Whether the dragon race would pay with their lives for Lin Yan was a matter for later. Though the people of the Holy See were powerful, they were no match for Lin Yan.
Lin Yan unleashed her full power for the first time. Everyone knew her current body possessed great talent, but no one knew her true strength.
When she revealed her full capabilities, she astounded everyone.
Lin Yan floated in mid-air, her mithril armor glinting under the sun. She pointed her Staff of Light towards the Holy See's forces.
"Talking too much to you is mere waste. Let's get straight to action, stop being so hypocritical!"
The Holy See's people, however, looked at Lin Yan with grim expressions. They had never expected this cast-off of the Holy See to be so formidable.
Her strength now likely surpassed that of everyone in the Holy See.
"Angelina, don't you forget, everything you have comes from the Holy See. Do you truly intend to oppose us?" the Cardinal said again.
He felt he couldn't defeat her, let alone with so many dragons behind her.
Although he had many men and resources behind him, he was truly worried now.
With Lin Yan displaying her full strength for the first time, the Holy See's personnel were unable to stop her advance.
The dragon race had also engaged the other forces. With their tough hides and magic resistance, there was no suspense in their battles.
While the fighting on this front concluded, the other battle remained at a stalemate. It wasn't that they didn't want a swift victory, but the enemy refused to engage them head-on.
Sir Will understood that the enemy was waiting for the Holy See's forces to return. He trusted his liege, believing she would undoubtedly defeat the Holy See's people.
As the sky gradually darkened, both sides ceased their hostilities. The soldiers had a limited diet, and once it became dark, they could barely see.
Lin Yan's soldiers were slightly better off, but their improved living conditions were only recent. Thus, many in the army still suffered from night blindness.
Both generals came from good backgrounds. Though they didn't suffer from night blindness, they had to consider their soldiers. Therefore, as soon as darkness fell, they called a truce.
Lin Yan and her party returned at dusk. The dragons' claws were laden with prisoners, especially one wearing the distinctive red robe.
Lin Yan's return boosted their morale. Today's battle had been frustrating, but seeing Lin Yan capture the Holy See's people, they felt their grievances were avenged.
"My Lord, you've won?" Will was pushed forward by everyone. Suppressing his surprise, he asked her.
"We have won!" Lin Yan pointed to the few people over there. "Only these few remain. The rest have gone to meet the God of Light."
Upon hearing Lin Yan's words, everyone cheered.
Lin Yan made a gesture, silencing everyone again.
"Tomorrow, they will be disheartened by this news, and that will be our opportunity. Do you all have the interest in bringing back the heads of their generals?"
"Yes!" The crowd cheered.
"Then I shall await your success!"
Tonight, she would wait behind the lines for tidings of victory, for them to bring back their generals.
"We will not disappoint you, my Lord!"
That night, Lin Yan provided an extra meal for everyone. She watched the Holy See's prisoners, and even their food seemed to taste sweeter.
The next morning, after breakfast, General Will immediately rallied his troops and challenged the enemy.
Before they departed, Lin Yan had bestowed upon them the Blessing of Holy Light and Light Armor. After a final encouragement, she sent them off.
Lin Yan sat in the main tent of the rear camp, awaiting the end of the battle.
"Aren't you going to witness this victory firsthand?" Maurice sat opposite Lin Yan.
"No, I don't want to see too much bloodshed." Call me sentimental or hypocritical, but I truly don't want to see such a tragic scene.
Whether it's the blood of our own or the blood of the enemy, I don't want to see it.
"Then don't. General Will's abilities are growing stronger, and with all the equipment you've prepared for him, he's sure to bring you victory."
Maurice found his beloved to be sometimes naive, or perhaps innocent. Perhaps it was due to her upbringing in the Holy See, a sheltered environment that fostered such a "simple" personality.
He had been wandering this continent for a long time, since he came of age until Joey was born.
He had witnessed many dark things, but they felt unrelated to him. But she was different; she couldn't accept this dark world and couldn't bear to witness the suffering of others.
Whenever such a situation arose, she would go to help those who were suffering.
She truly treated all races as equals before her. He understood this from the slaves he brought back.
She treated slaves, commoners, and nobles the same. It was this overly "innocent" person who wanted to change this dark and terrible world.
"Don't worry, after all, they are just a rabble and no match for General Will."
"I'm not worried, and I have great faith in their abilities. I just..."
Lin Yan knew that war inevitably involved death, but these were people she knew, and she found such deaths difficult to accept.
She hadn't grown accustomed to this life, or rather, she had never intended to adapt to it.
She always remembered that she was meant to return, to return to a normal life.
In her world, although she was the daughter of the richest man and possessed immense wealth, she was considered a top achiever.
But it was a peaceful world, an equal world, where even the richest and most powerful could not rise above the law.
Lin Yan did not want to become someone who disregarded human life. Although she knew she couldn't change this world to be like hers, she would strive to ensure they enjoyed human rights.
"I just don't want to see casualties, after all, these are people I've watched grow up," Lin Yan suppressed her thoughts and shared them shallowly.
"I understand what you mean. Let's end this war quickly so they can live in peace," Maurice couldn't change her beliefs; this was the education she had received throughout her life. He could only comfort her emotions slowly and help her gradually adapt.
"You're right. This war needs to end quickly so they can live in peace."
As the sun began to set, the war concluded.
Perhaps, after learning of the Holy See's defeat yesterday, they had lost their will to fight. Even with a marquis from the royal city present, they couldn't instill any sense of security.
The lords fought independently, and their soldiers lacked capability, quickly being routed by Lin Yan's army and defeated one by one.
Some lords who were present were captured alive. Those who weren't on the battlefield were apprehended during their retreat.
Some lords were killed outright. As for the marquis from the royal city, he was targeted by Sir Will and his knights from the outset and killed.
After the marquis was killed, the lords lost any will to resist.
When they returned with their "spoils of war," Lin Yan's casualties were tallied.
The casualties were not severe, but Lin Yan still found it difficult to accept. Her memory was excellent, and the faces corresponding to those names flashed through her mind.
"Treat the families of the fallen soldiers generously. If they have no families, bury them with honor. I will erect a monument here, inscribing their names, so that all will remember their deeds."
After instructing her assistant, Lin Yan prepared to visit the wounded in the infirmary.
The Holy See's defeat this time was publicized. Every time the Holy See clashed with Lin Yan, they suffered losses.
Whether it was the escape of the priest before or this disastrous defeat now, the Holy See seemed to have finally descended from its pedestal, no longer the previously invincible behemoth.
Upon learning of the devastating defeat, the Pope hastily summoned all the high-ranking officials of the Holy See for a meeting.
This time, they could no longer underestimate this woman.
The Holy Son, with a gentle expression, listened to the discussions of the Holy See's high-ranking officials, his hands clenched tightly on his lap.
Angelina, this name was truly haunting.
However, she was indeed outstanding; that couldn't be denied. Even though he had driven her out of the Holy See, she still managed to live such a brilliant life.
What a pity, why didn't those people kill her directly back then? If she had died then, none of this would be happening now.
Now, seeing the worried expressions of the high-ranking officials, he couldn't help but feel annoyed. Why couldn't Angelina just die sooner!
That illegitimate daughter was also useless; she had sent knights to kill Angelina, causing the Holy See's high-ranking officials to lose face completely and ruining all the goodwill they had towards her.
However, such useless people weren't entirely bad. At least in contrast to her, he appeared more outstanding, didn't he?
A smile touched his lips, but he quickly suppressed it. He continued to listen to their discussions about how to deal with Angelina.
The Emperor of the Empire also learned of the Marquis's failure. However, he currently had no more troops to spare, so he turned his attention to the Holy See.
He had underestimated Angelina's abilities. Currently, they couldn't deal with her, so it was best to hand this hot potato over to the Holy See.
After all, she was the former "Saintess" of the Holy See, and her actions had to be accounted for by the Holy See.
Though this might be seen as shifting blame, the Holy See was not blameless, was it? She had many influential allies, and only the Holy See could deal with them. They gave the Holy See so much money every year, not for it to go to waste.
Therefore, the Holy See must give them an explanation!
His Majesty, the Emperor of the Empire, immediately had a letter written and sent to the Pope of the Holy See. Then, he waited for the two sides to clash, so he could reap the benefits in between.