Meeting Gaard II's oppressive gaze calmly, Amyrius's eyes darkened, and his voice grew old: "The Four Emperors have already fallen for over a thousand years; there aren't many old friends left alive…"
As he spoke, streaks of light burst forth from Amyrius's body, condensing before him into a clear, thick, yet transparent and mysterious "Worm of Time," which quickly transformed into the figure of Pallez Zoroast.
"Old friend?" Gaard II's Pope's robe slightly fluttered, and with a muffled thunder-like snort, a howling hurricane rose, sweeping the slightly bewildered Amyrius towards the Thunder Cathedral at the foot of the mountain.
After clearing out the irrelevant personnel, Gaard II ignored Pallez and turned back to the soldier puppet, asking in a deep voice, "Tell me, what exactly do you want to do?"
"As expected of a follower of the Storm…" Choked by the blunt question, Varna, whose consciousness had descended, controlled the soldier puppet and replied with a smile, "Feynapotter's participation has already tilted the balance of the war. The Church is now powerless to interfere in Backlund. George III will attempt to advance to Black Emperor tomorrow."
"Therefore, all important members of the Augustus family will surely gather tomorrow. This will be the best opportunity to bury them."
Gaard II frowned, taking a deep look at the black-armored soldier puppet before him, and shook his head in refutation, "The Augustus family cannot be annihilated, otherwise, if Loen's situation becomes irreversible, the Lord's faith will suffer a heavy blow."
"Moreover, George III must already know that you have advanced to Sequence 1, yet still dares to attempt advancement now, meaning he must have made thorough preparations. You alone are far from enough…"
Pallez "heh'd," and replied with a hint of self-mockery, "He dares to speak such grand words, naturally he has the corresponding confidence. Do you think an old fellow like me, who has just recovered to Sequence 2 strength, has the ability to interfere in this level of struggle?"
"I came here only to prove to you that we have a better way to deal with the Augustus family. We only need to annihilate all high-level individuals above angels, and then I will parasitize the remaining demigods. This way, we can replace the Augustus family from top to bottom, minimizing the impact on the situation."
Varna looked at Gaard II, who was frowning in thought, and added leisurely, "After taking control of Loen, we will fill the void left by the Augustus family and fully assist in counterattacking Feysac. I can promise that the Storm's faith will not be restricted in any way, and this only requires the Church's tacit approval and some necessary support!"
A brief silence fell within the grand and solemn sanctuary. Gaard II weighed his options for a moment before speaking in a low voice, "If you can achieve this, the Church can maintain tacit approval and allow the Lord's followers to provide convenience in the military and parliament. As for the necessary support you mentioned, I will personally pray to the Lord!"
The dark faceplate showed no expression. Varna, adapting to local customs, clenched his right fist and struck his left chest in a Storm-style salute. Then, as if remembering something, he spoke in a deep voice with a hint of something inexplicable, "Let's reintroduce ourselves. My true name is Varna Trunsoest, son of the Night Emperor!"
-----------------
Outside Backlund, in White Cliff Town on the side of Stratford River Bend, Amon's mausoleum, after its concealment was lifted.
The cliff collapsed without warning and caved inward, forming an enormous deep pit that connected to the Stratford River, drawing in the rushing river water.
The next second, the life-sized mirror placed in the nearby forest suddenly deepened, and Fate Councillor Ricciardo emerged from the mirror with Ademisaul, who was pale due to the significant spiritual consumption.
Using the authority of a Chaoswalker to disrupt fate, and after making simple disguises and interferences, Ricciardo took the "Die of Probability" from his disciple's hand and placed it in a specialized container with a Wall of Spirituality.
As the mirror shattered, Cheek's figure was the last to emerge, clutching the "Demoness of Unaging" characteristic to her chest, she gritted her teeth and whispered unwillingly, "Just a little more…"
This demigod-level Demoness was now enveloped in wisps of black mist, and the degenerate, eerie sensation made Ricciardo unconsciously move away slightly.
This was corruption from the Abyss, the consequence of Trissy using herself as bait and staying for a long time in the depths of Amon's mausoleum, through the portal leading to the Abyss.
It was a pity that the Demoness of Unaging, who wielded a Grade 0 Sealed Artifact of the Door Pathway, was too difficult to ambush and kill. Even with the assistance of misfortune, the Demoness of Orange still managed to escape successfully.
Taking a few bottles of Darkwill's concoction, which could quickly restore spirituality, and handing them to Ademisaul, Ricciardo did not hesitate, stepping into the illusory River of Fate and disappearing.
Ademisaul's advancement ritual was complete. He needed to take his disciple to a safe enough place to concoct the "Misfortune Mage" potion, so that the Life School of Thought could produce another demigod, rather than waiting here for Amon's gaze to fall upon them.
Ricciardo's actions brought Trissy back to her senses from the resentment brought by the Abyss's corruption. Her expression changed slightly, and without much thought, she allowed the quietly burning black flames to destroy the traces before her figure vanished.
In mid-air, a crow landed at this moment, stopping on top of the shattered cliff.
It had a white ring around its right eye, and it lightly exhaled as it watched the disappearing Trissy, "Cheek…"
On the south bank of the Tussock River, Ricciardo's figure appeared. The sense of crisis brought by the warning of fate faded, and he finally breathed a sigh of relief. After confirming Ademisaul's condition, he quietly prayed to Will Auceptin.
Thanks to the recovery of a certain infant's state, as long as he did not leave the Backlund region, he could now respond to some not-so-complex prayers.
"The fluctuations of fate have returned to normal. Amon has not targeted you. Backlund will be very dangerous next. Take the 'Die of Probability' and leave as soon as possible…"
The precocious, tender voice echoed in his mind as the prayer ended. Ricciardo's tense nerves slightly relaxed, and he took out the materials for "Misfortune Mage" to begin concocting the potion.
-----------------
Inside "Ruin No. 1" in the suburbs of Backlund, within the dark and majestic secret mausoleum.
The shadow of order that enveloped the entire mausoleum fluctuated, and George III, who was already wearing a black crown, opened his eyes and coldly raised his semi-ethereal right hand.
A certain rule was "distorted," and Prince Grove Augustus of Sonia, draped in a cloak, abruptly appeared. With a grim expression, he bowed and reported, "Your Majesty, the Demoness of Orange guarding Ruin No. 4 was ambushed and suffered corruption from the Abyss. The divination by the Secret Order confirmed that this matter only involved defectors from the Demoness Church and the Life School of Thought."
In the suffocating pressure, Grove seemed to hear his own heartbeat. Ever since the encirclement and suppression of Nast's pirate kingdom, which resulted in the loss of Sealed Artifact "0-36," he had received this treatment every time he met George III, but he could only silently endure it.