Chapter 847: Loren's Resurrection Match (Part 2)

Chapter 847: Loren's Resurrection Match (Part 2)

Within the mansion, the atmosphere among the Silver Moon Reform Society members was even more somber than he had imagined.

"Frei, it seems our only option now is to retreat to the northern allied nations. We'll bide our time, find an opportunity, and launch a counterattack. Do you still want to stay in the Crethia Empire?"

Lance looked at Frei, informing him of the group's final decision.

He knew that Frei's usual style was one of stealth and mobility, and only when Frei disappeared from the map would he be at his strongest.

Given Frei's personality, even if it was dangerous, he would probably still want to stay in enemy territory.

"Is there no hope at all?" Frei asked.

He trusted Lance's judgment, so he only asked about the outcome, not the process.

"If we go all out now, we'll likely be wiped out. We can't afford to lose everyone here, or the Southern Continent will truly be without hope." Lance spoke with determination as he looked at Frei and Alyx.

"We'll take Alyx back to the northern kingdom. One day, she will return with the rightful claim to power and purge the traitor Hestinos, reclaiming the Crethia Empire." He now fully understood the importance of Alyx.

The group remained silent, expressing their agreement with Lance's decision through their stillness.

They all felt a sense of reluctance in their hearts.

But the clear reality told them that they had no choice but to leave.

Sometimes, patience and endurance were necessary, and every retreat was for the sake of a future victory.

Fleeing didn't always mean weakness; it could also mean having the courage to face truly daunting challenges.

However, no one knew how many years of war and suffering this retreat would bring.

They had successfully infiltrated so many top-tier forces into the heart of the empire, in Brillada. If they withdrew now, they might never find such an opportunity again.

"Please wait a moment. I'll contact Number Four. He might be able to help us." Alyx spoke with a bitter expression.

She was grateful that everyone was still willing to protect her, a hot potato, saving her from danger, and even taking her to the northern kingdom. But leaving her homeland was equally difficult for her.

Everyone turned to look at Alyx.

"Number Four, is it Simonroe?" Lance remembered what Nera Secretary had said that night—Number Four was the closest to outside support among the Silver Moon Reform Society members. Usually, no matter how big the problem, he would stay uninvolved unless they were truly in dire straits. Only then might he step in as a member of the Society.

Seeing Alyx's expression, even she knew at this moment that it would be difficult to change the situation alone, so she could only make a final attempt.

Number Four must be someone of high status and power for Alyx to see a glimmer of hope in him.

"I'll contact him first. Talia, open the permissions for me." Alyx said to Talia, one of the founders of the Silver Moon Reform Society.

Alyx, Talia, Abigail, and Barton, the members with the lowest numbers, were essentially the founding members of the organization.

"No problem." Talia promptly took out her Sacred Communication Program and granted permissions to Number Five.

Only Number One had the authority to grant permissions for private communication among the members. Otherwise, only Numbers One and Two could communicate with each other.

Princess Alyx held her Sacred Communication Program and immediately contacted Number Four of the Silver Moon Reform Society.

"Everyone thinks he acts without thinking, but he's actually my lucky star. He always helps me. Sometimes he's genuinely messing around, and sometimes it's intentional. Even if he makes confusing moves at critical moments, no one will suspect him of having ulterior motives." Alyx spoke without much hope.

It wasn't that Number Four was strong enough to turn the tide, but at this moment, she had to believe in some superstition. In her eyes, this person had always been unusually powerful.

The moment of waiting for the connection felt like everyone's heartbeats.

Hearing Alyx's description, Number Four seemed to be a top-tier troublemaker.

Fortunately, they didn't have to wait long. Within two seconds, the call connected, as if Number Four had been waiting for Alyx's call for over a month.

"It's me. I successfully escaped from the palace." Alyx reported her safety to the other party.

"That's great. As long as you're safe, I've been trying to find you, but you've disappeared," a male voice sighed with relief through the Sacred Communication Magic.

"Julius, can you help us? I'll explain the situation later, but you must not trust Hestinos. Everything tonight was orchestrated by him." Alyx pleaded with the other party.

Because of their mutual trust, she believed he would trust her first.

The group in the mansion on the second floor of the Brillada Opera House was startled to hear Alyx call Number Four by name.

"Julius?"

"The Red Tourmaline Seat, the Tenth Archon?"

"One of the War Gods is also on our side?"

The people on the sofa looked at each other in surprise.

Violet, the Sixth Archon, could only be considered a temporary external ally, agreeing to help them in the battle against the vampires but not fully going against her position as a War God. Now, Alyx was telling them that one of the War Gods was a core member of the Silver Moon Reform Society.

But upon reflection, it made sense. Number Four was the only member who hadn't been in Brillada over a month ago, and Julius indeed hadn't returned to the capital at that time.

"So that day..."

Talia was stunned, and she could now understand why, on the night of the Moon Goddess Festival, Lance had carried her in her cat form to the Main Temple to meet Violet, and the Tenth Archon Julius had arrived at Violet's office and started arguing with her.

She had heard a male voice, passionate and angry, coming from the door of Violet's Priestess Hall, shouting, "Violet! It's all your fault!" Outside the door, she had also heard the sound of someone slamming their fist on the table.

Violet's voice, rarely tinged with anger, was mostly filled with helplessness.

She told Julius that as the High Priestess, she couldn't make the impulsive choices he did and that he shouldn't blame others for everything.

Violet was also stunned by the sudden scolding.

In the end, Julius had said, "Fine, you're right. Talking to you is a waste of my time," and stormed out, telling Violet, "The empire is in this state because of indecisive people like you, always worrying about unnecessary things!"

Recalling these conversations now.

Talia slapped herself twice, regretting that Julius would come to regret it.

Most likely, it was because Violetta was dispatched to Botswana Province, which indirectly led to the vampires successfully imprisoning Alexandria. Upon returning to Brillada, the Tenth Archangel Julius discovered he couldn't contact Alexandria, and his anger knew no bounds. He got into an argument with Violetta.

"Yes, Julius is the trusted insider I assigned to the Silver Moon Reformation Society's fourth Sacred Communication Magic card."

Alexandria confirmed this to everyone.

The fourth Communication Magic card created by Abigail was given to Julius as soon as Alexandria obtained it. Julius, this powerful companion, was her initial source of strength to resist the vampires in the Crethia Empire.

"Even if I help you from the inside, there's little hope of stopping Hestinos' coronation."

Julius thought for a while and spoke to the members of the Silver Moon Reformation Society.

Although he hadn't met them in person, he wasn't sure about the identities of the other members, but through group communication, he had become familiar with them.

"Has Hestinos decided to become the emperor of the empire?"

Abigail exclaimed in surprise.

"Hestinos' coronation ceremony is likely to be held in three days, and we aim to complete it as soon as possible. This is the result of our discussions among the Archangels. He initially declined but eventually agreed. Now, hearing what you've said, Alexandria, I believe it's all an act."

Julius had returned to his residence, and after the night's turmoil, he was also quite exhausted. The only certainty was that they were communicating through the encrypted Sacred Communication Magic with the Silver Moon Reformation Society.

"As for your request for me to help stop him, there's basically no hope. His recovery speed is incredibly fast, and he's beyond the level we can harm. On the day of the coronation, each of us Archangels will protect him. Right now, apart from me, the other Archangels firmly believe in Hestinos."

Julius shared the internal information of the Divine Lineage Hall with them.

Everyone's hearts seemed to be struck by a falling rock, leaving them speechless.

"I can give you some information regarding the Seros Empire's Sacred Sword of the Spirits."

Julius continued.

When Hestinos was being treated, the Archangels surrounding him finally had the opportunity to witness the full glory of the Sacred Sword and its true attributes.

Julius conveyed his assessment results to the group at the Brillada Opera House base through the Sacred Communication Program.

【Sacred Sword of the Seros Empire's Spirits】

【Category: Archmage's Artifact】

【Grade: Red Legend】

【Attribute: Enhancement/Counter】

【Class: 8】

【Effect: Only descendants of the Seros Empire's royal family can use it. Summons the spirits of the Seros Empire to significantly enhance the user's basic attributes. When attacking an opponent with a lower Imperial Rank, the spirits of the Seros Empire will gain a significant advantage and receive a special attack bonus. Against creatures that worship evil deities, the sword grants an additional suppression and special attack bonus.】

【Note: Forged with the blood of the empire's shield, the dawn's gate opens with the soul. The spirits of the Seros Empire live forever.】

Looking at the translucent pink Communication Card in Alexandria's hand, where the text glowed, the others' expressions became more disheartened.

"The meaning of this Imperial Rank is that the damage dealt to citizens is the highest, slightly reduced against barons, further reduced against viscounts, and the special attack bonus is still present but lower when fighting dukes."

Alexandria was the one who resonated with the Sacred Sword of the Seros Empire's Spirits, an Imperial Guardian Artifact. The spirits of her ancestors could protect her from evil spirits, and correspondingly, she could sense the presence of evil creatures that ordinary people couldn't detect.

After accidentally touching the sword of Saint Baldor, she inadvertently saw many blood-colored evil shadows near the palace and gradually became aware of the fate of the Crethia Empire resting on her shoulders.

Even Barton, the former head of the Imperial Guards, rarely had the opportunity to see the sword of Saint Baldor up close, let alone appraise it. Historically, there were no detailed records about this sword.

Not only did it grant blessings to its wielder, but it also significantly enhanced them. During the Holy War era, an ancient emperor at the peak of the Eighth Rank wielded it and managed to hold his ground against a Ninth Rank great demon.

Now, they finally understood the true effects of this sword.

"No wonder this sword can resist evil spirits."

Barton muttered.

This Red Legend sword was purely powerful, providing a significant enhancement to its wielder. It had a secondary special attack bonus against citizens and a third effect against evil creatures.

The third ancestor, Lachar, had essentially bestowed all three blessings of this divine sword.

"Damn, if he fights me, won't I be instantly defeated?"

Tolledo discovered the danger of the sword after seeing its true information.

"Goddess of Fate, I am your devout follower."

Tolledo hastily prayed as if clinging to the feet of the Goddess of Fate.

"Sigh."

Talia shook her head.

Even in this dire situation, Tolledo's mental state was commendable.

She picked up a piece of flower-shaped pastry and put it in her mouth.

At this moment, only the feeling of fullness could bring her some peace of mind.

"Is there really no hope?"

Sigrid spoke with a hint of frustration. Her fists clenched with anger, but she soon relaxed them, deflating like a punctured balloon.

She had experienced all kinds of desperate situations, but she had never felt so hopeless before the battle even began.

Indeed, they had lost their fighting spirit and energy.

Moreover, she trusted Lance's judgment. If Lance said they could fight, she would fight to the death. But if Lance said they couldn't, she would escape with him, even if she still wanted to fight.

"Mr. Julius, we will escort Lady Alexandria to the allied nations in the north. One day, we will return, and at that time, we ask for your continued assistance. We entrust the dangerous task of hiding to you."

After a long silence, Lance finally made the decision to accept defeat.

Hearing Lance's voice, everyone's hearts sank completely.

Despite the challenging battle against the Third Founder, Lashiel, the victory over Blood Moon City was a close call.

Hestinos had been too patient and restrained.

Everyone had already given their all.

But no one anticipated this turn of events.

"I know."

Julius had always been a staunch patriot.

"But since you have connections with the Allied Nations... Do you know that Loren is still alive?"

Julius didn't hang up the communication and instead turned to address them.

Having just heard the mention of taking Alexia to the Allied Nations in the north, he realized that relying on the Allied Nations' strength would be crucial for their victory.

"?"

Lance looked up in surprise and took a step forward to receive Alexia's Sacred Communication Magic.

"Wait, what did you say?"

"Mr. Julius, please explain in detail."

He asked in rapid succession, unable to hide his excitement.

"Due to Loren's peculiar trait of growing stronger with each battle, the Third Archangel, Twisted Carnelian Gat, wasn't confident in a guaranteed victory. Gat used his Epic Sealing Artifact, the Illusory Realm, to seal the weakened Loren, who is now held captive in the Divine Lineage Hall at the very bottom."

Although Julius didn't know why the person on the other end of the communication was so excited, he could guess that they indeed had a significant connection with the Allied Nations, and they might even be someone who highly valued High Priest Loren.

The original plan was to wait until the war's intensity decreased, allowing the Archangels to spare some effort, and then open the Illusory Realm to deal with Loren. That's why they had been dragging it out until now.

Now, with Hestinos' promotion to the Ninth Rank, once he assumes the throne and takes control of the Crethia Empire, the next step would likely be to eliminate Loren, the final hidden threat.

"Ha... Ha..."

Lance took a step back in disbelief, holding the communication magic card, and sat down on the sofa. It was as if the tense nerves he had been holding finally relaxed a little at this moment.

He laughed with mixed emotions.

High Priest Loren was still alive.

The man who wanted to protect everything, the brave divine priest who fought against three Archangels, his clumsiness was nothing more than ordinary human nature.

But fantasies could turn into miracles.

The Loren he believed in was indeed the strongest, as none of the three Archangels could kill him!!

"If the Allied Nations want to save Loren, they must act quickly, and I will try to help as much as possible."

Julius spoke to the group on the other end of the communication.

Gat, who even felt apprehensive, was no ordinary powerhouse. High Priest Loren might possess a talent on par with Hestinos.

It was said that Loren had been doing good deeds in the north and south, accumulating a significant amount of Faith Power. If Loren could be rescued, there might come a day when he truly ascends to the Ninth Rank, the Divine Realm, through the path of a true hero, becoming the key to defeating Hestinos.

"..."

Lance held the Sacred Communication Magic, his emerald eyes showing a deep daze that couldn't be shaken off.

His eyes gradually became clear, sparkling with excitement and redemption.

"So, before we leave, we'll find a way to rescue Loren amidst the chaos?"

Mikaya, the suspected daughter-in-law and suspected sister-in-law of Bishop Tolledo, took over the conversation when Lance didn't speak.

He was grateful to Lance for rescuing him; they could sort out their relationship later. But saving Loren couldn't wait.

Loren was also his best friend, and perhaps it was his turn to save Loren this time.

The fact that Loren was imprisoned was likely the most top-secret information known only to the Twelve Archangels.

For the Twelve Archangels, Loren had always been a particularly formidable force.

Violet didn't know they were from the Allied Nations, so there was no reason for them to proactively reveal this information related to the Empire's highest security.

Fortunately, at this critical juncture, they had the genuine Archangel, the Tenth Archangel Julius, as their insider companion.

"No..."

Lance shook his head slowly.

"Perhaps... there's a faint glimmer of hope."

He spoke.

Everyone looked at Lance in surprise.

They weren't sure what Lance meant by "hope," but perhaps he was referring to the hope of a grand victory.

His emerald eyes, similar to those of Holy Soul Lant Pope, seemed to have found the only path of victory with a chance to defeat Hestinos among countless possible futures.

"If we want to win, we can only do so on the day of Hestinos' coronation, as it will be a day that draws attention from the entire Southern Continent, not just the Crethia Empire, and even the Allied Nations in the north."

Lance addressed the group.

"What about rescuing Loren?"

Tolledo asked Lance.

They couldn't give up on Loren.

At this critical moment, Loren was undoubtedly one of their top combat powers, and the only one who truly possessed both the mechanisms and the numerical values of an all-around powerhouse.

"We can do both."

Lance replied confidently.

"You want to accomplish everything on that day?"

The others instantly understood.

Lance had found the only chance for victory, simultaneously completing the tasks of rescuing Loren and defeating Hestinos, both of which were epic in scale!

"How can we win then?"

Antanas raised his hand and asked.

Putting aside the fact that each task alone was incredibly challenging, Antanas still didn't understand why Lance thought there was a chance to accomplish both goals simultaneously.

Even Pranai seemed unsure of Lance's specific plan at this point.

"If he can ascend, so can we. Hestinos can put on a grand show to reach the Ninth Rank. Why can't we also create a Ninth Rank powerhouse on our side?"

Lance clenched his fist and spoke to the group.

This was also his most remarkable talent in the Northern Continent.

"You mean...?"

Huberyan realized.

She was certain that if Lance wanted to return to his peak as Loch Macassi, the legendary Grand President, his abilities would be no less than those of Hestinos, the usurping emperor!

"That's right. This is our ultimate plan—the Artificial God Project."

Lance acknowledged.

The Ninth Rank, known as the Divine Realm, was an unattainable goal for people of this era. However, Hestinos' success had shown Lance the possibility of creating an artificial god through extreme human means, which happened to be his area of expertise. With his restrictions lifted, he could achieve something no less than Hestinos.

"Meow?" Cat Boss twitched his whiskers.

Lance was no longer satisfied with the artificial Loren, and now he was about to start creating a god.

Huberian hugged the cat tightly.

For some reason, she felt that the Goddess of Fate was about to lose control again.

Not only did Lance not stop, but he was about to do the most radical thing in his career as the High Priest—manipulating a powerful figure.

"To achieve this plan, we need to meet many conditions, and although the success rate is..."

Pranai seemed to be the first to guess Lance's general idea, muttering to herself.

"But everything depends on the premise that a Ninth Rank Loren can defeat a Ninth Rank Hestinos, right?" Sigrid also read some thoughts in Lance's eyes and asked.

Since she, at the peak of the Eighth Rank, had a hard time defeating Hestinos, who was also at the peak of the Eighth Rank, it was the same even if Loren were to advance to the Ninth Rank and face Hestinos, who had obtained the Spirit Sword.

They could only bet on Loren's ability to become stronger with each battle, gradually catching up to Hestinos' strength in a life-or-death fight.

There were two reasons why Lance's plan involved Loren.

First was his fame and the ease of obtaining Faith Power.

Their current sources of Faith Power were all in the Southern Continent, and they needed a powerful figure with high fame and a positive image there. Someone like Dimensional Bishop Tolledo or Tyrant Bishop Sigrid, who was as famous as the destructive Bishop Ivannos, was out of the question.

The second reason was the possibility of defeating Hestinos.

If Hestinos didn't have the legendary red Spirit Sword, and if she could fight under the moonlight, Sigrid's lower limit would be very high. As a Ninth Rank, she might have a chance to defeat Hestinos with her regenerative abilities.

But now, they had to bet on the upper limit, and Loren's lower limit was not as stable as hers. His power fluctuated in battles, but his upper limit was also high.

As Lance explained, and Pranai and Sigrid discussed, everyone's hearts began to race.

Although they didn't know how to execute Lance's overly complicated plan at Hestinos' coronation ceremony in three days, they seemed to have one thing certain—

"If Loren wins, he might have to wear more layers in the cold weather?" Talia asked hesitantly.

According to Lance's over-the-top planning and direction, if they really succeeded in staging an even more outrageous drama than Hestinos, she couldn't predict what the outcome would be.

They knew Loren well, and this situation would definitely make him look utterly exasperated.

After a moment of silence in the second-floor suite of the opera house...

"I'll make the decision for Loren," Lance clenched his fist.

Although his guilt tormented him, he couldn't bring himself to face Loren.

But at this moment, they needed a leader to make a decision.

He had to be more determined than anyone else.

If something went wrong, it would be his responsibility. Since they considered him their leader, he shouldn't share the blame; he would take all the responsibility himself. So he made this decision.

"As long as you choose to fight to the end instead of retreating, in the final battle three days from now, I will play the role of High Priest Loren one last time." Lance spoke with determination in his eyes.

Success was not the end, and failure was not the end either. They had to keep pushing forward; compromise with the enemy was out of the question.

This was Lance's creed—to maintain his beliefs from start to finish.

The others hesitated.

The two days of rest were also a time for them to catch their breath.

After the intense battle in Blood Moon City, if they were to face Hestinos and the remaining Archons the next day, they would be crushed by exhaustion.

They didn't want to retreat like losers.

With this opportunity, they would take the chance.

The only question was how much responsibility Lance would shoulder, and how far his mentioned "sacrifice" would push Loren to an outcome that went against his wishes.

"Lance, is there something wrong with your portrayal of Loren?" Talia asked during this break.

Talia remembered that as Lance's portrayal of Loren progressed, the character's personality deviated more and more from the original.

Although he had the aura of a powerful ruler, it no longer fit the original story.

She especially remembered Lance on the skyscraper in the rainy night of the Flower Capital, telling Perlman, "I'll give you a chance to challenge me."

If they let Lance play Loren like this against Hestinos the day after tomorrow, when they finally rescued Loren, he would be the one suffering the most!

"No one understands Loren better than I do, Talia. Just put your mind at ease," Lance said with utmost confidence on this matter.

If Loren were to have a biopic, he would undoubtedly be the best choice for the role.

Or perhaps the image of Loren that had taken root in everyone's hearts was now inseparable from Lance, the professional actor.

Moreover, if Loren didn't have that aura of being the sole ruler of the heavens, he might not be able to complete their "Artificial God Plan" as efficiently.

"No, buddy," Talia looked at Lance with pity in her eyes, wanting to say something but stopping herself.

It seemed that Lance's condition still needed treatment.

Although he was becoming more and more human, he still retained a bit of his original self.

"I agree with Lance's idea. When 'Loren' first appears, he has to put on a show of strength to intimidate everyone, because he must appear as an absolute powerhouse to give people a sense of security." Abigail, as a professional director, offered her opinion.

She would also assist Lance to the best of her ability that day.

She had said that being a director was more useful than being a magical engineer, and now she could immediately put her professional skills to good use.

...

Cat Boss was now the most hesitant to speak.

He could no longer predict Loren's fate.

"I agree."

"Let's do it in three days."

Everyone agreed one after another.

They were united in their decision.

First, they wanted to share the burden with Lance, so he wouldn't have to shoulder all the blame if something went wrong.

Second, if they were all in this together, no one could point fingers at anyone else.

Let Lance bring down the curtain on the Kreith Empire.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end