Chapter 163: The Pope

“Xiong Da! Let’s go back together! Let’s leave this disgusting world!”

Xiong Da’s voice echoed in Xiong Er’s ears, but amidst the barrage of information, she couldn’t process a single word he said.

Her mind kept replaying the scene of Zhai Guangyi being devoured, Wang Dazhuang losing his limbs, and the captured Hero Lin Xiaobai being tortured.

Xiong Da was actually doing such things in Banwang City—things Xiong Er could never have imagined. Now, she only felt that He Xiaoxiao was so unfamiliar. If she refused, what kind of fate would she face?

The colossal Demon Avatar, with power surpassing that of an ordinary Demigod, concentrated the combined strength of tens of thousands of the Demon King’s Army. It had already touched the threshold of the Demon King’s power. Such a monstrous force was now in Xiong Da’s hands, and Xiong Er had no strength to oppose it.

There was also a girl named Lucy, whose level Xiong Er could no longer discern through Appraisal. Her strength must have reached Demigod level as well. Along with the human army controlled by Xiong Da and led by Saiwen, even if Xiong Batian were present, she might not be able to withstand such combined power.

Moreover, judging by Xiong Da’s tone, it seemed he had been planning this for a long time. Fear spread through Xiong Er’s heart. All she wanted now was to escape from this strangely behaving Xiong Da. What on earth had happened?

Xiong Da, who had been beaming with joy just moments ago, suddenly pulled a long face and spoke to Xiong Er with utter indifference.

“Can’t you hear me? Ignoring someone’s question is very rude!”

Xiong Da grabbed Xiong Er by the neck and lifted her into the air. Xiong Da was much taller than Xiong Er, and Xiong Er’s female frame was not particularly robust. Lacking physical training, she often relied on Spirit Magic. Being suddenly choked, she panicked completely.

She flailed her arms and legs, desperately trying to pull at Xiong Da’s arm. Xiong Da’s attributes leaned more toward survival, with high strength and defense stats. The terrifying pressure made Xiong Er momentarily forget how to fight back.

Xiong Da then pulled her into an embrace and spoke softly into her ear.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I was afraid you wouldn’t want to go back with me. Let’s stop playing here and go home.”

He’s gone mad! Completely mad! The back of Xiong Er’s clothes was soaked with cold sweat. It would have been easier if Xiong Da had remained cold or cruel, but his tone and expression changed so rapidly that Xiong Er didn’t dare resist for now. Her only thought was to placate him first; escaping could come later.

“I’ll go back with you, Xiaoxiao. Can you tell me what’s really going on?”

Xiong Er quickly calmed down. With her combat abilities, it would be difficult to resist the Submission that had evolved into an Ultimate Skill. It was better to gather more information.

If she could find an opportunity to flip through that ‘World’s Guidebook,’ her Special Skill might allow her to replicate some of its functions. Moreover, Lucy’s identity was also suspicious. Xiong Er remembered that she was a Blessed One from the Adventurers’ Association, and her Blessing Target should be the True God of the Church.

Demon King Mephistopheles actually failed to keep Zhai Guangyi, who was sent to assist him, alive. There must be something fishy going on here. Having control over the Demon King’s Army would also give her an extra card to play in any confrontation.

Now, Xiong Er was also unsure of Lord Divine Tree’s intentions and somewhat unclear about her own current situation. Everything had become chaotic.

Regardless of what Xiong Da intended to do now, Xiong Er could sense that he still had no intention of harming her.

“Alright, I’ll explain it to you slowly.”

Xiong Da released Xiong Er from his embrace, a blissful smile spreading across the young man’s face.

But deep down, Xiong Er felt somewhat nauseated by that smile.

In the capital of the Kingdom, at its very center stood a magnificent, imposing palace. This palace, located in the most prosperous city of humanity, served not only as the residence of the Royal Family but also as the headquarters of the True God Church.

A maiden dressed in a splendid golden long dress arrived before a large door within the palace. With a grave expression, she pushed the door open.

Behind the door was an enormous round table, and the walls were adorned with countless Golden Quality Magic Artifacts, hanging like decorations throughout the room.

Holding a Magic Crystal, the maiden looked at the explosive messages in the group chat from her classmates and the information sent by Rui Jielude, her heart heavy with dread.

“Saintess Elizabeth, Your Highness, what is the situation?”

Seated around the round table were forty-eight humans clad in Church robes. An middle-aged man sitting directly opposite the door, seeing the maiden’s expression as she entered, knew the situation was not ideal and inquired somewhat displeasedly about the intelligence this Princess Royal possessed.

“The Hero has betrayed us, and Archbishop Mier was killed by the Demon Human Xiong Batian. Preliminary assessment suggests Xiong Batian’s strength has surpassed that of an ordinary level 80 Demigod. Additionally, the presence of a Demon King Seed has been detected within her; it is only a matter of time before she evolves into a Demon King.”

Ye Yuanyuan answered Pope’s question with a somber expression.

“Source of the intelligence.”

Pope Sisket continued his cold inquiry. He was not concerned about the matters of the Hero or Mier; these were trivial matters—merely the loss of a Hero who had not yet fully grown, though it was somewhat regrettable to lose a Demigod Powerhouse like Mier.

“A Demigod named Rui Jielude. He is the sole survivor of this battle, released by my friend.”

Ye Yuanyuan did not disclose information about her classmates to the Pope. As a revered figure holding the dual status of the Church’s Saintess and the Royal Family’s Princess Royal, she had the right to protect her classmates.

The true rulers of this nation were not the Royal Family but the Church. The heir to the throne must have once served as a Bishop, blessed by the Pope to become the master of this country.

Therefore, every prospective King must first become a Bishop of the Church to qualify as a candidate for the throne. Among those at this round table, eighteen were Princes or Princesses of the Royal Family.

Most of them were from Ye Yuanyuan’s father’s generation, having spent decades becoming Bishops, waiting only for the Emperor to step down. Then, the Pope would select from among them to become the new Emperor of the Kingdom.

Because of this, within the Kingdom, the Pope held absolute authority. Even if the Pope did not enjoy interfering in internal affairs, a single word from him could cause terrifying upheaval in the Kingdom. No King dared to defy his will.

“Hmm. Anything else?”

Pope Sisket nodded. He was well aware of Saintess Elizabeth’s little secrets, including the fact that she originally did not belong to this World—the Pope knew it all very clearly.

“This also contains information about my friends. The Demon King Mephistopheles has already clashed with the Dragonkin, and the Elven Divine Tree Sylph has also appeared in the Mesopotamia Forest.

Honored One Pope, I wish to request your intervention to save my friends.”