Chapter 77: Holy Court Council

For a moment, massive roars and strong tremors repeatedly echoed through the Dark Forest.

Even though Fulade possessed enough strength to crush a Forest Giant, it was not so easy to kill it.

Its thick, sturdy body and the powerful self‑healing it gained after going berserk made Forest Giant Atess far tougher than imagined.

Perhaps this is the unique trait of plant‑type giants after berserk.

Great self‑healing and vitality.

At this moment, Fulade did not know that the anomaly in the Dark Forest had already set many nerves on edge.

This far‑reaching battle directly caused several neighboring kingdoms to become uneasy.

It also directly or indirectly affected many people's perceptions and beliefs.

Many humans who had personally witnessed even brief skirmishes between Fulade and the Forest Giant.

Prompted by interested parties, a fervent and mad faith group began to spread quietly in secret.

The largest number among them were the soldiers stationed at the borders of various kingdoms surrounding the Dark Forest.

To these ignorant common folk, both the battle between Fulade and the Forest Giant, its image, and the massive destruction perfectly matched their conception of a deity.

Whether a righteous god or an evil god, in this panic‑filled environment, no one cared any longer.

They only prayed, using their spiritual belief in the deity to fill their own mental fear.

Of course, at present Fulade was completely unaware of these events.

He didn't even know whether any human kingdoms existed around the Dark Forest.

"Boom—!!"

Another huge roar sounded, accompanied by a series of crackling clicks.

Under Fulade's overwhelming strike, a deep pit hundreds of meters wide, extending nearly a kilometer, and spider‑web‑like fissures reappeared in the Dark Forest.

When the smoke cleared, Forest Giant Atess had already assumed his berserk form.

Several massive hollows on his chest and the unnatural twists of his arms reflected his current state.

Atess, drenched in blood and badly beaten.

Through his already blurred vision, he watched the Demon silhouette approaching slowly, strands of resentment and fear spreading in his eyes.

He knew his life was about to end.

Holy Court.

Council Hall.

"Esteemed Pope Nixia."

"The Luminous Scripture of Warnings has recently been plagued by omens; it may be warning us of an impending change, please prepare in advance."

An elderly man, nearing his seventies, shuffled into the council hall, trembling as he addressed the Pope seated at the head of the meeting.

Inside the council hall, eight Cardinals were seated, discussing recent Holy Court affairs.

When they saw the old man approach, they all felt a hint of doubt.

Because, although the old man was also a Cardinal, he never participated in internal affairs, his presence within the Holy Court was quite weak.

Yet no one would underestimate him, for he possessed rare prophetic abilities as an astrologer and was also the keeper of the Luminous Scripture.

The others exchanged glances, silent for a moment.

The Pope gazed deeply at the old man, his expression solemn, and asked, "Cardinal Leisen, do you have the results of your prophetic divination!?"

The old man's voice trembled slightly as he said, "Pope Nixia, forgive my limited cultivation. With the power of the Scripture of Warnings, I have glimpsed a massive mysterious force enveloping the north, spreading across the world at a rapid pace.

The world~ is about to fall into darkness."

As the old man's words fell, a Cardinal suddenly wore a grave expression and said:

"Pope Nixia, what I speak of may be the same as Cardinal Leisen's prophecy, or there may be a significant connection."

"Cardinal Leisen, it seems we are discussing the same matter today," the Pope said, turning to the old man.

Cardinal Leisen's expression froze, puzzled, "Oh, so the news came that quickly?"

"Father Solomon, you may speak," a Cardinal, at the Pope's signal, gestured toward the man behind him.

Only then did the old man notice a gaunt priest in clerical robes standing at the side of the council.

"Cardinal Lords, I am Solomon, a deacon of the Wei Er Wei Ya region."

Solomon stepped forward briskly, first introducing his background to the senior clergy of the Holy Court.

Then he turned to the old man, saying, "Cardinal Leisen, your prophecy may already have become reality."

As Solomon's words fell, a hush of whispers rose in the hall; after everyone had processed them, the Pope finally ordered the crowd to cease their conversation.

Cardinal Leisen looked at the Pope's calm expression, evidently having been informed of the news in advance.

"Cardinal Lords, in the Wei Er Wei Ya region, a massive dark force has emerged, spreading to the surroundings at a terrifying speed.

Among them, Deacon Mano of the Wei Er Wei Ya region has already perished.

Upon hearing Solomon's slow account, the senior Cardinals at the heart of the Holy Court grew solemn.

"You mean the Wolf Disaster is raging, rapidly spreading to the nations surrounding Wei Er Wei Ya!" a resonant voice rang out.

A robust middle‑aged man, his face grave, looked at Solomon.

He was Noding, the Chief Judge of the Religious Tribunal.

He was also a powerful first‑rank demon hunter who had begun to break free from the Life Shackle.

It's laughable, the Holy Court's supernatural power is still composed of Wizards and demon hunters.

However, unlike others, they have undergone the Holy Court's secret arts, converting energy into light power.

Such supernatural elites number no more than a handful within the entire Holy Court.

Solomon said, "Yes, Chief Judge Noding."

"The spread rate of the Wolf Disaster depends on their base numbers."

If we don't act quickly to stop them, they'll just keep rolling like a snowball, growing larger and larger, and by then even if the Holy Court wants to intervene, it will likely be willing but powerless.

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately became restless, began incessantly discussing countermeasures, and the meeting only barely concluded at dusk—considered a rare efficiency within the Holy Court.

After obtaining joint approval from the Holy Court's senior officials, the Pope immediately issued and signed the appointment decree.

Chief Inquisitor Nording leads the Inquisition's Light Demon Hunter Knights (Note: Light‑type Demon Hunter) and the Holy Court Defender Knights, as well as the foreign Demon Hunter Knights, to head to the towns surrounding Vervia to suppress the spread of the Wolf Disaster.

He also has the authority to order Bishops and deacons of each major diocese to cooperate in the operation.

When Bishop Leisen saw the Pope issue this order, he not only did not feel relieved, but grew increasingly uneasy.

"Why do I feel more and more uneasy, as if something is wrong there," the elder, guided by his astrologer's intuition, turned his gaze toward Solomon.

But after half a moment, he shook his head, and when he then looked at Pope Thomas, for some unknown reason his expression suddenly grew solemn.

(End of Chapter)