Ashen Dragon

"Blood sacrifice to the Mother Goddess!"

Seron spread his arms, and the robes on his body writhed like a living thing before suddenly splitting open.

"Uh... ah! You forced me!"

He let out a howl of pain, as insect-like hard bristles gradually grew on his skin, and a crack on his chest extended, forming a small, giant spider-shaped pattern.

A soft, cruel female laugh came from the vortex behind him, particularly piercing and chilling.

"By Shanee..."

"Great Holy Tree..."

Everyone present felt fear, especially the Silver Moon Elves, who seemed to face a natural enemy. The fear seeped into their souls, driving them to madness.

In an instant, sinister energy surged as one Abyss Gate after another sprouted from the Holy Tree, like ugly, festering wounds oozing toxic pus.

Foul-smelling, sludge-like creatures poured out from those Abyss Gates, extending eight powerful tentacles with bodies embedded with blood-red eyeballs.

—They were Wax Melting Demons, known as "Rose's Maids," serving the Spider Goddess with loyalty across the Abyss and various realms.

Following them were Abyss Ants, Transformed Spiders, Demon Hunting Spiders, Thorn Demons, Weavers of Darkness, Deep Dragons, Spider-Elves, Eit Monsters, Grellock Scorpions...

Many grotesque, twisted monsters crawled out of the Abyss Gates, forming a motley torrent and rushing toward the Allied Forces with roars.

Catherine raised her scepter and pointed at the distant Seron, coldly saying, "Polluting the Holy Tree, opening the Abyss Gates, bringing catastrophic devastation—Seron, is this what you call 'sacrificing everything for Serenia?'"

Seron had lost his human form, grinning and letting out insect-like screeches, repeatedly saying, "You've forced me, you've forced me! You are the real culprits!"

"Catherine, the ritual is about to begin, and you will become the Mother Goddess's favorite sacrifice!"

"Hahaha, as long as you're sacrificed, Serenia will enjoy a millennium—no, ten millennia of peace! This place will turn into Heaven on Earth, becoming Fianso's greatest realm!"

"Seron, you are beyond help, completely insane!" Catherine rebuked.

The sun set, and the sky gradually darkened. Churning clouds appeared high above, and the moon, no longer its usual Silver Moon, turned blood red.

A massive, sinister spider shadow vaguely emerged on the moon's surface, its scarlet compound eyes flashing ominously.

Everyone present felt a powerful pressure descend, as if a malevolent gaze was fixed upon them, making them tremble and their souls shudder.

Even the Holy Tree's radiant barrier was dyed red by some strange power, gradually turning into a blood-like film, as if a giant bloody maw swallowing everyone within.

"The Divine Realm descends..."

Gazing at the sky shrouded in black and red, a mage from the Arcane Priory, well-versed in Divine Arts, cried out in shock:

"Damn it, the entire Serenia Royal Court has turned into a Blood Sacrifice Array. That madman intends to sacrifice all of us to summon his worshipped Evil God into the world!"

"By the Moonlight Goddess..."

"Truly insane, quickly, stop him by any means necessary!"

Catherine waved the scepter, shouting angrily, "We cannot lose! If that Evil God succeeds, not only will Serenia turn into ruins, the entire continent will face terrible calamity!"

As the Elf Queen shouted, silver beams of light pierced the dark sky, descending from above. Hundreds of monsters wailed in the silver light, their vile bodies purified, ultimately turning to charred remains.

But those robed Spider Elf Elders raised their scepters, dark light appearing in the sky, eroding the moonlight summoned by Catherine, with both sides momentarily at a stalemate.

"Go, bring her head back! You shall receive the Mother Goddess's supreme blessing!"

Seron extended a spider-like limb, pointing toward the distant Elf Queen.

In an instant, terrifying monsters like Deep Dragons, Transformed Spiders, Demon Hunting Spiders, Eit Monsters surged toward Catherine like a torrent.

The Demon Hunting Spider's eyes shot out a dark beam, turning several Silver Moon Followers into statues, which were then crushed by a giant footed spider behind.

The Phase Spider flickered, utilizing its ethereal crossover ability to emerge behind the Silver Moon Elves, stabbing them through the chest with scythe-like spined limbs.

These grotesque monsters acted like a sharp wedge, forcefully breaking through the Allied Forces' defenses, advancing toward Catherine.

Catherine continued to hover mid-air, chanting prayers in Ancient Elf Language, maintaining the divine light to break the Sacrifice Array, unable to move freely.

Seeing the fierce oncoming monsters, Rhea promptly opened a Dimension Door capable of crossing space, leading her most elite Guard Corps to intercept in front of Catherine.

"Sworn to protect Her Majesty!"

"We cannot let them approach Catherine one step closer, even at the cost of our lives!"

Dozens of Sword Spiders swiped their sword-like claws, attacking at high speed like daggers aiming for the heart.

"Holy Oath Magic."

Rhea gripped her longsword tightly, closing her eyes, as a faint purple aurora shimmered over her silver armor, creating spatial ripples. Her actions became swifter—an Acceleration Spell.

Next, she suddenly opened her eyes, flames of revenge burning in her pupils, as black feathers unfurled behind her, radiating tremendous intimidation aurora from her being.