As the Fog of War surged, altars built in the distinct style of the Southern Continent, which had been prepared long ago, were lit up. The surroundings instantly grew dim as segments of Death-laden words from hell and the Underworld collectively chanted the honorific name of the "Death Consul."
Far away in the Southern Continent, guarding one of the nine mausoleums in "Abyss of Ferrying," Azik Eggers used his status as an Angel to respond globally. Using a certain soldier puppet that had received his blessing as a medium, he drew upon the source of the Underworld and opened multiple Underworld Gates in the Amanda Mountains.
Countless Shadows, Wraiths, and other undead creatures from the Spirit World were driven out by the aura of the "Death Consul." Among them were even those at the demigod level. On the battlefield, the uncollected bodies of the Feysac two-headed giants also twitched and climbed back up, becoming part of the undead army.
Further back along the Amantha Defense Line, which was respectively managed by the Church of the Evernight, the Sanguine, MI9, and the East Tucker Family, demigods or quasi-demigods wielding Grade 1 Sealed Artifacts stepped into the Fog of War one after another.
"Calamity Queen" Cohinem watched this scene of full-scale mobilization with cold indifference, as if it had stirred some memories. Silver-white lightning snakes surged behind her, emitting a surging, almost tangible aura of tyrannical destruction before vanishing into the billowing fog.
As a descendant of "Blood Moon Queen" Aurnia and someone who also wished to revitalize the Trunsoest Empire, "New Moon" Jorna looked at Varna, whose aura was becoming increasingly terrifying as the Fog of War expanded. Before departing, she solemnly reminded him:
"Besides being wary of the Church of the God of Combat and the House of Einhorn, you must also be careful of the Demoness Sect. They do not lack Angels or corresponding Grade 0 Sealed Artifacts."
"Especially that Primordial Demoness. Even if she suffered backlash from that vessel for Divine Descent and the Abyss, we cannot rule out the possibility that she might strike to seize the Conqueror characteristic!"
Varna nodded slightly without commitment and said no more. Only after Jorna entered the fog to become a member of his war legion did he turn his head to look at the Serene Cathedral behind him.
The dim and gloomy concealment did not hinder his gaze. Deep within the cathedral, beneath the statue of the Goddess, stood a beautiful lady dressed in classical robes and wearing a black hood. Her face was expressionless, and her eyes were pitch-black but lacked spirituality.
This was "0-17" of the Backlund diocese, the former "Mother of the Sky," and now the vessel for the Evernight Goddess's Divine Descent. She had already been quietly reassigned back to the Holy Cathedral!
Feeling a bit more at ease, Varna whispered the honorific name of the "Lord of Order" and received a response. He no longer hesitated and took a step forward. His complete Mythical Creature form was revealed within the Fog of War, and near-invisible deep purple flames spread across his blood-stained black armor, igniting the fighting spirit he had accumulated until now.
With an Angel as the commander and demigods as generals, the iron-blooded aura piercing the sky was trembling.
Numerous metal soldier puppets, far exceeding the Feysac two-headed giant legion in both size and aura, led a tide-like surge of undead creatures over the Amanda Mountains, grandly rushing toward Feysac's Minsk Mountains.
Deep within the Serene Cathedral, a night-like veil of starlight was draped over the towering humanoid statue. It was quiet and peaceful, seemingly completely unaffected by the iron-blooded aura outside that was nearly condensing into substance.
Beside "0-17," the deep darkness suddenly rippled. Wisps of dark gold mist gradually seeped out from the gaps in order, transforming into an ethereal phantom of Aaron.
Meeting those eyes that were no longer hollow, Aaron bowed slightly to show respect before gazing at the distant battlefield, or perhaps looking through them toward the Astral World:
"After George III's fall, Badheil will not give me any more time to completely digest the remaining Hand of Order characteristic. To ensure a smooth advancement, I must stabilize the situation in Loen and ensure the stability of the embryonic Divine Kingdom that has preliminarily merged with Loen."
"Therefore, feigning weakness to lure the enemy deep into our territory does not serve my interests. Rather than letting them come to our door, it is better for us to take the initiative. Continuous victories are the only way to accelerate the digestion of the 'Conqueror' potion."
The beautiful face and pitch-black eyes of "0-17" were cast in shadow, as if falling into a deep, silent darkness. Her soothing and peaceful voice echoed melodiously:
"The tides of the era will branch into many streams, but they will eventually converge into the One!"
Aaron nodded. He could feel the repulsion from the Nation of Disorder toward the vessel for Divine Descent beside him—a repulsion stemming from the different Sefirah auras that was far stronger than when they had intercepted a tributary of the River of Eternal darkness together in Calderon.
The God of Combat might think this was a change brought about by the Evernight Goddess further mastering the Death Uniqueness, but Aaron knew very well that this originated from the gift given by that "Underworld Daoist" at the time.
"Underworld Daoist..." Aaron lowered his gaze and did not inquire further. He secretly pondered how to use the status of the Nation of Disorder and the anomaly of the Door Pathway's apotheosis ritual triggered by Bethel Abraham's return to reality to penetrate some of his power into the Western Continent. On the surface, he continued to speak calmly:
"Amon has already gathered all the Beyonder materials. Zaratul has likely completely turned to the Eternal Blazing Sun for protection. If the war between the gods becomes irreversible, we cannot rule out the possibility that the proud Sun will break the hidden world imprisoning Antigonus."
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The Southern Hornacis Mountains, where Loen and Feysac share a border, were deathly silent. The distant sky was divided by golden and shadowy green colors, clearly demarcated from each other.
The part of the Hornacis Mountains belonging to Loen's territory had already been tainted by a portion of the "Order" authority triggered by the Nation of Disorder. All Beyonder abilities in the Sun domain were weakened or even stripped away for a short time.
Having successfully escaped under the cover of the historical projection of Antigonus summoned by Zaratul, the patron angel Saint Viève gazed coldly at the fortress spanning the Hornacis Mountains in the distance. Even though she had returned to her peak through holy purification, she did not attempt to step into that area again.
As a high-level entity who had lived through the Four Emperors War, she was no stranger to the current scene, except that back then, it was the Angels of the Solomon Empire who faced such things.
"Tsk tsk tsk, looks like he learned a lesson from old Zaratul. A cowardly Seer..."
With his aura strengthened once again under the blessing of authority, the "Red Angel" Medici glanced at the historical projection of Antigonus beside him and curled his lip in mockery. Then, he snapped his fingers nonchalantly, and the pale feathers growing from various parts of his blood-stained black armor immediately ignited with purple fire and turned to ash.
Looking past the feathered serpent manifested from the pale characteristic, Medici touched the increasingly vivid flag mark on his brow and instinctively looked into the distance. The sacrifice to the source of war allowed him to feel the aura of war and calamity gathering on the other end of the continent.
The curve of his lips tightened, and Medici raised his hand to press down on the mouths on both cheeks that wanted to split open. He gave an unintelligible light snort:
"I am the Master of Turmoil and Strife..."