Chapter 49: A Passionate Greeting

A man-made catastrophe that could've reduced all of Torrent City into a polluted graveyard was smothered just before it took form. But that didn't mean everything was over. Though the Abyssal remnants left behind posed no threat to transcendent beings, they still carried pollution and erosion that could affect ordinary people. For the next week or so, priests from the Radiant Church and spellweaving units from the military would have to handle the sanitation effort. Filthy, thankless, backbreaking work—naturally dumped on the poor saps considered "disposable tools." Especially the sewers! After being transformed by all kinds of grotesque Abyssal mutations and fungal carpet growths, that place could turn the stomach of even the most battle-hardened warrior. Still— "We stopped a disaster." Watching civilians return to their barely recognizable homes under guard escort, Sister Maria von Cainhurst found herself deeply comforted by the scene of post-battle recovery. It reminded her of her past life—those moments on the Desolation Wall, laughing through the snowstorm with comrades after pushing back the Cult of Chaos. "Well said, sister. Heretics like them deserve to burn." The bold and boisterous Steel Nun, Sister Dolores, clapped Maria hard on the shoulder with her iron-gloved hand. From the sheer force of it, those nearby could almost hear the frail bones in Maria's slim frame crying out in pain. It was no illusion. Even with the Cainhurst bloodline and a tall, elegant figure, Maria still looked like an underdeveloped girl next to Dolores. Sixteen this year, the black-robed nun had received Dolores's enthusiastic embrace the very first time they met—and for a second, she truly believed all the air had been crushed from her lungs. All she could do was squeeze out a polite smile. "Ack, Dolores, if you keep hitting her, Maria won't survive." Seeing the color drain from Maria's face, Captain Phoenix, the Flame Warrior, quickly stepped in. If the Steel Nun kept patting like that, they might really need to carry Sister Maria back to the cathedral as a casualty. "My sister, your body is far too frail. That just won't do!" SLAP! Oblivious to her own strength, Dolores gave Maria one last hearty slap on the back. A wave of blood surged in Maria's chest, and her status panel promptly updated from [Sub-Healthy] to [Minor Injury]. Phoenix glanced at the still-smiling, graceful Sister Maria, and couldn't help but feel a touch of sympathy. Before Maria showed up, he was the one taking the brunt of this "affection." Sure, that kind of thought might be a little disgraceful... but the noble-hearted Flame Warrior truly breathed a sigh of relief. If Dolores got too excited and started showing him her "enthusiasm" again—even someone with high Strength like him wouldn't survive unscathed. As for the returning NPCs and players nearby, they could only cast admiring glances at Maria. After witnessing Dolores twist a full set of abyssal iron armor bare-handed like it was tinfoil, no one in their right mind would question the Steel Nun's strength. So when Maria stood there, unfazed after several such slaps, it naturally earned her their respect. "For your efforts today, Lord Phoenix and I will report everything to the Church truthfully. You're free to rest or go about your business." Casually putting some distance between herself and the Steel Nun, Maria made her promise to the players and NPCs who had shared in this crisis. After this battle, Maria's reputation had grown considerably—and everyone believed her words. "Lady Dolores, there may still be some Abyssal abominations lingering in the lower districts..." Before Maria could finish, a passionate gleam ignited in Dolores's coal-black eyes. Chanting a hymn, she turned and stormed off toward the lower districts. Judging by her stride—fierce and full of energy—she could probably keep going all day without complaint. "Lord Phoenix..." "I understand. I'll report everything accurately with you." The Flame Warrior answered solemnly, not waiting for her to finish. "I meant: help me walk!!" Maria nearly bit through her lip in frustration as she collapsed against the slow-witted NPC. Her face was deathly pale—she had no intention of collapsing before she even got back to the cathedral. That would be humiliating beyond belief. Imagine: not struck down by a foe, but laid low by a few friendly slaps. No thank you. Maria would rather die than be the subject of that kind of gossip. With Torrent City's crisis averted, the next thing to come was... rewards. After all, this had been a near-catastrophe. The Kasath Reclamation Army would soon be hit with a kill-on-sight order across the continent—no more than a day or two at most. But that also meant one thing: the Abyss was rising. Maria was sure that by now, savvy players were already speculating about the current state of the Solar Pantheon. As for her reward... Miss Maria tapped her pen against her temple as she jotted down her notes from the battle—every detail and firsthand account. She had performed brilliantly in this conflict, and the Church wouldn't be stingy. That meant she now had all the mystic ingredients needed for the Basic Bloodline Awakening Potion! But Maria wasn't thrilled. Because before transmigrating into this world, she'd dabbled in dealings with high-ranking entities and the forces of Chaos. She knew firsthand how dangerous those powers could be. Though the two forces—divinity and chaos—currently sat in strange equilibrium within her blood, her last rank-up had nearly ripped her soul from her body. If she recklessly took the bloodline potion now, the black-robed nun might find herself face-to-face with the Radiant Lord... as an offering. Or worse—being an unbeliever, she might end up seated at the Wall of Heretics, or become a plaything for some Elder God or Chaos Deity. In short, Maria doubted her soul would rest peacefully if she died. So, for the sake of survival, she'd have to rely on her scholarly training—carefully analyzing the properties of each mystic ingredient. She'd have to concoct a formula that could suppress the opposing forces in her blood, stimulate her lineage, and still leave her alive by the end of it. A high-risk, high-skill challenge. Endless experiments and trials awaited her. Maria could already see that she'd be entangled with this bloodline problem for a long, long time. Fate is cruel. Resting her pale and beautiful face in her hand, Maria stared blankly out the window. For some reason, unease lingered in her heart. After a moment, she bowed her head and returned to writing. These observations... would be priceless one day. ✦✧✦ ???? 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