The Evil God Summoned by the Saintess

The Tier Three Mage woke up and even sent information back. Hence, Hilia no longer made things difficult for him. After throwing everyone out, she destroyed the stronghold.

Although she didn’t know the purpose of this stronghold, to prevent the formation of a magic array, destroying one node is still worth it.

"According to the methods of the Tower of Descent, they’re not particularly adept at setting up magic arrays, unless someone from the Deep Sea Mutual Aid Association joins them."

But the Deep Sea Mutual Aid Association hasn’t been gone for long. Even if the dispersed high-tier mages joined them, it’s unlikely they could set up a large magic array in the heart of the capital so quickly.

The larger the magic array, the longer it takes to arrange, unless the gods personally intervene. Otherwise, the time won’t shorten significantly, especially when setting up in enemy territory.

It is only the Deep Sea Mutual Aid Association, who are incredibly skilled at array arrangements, that can subtly and over decades, lay countless small arrays on top of the city’s magic array foundation. Those small arrays can then interact to form a large magic array.

The Tower of Descent’s pharmaceutical abilities are what require attention.

However, this is Hilia’s weakness.

After pondering for some time, upon dealing with the stronghold, Hilia decided to seek Rose’s help.

"Lord Rose, I’d like to know what the purpose of the strongholds in the volcanic region is. Please enlighten Hilia~!"

Hilia blinked her eyes, feigning cuteness.

Rose glared at her with mild annoyance.

"The function of the stronghold is to release a special potion. This potion chemically reacts with certain substances ejected during a volcanic eruption, becoming a gas capable of influencing mages in ways that subtly affect emotions and desires.

"Depending on one’s strength, the degree of influence varies. Those above Tier Five are completely immune, while Tier Four is slightly affected but not deeply, requiring additional influence to induce actions inconsistent with their usual behavior."

"It’s different for those below Tier Three. They will be fully affected, becoming controlled without realizing."

"Then those people on the mountain are in danger."

In truth, very few Tier Four and Five went up the mountain; mostly Tier Two and Three entered.

These are the main scavengers, while the Fours and Fives hover close by the volcano top to witness the eruption firsthand, checking for opportunities to fetch high-level materials.

"I wonder if those two cat girls will be affected," Hilia muttered.

"Of course, they will be. However, resolving such influence is simple," Rose smiled faintly and fell silent.

Hilia waited for a solution that never came, staring at Rose with reproachful intensity.

Rose pretended not to notice and changed the topic: "There’s another acquaintance of yours here. Perhaps you should find her."

Hilia was taken aback: "Who?"

Rose didn’t answer, merely gave her a direction.

Hilia sensed it and curiously flew in that direction.

Before long, she encountered a figure fiercely battling within an heretical stronghold.

Hilia’s eyes widened.

"Encore?"

...

Encore was attacking an heretical stronghold within the Dragon Island Volcano.

"After such prolonged tracking, I’ve finally discovered your intent. Doing mischief under Encore’s nose — you won’t succeed."

Encore adjusted her glasses, manipulating her magic puppets to dispatch one heretic after another.

Encore’s combat prowess was slightly weaker than Hilia’s, but her reputation as a pharmacist was sometimes underestimated.

Facing a stronghold guarded only by a Tier Three Mage, it was a one-sided slaughter.

But just as she was about to directly send the Tier Three heretic to meet the gods, an ice wall obstructed her.

"Encore, don’t kill just yet."

The style of the ice wall looked very familiar.

Encore looked up in surprise to see Hilia descending from the sky.

"Hilia? Why are you here?"

Hilia blinked, "I was going to ask why you’re here yourself?"

Encore replied, "I mentioned when we parted ways earlier that I was coming to the Blue Dragon Empire. But you rejected me then, so why are you here now?"

Speaking of which, Encore suddenly thought of something and mused, "Oh, I get it now. You’re here to eliminate the Tower of Descent, aren’t you?"

"Uh..."

Hilia hesitated and shook her head, "No, I’m here looking for materials."

"I see." Encore raised an eyebrow, "You should have just told me what materials you need rather than coming this far."

"Really? I want frost tree leaves, moonlight dew... Do you have these too?"

Encore pondered for a moment and said, "What you mentioned are either Northern Alliance specialties or Elf Race specialties, generally quite difficult to obtain."

Hilia showed a hint of disappointment.

"But I do have them all."

Hilia’s eyes lit up, "Really?"

Encore crossed her arms, "I am a pharmacist. Without a sufficient supply of materials, how would I concoct potions?

"However, I don’t carry these materials with me. They’re stored in the Huijin Divine Hall. I’ll give them to you once we return."

"Alright, deal!"

This unexpected joy hadn’t occurred to her earlier to see about purchasing them from Encore.

Thinking back now, these are potion ingredients, not high-level spiritual materials like the Star of Ice. It made sense for Encore to have them in reserve.

Encore glanced at the Tier Three heretic bound in ice and asked, "Why keep him alive?"

Hilia answered, "These heretics might have been brainwashed, so if we can avoid killing them, we should. Tier Three has high resistance to potions, so perhaps using purification skills could cleanse them of their pollution and awaken their consciousness."

As she spoke, the glow of purification appeared in Hilia’s hand, enveloping the bound mage.

The initially red-eyed Tier Three Mage, who was frantically trying to break free, gradually calmed and visibly weakened.

After a while, Hilia released the bindings, and he collapsed to the ground.

Thinking back on Encore’s prior battle, Hilia noticed she hadn’t used purification skills and asked, "Why didn’t you use purification skills in battle?"

Encore adjusted her glasses with one hand and pondered before smiling, "I forgot."

Hilia: "..."

Encore continued, "Magic isn’t my forte; pharmaceuticals are. I typically focus my time on drug research, so I haven’t practiced much magic. The spells I can use are mostly those my magic puppets have learned. I’d rather use potions for direct damage."

"Alright then."

This certainly fit Encore’s character.

A genius pharmacist — would she rain drugs to defeat enemies or use a magic staff as a bludgeon?

Recalling what the Tower of Descent might be up to, Hilia asked, "Encore, do you know their intentions?"

Encore replied, "Not fully, but they seem to target mages entering the volcanic region. From their methods, it appears they’re preparing to control these mages. However, controlling them seems implausible, considering there are Tier Four and Five mages, perhaps even Tier Six... I can’t fathom their purpose if they can only control low-tier mages."

Hilia said, "I know a bit..."

Repeating Rose’s words, she explained that the Tower of Descent intends to sow chaos and incite conflict between mages and the Dragon Throne army, before giving a snort: "As long as Encore is here, their schemes won’t succeed!"

Hilia nodded, asking, "Do you know how to counteract their drug’s influence?"

"I have some leads."

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