Chapter 626: The Decisive Battle Approaches

It turned out that there was a significant difference between a replica Holy Sword and the real thing. Not just in terms of power, but also in other aspects.

For example, the replica didn’t possess the divine power to purify negative effects and eliminate evil. Without this power, it was destined to be just an imitation. Unable to fully exert the Holy Sword’s greatest effect, namely, its restraint against demons, the replica wasn’t seen as a major threat.

Moreover, the replica didn’t have an exclusive wielder like the real Holy Sword.

Shien’s Holy Sword was exclusive to him, unusable by others, and would return to him if lost. As a crystallization of the “Hero” concept, it was like a Hero’s other self, never truly lost, only disappearing upon the Hero’s death.

The Holy Sword Lucy inherited was Mitra’s exclusive Holy Sword, intentionally left in this world through his self-sacrifice. Although not exclusive to Lucy, it recognized her as its wielder, the only descendant of Mitra to gain its recognition in a thousand years. Therefore, if lost, it would return to her.

In contrast, the replica Holy Sword was merely forged from Hero Ragna’s ashes and various treasures from the three realms. Although possessing some of the Holy Sword’s effects, it was just a replica, not as magical as the real thing.

Even wielding the replica had strict requirements, limited to Hero descendants with the Hero’s bloodline. However, it was a product of this world, a physically forged weapon.

Therefore, the replica naturally didn’t have the ability to automatically return to its owner.

Even so, it could still exert some of the Holy Sword’s effects, significantly enhancing Capeline’s power. In this world, the replica Holy Sword was still considered a top-tier magic weapon.

Losing it was like losing a powerful arm for Capeline. Although she still had her white wings and her Unique Skill, which could even block [Starry Arrays], her strength was still limited.

“Not to mention, I might not be a match for Saliro Renitra now,” Capeline said, her beautiful face filled with worry.

“Even Brother Harvis might be stronger than me now, so I probably can’t be a trump card against that venomous Consort.”

This was probably what Capeline was most upset about. As a proud Valkyrie, she was naturally most annoyed by the decrease in her strength.

Therefore, their chances of winning against Mara weren’t high, and even self-preservation might be difficult.

After all, Mara had already made her move against Capeline and the others, putting Harvis under house arrest and causing Capeline to lose the replica Holy Sword and her strength. This might lead the Imperial Consort to go all out against them.

That’s why Capeline compromised. She compromised with reality, and with Shien.

“So you agree to the deal?” Shien asked, blinking at Capeline.

“I have no choice,” Capeline said with an unchanged expression, “Besides, my brother is right. If the deal is completed, it might not be a bad thing for us, or for the Empire.”

Moreover, cooperating with Shien to eliminate Mara wasn’t entirely unacceptable in terms of conditions and results.

“I see,” Shien nodded, a faint smile appearing on his face, “Then you only have one purpose for coming here today, right?”

Capeline looked up.

She did have only one purpose for seeking out Shien.

“We will most likely have a direct confrontation with that venomous Consort,” Capeline said, her words making the atmosphere heavy.

Shien smiled, a genuine smile.

Capeline continued,

“My return has alarmed some nobles who know the inside story. Those who know that I was captured and tortured by that venomous Consort won’t let this go.”

Capeline’s return was a boost to the chaotic Imperial Capital, but it also lit the fuse.

“If they leave me alone, I will expose the venomous Consort’s actions before all the nobles of the Empire, accusing her of imprisoning, scheming against, torturing, and harming a member of the royal family, a royal princess.”

Such accusations were enough to expose Mara’s sinister intentions and heinous crimes. Even the Emperor wouldn’t be able to protect her then.

“Will that work?” Shien asked, “Without proof, the Empire’s nobles probably won’t believe your words, and Mara definitely won’t confess, right?”

This was the only problem.

Capeline finally smiled.

“You don’t know what blessing I received, do you?” she said, a hint of pride in her voice.

“Although I didn’t receive a blessing from the Three Goddesses, I’m the most outstanding genius in the Empire’s history. The Higher God who blessed me might not be as high-ranking as the Three Goddesses, but her strength and fame are enough to rank among the top three in the God Race.”

Hearing this, Shien immediately understood.

In the God Race, there were only three beings whose strength and fame ranked among the top three but weren’t one of the Three Goddesses.

One was the legendary trinity Goddesses of Time, whose combined power could rival even Transcendent Level beings.

One was the strongest Evil God, Lilith, who could rival the Demon Lords but was sealed due to losing control.

And the last one was the goddess who existed in opposition to Lilith, born at the same time but completely opposite.

She was the ruler of justice and order.

She was the most just being in the God Race.

The Goddess of Justice – Artemis.

“I am the blessed one of Artemis, the Goddess of Justice,” Capeline declared.

“With this blessing, as long as I uphold justice and don’t become a destroyer of order, I can obtain the power of fair and impartial judgment.”

This power of judgment had unique uses.

For example, Capeline wouldn’t be affected by curses and negative forces of evil. Only the power of someone equal to Artemis, like Lilith, could affect her.

For example, Capeline could sense malice and wouldn’t be harmed by evil.

And in public, when Capeline prayed to the gods and requested justice, she would gain various privileges.

These privileges helped Capeline uphold justice and maintain order. In that state, Capeline couldn’t be biased or cheat. She could only act as the most impartial judge, judging all injustice in the world.

In short…

“In that state, I can’t lie,” Capeline revealed her trump card.

Shien’s eyes lit up.

Diere also reacted.

“So, in that state, anything you say is undoubtedly true and cannot be faked, right?”

Diere’s cold voice came from under her hood, attracting everyone’s attention.

Rockto stared at Diere thoughtfully.

Tilly was puzzled, seemingly guessing Diere’s identity.

Capeline frowned, either because of Diere’s sudden interruption or because someone whose identity she didn’t know spoke to her.

But she still nodded.

“If I lie, I will lose my impartial stance, and Goddess Artemis’s blessing will not only not protect me, but will also immediately punish me,” Capeline said with certainty, “Almost all the high-ranking officials in the Empire know about this.”

Therefore, in public, once Capeline prayed to Artemis, the Goddess of Justice, and requested an impartial stance to judge all injustice, her words would carry the greatest credibility.

If such a Capeline exposed Mara’s actions against her, then those things definitely happened.

In that case, Capeline’s words would prevail, successfully exposing Mara’s true face.

At that time, Mara would be unable to defend herself.

“If you have such an ability, why didn’t you expose her actions before?” Shien was puzzled.

“Before?” Capeline sighed, “Did Mara do any of those things in front of me?”

That was true.

Mara’s past actions definitely weren’t done in front of Capeline.

Without evidence or eyewitness accounts, any accusations would be just Capeline’s speculation.

That wouldn’t work.

“I must have concrete evidence or have witnessed it myself under an impartial stance to activate the judgment,” Capeline said, “Only Artemis herself can judge others and expose their sins at any time.”

That goddess truly had broken abilities.

Capeline was just her blessed one, possessing her blessing, and couldn’t reach that level.

Just like Lucy and Diere, who could only receive fate’s protection but couldn’t manipulate it, Capeline could only be passively just, unable to forcibly make everything fair, impartial, and transparent.

But now, Mara had acted against Capeline, fulfilling the condition.

“To prevent me from exposing that venomous Consort, the nobles of her faction will definitely try to stop me, and the venomous Consort herself won’t be able to sit idly by, she will definitely deal with me,” Capeline said slowly.

“She’s coming back soon.”

“When she returns, I will expose her.”

“That will be the time for the decisive battle.”