Start in Terra, immortal

Since the Dark Three Horsemen personally entered the battlefield, the Imposters' modus operandi has changed significantly. Their power no longer disperses and harasses, but begins to converge and concentrate in an organized manner.

Once signs of imposter activity appear in a certain place, one of the Dark Three Knights, or at least one of their powerful lieutenants, is often at the core of the operation.

This makes the operation to eliminate imposters extremely difficult and dangerous. Almost every large-scale confrontation requires the intervention of "Saint" level combat power to have any chance of victory.

However, there were only a handful of "saints" and they were too busy to attend to every battlefield.

As a result, the number of casualties among the clergy began to rise alarmingly.

To make matters worse, the demon's attack itself was tainted by the "blood curse".

Many clergymen who were wounded in battle, either due to the severity of their injuries or because they were not thoroughly purified in time, had their souls gradually devoured by chaos under repeated erosion, and ultimately tragically fell into becoming new imposters.

Even if a few clergy with wills as strong as steel can barely resist the whispers and erosion of chaos at the level of consciousness, their bodies have often undergone irreversible mutations, exhibiting various demonic physical characteristics.

They may still have the flame of human faith burning in their hearts, but the deep hatred of demons within the clergy makes it difficult for them to accept these outwardly alienated compatriots, let alone gain the understanding and trust of others.

When the tower of faith of the most devout believers collapses due to their own "impurity," the resulting despair and self-loathing are often more profound than those of ordinary fallen individuals.

As a result, some people eventually became disheartened and even turned to chaos.

Witnessing the tide of battle gradually turn against them, Michel knew that they could not afford to continue at this rate.

He decisively summoned all the saints and explained to them his plan to completely resolve the chaos problem in one fell swoop.

Faced with increasingly severe casualties and morale problems, the three saints, Shapiro, Vaughan, and Milan, all understood that their side was sliding into a disadvantageous position, and they had no objection to Michel's decision.

Only Zhao Xin did not immediately express his opinion after hearing about the plan. He gave Michelle a meaningful look, but in the end, he slowly nodded.

The final offensive has begun.

The gathering of power, along with the unprecedented convergence of the "Six Saints," gave all the clergy immense confidence.

"With six saints fighting alongside us, what do we have to fear!" Morale soared to unprecedented heights.

The Chaos faction, upon realizing the Holy Clerics' intention to engage in a decisive battle, also reacted.

Ozma ordered that all the scattered forces of the Imposters be gathered together and brought to Eloreno, the former golden city that had long been corrupted by Chaos.

A decisive battle that would determine the fate of both sides unfolded on this black soil.

......

"How is it? Seeing your former comrades now standing opposite you, fighting with swords drawn, don't you feel even a little bit of emotion?"

On the battlefield, Astros spoke with sarcasm, attempting to shake the will of the clergy.

As one of the "Six Saints," the Holy Shield Shapiro Gracia paid no attention to such a low-level psychological warfare tactic.

He was completely focused, chanting prayers in a low voice. The holy light around him became increasingly solid and dazzling, raising his defense and faith to their peak.

With this unbreakable "spirit" standing in front, the surrounding clergy quickly calmed down, their gazes regained their firmness, and they followed the guidance of the holy light.

Shapiro glanced out of the corner of his eye at the other side of the battlefield. There, Saint Drive Faith was engaged in a fierce battle with Destroyer Belial.

The four shikigami bravely circled around Shinya, enduring Belial's terrifying, rock-splitting strikes with their spiritual forms, striving to buy Shinya space to cast spells and maneuver.

Although anyone could see the disparity in strength between the two sides, Shin'ya was already pale, and his talismans were being consumed rapidly like burning paper butterflies, but he still gritted his teeth and poured every bit of his strength into his shikigami and talismans, struggling to maintain the balance.

"I see... I understand now!" Astros followed Shapiro's gaze, then sneered in realization, "Michelle thought that just a few of you could stop the Dark Three Knights? Hah, how naively laughable!"

She abruptly changed the subject, throwing out a seemingly unrelated question: "Heh, Shapiro...did you leave any offspring in your homeland?"

"What?" Shapiro's composed expression suddenly turned into one of panic, and his pupils contracted slightly.

Seeing his momentary panic, Astros seemed to be watching a very amusing scene, and let out a pleasant and sharp laugh: "Although the ill-fated relationship between you and me will end here today."

But if you truly have descendants still alive, out of consideration for this "friendship," I might personally go and "transform" them into the imposters you speak of. Of course, you won't have the chance to witness that scene firsthand, so there's no need to feel heartbroken now.

"Yes~" Shapiro took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his turbulent emotions, and his eyes sharpened again. "How this war will end, the answer will soon be revealed."

Faced with Astros's vicious provocation, he said no more.

The surging divine power around him flowed like a hundred rivers into the sea, converging entirely on the giant shield in his hand.

The human shield seemed to merge into one, radiating a dazzling light that was too dazzling to look directly at.

The next second, Shapiro Gracia moved!

Like an arrow released from a bow, or a falling meteor, carrying an unwavering determination and all its strength, it crashed into Astros!

He knew that, facing an opponent who controlled the power of time, he might only have this one chance to strike with everything he had.

Astros looked at this straightforward, unpretentious charge with disdain.

"It seems you still don't understand the fundamental difference between us."

She gracefully raised her hand, and an invisible force of time rippled outwards.

Shapiro, who was rushing forward, suddenly stopped, as if he had been trapped in viscous amber, and his speed visibly slowed down.

Astros strode leisurely, as if strolling in a courtyard, calmly sidestepping Shapiro's path of charge, then phantom-like circling behind him—the very spot where a full-force charge and defense inevitably leave gaps.

"This boring game is over!"

Astros chuckled, a cruel smile curving his lips, and casually thrust the blade in his hand toward Shapiro's back.

however--

"ah!!!"

A piercing scream shattered the battlefield. The one who made the sound was not Shapiro, who was expected to be pierced, but Asterus, who had successfully launched a sneak attack!

The instant the blade touched Shapiro's carapace, a divine power far exceeding her expectations erupted!

With a loud bang, Astros was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily to the ground. The black energy on his body dissipated chaotically, and he was unable to get up for a while.

Shapiro, struggling to steady himself against his shield deeply embedded in the ground, had a trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth, but a relieved smile appeared on his face.

"You didn't lose to me," he said in a deep voice, gazing at the struggling black figure in the distance. "You lost to your own... arrogance."