienced in real fights, hadn't noticed Lelia creeping up behind her.

As Silphiel turned, she met Lelia's hate-filled eyes.

"...Wait. Let's—"

Lelia ignored her. With a roar, she threw a full-force punch before Silphiel could react.

Seven shimmering shields surrounded Silphiel—impenetrable in theory. Shattering them would cripple the attacker from backlash. But Lelia didn't care.

To Silphiel's disbelief, the shields shattered into glittering dust.

Lelia's fist, fueled by suicidal fury, punched through Silphiel's chest armor. The impact sent Silphiel flying until she crashed into a stone pillar.

Silphiel coughed blood, sliding to the floor. Crimson bloomed like roses around her.

Lelia's right arm hung twisted at a sickening angle. The shield backlash had shattered her bones too—but she was dying anyway. Why care?

She stared at Silphiel's "corpse" and laughed heartily. "Serves you right."

That punch had crushed Silphiel's heart. She was dead for sure.

"—Master. Senior Brother. Lelia avenged you."

Lelia turned to leave. Lightning erupted from behind, piercing her body.

Blood dripped from her nose and mouth. She whirled around, eyes wide with disbelief at the impossible sight of Silphiel standing.

Her gaze froze.

"...How?"