The last time Lyra stood as a warrior against enemies was before Liya Tower Fortress completely fell. Back then, as the knight-captain appointed by Duke Charles, she led fellow graduates from Elizabeth Academy of Magic in defending one-third of the fortress line.

Now returning to the battlefield, everything seemed changed, yet something remained forever the same.

For example, the violent chain explosions ringing in her ears, dust-and-frozen-soil-lifting collisions of elemental particles, fiercely clashing in midair.

Her silver, rigid knight’s boots stepped upon the gray-black wall. The stench of burnt flesh mixed with the damp, heavy scent of rust, whether from blood or some unknown metal, grew especially sharp amid the chaotic winds.

Letting out a light sigh, Lyra twirled her Holy Light Sword into an elegant flourish. The radiance emanating from the blade quickly spread outward from her, washing over the city-defending soldiers behind her.

In that instant, the retreating troops, obeying military orders, felt warmth surge through their bodies. Fatigue in their muscles disappeared under the support of light magic, and their minds grew clearer.

Although standing atop the city wall facing the knightly formation directly, Lyra hadn’t abandoned her control over the dome barrier. Now, she simultaneously shielded allies with the heavily worn-down defensive circle, while casting beneficial spells upon them, boosting stamina, increasing elemental resistance, and more.

When Arcanist mages clashed, anyone below the strength of Magnus should spend not a single second outside. The sooner one took cover, the greater the chance of survival.

Under selective protection by the dome barrier, White Maple Town had already been partially destroyed. At this rate, the entire town being leveled was merely a matter of time.

As Lyra layered buffs upon her allies, the Church Knights below clearly notice the massive gathering of light-element particles being drawn toward the pink-haired knight atop the wall, especially toward the slender, translucent knight’s blade in her hand, which radiated sacred energy and seemed capable of easily absorbing sunlight itself with each swing.

Facing such a radiant, holy presence, some knights unfamiliar with Lyra’s combat abilities fell into brief confusion. But as the command from the formation leader arrived, they immediately resumed constructing the field magic [Holy Radiant City], and their doubts were quickly suppressed.

The knight-captain and bishop stood closer to the Lord than they did. So long as they continued following these servants’ path, one day they too would receive God’s grace and enter the divine realm after death.

For now, they merely needed to await divine light.

Holding such devout thoughts, the next moment that descended upon the formation wasn’t blessed, but a surging sword beam piercing through.

Outer layers of light-element particles, struck by Lyra’s mana-charged sword beam, lost their original formation arrangement, gradually reverting to their most common, gentle state in nature.

This meant the formation’s defensive circle would now be greatly amplified against Lyra’s offense.

The sharp sword beam sliced through the hazy radiation, harshly cutting across the front-line knights’ shields. In an instant, metal shattered under the blade’s sharpness, and the transmitted force numbed their hands.

Then came their armor. Thanks to the inherent sharpness of the Holy Light Sword, the sword beam pierced straight through its target. The forearm guard was blasted several meters away, the white holy armor’s shoulder piece drenched in blood, the dark liquid stained the battlefield.

Watching the aftermath of her strike, hearing the cries in the air, Lyra’s heartbeat quickened slightly. Suppressing the inner discomfort, she swung her sword again.

Just as the solidified mana shot through the air, another sword launched beam from within the formation collided with hers. No light-element particles were involved, this was pure martial technique clashing.

A crisp sound echoed in their ears. After brief contact, Lyra’s sword beam proved superior, cleaving into the shield formation behind the beam. However, slowed by the blocking technique, the transparent sword beam lost some of its edge and failed to penetrate the sturdy shields forged from Holy Iron.

Noticing the defensive circle atop the wall had fully collapsed, a young man in knight’s armor within the formation leapt forward, charging towards Lyra on the wall like an arrow loosed from a bow.

Watching the Church Knight rapidly approaching, Lyra immediately recognized his identity, the familiar face who’d shot arrows at her during the Liya Tower Fortress days and attempted to hinder the airship fleet’s retreat.

Deputy of the Church’s Knight Order, under Knight-Captain Kales.

Last time, Lyra had defeated him. This time, the outcome wouldn’t change.

The sharp tip rapidly enlarged in her blue eyes, its cold glint pricking her skin. Lyra raised her sword to block. Sparks from the metallic clash burst beside the young woman’s pale cheeks. Then, as Lyra deflected the strike, the deputy knight captain’s blade swung toward the ground. The pink-haired girl quickly lifted her knees. Her rigid Holy Light Armor slammed into the man’s abdomen with a dull thud.

The next moment, the deputy knight captain, about to be sent flying, felt his internal organs tremble. Fortunately, his physical constitution as a Master Knight warrior was strong enough, otherwise, that strike would’ve sent him to meet the omniscient and omnipotent Lord.

Seeing the deputy knight captain barely stabilize himself midair using solidified mental-force, Lyra gave him no chance to catch his breath. The translucent knight’s blade ignited from the tip outward with light. Scorching waves of radiation swept aside strands of her pink hair. Her two slender, fair legs stood straight and together. Her delicate face showed not a trace of emotion.

A mere Deputy stood no chance against Lyra’s assault, even as she simultaneously controlled the dome barrier and fought with sword in hand.

If someone like deputy knight captain slipped into the retreating soldier ranks, it would truly be a wolf among sheep, consequences unimaginable.

Another sword strike sent a wave-like sword beam surging forward, forcing the deputy knight captain to raise his weapon in defense. The slender blade trembled violently upon impact, clanging repeatedly as if it would shatter any second.

Extremely high mana quality. Exceptionally strong light-element resistance. Physical strength is multiple times greater than frail mages. Plus a holy sword capable of massively draining light-element particles. Although both were dual-path warriors and mages of equal rank, Lyra felt like an immovable mountain to the deputy knight captain. After just a few exchanges, his wrists ached and his breathing grew labored.

In that moment of thought, the sword beam blocked by his blade shattered midair. Fragmented blades pierced through deputy knight captain’s outer light-element defense, leaving a clear gash across his otherwise handsome cheek.

No... Lyra was stronger now than she was during the airship protection days...

Just clashing mana against mana kept him overwhelmed. She didn’t resemble an ordinary peak tier Master Knight at all.

Seeing the deputy knight captain wounded, Lyra showed no mercy. With a casual slash, she forced him to retreat, then suddenly kicked off the ground. Her speed explodes, leaving only afterimages. The blade aims at his heart from a sharp angle.

On the battlefield, showing mercy to an enemy meant increasing danger to oneself.

Since he’d chosen to appear here as a soldier, he should have been prepared to die at any moment.

The sword tip pierced the holy armor, stabbing straight into flesh. But due to deputy knight captain’s last-moment evasion, Lyra’s fatal strike missed the heart, only piercing his lung.

The next second, the man desperately broke free from the blade. Survival instinct overwhelmed the numbness from being stabbed. Blood loss made the deputy knight captain’s mind hazy, yet surging adrenaline stimulated his consciousness, forcing him to stay alert.

Thankfully, mages of Magnus level didn’t need to chant spells aloud, they could release magic through mental incantation alone.

A large amount of light-element particles gathered at the wound, attempting to repair the damage. But the injury was too severe, far beyond what simple healing magic could mend.

A burning sensation flared in his lungs. His sword hand grew weak. deputy knight captain stared fiercely at Lyra, his attention entirely fixed on her sword hand.

Seeing the deputy knight captain showing no sign of surrender, Lyra narrowed her eyes slightly. Snowflakes landed on the blade evaporated instantly in radiant flame, as she aimed once more at her enemy.

If her parents could see everything she was facing now, would they be worried about her?

This thought flashed through Lyra’s mind uninvited, but it didn’t affect her sword. A surging sword beam, powerful enough to destroy both man and armor, erupted from the downward slash.

"Lord deputy knight captain!"

In the blink of an eye, a Holy Church Knight leapt forward, moving deputy knight captain aside. The sword beam grazed along the rescuer’s waist, missing by only a hair from cutting him in half.

Even so, blood still soaked the knight’s side.

No time to think, a lingering spell wave from an Arcanist mage on the battlefield was about to reach Lyra. Sensing the incoming destructive energy, Lyra immediately rolled beneath the city wall. Scorching radiation swept over her head, obliterating all magic-powered devices placed atop the battlements.

At the same time, her body’s instinctive sense of danger told her to move. Half a breath after shifting her legs, a jagged bolt of lightning struck the spot she’d just occupied.

Not just deputy knight captain, more Church Knights were approaching, each one an elite among the elite.

Sighing again at the decline of knightly spirit, Lyra turned toward the retreating forces in the distance. She stood quietly among the ruins, her light wings fully unfolded, like a divine messenger from the Holy Church scriptures.

But... exactly what she wanted...

The stronger her combat prowess appears, the more enemy attention she’d draw, reducing pressure on other defense zones.

Soaring upward, Lyra turned her back to the sun, casting a large shadow upon the ground. Multiple holy white light-arrows radiated from her sword.

Peak tier Magnus-level dual-element light and fire magic, [Burning Light Rainfall]

Above the battlefield, several Arcanist mages continued their clash. Since the Valeria Empire had only two Arcanist mages participating here, while the Church fielded exactly three, the former remained suppressed.

Feeling the surrounding wind grow increasingly scorching, Charlotte raised her staff. Higher layers of air currents poured down.

Although she and Duke Charles faced three opponents, the pressure was immense, but still far from sufficient to cause legendary-level casualties.

Judging by the timing of the signal, reinforcements should have arrived by now.

And indeed, just as Charlotte thought, the two Arcanist mages dispatched by Astrid had already taken their positions.

With two additional powerful presences joining the already fierce battle, chaos intensified.

Feeling the surrounding lightning elements being drawn by the Arcanist mage into chain lightning that tore across the sky, attacking the opposing Church knights, the pressure on Charlotte dropped sharply.

Even now, the raven-haired beauty could erect a wind barrier so dense that not even light could penetrate, blocking Church Knights from further pursuing the retreating defenders.

"By order of the Regent, eliminate all enemy forces here."

"Currently, only three Arcanist mages have appeared. Stay vigilant, Holy Church surely holds more cards."

After a brief exchange of intelligence, the city defenders, clearly superior in strength to the Kingdom of Velys’s forces, launched a counterattack. Intersecting lightning rolled in, crashing against the nearly shattered light barrier. Nearby, roaring flames seemed to ignite the clouds, turning the entire sky crimson.

Watching the Church Knights steadily retreat, Charlotte’s brows didn’t relax at all. Her tea-colored eyes grew even deeper.

The counterattack was progressing too smoothly. The Kingdom of Velys barely put up any resistance.

Although this was the result of meticulous planning by Astrid and Charles, the enemy couldn’t be that foolish, surely they wouldn’t send only three Arcanist mages during such a crucial moment.

At this strategic level, action should either remain silent, or strike with overwhelming force.

Judging from current circumstances, even without Amalia issuing related decrees to station Arcanist mages at the front lines early, the sheer power of Charles’s ducal family alone should have been enough to respond.

What exactly was the Holy Church planning...

Shifting her gaze downward, observing the ant-like figures below, enhanced by Eagle Vision, every move Lyra made lay within Charlotte’s sight.

Facing attacks from multiple Church Knights, Lyra wielded her sword one-handed. Her light wings carry her like a butterfly weaving through the formation, so fast she appears as a beam of light.

The holy light blade opened according to her will. Armor split in two. Magic failed. The arcs of her slashes bloomed like flower petals, striking every attacker from every angle.

Indeed, the one chosen by Astrid. Such a brilliant talent, she will surely achieve great things in time.

For a fleeting moment, Charlotte saw Lyra’s light sword flicker briefly, seemingly resonating with something. And in the next second, Lyra herself, flying at low altitude, sensed it too, her eyes fixed on the holy blade in her hand.

This aura... is it a sacred artifact?

Monica arrived? Why didn’t she contact us earlier?

An ominous feeling enveloped Lyra’s heart. She looked up. The direction of the sacred artifact had somehow been engulfed in light, a venerable old man in white holy robes, carrying a scripture, walked forward upon bricks of light.

Who is he?

Doubt flickered through Lyra’s mind. Charlotte’s tea-colored pupils broadened slightly, her expression growing increasingly serious.

The Pope of the Church of Light, Hebrew