The Demon-Sealing Array restricts the flow of magical energy, and since magical energy is the source of all power, everything loses its effectiveness inside it.
The aircraft Ye Chui had just spent over seven thousand points to redeem from the mall was no exception. It was a small Marvel-universe fighter jet; we can call it the Flying Demon Fighter. It only needed Ye Chui and Debbie to supply magical energy to operate. When it first flew over the palace, it suddenly lost all power. That was how Ye Chui discovered the array’s terrifying strength.
But this did not stop him. After the fighter nearly crashed and then regained flight capability, he shot straight upward, climbed to a great height, and dove at full speed toward the palace.
Magical energy might be sealed, but physics still worked. Under powerful gravitational acceleration, the Flying Demon Fighter smashed through the room enveloped by the Demon-Sealing Array and, in one smooth motion, slammed Archbishop Elisha hard against the wall.
The fighter itself was now a crumpled wreck.
Fortunately its protective measures were excellent. Ye Chui and Debbie emerged completely unharmed. Since it ran on magical energy, and magical energy was frozen inside the room, there was no risk of explosion.
Perfect.
The old emperor, however, was so angry he could no longer speak.
“Don’t worry, we’ll definitely save you. You’re not hurt, are you?” Debbie looked the old emperor up and down with concern.
“You, you two are absolutely outrageous!” the old emperor roared in fury.
“We’re only trying to save you!” Debbie said, then frowned in confusion. “Hey, why does it feel like magical energy is still sealed?” She looked toward Elisha, who was now completely hidden behind the wrecked fighter pinned against the wall. She still thought the array was Elisha’s doing.
“Elisha isn’t dead yet,” Ye Chui said. He could not help but marvel at the red-robed archbishop’s strength; this level was probably equivalent to a Saint Magister. Of course Elisha was not dead, but he was certainly injured now. Ye Chui continued to Debbie, “The one who activated this array wasn’t Elisha. It was His Majesty.”
Debbie looked doubtfully at the old emperor.
The old emperor’s face was filled with deep sorrow and regret. Ye Chui and Debbie’s sudden interference had clearly ruined his original plan.
“His Majesty intended to sacrifice himself, creating the false impression that Elisha had murdered him, thereby directing the empire’s citizens’ hatred toward the Church,” Ye Chui explained. He had seen through this not because he was especially clever, but because, as someone who had transmigrated from another world, he deeply understood that the will of the people was the true key to an empire’s strength. In this world, the prevailing view was that imperial authority was supreme. Prince Gale and the old emperor might not have such advanced vision, but they knew that to oppose the Church, they first had to rouse the entire populace. Using the emperor’s death to ignite the people’s will to resist was clearly the best method.
Debbie was stunned for a moment, then said incredulously, “You little fatty, you’re just as stupid as when you were a child! Starting a war by committing suicide? How did you even think of something this idiotic?”
The old emperor said angrily, “This is my decision! I am eighty years old. I don’t have many years left. If my death can open the prelude to resisting the Church, I will be satisfied!”
“Idiot! Moron!” Debbie planted her hands on her hips and mocked.
“You…” The old emperor was furious. At that moment, with a loud crash, the wrecked fighter was suddenly shoved aside. Elisha appeared before them.
His previously immaculate hair was now a mess, his robes covered in blood. In his right hand he held an ancient Bible. He walked forward with difficulty, his aged face twisted with malice.
The old emperor hurriedly waved his right hand. The ring on his stubby finger glowed. The blood-red runes covering the walls surged toward Elisha like crimson chains, restraining his movement.
Anxiety filled the old emperor’s face. “I cannot hold on much longer.”
“So this was your true aim. I admit it was clever. If I had actually killed you just now, the Star Empire would have erupted in rage, and the Church would find it impossible to remain here,” Elisha said with a sinister expression. He had heard what Ye Chui said earlier. “The array clouded my mind. I actually overlooked that point. But since Ye Chui has ruined your scheme, you have lost today!”
“Who says we’ve lost?” Ye Chui suddenly countered.
Elisha turned his cold gaze on Ye Chui.
“I disapprove of His Majesty’s method because I have a better one.” Ye Chui smiled confidently and walked toward Elisha. Realising his own magical energy was still sealed, he looked at the old emperor. “Release the restrictions on Debbie and me.”
“What are you planning?” the old emperor asked with a frown. “If you intend to kill Elisha here, it will only enrage the Church further. There will be no benefit.”
“I won’t kill him here. But I can turn him into an idiot. There are countless ways to ruin the Church’s reputation and make its influence in the Star Empire plummet. Your Majesty, sacrificing yourself is truly the dumbest possible option,” Ye Chui said gravely.
The old emperor looked angry, but in the end he waved his hand and lifted the array’s restrictions on Ye Chui and Debbie.
Ye Chui summoned his iPad grimoire and immediately cast [Goddess Aqua’s Blessing] on Elisha.
“A mental spell… is that your plan?”
While fighting the array’s restraints, Elisha looked at Ye Chui with cold mockery. “How laughable. Do you think a mere mental spell will work on me?”
As a red-robed archbishop, his mastery of faith power was not the only reason he held his position. His will had been tempered like iron. The faith in his heart made him immune to any mental intrusion!
The old emperor said gloomily, “If mental control could affect Elisha, Gale and I would never have been driven to this point.” He shook his head.
“It was just a test. As I said, I have a dozen more tricks. So…”
Ye Chui tapped his iPad a few times. With a flash of red light, a woman in a red trench coat appeared beside him. It was Ye Chui’s summoned Heroic Spirit: the Scarlet Witch, Wanda.
Having unlocked the Marvel universe, Ye Chui could summon Wanda, who could manipulate minds and create illusions. It was a pity the Marvel unlock did not include the X-Men; otherwise Professor X would have been perfect.
“I need you to create some illusions for me,” Ye Chui told Wanda.
Wanda looked momentarily confused about being here, but she obeyed and walked to Elisha. She extended her hands beside his head. Red light flowed into his mind as her fingers danced. Yet soon Wanda’s face twisted in pain. “His mind is too strong. I cannot control it…”
“It’s useless. A red-robed archbishop’s willpower is even stronger than a summoner’s. Your mental illusions have no effect on me! No matter what Heroic Spirit you summon, you cannot sway my will!” Elisha said coldly, though resisting Wanda’s illusions was clearly causing him pain.
Ye Chui frowned slightly. Did he really have to unlock the X-Men and summon Professor X?
Or exchange for Loki’s sceptre from the Marvel mall?
But Loki’s sceptre contained the Mind Stone, and all the Infinity Stones were absurdly expensive. (When he summoned Vision, Vision had not carried the Mind Stone.) He hesitated.
He could try something else. Comprehending Inception might let him create a powerful mind-invasion spell; that film was literally about implanting ideas. Or something like Total Recall that altered memories. But even if he mastered such a spell, he would have to cast it himself, and he had no confidence he could overcome Elisha’s monstrous willpower.
“Do whatever you’re going to do quickly. I can’t hold on much longer!” the old emperor said, breathing heavily.
“…” Ye Chui glanced at the emperor, then at the sneering Elisha.
Elisha was undoubtedly a wise and insightful man. Making him willingly do something foolish as Ye Chui wished was impossible. Even altering his memories would probably be detected immediately… unless Ye Chui turned him into a complete moron. But his ever-reliable [Goddess Aqua’s Blessing] had no effect.
Then how about…
Ye Chui’s eyes lit up. He had decided.
His fingers flew across the iPad.
“I’m about to summon a terrifying Heroic Spirit. Everyone be careful; we might all turn into idiots,” Ye Chui warned the old emperor and Debbie in a friendly tone.
Both jumped in alarm.
Even Elisha’s expression grew more serious. He feared no ordinary mental spell, but… Ye Chui’s magic was clearly unlike anything he knew. Who knew what bizarre trick he still had up his sleeve!
A beam of blue light suddenly appeared beside Ye Chui. When it faded, a blue-haired girl was lying on the floor in a very strange pose.
The pose was strange because…
“She, she’s not wearing…” Debbie cried out, dumbfounded.
“What?” Ye Chui quickly leaned over to look.
Debbie hurriedly pushed his face away, half-embarrassed, half-angry. “What kind of Heroic Spirit is this!? That skirt is so short, and underneath she’s… Is she an idiot?”
“You actually guessed right…” Ye Chui said with some regret.
The goddess was already rubbing her eyes and climbing up from the floor, looking around in confusion. “Where am I? Is this a prank? Your terrible acting can’t fool me, Kazuma…”
“This isn’t your world anymore,” Ye Chui quickly interrupted the still-bewildered Aqua.
Then he cleared his throat, pointed dramatically at Elisha, and declared, “But there is a devout believer here who wishes to offer you his faith…”
