Desecration

All the soldiers roared out battle cries, their faces flushed red, their eyes brimming with murderous intent toward the enemy.

This was partly because of the temple knight commander's pre-battle speech, and partly because of the priests' and clerics' divine arts.

The soldiers raised their shields, picked up their spears, and gripped their longswords tight.

They formed meticulous ranks and advanced briskly toward the portal.

As they marched, the priests and clerics remained where they were—not because they feared death.

The clergy were striving to squeeze the last trace of divine power from their bodies, layering more divine arts onto the soldiers.

The soldiers in the front ranks flickered with the Shadow God's distinctive black-and-white divine light.

Against the dim Fifth-Layer Continent, it was exceptionally conspicuous.

More than three thousand elite cavalry followed at the temple knight commander's side. They were all temple knights.

The soldiers in the army were all Black Iron-rank clerical soldiers. Even the two noble infantry swordsman regiments were no exception.

These cavalrymen were stronger still, usually at veteran Black Iron rank. Quite a few knights had even reached Silver rank.

As the soldiers drew closer, the breathing of this Sanctuary-rank temple knight grew heavier.

He was not an ordinary soldier. Having already reached the Sanctuary rank, he counted as high-level combat strength even on the Hemel Plane.

Yet now, he had realized that the enemy's elite force far exceeded his imagination.

Every soldier was at least Silver rank. Moreover, with his exceptionally sharp eyesight, the temple knight commander saw the enormous portal's doors rippling once more like water.

Soldiers clad in black armor were charging out at increasing speed.

The temple knight commander saw the enemy soldiers, their armor, and the soul flames burning within their helmets.

The sight made this Sanctuary knight tremble from