Lord of Prayer - Chapter 253 183: Preparing for Some Sneaky Business

“Holy Light!”

In the stronghold’s main hall, Mandala once again pulled a Metal Rune from her robes, tossed it toward the distant Blood Race, and loudly chanted the activation phrase.

A ball of scorching Holy Light exploded in mid-air. Seven or eight members of the Blood Race shrieked and clutched at their eyes, which had been seared by the light. Large patches of their skin began to fester, and they soon followed in the footsteps of their comrades, incinerated by the Purifying Light until only charred remains were left.

Gunfire roared as countless Holy Silver Bullets rained down. However, the Cultist carrying the ammunition pack had just been killed by the Blood Count, so they quickly ran out of bullets.

Once their bullets were spent, the Crimson Sect Cultists methodically drew their Silver-Coated Weapons and applied Divine Enchantments. They continued the chaotic battle against the Blood Race, with some occasionally throwing Alchemy Tools like Purification Runes to suppress the surrounding Blood Race with their effects.

Zhou Chen wasn’t one of the Crimson Sect’s own, so he didn’t receive any of the Holy Artifacts. He could only hang back at the edges with his gun, firing an occasional shot to make his presence known.

Watching the Crimson Sect fight the Blood Race amidst the blazing Holy Light, he couldn’t help but feel a surreal, dreamlike sensation.

Anyone who didn’t know better would think they were Holy Order Knights representing Justice and order, hunting evil Vampires that plagued the Mortal World.

“Let the Purifying Light illuminate the land! Heretics, face your judgment!”

“Eat my Holy Skull-Splitting Hammer!”

“Holy Light, grant me Power!”

“Turn to dust in judgment, you inferior spawn of Darkness!”

These mentally unstable Cultists were even cheering excitedly, as if they had truly gotten into character and saw themselves as Holy Order Knights.

“Damn it, where is the Curse-Bound Legion? Get the Curse-Bound Legion here now!” a Baron of considerable standing among the Blood Race roared from behind a stone pillar. The left side of its face had been burned away by the Holy Light, leaving a mess of blurry flesh and billowing smoke.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Stone chips flew as bullets blasted holes into the pillar, exposing the steel rebar within. The Blood Race Baron tried to move to new cover, but Zhou Chen was faster. He swung his shotgun around, aimed, and pulled the trigger.

The gunshot was like thunder as a stream of fire erupted from the barrel. The Blood Race Baron’s entire upper body vanished in an instant. Shattered flesh and blood rained down as its body was sent flying as if hit by a truck. It writhed and struggled on the ground for a moment before the Purifying Light, still shining from above, burned through its shell and reduced it to a pile of dust.

“Everyone, be careful! The Curse-Bound Legion is coming!”

the Fat Steward shouted. He was holding a Meteor Hammer wreathed in radiant flames. After smashing a Blood Race member’s head to pieces, he retreated to Mandala’s side, on guard against the approaching enemy.

Heavy footsteps echoed from behind a large, closed door. Judging by the sound, it was a group of Blood Knights clad in Steel Armor.

BANG!

The closed door suddenly shuddered, then was violently blasted open, sending countless fragments flying.

A deep, dark mist drifted out from the opening as towering, steel-clad figures flooded into the hall. They wore ancient and heavy medieval Armor, each with the insignia of a crimson ring on their left breastplate. They wielded an array of cold weapons—sabers, spears, swords, and halberds—and their heavy Armor gave off an intense, oppressive feeling.

The Curse-Bound Legion!

A Blood Race unit that had undergone cruel, hellish training, they were the most elite force of the Ring of Authority clan.

Hidden within their nigh-impenetrable Armor, they feared neither sunlight nor Silverware. They were the most dauntless Warriors, the most terrifying executioners, the most brutal hunters.

The Blood Knight Molei, whom Zhou Chen had met before, was one of them. They showed absolute obedience to their superiors, not even hesitating if ordered to die.

In the hall, the light of the Holy Runes shone everywhere, weakening the aura of Darkness. But the Holy Light had no effect whatsoever on the cold, Jet Black Armor.

With a thunder of iron-shod feet, the Curse-Bound Soldiers shattered the ground as they advanced, swinging their Weapons through the powerful gale their own charge had stirred up.

Zhou Chen loaded his last two shells and fired them in quick succession. The powerful shotgun blast only left a dense pattern of tiny dents on the black Armor. That level of firepower was nowhere near enough to break through their defenses.

BOOM!

A thunderous crash echoed as a Curse-Bound Soldier shot forward like a bolt of lightning. It wielded a colossal, blood-red hammer wreathed in Resentful Souls, which it brought crashing down, crushing the very air in its path.

At the same time, a flash of crimson light shot out from the slits of its helmet’s faceplate. A mental assault, like a sharp sword, pierced into Zhou Chen’s mind, disrupting his thoughts.

Zhou Chen only felt a light prick in his mind, nothing serious. He subconsciously prepared to use Flame Dancing to dodge, but immediately realized that would expose his identity. Instead, he activated Gale Step, his figure moving like a phantom two meters to the right. After evading the hammer, he quickly closed the distance and threw a punch at the Armor.

My Style Secret Technique: Rock-Breaking Force!

THUD! A dull clang echoed from the steel as the hard breastplate caved in. The Blood Race member inside the Armor let out a muffled grunt and spat out a mouthful of blood.

The terrifying power of the punch traveled through the steel and into the Blood Race member within, shattering its left kidney, rupturing its intestines, and pulverizing three of its ribs.

But these injuries were not enough to be fatal. An enraged roar sounded from within the Steel Armor as its entire body erupted in blood-red flames. Zhou Chen quickly retracted his fist to avoid being burned.

The Curse-Bound Soldier stomped its iron boot on the ground to steady itself, kicking up a ring of dust. Its perfectly tempered body began to exert its full force. It swung the Resentful Soul Heavy Hammer, the plates of its iron Armor grinding against each other and throwing off a shower of sparks. The brutal swing whipped up a howling gale.

Zhou Chen casually picked up a Long Saber from the ground and swung it to meet the attack. However, the moment they collided, the Long Saber shattered like shredded paper. The sheer Power contained in the blow sent a numbing shock through his palm, forcing him to retreat several steps to dissipate the force, the floor tiles exploding under his feet with each step.