Light Against Ruin

Rowan sat quietly in the conference room, his brows furrowed slightly as he pondered.

"Of all the people who wish to avoid war, I must be at the top of the list. The Holy Radiance Church has only just found its footing—we need time to strengthen and grow. I've already expended a massive amount of divine faith energy performing the Great Prophecy to save Lilia. Now, more than half of my faith reserves are depleted, and even my own cultivation has become unstable. If war breaks out now, the consequences will be disastrous."

As Rowan's thoughts swirled, a steady voice echoed through the conference hall. Cass, his sharp gaze sweeping over the gathered leaders, announced, "Everyone, the allocation of resources in this war will be determined by each church's performance on the battlefield. I expect all of you to give it your utmost effort. We must ensure the Holy Radiance Alliance secures the greatest share of the spoils. Do not falter."

Meanwhile, within the Dark Alliance, an equally crucial meeting was underway.

The Church of Ruin stood at the absolute core of the alliance, its influence unrivaled. The God of Ruin, whom they worshipped, was a mighty Greater Deity, and the entire alliance followed its decrees without question.

At the head of the grand conference table sat Pope Hughes, the ruler of the Church of Ruin. His expression was grim, his gaze sharp with ruthless ambition. Slowly, he spoke, his deep voice carrying an undercurrent of menace.

"We have received a divine revelation. A minor plane will soon manifest at the border between our two alliances. Naturally, this plane must fall into our hands. But..."—he paused, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous light—"that is merely a secondary objective."

He swept his gaze across the room, his voice rising with fervor.

"Our true goal is to take this opportunity to annihilate the Holy Radiance Alliance once and for all! Once the Holy Radiance Church is destroyed, the remaining minor churches will be nothing but scattered embers, easy to snuff out."

A heavy silence fell over the room. The other dark church leaders exchanged uneasy glances, their faces reflecting shock. The plan was madness!

The Holy Radiance Alliance was no feeble force—it boasted powerhouses of its own. To attempt a total eradication was easier said than done.

Pope Muca of the Church of Malice frowned. "The Holy Pope is not an easy opponent. He reached the demi-god realm years ago, and his strength is unfathomable. If we confront him directly, we may not stand a chance."

Hughes let out a cold chuckle. "Leave the Holy Pope to me. You need not concern yourselves with him."

Then, his lips curled into a sinister smile. "Besides, I have good news—the Barbarian Tribes have agreed to join our assault. With their strength added to ours, our victory is all but assured."

The other popes widened their eyes in astonishment, then delight. What once seemed an insurmountable challenge now appeared far more feasible.

Yet Muca still hesitated. "Can the barbarians be trusted? Their High Priest is an enigma, his power immeasurable. If they betray us at the last moment and turn on us instead, we will be the ones to suffer. Are we not inviting the wolf into our home?"

Hughes waved a hand dismissively, utterly confident. "Rest assured. The only reason the barbarians agreed to ally with us is that they despise the Holy Radiance Church. According to our agreement, once the Holy Radiance Alliance falls, we will divide its lands equally between us. The barbarians will have no reason to betray us."

His gaze darkened. "This time, we will deploy our finest warriors. A swift, merciless strike—no hesitation, no retreat."

The Gathering Storm

After concluding the strategy meeting, Rowan returned to Apocalypse City without delay. The moment he arrived, he summoned Black, his trusted knight commander.

"Black, how are the knights settling in? Has everything been arranged?"

Black bowed slightly and answered promptly, "My lord, you need not worry. Apocalypse City originally housed only a small garrison, and we have successfully taken full control. The entire city is now under our command.

Additionally, as per your orders, I have sent scouts to survey all possible retreat routes. Each path has been thoroughly examined multiple times to ensure absolute security."

A slight frown crossed Black's face as he added, "That said, my lord… it's quite clear that the Holy Radiance Church has little regard for our forces. We've been stationed far from the main battlefield, likely because they see us as insignificant. They believe we won't make much of a difference."

Rowan listened calmly before letting out a faint chuckle. "That's to be expected. More likely, they're afraid we might discover the entrance to the minor plane before they do."

His eyes gleamed with sharp insight. "But this works to our advantage. The main battlefield will be a bloodbath. There's no need for us to throw ourselves into that chaos. Let them fight to the death—we'll observe from a safe distance and seize the right opportunity when it arises. In these turbulent times, survival is the greatest strength. As long as the mountain remains, we'll never run out of firewood."

Black nodded in agreement. "Understood, my lord. We will stand our ground, remain vigilant, and strike when the time is right."

The War Erupts

A week passed in the blink of an eye. The tension in the main battlefield reached its peak. Finally, war erupted.

The Holy Radiance Alliance unleashed its full might.

Leading the charge was an army of one hundred thousand knights, their polished silver armor glistening under the sun. With their lances held high and their warhorses galloping in perfect unison, they looked like an unstoppable tide of steel. Their disciplined formation exuded an overwhelming aura of power.

Behind them marched an equally vast army of one hundred thousand infantrymen, their weapons gleaming with cold light as they moved in flawless ranks, ready for battle at any moment.

But the most enigmatic force of all was the Divine Order, a unit of spellcasters shrouded in mystery, their presence alone enough to inspire awe and terror alike.

On the opposite side, the Church of Ruin assembled a force even more terrifying.

One hundred fifty thousand knights thundered forward, their dark armor exuding an eerie, oppressive aura. Even their warhorses seemed restless, sensing the carnage about to unfold.

Behind them, one hundred thousand brutal infantrymen advanced, their eyes burning with bloodlust. This was not merely an army—it was a force of destruction, eager to drench the battlefield in crimson.

The Dark Order, the spellcasting elite of the Church of Ruin, emerged onto the battlefield. Their mere presence sent a chill through the air, their sinister auras promising devastation.

The two armies stood in eerie silence, locked in an unspoken standoff. The battlefield was deathly still, save for the fluttering of war banners and the restless snorts of warhorses.

The storm of war had arrived.

And when it broke, only one side would be left standing.