Chapter 69

The Sol Stone Walk spell is a 5th-level Transmutation school spell that grants the recipient the special ability of a Sol, a creature that can move freely underground. With the help of this spell, Gorden could infiltrate from underground and bypass the defenses of the Trinity Baptist Church, destroying the camp's protective magic array.

Moreover, the scroll of Sol Stone Walk that Dorn had was prefixed with "Advanced." Compared to ordinary Stone Walk, this Advanced Stone Walk scroll could also carry one additional person if the caster was in physical contact.

Naturally, he chose to bring the most powerful paladin, Miss Ryness.

"The spell can carry one additional person if there is physical contact with the caster," Dorn said, "but I don't know what exactly counts as physical contact."

Does holding hands count?

Or do we need to hug?

Seeing Gorden look at him, Dorn chuckled inwardly, thinking, "After this is over, Gorden will definitely thank me," and then had an idea.

"Miss Ryness, please stand in front of Gorden and hug him tightly," Dorn said solemnly. "The Sol Stone Walk spell will create an energy shield around the body, and through the power of Transmutation magic, it will transform rock and soil into a special substance more fluid than water. This way, you will move more easily underground than swimming in water. However, there is one thing to note: your body must not exceed the range of the energy shield."

Dorn explained with a serious expression. The paladin lady would never have thought that at such a critical moment, this young Lannister still had the nerve to make a poor joke. She glanced at Gorden, clearly hesitant.

"I understand," she finally said, nodding. Her sense of justice overcame her hesitation.

She softly said, "Meridia," and the longsword Dawn at her waist shrunk to the size of a palm. After putting her beloved sword in her pocket, Ryness wrapped her arms around Gorden's neck and pressed their bodies together.

Gorden found that the silver armor the paladin wore, which looked incredibly protective, was actually made of tiny silver scales, as soft as ordinary clothing. Thus, he could clearly feel the softness of her chest. Though not as large as Shelaya's, they were very elastic and pleasant to touch due to her long training.

Their faces were almost touching, and Gorden could smell the delicate fragrance from Ryness's neck. A few strands of golden hair tickled his nose, making him feel ticklish.

Dorn laughed inwardly. He was most troubled by women like Ryness, who were proud and untouchable. Seeing the paladin lady willing to maintain such an intimate posture with his friend, he was extremely pleased.

"A friend as considerate as me is hard to find!" Mr. Lannister praised himself in his heart.

"Miss Ryness, I hope you can wrap your legs around Gorden's waist. You know, if you don't do this, Gorden will inevitably have to use his hands to support you when we move. However, for a mage, hands are essential for casting spells and should not be used for unnecessary actions."

Ryness nodded, and her long, strong legs climbed up Gorden's waist and tightly clamped around him.

Gorden couldn't see her face, but he wondered if the usually calm and composed blonde beauty was blushing. However, this position, or rather, posture, was indeed quite intimate.

"Recite the incantation quickly, Mr. Gorden," Ryness said in his ear, her breath like a fragrant breeze, her voice slightly trembling. It seemed she was not used to such intimate contact with a man.

Although the followers of Lady Dawn do not have a vow of chastity, it was clear that Miss Ryness had little experience with men.

Gorden nodded.

Reading a 5th-level spell was a challenge for Gorden, who had just reached the 3rd level, especially under the current half-awkward, half-fragrant situation.

"Fortunately, I put all my skill points into spell concentration when I leveled up, otherwise, it would be quite troublesome now," Gorden thought, unfolding the Advanced Sol Stone Walk scroll and focusing on reciting the incantation written in Draconic on the parchment.

A brownish-yellow energy shield completely enveloped Gorden and Ryness.

Gorden looked at Shelaya and saw the half-elf girl watching him and Ryness with a jealous gaze. He gently comforted her, "Be careful. After this is over, we will celebrate our survival."

When he said "celebrate," Gorden deliberately winked. The half-elf girl seemed to understand the meaning behind his words, thinking of their recent intimate encounter, which made her feel warm and sweet, and her jealousy subsided.

"Miss, it seems she has some skill in archery. I have suitable weapons for her among my subordinates. She should contribute in the upcoming battle," Lady Daina said.

Having an additional combatant was certainly beneficial. Gorden nodded, and with a step, he and Ryness, who was clinging to him like a koala, slowly sank into the ground.

...

Slap! Slap!

The cruel whip struck the pale, smooth back, leaving deep, finger-thick blood marks. Amavre knelt on the ground, exposing her entire back, gritting her teeth as she endured the lashes.

Two whips floated in the air, as if controlled by a living being, continuously striking Amavre.

The black-robed messenger of the Trinity Baptist Church groaned in pain but remained unusually calm, even with a hint of a smile.

She was enjoying the pain of the whipping.

Although it was dark underground, it was 4 a.m., the time when most intelligent beings were in their deepest sleep. However, the goddess of torture, Lovita, required her followers to pray at this time—forcing creatures to wake from their sweet dreams was also a form of punishment.

After thirty lashes, Amavre's back was covered in bloody wounds. She was indifferent to the pain, instead placing her hands on the ground and praying to a statue of Lovita.

A beam of orange holy light suddenly descended, enveloping Amavre. The wounds on her back began to heal at a visible speed.

As a blessed one, she needed to pray to the goddess in this manner every day and receive divine spells.

Amavre left the small prayer room and entered the hall.

On the demon altar, the pink Sin Pearl seemed almost full of energy, pulsating like a heart.

"Soon, the ritual will be complete!" Amavre smiled cruelly. She glanced at the nearby stone room, her heart filled with derision.

Koyan, who had lost an arm in the pursuit of Gorden, was hiding in that stone room, treating his wounds and occasionally letting out animal-like roars.

Although she was saddened by the loss of her most capable subordinate, the black knight Moke, and regretted not capturing the murderer of her brother, Amavre felt only schadenfreude at Koyan's injury.

His loyalty was to a different master, and he always acted with arrogance due to his background and family power, so Amavre was glad to see Koyan suffer.

"After this, Koyan will be more restrained. Unfortunately, there's no time to deal with Gorden personally. After the ritual is complete and we leave this dark underground, that mage will be trapped in the castle, forever drifting in the demiplane," Amavre licked her red lips. "But the slow, torturous, and hopeless death is also a good end, though I can't witness it myself."

She inspected the hall, checking the defensive forces and confirming that the camp's protective magic array was functioning normally. However, Amavre did not know that every move she made was under Gorden's control.

Gorden was currently in the soil beneath the hall. He observed the detailed situation in the hall through an invisible eye floating on the ceiling. This was a 4th-level Divination school spell called Arcane Eye, which could create an invisible, floating magical eye, allowing the caster to observe secretly.

"That woman who looks like the leader just walked by. The complex magic patterns and runes drawn in blood on the ground should be the camp's protective magic array," Gorden said, his breath warming the paladin's ear, turning it red.

The two were tightly embraced and surrounded by soil, making it difficult for body heat to dissipate, causing Ryness to sweat. Despite this, her scent was still pleasant, with a hint of sweetness.

"How many enemies are there?" Ryness asked.

"Twenty Yasha. Eight with bows, the rest with longswords, patrolling the hall. Ten red-robed whip warriors guard the main staircase leading to the upper levels. Additionally, there are eighteen black-robed figures scattered around the hall. I estimate they are priests of evil deities or demons."

"Find a hidden spot, and we'll go up," Ryness said calmly, as if the dozens of formidable enemies above did not exist, and they were just on a picnic.

There was no turning back now.

Gorden carried Ryness upward, the soil parting like water around the shield. As they approached the surface, Gorden felt a dark and oppressive force enveloping him.

"We have entered the range of the camp's protective magic array."

In the game, the camp's protective magic array reduces the bonuses of opposing faction creatures, such as saving throws, defenses, attack bonuses, spell resistance, and base attributes. In the real world, it simply means a reduction in combat effectiveness.

In a hidden corner not illuminated by any light source, the two emerged from the soil. Ryness dismounted from Gorden. Unfortunately, in such dim conditions, Gorden could not see the paladin's expression.

If she was blushing, that would be wonderful.

Gorden and Ryness exchanged a glance and nodded in unison. Then the paladin summoned her sword Dawn and shouted, "In the name of Meridia!"

A brilliant light suddenly burst forth in the dim underground hall, like the first ray of dawn piercing the darkness.

True to its name, "Dawn" lived up to its reputation.