Mie is Seeking Dekan and Clay's Support
The capital of the Salon Empire.
Thick smoke billowed into the sky above the center of the palace.
The sudden turn of events quickly drew the support of all the eighth-tier experts remaining in the capital.
A fierce wind howled through the sky, but just as the first batch of eighth-tier reinforcements were about to rush into the imperial city, they found two figures standing outside with remarkably calm expressions, like gatekeepers.
They were fighting their opponents with ease, and it seemed that even if a few more eighth-tier experts came, they could still hold them off!
What initially appeared to be a suicidal act in the capital of the Salon Empire became clear when the reinforcements recognized the two enemies blocking their path.
They are remnants of the Resurrection Church, the Bishop of Devouring and the Bishop of Plague!
Two genuine bishop-level combatants, in most cases they could even take on three opponents of the same level!
Even during their time at the Resurrection Church, they never dared to directly declare war on the Salon Empire. Yet now, having established the Church of Church of Calamity, they dare to launch a direct attack on the imperial palace!
Their purpose in coming here was very clear.
He was insanely obsessed with killing the lord!
Although no one knows what these lunatics were ultimately plotting.
However, most of those present couldn't help but worry about the Queen.
Even though everyone in the Salon Empire firmly believed in the Empress's power.
But the Resurrection Church members aren't good at fighting battles they can't win.
Just like when they attacked the Kingdom Association, what seemed like a near 1000% chance of victory was repeatedly disrupted by multiple variables before they finally managed to defuse the Resurrection Church's fatal blow.
Even so, the Kingdom Association paid a heavy price.
It was destroyed and disintegrated.
The outskirts of the palace.
"It's been so long since I've tasted eighth-tier human flesh! I have to thank your Sword Saint, Mr. Adair, for the last time I was able to eat the kingdom's eighth-tier flesh!"
The Bishop of Devouring occasionally let out maniacal laughter as he fought against the Imperial Guard Captain of the Knights, who wielded a silver holy sword.
He seemed to be enjoying the battle, while the Royal Captain of the Knights suppressed his rage and used all his strength to fight off the bishop whose body was almost turning into a monster.
Their battle raged from inside the palace all the way to outside.
The moment these Terror bishops stormed into the palace, if the Queen hadn't been the first to react, even the other eighth-tier powerhouses would probably have been severely injured before they could even react.
Bloodstained blades clashed, sparks flying, and then figures flashed by. The low, guttural sound of sharp blades slicing through flesh echoed chillingly outside the palace, a place filled with the sounds of battle.
Several officers dressed in Imperial Magic Special Forces uniforms were working together with grim expressions to kill the Bishop of Plague.
The Bishop of Plague remained expressionless, silently reciting numbers, as if counting down the days for those who would soon die from the virus.
Even though two bishops were held back, or rather, they voluntarily cooperated with these imperial powerhouses to stay away from the fiercest battlefield.
There are still two Terror powerful individuals remaining in the palace who pose a threat to the Empress!
But no one could come to the Queen's aid anymore, or rather, that level of battle was beyond the reach of an eighth-tier warrior!
Perhaps they will become a negative force that interferes with the Queen's fighting ability!
In addition, the large number of Calamity Cultists who poured in from the outskirts of the imperial city were all elites of the fifth rank or above, and there were even leaders of the seventh and eighth ranks.
Despite being outnumbered by the Knights Order, they were all reckless madmen, each equipped with self-destruct spells.
Coupled with the Bishop of Plague's wide-area destructive spells that showed no regard for friendly forces, he was not only holding off the eighth-tier powerhouse, but also destroying the Knights Order's defenses with a slaughter-like force.
The Imperial Army was well aware that they absolutely could not allow all of these enemies to storm into the main hall of the palace.
The Queen's only weakness is her lack of powerful, wide-area, direct-damage spells.
Because she was born with a high spirit and low Magic Power growth attribute, even when she used offensive spells, the damage was not high, and she couldn't even kill a seventh-tier enemy instantly.
If these guys were to get involved in the Queen's battle, even a seemingly even situation would likely turn into a major disadvantage for her.
After several rounds of attacks, the elite of the Church of Calamity successfully broke through several lines of defense of the Knights Order. Just as they were about to completely occupy the imperial city and begin to rush into the palace area to slaughter, the real fierce battle broke out at this moment.
The last and most difficult line of defense was composed entirely of court magicians.
The light of the protective barrier around the palace flickered and materialized, suddenly appearing within the vast and magnificent palace, blocking the entrance.
The court magicians worked together to activate the palace's protective barrier, empowering the allies below the defensive line and preventing other enemy forces from advancing further. They then launched a counterattack, forcefully repelling the enemy's rapid advance.
As the sword energy swept across, a deafening roar shook the ground around the palace, shattering the tiles. For the first time, the offensive of the elite Church of Calamity showed signs of slowing down.
However, even with the formidable defenses of court magicians and Knights Order, it was not an impregnable fortress.
The Church of Calamity Cult is coming on strong; it's only a matter of time before they break through our defenses.
If the Empress loses, they, who are surrounded from both sides, will all die!
Within the vast imperial city, an even more Terror battle was taking place, with sounds of collapse as loud as the sky and earth splitting apart emanating from time to time.
Every member of the Imperial Army could only pray that the Empress would win quickly and defeat her enemies.
They also knew that an enemy capable of fighting the Queen for so long must be exceptionally Terror.
In the shattered palace, the setting sun shone through the collapsed dome, casting a gradually focusing beam of light onto the throne.
The castle was almost reduced to ruins, with the blood-stained, ornate noble robes mixed among the rubble.
Almost none of the servants and officials who were originally in the palace survived; in the instant the upheaval occurred, they shattered like glass bottles before they could even react.
Besides these, there were several black-robed corpses bleeding from all seven orifices; they had all died from a curse casually cast by the Empress.
Standing atop the shattered ruins were only three wounded figures.
"Huff... huff..."
Standing at the furthest edge, the most severely injured was the Bishop of Falsehood Carlos, panting heavily.
Even for someone with the strength of a super-bishop, this battle was far too much of a strain.
He had already faced death several times in the battle just now.
Even if Empress Ikatinos didn't have much time to deal with the troublesome Bishop of Falsehood Carlos, a single spell cast by the Empress was enough to render him incapable of fighting.
He could only try to stay as far away as possible to avoid being affected by the Queen's most dangerous curse magic, the [Mark of Misery].
[The Mark of Misery]
[Category: Spell Card]
[Rarity: Crimson Epic]
[Class: 7]
[Passive Effect: Continuously consumes mana upon activation. Every 10 seconds within range, each time the target is attacked by the spell user, and each time the target attacks the spell user, a curse stack is applied. Each curse stack steals 3% of the target's attributes, up to a maximum of 30 stacks.]
[Note: The pinnacle of curse magic.]
Aside from some of the other lethal curses and spells of Empress Ikatinos, the [Mark of Misery] is the most powerful curse, and it is extremely terrifying whether in a one-on-one fight or against multiple opponents.
If Carlos chooses the wrong time to enter the fray, he could not only lose his life, but he might even become a negative force.
Fortunately, the curse can be Purification and dispelled; it is not insurmountable.
The real trouble comes from the Queen's other mental spell, [Inner Demon Nightmare].
[Inner Demon Nightmare]
[Category: Spell Card]
[Rarity: Orange Epic]
[Class: 8]
[Effect: Activated on the target, dispelling all layers of curses on the target. Each layer of curse dispelled causes the target to be plunged into a nightmare on a mental level, a manifestation of a painful memory they have experienced.]
[Note: The innocent laughter pierces my heart deeply.]
Even now, the Bishop of Falsehood Carlos is still terrified of this card.
Once you've experienced it, you'll never forget it.
It was like being forcibly dragged into a continuous nightmare, where every second was used to magnify and re-present his most painful and fearful memories.
Carlos had seen Underworld summons and equipment in the kingdom, but this was the first time he had ever seen such Underworld spiritual magic.
It's almost as if they've inherited the same lineage.
He had been accidentally affected by the Queen's [Inner Demon Nightmare] and stood still for a long time before recovering.
It's not even a question of how long the spell will be controlled.
One or two more [Inner Demon Nightmare].
Carlos didn't even know if he would have a mental breakdown.
The Empress's Terror mental strength triggered mental and curse magic, making it as easy as crushing ants to deal with ordinary eighth-tier beings.
If Carlos hadn't possessed the [Void Crystal Pendant] and if the Bishop of End hadn't shielded him from the Queen and woken him up, he probably would have died in his nightmare.
[Void Crystal Pendant]
[Category: Equipment Card]
[Rarity: Orange Epic]
[Class: 8]
[Effect: When equipped, 80% of all damage received will be mesmerized. All mesmerized damage will gradually convert into true damage over the next 20 seconds and be absorbed by the user.]
[Note: Carlos's masterpiece.]
Although Carlos didn't know why the healing mage Croix, whom he had met in the Philoven Kingdom last time, also had a weakened version of him, the [Illusion Stone Pendant].
However, this piece of equipment is not his most important tactical core.
[The Void Illusion Realm] is Carlos's only trump card.
This eighth-tier epic spell can forcibly drag the target into an Illusory Space regardless of their rank, and the target cannot escape while the spell is active.
Targets within the Illusory Space cannot affect Carlos, while Carlos can add mana to use illusions that are infinitely close to reality to inflict massive damage on the imprisoned with any attribute that is countered. Even a ninth-tier empress can be injured by him!
Although closing the Queen's gates would instantly reduce Carlos's mana, it could disrupt the Queen's offensive rhythm and the execution of key tactics!
Just like the previous time when the Queen was imprisoned, she not only lost a golden opportunity to win, but was also Severe Injury by the Bishop of End!
In the center of the battlefield, the empress looked extremely disheveled from the fierce fighting. Crimson blood had stained most of her dress along her right shoulder, and her right hand hung limply as if it had been crippled. However, there was no pain or resentment on her face, and she didn't even frown.
Carlos stared intently at the Queen and the Bishop of End, who were locked in battle.
While struggling to survive, he was also trying to find an opportunity to control the Empress.
If we can find another opportunity to inflict hallucinations on the Queen, even if it drains his magic power, it will give the Bishop of End another chance to severely injure her!
It's likely that even the Queen herself didn't foresee this.
Bishop Menelaus of the Bishop of End.
He is the strongest bishop of the former Resurrection Church, who is currently engaged in a decisive battle with the Queen!
He has now reached the ninth rank!
Of the three on the battlefield, Menelaus suffered the least injuries. He hadn't even shed a drop of blood since the start of the battle, only sustaining minor internal injuries due to the Queen's curse.
Given the fighting strength of the Church of Calamity, everyone knew that there was no possibility of them assassinating the king.
That's why the Salon Empire sent the ninth-tier Abyss Mage Pritzker to the front lines.
Although the capital still holds the empire's strongest ruler, Empress Ikatinos.
However, this creates a potential problem—
Pritzker, an abyss mage with some investigative abilities similar to the Astrologer Sion, has left the empire. If the Church of Calamity has the guts, it can organize a major operation.
Perhaps it was because the Queen was particularly eager to annex the kingdoms and wanted a quick victory that she took the risk of sending Pritzker.
Even so, no one would have thought that any part of the empire could be attacked, but the Church of Calamity chose the capital, which was the least likely to be attacked, and directly planned to assassinate the emperor!
This is just like a replay of the war between the Kingdom Association and the Resurrection Church.
This group of lunatics often chooses seemingly illogical times and places to launch their final showdown.
The key to turning all of this into a sound strategy lies in an information gap.
Bishop of End Menelaus of the End has finally reached the ninth rank!
He was the mastermind and the true core of this regicide plot.
A ninth-tier Bishop of End possesses strength beyond the norm!
"Menelaus ..."
Empress Ikatinos coldly murmured the name, her voice barely concealing the boundless hatred within.
The battle seemed to have reached a stalemate.
They either have to stall each other, or they'll have to resort to their final tactics to decide the outcome.
But Ikatinos knew she couldn't afford to delay.
The number of powerful individuals remaining in the capital is limited, and it's only a matter of time before all those lunatics outside flood in.
The Bishop of End, who was originally invincible at the eighth rank, became even more powerful than the former Pope Agamemnon after reaching the ninth rank.
Moreover, he also possesses a Tier 9 Epic card resembling Agamemnon [Chaos Guard], which exerts a terrifying suppressive effect.
[The Chaos Termination]
[Category: Spell Card]
[Rarity: Orange Epic]
[Class: 9]
[Passive Effect: Maintains a magical shield. While the shield is active, crowd control effects are reduced by 90%. Each time you are affected by crowd control, you consume a large amount of mana to deal unavoidable and unblockable severe magical damage to the target.]
[Note: Possesses the power of destruction.]
After Empress Ikatinos reviewed the previous Pope Agamemnon's all-out war in the Philoven Kingdom.
All the abilities that the Bishop of End has demonstrated so far have made it clear to Ikatinos what kind of entity the Bishop of End truly is!
It's highly likely that he is also a Chaos God lurking in the mortal world!!
Under the shield, Menelaus was not worried about the Queen's most terrifying forceful control.
On the contrary, each attempt to control the situation resulted in significant injuries to the Empress.
Looking at the Empress, Menelaus's expression didn't change much.
Those eyes, as clear and cool as amethyst, gazed silently at the Empress:
"Ikatinos, you have indeed become much stronger in this life."
What seemed like a casual remark caused the Empress's pupils to dilate slightly!
Menelaus spoke these words as if he had once confronted Ikatinos himself.
Ikatinos frowned, her eyes growing even colder. "Since I could force you to reincarnate, now that I'm even stronger, I can completely annihilate you."
It was as if she had finally found her enemy.
She couldn't remember what happened in the end of that blurry dream of reincarnation; she only remembered the immense anger and resentment she felt when facing the Chaos God.
Menelaus's words just now were practically an admission of his identity as the Chaos God!
Are you misunderstanding something?
Menelaus, upon hearing this, seemed to find the Queen's words utterly laughable, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes. "You?"
His unwavering stance seemed to Taunt the empress.
Even though the Queen seems to have some backup plan and wants to find an opportunity to get close to Menellis and turn the tide of the battle, she also has to be wary of Menelaus's deadly move.
And in the distance, a support-type Bishop of Falsehood was also watching intently.
A scepter engraved with ancient patterns floated beside Menelaus, while the space not far behind him seemed to distort, and an insect-shaped creature, its body like a city condensed from black mist, appeared and disappeared.
These two things were clearly what plunged the Empress into a bitter struggle.
[Black Insect]
[Category: Summon Card]
[Rarity: Orange Epic]
[Class: 8]
[Effect: Unable to move or attack, immune to magic and physical attacks. The closer an enemy target is to this summoned creature, the higher the gravity multiplier it experiences, up to a maximum of 80 times gravity.]
[Note: Crushed bones and filth, annihilation of all living things.]
When the Queen attempted to get close to Menelaus, the instant Menelaus summoned the [Black Insect], she was nearly taken over and completely suppressed by Menelaus.
Next, if the Queen makes any attempt to get close to Menelaus will move towards the [Black Insect].
Menelaus would also use the scepter [Authority of Matter] that floated beside him to constantly interfere with and pull the Queen.
[Authority of Matter]
[Category: Equipment Card]
[Rarity: Orange Epic]
[Class: 9]
[Effect: By controlling its own mass to the limit, it can powerfully attract and crush objects, and reduce physical damage by 99%.]
[Note: The power to govern existence.]
Even the Bishop of Falsehood Carlos standing to the side didn't understand why the eighth-tier Bishop of End Menelaus had already bound himself to ninth-tier epic cards. Whenever the eighth- Bishop of End used these two ninth-tier cards, he would easily consume too much mana.
The Queen was extremely wary of Menelaus's scepter.
As far as she knew, Menelaus had demonstrated the powers of [Chaos Termination] and [Authority of Matter] during his eighth-order period.
However, the power of the Bishop of End then.
This indicates that Menelaus, as the Chaos God, carried these cards and slowly recovered from the first tier.
Perhaps he once initiated the [Chaos Unleashing], and as the price, he was sealed away for ten thousand years!
Perhaps, it's another situation--
For some reason, Ikatinos felt a deep sense of regret constantly reminding her that if she killed the Chaos God before he was unleashed, they would be reborn again.
To completely eradicate the Chaos God, we must truly kill them while they are in their divine state!
Even if they could force the Chaos God out of the [Chaos Unleashing] state, regardless of who had the ability to kill them, they would almost all be killed by the Chaos God with a flick of his hand!
This racial trait is extremely unfair to any being that wishes to challenge the Chaos God.
But perhaps in reality, it is against common sense and impossible for a human to kill a god.
Ikatinos took a deep breath.
Now we must determine a winner.
Whether she can force Menelaus to unleash [Chaos Unleashing] depends on her next move.
At this moment, she changed tactics and, as if no longer caring about the heavy pressure of the [Black Insect], fearlessly approached Menelaus.
Once Ikatinos takes a step, she never stops!
Amidst a sky full of cursed seals, they rushed towards Menelaus, one after another.
Menelaus stood amidst this Terror surge of magic, not only not dodging, but instead leaning against the [Black Insect], using the [Authority of Matter] to pull Ikatinos closer!
As the distance between the two drew closer, the curse on Menelaus intensified, and the pressure on Ikatinos gradually increased, causing her steps to slow down.
But no matter how slowly she moved, she kept getting closer to Menelaus!
Finally, the two seemed to be face to face, no more than three meters apart. The magical storm formed by the heavy pressure and the curse seals seemed to be distorting everything around them.
Just then, Ikatinos suddenly raised her left hand, as if to strangle Menelaus from a distance, and unleashed her most powerful mental magic.
[Absolute Mental Control]
[Category: Spell Card]
[Rarity: Orange Epic]
[Class: 9]
[Effect: Effective only when the distance between the two parties is less than 10 meters, and the closer the distance, the stronger the effect. It exerts mental control over the target, affecting their actions. It has no effect on targets with significantly higher mental attributes than the user. Furthermore, the stronger the target's mental attribute, the greater the mana consumption and the weaker the control effect.]
[Note: The pinnacle of mental magic.]
Menelaus seemed to be gradually losing control of his body, as if he were being restrained by a puppeteer, and his body began to move stiffly.
Meanwhile, Ikatinos, enduring the pain of her body being destroyed by Menelaus's Chaos Termination, forcibly controlled Menelaus to commit suicide using [Authority of Matter].
In less than a second, the outcome of this duel will be decided.
The key lies in whether Menelaus has any other trump cards up his sleeve!
However.
Just as Ikatinos was controlling Menelaus and about to commit suicide.
But all I saw was --
Menelaus... he smiled.
It was as if he was being controlled and killed by Ikatinos, and he would not put up any resistance.
Even if Menelaus struggles and fights with all his might the moment he is hit, he will at least have a chance to draw another card!
But he didn't take any countermeasures, such as activating the [Chaos Unleashing] spell that, once used, would reverse all disadvantages!
Ikatinos's left hand trembled, as if she were experiencing extreme hesitation for a moment—to kill or not to kill!
However.
That moment of hesitation became the turning point that completely shifted the course of the entire battle!
Carlos, who was in the distance, finally got a perfect opportunity and instantly trapped Ikatinos in a void!
Even if.
Carlos's [Void Illusion Realm] only controlled her for a brief second.
But in the final second of a life-or-death struggle between ninth-tier experts, it is enough to determine the outcome of several battles!
As the scenes in Ikatinos's vision shifted continuously, she returned from the Illusory Space to the ruins of the palace.
A terrifying gravity had already suppressed her, making it impossible for her to move an inch.
The [Black Insect] and [Authority of Matter] that had previously approached Menelaus were already an extremely dangerous move.
Ikatinos has now squandered her initial advantage; all that remains is to withstand Menelaus's full-scale counterattack!
"Looks like I won my bet."
Menelaus's cold voice echoed in the space.
Before Ikatinos could react, Menelaus suddenly moved!
He approached the Empress with a leisurely pace, as if strolling in a courtyard.
But this very slow speed seems to defy the rules of speed altogether!
The slower he moved, the more indistinct his figure and movements appeared!
Even Carlos, who was observing from the sidelines, had this strange feeling.
Ikatinos had wanted to put up some resistance, but now she had no chance.
Because Menelaus was already in front of her!
Before she could finish speaking, Menelaus's hand was already on her shoulder...
It was as if a faint, barely perceptible black light appeared and then vanished, instantly silencing all the light. This black light was so swift that Ikatinos didn't even have time to catch a glimpse of it.
But then, Ikatinos's figure suddenly slammed towards it!
Like an arrow shot from a bow, she streaked through the air! And from her mouth, drops of crimson blood splattered out!!
Before the Queen could regain her blurred vision, she heard Menelaus begin to walk again—with that same slow, leisurely gait.
With a single, effortless step, he traversed several meters. The Empress was flying backward in mid-air, while Menelaus effortlessly stood behind her. His hand pressed against her back, as if catching her, and then... he slammed her to the ground!
Boom!!!
The tremor and the sound of it terrified everyone in the imperial city!
Centered on Menelaus, the ground of the ruins cracked open like a spider web, and the surrounding rocks shattered into pieces.
The solid ground stone instantly turned into fine powder!
The Queen, pressed down by Menelaus, sank heavily into the ground!
A crater several meters deep appeared on the ground.
"Wow!"
The queen lay in the deep pit, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
Her expression was one of extreme resentment; even though her figure was in a pitiful state, the anger in her eyes had not subsided.
But her body was like a puppet with its strings cut; not only could she no longer move, but even her consciousness seemed to be frozen.
"I admit you're very strong. Without Carlos's help, I might not have been able to beat you."
Menelaus's tone was devoid of emotion, as if a god were stating the weakness of mortals.
"But only for me in this state."
Although Ikatinos appeared calm, her clenched fingernails were digging into her palms.
She actually had one more trump card up her sleeve, waiting for her opponent to use [Chaos Unleashing].
This was a killing move she had prepared for a long time, specifically reserved to kill the Chaos God!
[Pain Annihilation]
[Category: Spell Card]
[Rarity: Orange Epic]
[Class: 9]
[Effect: Activated on the target, dispelling all curse statuses on the target. Each time a curse is dispelled, it triggers a past injury suffered by the target.]
[Note: The pain spreads endlessly, relentlessly entangled.]
As long as she can force the opponent to use [Chaos Unleashing], she is confident that she can kill the enemy in the Chaos God state with a high probability, even if the outcome is likely to be mutual destruction!
However, Menelaus seemed to have anticipated her tactics!
He made a huge gamble with her, betting on whether she knew the secret of the Chaos God, and betting on whether she would decisively kill the Chaos God in his unreleased state!
"It's over."
Menelaus' victory was assured; he prepared to use his Authority of Matter to gradually crush and kill the Queen.
Just as he began to use his powers.
The previously silent pit suddenly gushed forth a torrent of dark water, like a spring.
It then spread across the entire ground, turning the battlefield into a dark swamp!
"Shadow?"
Just as Menelaus was about to pull the queen out of the pit, he found himself briefly imprisoned.
Several shadowy humanoid figures then blocked his path, while the empress's aura buried beneath the black tide seemed to have vanished long ago.
"Minos?"
Menelaus raised his hand slightly, and the [Authority of Matter] was placed before him. Instantly, an irresistible force pulled the Shadow Stands toward the [Black Insect]. They were already like mud, and gradually became unable to move under the immense pressure.
Finally Menelaus clenched his fingers into his palm, and an even more Terror pressure crushed all the gathered shadow clones.
However, the moment the shadow burst forth, it seemed as if countless ghosts were howling through the sky, and an overwhelming flood of poison, along with the shadow, surged into Menelaus's body, rendering him immobile for a moment.
Menelaus quickly expelled all the toxins from his body.
But the Kuroshio tide had completely dissipated by then.
In just a few seconds.
Mie's true form had already escaped with the Queen.
"It looks like an underground passage in the capital."
Bishop Carlos, the Bishop of Falsehood, walked up to Menelaus and said.
Only after confirming that the Empress had completely disappeared did he dare to approach the center of the battlefield again.
He dared not pursue her; even though the Empress was severely Severe Injury, she could still kill him instantly if she were reckless.
"It doesn't matter. When the Empress chose to flee like a defeated dog, she had already lost completely."
Bishop Menelaus of the Bishop of End looked at the ruined throne amidst the devastation.
"This throne no longer belongs to her. After all, she was never the rightful heir, and many people only fear her military power."
Carlos nodded:
"I'll arrange the follow-up matters."
He already frequently handled internal affairs at the Resurrection Church, and now he's doing similar work on the side.
The only difference was that the boss changed from Agamemnon to Menelaus.
What they need to do next is to support the rightful heir to the throne!
And they, as the victors, will soon proclaim to the world that everything they have done today was not regicide, but rather the punishment of a traitor who usurped the throne!
"Yes, protect Isabel."
Menelaus instructed, then paused again.
"Oh no, at least from now on, we should address her as Princess Olivia."
Although he addressed him as "Your Highness," there was no respect in his words. It was a consistent, godlike contempt for mortals, even those of high status and position.
Moreover, Isabel was merely a tool he manipulated.
Despite the knights outside the palace, their armor gleaming like the moon, appearing and disappearing amidst the thick black smoke, they were still desperately resisting the enemy's attack.
But the moment the Bishop of End and the Bishop of Falsehood stepped out of the palace, the area outside the palace instantly transformed into a bloody meat grinder.
All Imperial troops were forced to accept a harsh reality.
Queen Ikatinos was defeated.
The empire is about to undergo a tremendous change.
As for them, they will become nameless victims forever.
Next.
The screams of agony were incessant, and crimson blood splattered everywhere, turning the towering city walls into a red curtain.
The pungent smell of blood slowly spread, eventually permeating the entire imperial city...
Underground near the city outskirts.
The soft sound of footsteps echoed through the stone-built underground waterways constructed by the ancient empire.
The flowing sewage emitted a pungent odor, and only a faint light flickered in the pitch-black underground passage.
Mie, supporting the disheveled Ikatinos, finally dared to slow their pace after leaving the underground passage and arriving at the suburban underground tunnel.
Mie coughed up blood in agony, looking just as miserable as Ikatinos. The moment she used the Imprisonment to control the Bishop of End, the single [Chaos Termination] counterattack triggered had Severe Injury her.
Fortunately, her trump card has an effect that was never used during the Resurrection Church period: poison.
[Shadow Legion Realm]
[Category: Spell Card]
[Rarity: Orange Epic]
[Class: 8]
[Effect: Summons a corresponding number of Shadow Clones within the barrier, based on mana cost. The Shadow Clones perfectly replicate the summoner's base attributes. Shadow Clones can swap positions with the original summoner within the barrier's area. When a Shadow Clone is destroyed, a pre-set poison spell will be applied to the enemy.]
[Note: A masterpiece combining Mie's dark magic and poison magic.]
"His poison resistance isn't strong at all; if you majored in poison magic, it would be much easier to defeat him."
Mie smiled wryly, turning his head to look at Ikatinos with a hint of complaint.
Ever since meeting Dekan, Mie had felt that Ikatinos and Dekan were somewhat similar in their ways.
Dekan primarily uses curse magic, supplemented by mental and poison magic.
Ikatinos primarily uses curse magic and mental magic, with the two complementing each other.
Compared to Dekan's painful interrogation methods, Ikatinos is equally adept at using mental magic to interrogate enemies, and her efficiency is even higher.
It just didn't involve the same lengthy and agonizing process as Dekan's.
No one can say for sure whether Dekan, the nascent saint, preferred the process to the result.
"I don't like relying on poison magic because I can't always tell if the enemy has poison resistance. It's too risky to put all the pressure on poison magic to decide the outcome."
Ikatinos was pale, and her words remained cold, as if she were maintaining a distance from Mie.
But then Ikatinos's tone gradually turned to one of deep regret.
"I lost... I lost again..."
Ikatinos didn't know why she added "again" to her mutterings, but she seemed to feel that this wasn't the first time she had lost.
The main reason for the defeat was not that the opponent was two against one.
Rather, it was a crucial game.
The Bishop of End bets that she doesn't want to kill herself before [Chaos Unleashing].
This is also the ruthless aspect of the Chaos God; they have the cost of trial and error, and are willing to gamble with their own lives. In a balanced situation, they can turn the tables on their opponent's goal of "wanting to kill the Chaos God," coercing them to give up their initiative.
Even though Ikatinos lost this crucial game, and her best option in that situation was to use [Pain Annihilation] or at least kill Menelaus, Carlos's presence was undoubtedly equally fatal, causing the situation to deteriorate rapidly.
In the end, Ikatinos didn't even have the chance to use [Pain Annihilation].
"Ikatinos, call Pritzker back, and we'll fight back!"
Despite Ikatinos's crushing defeat, Mie still tried to encourage her.
"... It's not as simple as you think."
Ikatinos weakly closed her eyes, her expression one of extreme pain.
"The Church of Calamity must have come prepared, and now their goal is to purge the capital as quickly as possible and install the rightful heir to the throne. Pritzker, that slippery fellow, may no longer obey me. Compared to fearing my power, the other legion commanders also fear my military might. This defeat means that my power and military deterrence are about to be lost."
However.
Now, not only the empire, but also the fruits of victory that the empire is about to unify with the kingdoms will fall into the hands of the Church of Calamity.
Just like a wrong move in chess, the whole game is lost.
The Church of Calamity will truly control the Salon Empire, destroying the kingdoms like a rampaging beast.
Even though Ikatinos aimed to annex the kingdom, she had already issued orders that "residents must not be harmed, prisoners of war must not be massacred, and torture must not be used to extract confessions." Furthermore, none of the kingdom's high-ranking experts have been lost to this day.
The Kingdom Association already had many hidden problems.
Even if Sion were still alive, the Northern Nations' stances were wavering and their infighting was obvious, while the Southern States were unambitious and rejected the Northern Nations. These internal conflicts alone were just one spark away from igniting an explosion.
Without Sion, it's even less likely that these guys with their own agendas can maintain their unity and face the future Heaven-Piercing World-Destroying Battlefield.
Because they were completely unaware of the Terror nature of the Heaven-Piercing World-Destroying Battlefield.
A true leader is needed to unite all of this and guide them through this ordeal, which already seemed almost hopeless.
But those damned Chaos God, they always come knocking on our door, destroying and plundering everything with a power that instills despair!
Even Ikatinos felt powerless and even desperate at this moment.
"Ikatinos ..."
Mie watched Ikatinos and gradually sensed that Ikatinos increasingly hesitant steps were ominous.
"Mie, you can go now. You're free. I'll find a way to kill Menelaus, and I'll also take a few more remnants of the Resurrection Church with me. This is the best outcome."
Ikatinos seemed prepared to die.
She had already thought it through and knew how she would handle the situation if she lost.
Or perhaps it's a form of atonement.
At the very least, we must kill Menelaus.
The empire and the kingdoms must not fall into the hands of the Chaos God under any circumstances.
"Are you sure you can kill Menelaus? Are you 100% certain? And what do you think your chances of coming back alive are?"
Mie simply asked that in a soft voice.
"..."
Ikatinos did not reply.
Menelaus must have anticipated that she would return to kill him.
Even if Ikatinos only wanted to kill Menelaus in his unreleased state, a prepared and nearly intact Menelaus was not so easy to kill.
Ikatinos had virtually no chance of escaping alive from the enemy's stronghold.
The miracle of Mie saving her will never happen again.
After all, she already felt guilty towards Mie.
However, the next second, Mie also stopped in his tracks.
Mie pressed her hands tightly against Ikatinos's cheeks, completely disregarding the fact that she was the emperor, just like when they were children, looking intently into her eyes:
"When everyone obeys you, I am the only subordinate who might betray you; but when everyone betrays you, I am also the only friend who will stand by you through thick and thin."
Ikatinos looked astonished; her little face was pinched so hard by Mie that it became somewhat distorted, and her expression turned adorable, but she neither got angry nor struggled free.
"You..."
"Ikatinos, believe me, don't rush to your death. The situation isn't as bad as you think. I still have two good friends. With their help, we can turn the tide."
Mie smiled faintly, his eyes as gentle as the brightest moonlight in the sky.
"..."
Ikatinos fell silent upon hearing this.
She clearly felt that this situation couldn't be changed simply by having two underworld friends come along.
And she didn't want to kill Mie.
"Nine levels?"
Ikatinos thought for a moment, then finally asked.
To fight back before the Church of Calamity completely takes control of the empire, we'll probably need at least one ninth-tier combatant.
Even ignoring the group of Calamity Cultists, the opposing side possessed at least one ninth-tier Chaos God and three bishops.
"..."
Mie smiled without saying a word.
It is clear that there is no ninth rank.
"No one can salvage this defeat except by sacrificing my life..."
Ikatinos lowered her eyes slightly, her expression a mixture of disappointment and relief.
After all, she knew every single ninth-tier combatant in this war all too well.
Mie couldn't just find a ninth-tier helper out of thin air.
No one can save the world anymore, and no one can save her either.
However.
"It's not a matter of rank or status."
Mie shook his head, and as he spoke, the corners of his mouth curved in a strange way, as if he were experiencing a mix of emotions.
"These two can only be described as Wolong Fengchu; possessing either one would be enough to conquer the world. And now, they both happen to be within the empire's borders. What was originally your worst-case scenario may have turned into your best-case scenario..."
******
Author's Note:
The Xi Zhi has burned out... Because I took the day off yesterday, I missed two regular updates, so the total number of chapters owed has increased from 156 to 158. I'm noting this down because titles can only have 30 characters, so sometimes I can't mark the owed chapters after the title. Also, during this closed beta period, if you need to discuss the plot or give me feedback on plot issues, you can join the book club groups: Group 1: 948957812, Group 2: 891852279. Thank you everyone!