Mary wasted no time. She leveled her gun at the woman, her stance firm and unwavering.
"That's enough. Step away from the fire, hands where I can see them."
Mary commanded, her voice filled with authority.
Lila didn't even flinch. Instead, she tilted her head slightly, as if amused by the demand.
"Or what? You'll shoot me? You won't. You're too righteous for that. I'm a goddess. I won't die even if you do that. It will just be wasted effort on your part."
She asked, voice dripping with mockery.
Mary's eye twitched, but she didn't fire.
Auriel, meanwhile, wasn't paying attention to their exchange.
Something was wrong—something more than just Lila's presence. A wave of corrupted energy pulsed through the air, crawling against her skin like insects.
Her golden eyes scanned the village ruins, her divine senses stretching out in search of the missing priestesses and hunters who had arrived before them.