12
---
Backlund, the underground ruins of the Tudor Dynasty.
"Blood and Conquest."
"The trumpet of war has sounded, and the sword will rise upon the earth."
"Shut up!"
Sitting on a cold stone seat, a tall figure raised his head and took a deep breath.
He was clad in black armor stained with blood.
Upon closer inspection, he appeared young and handsome, with fiery red hair and a flag-like symbol etched between his eyebrows.
The most bizarre thing, however, was that although he was moving, his face was in tatters, and through the rotting patches, faint bones were still visible.
Clearly, he was not a living person but an evil spirit!
Despite his death, he did not stop.
The expression on the red-haired evil spirit's face shifted constantly as he made three distinct sounds with his mouth.
"Screaming so loudly? You have the ability to leave. Why are you showing off your authority here?"
"Haha, rubbish."
"Who are you calling rubbish?"
"I'll tell anyone who takes over."
"You trash, don't you dare challenge me!"
"You think I'm afraid of you?"
"Okay, okay, hit me already; I'll be your witness."
"Sauron, shut up!"
"Shut up, Sauron!"
"???"
As Julius and Klein stepped out of the portal, they found themselves walking straight into the red-haired evil spirit's argument with himself.
Julius scratched his eyebrow and smiled. "Um, did we come at the wrong time?"
The atmosphere fell into an awkward silence.
Suddenly, the red-haired evil spirit stood up.
In the next instant, he appeared right in front of Julius and Klein, moving in an unnervingly strange manner.
Klein felt a rush of blood surge toward his face!
Without thinking, he quickly activated 'Chick's Ring' and steadied himself in front of the evil spirit.
The red-haired evil spirit paused, sniffed, and then...
Hmm...
There was an unpleasant, effeminate air to him.
After a moment of hesitation, he finally gave up the idea of possessing Klein.
"Who are you?" he asked, his eyes filled with undisguised malice, though he restrained himself considerably.
Julius's expression remained calm as he introduced himself: "I am Julius Astorio, the Angel of Fate under the Fool."
He then gestured toward Klein. "This is Miss Klein Cape, a member of the Church of the Fool and my student."
"Fool?" The red-haired evil spirit blinked, stunned.
He had never heard of this god before.
To him, any god other than the "Creator" was considered an evil god or heretic.
Noticing the other spirit's silence, Julius continued, "Your Majesty Medici, we are here to rescue you."
Hearing this, Medici's evil spirit lit up. "You know me!"
Medici, the red angel, once known as the "Creator" and conqueror of Sequence 1 of the "Hunter" path.
Before Medici could continue, his evil spirit spoke again: "Sorry, honey, Medici is not the only one here."
"Haha, what idiot angel? He's just a parallel import. I might as well take his body and kill him myself!"
Klein: ...
What's going on here?
Split personality?
Without missing a beat, Medici's evil spirit snapped, "Shut up, shut up! Shut up!"
Klein stood dumbfounded.
Julius, on the other hand, was not surprised.
The 'Hunter' path thrives on provocation. It's a path where you often test the limits of others with words. Julius knew well what kind of reaction might come from the clash of three top 'Hunters.'
Yes.
The evil spirit of Medici was not merely the spiritual remnant of Medici alone.
Rather, it was the result of the fusion of spiritual remnants and obsessions from three 'conquerors': Medici, Sauron, and Einhorn.
And, by the way, the three of them were mortal enemies. They had fought each other fiercely in life. Now, in death, they were trapped together in the same place—a very different fate indeed.
Julius had also learned through special channels that Sauron and Einhorn were originally female Beyonders who, by Sequence 4, transformed into men... but that's a different story.
Ahem.
But...
Are you serious?
I, Qiao, am also an expert.
Thinking about it, Julius couldn't help but smile, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "Okay, okay, since you're so capable, how is it that you were singled out by Alistair Tudor in the first place?"
Making fun of someone without exposing their flaws?
Making fun of them *only* exposes their flaws!
It was Galen who had spoken softly, silently breaking Medici's defenses.
The Medici evil spirit fell silent.
This was a deep wound for the three of them.
Initially, because all three were Sequence 1, they needed to kill the others to ascend to godhood. Medici, Sauron, and Einhorn fought fiercely whenever they met.
But in the end, they were all betrayed by Alistair Tudor, who had yet to become the 'Blood Emperor,' setting off a chain of events that led to their collective downfall.
By collecting the Beyonder characteristics of the three, Alistair Tudor had risen from the 'Black Emperor' path to the 'Red Priest' path, achieving success at the cost of his sanity.
The lingering resentment of the three 'conquerors' merged into the Red Angel Evil Spirit, trapped in the underground ruins, never seeing the light of day again.
"Courting death!"
"Kill this guy!"
"Okay! Listen to me..."
"Why should I listen to you?"
"Medici, you're the stupidest. You were actually played by Amon and Adam!"
"Einhorn, I am your father!"
"Fight, fight!"
"Sauron, shut up!"
"Shut up, Sauron!"
Unable to defeat Julius, the Medici Evil Spirit once again turned its attention to bickering with itself.
Klein was stunned.
Julius had told him earlier that he was in a good mood and ready to teach.
Who would have thought that a mentally unstable spirit would be present where the lesson was supposed to take place?
---
---
After arguing for a while, the Medici Evil Spirit seemed to tire. He looked at Julius again and asked the most curious question of the three, "In the end, who had the last laugh, Alistair?"
It was like playing a game of chicken; even if you're eliminated, you can still take comfort in knowing that the one who eliminated you eats the proverbial chicken in the end.
Julius shook his head. "The Underworld Emperor Salinger won, becoming the sole victor of the Four Emperors' War."
"Battle of Four Emperors?" The Medici Evil Spirit frowned.
Julius, ever patient, explained, "During the Solomon Dynasty, the Black Emperor Solomon cooperated with the True Creator. The Six Gods used Solomon's power as an anchor to attack their enemies. As a result, Solomon's strength reached its peak..."
"We know this!" The Medici Evil Spirit interrupted impatiently. "Tell me something new!"
"Give me something good!" another voice shouted.
Medici's evil spirit jumped up, starting to shout incoherently.
Julius ignored him, continuing with his lesson to Klein. The three-in-one hot pot scenario was irrelevant now.
"What goes up must come down," Julius continued. "Solomon was ultimately defeated by the Six Gods. But, as you know, the Black Emperor had the unique ability to 'return.' To counter Solomon's influence, the Six Gods decided to support his two consuls and train them into a formidable force, leading to the establishment of the Trunsoest-Tudor United Dynasty."
"Trunsoest was luckier. With the backing of the Six Gods, he became Sequence 0 and the Judge of the path adjacent to the Black Emperor," Julius explained.
"Alistair Tudor, on the other hand, was neither loved by his father nor his mother. Without divine support, he had to carve out his own path. And that path led him..." Julius pointed at the Medici evil spirit nearby.
Klein understood immediately.
Alistair Tudor had made the leap from 'Black Emperor' to 'Red Priest,' attempting to turn his metaphorical bicycle into a motorcycle.
Apparently, Alistair had succeeded.
Medici's evil spirits started cursing again, one after another.
"Damn Alistair! I used to think he was such an honest person! He'd work overtime without complaint."
"Yeah, who would have thought that this jerk would aim for his own father's throne?"
"Don't forget Adam and Amon! They were the ones pulling Alistair's strings! Insidious bastards!"
Klein blinked. The scene was becoming clearer: The "Black Emperor" Solomon, the "Underworld Emperor" Salinger, the "Night Emperor" Trunsoest, and Alistair Tudor, the "Blood Emperor," who had nearly lost his sanity in the process.
The Four Emperors' clash had reshaped everything, and with the Six Gods watching, Salinger had emerged victorious, leaving the Beyonder characteristics of the other three emperors in the hands of his subordinates.
From that point on, divine power had eclipsed imperial power, limiting the emperor's power to Sequence 5. Of course, George III was an exception.
"Speaking of which," Julius continued, "The 'Black Emperor' role seems unavoidable. Trunsoest jumped from the 'Black Emperor' to 'Judge,' Alistair Tudor from 'Black Emperor' to 'Red Priest,' and Roselle from 'Knowledge Mentor' to 'Knowledge Emperor,' before reaching the 'Black Emperor.'"
Even Klein wondered aloud, "If it's so difficult to meet the advancement conditions for the 'divineer' path, could I jump to the 'Black Emperor' and then back again?"
Before Julius could respond, Medici's evil spirit interrupted. "I hear what you're saying. Trunsoest is gone, Alistair's dead, and Solomon hasn't returned. Is the world now under the rule of Salinger?"
Julius nodded. "That's right."
He spread his hands, "Salinger won big in the Four Emperors' War. Not only did he expand his territory, but he also gained the uniqueness of the 'Red Priest.'"
Klein saw the Medici evil spirit's body tremble slightly when Julius mentioned the uniqueness.
Julius continued, "In the end, Salinger fused that uniqueness. He went mad, grew stronger, and teamed up with the 'Original Witch' to wage a war across the northern and southern continents. But in the end, they were defeated and fell."
The Medici evil spirit couldn't sit still when he heard about the war sweeping across the continents.
High-Sequencers on the 'Hunter' path were all war fanatics. How they longed to experience the thrill of conquest firsthand, to revel in bloodshed and fire!
But there was still time!
Two terrifying red lights flared from Medici's evil spirit's eyes as he said impatiently, "I don't care who won. Get me out of here. I want to join the new war!"
Klein's eyes tWitched. The news of Luen's defeat had already spread throughout the country, and from the sound of it, this war was about to escalate further.
"I'll take you out," Julius said, "but there's a condition."
Julius stared at the Medici Evil Spirit with a gentle smile. He knew that the evil spirit was merely being snide due to the evident power difference. If left unchecked, this spirit could become a disaster for the world.
"As long as you can take me out, I'll do whatever you ask," the Medici Evil Spirit said, his eyes flashing with malice but wearing an exaggeratedly generous expression.
Julius smiled, "Join our Church of the Fool and become Mr. Fool's messenger. This way, we'll be on the same side."
The Medici Evil Spirit immediately protested, "Impossible! I only believe in the omnipotent Lord!"
"Of course, no problem," Julius replied, unfazed. "Praise the Fool."
Though Medici was a staunch loyalist of the "True Creator," Sauron and Einhorn were far more indifferent about their allegiances.
Klein felt uneasy.
Her spirituality had always been sharp, and she was sure this evil spirit couldn't be as honest as Mr. Azik and Will Auceptin.
"No! The Church of the Fool can't afford to harbor such a hidden danger!" Klein thought, voicing her concerns. "Julius... ahem, teacher, I think this evil spirit is trying to deceive you. You can't fall for it."
Medici glared at her. Klein, unfazed, sneered back.
She was at Sequence 2 now. This three-in-one patchwork monster was no match for her.
But she didn't realize that she had stopped rejecting the "female" part of her heart.
Julius, deliberately pretending to consider Klein's warning, nodded, "You're right, I almost fell for it."
But then he dropped the act, his smile turning cold. "I brought this guy here for the upcoming war. He'll be a tool to help annex the 'Iron-Blooded Cross.' We're helping the True Creator, so shouldn't we receive some interest in return?"
Medici's evil spirit froze. "What an audacious tone," he thought. "He's just a Sequence 1."
But he instinctively knew that the "Fool" behind Julius had to be quite powerful.
After hearing this, Klein realized she had overthought the situation.
Julius had always been the one tormenting others, never the other way around.
In that case, there was no more to say. Just quietly act as a beautiful vase and let things unfold.
The Medici evil spirit frowned, and Julius, now ahead of Klein, pulled a stone sculpture of a human head covered in black tentacles from his portable space.
Instantly, the surrounding space warped.
"The uniqueness of the Witch…" Medici's eyes flashed with greed as he felt the pull of something converging.
The "Witch" and "Red Priest" were adjacent paths, and theoretically, one could jump between them.
"I'll give you a chance. If you're loyal to me, I'll grant you a new body," Julius said calmly, holding up the stone sculpture. "Of course, after you've made enough contributions."
---
---
When Emlyn visited Julius again, it was five days later.
He appeared high-spirited, dressed in an elegant, expensive suit, with a silver ring set with rubies adorning his hand. His hair was meticulously styled, gleaming under the light.
However, Emlyn's timing was unfortunate.
Julius wasn't home at the moment.
Instead, the gracious Mr. Azik received him in Julius's study.
"You must be Mr. Emlyn White, the one Julius often speaks of," Azik said with a calm smile. "I must say, when I saw you today, you certainly appear Beyonder."
Emlyn didn't pay much attention to the man who seemed like an honest figure from the Southern Continent. But when he heard the compliment, he lifted his head arrogantly and said, "That's a bit much."
It wasn't that he was ungrateful, but vampires generally held a dismissive view of humans.
After all, one was an immortal species, and the other a fleeting one.
Additionally, Azik usually refrained from revealing his true nature as the Angel of Death, which led Emlyn to perceive him as merely the steward of the manor.
A few kind words were already beyond expectation.
Azik noticed the disdain in Emlyn's gaze but said nothing. Instead, he smiled gently, his thoughts turning to finding another topic to engage the vampire.
Then, he noticed that Emlyn's attention had shifted to something in the study.
Following Emlyn's gaze, Azik realized what had caught his eye and kindly reminded him, "This is Julius's private collection. It's said to have other purposes, so no one is allowed near it under normal circumstances."
But Emlyn acted as though he hadn't heard. His blood-red eyes sparkled with excitement, and he couldn't help but murmur, "It's so beautiful!"
What caught his attention were three perfectly arranged dolls.
The material of the dolls was unclear, but they had an eerie resemblance to real people.
Notably, all three dolls possessed an ethereal, androgynous beauty, making them all equally captivating, regardless of gender.
Emlyn, accustomed to seeing beautiful girls in gothic dresses, felt as if he had stumbled upon a whole new world.
Seeing Emlyn's intense focus, Azik cleared his throat, preparing to issue a warning.
But before he could speak, a voice suddenly interrupted.
The Son of Death hesitated for a moment, then decided to sit back and enjoy the unfolding scene.
Emlyn, now fully captivated, walked toward the dolls, staring at them with an almost dazed look, admiring the craftsmanship with blurred vision. "It's so beautiful! If I could take one home, I'd be willing to go bankrupt!"
Don't underestimate a figure enthusiast's obsession with finely crafted figures.
In his excitement, Emlyn even forgot about business and Azik's earlier caution.
He eagerly reached out, touching the face of the central doll.
At that moment, the doll's previously dull eyes suddenly gleamed blood red, and in a cold, emotionless tone, it spoke: "Boy, are you looking for death?"
The words seemed to activate something, triggering the other two dolls on either side to spring to life.
One said in a strange, mocking tone, "Medici, you're just a laughingstock."
The other added, "Yeah, how could he have fallen into Alistair's hands in the first place?"
Emlyn recoiled, shocked by the sudden movement and voices. Though he had seen strange things before, this took him completely off guard. His heart raced as he stumbled backward, nearly tripping over his own feet.
With a loud thud, he collided into something—or rather, someone.
He turned and found himself staring into a pair of dark, almost impenetrable eyes.
"Do you like them?" Julius asked with a smile. "If you do, I'll gift you one."
"No, no, no!" Emlyn hastily shook his head, his face flushed with embarrassment and a hint of fear. "I... I was just looking, no other intention."
Julius shrugged casually, "Are you sure? These are top-quality, one-of-a-kind limited editions. You won't find anything like them in this village."
Emlyn waved his hands frantically, a cold sweat beginning to form.
Julius didn't press further, leading Emlyn to a nearby sofa.
After Azik witnessed the unfolding drama, he wisely excused himself from the study.
Meanwhile, the three dolls continued their bizarre banter.
"You brat, when I can move again, I'll chop off your hands!"
"Okay, okay, tough talk."
"Such a great idea. Who cares if he's a vampire? Just kill him."
"Einhorn, you clearly want Medici to start a war with those old bats."
"Sauron, shut up!"
"Shut up, Sauron!"
Emlyn pretended not to hear, doing his best to ignore the absurdity.
Julius, now seated across from him, leaned forward with interest. "You can't touch this little guy. We're all part of the Church of the Fools, rank-wise. No one is superior to the other. Of course, if you insist on killing him, I can't stop you."
After hearing the first part, Emlyn felt a little more at ease. But the second part made his heart skip a beat, and he almost bolted out of the room.
However, when he saw Julius's expression, he realized the angel was likely joking. Emlyn exhaled in relief and got down to business. "Your Majesty Julius, I've done what you asked. The vampires worked overtime for several days and produced enough potions for the entire city."
A letter was quickly tossed onto the table, detailing the vampire workforce in Backlund. The vampires worked around the clock, producing potions day and night, and the materials were provided at their own expense.
None of them complained.
Not only had the Marquis of Nibais personally given his approval, but the Dukes from the Southern Continent had sent their own orders to ensure full cooperation, with any form of betrayal punishable by death.
Under this immense pressure, who would dare slack off?
Fortunately, the potions required were not of high level, so production went smoothly, despite the exhaustion it caused.
The only pity was for the young vampires, who, though accustomed to indulgence, were now worn out from the constant work. Though they weren't physically harmed, the fatigue showed on their faces.
"Very good," Julius said with a smile, clearly enjoying the role of the Black Heart Factory owner. "But it's not enough to supply just the city. We need to expand production to benefit the entire country."
After all, you didn't need to pay wages, they worked 24/7, and the raw materials were provided for free. What more could you ask for?
Of course, Julius was just the messenger. The real authority behind this was Lilith, the Mother Goddess of the Earth, and the former matriarch of the vampire clan.
In her quest to secure her position, she had no qualms about treating her dependents like mules.
But it was all worth it.
These potions would surely prove invaluable.
Julius stood up, walked over to the temporary bodies of Medici, Sauron, and Einhorn, and asked, "Are you ready?"
The six eyes blinked in unison.
"The storm is coming."
"The clouds are gathering."
"The war is about to begin."
Finally, in unison, they declared, "We're ready."
"Good." Julius nodded, "Whether we succeed in becoming the Orthodox Church depends on your acting."
…
Seven hours later, somewhere in the Suniya Sea, the *Blue Avenger* moved forward slowly.
Since joining the Church of the Fools, Alger had turned a new leaf. No longer a pirate, he now hunted down other pirates to collect bounties.
With his 'Wind-blessed' strength, mastery of the 'Knight's Grip'—a Sequence 5 Beyonder item—and the backing of more than one angel, Alger quickly gained recognition and even became a hero in a short time, earning the title of lieutenant general.
'Lieutenant Blue' Alger Wilson—what a pleasant title.
The ghost ship glided silently through the mist, appearing and vanishing in the fog.
Alger, dressed in his captain's coat, stood at the bow of the ship, gazing intently into the white expanse.
Suddenly, his eyes narrowed, and silvery-white light flickered in their depths.
In the heavy fog ahead, a large ship appeared, its sails ghostly in the mist.
It wasn't alone. More ships followed, forming a long, ominous fleet.
"It's here," Alger's heart raced.
Recalling the instructions of 'Mr. Destiny,' he quelled the anxiety rising within him, lowered his head, and whispered a prayer.
"Great god of war, symbol of iron and blood, lord of turmoil and strife, I seek your guidance."
---
---
Uncharacteristically, Klein used the 'Faceless Man' ability to adjust his face and returned home.
It was Saturday, and both Benson and Melissa were at home.
When they saw Klein, they were both happy to see him, as it had been a while since he'd last returned.
"Melissa, Benson, listen to me." Klein's face was full of seriousness. "Don't worry about anything. Come with me, right away!"
"What's wrong?" Benson, seeing Klein's unprecedented solemn expression, was extremely confused.
Klein glanced at his pocket watch, confirmed the time, and said succinctly, "I received internal information that Backlund is about to face an air raid!"
An air raid?
Benson and Melissa were startled.
After all, Backlund was the capital of the Loen Kingdom. How could there possibly be an air raid?
"No time to explain." Klein grabbed Benson and Melissa by the arms and pulled them out without further explanation.
Outside the house, a carriage was waiting for them.
Klein pushed his family into the carriage, then drove it himself toward St. Mussel Cathedral.
"Don't come out until the airstrike is over."
"I still have things to do."
"Don't worry about me; I can protect myself."
After a brief exchange, Klein drove off.
Almost as soon as Melissa and Benson were ushered into St. Mussel Cathedral by the priests and nuns in a daze, Klein's senses were triggered.
He pulled on the bridle and looked sharply at the sky.
Above, where the clouds weren't too thick, airships painted in dark brown were approaching in large numbers.
The bodies of these airships were marked with diagonal red, white, and yellow logos—Fusac's flag!
Woohoo!
The alarm bells rang.
A large number of airships cut through the North District and arrived over this international city.
However, as soon as they approached the official Churches, like St. Mussel Cathedral and Holy Wind Cathedral, it was clear that the Orthodox Church was well prepared.
Dark energy and cyan wind blades roared toward the incoming airships like surface-to-air missiles.
But when the defensive measures were about to strike the airships' balloons, only a buzzing sound was heard. Invisible force fields materialized out of thin air, blocking all attacks.
The transparent force fields quivered under the violent blows but managed to hold.
Wow—
Cannon muzzles, machine gun barrels, and projectile ports on the airships opened one after another, aiming ruthlessly at the ground below.
Klein took a deep breath, jumped off the carriage, put on the 'Chick's Ring,' and transformed into a 'Disaster Witch.'
He hated war and did not wish to see it unfold.
He also sympathized deeply with the innocent civilians of Fusac.
However, this was his position.
For the sake of his family and friends, he had to be ruthless and prove his determination through action.
"Storm, let's rage!!!"
As soon as the words were spoken, countless hurricanes manifested.
Klein became the epicenter of a massive explosion of wind that surged out in all directions.
In the face of such a terrifying storm, the airships' gunfire abruptly halted.
In an instant, the airships dispersed, their formations scattering like ships caught in a storm.
Below, Klein gritted his teeth.
He sensed someone was interfering with his magic.
This was to be expected. It would be unreasonable to think an air raid on a capital would occur without Beyonder forces involved.
Klein could feel the presence of at least two angel-level beings protecting the airships. From the aura, he recognized them as the same type as Medici.
The angel of the 'Red Priest' path!
War is the art of gathering people.
Klein's guess was correct. Fusac had covert support from the Iron-Blooded Cross Society.
This group of war fanatics thrived on conflict, using war as a means to gain power and a sense of accomplishment.
But Klein's efforts had not been in vain.
Several strong gusts of wind slammed into the northern parish, but the air fleet redirected westward toward the political center of Loen Kingdom.
Klein, utterly drained of spiritual energy, half-knelt on the ground, gasping for air.
Ignoring the conSequences, he took out the 'Black Iron Cross' and replenished his magic.
At that moment, a team of 'Nighthawks' emerged from St. Mussel Cathedral, including the 'Red Gloves' team Klein was familiar with.
When they saw Klein, the 'Nighthawks' didn't express surprise. Instead, they regarded him with awe, nodding in silent salute.
—The oracle's eyes confirmed he was one of them.
Among them, Leonard stared at Klein's figure eagerly.
But soon, he turned away and secretly reminded himself, "You are the chosen one, destined to carry the weight of this world; how can you be swayed by love!"
That was Julius's absence.
As long as the Lezi people heard Leonard's voice, he would at least use his influence to safeguard the matchmaker and ensure this good deed was done!
---
**Backlund University, West End:**
When the airships attacked, students were going about their usual business on campus, carrying their book bags.
As one of the most prestigious universities in the world, these young people were full of energy and idealistic visions for the future.
They gathered daily to study technology and discuss their ideals.
Simple, carefree, and happy.
However, the iron hooves of war crushed their naive dreams.
When petrol bombs fell from the airships, the students could only raise their heads, mouths agape, awaiting fate's judgment...
Fortunately, fate smiled upon them this time.
In this place, far from the reach of the official Church and the Loen royal family, someone stepped in to save them.
A beautiful figure, indescribable in words, with blood-red eyes and six wings on its back.
With a sweeping motion of the long sword, the sea of flames in the sky vanished, and the airships' formation fell into chaos once again.
Sauron, ordered to protect the students, shifted his body, not quite accustomed to the task, and curled his lips in disdain.
"It's a boring trick… but it's all for freedom," he muttered to himself.
He raised his sword high and, in a voice that carried to all the teachers and students present, declared, "The Fool's Oracle—martial arts are prohibited here. Those who disobey will die!"
---
---
**A miracle!**
A living miracle is unfolding!
Sauron pointed his sword at the sky, frightening the airship fleet with his false angelic aura.
Do not doubt.
When it comes to bluffing, the 'Hunter' has always been a professional.
After a while, the airship fleet ceased firing and chose to continue westward, leaving the area.
When the teachers and students of Backlund University saw this, they burst into tears of joy.
In fact, some of them almost knelt down and shouted, "Long live the Fool!"
Sauron sensed something was off.
But he didn't leave immediately. Instead, he rallied the remaining forces and spoke with great dignity:
"The beginning of the original, the end of the end.
He is the past, the present, and the future."
As soon as he finished speaking, he disappeared.
Similar events occurred in the East District and the Bridge District.
Einhorn and Azik appeared before the people one after another. While protecting the poor and working-class citizens, they began preaching on a grand scale.
Bernadette, Sharron, and Maric, who were relatively weaker, led the vampires in transforming into volunteers to assist with emergency rescue and treatment.
Will Asceptin and Reinette Tinichole, who could not be publicly exposed, hid in the shadows, either quietly transporting supplies or secretly casting curses.
As for Klein, he changed his appearance again and led the remaining followers of the Aurora Order to remain active.
The vast network of forces gathered by the Church of the Fool was fully mobilized, and its impact far surpassed that of any single official Church!
Not only that...
In the distant waters of Sunia, the Fusac fleet was intercepted by Medici.
Like Sauron and Einhorn, Medici only had a false personality and a small amount of angelic power. But as a warfare expert, he knew how to use the least force to create the greatest threat.
With the help of Alger's Blue Avenger, Medici exerted all his strength to quickly sink the lead ship. He also used bluffs and showmanship, delaying the fleet's expected attack time. This allowed the Kingdom of Loen to fully prepare their garrison at Sonia Island.
After several battles, Loen's forces finally defeated the Fusac fleet by a narrow margin, successfully defending Sonia Island.
---
As expected, the airship fleet was repulsed.
However, the pain inflicted by the Fusac people could not be erased.
Backlund is a large city with a permanent population of over five million. Under the flames of petrol bombs and machine gun fire, even with Klein, his allies, and the official Beyonders working tirelessly, there would inevitably be unfortunate victims.
Five hours after the air raid ended, Audrey, instead of wearing her usual luxurious clothes, put on a simple dress, applied plain makeup, and took her golden retriever for a walk through the chaotic streets.
Looking around, she could hardly recognize the street's original appearance.
Ruins were scattered everywhere, and at every few steps, she encountered injured people, their bodies covered in scars and blood. Their eyes were numb and desperate, like a dull knife, stabbing directly into Audrey's heart.
She bit her lip lightly and stepped forward, trying to appear calm.
Thanks to the efforts of dedicated soldiers maintaining order, the situation was still under control, and there were no crazed mobs rushing to loot.
But seeing the expressions on the faces of the innocent civilians, Audrey felt more discomfort than if she herself had been robbed...
At that moment, a group of people wearing blood-cross armbands on their left arms hurried over. They began treating the injured in an orderly manner and distributing painkillers and hemostatic drugs.
"No need to thank me; praise the Fool."
"The beginning of the original, the end of the end."
"Peace and humility, compassion shines in the world."
These were the words they spoke.
Soon, the sound of chanting reached Audrey's ears, gradually filling the entire street.
Audrey's mood lightened, and she joined them in her heart, silently praising the Fool. She then walked away, feeling a little lighter.
She followed a familiar route to 'Jostar Manor,' where a medium-height gentleman with a bronze complexion greeted her and led her inside.
"Are you the new housekeeper here?" Audrey asked curiously.
Azik was momentarily stunned, then smiled and replied, "Absolutely."
Audrey blinked.
For some reason, she instinctively sensed a hint of hidden danger in this honest gentleman...
Entering the study, Audrey not only met 'Mr. Destiny' but also several people she couldn't name.
Without exception, the aura of these people was incredibly strong, especially the three 'beauties' leaning in the corner of the study, whose gender was indistinguishable at first glance.
The three of them squinted, looked Audrey up and down, and spoke in unison.
"Sequence 7?"
"Funny."
"What rubbish!"
Even though Audrey was a good-natured person, her face flushed with embarrassment upon hearing those mocking words.
"Alright!"
Suddenly, Julius knocked on the table, interrupting the provocative remarks of the three figures.
He waved his hand. "The time has come. Merge quickly, or you'll completely perish."
Suddenly, screams filled the air.
But Medici, Sauron, and Einhorn were forced to return to their previous forms and become the Red Angel evil spirits once again.
Audrey was startled.
The Red Angel evil spirit paid no attention to her insignificant presence and swayed through the wall, retreating to rest in some hidden corner.
Bernadette looked at Audrey and waved kindly. "Come, sit next to me."
Hearing this, Audrey smiled gratefully and thought, "Although this sister's clothes are poor, she is so gentle..."
At that moment, Klein also entered.
However, it was the face of 'Clenne.'
"Am I late?" she asked.
At the same time, her eyes briefly glanced at Audrey, then quickly skipped over her to focus on Julius behind the desk.
"You came just in time," Julius smiled and explained. "Cleni, this is Miss Audrey, the favored one of the Lord."
"Oh." Klein didn't dare to relax in front of an 'Spectator' and seamlessly maintained her Witch persona.
Audrey blinked.
Miss Clarinet is so beautiful...
"Alright, Audrey, the reason I called you here is that I have a task for you," Julius said as the others gathered. "The Fool's faith is spreading quickly among the lower levels, and the upper levels are also... conducive to our mission."
As he spoke, he took out a booklet from the drawer and threw it toward Audrey roughly.
Audrey caught it and opened it curiously.
On the first page, she saw the words:
"The beginning of the beginning, the end of the end—The Fool's Gospel, Volume 1, Chapter 1, Section 1."
This is...
Scripture?!
Audrey's heart skipped a beat.
After nearly a year, Mr. Fool would finally step out from behind the scenes and become the orthodox god that people could openly believe in!
She read on.
"He is the great master of the spiritual world, the king of yellow and black who controls good fortune, the eternal beacon that all living beings seek. He is the beginning and the end, the condensation of all time, and the culmination of countless histories. Collection—The Fool's Gospel, Volume 1, Chapter 1, Section 2."
"The Lord resides in the kingdom of God above the spiritual world, and His mercy extends throughout the world. Six angels serve beside His seat, attending faithfully.
The Angel of Destiny is the Lord's agent, His right and left hands, judging the fate of all beings;
The Angel of Death is the ruler of the underworld, presiding over life and death;
The Angel of Lust is the embodiment of beauty and love, as well as the messenger of natural disasters and plagues..."
---
---
When Klein, who had been peeking at the scriptures, saw this paragraph, he quickly averted his gaze and scratched the ground with his toes, feeling like he would escape the confines of this room any minute.
"The remaining angels guard the Kingdom of God for the Lord, destroying all invading enemies;
The Psalm Angel recites mysterious sounds to make the Lord aware of the world's suffering;
The Mercury Angel is the Lord's most favored, always accompanying Him and enjoying eternal prosperity in the Kingdom of God—The Fool's Gospel·Volume 1·Chapter 1·Section 3."
Audrey was unable to fully understand it, but she was profoundly shocked.
In the study, everyone except Julius and Azik managed to maintain their composure.
The Angel of Psalm, Bernadette, and the Angel of Lust, Klein, were on the brink of losing their temper.
No, this is absurd!
Audrey took a deep breath.
She closed the holy book and said respectfully, "I will do my best to spread Mr. Fool's faith."
"Audrey, you've always been a capable person; I believe in you," Julius smiled, offering encouragement.
Since Julius had already made arrangements with some righteous gods, he wasn't worried about the preaching.
Moreover, with Audrey's status as a Saint in the Church of Fools, it would reduce the pressure from the inner alchemy club that might have coveted her.
If only the "Call of the Abyss" had already been sent out...
But—
There would surely be opportunities in the future.
After giving a few more instructions, Julius asked Azik to accompany Audrey and Susie, one person and one dog, as they left.
Bernadette, seeming to have suffered some mental shock, found an excuse to leave. She likely intended to consult with her father, Roselle, on why she was included in the canon despite not being an angel.
Klein and Julius were left, sitting face to face.
After a long silence, Klein finally couldn't hold back. He frowned and said, "Lust?"
Julius replied matter-of-factly, "Don't you think it suits you well? It fits your image perfectly."
Klein: ...
After a brief pause, Klein said, "Isn't it a bit too fictional?"
"I've done my part," Julius said with a slight regret in his eyes. "I originally wanted to create sixteen angels, but there weren't enough candidates. We'll just have to wait until you really grow before we can update the canon."
Klein: *So kind of you*.
He couldn't help but roll his eyes.
Never mind.
The Angels of Lust are the Angels of Lust.
The perverted one is Clayne Cape. What does that have to do with me, Klein Moretti?
Once the situation was set, Klein didn't bother worrying about such trivialities.
However, the abnormal situation with the Loen royal family made Klein uneasy. He couldn't help but ask, "Did the Loen royal family intentionally allow Feysac's air raid this time? Something feels off, no matter how I think about it..."
Julius replied calmly, "It wasn't intentional, but it can be seen as deliberate. The Augustus family needs external conflicts to divert internal ones. Haven't you seen that the noble alliances are trying to oust George III?
But that guy is no easy target, so we might as well let him face off with the aristocratic alliance and the official Churches supporting them."
For this reason alone?
Klein's face darkened.
He prided himself on not being a bleeding-heart, but after witnessing Backlund engulfed in blood and flames, he hated war from the bottom of his heart.
Noticing Klein's mood, Julius tried to comfort him: "Don't overthink it. Either Fusac will fight, or Roen will. The deeper reason is clear. The dispute will only end when the gods fall."
Klein clenched his fist, then quickly released it.
After a moment of adjustment, he said, "I'm just one step away from digesting the potion. Once this matter is over, I want to head to the Southern Continent."
If all went according to plan, the Southern Continent would be the main battleground for the War of the Gods.
Julius didn't have an issue with that.
In fact, after some time, he planned to dive into the Abyss himself and try to use the world's Beyonder laws to become one of the 'Old Ones.'
The atmosphere grew heavy for a moment.
Klein suddenly wasn't sure what to say.
Julius broke the silence with a smile: "Do you think George III is confused about where the Church of Fools came from?"
Klein smiled in response, "If it were him, he might not just be confused—he'd probably be furious."
…
…
Klein's assumption turned out to be right.
In the Kingdom of Loen, inside the king's office, George III glared with fury. Struggling to suppress his anger, he said, his voice trembling, "Have you found out where those people came from? Preaching so boldly—the Church of Night, the Storm, the people in those Churches... Don't they care?"
He had a mustache, a serious and old-fashioned demeanor, a resolute face, and wore an extravagant red robe, a large cloak, and shoes with extremely long toes—his attire was somewhat out of sync with the times.
No one answered.
George III pinched the bridge of his nose, exhausted.
In the next second, he straightened up and said with great authority, "This is a serious breach of responsibility. If this were the past, I would have ordered your heads to be chopped off. But now, I'll have you return to your posts immediately. I won't tolerate another mistake."
Upon hearing this, the palace guards and MI9 spies hastily retreated, as if granted amnesty.
George III shook his head.
Suddenly, an elderly man with a white face and a solemn expression appeared beside George III.
With his current status and personality, George III had no choice but to stand and greet the old man, "Ancestor."
This old man was none other than William Augustus I, who had survived through the Solomon Dynasty, the United Dynasty, and the War of the Four Emperors—he was a living history book.
"Don't be too hasty," William Augustus said in a deep, reassuring voice.
He was Sequence 1 of the 'Judge' path, and his words carried immense weight.
"Ancestor, too many things are out of our control. Adam suddenly stopped cooperating with us, the slave ship was sunk by unknown forces, the Witch Sect and the Aurora Order can no longer be trusted, causing chaos, and the attitudes of the official Churches have inexplicably changed. Now a fool appears..."
As he spoke, a fierce look crossed George III's face. "I suspect someone behind the scenes has discovered me and is targeting us."
"It's targeting us, Augustus," William Augustus said, maintaining his steady gaze, "Don't worry, I'll act when the time is right... We'll all take action."
---
On the way home, Leonard appeared weary.
Turning his head slightly, he saw a child holding a freshly printed newspaper that still smelled of ink, running and shouting at the top of his lungs.
"Excuse me, the kingdom has officially declared war on Fusac!"
Leonard took a deep breath, his expression one of confusion.
In that moment, a voice echoed in his mind, "Boy, you're so useless, and you still want to pursue a Witch?"
Caught off guard and exposed, Leonard froze for a moment, then turned red and snapped, "Old man, what are you talking about? I don't understand!"
"We are one," Grandpa Pales smiled. "Do you really think you can hide your little tricks from me?"
"I've told you before, I don't know what you're talking about," Leonard muttered, unconsciously quickening his pace.
As a 'Nighthawk,' he was infatuated with a Witch. If the goddess found out, she would surely punish him, right?
His thoughts were all over the place.
Turning the corner, Leonard almost collided with a black-haired young man with blood-red eyes and a bloody cross armband.
With a thud, the two bumped into each other.
"Sorry, sorry!" Leonard, distracted by his guilty conscience, quickly apologized.
Emlyn, who was rushing to the warehouse to prepare a potion, forgave the careless human and waved dismissively. "Be more careful next time. Since I'm in a good mood today, I won't hold it against you."
With that, he turned to leave.
However, Pales, who was parasitic within Leonard, suddenly spoke up. "Boy, that little bat is odd. The ring on his hand is of a very high level. It's most likely a level 0 Sealed Artifact!"
"What?!" Leonard was shocked upon hearing this.
But his extensive experience allowed him to quickly suppress his surprise and reply calmly, "In that case... goodbye. I wish you a pleasant day."
Hearing the easy dismissal, Emlyn's arrogance grew. He held his head high and walked away, hands in his pockets.
Leonard stood still, watching Emlyn's figure disappear into the distance, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Old man," he muttered softly, "How much credit can you claim for nipping the danger in the bud?"
"I suggest you report back to the Church immediately," Grandpa Pales said in a calm tone.
Leonard shook his head. "Even if you report it, you'll need to investigate first. If there's real danger, I won't sit idly by, will I?"
"You're threatening me?" Grandpa Pales asked.
"No," Leonard rubbed his hands together, "We are one. Your strength is my strength, isn't it?"
Grandpa Pales listened in silence for a long time.
Finally, a faint sigh escaped him.
Leonard immediately smiled, his grin bright.
Only through contribution could one be promoted and grow stronger.
Today, Leonard Mitchell had earned his merit!
…
…
"Mr. White!"
"The raw materials for the healing potion are temporarily out of stock and need to be urgently sourced from elsewhere!"
"There are too many wounded in the East District; please provide support."
Inside a certain trading house of the Blood Tribe, now the headquarters of the Blood Cross Rescue Team, Emlyn was immediately surrounded by Blood Tribe members as soon as he entered.
This attention made Emlyn uncomfortable.
But it was also thrilling!
The discomfort came from his eccentric nature—he disliked socializing and preferred the company of dolls.
But the thrill stemmed from being valued, which allowed him, who prided himself on his extraordinariness, to realize his worth.
What Emlyn didn't notice was the sweet-looking Vampire girl among the crowd. She quietly pinched her eyes and smiled faintly.
After a moment's thought, she straightened her expression and approached with a stack of parchment. "Hey, Emlyn, these are the documents you need to sign."
Emlyn glanced at the vampire girl, slightly annoyed. "Miss Jenny, I am now the head of the Blood Cross Rescue Team; please call me Mr. White."
"Yes, yes, dear Mr. White," the vampire girl replied with a disdainful smile, her tone insincere.
A few blue veins appeared on Emlyn's forehead.
Of all the vampires of his generation, Jenny Wesling was the one he despised most.
And of course, he was the one she despised the most.
The two had always been at odds, neither willing to give the other any favor.
Jenny Wesling had already moved to Eastchester County with her family, which had made Emlyn happy for some time. However, when Marquis Nibais issued a blood clan edict summoning almost all the blood clan members, Jenny Wesling had to return to Backlund with the rest of the army.
With the backing of the oracle, Emlyn had suddenly become the leader of his generation's vampires. Even many vampires with titles had to obey his commands. Jenny Wesling, naturally, was displeased.
But what Emlyn didn't know was that his enemy had already been swallowed whole, and now only a pretender stood before him—a clever thief in disguise...
Not wanting to engage with this annoying woman, Emlyn quickly signed the documents.
"Jenny Wesling" didn't let him off so easily. "There seems to be something wrong with the warehouse in the back. Would you like to take a look yourself?"
"What?!" Emlyn was startled upon hearing this.
The warehouse was crucial for storing all kinds of pharmaceuticals—nothing should go wrong there!
Without thinking, he rushed off toward the warehouse.
"Jenny Wesling" smiled contentedly and followed.
It was also Emlyn's fault.
Lately, he had been appearing frequently on the streets of Backlund, which made him a prime target for Amon.
Amon, lacking a channel to understand "The Fool" and the Church of the Fool, quickly chose Emlyn—the vampire who wanted to soar—knowing that his possession would be easy.
The possession went smoothly.
Emlyn, a small Sequence 7, had no chance against the power of the King of Angels.
However, thanks to the protection of 'Lilith's Ring,' Amon was unable to completely devour Emlyn and only temporarily occupied his body.
But Amon didn't care much. He only needed a vessel to get close to the Church of Fools' top leaders; everything else was secondary.
"Let me see... oh, the memory's blocked again? Haha, just as expected. Wait, why did I say 'again'?" Amon muttered to himself as he guided Emlyn out of the warehouse.