659 Aftermath of the battle Part 2 (1/2)

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.