In front of the massive temple, a streak of light suddenly appeared and transformed into the figures of Leon and Athena.


    Leon looked up, astonished by the sheer size of the temple. "This temple is enormous. There has to be something inside, right?"


    Athena nodded slightly, her gaze narrowing as she scrutinized the temple with caution.


    "Yes, there''s definitely something inside, but we must be careful. This temple doesn''t seem ordinary. There could be powerful monsters or dangerous people lurking within," Athena warned softly.


    Though the two of them were strong enough to handle any threat, caution was still the wisest approach.


    "You''re right," Leon agreed with a gentle smile.


    They approached the temple door, more like a massive gate, standing about three to four meters tall. Strange patterns, resembling nt roots, covered its surface, giving off an eerie and unsettling vibe.


    Without hesitation, Leon pushed the door. With a deep rumble, it slowly creaked open on its own.


    Once the door was fully open, an unexpected sight greeted Leon and Athena. Stay tuned for updates on empire


    "A staircase?" They both eximed, exchanging puzzled nces.


    They had anticipated finding an altar or a grand hall beyond the door, but instead, they were confronted with an endless staircase stretching downward, leaving them in stunned silence.


    "Leon, this temple doesn''t seem like an ancient relic. It feels more like a hideout," Athena whispered, her voiceced with suspicion.


    Leon nodded in agreement. From the start, he had suspected this temple was the hideout of evil people, and now, his suspicion seemed to be at least ny percent urate.


    "Do you still want to explore it?" Athena asked again.


    "Of course," Leon replied casually, turning to her. "What about you? If you don''t want to, you can wait here while I check it out."


    Athena shook her head, wrapping her arm around his and rubbing her face against it affectionately.


    "No, I want to stay by your side," she murmured softly.


    Leon smiled and gently stroked her head. Together, they walked toward the staircase and descended slowly.


    *Snap!*


    Athena snapped her fingers, and two fireballs appeared—one floating in front of them, the other behind, casting light along their path.


    Leon nced at the walls to their right and left, his surprise growing as he noticed therge paintings adorning them.


    The paintings depicted strange scenes that Leon could barely understand. One of them showed arge sun with two moons beneath it—Miranda and Sylvia.


    Below the celestial bodies, several cloaked figures knelt in reverence.


    On the opposite side, another painting disyed an enormous silver dragon standing proudly, surrounded by mysterious cloaked figures, seemingly attempting to kill it.@@novelbin@@


    "That dragon... is it her? How is that possible?" Athena''s voice suddenly broke the silence, leaving Leon startled.


    "Do you recognize the dragon in the painting?" Leon asked, curious.


    Athena nodded slightly, her expression betraying aplex mix of emotions.


    "Of course I know her—no, I knew her more than anyone. The silver dragon is my cousin," she said with a soft sigh.


    "Your cousin?" Leon was taken aback by the revtion.


    The Hellness family, descended from the Red Dragon, wielded the power of fire, while the silver dragon in the painting clearly possessed the power of ice—an apparent contradiction to Athena.


    Sensing his confusion, Athena offered a faint smile and exined, "Despite our different attributes, the dragon family is simpler than it appears. We regard dragons of all elements as one family, without discrimination. After all, the dragon race values strength, not just elemental power."


    Upon hearing that exnation, Leon nodded slightly, gaining a clearer understanding of the dragon race''s hierarchy.


    However, his curiosity resurfaced, and he asked, "If that''s the case, why did you seem so distressed when you saw your cousin''s painting? Did you have a falling out with her?"


    Athena''s smile faded, reced by a nostalgic look on her face.


    "I don''t have any personal conflict with her," she replied calmly. "But she had issues with the higher-ups in the dragon race. Because of that, she chose to leave and live alone in the snowy mountains of the northern region."


    "The snowy mountains of the north?" Leon''s brows furrowed as if trying to recall something. Suddenly, his eyes widened, and he eximed, "Is your cousin the silver dragon from the legend, the one said to guard the highest peak in the northern snowy mountains?"


    One of the ingredients needed to create the antidote for devouring poison was frozen leaves, which could only be found in the northern snowy mountains. ording to legend, the mountains were guarded by a silver dragon. Though the tale was considered a myth, many imed to have seen the dragon, lending some truth to the legend.


    "Is there such a legend? Why didn''t I know about it?" Athena inquired, slightly taken aback by Leon''s words. After a moment of thought, she gave a small nod. "Since she went to the snowy mountains to be alone, the silver dragon is probably her."


    "I see," Leon replied softly, a small chuckle escaping him.


    He had been curious about the legend of the silver dragon and was eager to uncover the truth. But with Athena''s confirmation, he was convinced the legend was real—and he''d likely have a chance to meet the silver dragon someday.


    The two continued down the seemingly endless staircase. As they descended, the air grew colder and damper.


    The paintings on both sides of the wall gradually became more blurred, their ink faded and damaged. These artworks had likely been created tens, if not hundreds, of years ago, so it was only natural that time had worn them down.


    After another ten minutes, they finally reached thest step and were surprised to find a vast hall unfolding before them.


    The hall was immense, with fourrge statues standing at each corner. Upon closer inspection, the statues depicted human figures, each with their hands raised, holding orbs resembling the sun.


    Towering white pirs supported the grandeur of the hall.


    Leon and Athena exchanged nces, their expressions clearly showing vignce.


    "This ce is more magnificent than I expected. Do you have any idea who built it?" Athena asked cautiously.


    Leon shook his head and replied calmly, "I''m not sure who exactly, but from the hall''s interior, it''s clear the owner is likely a group of heretic worshippers devoted to an unknown deity."


    Heretical worshippers were dangerous fanatics, zealously devoted to their deity. Their methods of recruitment often involved coercion, violence, and brainwashing. In the Holy Empire of Elysium and in the Holy Orthodoxy, they were considered a serious threat and forbidden from entering human cities.


    Continuing through the hall, Leon and Athena carefully observed their surroundings. But no sooner had they walked twenty meters than a loud voice echoed from the distance.


    "Oh, blessed devotees of the evil god, listen to the orders I''m about to give!"


    Leon and Athena''s expressions shifted instantly, and they exchanged surprised nces.


    "Did you hear that?" Leon asked.


    Athena nodded slightly, her tone casual. "Yes, I heard it. They mentioned the ''devotees of the evil god'' earlier."


    Leon fell silent for a moment, his gaze growing colder.


    "Devotees of the evil god? Does that mean this ce is the hideout of the Temple of Twilight?" A faint smile tugged at the corners of Leon''s lips as he wondered. "Interesting..."


    After his battle with the Seventh Apostle and the brief encounter with the Second Apostle, Leon hadn''t intended to confront the Temple of Twilight before dealing with Velix. However, if this temple truly served as their hideout, he wouldn''t miss the opportunity to observe it more closely—there could be valuable information to useter.


    Noticing the sudden smile on Leon''s lips, Athena raised an eyebrow, her expression tinged with suspicion.


    "Why do you look so happy? Do you know those devotees of the evil god?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.


    Leon casually draped his left arm around Athena''s slender waist.


    "I don''t know them, but I do have a conflict with them," Leon replied, his tone carrying a hidden meaning.


    Athena narrowed her eyes, then gave a small nod without asking any further questions.


    "Since they are your enemies, I will annihte them for you," she stated coldly, with a tone full of dominance.


    Leon chuckled, lowered his head, and kissed her forehead gently.


    "Thank you for your concern. However, I don''t want them to die so easily. At the very least, I want to get important information from them," he exined in a soft voice.


    Athena kept an indifferent expression, but a thin smile full of happiness slowly rose on her lips, difficult to hide.


    ***


    On a grand altar, a man in a ck cloak stood, his gaze sweeping over the hundreds of others in ck cloaks who stood below him, all wearing expressions of reverence and worship.


    "I''m sure you all already know why I''ve summoned you," the man said, his tone calm and indifferent. "But I''ll repeat it anyway. A few days ago, His Holiness the Fourth Apostle ordered me to eradicate the rebellion urring in the cities of the Holy Empire of Elysium. Now, does anyone have any questions?"


    His eyes scanned the group below, and soon, someone in the back row raised his right hand.


    "I have a question: Is this mission assigned because our Temple of Twilight sessfully formed an alliance with the pce of the Holy Empire of Elysium?" the man inquired, his voice curious.


    The man on the altar gave a small nod, a faint chuckle escaping his lips.


    "Yes, the Temple of Twilight did seed in establishing cooperation with the Holy Emperor of the Holy Empire of Elysium. In the near future, our followers will be able to enter and exit the Holy Empire freely, and the Evil God will be the only faith practiced there... Hahaha!" he replied, hisughter echoing through the hall.


    Upon hearing this, the crowd below was stunned for a moment, then exchanged nces before bursting intoughter.


    "Hahaha! Finally, after all these years, we can return to the Holy Empire of Elysium!"


    "Yeah! I can''t wait to see the glory of our soon-to-be Temple of Twilight!"


    Excitement rippled through the group as they imagined the future.


    "Enough talk," the man in the ck cloak standing on the altar interrupted, his chest swelling with pride. "The first task is to crush the rebellion in the cities of the Holy Empire of Elysium and make the entire poption bow before us. Only then will they see the evil god as their savior. Do you understand?"


    "Understood!" they replied in unison, their voices brimming with enthusiasm.


    Meanwhile, behind one of the towering pirs, Leon and Athena observed silently, their expressions cold and indifferent.


    Leon''s eyes, in particr, gleamed with barely contained killing intent. "How could the Temple of Twilight and the Holy Empire of Elysium be secretly cooperating? Has Velixpletely lost his mind?"