The blood-red lake churned into a gigantic vortex, its roar like thunder, rumbling without end. The entire center of the lake had become funnel-shaped. There was no need to guess what had happened to the small island and the church on it—they had obviously been swallowed by the Great Vortex. The magnificent yet terrifying sight made even Lily, the fearless idiot, bristle all over. The dog girl instinctively let out a whimper before turning and burrowing behind Hao Ren. "It's leaking... The bottom of the lake is leaking!"
Ofra stared at the scene at the lake's center, dumbfounded, and muttered, "This... Is the Goddess's fury burning anew?"
She was already this shaken, so the elite members of the Church Knights' Order were even more horrified. The Radiant Church was Horleta's state religion, and most of the soldiers in its army were believers. Those sent to carry out missions in the Beinz Region were the most steadfast among them. Watching this terrifying anomaly, something that should only have appeared in myths, unfold in a ten-thousand-year-old holy land, the warriors were utterly at a loss. If not for their rigorous training and Ofra's presence keeping them steady, they would probably have already descended into chaos.
The sturdy old man who had always stayed by Ofra's side studied the lake for a while, and the aura around him slowly began to change. "The holy land has undergone a great upheaval, and the lake has swallowed the sanctuary. Something sealed away in ancient times may escape. Stay alert and prepare for a Great War at any moment." As soon as he finished speaking, the old man's body had completely changed. His already sturdy frame grew even more massive, with muscles bulging across his body. His hair and beard lengthened and stiffened like wolf fur,