The neck of the Warrior Knight wasn’t severed.

Instead, a sharp and sturdy spearhead pierced straight through the middle, breaking the remaining flesh on the sides with the force of the thrust, causing the head to fall.

This is the efficiency of Ongstein the Dragon Hunter when facing a Warrior Knight.

This Legendary Great Knight, renowned since the Ancient Dragon War, engaged in only a moment’s tussle with the Warrior Knight.

After a moment, he discerned the flaw and delivered a fatal strike.

The sound of Ongstein’s boots echoed slowly from the corner of the wall.

He lifted the Dragon Hunting Spear at an angle, with blood still dripping from its tip.

Beneath the golden lion helmet, his gaze was as cold as this snowy night.

A breath of warmth wafted from the mouthpiece of the golden lion helmet.

Ongstein’s breathing was steady, indicating he was neither tired nor impatient.

Shalivan, wielding dual swords, cautiously retreated.

A warrior like Ongstein, who remained unperturbed due to his vast battle experience, was the kind Shalivan found most challenging.

Yet now, even Ongstein wasn’t the most threatening figure to him in this city.

The mountain behind Yanorlund was collapsed by a single strike!

Such an attack, capable of altering the geological landscape, caused a minor earthquake in Ilyushil even under the control of the Nameless King.

Despite his deep thoughts, even Shalivan couldn’t help but be shocked by the disturbance.

After all, he was too young, although acclaimed as the youngest and most accomplished mage, he was ultimately born into a world in decline.

He hadn’t witnessed the heroes and legendary figures active during the era of blooming flames and what kind of power they wielded.

Even Elderidge, who colluded with him, was nothing but a ’remnant’ awakened after being burned.

Many present were similar to him, but Ongstein was different.

He had fought alongside King Gwyn under the projection of Sunshine Spear against the Ancient Dragons.

"So, is this where you stop, rebel?"

A cold interrogation echoed beneath the lion helmet.

Ongstein already had the Dragon Hunting Spear poised at his waist, its tip aimed directly at Shalivan across from him.

This posture was terrifying.

Because just moments ago, Ongstein struck with this charging stance less than half a second in front of Shalivan.

He swiftly dispatched a beast modified by holy office.

The Dragon Hunting Spear pierced through flesh effortlessly, and then the golden thunder erupted from the spear instantly destroyed the creature’s biological activity.

Indeed, as Shalivan widened his eyes at Ongstein’s pose.

"Clang~!"

A crisp sound of metal collision rang out.

The Sin Greatsword in Shalivan’s hand barely managed to lift up, struggling to slightly deflect Ongstein’s swift thrust beyond reaction.

The spearhead of the Dragon Hunting Spear brushed past Shalivan’s shoulder, taking away a fist-sized chunk of flesh and bone.

That should have been a part of Shalivan’s shoulder bone.

But after the thrust, Ongstein abruptly withdrew, and the lion helmet surveyed around.

The sensation from the spearhead felt wrong.

Although Shalivan was an outstanding mage, the difference in sensation between striking an illusory body and real flesh allowed Ongstein to immediately discern.

Sure enough, Shalivan, whose shoulder was lifted by the spear blade, soon dissipated like mist.

Now alone, the Dark Moon Pope could only maintain his phantom body while weaving through building corners, attempting to escape.

Along the way, he saw the defeat of his subordinates.

Those unknown soul bodies were clearing out rebels alongside the Silver Knights.

The Silver Knights rigidly guarded the now meaningless mansion, but the soul bodies could lure equally rigid enemies towards them.

Shalivan could only watch helplessly as his creations were eliminated one by one.

Eliminated by people he usually didn’t spare a glance at.

What sort of minor characters are these supposed to be?

Apprentices wearing yellow researcher hats, knights bristling with spikes, scimitar warriors who knew a bit of magic, female knights from the Land of Dusk...

A chaotic assortment, merely passable in combat strength.

Shalivan was confident he could deal with any one of them within minutes, without disrupting his jewelry.

Yet now, he had become a stray dog.

Even while passing these minor characters, he had to suppress his footsteps and breathing, maintaining his illusion magic.

The disparity between status and circumstance made Shalivan feel like his insides were burning.

What on earth is going on?!

Why are these figures suddenly popping up from the Divine Race?!

With a mind disturbed by ambition, he could normally devise meticulous and bold strategies, but after setbacks, it became difficult to stay calm.

Shalivan’s eyes darted around, seeking a safe escape route.

But upon a glance back to reality, his eyes suddenly lit up.

In the midst of Silver Knights stood a figure in a white gauze dress, naive and cold.

Princess You’Er Xia!

His eyes darted around, confirming a scene of chaos all around him, and with no one noticing him, Shalivan quietly changed his direction.

But he had only taken two steps...

"Bang!"

A supersonic bullet blasted directly on his next foothold!

Shalivan’s already tense body twitched instinctively, and his magic of illusion failed as a result.

"Hmm?"

Leonard reacted first, putting away his magic staff that he was about to use, and drew the crescent curved sword from his waist.

Then came a series of ’swoosh’ sounds of swords being drawn, as the Silver Knights around Princess You’Er Xia reacted.

The lavishly dressed Dark Moon Pope suddenly appeared surrounded by the group.

Only then did Shalivan have time to look towards the direction from which the bullet was fired.

It was the rooftop of an Ilyushil building, with the brick surface still scorched and steaming from dragon fire.

And a tall steed, carrying two people and a cat, appeared on top of it.

The elegant and noble horse raised its head, and the knight on horseback had just lowered his left hand.

"Nice to meet you, Your Eminence."

Shalivan looked up at the knight above.

After a long while, he spoke his first words.

"Indeed, we have never met. You have not appeared in Ilyushil, otherwise I would surely remember."

"Strange." Lann smiled amicably from atop the horse, without responding to Shalivan’s question.

"Would the Pope not first greet the deity he worships?"

However, beneath the papal crown, Shalivan’s cold eyes did not look towards Gwendolin beside Lann.

"I only care about who disrupted my plan, but it surely wasn’t him. Because he is gullible, weak, and foolish. Despite being called God King, he is nothing more."

The Dark Moon Pope scanned around, knowing that these suddenly appearing soul bodies must have been summoned for a reason.

Though the death of a soul body does not cause the physical body to die, the damage is substantial, and if deaths occur consecutively in a short period, the physical body is likely doomed as well.

These soul bodies must have been gathered by someone.

In this chaotic and declining world, summoning a group of warriors is no easy feat.

Moreover, there is the massive dragon, the legendary great knights of the Divine Era, and descendants without names among the Divine Race!

If there were no mastermind weaving these forces together, why would they appear in Ilyushil at such a pivotal moment and shatter his plans?!

For him to unite Elderidge and the bishops within the Profound Church alone took time and effort dating back a hundred years!

How could this be?

Just by the laughable melancholy of the Dark Moon God over ancient times’ portraits?!

Beside him, Princess You’Er Xia furrowed her brow despite her perpetually expressionless face at Shalivan’s blatant contempt for her brother.

Yet, the esteemed and dignified Shadow Sun did not display much emotion.

He propped himself up, his pale hand reaching towards Shalivan.

"No more words... I will not spare you! You enemy of the gods!"

"Pardon my frankness, I do not need the forgiveness of such a weakling,"

Shalivan replied coldly, leaving the Dark Moon God nearly coughing up blood.

He was already in poor condition.

The renegade Pope raised his dual swords again, his towering figure surveying the enemies around him.

The mighty long sword ignited with the flame of sin, and the sword of judgment glowed with deep magical radiance.

Initially, Lann thought that the Pope, renowned as a genius mage, wielded swords that seemed fierce but were mere catalysts for spells.

He expected a barrage of powerful magic attacks.

But unexpectedly...

"Whhooo!"

The dual swords spun into a wheel of fire and magic around Shalivan!

This was not magic, and the swords were not mere catalysts! They were genuine weapons!

The gigantic longswords, a load just to bear for most, were spun like wheels by Shalivan, one in each hand!

Even amidst such drastic changes in balance during movement, his steps remained stable and precise, showing profound mastery of swordsmanship.

Among those encircling him, Leonard was the first to be swung away by Shalivan’s powerful strike!

If it weren’t for the crescent curved sword’s quick block and his soul power not being drained, he might have been cleaved in two!

Hazel was completely taken aback by the sudden shift from the enemy, and it was Kirk who pulled her aside, preventing her from being caught in the whirlwind slash.

With Shalivan spinning two swords, his strides were steady yet wide.

In just one turn, he advanced beneath the building where Lann stood.

His exceptional height combined with the length of the mighty longsword allowed him to threaten the demon hunter from below.

Yet the demon hunter seemed oblivious to the formidable ’mage’ wielding dual swords right up beside him.

He patted the Rong Buqiu sitting obediently atop the Qilin’s head, pointing in a direction.