SAINTESS [Chapter 171: Tactics and Public Opinion] (Patreon)

Was he trying to trade injury for injury? Impossible.

With [Armour Fortress], ordinary blades could not harm him at all.

Although most of its power had been neutralized by Alfonso's spell, leaving it insufficient to eliminate him outright, the remaining cold should still have been enough to render him immobile.

Yet no sooner had Winnie thought this than he discovered, to his surprise, that the storm around Alfonso's blades had disappeared, replaced by a layer of biting frost.

What was this?

Could there be something other than his spell capable of absorbing other spells?

Those two swords were obviously enchanted weapons. From the looks of it, their enchantment allows them to absorb mana they came into contact with and turn it to their own use.

Seeing the frost-coated blades almost upon him, Winnie planted his feet and braced his spear with both hands.

[Ice Steel]

"Clang! Clang!"

Alfonso attacked Winnie with his own magic, but frost-encrusted armor erupted like an iron tower, intercepting both snow-covered blades.

The impact shook loose the ice crystals on the armor. A blast of frigid wind obscured Alfonso's vision, and when he could finally see again, a hideous ice-demon mask had appeared before him. Icy light flickered in its eyes.

That terrifying gaze fixed upon him, plunging him into an icy abyss. Flames of extreme cold spewed from its mouth, engulfing his entire field of vision.

[Frost Snow Flame]

Alfonso immediately crossed his swords, attempting to neutralize the spell.

[Sanctuary of Light]

Yet the barrier of light had barely risen before the glacial flames swallowed it whole. It shattered before he could even hear the sound of it breaking.

Alfonso's eyes widened.

The furious blaze of icy wind and snow should have swallowed him whole. Yet just then, the silver cross hanging around his neck began to glow.

A gigantic cross appeared between him and Winnie. Then countless crosses of varying sizes manifested on all four sides of it, densely packed together.

What was that?

At a glance, it was clearly another enchanted artifact created through some secret art of the Rescaine family. But this truly fell outside Winnie's field of knowledge. He had no idea what it was called or what its exact effects were.

Yet with the overwhelming difference in their realms, any enchanted artifact Alfonso used should have been futile. Given the power of [Frost Snow Flame] and the gap between Alfonso's realm and his own, there was no way Alfonso should have been able to defend against it.

The glowing great cross, surrounded by countless smaller crosses, blocked the attack from the front.

The smaller crosses continuously absorb the spewing glacial flames, shattering into motes of light and scattering across the ground whenever they reach the limits of what they can endure.

Winnie stared in surprise. Alfonso's cross had actually blocked his [Frost Snow Flame].

Unbelievable. What kind of enchanted artifact could withstand the advanced spell of an Intermediate Master?

When the cross automatically activated its protective mechanism, Alfonso finally reacted. He pressed his swords together, absorbed a few wisps of [Frost Snow Flame], and transformed into a whirlwind.

This time, though, it wasn’t attacking. It was trying to escape.

It actually blocked the entire attack?

Winnie looked stunned. With his current strength, casting [Frost Snow Flame] should have frozen at least half the arena. Yet nothing had happened. Every last bit of the spell had been absorbed by that man's cross pendant.

After absorbing [Frost Snow Flame], the pendant's radiance dimmed until it resembled dead ashes after a fire had burned itself out.

That pendant was extraordinary, just as he had thought. Could it ignore the difference in realms and block one spell without fail?

And it was not even a single-use enchanted artifact. It could be reused.

It seemed the Rescaine family truly possessed no shortage of treasures and inheritances as one of the six-winged families of the Church of Radiance.

Is that...?

Just as this thought crossed Winnie's mind, an astonished voice suddenly rang out from the [Holy Shield of Radiant Glory] within his mind.

“What?” Winnie asked, puzzled.

'Big Sister Vanessa, don't you know? You don't know what that is?' the [Holy Shield of Radiant Glory] shouted.

“How could I possibly know if you don't tell me?” Winnie raised an eyebrow. “Stop speaking in riddles.”

'I can't be mistaken. That is one of the sacred treasures passed down by the Varelis family, the [Fallen Saintess Cross].'

“The [Fallen Saintess Cross]?”

‘Yes. The [Fallen Saintess Cross] was forged from the body of a Radiance Saintess before her death and contains immense divine power. Once fully charged, it can detect any attack that would kill its wearer and block one such fatal strike, regardless of the spell’s realm or the level of divine grace involved.’ the [Holy Shield of Radiant Glory] explained.

“Can it bypass realm restrictions?”

Winnie had already guessed as much, but hearing that it truly ignored all differences in strength still shocked him.

On the Terraria Continent, anything could deceive, except for the disparity in strength. If one's realm was inferior, one would inevitably suffer a crushing, dimensional disadvantage. This was especially true after reaching the Master Realm, where even a single minor stage created an enormous gulf.

The ability to ignore realms and forcibly equalize combat strength, even if only once, was extraordinarily powerful.

Winnie knew full well that this already touched upon the concept of [Divine Blessings].

And was it reusable?

'My memories from that long ago are incomplete, but I remember that Big Sister Sophia wore this pendant when she marched to war,' the [Holy Shield of Radiant Glory] said with mixed emotions.

'And now this sacred relic is being used against a descendant of Varelis. Why? Why does a descendant of the Rescaine family have it?'

“What's so strange about that? My family was picked clean by the Pope's lackeys a long time ago.” Winnie did not seem particularly bothered. “They probably took it during that incident.”

As for why Alfonso possessed it, the Radiance Pope had likely considered this sacred relic the least useful of the bunch and seen no harm in rewarding it to one of his loyal followers.

The head of the Rescaine family had then given it to the family's most important heir to protect his life. That explained why a sacred relic had ended up in the hands of a junior like Alfonso.

'Those despicable thieves!' the [Holy Shield of Radiant Glory] cursed furiously. 'They stabbed the Varelis family in the back when it was weakened after saving the world!'

“It doesn't matter. A disparity in strength can't be overcome by one or two sacred relics.”

Winnie looked toward Alfonso, who had withdrawn some distance and regrouped, wariness now filling his eyes.

Perhaps Alfonso could rely on a sacred relic of the Varelis family to block one attack that would otherwise defeat him.

But what about a second?

A third?

Winnie was curious to see how Alfonso would defend himself now that the [Fallen Saintess Cross] had been used up.

On the other side, Alfonso's gaze toward Winnie had grown wary after the [Fallen Saintess Cross] was triggered.

The relic had saved him from elimination, but it had also made him realize that he could not simply crush Winnie through the superiority of his strength.

The [Sanctuary of Light] he had raised moments ago had been dismantled by Winnie's icy flames before it could even take shape. In the end, it was the [Fallen Saintess Cross] that had saved him.

Alfonso stared at Winnie and clicked his tongue inwardly.

This impostor seemed rather troublesome.

Not long ago, Alfonso had broken through to the rank of Beginner Master. He had told no one about it, not even his younger sister.

His strength now far surpasses Charlotte, who was merely an Advanced Warlock. That had caused his confidence to soar.

After all, how many people his age could reach the Master Realm?

They could be counted on one hand.

He had admitted that defeating a mere impostor after reaching the Master Realm would be effortless. Yet Charlotte had been crushed by the difference in realms, and now so had he.

What was the meaning of this?

Was this impostor also a Master?

Impossible.

This was someone who had grown up in the slums and survived until today by deceiving the world and stealing an undeserved reputation. The words “Master Realm” should have remained beyond his reach for several lifetimes!

He might have gotten this far through a few petty tricks, but his rightful ending should have been to remain forever stuck at the level of Advanced Warlock due to his lack of talent, never reaching the Master Realm in his entire life.

Why?

Why had this Imposter broken through to the Master Realm, and seems far earlier than himself?

At this point, Alfonso had no choice but to accept one fact: Winnie was also a Beginner Master, and his foundations were far more solid than his own.

“Impostor, what underhanded method did you use?” Alfonso demanded, staring at Winnie.

“What method?” Winnie tilted his head. “Shouldn't I be asking you that? Boy, where did you steal that pendant? Did you ask its rightful owner for permission before using it?”

“How could you possibly be a Master?”

Alfonso ignored Winnie's words and stared at him for a long moment. Suddenly, he seemed to realize something. A faint smile appeared on his face as he deliberately drew with certainty,

“Oh, now I get it. You must have resorted to some underhanded trick, right?”

He deliberately amplified his voice with magic, making sure everyone could hear him.

But he wasn't done yet.

“That explains everything. You'd better keep it a secret. Imagine what would happen if everyone found out about your little trick. That would be embarrassing, wouldn't it?”

“Pfft. Then why don't you tell me exactly what trick I supposedly used?” Winnie chuckled, thoroughly amused by the accusation, and tossed the question right back at him.

“Do you know what kind of person is the greatest fool in the world?” Alfonso asked meaningfully. “Someone who takes everyone else for fools and believes himself to be the only clever one.”

“Winnie, your magical aptitude is the lowest possible, one star. You are only qualified to contract a one-star soul armament, which means you practically have no magical talent of. Whether in aptitude or talent, you belong to the absolute lowest tier.”

"Which of the people admitted to Carillian Academy is not a prodigious genius or exceptional talent? Effort is important, of course. That goes without saying. But who here doesn't understand that, to reach this point, talent is far more important than effort?"

Alfonso spoke without the slightest restraint. Or rather, his purpose in saying these things was exactly to make sure everyone present heard him.

He wanted them to talk about Winnie and doubt him. That way, even if Alfonso fails to defeat him later, his goal will still have been achieved.

He knew perfectly well how inflammatory his words were, especially among the students of Carillian Academy.

After all, which of those present was not a genius?

How could they not understand the importance of talent?

The most important thing they shared was not their family background, but talent. It was talent that had brought them together.

When a complete anomaly with no talent appears among them, anyone will grow suspicious. They would question how that person had made it this far despite having no talent at all, and what right he had to stand alongside them.

Once their suspicions reached that point, they would naturally begin to wonder what methods Winnie had secretly employed.

Besides, Winnie already had a terrible reputation, and people only ever believed what they wanted to believe.

“For someone like you, merely appearing in Carillian Academy would already be a miracle, let alone competing in the Chosen One Contest,” Alfonso said coldly.

“You reached the quarterfinals of the Chosen One Contest with a one-star arcanum spirit? I'm curious, has no one ever questioned it? Has no one suspected that someone among us is unworthy of his position and used some shameful method to get here?”

“Oh, my apologies. I shouldn't have said that. Surely everyone already understands what's going on, right? After all, your very family is founded upon an absurd lie.”

Alfonso gave Winnie a meaningful look.

The implicate was obvious. Even Winnie's identity and family were fraudulent, and he was infamous throughout the royal capital of Camella. Would it be so strange for someone with no moral limits to use some unspeakable method?

"That bastard! He's unexpectedly infuriating!” Milian shouted from the stands, waving her little fist. “He'd better pray he isn't matched against this princess next! Otherwise, this princess will knock every last tooth out of his mouth!”

“Who the hell is this bastard? Rescaine? One of the Church's six wings? And he dares insult a descendant of Varelis like this? Is this how the Rescaine family teaches its children?”

Even Andre, the mildest-tempered of the card players, couldn't stop himself from cursing.

“What do you think, Brother Fred?” Aiden asked with a frown.

"Damn! I, cough, cough!"

Ferdi had been eating a potato cake and was just about to speak when it lodged in his throat. Everyone could only pass him water with dark expressions.

“That man is absolutely awful!”

Shikondell clenched her fists. She empathized deeply with Winnie's current predicament, yet could do nothing to help him at this moment.

Aesphyra sat silently in Winnie's seat with her legs crossed.

She said nothing, but no one noticed that the curve that had originally adorned her lips had long since disappeared.

Her eyes were now chillingly cold.

She despised people who were shameless and underhanded, those who refused to let strength speak for itself and instead relied on provocation and dirty tricks outside the arena.

Isatia swept her gaze over the students arguing around her, then furrowed her elegant brows and shook her head.

In the end, most people lacked their own minds and were easily incited, even here at Carilliman Academy.

"Winnie."

Mirexia similarly stared intently at Winnie in the arena.

She had seen through the Church’s corruption long ago and had been the first to point it out to Winnie. That was why, as long as Winnie wished it, she and the Kingdom of Camella would offer their unwavering support to the true Radiance Saintess.