The magic cards I made are absolutely flawless!

In this vast church, the knights were all dressed as members of the Tribulations.

This sacred church, which originally belonged to the Church of the Sun, can no longer be seen with a single legitimate priest or paladin.

Perhaps just a few days ago, a brutal massacre occurred.

Now, this place has become the birthplace of a brand new sect, the "Cult of Chaos," and they have even openly displayed their ambition to surpass imperial authority.

Even though everyone knows this place is a den of iniquity, and many are outraged that Menellis is presiding over this sacred ceremony for the empire, no one dares to utter a sound.

The people in the church had complex expressions, but most of them tried to appear reverent or calm as they watched their new emperor.

Princess Olivia, whose eyes were also fixed on the nobles.

Princess Olivia, bathed in holy light, possesses a captivating charm that defies description for ordinary people.

Whether or not Empress Icardinos returns today, Olivia is undoubtedly the protagonist at this moment of the divine right of kings coronation ceremony.

"Remember, you are the Emperor of the Saron Empire and the monarch of the Knights. The supreme Chaos God has blessed you, granting you dignity and power, and eternal inviolability..."

The prayer of Menelius, the Pope of the Chaos Cult, has ended.

The coronation ceremony is about to be completed, and at the moment the crown falls on Olivia's head, she will officially become the new emperor of the Saron Empire.

"You will become emperor at this moment...?"

However, just as Menellis was about to place the crown on Olivia's head, a slight ripple appeared in Menellis's previously calm voice!

The crown mysteriously vanished from Pope Menellis's hands!

"What's going on?!"

"Is that her...?"

The sudden and inexplicable change caused everyone in the church to whisper and murmur cautiously, and to look around cautiously.

Menellis's face turned cold; he knew what this turn of events meant.

Someone is challenging his authority.

No pope who crowns an emperor has ever had the lead usurped during the coronation ceremony.

The only one who would dare to cause trouble at this time is Empress Icardinos.

The church doors seemed to be blown open by a gale, and the Chaos God Cult guards outside all collapsed to the ground in agony.

As the light streamed into the church, Queen Icardinos entered with her legion commander, Mieux.

A disdainful smile played on her lips as she hung the crown on her index finger, spinning it like a ring.

Menellis frowned.

I don't know if it's just my imagination or what.

He felt that Icardinos's demeanor had changed somewhat after they hadn't seen each other for a few days.

Originally... she should have been a cold and aloof empress.

Does it look a bit more playful now?

Or was he being a little too arrogant?

Regardless, Menellis felt disgusted by it all.

"Icardinos, have you stooped so low as to resort to such weak-willed tricks to put on airs?"

Menelius lowered his hand and asked Icardinos in a dignified voice from afar.

He could feel the weight of the crown still in his hands.

The crown was forcibly made invisible by the illusion spell [Illusion Barrier]!

The crown in Icardinos's hand was also created using this illusion.

Those onlookers in the church who couldn't see the [Phantom Barrier] would only think, based on visual appearance, that Menellios was being humiliated by Icardinos stepping on his head.

Menellis found this tactic of using tricks to humiliate and manipulate the enemy's mentality while simultaneously projecting an aura of absolute dominance extremely annoying.

"Would a strong person be so severely humiliated as you?"

Icardinos narrowed one eye and retorted in an even more sarcastic tone.

Menellis felt a surge of anger, but quickly calmed down.

When dealing with someone who uses curses and mental magic, you can't let your emotions get the better of you.

The former Pope Agamemnon of the resurrected church is the best example.

If he had been able to avoid being angered and controlled by Dekan, he wouldn't have been able to let Sheen regain control, and then perish together with Dekan and Sheen.

Menellis looked away and glanced at the abyss mage Pritzker on the church bench.

That sly fellow is despicable.

Given Icardinos and Mie's methods, it's likely that only the Abyss Mage Pritzker could accurately detect their infiltration of the capital.

But Pritzker's silence throughout was clearly an act of feigning ignorance.

Several days earlier, Pritzker had deliberately disappeared without a trace, citing the need to return to the furthest point, and then arrived in the capital just before the coronation ceremony, preventing the new princess and the Chaos Cult from having the opportunity to coerce him into pledging allegiance in advance.

It was precisely because Icardinos knew Pritzker's character so well that she brazenly attacked the church without worrying that Pritzker would dare to trick her.

However, Icardinos also knew that neither the commander of the First Army Corps nor the commander of the Second Army Corps would directly help her at this moment.

These two ninth-tier beings will do their utmost to remain neutral.

One is a cunning old fox, the other is a lazy bum.

"Do you want to start playing here?"

Menellios immediately shielded Princess Olivia behind him and questioned Icardinos, who appeared ready to fight at any moment.

If Icardinos were truly willing to gamble that she could successfully bypass Menelios's attack and kill Olivia, and that the other Imperial forces would listen to her after killing Olivia.

The situation today could become very troublesome.

For the Chaos Cult to achieve a great victory and gain the upper hand by controlling the emperor and commanding the feudal lords, there is one crucial condition: the emperor must be alive.

If Olivia is truly dead, and Icardinos wins her gamble, then the Chaos Cult will instead be besieged by the Empire.

However, Icardinos should also be aware of the consequences.

When pushed to the limit, Menelios will unleash [Chaos Liberation], annihilating the Empire's high-end combat force!

Even if Icardinos might indeed have a trump card prepared to threaten the Chaos God.

But the current situation is different from when Menellios challenged Icardinos one-on-one some time ago.

At this moment, all of the Empire's top combat forces are concentrated here!

If Menellis activates [Chaos Liberation], he will surely be able to wipe them out in one fell swoop.

Having lost nearly half of its high-end combat power, this world, severely weakened, will inevitably have no hope of clearing the [Heaven-Reaching Annihilation Battlefield] within the next few decades!!

Regardless of which outcome results in mutual destruction, the world cannot escape its annihilation!

The only difference is whether Menellios can be wiped out.

No matter which choice she makes, it's a dead end; no matter which choice she makes, she'll become a sinner for all time. So, it's very likely that Icardinos will choose to take Menellis with her and fight to the death!

Both Icardinos and Menelius were ready to go to war.

A great war, which could lead to annihilation at any moment, seemed poised to erupt at any instant.

Even the imperial nobles and powerful figures who were unaware of the inside story and details had their hearts in their throats at this moment!

If the two strongest ninth-tier experts in the world were to fight head-on here, neither of them might survive!

However, just as Icardinos was about to make her move, and everyone felt that all was lost.

"Alright, both of you, please calm down."

A rational voice, seemingly coming from nowhere, drew everyone's attention in a certain direction.

His voice was incredibly gentle, yet every word he spoke carried immense weight!

Even Icardinos and Menelius frowned and turned their attention to the speaker.

An elegant figure was sitting in the last row of the church.

"Who are you?!"

The Persecutors around the man instinctively grabbed heavy weapons and retreated, keeping a watchful eye on him.

Even if an ordinary person cannot discern the strength of this person, just from Icardinos's instantly wary attitude towards this mysterious man, it is clear that this guy is at a level that even a ninth-tier expert has to be wary of!

None of them even noticed when this guy had sat down there.

Just moments ago, when everyone's attention was drawn to the clash between the two strongest beings in the world, this guy appeared here as if from nowhere!

"I am merely an imperial official passing through this area."

Seemingly sensing the gaze, he slowly removed his mask, and his presence seemed to surge instantly, making everyone more clearly aware that he was not an illusion, not a phenomenon, but a real being.

Unlike the tense Imperials and the astonished Chaos Cult members.

He closed his eyes calmly, a faint smile on his lips, his hands casually resting on his lap with his fingers interlaced, as if he were taking a break in the afternoon.

At this moment, even Icardinos and Menellis were on edge.

His calm and collected aura and his commanding attitude made him seem like a reclusive master who far surpassed these two ninth-tier supreme experts!

This confident, relaxed yet absolutely domineering demeanor can even evoke a fleeting fantasy—

Is it possible that if the other two dare to disobey his advice and stop, both Empress Icardinos and Pope Menelios of Chaos will be suppressed by him with a flick of his wrist?

******

Author's Note:

The aftereffects of yesterday's burning out are that my schedule is still in the dark today... I will still try my best to update more, hoping to end the Imperial War as soon as possible so that Dekan can return to the kingdom and reunite with his friends!

349 The Founder of Dekan Arrives

Inside the spacious church, only one person was sitting in the last row of seats.

Sunlight pierced through the church's stained glass, refracting a soft halo that illuminated his surroundings as bright as day.