Origin Player.

Chapter 655 Night in the Capital
The final of the Imperial Holy Tournament.

It was a battle that everyone was eagerly anticipating.

The victors throughout history have all been top-tier powerhouses renowned throughout the empire.

Everyone in the arena, including the emperor, watched intently. As both sides entered, a deafening roar erupted, with some people from the capital city even becoming so excited that their faces contorted with rage.

"Your Majesty, kill that monster!"

"Your Highness, thoroughly shatter her arrogance!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

The wolf waited until the most intense sound waves subsided before speaking: "The final match of the Holy Tournament is between Prince Augustus and Queen Freya of the Elves."

On the golden battlefield, both sides simultaneously entered the combat zone.

Freya held a bow and arrow, her platinum hair cascading down to her waist. She wore a long, beige dress, the fabric of which was extremely tight, highlighting her slender waist. The dress was stretched taut at the back, creating a full, curvaceous silhouette. Her face was cold and beautiful, her skin as white as snow, and her emerald eyes were filled with determination. Her entire demeanor was aloof and serene, like an inviolable statue.

"I will judge you, Great Demon."

Jiang He's eyes were calm; among all the opponents he had encountered, the person before him was not even ranked.

"Start the war!" the demon wolf suddenly waved his hand.

Whoosh whoosh!
Freya launched the first attack, her bow drawn to its fullest extent, her perfect figure as ethereal as a celestial maiden.

The Spiritual Talent: Star Track Prediction grants arrows the effect of always hitting their target.

Heroic Armament: The Forest Titan's Pact imbues arrows with primal power, tearing through space in their path.

The Power of the Forest makes arrows resemble tree branches, yet they contain an extreme and peculiar corrosive power. The meaning of the rise and fall of all things lingers, revealing the power of a master archer.

Sky Secret Technique: Forest Arrow.

A streak of light shot out, a technique Freya had never used before. Its formidable destructive power drew the attention of the spectators from the Holy Domain. This single strike was enough to severely injure a chief bishop-level expert, demonstrating the extraordinary power of her authority.

call!
A suit of jet-black armor appeared on Jiang He's body.

The moment the Great Heavenly Imperial Jiang King Armor appeared, everyone in the entire Imperial Arena smelled the sulfurous odor on a soul level, as if endless hellfire was burning. Beneath the molten iron helmet, a pair of cold eyes inspired fear.

clang!
The streak of light struck the armor.

Like a river rushing straight into a mountain, the light split to the left and right, unable to shake the defense of the Energy King Armor. Until the aftershocks dissipated, a huge fan-shaped impact zone remained on the golden battlefield, and the Energy King Armor itself may have only had a few chisel marks.

"A defense approaching the pinnacle of heroism."

"It seems that it should be far from being this weak, but Augustus's fighting spirit... how could it be so weak?"

"The destructive power of Chaos Battle Qi is definitely not bad. Could this be the price of Chaos Battle Qi, or is someone cursing it?"

The Emperor, Vigrid, the Steel Sword Saint, the God of Shadows, and others were all somewhat surprised. Prince Augustus gave the impression of being inherently weak, yet his combat strength was unbelievably formidable. However, no one would believe that Augustus was merely at the peak of the Gold Saint realm.

call!
Jiang He charged forward, his foot firmly planted on the ground.

When the Energy King Armor's own sub-legendary speed power erupts, under the unification of the Celestial Hunter, the power and its speed ability are perfectly combined. Finally, the power of force strikes the ground, creating a thrust that creates a speed that surpasses even the Holy Realm.

Swish!
Freya lost sight of the enemy.

It's unclear when it started, but her surroundings are now filled with plant traps. Even if an enemy can't see them, they can still sense their presence if they enter. Since she was born recently, Freya doesn't have much combat experience, but fate will provide stronger guidance.

"One strike, and the battle is over." Freya waited solemnly.

But in the next moment, all the traps exploded at once.

Chu Chu Chu!
An oppressive gale swept in from all directions, causing Freya to change color slightly.

boom!
A fierce uppercut came crashing down, and fate's warning came belatedly. Freya hurriedly dodged, but her left chest was still blown apart by the enemy, and the violent impact sent her tumbling away.

"I almost died."

Freya quickly got up, ignoring the excruciating pain that almost made her mind go blank, but in an instant, a straight kick hit her in the lower back, and the crisp sound of her spine breaking echoed throughout the arena.

At the Saintly level, unparalleled speed and power.

Countless people stared at the dark figure, their faces turning pale. It wasn't just the incomprehensible power of the figure; the chilling killing intent emanating from every move gave people the illusion of a butcher of living beings.

"Stand up, Freya!"

"My Queen, how could he be so cruel!"

In the stands, the three members of the Hero Squad felt ice-cold all over their bodies. Hero Xin gripped the armrest tightly and prayed desperately.

"We must live!"

boom!
Jiang He swung a heavy punch and struck Freya on the back of the head.

In a normal Holy Domain, these punches would have killed her long ago, but Freya's body and soul originated from the peak of three heroes and were a demon-slaying weapon forged by the Sisters of Temperance.

"I can't die yet," Freya said, her mind hazy. "Augustus, stopping you is my destiny!"

boom!
The authority of the forest and the guardian spirit of great deeds erupted together.

A sapling takes root and grows rapidly.

The branches, imbued with the power of heaven and earth, shook violently, slicing countless sparks from Jiang He's helmet. Each attack was accompanied by a significant drop in energy.

"A power similar to devouring spirits?"

As the green turmoil created by the Forest Authority swept in, Jiang He gripped the Dragon Spear tightly to block, retreating dozens of meters unharmed. One of the Yin-Yang Dragon-Tiger Crossing Calamity Golden Pills shattered casually, and the energy within his body was replenished.

"Spirit of the World Tree, grant me power!"

Freya prayed sincerely, and the tree spirit began to grow rapidly. In the blink of an eye, it was already as tall as the sculpture in the arena. The sky was emerald green, and the plants in the capital became lush. The emperor and others slowly got up. This was a sign of advancing to the Sky level.

Wow!
Silver light shone in Jiang He's hand, and the dueling world descended, enveloping the World Tree and the golden battlefield, but he did not stop the enemy's advancement.

Soon, Freya's entire body was radiant with light, her celestial maiden-like appearance filled with holiness. Forged into a hero, her aura suddenly surged, soared, and exploded, with an all-around 50% increase, resulting in a leap in her overall combat power.

"Great Demon, since you've chosen to stand by and watch, then so be it and walk towards your doom!" Freya declared with a holy expression.

Jiang He's expression was indifferent; Freya, who was not at the peak of the Heroic Realm, was of no value to him.

The next moment, countless starlight fell from the World Tree.

Freya drew her bow and released a barrage of star arrows. The newly promoted hero delivered a powerful blow, the starlight striking the Energy King Armor countless times, shattering the helmet, tearing the shoulder armor, and piercing the chest armor. The power completely surpassed that of the Saint Realm, not only destroying the Great Heavenly Imperial Jiang King Armor but also leaving Jiang He riddled with holes.

"You can't withstand the next attack," Freya declared with absolute confidence.

Jiang He ignored her injuries and snapped her fingers.

call!
The power of time descends.

The World Tree reverted to its seedling form, Freya's aura plummeted, and her newly acquired Hero status vanished. Sensing her weakness, she turned pale, but before losing everything, she mobilized the power of heaven and earth and unleashed another arrow.

Sky-level Secret Technique: Arrow of Life.

The power of heaven and earth has an indescribable destructive force on lower-level beings.

But Jiang He's mere gaze was enough to shatter the Arrow of Fate.

—The gods move with the heavens, and the gods fall from the heavens.

The ultimate ability obtained when the mythical form is complete is to cancel the power of heaven and earth at the peak of the hero's life and isolate the power of world destiny from those of equal or lower rank.

"how come……"

Freya landed back in the Sanctuary.

The attack from the Lord of Hell arrived in an instant.

The silver dragon spear pierced Freya's chest, and Jiang He lifted it high, the extremely powerful killing intent extinguishing any remaining life force.

Defeat was inevitable, and death was imminent.

Just as Freya was about to give up, she suddenly remembered the oath she made with her companions. As the soul of the goddess of fate, she had an unwavering commitment to her oath.

"Please, don't kill me."

A pleading expression appeared on Freya's cold and beautiful face.

"Is that so?" Jiang He sheathed his spear.

Freya staggered and fell to the ground, blood gushing from her wounds. If it weren't for the Forest Authority maintaining her last bit of life, she would have died.

Jiang He casually said, "But according to you, I seem to be some kind of great demon that must be eliminated."

Fate and vows clashed, and Freya was caught in a great inner struggle, but the faces of her companions flashed by one by one.

She gritted her teeth and said, "I want to live!"

“I find it hard to forgive someone who was an enemy just a moment ago,” Jiang He said. “You have to choose.”

The Duel Realm vanished without a trace.

After a long pause, Freya suddenly gave a bitter laugh. She remembered her identity as an elf of a different race and said, "Master."

She lay prone on the ground, her rounded curves clearly visible.

"Please forgive me."

Jiang He stomped on Freya's head, burying her in the ground, but even with this deliberate humiliation, Freya's determination to "live on" remained unwavering.

"What happened! The Queen has been defeated?"

"Freya...is kneeling and begging for mercy?" "My queen, commit suicide!"

The stands were in an uproar. The Emperor and Vigrid were both astonished. According to their judgment, even if Freya failed to advance, she should have died in battle. Now, even if she survived, she would only suffer.

Some people in the capital were heartbroken. The Elf Queen was of a different race, and now that she had acknowledged Prince Augustus as her "master," her future status would be that of a servant, with no freedom left. And Prince Augustus was so powerful that they were powerless to resist.

"Freya..."

The brave warrior clutched his chest in anguish; his heart was bleeding. Prince Augustus, according to the Seven Gods' propaganda, was nothing short of a lecherous demon who indulged in nightly revelry.

He didn't even dare to think about Freya's fate.

Behind the gilded fence, Mirai Kamishiro's eyes were dark. It was clear that her senior had found a new toy, and a trace of jealousy rose in her heart.

"The ultimate victor of the Holy Tournament, Prince Augustus!"

On the golden battlefield, Jiang He slit his wrist, golden blood flowing out. Freya struggled, but ultimately tilted her head back and drank it down. In the feedback of fate, this blood was full of deadly poison.

[Hint: Number of war victories +1 (7/9)]
As the sacred tournament concluded, the entire capital city population rose to applaud. Regardless of their inner thoughts, paying tribute to the victor was an imperial custom.

“I choose to initiate the sacred treaty,” Jiang He said.

"Then we'll have to wait until tomorrow." The wolf glanced at the setting sun that was about to disappear behind the mountain and said menacingly, "I hope you can survive tonight."

As promised to the Emperor by Duke Vigrid, the faith war between the Church of Conquest and the Church of the Seven Gods will begin tonight.

At the top of the gilded fence, the emperor sent someone to deliver the imperial emblem. The top three in the Holy Tournament automatically became the commanders of the ten central legions. Jiang He and Freya were granted command of the sixth and seventh legions, respectively.

……

Medici Castle at night.

[Hint: Main quest ② has been completed]
[Hint: You have obtained a sub-legendary skill enhancement scroll and item *1]
Jiang He directly enhanced the Dragon God's bloodline, turning it into immediate combat power as soon as possible.

[Name: Dragon God Bloodline]
[Category: Bloodline]
[Quality: Sub-Legendary]
[Effect ①: Dragon Instinct - Mastery of dragon instincts such as dragon transformation, dragon wings, half-dragon transformation, dragon might, dragon scales, dragon breath, and dragon language under the same rank]
[Effect ②: Dragon Magic - Proficient in dragon magic recorded deep within the bloodline of the same rank, with a relative advantage in fire dragon magic]
[Effect 3: Youthful Dragon Body - Gain a sub-legendary level physique with increased Strength, Speed, Constitution, and Spirit base stats by +3, and Charisma by +8 (?)]
[Effect 4: Dragon's Law - 50% Immunity to Elemental Strike and Curses of the Same Rank]
[Effect 5: Lord of Dragons - Possesses dominion over lower-ranking dragons, gains sub-legendary dragon affinity, and increases energy by 4900]
[Note: Among the nine sacred beings native to the Five Realms, the Dragon God's bloodline is currently in its youthful dragon stage. After separating its own bloodline from its progenitor, it can engage in dragon blood hunting.]
[Strength: 62+2→65+2]
[Agility: 62+2 → 65+2]
[Constitution: 64+2→67+2]
[Spirit: 62+2→65+2]
[Charm: 92+11→100+11]
[Gold Energy Value: 110000]
Jiang He teleported his mount, the Crimson Queen Dragon, into the Celestial Realm of Gluttony World. The Dragon God Guardian - Evil Knights Order would need a large number of dragons to fill its ranks in the future.

He then looked at the item as a mission reward. It was shaped like a Rubik's Cube, and when unfolded, it resembled a castle. It possessed the same level of sturdiness, was equipped with a fixed elemental cannon, and could transform into special modes such as a warship, a fortress, an arena, and a training camp.

Jiang He decisively activated the warship mode and fed it to the Saint Lilith. According to the usual promotion practice, with one more sub-legendary warship, the Saint Lilith could be promoted to a legendary warship.

[Hint: Main quest ③ has been released]
[Mission Name: King of Assassins]
[Mission Requirements: Slay a peak-level hero/Slay a chosen one/Slay a fallen god]
[Mission Notes: The war between the Conquest Church and the Seven Gods Cult is about to break out. The time for settling old and new scores has come. Amid the riots that have spread throughout the capital, the true king of assassins remains hidden behind the scenes.]
[Quest Reward: Legendary Skill Enhancement Scroll *1 (This scroll is a gold scroll and can enhance special abilities, energy properties, player titles, etc. Due to the significant difference in life level between the player and the quest target, the reward's weight is significantly increased)]
[Task Time Limit: 36 hours]
[Task Penalty: None]
Outside the bedroom, Mirai Kamishiro knocked on the door.

"Senior, is Freya in the room?"

Jiang He ignored the other party and activated the final time loop, restoring Freya, who was kneeling in front of the chair, to her peak heroic state. At the same time, a thorn wrapped around her swan-like neck.

"Okay, get ready to come out with me."

"Yes."

Freya tilted her head back, raised her slender hand to wipe the corner of her mouth, her face somewhat numb. She knew that Augustus was training her endurance and cultivating loyalty, but if she wanted to survive, she could only silently endure it, all for the sake of her oath to her comrades.

When Mirai Kamishiro pushed open the door, there was no one inside. She smelled the familiar scent that filled the air, her expression somewhat lost. What was once her precious possession was now being enjoyed by someone else.

"Eleanor, if only you were here."

……

The capital city remains brightly lit even under the cover of night.

But on the streets, warhorses were riding.

The Second and Third Legions, with 20,000 men each, imposed a curfew on the capital. Golden Castle was completely closed, and the Dragon Family sacrificed half of the Empire's faith to shroud the streets of the capital to prevent massive casualties.

In front of the Medici Castle.

Brave Xin and his two companions exchanged a glance and made up their minds. Because of the Church of Destiny, the Seven Gods Cult knew of the existence of the Destiny Squad and had provided a lot of help. They should have helped tonight, but Freya was trapped in a prison, so they could only rescue her first and then think about other things.

“We can’t wait any longer. The sun will set in two hours, and I’m afraid Freya might meet with something bad,” said the brave Xin.

The dwarf chieftain hesitated, "Prince Augustus shouldn't kill Freya, otherwise he would have done so in the Imperial Arena. At most..."

The dwarf chieftain didn't finish his sentence. The inviolable Elf Queen had fallen into Augustus's hands, and her fate was self-evident. After all, the decadence of the imperial nobility was well-known, and the imperial people never regarded other races as human.

Because she had sworn allegiance to a master during the duel, Freya was now considered spoils of war and a servant, rendering even the action permit obtained by the Fate Squad meaningless.

“Freya will live on,” said the Bishop of Fate. “Our God descended to earth to fight against the darkness, placing destiny and oath above all else. She will live until the day the Great Demon is destroyed.”

"We must take action to save Freya."

The hero Xin gripped his sword tightly.

The Bishop of Fate sighed and nodded; he, too, did not wish to see the gods insulted.

Under the cover of night, the three walked along the street wall. The magnificent Medici Castle came into view. Moonlight shone down, and a sharp edge came. The dwarf chieftain stepped forward and blocked with his shield, sparks flying.

"No unauthorized actions are allowed."

The Shadow Saint Belladonna has arrived.

In a soul contract unknown even to the gods, a new obligation requires her to obstruct the Fate Squad, or else she must repay with her soul.

"Miss Donna, please don't stop us."

The brave warrior Xin had a resolute expression, holding his sword in both hands.

no answer.

Belladonna charged forward, and as the Shadow Scythe clashed with the Hero's Sword, the two chosen ones intertwined to create a massive vortex of destiny, immediately attracting the attention of the Cult of the Seven Gods.

The Sage of Destiny and the Sage of Shadow arrived together, accompanied by several Saint-level chief archbishops. In a sense, both of the Chosen Ones of Destiny belonged to the Seven Gods Cult.

"Do not substitute military force for wisdom," said the Sage of Destiny.

"You should say those things to her..."

The moment the dwarf chieftain turned around, Belladonna activated the Faith Dagger given to her by the God of Shadows, the tip of which pierced the chieftain's heart, killing him instantly.

“I have no choice,” Belladonna said coldly.

No one expected that she would actually do it for real.

"Do not!!!"

The brave warrior roared with all his might.

"You actually...you actually dared to kill him!"

Wow!
More than a dozen Saint-level soul shadows detached from the sword's edge, and the soul reflections left behind by heroes of past generations were activated. In the eyes of the enraged hero Xin, Belladonna became even more hateful than Augustus.

The Shadow Sage suddenly attacked the Fate Sage.

The latter was shocked and angry, and said, "Don't let fate influence you."

The Shadow Sage sneered: "And then watch the saints die? You're questioning my faith in God!"

Saints are those who act on behalf of the will of God.

The civil war within the Seven Gods Cult had now fully erupted.

……

On the clock tower of the capital.

Before an ancient bronze bell covered in rust, a table was set out for afternoon tea. Exquisite pastries emitted an enticing aroma. As the black tea grew cold, Vigrid reached out and picked it up, asking, "Is Belladonna one of yours? But I've heard that the King of the Wild Hunt has always been guiding her."

"Aside from the storm, the King of the Wild Hunt does not want to see the God of Shadows lead everything; it is nothing more than a collaboration."

Jiang He sat on Freya's back, sipping the bright red wine in his glass. He had no respect for the Elf Queen who wanted to destroy the Great Demon right away, but from another perspective, it was probably a reward from her divine power.

—That is, the so-called Pei Er Shi.

Seven cardinals who had conquered the church stood around, silently accumulating magical power. Under the command of the war authority, they could unleash seven sub-legendary forbidden spells together.

“Hero Xin is the illegitimate son of the Duke of the Southern Border. The Church of the Sun has always been allied with the Duke of the Southern Border through marriage, and the Sun has also placed its bets on Hero Xin. This time, the Church of Destiny and the Church of the Sun will probably join forces. But since they have started fighting, it means that in addition to the God of Shadow, there is another god who has been resurrected. It is either Destiny or the Sun,” Vigrid said.

"I guess it's the sun god," Jiang He replied.

The goddess of fate is currently playing the role of a bench, and as for the "sun," she does not wield the power of the sun, but rather the power of the blazing sun, one of the lower powers. Freya knows quite a bit about this.

Vigrid put down his teacup and said, “Seven sages, seven chief archbishops, and fourteen holy domains, including invincible holy domains like the King of the Wild Hunt and the Sun King. You can’t stand aside. I won’t say anything about you enjoying your spoils, but don’t delay my daughter’s marriage.”

"I know," Jiang He replied calmly.

In the crisscrossing streets of the capital, the Second and Third Legions, having completed their curfew, received orders to go to war. Both the commander and deputy commander of the legions were devout believers and did not hesitate.

Shadows, whispers, storms, divine knights, goddesses.

The Sun and Destiny.

The faith of seven churches dragged the capital into a vortex.

Before the Medici Castle, facing the siege of more than a dozen heroic spirits, the streets around them, reinforced by the faith of the Empire, collapsed. The heroes drew their swords and shattered the shadow sages. Although the spirits were not as powerful as the true Saint-level warriors, they had an absolute advantage in numbers.

As the shadows descended, the sages arrived at the battlefield and stood in front of Belladonna.

The Bishop of Fate spoke with compassion: "Ladies and gentlemen, our great war and conflict have allowed the Church of Conquest to grow stronger, and the mortal world will inevitably be plunged into endless war. I urge you all to exercise restraint."

The Sage of Beauty sneered, "The remnants of the Heavenly Father Church are dealing with the Conqueror Church. Fate was involved in the killing of the Queen. Today is the perfect day to settle the score!"

Storm Sage King of the Wild Hunt launched the first attack, while Sun Sage King of the Sun countered from the opposite side. The two shifted the battlefield, and spatial fragments and solar flames swept across the area. The other chief bishops and sages also joined the fray. The battle of the Holy Domain-level church attracted the close attention of the nobles of the capital.

(End of this chapter)