Chapter 63.2

"The sun is making its descent, signaling the time for pilgrimage..."

Just as the emperor found himself lost in thought, a familiar voice drifted faintly from the boat once more. It was no simple feat to control such a vast number of people. Clearly, constant enchantment was needed to keep them completely stable.

"The sun is making its descent, signaling the time for pilgrimage..." The voice was ethereal, as if whispering intimately to one's soul.

Kevin furrowed his brow while perched on the back of the colossal beast, his gaze wandering amidst the densely packed heads of humanity.

As the voice echoed once more, Kevin's eyes narrowed and a crease formed between his brows. Without uttering a word, he flipped over and leapt off Sirius' back, seemingly paying no heed to the hundred-meter drop.

Oswald, a blank expression plastered on his face, continued to numbly flap his wings, his dog-like countenance devoid of any recognition that the person on his back was no longer present. His mind was completely consumed by his fixation on Kevin's neck.

Kevin descended from the staggering height and landed firmly on top of the wooden boat's mast.

Sporting a cold expression, he reached out his hand and grasped in empty air, causing a thin and frail figure within the crowd to be abruptly yanked towards him, whooshing through the air.

Without a hint of bias, Kevin gripped the figure by the neck.

As a result, the continuous chant abruptly ceased.

Kevin's cold gaze settled upon the man's face as he slightly narrowed his eyes, speaking slowly, "Angel..."

The young man's face turned scarlet as Kevin's fingers tightened around his neck.

His forehead was a web of veins, and his eyes bulged white. He gasped for breath, his voice a hoarse whisper: "The sun is about to set... the time of pilgrimage... the time has come..."

Kevin suddenly released his grip, and the young man's voice choked off. He could only gasp for air, his chest heaving.

"Melo..." Kevin suddenly changed the name and looked down at Angel with a mocking smile. "You can handle such a young child," he said. "You are really promising."

With his neck firmly grasped, the young man's face flushed red, veins bulging on his forehead. He appeared starkly different from his usual shy and reserved demeanor.

His rolling eyes trembled incessantly, as if vehemently resisting something within his own will.

"I don't want to..." Melo's voice resounded again, but this time, Angel's mouth remained closed.

The voice emanated from his body, saying, "It's just that this child is deeply devout, praying day and night. He offered to exchange pens with me.

"You see, his parents tragically perished, a pitiful fate indeed. He prayed to me, desiring the tragic demise of his parents' killer in exchange for vengeance. He believed that anyone would offer such a deal to me."

Melo sighed softly, as though genuinely distressed. "You can't unjustly accuse me like this. I merely did him a small favor and took the opportunity to borrow his body."

"Borrow his body," Kevin laughed, his voice dripping with coldness.

He spoke disdainfully, "You have slain numerous gods and plundered over a hundred godheads in pursuit of power. How have you found yourself in such a predicament? Are you still in need of borrowing a mortal's body? Don't you detest being mistaken for a mortal by others? Oh, dearest... Empress God?"

The word "dearest" left his mouth unhurriedly, akin to a resounding slap across the face, devoid of any sense of "endearment."

On the contrary, it exuded an air of condescension, pity, and irony.

Though his voice wasn't particularly loud, it reverberated through the eerily silent sea, reaching the ears of all those on the boat who had regained consciousness, as well as the circling Sirius in the sky.

Dearest Empress...

Dearest...

God? !

Sirius trembled from head to toe, its wings fluttering as if awakened, staring at the figure atop the mast with a bewildered expression.

The densely packed crowd aboard the boat froze momentarily, even their breathing suspended. After a moment, they raised their heads dazedly, staring up at the two individuals locked in confrontation with baffled eyes.

They struggled to grasp the meaning behind the divine epithet.

In their half-roused state, Kevin swiftly swung his free hand, causing massive waves to surge on both sides of the wooden boat. With a resounding crash, the wave slapped the face of the being in control.

The sea surrounding Mirror Island emanated a chill redolent of ice and snow, instilling a bone-chilling sensation.

Splashed by the waves, everyone shuddered, their fevered minds instantly pacified, finally regaining complete lucidity.

At the bow, the aged butler Ian cradled Sinia in his arms and wiped the water off her face.

He opened his mouth and gazed towards the mast, murmuring, "God, why...why are we here... Could it be, could it be His Excellency Fassbender?! And Angel?"

As he mumbled, a certain address he had half-awakened to suddenly resurfaced—the revered Empress God.

The hand tasked with wiping Sinia's face trembled, and Ian felt as though he could scarcely catch his breath...

He cast his gaze upwards at the figure atop the mast, his mouth agape like a fish gasping for air. For a time, he was unable to utter a word. Finally, with great effort, he choked out a feeble sentence, "I... I heard correctly? Empress God?!"

A chuckle originated from Angel's body, saying, "I possess the godheads of over a hundred deities. I can employ any method I wish, borrow any mortal body I desire, all in the pursuit of my goal.

"If we're discussing how we ended up in this predicament, then surely it's you...a noble and radiant god. Why have you entangled yourself with mortals?

"I've awaited your wearying of mortal existence and voluntary return to your godhead for centuries. Who knew I would be the one to personally deliver the godhead to you... I must admit, Your Highness, the God of Light, I'm truly disappointed."

Silence akin to death swallowed the crowd.

In the sky, the behemoth Sirius abruptly crystallized, forgetting to flap its wings as it stared at Kevin with horror-filled translucent eyes...then plunged straight into the sea with a thunderous splash, creating an earth-shaking commotion.

Kevin listened to the commotion behind him, his voice pondering, "...What lies ahead?"