Become their wicked yet gentle lord.

"what is that?"

Olivia on the ground also saw this scene and made an incredulous sound, but the situation did not allow her to be distracted. Her intuition told her that the black aura was definitely not normal!

"Everyone! Retreat immediately!"

"Retreat? But the Governor of Ryukyu is still up there..."

"Do you want to die?! That's an order!"

Without allowing her subordinates any room for doubt, Olivia roared with a heart-wrenching fury. Even before she had advanced to the Heavenly Rank, the moment that black energy entered the Earth Dragon Beast's brain, her hair stood on end. Her subordinates, stunned by her expression, immediately distanced themselves from the Earth Dragon Beast!

At the same time, inside Lady Sophie's carriage, Tipalotura, who was tending to Lady Sophie as she recovered her magic, suddenly raised her head and looked towards the distant battlefield.

"This is……"

As if waking from a nightmare, Tipalotura suddenly turned around and called out to the witch maid holding the parasol beside her:

"Nanalia! Quick! Stop Gerberi! Absolutely do not let her get close to the Earth Dragon Beast!!!"

"Yes Yes!"

The witch was clearly terrified. Although she didn't understand why, she quickly took out her communication crystal and called out to Gerberi:

"Sister Re-Reberi! Sister You is telling you to stay away from the Earth Dragon Beast! Did you hear me?!"

On the chair piled high with magical crystals, a weary Lady Sophie opened her eyes and weakly asked Tipalotura:

"Your Highness... what happened...?"

"No...it's just..."

Lady Sophie never imagined she would see such an expression on Tipalottura's face. Although the veil concealed her features, the furrowed brows in her deep blue eyes and her trembling body betrayed her fear. The princess, usually known for her cool and wise demeanor, now resembled a frightened little girl, desperately hoping that Nunnalia would be able to contact Gerberi…

The aura emanating from the Earth Dragon Beast was undoubtedly 'her'! Tipalotura hugged herself tightly, as if something beyond her control was about to burst forth from within her! Her deep blue eyes became cloudy with bloodshot eyes, and her lips were already bleeding from where she had bitten them...

Why now? What exactly happened? This calamity of Heavenly Rank magical beasts is indeed not as simple as it seems! A series of thoughts flashed through Tipalotura's mind, but at this moment she was more worried about Gerberi, who was carrying out the battle plan.

“Her witch power is almost beyond its limits... If she comes into contact with this aura... Gerberly…”

"What exactly happened?"

Even if Lady Sophie were foolish, she could tell something was wrong, but weakened, she couldn't detect any aura. However, she understood one thing: if Gerberi couldn't go to reinforce Ryūka as planned, then Ryūka would be alone to face that enormous monster!

As for myself, it will take a long time to recover my magic power...

Tipalotura was well aware of this, and she endured the pain in her body as she looked in the direction of the earth dragon beast.

"Ryu, Ryuka... If you really are as I foresaw... you should be able to do it, right? Please..."

-----------------

A storm of sword energy cleaved deep trenches in the earth, and the female knight in golden armor, with her mastery of power, made her warhorse walk on air! Like a wolf king hunting a flock of sheep, Gerberi swept across the horizon, using her attacks to drive the demonic legions on both flanks toward the center, concentrating them toward the ambush circle at the foot of the mountain.

"Is that Her Highness the Princess's knight? What an amazing figure! He's like a knight of Pegasus!"

The soldiers on the Tallinn position erupted in cheers! With the Imperial Guards of the capital acting as bait, and seeing Gerberi's valiant demeanor, the approaching monster army no longer seemed so frightening! After completing the first step of her mission, Gerberi slowly descended from the sky and addressed Tallinn, who was in charge of the annihilation operation:

"Lieutenant Tallin, I'm leaving the battle here and my men to you. I need to get to the Earth Dragon Beasts."

Tallin also saluted the female knight deeply: "Don't worry, we will complete the mission, long live Otus!"

"Long live Ottos!"

Just as Gerberly finished saluting, Nanalia's voice came from the leather bag at her waist:

"Sister Re-Re ...

"Nanalia? What happened?"

The moment Gerberly answered the call, Tipalotura's urgent voice came through:

"Jerberly! Never go near the Earth Dragon Beast!"

"But……"

His Highness's voice sounded strange, as if he were enduring immense pain, making Gerberi both nervous and puzzled. But if she didn't go to help Ryūka, was she supposed to leave that kid and Olivia and the others to face it alone?

The monster horde beneath their feet had just clashed with Thunder Fortress's legion and couldn't be resolved in a short time. Could Liu Xia really hold on?

"Listen carefully! There are definitely people near the battlefield! Find them! No! No! You can't go! What if they..."

For the first time in her life, Gerberi heard Tipalotura so flustered and anxious, unable to even make her own decisions. This puzzled her greatly, and just then, a strange aura suddenly wafted from afar.

"Gu..."

A surge of heat rose within her, and a wave of turmoil and rage made Gerberi's hand holding the sword tremble slightly! She looked towards the billowing smoke rising on the distant horizon, as if something was beckoning her there.

What... could control her more than Tipalotura's commands...?

Seemingly having heard the slight tremor that Gerberi had just emitted, Tipalotura's voice became even more anxious.

"Jerberly! Jereberly!"

"Ah... I understand... Your Highness..."

Although Gerberly answered in this way, her voice had begun to become confused, her face looked like it was on fire, and her eyes kept changing between clear and murky.

Then, bang!

The crystal ball slipped from her fingertips, fell to the foot of the mountain in front of Tallinn, and shattered into specks of white light amidst the battle between monsters and human armies...

"I...know...but..."

As if summoned by something, Gerberly couldn't control her thoughts. After trying to suppress them many times, she finally couldn't resist and soared into the air towards the Earth Dragon Beast!

Because there, there exists something she cannot resist, something within her that has been gradually spiraling out of control over time, something the witch's power cannot withstand...

"Kanya...? No...you are, Bell!"

On the back of the Earth Dragon Beast, Ryuka looked in surprise at the black mist that had just swept past her. After burrowing into the Earth Dragon Beast's skull, it transformed into a peculiar mark, and above this mark, a black phantom slowly coalesced!

At first, it was a black figure that was not clearly visible, but it gradually solidified into the shape of Kania. Whether it was her long purple hair that shimmered with starlight, her flawless face, or even every curve of her body, it was exactly the same as the little witch that Ryuka knew!

But that couldn't possibly be Kania! Ryuga was all too familiar with that feeling of his body and mind constantly descending into violence and madness simply by being near her! It was the feeling of witch corruption he had long since abandoned! And the instinctive resistance emanating from the fragments of order—he had experienced that too! It was the time when the Bell Witch had corrupted Ruklati, who was still 'Yu' at that time, and appeared before him!

And this 'Kanya' turned to look at him.

"Ok?"

Her playful and teasing expression, with a touch of allure, was practically Kania herself! But as Ryuka kept telling herself that she couldn't be Kania, and that the real Kania was still in Sochi, the figure in front of her began to blur and change.

"Oh, it's you! What a coincidence!"

A slightly disgruntled yet haughty voice rang out, pink hair danced in the air, and she hugged her promising breasts, turning to the person she was pouting at—it was Esther Miller.

She rested a single, jade-like finger on her chin, as if in slight thought:

"My lovely children asked me for something, and I thought it might be something serious, but I never expected to run into you here..."

Lovely children? Do you have a request?

For a moment, Ryuga didn't understand what Bell was talking about. Since Bell disappeared from her sight that time, she had never appeared again. It was as if Bell's possession of Ruklati's image and her seduction of her was just a dream. But the current conversation made Ryuga realize that the person in front of her was indeed the cruel witch herself!

Could it be that Bell was summoned here by someone? Like a ritual to invoke a god? Ryuka recalled Chloe's words: through special means, believers can summon the power of gods to the mortal world. Although it requires a divine messenger as a medium, anything is possible for a witch!

Is it Carmela? The archbishop of the Papal Inquisition? The witch from the Chosen Ones organization?

As Ryūka's mind changed, the Bel before her transformed once more, changing from Esther's appearance to that of Sinatiel! Whether it was the beautiful white bishop's robe or the tall crown that held her cascading black hair, it was exactly the same as the original!

"It seems you have a special connection with my children~ You vile heretic, you must be overjoyed, right?"

Although it was in Hinatil's tone, Ryuka still found it funny to be called a heretic by the cruel witch who was the chief heretic.

It seemed that her image in his eyes was changing along with the witches he was familiar with. Although he didn't know the reason, Ryuga felt a strange sensation; he couldn't treat the person in front of him as Bell, but rather as her transformed form. This mental suppression was particularly terrifying, sending chills down Ryuga's spine, and he tried hard to force himself to abandon any thoughts about witches.

That's right! Bell has seen it before. The huge, withered black corpse sealed in the Tipalotura domain is the real witch Bell!

As he thought this, the image of Hinatil gradually faded, returning to the blurry black figure that had appeared at the beginning. Even Bell was surprised by this, and couldn't help but let out a curious "Eh."

"What are you doing here! How were you summoned?!"

Faced with Ryūka's pressing questioning, Bell chuckled twice, reached her hand towards the head of the earth dragon beast at her feet, and said casually:

"I already said it's in response to the children's requests!"

It was obvious that Bell would never answer her question, but Ryuka knew her appearance was anything but good! In fact, it was terrible! Bell's appearance was definitely the work of Carmela and the Chosen One! And based on her understanding of the Cruel Witch, her power lay in bewitching and controlling other beings…

"Correct answer~"

As if it could read Ryukia's mind, Bell stretched out her hand, and the mysterious mark below her glowed with a crimson-black light! The Earth Dragon Beast immediately let out an extremely painful roar! The violent sound waves, coupled with the earth-shaking tremor, flung Ryukia violently off its back!

Berserk! In the sky, Ryuka crossed her arms in front of her chest, resisting the black magic that kept erupting from the earth dragon's body! Each burst was like a witch's invasion! One careless move could cause anyone who came into contact with it to lose their mind and become an uncontrollable madman!

"Roar roar roar!!￥……！￥！#!!!!"

Another angry ancient dragon's voice rang out, and this time, without Ryusha even needing to speak, Ruklati exclaimed in shock:

"This dragon has gone mad! Mad! Just like a thousand years ago! Countless creatures, under the cruel witch's command, have formed a crazed and twisted army! They have destroyed half of the world's life!!!"

Even though it was a demonic sword that had existed for over a thousand years, Ruklati's trembling voice was filled with fear, as if the chaotic scene had happened just yesterday!

Ryūka's idea was much simpler.

Regardless of why the Bell Witch appeared, she clearly didn't display any more abilities; she was simply driving the earth dragon beast into a frenzy!

So, what I need to do is very simple!

"Stop babbling! Just stopping this monster should be enough!"

Although Ryuka was able to talk to the Earth Dragon Beast named Ultras just now, and even tried to communicate with it, that opportunity was clearly gone now!

So whether you're shocked or analyzing, everything depends on resolving the immediate problem first!

"Jukrati!!!"

With a roar from Ryusha, the golden Scepter of Order was summoned into his hand! Separated from the source of power, Sochi, the scepter was more translucent, but it still exuded an aura that made people kneel and submit!

"I understand!!"

Ruklati, still in shock, was awakened by Ryuka. The fragment belonging to Ryuka instantly merged into the Scepter of Order, turning the semi-transparent scepter into a solid object! And it became a grotesque, spiky design!

The earth dragon beast continued to unleash even stronger magical shocks, threatening to blow Ryuka into the sky and turn her into a star! On the ground, Olivia and her subordinates had already retreated and escaped the calamity, but they were still crawling on the ground, trying to avoid the terrifying magical power. Completely unaware of its source, they could only pray that it would end soon.

Ryūsha slammed the scepter in his hand downwards! With a change of heart, Ruklati instantly transformed the scepter into the shape he desired!

bass!!!!

The spike at the tip of the scepter instantly lengthened and shot out like an arrow towards the earth dragon beast's body! It pierced deep into the earth dragon beast's body!

The spikes were attached to black and gold chains that reached Ryuka's hand. Ryuka pulled them back and slammed her body down hard against the Earth Dragon Beast!

boom!!!!

A massive crater appeared on the neck of the earth dragon beast! In the nearly ten-meter-deep crater, Ryuka clung to the chains securing her body with one hand, while the sleeve of her other arm was gone, and blood gushed from her muscular arm! This showed just how powerful the attack had been!

But this only broke through the skin of the earth dragon beast. Beneath it lay a thick layer of fat and muscle, like a quagmire, which was far from harming its vital organs!

"That's enough, Ruklati!"

At Ryūka's command, Ruklati and the scepter returned to their original forms, and then... instantly grew larger and thinner! Like a sharp giant needle, it was pierced fiercely into the neck of the Earth Dragon Beast by Ryūka!

Chapter 31 Unexpected Situations Among Unexpected Situations

The earth dragon's body reared up, letting out a heart-wrenching roar. Bell's figure was no longer visible above its massive head, but Ryūka couldn't care less at this moment. He only knew that if such a gigantic magical beast were to fully transform, it would be an absolute catastrophe!

Having used the witch's corrupting power myself, I know that in that tyrannical state, it can unleash several times its original strength! Not to mention, it absorbs the fear and despair of surrounding creatures. Once the Earth Dragon Beast enters that state, I fear it will be difficult to confine it within the Crimson Inferno created by Lady Sophie as it is now. And if it were to break through to the legion's level, I dare not imagine what a terrifying being it would become from the fear of thousands of people!

Ryūsha controlled Ruklati, transforming the scepter into a needle and plunging it deep into the earth dragon's thick neck. Ruklati didn't understand what such an attack could achieve, but having dealt with cruel witches since ancient times, she understood the situation perfectly. Bell's sudden appearance was unexpected; she didn't understand why Ryūsha was fighting so desperately. Ruklati sighed and calmly said to Ryūsha:

"My little master, retreating now is the best option."

Retreat? Liu Xia snorted coldly, his power output undiminished! He could easily escape, but what about the five thousand soldiers behind him? What about the important mines in the south?

Although these weren't his own troops or his own mines, Ryusha knew exactly what would happen if he gave up now. A heavily damaged Thunder Fortress would be unable to defend the southern border, allowing the already restless southern kingdoms, the Bauhinia Kingdom, and even the Chosen Ones to act with impunity. Furthermore, a significant reduction in the production of magic crystal ore would impact the entire empire's resources. Combined, these factors would be enough to turn Otus into a complete mess!

Strength sometimes comes from size, but stability is also crucial. If Otus suffers such a blow, the whole world will descend into chaos! At least for now, Ryūka doesn't want to face a world in complete disarray, rife with war and rampant ambition. To do so without preparation is tantamount to deliberately jumping into a cesspool.

Therefore, as long as there is still a possibility of trying, Ryuka does not intend to give up.

"I've used less than a third of my strength, so I can still try."

Hearing Ryūka's decisive decision, Ruklati said no more, silently cooperating with his wishes and transforming the Scepter of Order into the shape he desired. However, she couldn't understand whether this method, which neither involved magic nor rules, could truly stop the witch's corruption of the Earth Dragon Beast.

But Ryuka knew very well.

The first time I used the Witch's Corruption technique was when Hetia had beaten my body to a pulp.

At that time, although he gained unparalleled enhancement, and even pain was transformed into pleasure, his body first recovered from its battered state before attacking Hetia.