Chapter 3: The Night Ring
Behind the shadow of the rough stone pillar, Diye’s face was like frost.
Her chest heaved deeply. “Qingruo? Cerise’s next target is really Qingruo!?”
Unlike herself, Qingruo’s holy power was no less than Yedi’s. Her martial prowess was slightly inferior, but her willpower was even stronger. A woman like her, within the Holy Academy, was impregnable to Cerise.
Therefore, Cerise had to resort to other methods.
“I can’t believe such a beautiful woman is going to lead the Temple and slaughter us?”
“Must we fight?”
The kneeling witches, seeing Qingruo’s image in the crystal, found it difficult to muster hatred.
“We must…” the short blonde witch kneeling in the back clenched her fists, gripping her robe.
The Goddess’s Servant in the moon mask stepped forward and continued, “She is the future of the Empire, a woman destined to dedicate everything to the Holy Lord. Assassinating her would be a heavy blow to the Temple Knights, and even the entire Imperial Dynasty.”
For a time, the witches fell into a heavy silence.
Cerise, watching the witches, took a few steps back to the foot of the massive crystal. Her slender fingers lightly touched Qingruo’s armored skirt through the crystal, a gesture that made Diye frown in the distance.
The silver mask appeared somewhat eerie. “However, if assassinating her isn’t so easy, there’s another way… seduction. Use charm magic to make her break her vows and fall. Without her holy power and the Holy Lord’s protection, she’s nothing.”
“Hehehe… if only it were that easy.” Cerise slightly restrained her seductive laughter. “Wouldn’t that be an even more devastating blow to the Empire, to those devout followers who idolize her?”
To actually… Diye, peeking from behind the stone pillar, felt a tightness in her chest. As expected of a succubus, even if she couldn’t defeat Qingruo, she’d resort to such despicable methods. However, seducing that snow-pure woman was probably harder than killing her.
Besides, everyone here was a woman. How could they seduce her?
Of course, even the most handsome and sunny man in the Empire wouldn’t catch Qingruo’s eye. Of this, Diye was supremely confident.
“Servant,” the small, silver-haired witch kneeling at the front asked, “As far as I know, Qingruo Reid** is at the Imperial Holy Academy. How can we approach her?”
The Goddess’s Servant in the moon mask paced, approaching the silver-haired witch on the platform. She tilted her head slightly, seeming to smile even through the mask. Her alluring figure slowly unfolded a moon-white hand.
Strands of black light, like spider lilies, coalesced in her hand, forming a ring. The ring was entirely black, with a seemingly darker gem set within it.
“Use this…”
“The Night Ring. Whenever it gathers enough power of the night, it can transform the wearer into anyone they desire for a certain period,” Cerise said melodiously.
The silver-haired witch, Diluowei, and the other witches all looked up at the tall Goddess’s Servant and the ring radiating a nocturnal charm in her hand.
“Transform into anyone we desire? Wearing this ring, we can infiltrate the Empire’s highest holy and martial academy, the Holy Academy,” Diluowei marveled.
“Oh… what an incredible item!” The witch in the large hat licked her lips slightly. The black cat on her shoulder narrowed its eyes to slits.
“The Night Ring!”
At this moment, Diye’s heart was in turmoil, waves surging within her.
Long ago, she had heard of this ring, but only as a legend. Who would have thought such a ring truly existed?
And it was right before her eyes?
Diye, once despondent and even despairing, suddenly felt her thoughts clear.
This ring, to other witches, might just be a tool for infiltration, but to Diye, it could be a chance to reverse her fate!
If this ring truly had the power Cerise claimed… and she had no reason to lie here.
Then couldn’t she use this ring to return to her original form?
Return to Yalan Yedi, return to being a man!
Diye had never felt such a strong yearning to be a man as she did at this moment.
Although she knew the ring was merely forbidden magic, even if she returned to her original appearance, she wouldn’t truly become a man again. It would be just a superficial change, unable to restore her former power, let alone regain the gods’ favor through transformation magic.
But this was enough.
At least it was a big step forward from her current state. If she could obtain this ring, she could at least return to the Holy Academy, return to her former life, and regain some of her past dignity.
As for what came after, she could plan later.
This was at least the crucial first step in reclaiming everything she had lost!
Provided, of course, that Diye could obtain this ring.
“I must get it!”
Diye didn’t reach the pinnacle of strength by luck. Her reaction speed, decisiveness, and courage in the face of crucial opportunities, at this moment, seemed to flood back into her body.
Although her current curvaceous form couldn’t fully contain this aura, her body heated up, her face flushed, and her fighting spirit rekindled.
“Even without considering the ring, I can’t just sit back and watch them target Miss Qingruo.”
The key was, how to obtain it?
At this moment, Cerise, wearing the mask, channeled a stream of black magic, transforming it into a small black phoenix, which swallowed the ring.
Then, the black phoenix flew to a tall, ancient silver chalice in the center of the altar, in front of the black crystal. The chalice shimmered with purple gemstones.
The phoenix plunged into the chalice, transforming into black flames that burned vibrantly within it. The ring floated within the black flames.
Even from afar, Diye could sense the terrifying power emanating from the black flames. It seemed impossible to take it by force.
Diye turned around, leaning against the stone pillar, breathing deeply. Her soft hips felt the hardness and coldness of the stone, which helped her calm down.
“I can’t take it by force… Without my holy power, even with my swordsmanship and martial skills, I’m not afraid of ordinary demons, but I’m no match for Cerise, and those two witch leaders are formidable as well…”
“In that case…” Diye couldn’t help but lower her head, thinking of the Witch’s Mark on her inner thigh. Shameful, yet also a hopeful thought came to mind. “For now, I’ll join them, participate in the selection as a witch, and seize the ring!”
“Besides, simply taking the ring isn’t the best solution. Cerise might use other methods, send other witches to assassinate Qingruo.”
“If I win the selection, I can approach Qingruo as the so-called assassin, returning to my former life and protecting Qingruo from threats at the same time.”
“Two birds with one stone!”
Diye decisively made up her mind.
The ritual ended.
The Goddess’s Servant of the Night dispersed into alluring streams of magic, leaving behind only the robe and silver mask collapsed on the altar.
The witches, after their final prayers, also rose and prepared to disperse.
“Oh no…” Diye’s heart skipped a beat.
The heavy, dark golden doors of the cathedral were slowly pushed open by several witches working together.
The first to hurry out were the two blonde and brown-haired witches. They were also worried about leaving Diye waiting outside for too long.
“Miss Diye?” the blonde witch asked, her blue eyes shining.
At that moment, Diye was standing right at the entrance.
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