Chapter 53: Liberation of Dogma

Looking at that blazing sun in mid-air, Francis felt a chill run down his spine.

This army was not only highly disciplined, but strategic as well.

The previous display had been nothing more than a ruse.

In reality, the Magic Array had been fully charged long ago, merely waiting for the right moment to release the collective Magic.

The white robe worn by the White-robed Mage in the center of the array did not look like something a bandit would wear.

On the chest of the robe, a badge was pinned.

Francis noticed the mage’s attire, and his mind suddenly reeled.

At that moment, Integrity, who had been silent until now, spoke up.

“These are people from the Kingdom of Salagon!” Looking at the White-robed Mage’s badge, Integrity’s tone became solemn, as if he were facing a great enemy. “This isn’t an exiled army — these are regulars!”

“Nonsense! How could the regulars of Salagon enter the territory of the Kingdom of Anda?” Loyalty countered.

In truth, it wasn’t that he failed to recognize them; rather, out of a sliver of wishful thinking, he was simply unwilling to admit it.

If they were regulars…

Contrary to his usual behavior, Francis did not get involved in his companions’ dispute.

His eyes were fixed intently on the White-robed Mage.

‘I didn’t expect this. I never expected things to go wrong here.’

‘These aren’t bandits or highwaymen at all! This isn’t a misunderstanding; this is a premeditated kidnapping of the Saintess!!’

The White-robed Mage did not care what they thought.

He slowly moved his staff, beginning to control the Heavenly Fire Judgment.

**”HEAVENLY FIRE JUDGMENT, FALL!”**

A heat so intense it felt as though it could melt metal descended from above.

That sun moved, beginning its slow descent.

Though it appeared to move slowly, Francis knew they could not run.

The area of effect for the Heavenly Fire Judgment was simply too vast; it was enough to incinerate the entire forest.

Within these 10 or so seconds, they would not be able to escape the radius.

As the casters, the army could simply kill the targets and then cover themselves with a protective shield.

Perhaps the enemy had already deployed it.

Regular armies had experienced far more battles than they had; their combat experience and techniques were naturally superior.

While unleashing such a massive spell, they were perfectly capable of protecting themselves.

There was only one way to survive.

**”DOGMA OF SINCERITY! LIBERATE!”** Francis shouted without hesitation.

A golden pattern emerged on his body, emitting a blinding light.

At the same time, Francis’s appearance became slightly more youthful.

With the appearance of the pattern, a majestic surge of Mana radiated from Francis, sweeping through the surroundings.

Seeing this, the other Defenders of the Faith did not hesitate to liberate their own dogmas.

**”DOGMA OF LOYALTY! LIBERATE!!”**

**”DOGMA OF PIETY! LIBERATE!!”**

**”DOGMA OF INTEGRITY! LIBERATE!!”**

With three loud shouts, three surges of Mana identical to Francis’s swept out simultaneously, blowing the structures of the stronghold into shambles.

Then, Francis gripped his staff with one hand and slammed it heavily onto the ground.

A pale golden shield enveloped him completely.

The other Defenders also cast their Magic, surrounding themselves with shields.

“Tch, what a nuisance. The Holy See actually sent four Defenders of the Faith to deal with us at once.”

The White-robed Mage’s expression darkened as he saw the four men liberate their dogmas.

He had originally thought that having two Defenders would be the absolute limit; he hadn’t expected all four to be Defenders.

In this case, the Heavenly Fire Judgment would at most injure them; it wouldn’t be able to kill a single one.

But the arrow was already on the string and had to be fired.

“Form the defensive array!”

The White-robed Mage commanded the army while letting the Heavenly Fire Judgment fall.

Hearing the mage’s command, the soldiers sprang into action, quickly changing their formation.

As a dazzling white light erupted between heaven and earth, a heatwave capable of incinerating metal swept through the area with destructive force.

In an instant, the lush, dense forest was stripped of all life.

This was the power of collective Magic.

Based on the high-level cooperation and rapport of many people, the Mana of a crowd was gathered and controlled by a powerful Mage, turning it into Magic capable of destroying the world.

The defensive array formed by the soldiers barely managed to withstand the violent shockwave.

Many soldiers trembled under the force of the heat, struggling to keep their footing.

Once the white light dissipated, the White-robed Mage saw the four men still standing, just as he had expected.

There were almost no wounds on their bodies, as if the previous Magic had no effect on them at all; only the light of their shields had dimmed significantly.

However, only they knew that to withstand such terrifying Magic, they had frantically poured their Mana into their shields.

At this moment, less than one-third of the Mana in their bodies remained.

“Tch.”

The White-robed Mage frowned.

He knew these four could hold out, but he hadn’t expected the impact to be so small.

At the very least, one of them should have been heavily injured.

“Form the array! Heavenly Fire Judgment Array!”

The White-robed Mage commanded expressionlessly once more.

If once wasn’t enough, then twice!

They could block the first Heavenly Fire Judgment, but what if he did it again?

Thinking this, the White-robed Mage began to direct the formation, using his staff to guide the power within the Magic Array.

Seeing this, the four Defenders of the Faith grew anxious.

If it happened again, they would absolutely be unable to withstand it!

The liberation of a Dogma had a time limit.

Once the time passed, they would be unable to liberate it again for an entire day.

By then, they would be at the mercy of this Mage.

They had to kill this White-robed Mage while the liberation was still active!

The four of them exchanged looks.

Without needing to speak, they reached a silent understanding.

Now was the perfect time, while the collective Magic was being channeled.

This was when the Mage was at his most vulnerable.

It was now or never! They had to strike and kill him now!!

Any later and they would be the ones dying!

“Move!”

Francis said to the other three after their silent exchange.

Seeing the other three nod, Francis quickly activated a Haste Spell.

His figure vanished from his original position.

As Francis disappeared, Loyalty pulled a heavy hammer from beneath his white robe.

Gripping the hammer, he charged directly toward the army.

Piety and Integrity also drew their respective weapons, rapidly approaching the White-robed Mage.

Just as the White-robed Mage was guiding the Mana, Francis suddenly appeared at the edge of the army formation and raised his fist.

**”LIBERATION SKILL! SINCERITY PUNCH!”**

With the empowerment of the Dogma Liberation, Francis’s punch, laced with overbearing and thick Mana, smashed straight toward the army.

A golden fist composed of Mana formed around Francis’s hand.

Following his movement, the punch slammed into the formation, crushing the soldiers who tried to resist into a bloody mist.

As the punch landed, the golden Mana fist exploded, blasting a gap into the army formation.

Seeing the opening, Loyalty did not hesitate to raise his heavy hammer and smash it violently into the ground.

Stone spikes erupted from the earth, trailing through the gap toward the White-robed Mage.

Facing the attack directed at him, the White-robed Mage remained unhurried as he continued his channeling.

Just as the stone spikes were about to reach him, a shield emerged around him, blocking the spikes firmly.

“Tch.”

Seeing the White-robed Mage block his attack, Loyalty grew impatient and swung his heavy hammer at the mage again.

Just as the hammer was raised high, a chain tightly coiled around Loyalty’s hand, preventing him from bringing the hammer down.

“Dammit, they were prepared for this too?!”

Both of Loyalty’s hands were bound.

Currently standing in the middle of the army formation and deprived of his mobility, he was like a turtle in a jar.

He tried to break free from the chains, only to find a strange Mana attached to them.

Whenever he exerted force or activated his Mana, the chains would tighten.

Breaking these chains wasn’t a particularly difficult task for him, but he was on a battlefield!

The surrounding situation was incredibly urgent, and he could already see the enemy making their move.

Several soldiers brandished long sabers and rushed forward, aiming to hack Loyalty to death.

In the next moment, blood sprayed out as headless corpses slumped powerlessly to the ground.

Loyalty gritted his teeth, enduring the searing pain in his shoulder as he broke free from the chains’ restraint.

Just now, he had felt the cold touch of death.

Not far behind him, Integrity held a firearm.

Wisps of blue smoke drifted from the barrel of the gun, and at Loyalty’s feet, several soldiers lay on the ground, dead as could be.