A Rehearsal Before the Battle

"This is a rehearsal."

Standing amidst the ruins, Li Lin gazed at Angela before him and spoke solemnly to her.

"Angela, I think you should understand that the power of the God of Justice is not limited to what he is currently displaying, and I think you also understand why I chose you to be their opponent."

Angela did not refute Li Lin's words. Just as she finished reorganizing the Scourge Legion and returned to the Ringwraiths and the Book City, Li Lin made her a very strange request.

"So, you mean I have to win?"

Angela glanced, intentionally or unintentionally, at the desolate land behind her and the seven dark figures standing there.

What will happen?

When faced with Angela's question, Li Lin gave a meaningful smile.

"I admit your strength is unprecedented, but underestimating my weapon won't end well either. This time, no one will hold back, so you'd better unleash your full power. Of course, I won't be serious, just a little test."

This was Li Lin's plan.

As Beika said, no matter how powerful the Magic Empire may seem now, its strategy and tactics rely entirely on Angela. It's safe to say that if Angela's strength is insufficient to hold out until the end, the Magic Empire's fate might repeat itself. Persuading them is extremely difficult. Of course, Li Lin could choose to let the matter drop, saying and doing nothing. Even if the Seven Ring Spirit Envoys have doubts and complaints about him, they will still obediently follow his instructions.

However, this approach is ultimately too detrimental to stability and unity.

Didn't you tell them about me?

"Although I'd like to explain, we already had an agreement, didn't we? Besides, even I can't fully understand what you're saying."

As he spoke, Li Lin shrugged and glanced behind Angela.

"I'll do my best. I'll call a halt when the time is right. Don't worry, I'm very confident in my weapons."

"Understood, Master."

Upon hearing this, Angela snapped her folding fan shut.

"Since you have placed such trust and reliance in me, then I will let you see for yourself what the power I possess truly represents."

With that, Angela turned and walked towards the desolate wilderness.

There, the Seven Ring Spirit Envoys were already prepared.

"Miss Angela, are you ready?"

Watching Angela slowly approach, Nia sighed softly and asked. The three prismatic crystals on the staff she held were slowly rotating, and the magical runes within were already brimming with sufficient energy.

"I am already prepared, Sister Nia."

Angela gripped the folding fan in her hand, her expression turning serious for the first time.

"I hope you, Sister Nia, will also take this seriously and not disappoint me. As your master's weapon, I am truly eager to see what kind of power you possess."

"Oh dear, is it alright to talk such big now?"

Yi Aier played with her golden ponytail and spoke with a smile.

"If you get beaten up and cry, I won't come to comfort you, you brat."

Although Yi Aier's expression remained unchanged, the stable white aura surrounding her indicated that the most powerful artillery piece among the Seven Ring Spirit Envoys was fully loaded and ready to fire.

"Show me your true strength, little guy."

Stroking her longbow, Kalin tossed her hair and drew the bowstring taut.

"I've always wanted to have a serious match with you."

"Angela... Fight... Go for it..."

Enveloped in a black cloak, Anna coughed and swayed again, looking down at the ground. No one knew what was hidden in her dark eyes.

"Miss Angela, please demonstrate your true strength."

Beika habitually adjusted her glasses, her expression calm and composed, revealing no emotional fluctuation whatsoever.

"Furthermore, to avoid unfairness, I will explain to you beforehand that although the Seven Ring Spirit Envoys can individually display extraordinary abilities, that is still completely different from the power we can unleash when we are all together. I hope you will not fail due to underestimating us."

"..."

Only Suoxiate remained standing at the back of the group, smiling, without uttering a single word.

"To outnumber someone is not chivalrous."

Miu'erkasi took a half step forward and slowly drew her longsword. On the sharp, white blade, a holy silver flame was burning fiercely.

"But if you truly possess the power to lead the Empire to victory, then please show it to us, Miss Angela."

"Very good."

Angela gripped the fan in her hand, and the faint red light in her eyes gradually brightened.

"Then, please be careful, my power is not as simple as you imagine."

As Angela spoke, jet-black bat wings unfurled from behind her once more. At the same moment, the Seven Ring Spirit Envoys were astonished to discover that Angela's ever-present folding fan was also beginning to change. Countless wisps of light enveloped the fan, then merged with it, before suddenly extending. When the light faded, the folding fan in Angela's hand had vanished, replaced by a gigantic scythe even taller than herself. On that jet-black scythe, the undead's pained expression and voice were entwined, radiating a chilling killing intent and resentment.

"Alright, let's begin!"

"Stasis Spell!!"

The instant Angela made a move, Nia had already cast a wide-range delay spell. As the Ring Spirit Envoy had been in contact with Angela the longest, she was quite familiar with the little one's abilities. To deal with Angela, the key to victory was to find a way to seal her terrifyingly elusive speed.

The faintly glowing spell landed precisely on the land centered on Angela, and Angela's figure trembled slightly at that moment. Then, the little guy revealed a ferocious smile.

"It's useless!"

With Angela's loud call, the huge scythe swept across her hand, and just then, Nia suddenly realized that the Stasis Spell had been forcibly cut in half, and then immediately lost its effect.

Although Angela's counterattack exceeded Nia's expectations, the young knight's figure appeared before Angela in that brief pause. Her longsword, imbued with holy flames, pierced through the gaps in the massive scythe, its target naturally Angela's heart. While massive weapons can be intimidating, conversely, the larger the weapon, the slower it is to swing. Miu'erkasi had already prepared herself the moment she saw Angela summon the strange scythe.

While a one-handed sword is no match for a long-handled scythe in terms of length, it is definitely faster and more agile, and this is indeed the case. Just as Miu'erkasi's longsword grazed the handle of the giant scythe, Angela's weapon had only been swung halfway.

However, Angela did not panic in the face of the young knight's attack. A cunning smile appeared on her lips, and at that moment, the huge scythe suddenly accelerated, slashing downwards at a dazzling speed.

"Not good!"

The characteristics of the giant weapon were on full display at this moment. Although in terms of speed, Miu'erkasi was definitely faster, in terms of the area of attack, Angela's giant scythe was definitely wider. After realizing that she would be hit by the long handle of the giant scythe before she could succeed, Miu'erkasi had no choice but to give up her attack. She hurriedly changed her position and rolled on the ground to avoid Angela's attack.

The massive scythe easily cleaved into the hard ground, and the ensuing aura of death chilled even a sacred weapon like Miu'erkasi. The desperate cries and screams seemed to inescapable, drawing them in completely. At the same moment, two crisp sounds of weapons clashing rang out, and Anna's figure retreated swiftly. Kalin, who had released her bowstring in the distance, spat in dissatisfaction.

This was clearly a three-way attack. While Miu'erkasi drew Angela's attention from the front, Kalin and Anna attacked and ambushed from the sides and back. As the three most agile weapon spirits in terms of Weapon Spirit, they were confident they could completely block Angela. Moreover, the most powerful part of Angela's weapon was the scythe, and no matter how fast Angela was, she couldn't block the attacks of three people at the same time.

Just as they thought they had succeeded, the lower half of Angela's giant scythe suddenly softened and elongated like a venomous snake. Using the recoil, the whip-like part lashed out, precisely deflecting the two daggers Anna thrust from behind. Kalin's shot posed no threat whatsoever; Angela simply folded her black wings, easily deflecting the Magic Power arrow of Tear of the Meteor without causing any harm.

"That's all?"

Angela easily pulled the giant scythe from the ground, revealing a smug smile.

"Then, I shall launch a counterattack!"

Before the words were even finished, everyone realized that Angela had vanished from their sight.

Her signature speed appeared once again.

Of course, Angela didn't disappear with the giant scythe. After all, no matter how fast she was, it was impossible for her to carry such a huge and heavy object without affecting her movements. However, Angela clearly had a different way of thinking than ordinary people, because at the very moment she disappeared, the giant scythe, like a cannonball fired from a gun, pierced towards Nia, who was standing behind her, accompanied by a whistling wind!

"I won't let you succeed!"

The immense pressure of the giant scythe caused Nia's eyes to narrow slightly. Without chanting any incantations, Nia floated up from the ground, using the speed of flight magic to retreat rapidly. At the same time, Nia raised her staff, aiming at the giant weapon flying towards her.

"Stop!"

The invisible air, compressed and condensed by immense Magic Power, firmly suppressed the incoming giant scythe. Even with this magical suppression, the scythe's speed didn't decrease. Just like before, Nia's spell seemed to be completely shattered before it could take effect, losing its original function. With a barely audible thud, the magical power exploded, and Nia, accompanied by a flash of light, barely managed to shift her position, moving away before being struck by the giant scythe.

So that's how it is. I didn't expect the little guy to have such a weapon.

Watching the scene unfold before him, Li Lin frowned. He knew Nia's strength well. In that attack just now, Nia had clearly used a high-level binding spell, attempting to suppress the giant scythe's movements through air pressure. After that first probing attack, Nia probably realized that ordinary magic couldn't withstand a direct confrontation, and thus chose a cautious, roundabout fighting style. However, this giant scythe clearly didn't care whether the danger came from the surroundings or from the front; no matter what form it took, it would tear it to shreds.

That's typical of the little one, but her target probably isn't Nia.

Li Lin's guess was absolutely correct.

Because at that moment, Angela's figure had already appeared behind Yi Aier.

Compared to Nia's versatile magical abilities and Anna's agile assassination skills, Angela's greatest concern was Yi Aier's terrifying magic cannon, and the target she had previously intended to attack was now finally clear.

"Huh?!"

Although she sensed something was wrong and turned around, Yi Aier was completely unskilled in close combat. Therefore, even though she noticed Angela's attack, she was unable to respond effectively. Faced with Angela's sharp claws reaching towards her chest, all Yi Aier could do was close her eyes and scream in terror.

"Ah----!!"

However, Angela's attack was ineffective.

A fair, delicate hand reached out from the side, blocking Angela's deadly strike with her wrist.

"Ignoring me can be quite troublesome, Miss Angela."

As Beika spoke, she used her remaining hand to push up her glasses.

"As the 'shield' of the Seven Ring Spirit Envoys, I will not allow you to harm anyone!"

"Interesting."

Although her attack was stopped, Angela did not fly into a rage as usual.

"Only this level of skill qualifies it to be a weapon for its master, isn't it?"

Although her voice sounded relaxed, her true state was far more intense than it appeared. Just as Angela was blocked, Anna Lesser God again appeared silently from the shadows to Angela's lower right, her two daggers aimed at Angela's heart and neck with the most precise and tricky angles. At the same time, Kalin fired again, five emerald green arrows shooting out like meteors chasing the moon, attempting to deliver the most accurate blow to her opponent.

However, no one arrived as fast as Yi Aier's magic cannon.

"Boom!!"

A deafening roar, as beautiful as thunder, shook the heavens and the earth. A pure torrent of magic pierced the sky, even tearing a huge gap in the dense black clouds.

"Not fast enough!!"

Even so, it still couldn't stop Angela's progress.

Having dodged Yi Aier's cannon fire at an almost impossible angle Angela now turned her attention to Anna, whose old strength had been exhausted and whose new strength was yet to come. Anna's two daggers had completely missed their mark, and she was now unable to even change her position. Angela, who had dodged the magic cannon with a spin, appeared right above Anna. This time, Angela's attack was flawless; her palm easily pierced the girl's back, pinning her to the ground.

That's how it should be.

Angela only felt a void at the point of entry. Although she had clearly struck Anna and pierced through her body, Angela felt no resistance whatsoever, not even the presence of internal organs or bones. When she looked up, her expression changed slightly.

The once barren and desolate ruins have vanished, replaced by an enormous labyrinth before Angela. A sky full of stars has replaced the dark clouds, and hard, tall walls block out the surrounding scenery, stretching endlessly.

"I really underestimated Sister Suoxiate."

Angela gently tapped the wall beside her, shrugged, and then a smug smile returned to her face.

"However, such petty tricks will never defeat me!"

Then, Angela's wings suddenly unfurled, unleashing a burst of crimson power that instantly swept across the entire world.

"Bang!!"

Like a mirror shattered by a boulder, the illusory world crumbled in an instant, turning into fragments that vanished into thin air. Standing before Angela Suoxiate, still smiling, but somewhat stiff.

"This little guy is really amazing."

Gazing at the scene before her, Kalin murmured to herself.

"Even the Infinite Corridor couldn't trap her?"

"Now that you have given your instructions, it is time for me to take action."

Floating in the air, Angela out her hand, and soon, the giant scythe she had abandoned transformed back into a ghostly form and reappeared in Angela's hand.

"Don't even think about it!"

Although they didn't know what Angela was planning, the Seven Ring Spirit Envoys would never allow her to make a move. This wasn't a fair fight; therefore, their core tactic was to suppress their opponent to the greatest extent possible. Moreover, this was just the beginning; the Seven Ring Spirit Envoys' ultimate moves were yet to come. Nia raised her staff, and the three crystals on it began to spin irregularly. Miu'erkasi gripped her longsword tightly, silver flames enveloping her entire body. Kalin drew her bowstring taut again, her extremely concentrated natural power ready. Anna reached out and gripped her two daggers in reverse; her body cast countless shadows under the bright light.

A tremendous force began to coalesce, awaiting its collision and outcome.

But just then, Li Lin's voice suddenly rang out.

That's all.