The supporting character's harem is very normal

A lightning bolt struck Lathel's head, yet it caused no harm. Instead, he grasped it firmly in his hand.

The lightning gradually condensed, forming into a scythe. The handle was forged from molten lava, the blade crackling with electricity.

Holding it in his hand, Lathel resembled the Thunder God. Countless bolts of lightning surged from his body, serving as a dire warning to the opposing crowd.

"Foolish!" a man in black robes shouted. "He's merely using a forbidden magic to amplify his strength momentarily. Don't worry. Drag the fight out. That boy will burn out his energy, just like the High Priest. They will inevitably lose."

Hearing this, the group immediately encircled Lumiana and Lathel, but their attacks were deliberately restrained.

Their strikes weren't overwhelmingly powerful but came like relentless ocean waves—ceaseless and unending.

After some time fighting, Lathel realized their true intention wasn't to engage in full combat but to exhaust him and Lumiana.

"High Priest, how much energy do you have left?" Lathel flew closer to Lumiana, speaking softly.

Lumiana panted, hesitated, then replied, "Enough to hold out for a little while longer."

Lathel frowned and asked, "Why is your energy reserve so pitifully low for someone of your rank?"

Lumiana bit her lip, avoiding his gaze as if unwilling to answer.

Lathel's expression darkened further, but he couldn't pursue the topic further, given the battle.

During their brief conversation, the four figures in black robes resumed their attack. Their teamwork was impeccable despite their individual lack of overwhelming strength.

The shield-bearer would immediately block them whenever he and Lumiana went on the offensive. Simultaneously, the dagger-wielder and swordsman would counterattack in close quarters.

When they retreated to gain distance, the group's mage would unleash ranged spells to keep them at bay.

Their coordination left no openings, making it impossible for Lathel and Lumiana to break their formation.

"Damn it!" Lathel growled, shouting, "High Priest, do you have any wide-area attack skills?"

Lumiana gritted her teeth and shook her head slightly.

Lathel found it hard to believe. As the High Priest, she should possess countless magical artifacts and forbidden techniques, yet she was using none.

Though she said nothing, Lathel could sense she was hiding something.

Her hair had started turning white, and the skin on her hands was wrinkling as if she were aging rapidly. The process was so swift it unsettled him deeply.

He suspected Ikarys had done something to leave her in this state.

BAM!

Suddenly, a massive explosion erupted in the distance.

Lathel turned toward the sound and saw a translucent barrier enveloping the entire Church. It was under a devastating assault.

In the sky, ten colossal warships hovered menacingly. Mounted on them were magical cannons, all aimed squarely at the Church.

On the largest ship, a blinding light emanated.

No, it wasn't the ship—it was the enormous cannon mounted at its center. Only the long and black barrel was visible, like an enormous gun.

Strange magical runes shimmered, circling the cannon's barrel.

Terrifying energy began to concentrate, forming a blue energy sphere.

And then…

BAM!

The energy sphere fired, ripping through space as it hurtled toward the barrier. The sky was consumed in dazzling, blinding light.

BOOM!!!

A deafening explosion tore through the air, so overwhelming that even Lathel, mid-combat, couldn't withstand its shock.

The entire space quaked violently. The invisible shield protecting the Church shattered like glass, breaking into countless fragments before vanishing completely.

A shockwave burst forth, carrying immense destructive force, sweeping away everything in its path.

Lumiana gritted her teeth like a mountain had just slammed onto her chest. Blood spurted from her mouth as she was flung backward by the sheer force of the shockwave.

"High Priest!" Lathel immediately rushed to catch Lumiana, pulling her into his arms. With his wings, he shielded them both.

"You…" Lumiana gasped, shocked. She hadn't expected Lathel to save her, much less use his body to shield her.

From within the safety of his embrace, Lumiana saw the shockwave's devastating heat scorch through Lathel's outer armor. The searing pain brought tears to his eyes.

Still, Lathel poured his remaining energy into repairing his armor and wings, ensuring Lumiana was unharmed.

She wanted to say something, but as he held her close, a strange sense of safety and comfort enveloped her.

For the first time, she felt truly protected.

This was a feeling she had never experienced before.

After a while, the relentless, searing heat wave finally dissipated.

Lathel carried Lumiana as they descended onto the Church's watchtower, the highest point of the Cathedral.

BAM!

Lathel used his body to cushion the impact, ensuring that Lumiana suffered no injuries.

Fortunately, the structure was incredibly sturdy. When they landed, it only created a large crater without causing the tower to collapse.

Lumiana pushed her aching, weary body up into a sitting position.

"You…" She gasped as she turned to Lathel, lying motionless on the ground. His external armor was completely destroyed, revealing severe burns across his body. His back was a grotesque mix of blood and scorched flesh, and the acrid smell of charred skin assaulted her senses.

"Why… why would you protect me?" Lumiana asked in disbelief. "Are you insane?"

Lathel couldn't speak; the pain was too overwhelming, as though his entire body were being consumed in a crematory furnace.

Suddenly, a drop of liquid fell onto Lathel's face, startling him.

He looked up to see her face veiled except for her tear-filled eyes. Tears flowed like twin rivers, dripping steadily onto his battered face.

Lumiana froze, touching the tears streaming down her cheeks. She stared at her wet fingertips, her expression filled with disbelief.

'Am I crying?' Lumiana thought, stunned. 'Why am I crying?'

'Is it because he protected me? But… for something as simple as that, why would it tear me?'

'Why?'

Her emotions felt foreign, alien. She tried to hold back, but the tears kept flowing, an unending stream like a spring had been unleashed.

"Wow! I never thought I'd see the High Priest cry."

The mocking voice of a man in a black cloak, sword in hand, shattered the moment.

He laughed loudly. "Hahaha… truly, if you live long enough, you'll witness anything."

"The High Priest, noble and revered, crying over some boy. How utterly ridiculous."

"Enough with the nonsense. Let's end this," the one holding the magical staff commanded.

"Hahaha… don't be so hasty," the man wielding two daggers sneered disdainfully. "Look at them—they're just two injured dogs licking their wounds. What's there to fear?"

"Exactly," the shield-bearer chimed in, laughing. "I never thought the Church would fall so easily."

"If I'd known the Church was this weak, I wouldn't have wasted 200 years of tribute on those bastards."

Lumiana lifted her head, glaring at the black-robed figures before gazing into the distance.

From the vantage of the watchtower, the Church's highest point, she could see the magical warships beginning to penetrate the Church's territory.

The magical barrier was destroyed, Ikarys had subjugated the Church's army, and now she felt like a wounded lone wolf awaiting the arrival of death.

The magical warships moved deeper into the Church's lands, followed closely by armies from various kingdoms and noble families.

The Church now resembled a turtle stripped of its shell, exposing its vulnerable core.

Lumiana watched, tears flowing even more freely, each droplet glittering as it fell onto Lathel.

She suddenly lowered her head, smiling bitterly. "How ironic that the one beside me in my final moments is you."

"Lathel, do you regret this?"

Her voice was soft, her gaze piercing, as though trying to uncover regret or despair in his eyes.

But Lathel's eyes remained steadfast and resolute even in his injured state.

Lumiana placed both hands on his chest and chuckled softly. "I see… I understand why Arine admired you. Lathel… perhaps… if I were to survive, I'd consider falling in love. Maybe I could find a man who'd shield me like you."

"How utterly nauseating," sneered the swordsman, his voice dripping with disdain. "Alright then…"

He pressed his blade to Lumiana's neck, grinning like an executioner. "As much as I'd love to turn you into my little pet, I can't risk you retaliating later."

"Which is why… you must die."

The man raised his sharp blade high, and Lumiana, unafraid, closed her eyes, awaiting the end.

The sword descended, aiming straight for Lumiana's neck.

Suddenly, the swordsman flinched, sensing something amiss. He quickly leapt back.

Whoosh!

A radiant energy slash shot from a distance, colliding with the swordsman's blade.

Clang!

The sound of metal rang out as the impact forced the swordsman to drop his weapon, which flew far from his grasp.

Grinding his teeth, he turned toward the source of the energy slash, his voice laced with anger. "Who's there?"

On the staircase leading to the watchtower, a frail figure emerged.

The figure calmly stepped forward, clad in ordinary clothes and wielding a wooden sword.

His gaze locked onto the black-robed group, his expression unreadable as he declared:

"No one harms my friend—not even a god."