Badge in Azure

Archbishop Nicholas actually wanted to lead this army to Phoenix for a looting session, so that the army could receive resupply and nourishment. Even before reaching Phoenix, the soldiers began falling ill however.

Archbishop Nicholas did not pay much attention to it, it was normal for soldiers to fall sick after losing a battle. More and more soldiers fell ill, even the holy masters could not carry out treatment.

Archbishop Nicholas immediately became alert. The intermediate grade holy masters he deployed had executed forceful treatment on the ill soldiers. Most of them recovered, but some did not respond to the treatment. What made Nicholas astonished was that one soldier actually was killed by the divine spell treatment.

It could only mean one thing if a person got killed by a divine spell treatment. The vitality of this soldier had been fully depleted, there was no more vitality left for use.

Archbishop Nicholas was no idiot, this incident caused him to break out in cold sweat.

“The pope actually used that technique! No wonder the soldiers were so fearless, battling as though they were berserk, they were even scarier than the fanatic believers. When my holy masters treated these soldiers, the process was more relaxed than usual, they didn’t even use much divine strength. I still thought that it was because these people were sincere enough. Theisio, are you trying to ruin my future by doing this?” Archbishop Nicholas calculated many possibilities, but he never calculated that his soldiers would not live for long. “The pope has already stimulated their vitality in advance, no matter victory or defeat, there will only be one outcome.”

“Nicholas, have you finally straightened your thoughts?” A voice rang behind Nicholas, causing Nicholas to turn his head around sharply. He saw that a white-robed youth was seated in his tent.

“Fycro…”

“Nicholas, do you want to die, or live?” Fycro asked with a smile.

“I want to live!”

“You are still a smart person after all. Nicholas, do you know why Theisio plotted against you?”

Nicholas shook his head. Even though he was not the pope’s confidante, he was one of the powers who supported the pope among the inner ranks of the Holy See. He could not understand why Theisio had done that. He could understand the reason behind sacrificing the soldiers in order to raise their offensive powers, but why was he the scapegoat?

“You have the powers of grade-9 right?” Fycro’s smile was very modest, but Nicholas could detect the arrogance within. A grade-9 holy master was no expert in Fycro’s eyes.

“You cannot hide from me and neither can you hide from Theisio. During the ambush of Emperor Chanake the inner ranks of the Holy See had sustained massive losses. You also know the kind of injuries Theisio had sustained, but Nicholas, you don’t know how he managed to recover so swiftly right?”

Fycro’s words set off a landmine in Nicholas’ heart.

Fycro continued using words to attack Nicholas, he said, “That’s right, back then, half of the people who died were killed by Theisio. Then, within the next year, the people in the Holy See were assassinated by sorcerers from Alchemy City. In actual fact, a number of them were actually killed by Theisio himself. He absorbed the vitality and divine strength of these people, that’s why he could recover so quickly. Nicholas, think about it, if you return to receive punishment, how do you think Theisio will handle a grade-9 holy master like yourself?”

Archbishop Nicholas hesitated no more, with a thud, he knelt before Fycro.

“Sir Fycro, save me!”

“So… how will you thank me?” Fycro grinned as he looked at Nicholas. “This powerful bishop from the Holy See has completely fallen under my thumb.”

“I will be at your beck and call!” Archbishop Nicholas was utterly terrified. “If the pope absorbs one’s vitality, their soul won’t be spared either. Given the pope’s powers, he will surely not waste my soul. By then, I can be crafted into all sorts of things.”

“Great. There are five-thousand wardens at a location about one-hundred miles south of you. I have already them trapped in a magic array, they cannot leave at the moment. Bring your men and kill all of them.”

Nicholas shuddered, but he did not refuse.

Fycro continued, “After killing these five-thousand people, your ten-thousand troops and the twenty Red Bishops shouldn’t be spared either. You shall then defect to Metatrin City’s owner, Saleen.”

“Sir!” Nicholas bellowed, then he immediately lowered his voice. Quivering, he said, “Then I will…”

“You will have fallen, right? A fallen holy master is a very powerful presence. In the future, you can steal the power of the believers and you don’t have to care about the feelings of the god, right?”

“Sir Fycro, kill me.” Nicholas was in utter despair.

“Why are you so anxious, do you know about Genesis’ death?”

“Yes,” Nicholas answered weakly.

“His Script of Redemption is in my possession. If you complete your tasks well, I will have a way to let you return to God’s embrace.” Fycro’s smile was ever vibrant, but Nicholas felt a chill down his spine.

“If you aren’t willing…”

“I am willing to do it!” Nicholas bowed deeply.

“Take it, there are one-hundred-thousand broken souls inside, it will be sufficient to fulfill your usual intake of religious strength. Remember to collect the souls of the slaughtered wardens and believers.” Fycro took out a black bead, tossing it in front of Nicholas.

“Yes, Sir.”

“Just tell Saleen that I have asked you to defect to him, he will not refuse. In the future, I will ask Picasso to contact you if I have any tasks for you.”

“Yes.” When Nicholas raised his head again, Fycro had disappeared. Nicholas started laughing bitterly, “I have lived for over seventy years, but I am still so naïve. I had thought that since the Golden Grand Swordmaster had been killed by the enemy in one hit and the five-thousand wardens had escaped, I could explain myself and be rid of blame when I returned to the Holy See. To think that my life had long been part of Theisio’s plot already.”

Saleen originally planned to train for three months. On the sixth day, he had to emerge from the warehouse because someone was looking for him.

When Saleen arrived at the second story of the temple, he saw that red-robed old man. Nicholas simply stood there looking a little lifeless surrounded by a group of people.

What made Saleen astonished was that a black holy prose had appeared on the forehead of this red-robed man.

Cuisi and the rest stared nervously at Nicholas, this old man was a grade-9 expert. If he attacked Saleen abruptly, the consequences would be predictable. Jola had even drawn his longsword. He stood behind Nicholas, preparing to spring into action anytime.

When Saleen appeared, Nicholas was taken aback. Saleen was much younger than he had imagined, Saleen might not even be twenty years old. “Why was the pope in such a hurry to kill such a person?”

“You are the overall commander of the expeditionary army right, why are you here to look for me?” Saleen went straight to the main point.

Nicholas glanced at the people surrounding him. Even though he was a grade-9 expert, he would not wind up well if he got attacked by these people. He was not sure whether he should let them learn about Fycro’s words. Since Fycro did not mention anything, Nicholas had to be more vigilant.

Pondering for a while, Nicholas steeled his heart, then he took out that black bead and handed it over.

“This is a Soul Bead. Since I have already fallen, this is the source of my powers. If you crush this bead, I will transform into a normal human being immediately.”

Saleen used the Elemental Eye to observe this black bead, as Nicholas continued, “This bead contains the soul fragments of the entire expeditionary army. A total of one-hundred and twenty-five-thousand people. I have also killed the escaped wardens, as well the twenty Red Bishops who served me. Sir Saleen, can I speak to you in private?”

“The people present here are my trusted associates, go ahead and speak.” Saleen observed that there were countless of soul fragments inside this black bead, there were also some souls which were more complete. All of them were wailing in agony.

“I have come forth to defect you.” Nicholas pointed to his forehead, then said, “I have already fallen. Even though Myers mainland is huge, I can only settle down in your city.”

“I don’t need you.” Saleen rejected flatly, but he was fiddling with that Soul Bead.

At this moment, Nicholas then realized why Fycro had reminded him to say Fycro sent him. “Fycro sent me here.”

Saleen’s expression suddenly froze, “Since Fycro has asked him to come here, can I possibly refuse?”

“Okay, everyone leave, what is your name?”

“Nicholas.” Nicholas did not mention his surname.

“Mm, Nicholas, since he asked you to come here, I cannot refuse. You have to sign a contract with me. I am a mere grade-6 mage, your powers are much stronger than mine, I cannot rest assured having you beside me.”

“It’s okay, please write one up, I am willing to sign a contract.” Nicholas did not care about anything anymore. He could not turn back anymore after killing twenty Red Bishops. All his hopes were pinned on Fycro’s Script of Redemption. If Fycro reneged Nicholas still had to rely on this young mage.

“This city is sturdier than I thought. If it is developed further, there will be no problem resisting an army with a million soldiers.”

“If all holy masters are like you, there wouldn’t be a holy war already.” Saleen teased, as he wrote on a scroll. More than half the people had left the room, only Sika, Nailisi, and Cuisi stayed behind.

By now, Saleen was extremely deft in writing a contractual scroll. This time around, the scroll was made from the skin of a lightning dragon, it was from the grade-8 lightning dragon they killed some time ago. Even so, this contractual scroll could still bind any expert below grade-10.

Nicholas did not even look, he used his blood to write his name decisively. Out of the blue, a layer of dense electric current appeared on the scroll. The blue electric currents interweaved, flashing for one whole minute before turning the scroll into ashes.

Saleen had added the power of lightning into this scroll. If Nicholas tried to harm him in the future, Nicholas would first be restrained by the power within the scroll. Saleen did not believe that Nicholas’ soul could resist lightning from a lightning dragon.

This was double insurance. Before Nicholas could act, he would lose all his powers immediately. Making this precaution was so much simpler than crushing a Soul Bead.

“Take this back. Nicholas, let’s talk.” Seeing that the contract had taken effect, Saleen was no longer fearful of this fallen grade-9 holy master. He returned the Soul Bead to Nicholas.

“Sir Saleen, what do you want to know?” Signing the contract, Nicholas felt more assured already. At least Saleen would not be suspicious of his abilities, he would remain alive for the time being.