The crows in the sky obscure the sun, transforming into rolling clouds, escorting several figures toward the south.

"Have those notorious heartless bastards from the 'Gospel Church' been cursed? Their crying and whining are disgusting; at the crucial moment, they dropped the ball.

The 'Gospel Church' under the Main God directly closed its doors, leaving our 'Mourning Church' to take the stage. Do I really need to personally step in?" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Although Ye He'er gained confidence for pressure on the Galliot Duchy with the support from the Ancient God in terms of power, resources, knowledge, and intelligence, she was greatly disappointed by the "Gospel Church," which was supposed to assist.

Instinctively, she sensed that these guys were definitely in some trouble. It's utterly unimaginable that even a demigod could not find the root of this "illness."

"Respected lady, according to the intelligence from the 'Wealth Church,' at least two legendary battleships of the Galliot Duchy have already left the Izana Continent, and there are quite a few high-tier transcendents.

Though our actions are merely probing and harassing, if it's confirmed that the opponent allocates military forces to seize distant territories, we'll seize the opportunity to take over this land.

After all, now that we have the Main God level support from the Nimansite People, we no longer need to worry about troubles from the True God Church."

The Giant Falcon God Flanida transformed into a shrewd young man with a hooked eagle's nose wielding an obsidian long spear, advising standing by Ye He'er.

Empty signals make real attacks, and real signals make feigned attacks; the principles are interlinked.

If internal defense forces in the duchy are substantial, then it's a genuine probe or feigned attack. If the defense is weak, it will immediately switch from feigned to real, launching a massive invasion.

On the other side, a giant over three meters tall with fierce tiger stripes on his cheeks nodded in agreement. This was none other than the "Fierce Tiger Spirit" Uwakala, who had just lost the Six Great Lakes region two years ago.

Before.

After nearly exterminating the entire Iroquois clan, he fell from the throne of Tier 4 Totem God. Only after Ye He'er allied with the "Angel of Disease," receiving faith benefits, did she help him return to Tier 4.

However, compared to before, the "Fierce Tiger Spirit" had weakened dramatically, now only slightly stronger than a Tier 3 Totem God in battle.

Ye He'er suddenly looked south, matching thoughts with her loyal subordinates:

"The reconnaissance network established by witchcraft is indeed formidable, arriving so swiftly!"

Next second.

Whiz! Whiz! Whiz! Whiz!...

Amongst the dazzling flowing light engulfed in gold, scattering the atmosphere and pushing through white clouds, a golden-blue sun rushed from the south with unprecedented momentum.

That was the [Jade Coronet], guarded by hundreds of Griffin Air Knights.

Seeing them, the crow-black clouds that blanketed the sky slowly paused in mid-air.

Due to timing issues, the "Faceless Man" dispatched south had temporarily low status, unable to detect this intelligence in advance. Despite participating in destabilizing the entire southern continent, Lady Crow had also been tasked with constraining the duchy.

But after Aiven led the duchy's core members away, the [Mind Network] had started to operate at full capacity, monitored in turn by Bess and the many avatars of Midorra, cautiously watching for any sudden developments.

Moreover, since the 'Mourning Church' merely intended to probe, there was no swift advance, unsurprisingly blocked north of the deserted Saratoga Springs.

Olivia, adorned with a dazzling Platinum Crown and dressed in a luxurious court gown, stood on the deck of the [Jade Coronet], coldly gazing at Ye He'er, who stopped in the air opposite, and assertively spoke:

"Lady Crow, if you turn back now, we can treat it as if nothing happened.

We know who you've allied with, but the divine game among the gods is beyond the participation or even imagination of an Aboriginal Totem God. I urge you to take care of your affairs and not bring disaster upon yourself!"

Though Olivia's words were quite blunt, Lady Crow didn't seem slightly angry, as if she saw through the hidden "fierce but weak" beneath her firmness.

Glancing at Olivia, Angie, and an unfamiliar Three-no Girl standing together on the deck, her previously slightly vigilant heart relaxed by more than half:

"Hee hee hee, if Duke Galliot were here, it might be a different story, but the Duchess, tsk tsk... the 'Wealth Church's intelligence indeed isn't wrong; a mere legendary battleship won't stop me."

The two who were at Tier 2 power during the last meeting no longer concerned her much.

"So there's no room for negotiation?"

Olivia lightly stomped, enchanting her with dazzling extraordinary spiritual light, switching her luxurious court gown to the newly crafted [Gemstone Armament] after advancing to Tier 3.

Instead of choosing a style like a nymph's evening gown, she opted for a tight battle armor suitable for both long and close combat.

The sparkling tight battle armor outlined the girl's exquisite curves, her slender waist, and straight, long legs. Her elegant Gemstone High Heels, with wing-shaped gemstone clusters on the delicate ankle's outer side.

One leg's stocking was vermilion, while the other was blue-white, adorned with hexagonal light patterns transitioning blue-purple, rich in a techy feel. The main material is "Tourmaline" with heat, static, and piezoelectric effects, perfectly matching the body's [Light Spirit Circuit].

A sapphire harness hung on her perfect down to a matte chest piece gradually deepened to dark purple, outlining the girl's graceful body lines.

A magnificent gemstone galaxy floated behind, as if the night sky.

[Gem Armament: Starry Dream]

On one side, Angie was still wearing a simple white dress, her hand loosely holding [Golden Holy Spear·Lance], which suddenly transformed into a stream of golden light that merged into her body, only to reappear in her hand with a single breath.

During this process, the girl's body grew taller, and pairs of pure white wings sprouted from her ankles, waist, and back, with every muscle, bone, and hair transforming into the most perfect, flawless form.

This form represents the strongest state that a biological entity in this world can reach without cultivation, under the same level.

One couldn't help but wonder, even if the Creator manifested, it would probably be just like this.

[Magic-like Technique: Perfect Creatures]

The silent "Three-no Girl" Baihe wordlessly drew out the sword at her waist.

Whinny!

Two Fiery Celestial Horses raised their golden hooves and abruptly charged out from [Jade Coronet], together stirring up a monstrous firestorm, ready to burn the chattering clouds in the sky to nothing.

Three streaks of flowing light followed closely behind.

Most Griffin Knights, composed of [Gunmen] and [Flesh Puppets], aimed their "Georgia Rifles" at the distant sky, fiercely pulling the triggers.

Bam! Bam! Bam!...

Olivia, however, had no qualms about fighting; she held more than one trump card and might even give "Lady Crow" Ye He'er a big surprise, possibly adding one more to the prison of shackles!

...

At the same time in the Andaman Strait, high-tier transcendents were already engaging.

The Great Wizards from "Flame Dragon Curse Seal," "Hurricane's Nest," and "Yellow Sand Sect," all followed the lead of Anduin, the head of the Empire's Imperial Consultant Team from the Curse School.

Yet, no one could have thought that among all present, the one who most wished for the immediate downfall of Hilus was none other than this right-hand man of Philip II.

Even more so than the Tulip People.

However, the school's [Ultimate Creation: Black Orlov] and the head "Death Messenger's" national curse were not yet complete, at least not until the battlefields at "Tulip Islands" and "Lowland Republic" were decided.

So, for now, Anduin would still loyally serve the Hilus Empire as a faithful minister.

If at this critical moment, Philip II blacklisted the Curse School from the Empire's framework and severed the school's medium to operate the [Golden Olive Triple Crown], that would indeed be a real setback.

"I'll handle the 'Rose Sword Saint' with the 'Titled Sacred Artifact', leave the rest to you guys."

Watching the crimson sword light rushing forward, Anduin painfully took out a small, smooth, black "Wooden Man" that seemed very old.

He held it high above his head, directing the five black holes on the face towards Ilvendi.

Resp——

Upon the utterance of a mysterious curse, the Wooden Man suddenly shattered into oblivion.

The "Rose Sword Saint" abruptly paused, raising his head to look in Anduin's direction, sensing keenly that due to some inexplicable connection, he was now firmly linked to the other party.

This wasn't an ordinary curse technique that could be easily cut through with a single sword by a Titled Knight; this was [Witchcraft: Breath of Life].

The focus wasn't on the witchcraft, but on that seemingly antique [Wooden Man].

Created by the previous generation of Crowned Wizard from the school using the power of the Mysterious Source, it allowed the Curse School's witchcraft to affect Tier 4 Transcendents, limited to non-aggressive witchcraft. This was the last one in existence, handed solemnly by the "Death Messenger" to him.

One might say, regardless of the various precious materials used in constructing the [Sea Monarchy], the massive loss of school elites during the religious wars, various valuable items... and more, the Curse School has bet everything.

If this plan doesn't allow the school to produce another Crowned Wizard, they'd even lose their shirt.

Anduin, despite the pain causing his face to twitch slightly, still feigned calmness, smilingly suggesting to Ilvendi:

"'Rose Sword Saint,' within the next hour, our lives will be firmly bound together, any harm will synchronize back to each other.

I don't want to die, and presumably, neither do you. Why not be a spectator for this war, then?"

Seeing this, the other three instantly breathed a sigh of relief and rushed toward those behind Ilvendi.

Though it was three against four, at least... we won't lose!