Chapter 184

184: Jasmine vs Zophi

"Then, ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍what comes next is the true [Trial]!"

Zophi ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍smiled faintly as he slowly raised the Spear of Longinus in his hand. The sharp tip, so crimson it seemed ready to drip blood, pointed directly at Evelia from across the distance!

"Wait, ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍what? Me? Fighting in close combat?"

Evelia ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍pointed at herself, the corner of her mouth twitching.

Was ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍this some kind of joke? Making her, with these tiny arms and legs, fight the Holy Spear in close combat? How was this any different from getting spawn-camped by a boss at the start of a game?

"Of ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍course. After all, how could it be called a trial without any challenge?"

Zophi answered with a smile. The next moment, his figure flashed before Evelia without any warning, and the Spear of Longinus in his hand came crashing down toward her without hesitation!

"Damn it!"

Evelia cursed under her breath. At this distance, whether dodging or pulling out a grenade to blow them both up, there was not enough time. Left with no choice, she could only grit her teeth and raise her beloved shotgun to block in front of her.

No helping it. She could only hope that this little gun her old dad had personally made for her could withstand the attack from the Holy Spear projection...

"God-given Magic: [Chains of Sealing]!"

Just as the Spear of Longinus was about to crash into the body of Evelia's shotgun, Jasmine's voice, weak yet tinged with stubborn defiance, suddenly rang out. Several golden chains materialized from thin air, locking directly onto the Spear of Longinus in Zophi's hand.

"Oh?"

Zophi turned his head with mild interest. Not far away, Jasmine was leaning on the Pitch-Black Sword for support while raising her hand toward him, breathing heavily.

"Hah... hah..."

Due to using God-given Magic, Jasmine had now reverted to her former appearance as the Saint. Her hair was white as snow, and her eyes gleamed like gold. Looking at her this way, she really did bear some resemblance to Zophi, who was currently in his youthful prime.

"Your opponent... is me!"

Jasmine struggled to her feet. Golden threads surged from her hand, gradually winding together and coalescing into a hollow longsword slightly smaller than the Pitch-Black Sword.

She slowly raised her hand, the sword tip pointing directly at Zophi's head from across the distance.

"My beloved daughter, I must remind you of something..."

Watching Jasmine force herself like this, Zophi shook his head with what seemed like helplessness before continuing.

"Your current physical condition is quite dire. The power of [Genesis] just now would theoretically attempt to suppress the Black Mud within your body. Since both are divine miracles, the Black Mud would not willingly submit to being suppressed by [Genesis]. It will inevitably clash violently within you, and the result of such a conflict..."

"Can only be borne by your body. Do you still not understand?"

Zophi's tone gradually grew more serious.

"If you continue like this, before you can defeat me, your already badly wounded body will more likely collapse first. When that happens, you will surely die!"

"...Miss Evelia, please take care of Lina for me."

Jasmine ignored Zophi's warning. She carried Lina on her back and limped over to Evelia's side.

Then, she gently placed the unconscious Lina beside Amya and softly rubbed her cheek with a tender gaze.

"Miss Jasmine, you..."

Evelia wanted to tell her that if it really came down to it, she could handle it. Even though her ability to summon help was sealed, she still had some cards up her sleeve that could temporarily deal with Zophi. But before she could say any of this, Jasmine interrupted her first.

"There's no need, Miss Evelia. This is between him and me. Some things must be brought to an end!"

She reached out and brushed the dust from her cloak, then walked slowly toward Zophi.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, she turned her head again and said to Evelia with some embarrassment:

"By the way, if I can't hold on, please help me watch over Lina after she wakes up. Don't let her do anything too impulsive."

"...Alright, I promise you."

Evelia felt a strange ache in her heart, but she did not stop Jasmine, because she knew that for Jasmine, this was something she had to do.

"But please, try to... take care of yourself a bit more. After all, when Lina throws a tantrum, she is very hard to soothe."

"..."

Jasmine did not answer, only giving her a warm smile.

She slowly closed her eyes, turned around, and faced Zophi before her.

"Have you made your resolution?"

Zophi's expression at this moment was grim. This was the first time he had shown such a look.

"I long ago lost the qualification to become a [Perfect Vessel]. For someone like me, shouldn't I have no value left to you? After all, when you created Lina and me, your intention was for us to become vessels, wasn't it?"

Jasmine blinked and answered with a hint of mockery.

"..."

Zophi fell silent. After a moment, he raised his spear once more.

"Since you have such resolve, then…"

"As the messenger of my Lord walking upon the earth, I, Zophi Gregory, hereby descend upon you the [Trial]!"

"With pleasure!"

Jasmine and Zophi nearly assumed identical starting stances: bodies slightly crouched, weapons slowly raised to their sides.

The next instant, their figures vanished from where they stood!

"Bang!"

In the blink of an eye, the Spear of Longinus in Zophi's hand crashed head-on into the golden longsword in Jasmine's hand!

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Continuous sounds of weapons clashing rang out. Jasmine and Zophi had exchanged dozens of rounds in the blink of an eye! Although from the outside, it appeared that Jasmine had precisely blocked every one of Zophi's attacks, in reality, facing Zophi at his peak, Jasmine could barely manage to keep up with his speed and defend. Beyond that, she could not even counterattack.

The gap in their close combat experience was more than just a little significant!

Upon realizing this instantly, Jasmine immediately decided to create some distance. After all, she was a Saint, and unlike her Witch state, she did not have the physical enhancement from Death Magic. Trying to face Zophi wielding the Holy Spear head-on was no different from a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

She gritted her teeth, hurled the Pitch-Black Sword from her hand, and while Zophi was dodging, she quickly created distance between them!

At the same time, her hands did not rest for a moment. A brilliant golden magic circle immediately lit up in her palm, but just as she was about to unleash her God-given Magic, Zophi, standing not far away, moved.

Zophi made a grabbing motion toward Jasmine through the air and softly chanted:

"Magic Seal!"

In an instant, Jasmine felt the magical circuits within her body suddenly go into chaos.

The God-given Magic she had been casting was interrupted as well.

Seizing this opportunity, Zophi swung the Spear of Longinus in his hand once more.

"Checkmate!"

No magic was released from Longinus, yet a deep wound appeared on Jasmine's chest out of nowhere, cut to the bone.

In an instant, blood splattered everywhere.