Fazer’s change in the puppet graveyard was indeed significant. Normally, he would have kicked Laigen several times as the most natural response. Now, he spoke with an elder’s loving aura.
Ye Chui understood Sheras’s anger towards him. In his impression, Teacher Fazer was the symbol of the empire’s power. This current version was far too affectionate.
Considering Ye Chui’s companions, each more unreliable than the last, Sheras directly blamed everything on Ye Chui. Moreover, the Emperor had died at Ye Chui’s hands. The imperial capital was now in great chaos. Ye Chui could be called the chief culprit. If not for uncertainty about what had happened to Fazer, Sheras might have attacked without a word. The mad dragon phantom beast around him grew more condensed.
“Mr Sheras, do not be impulsive.” At that moment, Kerrygan hurried forward, blocking Ye Chui. She gently lifted a corner of her hood, revealing her face not yet fully transformed into a puppet, still fair and human. “Mr Ye Chui has done nothing to Teacher Fazer. He is not under any control now.”
“Empress Majesty, you, you are still alive?” Sheras was greatly shocked. He had not heard from Ye Chui’s group about the Empress’s death, but he knew what the Emperor had done to her. Even if she survived, with severe injuries, she should lack freedom of movement. Yet the Empress before him appeared completely normal.
“I am fine. I was dead, but revived in the puppet graveyard. That is not important now,” Kerrygan said quickly. Worthy of an Empress, her speech carried natural authority, making Sheras instinctively bow in respect. She continued, “Believer remnants have besieged the Apex Palace. Let us set out to deal with them at once. Other matters can be explained later.”
“But His Majesty the Emperor…” Sheras said coldly, looking up at Ye Chui.
The Emperor’s fate was far more important than the Apex Palace.
“That fellow brought it on himself. He died at Archbishop Siss’s hands. Countless people in the capital saw it. Do you need me to find another witness?” Kerrygan said decisively, clearly meaning: I know the truth, but I will frame Archbishop Siss anyway.
“This…” Sheras immediately understood her intent. Hesitation vanished from his face. For him, the safety of imperial citizens mattered most. Initially, for the capital’s people, he chose neutral status among the twelve phantom beasts. Now he decided swiftly. “I understand. The Emperor died at Archbishop Siss’s hands.”
“Yes, that is right,” Kerrygan nodded. She continued, “Now we go immediately to deal with those believer remnants.”
“Empress Majesty, it is not that simple…” Sheras’s face darkened. He quickly explained the Apex Palace situation. Believer remnants controlled at least three thousand followers, using a Church secret method to turn them into terrifying mad beasts: immensely strong, mindless, attacking anyone approaching madly. They could not get close.
“What about inside the Apex Palace?” Ye Chui interjected.
“Since last night, mist has appeared within the Apex Palace. I believe it is caused by the Maze Lamp Dapra’s ability, to block mad beast invasion,” Sheras replied, tone still cold towards Ye Chui.
“Those mad beasts lack minds. Dapra’s mist is ineffective against them,” Ye Chui shook his head. They had broken the Maze Lamp phantom beast initially using Akuya’s power… Wait, Ye Chui’s expression froze. He suddenly remembered. Damn, he had forgotten he left Akuya in the Apex Palace!!!
“Hmph, you know the Maze Lamp phantom beast’s power. It seems you indeed caused the uproar in the Apex Palace!” Sheras said coldly. Chaos in the Apex Palace, followed by the Emperor’s death, clearly connected.
“We only did what was right. No need to be so angry,” Ye Chui consoled.
“You killed His Majesty the Emperor!” Sheras growled. Killing their empire’s symbol was a crime warranting heavenly punishment.
“Do not mind it. I will compensate you with a new Emperor later,” Ye Chui said with a smile. Seeing Sheras about to erupt again, he quickly changed topic. “The urgent matter is dealing with those mad beasts.”
“They are not easily handled. We attacked countless times, but could not eliminate them. Instead, we suffered heavy losses!” Sheras said coldly. “Most terrifying is their ability, Life Return. They burn their own lives for power. When they self-destruct, they form a life vortex. All nearby living beings’ life force is absorbed into it!”
“Sounds quite interesting. But if you cannot, does not mean we cannot,” Ye Chui said cheerfully. The old puppet master stepped forward from behind. “Leave those fellows to us! We are not ordinary life forms. Life Return has no effect on us.”
“You?” Sheras looked at the old puppet master. He had long been curious. The old puppet master and his warriors did not seem real humans. They were complete puppet lives. Did such puppet lives truly exist?
“Who are you? What exactly are you?” Sheras asked.
“You are the current clan leader of the Mad Dragon family, right? Back then, your ancestor was my little brother,” the old puppet master said cheerfully. The twelve clans existed for centuries. Five hundred years ago, before entering the puppet graveyard, the Mad Dragon clan leader was his follower. No issue saying this.
But Sheras clearly could not tolerate it. This insulted his ancestor.
Before he could retort, Ye Chui waved at the old puppet master. “No need for you to act. This time, let Fiorre do it. Let him display the dual power of ancestor god and witch he has obtained!”
Hearing this, Fiorre was stunned. His power?
Then he understood. Ye Chui wanted to push him as Tidal Emperor. He needed to show sufficient strength. Of course, he lacked such power himself. Naturally, Ye Chui would act on his behalf.
Fiorre stepped forward immediately. To Sheras, he said, “Leave it to me next. I will show you my power!”
The Apex Palace sat atop Apex Mountain. This description was not quite accurate, as nearly the entire mountain was encompassed by the palace. Better to say the mountain was within the palace.
High walls surrounded the Apex Palace. At the summit stood palace fortresses. Now, believer remnants led mad beast followers occupying outer walls, constantly attempting to assault summit fortresses. That area was enveloped in Maze Lamp phantom beast power. Mad beasts, low in intellect, were little affected by mist, but with it blocking, they could not breach quickly.
Outside the Apex Palace, part of the puppet army and city guards had surrounded it, continually attacking massive gates.
A team of city guards under Sheras tried climbing walls for surprise attack, but the plan failed. Amid screams, a blood mist exploded atop the wall. A red vortex appeared at the blast site. Several guards fell from high walls. Blood mist rose from their bodies, flying into the red vortex.
By the time bodies hit ground, they were dried corpses.
“They discovered us. Damn it!” the moustached city guard captain said angrily. Looking at the dried corpses, worry crossed his face. chapter_content();
Atop the wall, mad beasts with grotesquely swollen bodies gazed coldly below. Transformed from followers, they were no longer human.
As the moustached captain felt helpless, a trusted aide hurried over and whispered something. He turned in surprise. Attacking guards had cleared a path. Sheras and Fazer’s figures entered his view, along with Ye Chui and those peculiar puppet warriors.
He quickly approached Sheras. “Lord Sheras, this is…”
“They can resolve the problem here,” Sheras replied briefly, then looked at Fiorre. He was quite curious what power Fiorre had gained to handle this crisis.
Fiorre felt nervous too, glancing at Ye Chui.
Ye Chui nodded encouragingly. On the way here, he had told Fiorre what to do: simply summon Witch clan power as learned.
Fiorre nodded, steeling himself inwardly, then stepped forward.
The dried corpses on ground frightened him somewhat. Looking up at mad beasts clinging to high walls, he trembled slightly. But he calmed his nerves eventually, took a deep breath, then…
began to dance.
Witch clan power activated originally through dance, unique Tidal Empire style.
Many recognised Fiorre’s identity now. Though he rarely left the Ancestral Temple, on important imperial days, as temple head and Witch clan leader, he appeared publicly. People knew this very pretty boy.
His sudden dance seemed comical to Ye Chui’s side, but most Tidal citizens were accustomed, not surprised.
As Fiorre danced, Ye Chui took out the summoning card from the puppet graveyard.
The card depicted the Puppet God. Using it, Ye Chui could summon the Puppet God!
He activated it quietly.
Summoning progress appeared on the magic book screen.
Boom!
Clear skies suddenly clouded over. Thunder flashed, muffled rolls echoing. Above everyone, a huge black void appeared: a massive portal. Thunder struck continuously towards it.
Godly power triggered heavenly tribulation!
Amid countless lightning bolts, a huge black arm extended from the portal!
The palm was immensely vast, blotting out sky and earth.
By its size, one grasp seemed capable of crushing the entire Apex Palace to dust!
Everyone was shocked.
Shocked by the palm’s enormity.
Even more by Fiorre’s power!
“Ancestor god, that is the power of the Ancestor God clan!” Some powerful individuals sensed familiar aura from the huge palm. Ancestor God clan!
The source of Ancestor God clan power was originally the Puppet God’s Eternal Heart. Ancestor god power was Puppet God power.
Thunder entwined, bombarding the palm ceaselessly.
Yet it harmed the palm not at all.
The palm extended thus, pointing one finger towards the high wall before the Apex Palace.
One finger to annihilate these mad beasts!
Ye Chui looked at the palm above, extending a finger, face showing wild laughter. This was the overwhelming dominance he wanted!
“Your, your power has reached such a level!” As the finger neared crushing the wall, Sheras said in shocked voice to Fiorre. “I can sense this is combined ancestor god and witch power!”
“Yes.”
Fiorre breathed slightly heavily. He too was somewhat terrified. He had not expected the Puppet God’s palm to appear so huge from ground level. Recalling Ye Chui’s name for this power, he continued, “This power comes from witch and ancestor god combined, so it is called Witch God Power!”
