Chapter 31: Dare to Ignore Even the Gods.

Aphrosia’s eyelids grew heavier, but she bit her tongue, using the sharp pain to fight the overwhelming drowsiness. Her azure eyes scanned the dim surroundings, glowing strikingly.

“Hahaha, the more you struggle, the more fun this is, little wretch!” The Accuser licked his lips, though doubt flickered in his eyes. The weakness of the Dark Tide Coagulation Array eluded even the Adventurer’s Guild’s experts. How could this girl find it?

Her identity was suspicious. According to Crimson Abyss intel, only two Astreyas remained: Flo, a useless nobody who couldn’t use magic, and Sophia, the church’s saintess candidate. But Sophia was far off at the border, never alone without attendants.

As for the two Rainbow Cloud Birds… The Accuser glanced at the creatures pinned by purple-black energy arms, sneering. He’d ensured they couldn’t snitch—perfect bargaining chips.

This girl wasn’t Sophia—her strength was too weak, her grasp of Radiance magic shallow, her spells limited. Could she be Flo in disguise? Absurd. That left one possibility: a secret child?

Aphrosia suddenly went silent, her wandering gaze locking onto one of the twelve pillars, unwavering.

“Oh? Found the flaw?” The Accuser’s face darkened. That pillar was the array’s weakest point. If destroyed, the spell would collapse, and he’d suffer backlash. “You really can’t be spared!”

Three dark flame swords materialized—one aimed at the girl, the other two hovering over the birds. The energy arms shoved the birds before Aphrosia. “Don’t move.”

“Shameless…” she hissed through gritted teeth, barely able to stand. Yet the Accuser treated her like a dire threat. Decades ago, a memory haunted him: he’d celebrated over a wounded blonde girl, only for her to shout “miracle” and “bonds,” erupting to kill him. If not for his escape spell, he’d be dust.

This scene was eerily similar: wounded, blonde, white dress, blue eyes, an Astreya! Who’d bet she wouldn’t erupt again?

Who could crack a high-tier spell in minutes while near death? Not even master mages could do that!

The Accuser cursed his stupidity. He should’ve killed her sooner—villains die from talking too much! The dark flame sword shot toward her with murderous force.

Aphrosia pressed her chest, trying to cast a healing spell, but the twelve pillars flared with dark red light, shattering the vines. Strange runes pulsed wildly, iron chains erupting to bind her limbs, suspending her in midair. Her magic felt drained; even her healing spell failed.

The dark flame sword was inches away.

Then, the petal-shaped ring on her right middle finger blazed with golden light. The Accuser watched in horror as the chains corroded, his dark flame sword twisting and shattering into black butterflies that turned on him!

“Impossible!” He stumbled back, but emerald vines sprouted, snaring his ankles. From the ruins, Daphne’s laughter rang out, laced with lyre melodies:

“Well, well, Mr. Accuser, ignoring a god’s blessing, are we~?”