The Evil God Summoned by the Saintess

Earlier.

When orders were given out, the entire Law Enforcement Knight Order was mobilized.

The warship Dawn’s front cannon began gathering terrifying magical energy.

One after another, light beams with world-ending power bombarded the shield of the Deep Sea Fortress. The shield wavered, as a large amount of magical aftershocks penetrated it, crashing into the fortress, destroying building after building, and large flames arose, bringing thick smoke.

Blake and Melina stood in the path of the giant magic puppet, blocking its way, releasing Wind Domain Scrolls as if they were free, and continuous Purification Skills enveloped the puppet.

Finally, with a deafening roar, the giant magic puppet collapsed.

In the next moment, eerie dark blue flames erupted over the puppet, and within seconds, the entire puppet was burned away.

Blake and Melina descended, frowning as they searched around the large crater.

"It didn’t leave anything behind, how did this giant magic puppet even exist?"

"Maybe it’s mysterious Evil God technology, such a pity. If we could get a sample, maybe we could study it back home."

"Forget it, let’s continue and rescue Hilia!"

"Charge!"

Boom boom boom—!

Explosions whistled by, as with the defeat of the giant magic puppet, the trembling fortress shield shattered.

The Law Enforcement Knight Order’s morale surged, quickly breaking through the fortress gates and rushing inside.

Melina and Blake exchanged glances, ordering the warship Dawn to hold its position in high altitude, and then led the mages who just reported, rushing into the fortress, reaching the final stronghold first.

"Where did Hilia use the teleport?" Melina asked.

The reporting mage pointed to a corner, "Right there, inside."

"Alright, you go join the main forces, leave this to us."

"Yes!"

The two rushed inside the stronghold, forcefully opening the gate and storming in.

The stronghold was silent, devoid of anything.

Not even cultists were present.

"Hilia!"

Melina shouted, her echo reverberating through the empty first floor.

No response.

Melina grew anxious.

Blake said, "Let’s search separately, but don’t dismantle the fortress."

"You should be the one hearing that from me," Melina replied, then immediately charged in one direction.

Much later.

The two emerged from the top of the stronghold, where the Deep Sea Leader often stood.

Their expressions were grim.

"No signs of battle, which is the only good news."

"That’s not necessarily good news; no battle means a significant rank difference."

"..."

After a long silence, Blake sighed.

"We should tell the Holy Master about this, and ask him to investigate."

"Are you crazy? If we tell the Holy Master and can’t find Hilia, neither of us will have a good outcome."

"If we don’t tell and wait for the Holy Master to discover, we won’t even have the chance to face the consequences."

Blake directly contacted the Holy Master, explaining Hilia’s disappearance.

After a moment of silence, the Holy Master responded with a single sentence.

"Prepare to meet your end."

...

Underground.

Hilia faced the Deep Sea Leader on the dais, not daring to move.

She saw the Deep Sea Leader staring at her, with killing intent gradually surfacing in his eyes.

This intent was like a tsunami, making her feel somewhat breathless.

"Your name is well-known, you’ve brought quite a surprise to our Deep Sea."

Hilia remained silent, calling out to Rose in her heart.

Rank three against rank six, the pressure was even greater than a common person facing a Tier Four Mage.

Hilia felt that any move from the Deep Sea Leader would mean her death.

She didn’t regret sneaking in, only regretted not getting the Array’s key to restart it in time.

Nonetheless, she didn’t give up trying to save herself.

The only way to save herself now was to call out to Rose.

Even though Hilia felt that even with Rose’s intervention, there might be no escape from the Leader’s hold.

No matter how brilliant the maneuver, a praying mantis can’t stop the wheels of a car.

Moreover, no matter how much she called, she couldn’t reach Rose.

At this point, Rose was whereabouts unknown, not responding to her prayers.

"It’s over."

Hilia’s heart sank.

The Deep Sea Leader wasn’t concerned with Hilia’s thoughts, leisurely playing with the Divine Format fragment in his hand.

A magic puppet akin to the one outside appeared beside him, bearing eight parts resemblance.

"I didn’t expect you to find your way here; could it be you’re trying to restart the Array?"

A chuckle escaped the Deep Sea Leader’s lips, likely the only cultist speaking normally without a peculiar voice.

"Truly, the person he fancies, even I am intrigued by you."

Hilia knew the ’intrigued’ the Deep Sea Leader mentioned wasn’t any affectionate ’intrigue.’

"I hadn’t intended to do anything to you, yet you’ve delivered yourself to me, I’d be remiss not to act. He says you’re the perfect vessel for godly descent, just as we’re unable to contact our Gods recently."

Beside the Deep Sea Leader, the magic puppet’s chest opened, and he slowly placed the Heart of the Magic Puppet inside.

"How about this, why don’t you become our Sea Successor? Be the great Roster’s ambassador in the mortal realm, become the body for his journey across the earth!"

Hilia breathed deeply, suddenly seeing the Leader drawing near and then shrinking.

She was momentarily confused, realizing it wasn’t the Leader shrinking, but she inexplicably found herself upon the dais, standing where the puppet’s heart was displayed.

Complex and bizarre runes appeared in the vast hall.

These runes made Hilia feel intensely uncomfortable.

She could not move at all.

The young girl was panicked.

She tried to speak but found herself unable to form words.

Gray-black streamers emerged from the eerie runes, gradually converging atop the dais.

The Leader’s voice reached her once more.

"Oh divine gods, this Deep Sea offering you once sought in the Star Spirit Forbidden Land, we present it to you. Please grant us guidance from the Deep Sea!"

A faint and unusual power emerged, within the Deep Sea Leader’s hood, his face lit up with ecstasy.

He could sense its divine oscillation.

Only the closest believers could perceive this oscillation (in reality, it’s a divine contract).

His face showed excitement as he gazed at Hilia upon the dais.

He slowly knelt, with trembling hands, tears streamed from his grotesque, terrifying face—tears of blood.

That strange power grew stronger, slowly bringing forth an oppression.

Yet... the source of the oppression seemed not to be the ’offering’ atop the dais.

The Deep Sea Leader paid this no mind.

He stared at Hilia, his gaze intense.

On the dais, Hilia frowned, bracing to resist the so-called ’Roster’ descent when suddenly she felt a warm current flowing inside, dispersing all discomfort.

It was very pleasant.

The young girl immediately knew where it came from.

"Lord Rose!"

Hilia was overjoyed.

Rose said, "You can now pretend to be the Evil God descending, give him an order."

"Uh?"

Hilia blinked.

"No need to pretend."

Her fear slowly disappeared with the emergence of Rose’s voice.

She looked down at the Deep Sea Leader, putting on an air of authority.

"I... hereby... I have returned to Star Fall, I command you."

The Deep Sea Leader raised his head in excitement.

"I command you, immediately commit suicide, as an offering for my descent."

The Deep Sea Leader froze.