Extra's Harem: Invincibility Starts with Marriage and lots of Children-Chapter 96 - Exorcism Sect (2)

At the inner border of the capital city in the Azure Flame Kingdom,

Morning light streamed through the great hall of the Exorcism Sect, casting long shadows across the ancient inscriptions on the walls.

The scent of incense lingered in the crisp air, mixing with the quiet rustle of robes.

Six elders sat in a half-circle, their expressions calm yet firm.

Outside, five hundred disciples stood in the courtyard, their ceremonial robes fluttering in the breeze with their faces obscured by the hoodie-like robes, a symbolic uniform of exorcists.

Heads bowed, hands clasped, they awaited the departure in silent reverence.

A tall elder, his beard streaked with gray, exhaled slowly. "It is time. The sect must remain secure in our absence."

"The possibility of a trap exists," an older woman added, her sharp eyes narrowing. "We do not know the royal family's true intent."

There was a hint of doubt in the eyes of the elders. Even though they supported one of the royal princes, it did not guarantee them complete immunity from outside dangers. Due to royal decree, all the elders must visit the royal palace, leaving the sect in a state where most of the disciples, particularly the stronger ones, were outside the capital city in different areas, with only mid-levels or lower ones present, including only the Vice Sect Leader, who was at the middle sixth layer.

The Vice Sect Leader, standing before them, met their gazes with steady resolve.

Though younger than the elders, his authority was unquestioned for almost 130 years since he had remained as Vice Sect Leader. "The chances of deception are low. But should danger arise, I will protect the sect, even at the cost of my life."

The elders nodded. Nothing more needed to be said; with 500 members within the sect premises, it was impossible for anyone to attack and win before the elders returned.

They stepped out of the hall.

"We greet the great elders!" The disciples stiffened at their presence, the weight of their departure pressing on the air.

The morning sky stretched vast and cloudless above them.

Then, with a single motion, the elders turned.

Light flared from their bodies as they shot into the sky like comets, streaking toward the inner part of the capital city.

The Vice Sect Leader stood at the entrance, watching.

The disciples did not move until the last glimmer of light vanished beyond the horizon.

"Hm, everyone, be on guard—!" After seeing the elders leave the sect, the Vice Sect Leader, being the only one strong enough and in a high authority position, ordered the other disciples. However, his voice was interrupted by a sudden gust of wind produced by one of his own disciples.

"What—"

The Vice Sect Leader's words caught in his throat.

A figure flew through the air—one of their own disciples, his body twisting, limbs flailing as though an unseen force had plucked him up like a ragdoll. His terrified eyes, barely visible beneath the shadow of his hood, locked onto the Vice Sect Leader's in silent horror.

Then, he was gone.

No, not gone—dragged.

Like iron drawn to a magnet, his body hurtled toward the source of an invisible pull.

At the sect's entrance, where the morning sun spilled across the worn stone path, two women stood motionless. One of them, her hand outstretched, fingers slightly curled, was the undeniable cause. Her presence was like a void—silent, suffocating, and utterly overwhelming.

Behind them, a dozen figures lurked in the shadows of their assassin's cloaks, still as death itself.

The disciple had no time to resist.

Just before his body could collide with the woman's palm—

Schlck—!

Two shadows streaked forward, black robes fluttering like specters.

The air screamed.

Steel gleamed.

The disciple's body—once whole—became a rain of crimson. His limbs, his torso, even the last fleeting remnants of his terrified face exploded into a cascading spray of flesh and blood.

Chunks of red splattered against the sect's stone floor.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

The sound of fresh death echoed in the stunned silence.

Five hundred disciples froze.

Eyes widened.

Breaths caught in throats.

The stench of blood mingled with the lingering incense of morning prayers.

For a heartbeat, the world held still—then, as if the air itself could no longer contain the weight of what had just transpired, the silence shattered.

Screams erupted.

"What—"

"An attack—!"

The Vice Sect Leader's pupils constricted. His voice, sharp as a whip, lashed through the courtyard, his authority snapping the disciples out of their stunned silence.

"Formation! Defend the sect!"

Chaos erupted.

Disciples scrambled into position, their robes fluttering as they formed defensive lines.

Yet, even as they moved, blood dripped onto the stone floor.

The white-robed woman—her amethyst eyes cold, distant—lowered her hand. Behind her, the dozen cloaked assassins turned into streaks of mist, launching forward like spectral blades aimed straight at the five hundred disciples.

A suicidal charge.

But something was wrong.

The Vice Sect Leader's instincts screamed at him.

His eyes flicked toward the woman who had stretched out her hand earlier—the one who had pulled the disciple to his death.

He expected her to move last.

He thought she would follow after the cloaked men.

But in the very next instant—

She was already there.

An inch away from his eyes, a gleaming silver sword reflected in the sunlight, lunging at him at point-blank range.

Swish

'!?!'

"Khuckh—!"

His body jerked backward, narrowly avoiding her blade as it carved through the air just before his throat.

A few strands of his black hair fluttered into the wind, severed by her attack.

Fast—too fast!

Her speed surpassed anyone in the courtyard. Only one man saw it—the Vice Sect Leader.

His gaze sharpened, and in the span of a heartbeat, his sword flashed out of its sheath.

With a single, fluid motion, he swung his leg, pivoting into an immediate counterattack—

Boom!

A shockwave exploded from their clash, rippling outward, sending dust and robes flying.

The Vice Sect Leader lunged, his sword flashing toward her heart—

But before his strike could land—

She vanished again.

A blur.

A shadow.

Clank! Clank!

Both figures flickered through the battlefield like ghosts, streaking past the disciples, their blades colliding with such force that the very air trembled.

To the five hundred watching—

It was as if time had stopped.

They couldn't see them.

Couldn't track their movements.

Could only hear—

The clash of steel.

The rip of wind.

The cracking of stone as their battle raged like a storm.

Amidst the chaos, one trembling disciple managed to whisper—

"Y-Yes, defeat her, Vice Sect Leader—"

But before his sentence could finish—

Something flew.

A dark, spinning shape.

It tumbled through the air, a trail of red following behind it.

The disciple's lips trembled as his breath hitched, his gaze locking onto the object—

The Vice Sect Leader's head.

It soared through the sky, lifeless, empty, severed in a single strike.

And then—

Thud.

It landed.

At the feet of the five hundred horrified disciples.

A heartbeat of silence.

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Then, the air was ripped apart by screams.

"V-Vice Sect Leader!"

"H-He is dead!"

"Attack them! Protect the sect!" With the voices filling the whole courtyard one after another, the disciples were clearly horrified.

Yet for some, instead of retreating, their hearts beat rapidly as they shrank back at seeing the severed head of the Vice Sect Leader, whose body, as if moving headlessly, walked a few feet before falling down.

This caused a stimulus and unrest throughout all of them as the surge of energy soared, with a few of them sane enough to fight back while others were already trying to process everything.

It was now a battle of time; mentally it was won the moment Aleriana severed the head of the Vice Sect Leader with clear intention to crush the morale of everyone there.

A battle which she had half won; now she just needed to crush them physically.