Seeing this, another prisoner turned and fled, leaving Jie Luo somewhat disappointed.
She transformed into a faint glow that surged into the captive's body. The man froze instantly, his eyes rolling back, then his body began to change in an eerie way. Though this scene was familiar to Meen, every time she saw it, a chill would rise in her heart.
A faint glow burst forth from the captive's body, which twisted and deformed until it transformed into the form of the Pure One.
He knew this was not merely a substitution or slaughter, but the exact nature of the transformation likely remained known only to the Pope and those directly involved.
Jie Luo took a deep breath and walked back to the last prisoner.
He was the youngest of the three captured explorers, barely fourteen or fifteen. His eyes, still green with youth, were filled with shock and fear, as if he couldn't believe what had just happened.
"Only you remains," she whispered. The boy, trembling with fear as he tried to retrieve his curved blade, froze in shock. "Why... why..." "God has revealed the truth. You were merely a child from a rural household, yet by the Wolf King's decree, your entire village was forced into the city—compelled to mend walls, forge weapons, and haul provisions. They didn't spare you for your youth; instead, they conscripted you into the reconnaissance squad, leaving you to fend for yourself," she stroked his cheek. "The clearest proof? When you first reported the Church army's movements, the guard captain wouldn't even let you through the gates. After hearing your report, he ordered you to continue tracking us, didn't he?" "I..." Ail's lips parted, but no words escaped his lips.
"They won't let you in, of course. Your family is gone now—parents, brothers, all are like expendable resources to the Wolf King. If you return, wouldn't the scouts know everything?" Jieluo continued. "Your father fell to his death while repairing the city wall breach. Your mother was whipped by the overseers and is now in mortal danger. Without God Ming's oversight, human evil flows unchecked like sewage. Are you sure you want to serve such a ruler?" His eyes widened in shock, his face contorted with uncontrollable grief. "This... you're lying!" "God Ming never lies," the Pure One shook his head. "You know deep down I'm telling the truth. The root of this lies in Noble never treating you as true kin—just cattle to be slaughtered. Our mission is to end this evil and establish a new world under God Ming's watch." Aier knelt down with a thud, burying his head in his hands. "What... what should I do?" "Follow your heart. Only God Ming can make the final call," he choked. "I was wrong. I'll tell you everything I know. I'll do anything to save my mother." "Good boy," Jieluo patted his head. From his pocket, he took out a plant with slender leaves and handed it to him. "Eat this. Get some rest." "It calms your nerves," she said, tearing off half a leaf and chewing it. "Like me. When Wolfheart Falls tomorrow, you might finally see your mother again." Maeen frowned. The plant was the Sleep Fern, used to brew Dreamwater. While raw for witches, it was a deadly poison to humans, requiring Winterflower to neutralize it. Soon after eating it, the captive turned ashen. Clutching his throat, he stared at Jelore's smile with disbelief, his throat making gurgling sounds. His nails soon tore through the skin and blood vessels, staining his neck crimson. After a half-hour of agonizing struggle, he collapsed and stopped breathing.
"It's truly regrettable that God has not forgiven your sins," Jie Luo said with a slight smile, stepping forward to the Grand Bishop and bowing. "Your Honor, what do you think of this trial? Does it reflect the dignity of His Excellency Heather?" "Why did you trick him into eating the Sleep Fern?" Meen asked sternly. "If it were Heather, we'd only gain a devout follower instead of executing a man who has repented." "If the captive's family is as I described, they could naturally convert to the Church. Unfortunately, I don't know the truth about his parents—those were just my wild guesses," she shrugged nonchalantly. "Once he realizes these are lies, it would clearly harm the Church. Trust me, I'm wholeheartedly devoted to the Church." "Wholeheartedly" meant waiting in the tent for orders. Meen turned impatiently. "The attack is about to begin. Prepare immediately. According to the plan, the Wolf King and the Queen of Emerald Waters—" "They must die, Your Honor," the Pure One laughed. "If it were just me, I might not have succeeded. But since Isabella has come, they can't escape the Wolf Heart."
"Whoo—whoo—" The battle horn rolled across the sky, heralding the second siege as the dark clouds loomed overhead and the autumn wind rustled through the air.
Two li away, the launch platform of the Siege Beast glowed with Magic Power. When the sun-like light erupted, the iron spear was hurled like a giant's throw, exploding with deafening thunder before being propelled at an eye-popping speed straight toward the city wall.
Having traversed such a vast distance, its might remained undiminished. The snowstone walls proved utterly ineffective—its barrage reduced every obstructive stone to dust, even the garrison troops stationed behind the walls were annihilated. In just three rounds of fire, the city gate was completely shattered, and the adjacent walls lay in ruins.
The siege engines from Devil, though matching the catapults in speed, had a range several times greater. Under such relentless assault, the defending troops were utterly defenseless. With no way to track the projectiles 'trajectories, they couldn't even predict where the next strike would land. Before the Church army could mobilize, their outer defenses were already on the verge of collapse.
Just then, a deafening boom suddenly came from behind the city wall!
A colossal fireball erupted into the sky, sending a jolt through the crowd. Flames and black smoke billowed as the stone wall crumbled with a thunderous crash, leaving a gaping hole in the weathered stone.
The piercing bugle sounded again, and the hybrid force of the Inquisition Army and God's Punishment Army charged toward the city walls. From afar, it resembled a surging sea of golden and crimson hues, where any who dared to stand in their way would be mercilessly devoured.
Now, the Wolf Heart Guardians must confront these warriors who are not of mortal origin with their very flesh and blood.