When the plot-skips players into the game world

Aiwass gazed in silence at the Second Sun hanging in the deep crimson sky.

He wasn't burned by it because of his powerful resistance.

At this moment, flames had already begun to ignite on the streets—the cotton and linen on the ground were ablaze, the satin clothes of some affluent free people started to char and smoke; the water in the canals trembled slightly, shaking as if in an earthquake; the air began to distort and blur, like the heated wind above a grill.

People cried out and screamed, running away in escalating panic.

Their skin was scalded by the heat, blistering... It's worth noting that the Parthians were already more heat-resistant than those in other places, yet even they couldn't withstand this level of heat.

There, suspended in the sky, was a fireball as huge as The Sun.

It was a scene akin to the apocalypse descending.

If one had to describe it, one could only compare it to "divine wrath."

The fiery vortex around the fireball dragged the clouds, tearing them apart like shredded candy floss, indicating its astonishing height.

To be so massive and clear at such an altitude, the fireball's diameter must have exceeded a kilometer; similarly, for the heat to reach this level from such a height, the core temperature was unimaginable.

"...Is this really something a Fifth Power Level Transcendent can achieve?"

Adil murmured, "Is this the heritage of knowledge? The Radiance of The Sun... truly magnificent."

Clearly, he knew who had done this, and he was already aware of Flame Fist Hassan's power level.

A fireball of this magnitude, if it were to slam down directly... the entire city would be engulfed in flames.

No mortal could survive such an intensity of heat; even their bodies would not remain.

Under this terrifying heat, one would die instantly upon contact, only to be incinerated immediately afterwards.

In an instant, "Heaven" could turn into a "hell."

"A spell of this scale would require a Mage Tower."

Aiwass said, "This already qualifies as strategic magic."

—Though he couldn't help but be puzzled. Has Flame Fist Hassan developed the Celestial Marshal Shard to this extent?

Even though the power stored within a Celestial Marshal Shard could indeed support a spell of this scale... without the assistance of a Mage Tower, could a young mage with barely a decade of learning truly achieve something so outrageous?

There's no doubt that this spell is aimed at city annihilation.

According to the Red Hand Gang's theory, those living in the Oasis, the commoners and slaves, were the assets of the Benevolent Lords. They couldn't survive without the lords, whose power and authority came from them, so killing the populace was tantamount to severely injuring the lords.

This theory sounds absurd and radical, even somewhat misguided—but if one knows that they are a group of vengeful people with tragic backgrounds, their registers containing only a single page, all burdened with grave grievances, then it all seems reasonable.

With such tragic backgrounds, it's only natural they'd harbor jealousy and hatred towards those living peacefully in the city-states... such is human nature.

To them, perhaps what they seek to destroy isn't merely the Benevolent Lords...

And now, this notion of "destruction" has materialized and hangs in the sky.

"Urgh—"

Shasha beside Aiwass already let out a sigh.

Her pupils and part of her hair turned blood-red, clearly fully reactive. With a single command, she could instantly switch into combat mode, launching a frenzied attack on the enemy.

As a water-attribute creation of the Path of Love, Shasha was obviously incompatible with this scorching, artificial "Sun"—she was especially unsuited to such searing heat.

If she hadn't transformed into a human form with better heat dissipation abilities, her scales might have started dehydrating and turning white by now.

"A bunch of hysterical, unscrupulous lunatics!"

Adil, who usually appeared composed and sacred, now showed obvious disgust: "May the gods punish them! I shall now walk this world on behalf of the gods!"

With that, he picked up the Amber Egg from the table, nodded to Aiwass, and walked out briskly.

Aiwass immediately followed.

He had to see how the other side planned to defend against this move... if they couldn't, he had to quickly think of a way to save some people.

In theory, though, Adil should have a way to deal with Flame Fist—although Flame Fist has the Celestial Marshal Shard, possessing a Sixth Power Level priority, and now with the arrival of the Flame Celestial Marshal, he has the home-field advantage...

But Adil himself is a proper Sixth Power Level Transcendent.

Plus, with the Amber Egg providing "Taboo" and "Dusk" power, he could at least match Flame Fist.

And Flame Fist has the advantage of striking first, yet Adil possesses the advantage in numbers—the spellcasters can, through the methods of resonance spellcasting and combined spellcasting, release a magic matrix beyond their own strength. Such is the principle of the Mage Tower, and the ritualists are quite adept at it.

Aiwass had also seen the ritualists of Noble Red in Avalon use this technique before.

Back then, those ritualists were only at the Second Level, Third Level... led by just one Fourth Level, they could still cause Aiwass considerable trouble.

And now in Heaven City, how many high-quality spellcasters are there? Not just a dozen or dozens.

As the second largest city-state of the Parthian Ancient Country, those under the command of its Fourth Level Transcendent already exceed a hundred. Now, having caught up with the tides of transcendence, together with the death of the Fallen Celestial Marshal activating the Path of Transcendence, among them, a few have even progressed to the Fifth Power Level, and those below the Fourth Level have also advanced to the Fourth Level.

Adil strode out, his gaze gradually burning with a dim yellow radiance. The Amber Egg in his hand also emitted a dim yellow glow, illuminating the surroundings like gold.

He carried the Amber Egg in his hand as if holding a glowing lantern.

Dozens of priests had already arrived from various parts of the temple—among them were humans, trolls, and serpentfolk alike. The commonality was that they all carried rings of different materials, with black ring patterns painted on their chests or abdomens.

Although they wield the Dusk Power of the Abyssal Celestial Envoy, their faith lies with the Serpent Celestial Marshal. This must be said to be quite ironic... after all, the Abyssal Celestial Envoy is a certain form of Serpent Celestial Marshal.

——Serpent Celestial Marshal·Dead Rest version.

"Chant the Holy Words!"

Adil shouted loudly, "I am your totem, your father, your god!"

As he chanted, the "lantern" in his hand swung more and more violently.

The dim yellow glow—and even nearly golden radiance began to spread outward, isolating the heat outside the barrier. The nearly boiling heat seemed to dissolve, and a comfortable coolness accompanied by a damp stench permeated the air.

People realized that this was a safe place, so they ran towards Adil like mad.

Just like the Preservation Arts... the Path of Dusk, as the end to all, naturally possesses the power to isolate everything.

"You are our totem, our father, our god."

The priests praised in unison.

And at that moment, a sudden mutation occurred—

"All who disrespect the gods are maggots!

"Bow down, gill-less mortal! I command you to offer flesh and blood to the weeping one.

"Write this blood contract with me: Only because the sleepless giant beast is the true form of the Holy Grail!"

Accompanied by the chorus of priests, an unsettling distortion and skew appeared in the air.

The world seemed to be inverted in an instant, the wind turned to water, and the earth became sky.

Those who ran towards them in terror didn't even make a sound before being crushed by the invisible wave—

Much like a cake crumbled under a great hammer, their bodies easily melted and broke apart. The flesh and blood were whipped together, forming abstract, semi-transparent blood tentacles.

Like a sea anemone, they expanded in the air and became a shield.

"——What are you doing!"

Aiwass was caught off guard by this unfolding situation.

But Adil's eyes were filled with calmness, even with some helplessness and confusion.

"To injure a finger is better than losing an arm; to drown one is better than letting a hundred thirst to death. I am their master, and I must ensure their survival—such is my duty. Just as I must protect my own body."

Adil stated seriously, "How do you know they are unwilling to sacrifice themselves?"

It's not a moral concept of "necessary evil" or "premature death."

But rather viewing those people entirely as one's fingers, arms—

As he said, these slaves are his property, and there's no way he would let them be killed by the Red Hand Gang just like that.

Similarly... it is reasonable to sacrifice part of them to save more.

At this moment, the "Sun" in the sky also began to shrink suddenly.

The originally crimson giant fireball started to gradually darken and shrink... but it wasn't a sign of retreat.

Because shortly after the contraction, it suddenly expanded swiftly, and shook out countless fireballs!