Chapter 297: Dekan's Partners Have All Arrived on the Battlefield |
"I said Dekan wouldn't be a villain of the Resurrection Church!"
"He is the pride of our Kingdom!"
"Bishop of Agony! Send the Resurrection Church to their funeral!"
Not only the people of various Kingdoms who saw this scene everywhere, but even the sky above the Filowen Royal Capital echoed with the shouts of the residents.
Although the scene still looked desperate to ordinary people.
But like hope born from desperation, it ignited in everyone's hearts!
Dekan at this moment, in everyone's heart, was already the veritable Bishop of Agony, a Bishop-level powerhouse.
With him and Sheen, this calamity of the Filowen Royal Capital, the annihilation disaster of the Kingdom Federation, might really be miraculously reversed!
...
Even though most of the public magic projection screens on the streets were dilapidated, fragmented audio and images occasionally brought key information to the Tier 8 powerhouses engaging the Bishops.
Moreover, Sheen, controlling the city defense hub, had also issued orders to the entire city.
All Tier 8 powerhouses in the city capable of fighting had been deployed and arranged by Sheen at the fastest speed for the optimal defense to intercept the Bishops.
The streets of the Filowen Royal Capital under the night sky were desolate.
Looking around, ruins were everywhere. Buildings near where Tier 8 battles occurred had collapsed halfway, leaving only a few large buildings standing firm. The streets no longer had the lively shadow of the previous festival.
On a certain ruin only a few kilometers away from the arena.
Judith, wearing silver war armor, engaged the enemy, while Cloix held a staff to continuously support her.
After a brief exchange of blows, the two of them looked somewhat bedraggled.
Frost, flames, and lightning spread under the enemy's feet, forming a psychedelic path leading to heaven.
Besides them, there was no sign of the Ice Snow Princess.
The combination of the Ice Snow Princess and Judith would have been slightly strained to stop a Bishop.
But adding the Tier 7 Cloix.
Even against the Ruin Bishop Ivans back then, the three were enough to contend.
However, considering position, distance, allocatable manpower, and combat compatibility.
Sheen's arrangement for them was to intercept Falsehood Bishop Carlos, one of the two strongest Bishops.
They also finally understood why Falsehood and Finality were called the strongest.
Not only did they fail to inflict any injury on Carlos.
Just trying to withstand Carlos, a [Void Illusionary World] put the three of them into a routed state.
[Void Illusionary World]
[Category: Spell Card]
[Grade: Orange Epic]
[Tier: 8]
[Effect: Ignores tier to forcibly drag the target into an illusory space. The target cannot escape during the spell maintenance. Targets in the illusory space cannot affect the spell user. The user can consume additional mana to inflict massive damage of any countering attribute on the imprisoned using illusions infinitely approaching reality.]
[Remark: Forever countering attribute]
Inside the illusory space constructed by Carlos at this time.
Seas of fire and magma constantly submerged the Ice Snow Princess. Even if the Ice Snow Princess used all her strength to resist with ice, it would be melted very quickly.
Poisonous mist also constantly permeated, making the Ice Snow Princess' condition worse and worse.
In the battle where Ruin Bishop hunted the Ice Snow Princess back then, what the Ice Snow Princess found most difficult to handle were fire and poison.
This was also the spell Dekan had experienced when targeted by the 8th Floor Warden in the Demon King's Mausoleum back then.
Only the Falsehood Bishop's spell was stronger.
Even if the mana consumption to trap the Ice Snow Princess was huge for the Falsehood Bishop, it wouldn't take long to kill the Ice Snow Princess!
And no matter how anxious Judith and Cloix outside the illusion barrier were, they couldn't rescue the Ice Snow Princess.
The two of them were even less likely to defeat the Falsehood Bishop in a short time!
"Why come to seek death?"
Falsehood Bishop frowned and muttered to himself.
Obviously, he didn't want to be delayed by these three guys and waste so much mana for no reason.
But he had to admit, these three guys together were indeed a bit troublesome, enough to threaten other Bishops.
Killing the most troublesome Ice Mage who had control.
Then trapping this Holy Knight.
The remaining Healer Mage naturally wouldn't be able to stop him.
Just as both sides fought fiercely, the sounds of battle in the distance also approached in an instant!
In the next second, the originally dim sky seemed to be gradually covered by a curtain at this moment.
"Carlos, save your mana to help Lord Pontiff. Leave them to me."
Suddenly darkness enveloped the entire street in an instant, covering the ground like a tide. Subsequently, flocks of shadows emerged on it.
In the darkness, countless cold eyes stared at everyone; they gradually manifested, as if they were an army of undead from purgatory.
At this moment, besides the Falsehood Bishop, the battlefield of two Tier 8 powerhouses intercepting the Shadow Bishop also converged together.
The Shadow Bishop seemed to possess the highest agility herself. With various endless strange spells, just two Tier 8s couldn't intercept her at all; they could only constantly pursue and hinder her.
And the Shadow Bishop's goal was to come support the Falsehood Bishop.
Once opponents were swapped, and she blocked Judith's trio, while her original opponents couldn't stop the Falsehood Bishop even more, the Falsehood Bishop would be immediately liberated!
The Falsehood Bishop hesitated slightly, then quickly nodded.
At a critical moment, sending any Bishop to help the Pontiff was not as reassuring as going to help the Pontiff himself.
Since the Shadow Bishop was willing to help him block the enemies, it was naturally for the best.
Suddenly, the Ice Snow Princess, who was originally inside the phantom barrier, felt the environment cool down. A chill hit her, and her vision changed, returning to the real ruin battlefield!
The illusion of fire and poison had disappeared. This cold air belonging to her own magic seemed to make her come alive.
Although cold, it was real.
The Ice Snow Princess barely landed steadily on the ground. Although her physical condition was extremely poor, she instantly felt a burst of relief; control over the environment finally returned entirely to her hands!
And Cloix's familiar healing magic also quickly reached her body.
"Don't think about leaving!"
Seeing the Falsehood Bishop had already turned around wanting to leave, Judith, who could still move, attacked him fiercely with prompt decision.
"Hmph."
The Falsehood Bishop snorted coldly, then took a step forward with his right foot...
With just this step, instantly, it was as if the scene of this street was disordered. Judith, who was about to cut him, was instantly pulled away by distance again.
When Judith wanted to pursue again, countless soldiers and monsters transformed from shadows had already blocked in front of her.
Just after cutting open the shadows, the shadows turned into poison magic and imprisonment magic, binding Judith.
"The opponent for you three has changed to me."
The Shadow Bishop's voice sounded all around.
Her army was suitable for intercepting the Ice Snow Princess, Judith, and Cloix.
Even when Cloix quickly removed the negative status and control effects from Judith, the Shadow Bishop summoned a black coffin like a magic trick, locking Judith inside.
"Let's not fight so desperately, okay?"
The Shadow Bishop was like a ghost, or like playing hide-and-seek; her voice constantly lingered around the three.
It seemed she didn't want to seriously fight for life with the three either, only wanting to keep the three here.
And the recovered Ice Snow Princess, no matter how she released spells, couldn't hit the Shadow Bishop.
The Shadow Bishop's true body might be hidden within.
Or perhaps, every shadow was a part of the Shadow Bishop's true body.
If the Shadow Bishop only set her mind on delaying the enemy, she might be the most difficult to deal with among several Bishops!
"Bastard!"
Judith swung her sword across a patch of shadow in front of her eyes.
Although the Shadow Bishop's move just now seemed to save the Ice Snow Princess' life.
But their interception plan had failed.
And the Shadow Bishop also slightly hindered the two original opponents pursuing her for a moment.
Even if the two Tier 8 powerhouses who originally intercepted the Shadow Bishop had understood the current situation at light speed and chased in the direction the Falsehood Bishop Carlos left.
It was almost impossible for them to catch up to Carlos and stop him.
This wave of opponent swapping was fatal for the Kingdom Federation.
"Sorry Dekan... failed to help you stop Carlos! Still have to rely on you."
Cloix gritted his teeth and muttered to himself.
...
Since the Royal Capital might encounter chaotic battles between Bishops and Tier 8 powerhouses at any time, rashly running onto the streets and exposing the target might be even more dangerous.
So Cornelia and the others still stayed in the mansion protected by magic barriers with Alice.
They only hoped no Bishops and Tier 8 powerhouses approached this side.
Even if they really fought their way here, Cornelia and Mi’e still had the power to respond.
Inside the mansion.
"Please bless everyone..."
Cornelia just held the shivering Cat Teacher, silently praying for her partners in battle.
After receiving the amulet from the Sun God Cult and having that dream, Cornelia would also pray to the Goddess devoutly from time to time.
And on the side.
"Mi’e..."
Alice sat on the sofa hugging Mi’e's arm, her body trembling uncontrollably.
She had never experienced this kind of scene.
Even on the magic airship to Tristine City last time, she hadn't felt danger.
After all, the crisis that time had Tier 7 guards to cover for her.
The enemy was just Tier 5; Dekan could easily deal with him.
But this time, what swept through the Filowen Royal Capital was almost the entire core combat power of the Resurrection Church.
Even though she was a princess, under this kind of calamity, she was as easy to crush as an ant.
"Hm? I'm here."
Hearing Alice's murmur, Mi’e was stunned for nearly a second before seeming to come back to her senses, looking at Alice and responding,
"Alice, don't be afraid. I promise you will be safe and sound today."
Mi’e smiled and stroked Alice's hair.
"..."
Alice pursed her lips and looked at Mi’e. She felt Mi’e might not be as calm as she appeared.
Perhaps the always steady Mi’e was also flustered inside at this moment.
From just now, Mi’e had always had a feeling of being absent-minded.
It was as if she was distracted and focused on other things.
But this was impossible.
At a time like this, how could anyone zone out.
PART 2
Although Alice was still very afraid and gripped Mi’e's hand tighter, she spoke as if mustering up courage:
"Mi’e, Cornelia, if danger really comes, you two leave with Flora; don't worry about me dragging you down!"
Alice felt that as a princess, she couldn't be cowardly at this time.
She had to learn to be calm like the others.
So her gaze became much firmer.
Flora was at least a Tier 4 Knight; she would run much faster than her, a Tier 4 Card Maker.
When really fleeing, Alice knew she would definitely be dragging everyone down.
As long as they ignored her, the survival rate of the others would definitely be much higher.
"Don't worry Alice, the situation isn't that bad! My brother is here too; at the critical moment, he will help Dekan!"
Flora had no sense of tension; even her tone was just like usual.
Among everyone, she seemed to have the best mentality.
"Morion is here too?"
Cornelia looked at Flora with slight surprise and asked.
Although Dekan had instructed Cornelia and Cloix to pay attention to Morion's tracks in the previous days, she hadn't found him at all.
"Mmhmm... When I was performing, I found an audience member below the stage who felt very much like my brother. Although he changes his appearance every day... I felt he was my brother!"
Flora nodded with a smile and affirmed.
Although her reason sounded completely unreliable.
But considering Flora had naturally powerful insight.
Perhaps even if Morion used [Contact Mimicry] to disguise as any appearance, Flora could recognize her brother's true body.
Cornelia believed Flora's judgment wouldn't be wrong.
Morion, who had been challenging Shadow Worlds with high intensity for a long time, was probably already close to Tier 6. After mistakenly entering the Tier 7 Shadow World last time, presumably Morion was Tier 6 now.
Although Morion, as a Merchant and Fraudster, had little combat power.
But he had excellent support compatibility with Dekan. If he was there, Dekan would definitely receive great support.
"Dekan, Cloix, Morion... must all return safe and sound, meow..."
Cat Teacher in Cornelia's arms made a faint sound.
"Don't worry, everyone will definitely reunite and celebrate just like at the end of the last Shadow World."
Cornelia gently stroked the curled-up Cat Teacher and said softly.
...
Filowen Arena.
Although the Pontiff still suppressed the four, the Pontiff's mentality had undergone some changes now.
The Pontiff, who shouldn't have felt low-level emotions like anger, felt really annoyed by Dekan.
Little Pontiff?
Dekan didn't seem to be provoking intentionally.
But like a leader calling a subordinate by name, addressing the Pontiff with a superficial friendliness carrying a hint of looking down.
The Pontiff had never encountered any inferior human who dared to look down on him from the bottom of their heart like this.
Even the Frenzy Bishop wouldn't dare to be this crazy, right?
And Dekan, who focused on messing with mindsets, understood the Pontiff's reaction at this moment.
He hurriedly covered his mouth.
Pretending to be surprised as if realizing his slip of the tongue.
"Teacher Big Pontiff, guess how many moles you can catch today? I'm a little worried your heart can't take it."
Pontiff "?"
Although Dekan changed the address and stopped calling him "Little Pontiff" one after another.
But no matter how the Pontiff heard it, he felt the title "Teacher Big Pontiff" was Dekan mocking him in a different way.
And what did Dekan's words mean?
Besides Dekan, this open-card mole, could there be more than one mole in the Resurrection Church?!
The Pontiff instantly started brainstorming.
It was known that there was a money-making mole.
And it should be this mole who helped Dekan during the Tier 7 team assessment in the Randil Kingdom...
But looking at Sheen and Dekan's reactions...
Sheen seemed unrelated to the mole; otherwise, she shouldn't have hesitated for that moment.
Dekan's attitude was like knowing a mole that even the Pontiff hadn't detected.
It couldn't be that the money-making mole and the mole secretly helping Dekan were two different people, right?
Then could there be other moles?
One had to know, for every additional mole.
The enemy would gain a Bishop's combat power.
Not only would he lose a Bishop's combat power on his side, but compared to an open-card mole like Dekan, the most fatal thing about a hidden mole was that they would jump sides and pull a big one at a critical moment!
If there really were moles exceeding the number he imagined, the Pontiff felt a bit unsure about this situation which was supposed to be a guaranteed win.
The more he thought about it, the weirder he felt it was, and he even started to doubt himself a little.
But instantly, the Pontiff was startled.
This simple question just now was Dekan's trap.
The only scruple the Pontiff had now was the mole.
Catching moles was also one of the goals of the Pontiff's action this time.
And Dekan seized and utilized exactly this point to try to shake the Pontiff's mind!
When the Pontiff came back to his senses, he found he was indeed disturbed by Dekan's question.
The Pontiff glared at Dekan; this Bishop of Agony was truly unusually annoying!
And taking advantage of the brief moment the Pontiff was distracted just now.
Dekan had already picked up [Sword of Bachel’s Despair] and waved out a burst of miserable wailing sounds, simultaneously triggering [Three Corpses Berserk] to summon [Lieutenant Captain De’erkan] and [Ghost Captain De’erkan]!
The Pontiff, whose resistance to mental spells was weakened by [Sword of Bachel’s Despair].
Was then affected by [Three Corpses Berserk] stimulating desires and [Lieutenant Captain De’erkan] provoking anger.
Instantly, the flame of anger in his heart turned into a raging fire as if uncontrollable!
Finally.
Even though [Ghost Captain De’erkan] was instantly killed by the Pontiff's life drain.
Its taunt effect still took effect on the Pontiff briefly.
"Well done!"
What Sheen waited for was this moment when Dekan's strongest control was applied to the Pontiff!
Sheen took a step forward, and instantly, the arena froze as if time and space were distorted.
On the giant magical device placed at the rear of the arena, blurred and magnificent rays of light flickered.
This unusually spectacular-looking magical device was exactly the Artificial Shadow World Activator!
And in the next second, two void gates swallowed both Sheen and the immobile Pontiff simultaneously.
Only to see the broadcast image switch; besides the battle situation in the arena, it displayed the Phantom Canyon again.
This time, the Phantom Canyon was no longer the sunny hills like in the previous match.
But a vast, boundless ten-thousand-foot ice field where the sound of wind and snow was full of chilling intent!
Compared to the dim night where the Filowen Arena was located at this moment.
In the Phantom Canyon, the sun was just rising. Sunlight shone on the glacier, and in reflection, rippled circles of magnificent light arcs that seemed to symbolize victory.
Sheen had just used her administrator authority to lock the Pontiff and herself into this highest scientific research achievement of the Kingdom Federation—the Artificial Shadow World!
On the ice field.
Sheen floated in the air like a god.
Looking down at the Pontiff from high above.
"In this Shadow World belonging to the Kingdom, our roles have been swapped."
Sheen said coldly.
This was Sheen's preparation.
Undoubtedly, the Filowen Royal Capital was the home field of the Kingdom Federation. Be it energy or magical devices, the core resources of the Kingdom Federation could be mobilized, having everything that one could wish for.
The Resurrection Church had the spatial jump gate; the Kingdom Federation also had the Artificial Shadow World!
Now was the time to compete with the supreme achievements of magical engineering.
This latest model and highest specification Artificial Shadow World Activator in the Filowen Royal Capital, besides being used for competitions, was itself a Tier 9 magic barrier under the control of the administrator!
And this barrier possessed the energy of the entire Filowen Kingdom as backup support. It was not an exaggeration to call the current Sheen the Final BOSS of a Tier 9 Shadow World.
"Agamemnon, I have divined the method to defeat you. The answer is a barrier. No matter how strong you are, there is supreme power you cannot resist, and this is the only way to defeat you. The Phantom Canyon was born for this."
Sheen seemed to be whispering to herself.
But every word fell into the Pontiff's ears like a heavy hammer!
As if prophesying his destiny of eventual defeat.
In the end, it was as if each word weighed a thousand catties; an invisible wave of sound swept towards the Pontiff!
The distance between Sheen and the Pontiff was originally only about tens of meters. At this moment, on this ice surface, strange sound waves could suddenly be seen with the naked eye pouncing on the Pontiff, like the raging waves of the sea!
The Pontiff instantly retreated violently to open up the distance, daring not to tank all attacks with [Chaos Guard] like in the outside world.
He knew very well that Sheen, who dominated the Phantom Canyon barrier and obtained the support of the entire Filowen Kingdom's energy hub at this time, was no longer the previous support with little offensive power!
But a god in this Shadow World who could truly threaten him!
It seemed even the space was controlled by Sheen; the more the Pontiff wanted to retreat, the less he could widen the distance directly from Sheen.
Sheen pointed her finger at the Pontiff from afar and slowly spoke: "Show your true skills. Let me see what's so great about you guys who act insufferably arrogant like gods."
What the Pontiff had shown so far was still power in human form.
If her and Dekan's deduction was correct.
The Pontiff might still have some racial power never shown, or that couldn't be shown in front of people of the current world!
With this point of Sheen's finger.
Silently, in the distance between her and the Pontiff, all scenery shone.
The originally empty and flat ice field suddenly became bright, as if all falling into Sheen's attack!
"You don't think those Tier 8s can stop Finality and Falsehood, do you?!"
The Pontiff shouted with a gloomy expression.
At the moment the Pontiff felt Sheen's killing move aimed at him, he gritted his teeth and chose not to respond to Sheen's provocation.
As long as one of Finality or Falsehood could rush to the arena and destroy the Artificial Shadow World Activator from the outside, the Pontiff would naturally be able to escape!
The sky full of light and shadow was as cold as long spears, unparalleled in sharpness, all scattering on the Pontiff's mana shield.
Instantly, the shield shattered like an eggshell!
"Tier 8? You look down on the Tier 5 Bishop of Agony?"
Sheen sneered, and a new round of attacks was ready.
At the same time, the Pontiff mobilized his mana again with a gloomy expression, re-condensing the shield.
"...Just you wait until after this Artificial Shadow World Activator is destroyed, and see the miserable death of the Bishop of Agony!!"