But after today's battle, even Ed had to admit that Sailesi, this traitor, was currently at a much higher level than himself, perhaps already at the threshold of level 90, just one opportunity away from becoming Transcendent Tier.
If that's the case, it would explain why Sailesi was so fanatical about Resurrection Tree God.
He was certainly not a devout fanatic, but rather someone trying to seize enough Authority from the still-unrevived Tree God to advance himself to the Transcendent Tier.
Ed's appearance completely blocked Sailesi's path, so Sailesi naturally harbored endless hatred towards him.
Hang Upside Down upside down above the Great Labyrinth City, Ed looked at Sailesi, now ragged, and issued his final ultimatum:
"Evil deeds will inevitably come at a price, and the longer it is delayed, the greater the interest will be."
"Snort."
The skeleton scoffed disdainfully:
"Failure is an evil deed; success will make everyone revere me as Pope."
Ed's lips twitched slightly upon hearing this:
"Still dreaming about the Pope? I've already revoked your religious status; you're nothing now."
"You!"
The skeleton Sailesi immediately glared angrily, then resumed his "pleading" in a harsh tone:
"Maintaining an additional territory has already pushed you to your limit. Even if we call it a draw today, how about we each take a step back?"
"On what grounds?"
Ed casually replied, and his body began to repair itself rapidly.
Sailesi looked at him and said quickly:
"I know your body is nearing its limit. Do you really want to gamble your life on this victory?"
"Besides, [ Giant Arms ] alone can hold off three High Tier, and [ Whale Tail ] is waiting to provide backup outside the Graycast Corridor. Its strength, or rather hers, should be comparable to [ Giant Arms ]. Can you really stop her?"
"Let me go. I no longer have the symbiotic plant, nor have I taken human form. I have given up my past identity, glory, and everything else. I am no longer a threat to you."
Ed's single eye remained fixed on Sailesi:
"A very good suggestion, with solid reasons; it's clear that they're considering my needs."
"But I regret to decline."
Sailesi's gaze swept over Ed, and a hint of doubt and annoyance appeared in his fleshless eyes; his tone also sounded like he was on the verge of a breakdown.
"Why do you keep chasing me? I admit that hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of experimental subjects have died over the past half-century, but what does that have to do with you?"
Even with the deaths of these people, the Theocracy remains the largest and most populous country in the world!
"No one can erase my achievements! I saved this country from the Demonic Tide! If you are truly Son of God, you should even thank me!"
Ed felt his anger burning:
"Thank you for what? Thank you for causing the deaths of so many innocent people over the decades because of your own selfish desires?"
"Or should I thank you for dragging millions of people in the Holy City into a fantasy world, turning them into complete madmen?"
" Sailesi Richter, who came from the Holy Crusaders and was revered as the 'Protector,' may deserve my respect, but the 'Fallen Cardinal' is ultimately just scum despised by everyone."
Upon hearing this, Sailesi's eyes were practically blazing with fire:
"Humanity was saved because of me, and you want to kill me?"
"So many races were wiped out by the Demonic Tide Demonic Tide, why don't you go and avenge it?"
"In the end, it's nothing more than bullying the weak and fearing the strong. You call me an insect, then what are you? A hypocrite in the name of a false god."
Faced with Sailesi's Ginseng Rooster, Ed actually nodded:
"I do not believe in Tree God, and the reasons are complicated and you don't need to know them."
"And He really did do a terrible job before, I will learn from that."
"My relentless pursuit of you stems not only from hatred, but also from the fact that, in the face of a world-class catastrophe like the Demonic Tide, you not only failed to unite your people, but instead turned them into sacrifices in your plan."
"All the scum who slaughtered their own kind, all the traitors who willingly became accomplices of the Demonic Tide, I will settle accounts with them one by one. You are just one of them."
Ed looked at Sailesi seriously and said:
"Actually, I have a list, and besides you, there are quite a few other names on it, such as an Amber Dragon dedicated to hunting its own kind..."
"Anyway, are you interested in finding out your seeding position?"
"I really want to know."
Sailesi watched as Ed bowed slightly, his anger having subsided considerably.
"But not this time, Your Highness."
His withered skeleton crossed his arms in front of his chest in a standard Tree Worship Church gesture, and then Ed heard a crisp "crack" sound.
The ruins of the banquet hall.
" Iron Hunt " Sailan and " Nether Melt " Felix have gradually suppressed Keen Rizzos and Brenfield, who are traitors.
In this two-on-two battle, although all four were genuine High Tier, " Iron Hunt " Sailan was the only one who had undergone professional combat-related modifications.
Compared to the " Grand Artisan," the "General's" combat power was undeniably strong. Coupled with Felix's astonishingly fast repair speed, Sailan felt as if he had returned to his spirited self twenty years ago, and he grew stronger as he fought the two traitors.
Meanwhile, Keen and Brenfield, who were their opponents, had never undergone any combat-related modifications, and the plan was completely beyond their expectations, making them increasingly timid as the battle progressed.
Although Keen's defense remained impenetrable, it did not prevent his two opponents from gradually shrinking their living space.
The range that his high-speed grappling hooks could cover had decreased from ten meters around him to two or three meters. If they contracted any further, the two of them would probably be stuck hugging their knees and waiting to die.
Seeing this, Sailan and Felix fought with increasing ferocity, and were about to break through the impenetrable defense.
Just then, Sailan had just slashed down with his Iron Hunt, suddenly saw that the chests of the two traitors were now shining brightly, and the decorative crystal clusters of spider lilies were now as bright as torches.
Ed had previously told the two that with him around, Sailesi couldn't pull them into the illusion, and they didn't need to pay special attention to the spider lilies.
But even the four people who had no connection with the plant system could clearly sense that the spider lily had no intention of dragging them into the illusion; rather, it seemed as if something else was about to happen.
At the same time, the [ Giant Arms ], facing the attack of three enemies, suddenly chuckled and pulled out a cluster of shimmering, spiritually glowing spider lilies from the inside of its skeletal ribs.
In the next instant, Keen and Brenfield, the two traitors who had been driven to the brink of death, vanished from Sailan and Felix's sight.
Before the two could utter a sound of astonishment, a gigantic figure had already forcefully crushed Felix's metal cage; it was none other than the [ Giant Arms ], which seemed to have unleashed the power of " Dharma Heaven and Earth."