Velin looked at the woman's defiant, death-ready expression, then turned to the middle-aged knight and ordered, "Take your men and deliver her to the Blackrock Army."
"Yes, my lord."
The middle-aged knight bowed, then lifted the Storm Church's Candidate Saintess in one hand, returned to the army, and headed east.
Watching the departing group, Miller gathered his courage and asked, "My lord, why are you giving that woman to Lord Kyle?"
"When we attack Cabras City, the capital of the Milar District, we'll behead this so-called Candidate Saintess before their lines. It will deal a devastating blow to the defenders' morale."
"But will the gods really stand by and watch a Candidate Saintess of their church be publicly executed?" After hesitating for a moment, Miller voiced his concern.
"If He were still here, I wouldn't dare do this."
Miller stood frozen in place. As he carefully considered his lord's words, he seemed to understand something.
Three days later, outside Cabras City, Kyle looked at the woman before him and waved over two guards. He had them take her away and imprison her, intending to use her to consecrate the banner during the siege half a month later.
The Storm Church had spread word that the Storm God was about to return, allowing the Protective Army, which had been on the verge of collapse, to withstand wave after wave of attacks and even show signs of launching a counteroffensive.
If they beheaded the Storm Church's Candidate Saintess before the army, it would be enough to shatter their will to fight.
As time passed, more than a hundred thousand troops completely surrounded Cabras City.
Over three hundred thousand Protective Army soldiers cowered within the city, relying on the towering walls and the Divine Shield to barely cling to life.
Within the city,