Free Web NovelChapter 1534: Chapter 1528: A Reluctant Choice?
"Finally, there’s some reaction."
Ronald was pushed back several meters by the defense mechanism of the cathedral.
Yet his expression wasn’t one of frustration; instead, he smiled and sighed in relief.
The bizarre difference between spell detection and the real world was already dangerous enough. The current situation, however, was providing him with a traceable clue that might help him break through.
"Let’s start with you then."
With light steps, Ronald returned to the entrance of Saint Alan Cathedral.
This time, he planted his feet firmly on the ground as if they were nailed in place, ready to withstand the impact, and once again reached for the door in front of him.
Bam—
The repulsion of the cathedral doors reappeared.
This time, however, Ronald was prepared with such formidable power beyond common sense that it was natural he wouldn’t be easily repelled as before. He even went a step further, reaching to pull open the massive doors of the cathedral.
"Intruder, to be dealt with by holy punishment!"
The majestic and sacred voice once again reverberated in Ronald’s mind.
In response to such a formidable intruder, the depths of Saint Alan Cathedral were brewing a vast and formidable power, ready to confront Ronald head-on!
The next second.
The brewing power came to an abrupt halt.
For at this moment, Ronald let go of the doors he was gripping.
"Sigh—"
"I don’t want to cause such a big commotion."
Ronald decisively abandoned the idea of forcibly breaking through the cathedral doors.
The building before him likely housed the artificial divinity, but the overwhelming magic power that opposed him earlier was truly astonishing. He didn’t want to risk attracting members of the [Nine Commandments] by continuing his actions.
After all, once the enemies came in droves.
If even one person managed to hold off Ronald for a while, others could seize the chance to enter the sanctuary and make a move on the artificial divinity first.
"What should I do?"
Having given up the idea of entering by force.
Ronald paused in front of Saint Alan Cathedral, pondering a strategy suitable for the current situation.
At that moment, the image of Costate surfaced in Ronald’s mind.
The clergy of the holy city were truly remarkable in their spellcraft prowess. Yet, the mysteries fundamentally boiled down to the usage of original spells and magic power.
Thus, the spell protecting Saint Alan Cathedral at present.
Should also carry the mysterious techniques of setting up protective barriers.
The method Costate taught Ronald to break barriers might be worth a try here.
With an idea in mind, Ronald got to work immediately.
This time, without resorting to violence, he extended his magic power out and made contact with the cathedral doors using the maid teacher’s technique.
Crackle—
Brilliant golden radiance burst like lightning in front of the cathedral doors.
The previously infallible barrier-breaking technique proved utterly ineffective against the defenses of Saint Alan Cathedral. The outreached magic power reacted violently upon contact, subsequently transforming into a burst of magical fireworks.
Following this thread of magic, Ronald heard the warning from the cathedral for the third time:
"Unbeliever, desist immediately!"
"..."
"Advanced modern spell techniques can’t handle such an old antiquity?"
Ronald curled his lip.
The mystical arts, after all, aren’t akin to modern industrial systems, lacking a clearly defined progression.
Previously, spellcasting methods indeed had their unique qualities.
When he guided the magic power to make contact, Ronald could feel that Costate’s technique was effective. Yet the magic power forming the cathedral’s defense possessed a distinct purification quality.
Once it encountered magic power from a different system, they would cancel each other out and be obliterated.
"It prevents external intrusion while ensuring that under certain special conditions, insiders can activate it with their own type of magic power. This approach to barrier-setting is something worth considering in the future."
Having acknowledged the effectiveness of Saint Alan Cathedral’s defense system.
Ronald didn’t continue to dwell on it but instead began to walk around the cathedral building itself.
The thing indeed excels in protection.
But ultimately, the cathedral is a man-made structure. There’s a chance that in the way it integrates with protective spells, there might be subtle flaws.
What followed was a journey of revelation for Ronald.
Besides its enormous scale, the details of the construction of Saint Alan Cathedral were also exquisite. Even the walls, which merely served as barriers, were adorned with exquisite carvings.
During his meticulous examination, Ronald discovered that many of them relayed the history of the church and the legends of saints.
Though not from that era himself.
Merely through the brushstrokes left on the building, he could comprehend the grandeur of that epoch.
"Buildings like this are not scarce, huh..."
After circling the entire cathedral and returning to his starting point, Ronald couldn’t help but exclaim.
Even with the aid of spells.
To construct such a series of grand and astonishing edifices...
This not only reflected the technical skill the church once possessed but also demonstrated their devout faith. Confronted with the wonders wrought by humanity itself, anyone couldn’t help but marvel.
Yet quickly, the marvel disappeared from Ronald’s face, replaced by entanglement with the predicament in front of him.
After all the circling.
The result was a complete lack of success!
The meticulously crafted architecture seamlessly integrated with the church’s defenses.
Let alone any inherent flaws, he couldn’t detect any disharmony between the spellcraft and the architecture.
The quest to find loopholes had failed.
Breaking through with force might attract enemies.
Almost the most undesirable methods lay before Ronald.
"Sigh—"
Just like when standing in front of the gate earlier, Ronald sighed again. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
Then he drew the Sword of Saint Catherine from his back, his expression shifting from the frustration moments ago to resolve.
Given no choice, he must act swiftly.
Perhaps faster than the enemy’s response, settling matters before any changes transpire!
"Using the saint’s legacy gifted by the church to breach the church’s cathedral."
"Such a thing is embarrassing to speak of..."
Muttering, Ronald began channeling magic power into the longsword in his hand.
This strike was to cleave open the door before him!
If anything emerged afterward to obstruct him, he was ready to indiscriminately strike it down with thunderous force!
Just as the blade was about to fall.
Ronald’s movement suddenly ceased.
A light flashed in his eyes; holding the longsword granted by the church, he was about to cleave the church’s building.
It’s only human.
At this final moment, he couldn’t help but recall all the encounters he just had.
The cathedral’s defense mechanism had called him:
"Outsider, intruder, unbeliever..."
"I..."
An idea crossed Ronald’s mind, but his expression turned awkward, and he hesitated to speak aloud, almost pretending reluctance:
"I seem to have an idea?"
