From Outcast to Overlord The Unyielding Heir (Leander Ashcroft) novel Chapter 530

Four robed figures emerged slowly from the glow of the holy light, their silhouettes becoming clear as they stepped forward. Each one of them carried an unshakable calm, their expressions utterly composed. When the black-robed man spoke, they merely lowered their eyes slightly, betraying no emotion.

"Faelan, you summoned us here with a sigil—what for?" one of the elders asked.

The black-robed man, now revealed as Faelan, raised a finger toward Leander and said coldly, "He killed Neil—one of our Church's Demon Hunters. Because of the King Phase Accord, I cannot act against him myself. You will deliver his judgment in my stead."

At his words, the four figures stirred, their spiritual senses flaring as they turned toward Leander. For the first time, they truly noticed the divine glow in his eyes and regarded him seriously.

"So, you're a spiritual grandmaster as well," one of them said. "Shame that you're facing us today. Your spiritual strength may be formidable, but compared to the flawless harmony between the four of us, you're far behind.

"We—the Holy Four—will judge you according to the ways of the Church. Of course, you may choose to surrender and return with us. Do that, and you'll be spared the trial. You may even become our next Demon Hunter."

Leander burst into laughter, loud and scornful. "The Church is no different from the Arbitration Office—just another pack of self-righteous hypocrites hiding behind the veil of holiness."

His gaze darkened, the malice in his eyes spreading like wildfire. "If you want to judge me, show me how strong you are. Go ahead—make your move."

With a low shout, Leander's spiritual strength split into four air blades that shot toward the elders. Meanwhile, Faelan had already vanished into the void, speeding straight toward the spot where Neil's soul had burned away.

…

A sharp hiss sliced through the night as the four air blades streaked forward. The elders' eyes flickered with surprise at Leander's power, but none of them panicked.

Though their physical cultivation was limited, their mastery of spiritual strength rivaled that of King Phase experts. Two of them joined forces, shaping their own spiritual strength into wind blades that clashed head-on with Leander's attack.

A tremor rippled through the void as waves of spiritual energy exploded outward. All four elders staggered back, their expressions tightening in astonishment.

"To think that Astria would produce a spiritual powerhouse like you outside the disciples of Clarity Palace," one elder remarked, eyes gleaming with awe. But before Leander could respond, the man's expression hardened, and he dove downward. His spiritual strength condensed into a massive, tangible hand that swept toward the crowd below.

Sensing danger, Leander immediately tried to intercept him, but the other three elders had anticipated it. Their combined spiritual power surged like a storm, layering wave upon wave until it sealed off his path entirely.

Leander's spiritual strength solidified into an iron wall, holding back their joint strike. But in that split second, the elder who had attacked below had already succeeded.

Among the crowd, Celia possessed the highest cultivation, yet even she didn't react in time. A scream pierced the night as Maeve—dressed in an evening gown—was suddenly yanked upward by an unseen force, her body lifted into the air.

"Ah!" Maeve's cry echoed as she flailed helplessly, her face pale with terror, while her arms reached toward the ground that was slipping away beneath her.

As the four streaked forward through the sky, Maeve's terrified screams echoed beneath the clouds. Leander's eyes grew dark, the animosity in them colder than ever before. He slammed a foot into the air, and the thunderous crack that followed propelled him forward at twice their speed.

The space before him rippled like a thread vibrating in the void. He stopped abruptly and drove a punch forward.

A deep, muffled boom exploded in front of him. He took a step back as bursts of light flared across the air. His gaze sharpened on the swirling black mist ahead, where Maeve hung helplessly in the elder's grasp. The other three turned sharply at that exact moment.

Their movements were perfectly synchronized, like a single entity sharing one will. Four sets of glowing hand seals took form, each palm releasing a beam of holy light. The beams intertwined in pairs, linking together into a four-sided spiritual formation that trapped Maeve within its center.

Maeve was an ordinary woman—she had never encountered anything like this. Suspended in midair, she looked helplessly toward the approaching Leander, her eyes wide with fear. In this moment, he was the only hope she had left.

Leander focused his senses. He could feel that the formation was woven entirely from the four men's spiritual strength—each strand a razor-thin thread that brushed against Maeve's mind. A single thought from them could shred her consciousness, leaving her an empty shell. One flicker of intent, and they could tear her apart where she hung.

His expression darkened further. "If you claim to represent the Church and wish to judge me, then come at me. There's no need to drag innocents into it. This woman has nothing to do with our fight. Let her go, and we'll settle this here and now—above Yelem Church."

The elder who had captured Maeve gave a disdainful snort, his eyes glowing with sanctity. "You rushed here the moment we took her—that alone proves how much she means to you. You killed one of our Demon Hunters, so now you'll understand what it's like to lose someone important. If you want to save her, step into the array yourself."

As his words faded, the threads of spiritual strength spread out like a web, wrapping Maeve completely. Every inch of her skin, every joint in her body, was ensnared and bound tight by the glowing strands.