The Poet of Great Love Is Truly Happy

It was the quietest moment in the sanctuary. Clang, clang. As if the sun were dipping toward the western hills, ripples of golden light washed over the ancient castle's walls, and the hourly bell began to chime. Chimes echoed from the belfry above, piercing the serenity. Yet rather than disturbing the sanctuary's calm, they only added a layer of solemn sanctity. However... In a fleeting instant noticed by no one... Orange feather-light motes scattered as a girl resembling a fairy of flowers set foot inside the sanctuary. It was a drawn-out moment that felt almost like eternity descending. Her red gown cascaded like rose petals. She danced gracefully through the air, bearing a faint floral scent, and the smile brimming in her eyes resembled a lake glistening under starlight. The surrounding people were mesmerized by the demon appearing in the sacred sanctuary. Gazing in wonder at her angelic countenance, none of them had time to react. "Show me your love!" The Poet of Great Love's joyful voice erupted like a buzzing wave, setting time in motion again and echoing through the hall. In an instant, an unfathomable storm began brewing in this once-peaceful sanctuary, as though the line between dream and reality was about to invert! Aside from Lanqi, whose expression remained as leisurely as ever, and Hyperion, who had long been on high alert... Everyone else began spiraling into madness. Most conspicuously of all— The expressions of two individuals twisted, warping into an indescribable, hideous hatred! In the Creti Empire's warrior-mage-priest party, the petite priestess was no longer shy or demure. As if possessed, her body discarded all reason and caution. Tossing every rational thought to the wind, she unleashed a dark judgment spell at Lanqi with surging murderous intent! Like a stormy sea churning wildly under a lunar eclipse, pitch-black lightning flashed and tore through the sanctuary with a deafening boom, its crude magical power instantly scorching the flagstones black. However... A spell cast by someone on the verge of losing her sanity had poor aim. Lanqi casually took two paces to the right, strolling out of harm's way. He tilted his head and smiled gently at the priestess, as if to say, *My, you certainly are impatient.* "Lanqi!!!" Her eyes nearly splitting open, the priestess screamed in impotent fury. She wildly hurled what few offensive spells she possessed at Lanqi, entirely forgetting that her role was that of a support and that she ought to coordinate with her allies. Meanwhile, the tall, dashing female knight watched the sudden unraveling of events. Her expression darkened to the extreme. She gripped her trembling wrist, striving with all her might to maintain her crumbling composure. Yet she soon realized her mind had already been corrupted by an irresistible mental magic. No matter how formidable her self-control, the expression on her face had surely betrayed her by now. "Hehehe... Lanqi Wilfort, you filthy bastard... If I don't kill you, I am unworthy of being the Saintess of Destruction..." As if abandoning all resistance, or perhaps unleashing her true self... The female knight's demeanor shifted completely. Black armor enveloped her body, and a wild, menacing grin spread across her lips. Clutched in her hand was a greatsword whose guard and blade were bound by a golden beast's eye blazing with fiery crimson flames as she strode forward. The temperature in the entire sanctuary seemed to spike by several degrees! She did not charge rashly at Lanqi; instead, she observed him while steadily pacing her breath. Now that her cover was blown and combat was inevitable, she had no reservations left. Maintaining inner calm was all that mattered. Even from a distance, the other challengers could feel the scorching wave of heat stinging their skin. Such oppressive power was by no means Tier 5. The female knight had finally stopped concealing her true strength. The magical power rising like blazing flames alone was likely already comparable to a Tier 6 spellcaster. Hyperion watched the female knight with intense vigilance. Knowing she was completely outmatched, she could only do her best to stand before Lanqi and shield him. In the Resurrection Church, aside from the Cardinals, there were certain chosen sons and daughters—Holy Sons and Saintesses—nurtured personally by the bishops, young prodigies groomed to succeed them one day. Every single one was a terrifying entity possessing top-tier temperament, intellect, and strength among their peers. The female knight before them, having cast off her guise, was none other than the killing machine molded by Ivanos, the Bishop of Destruction—the Saintess of Destruction. Just as Hyperion assumed that Lanqi would finally turn solemn in the face of an adversary of this caliber... She heard Lanqi sigh from behind her: "Splendid. Such temperament is destined for greatness. What a pity she went astray." Lanqi could hardly conceal his regret as he continued, "If such fine talent had been sent to my Corridors Academy earlier, she would never have fallen into becoming a Resurrection Church cultist. That Resurrection Church truly stops at no evil!" Hyperion: "..." *I honestly think she might be better off in the Resurrection Church.* ... The Shadow World's information panel had already updated to read: [Quest Objective 1: Identify the Traitors 2/2] This meant the Shadow World had abruptly transitioned to the next phase without warning. Inside the spacious sanctuary, the others were also undergoing various degrees of mental alterations under the Poet of Great Love's influence. "Why... Why... Even you two...?" The noble mage girl—the last remaining member of the Creti Empire party—could not believe that the only companions she trusted were Resurrection Church cultists. Clutching her head in despair, she fell to her knees in tears, her spirit utterly shattered, incapable of accepting what was happening before her eyes. Perhaps because of her unique status, the Saintess of Destruction had chosen not to take her hostage. On the other side, the merchant guild heir burst into hysterical laughter, looking completely unhinged and oblivious to the fact that the sanctuary had suddenly accelerated into an intensely perilous final showdown. "Hahahaha! Keep the lecture going, keep having fun!" He looked as though he had been brainwashed by some bizarre academy. At a moment like this, the thing he wanted most was to continue the class. Evidently, what he had learned that afternoon had brought him genuine joy, leaving him yearning for more even now. "What an idiot..." The male guard had already dragged the foolish young master behind him to protect him, while the normally expressionless female guard radiated intense killing intent as she glared at the cultists, ready to stake her life should they pose the slightest threat to the young master. The handsome guard was the least affected by the Poet of Great Love apart from Lanqi and Hyperion. Calm, collected, and immensely powerful, he had already locked his gaze onto the Saintess of Destruction as if facing a mortal threat. Yet what truly sent shivers down his spine was the terrifying, mind-devouring demonic nature of Lanqi, who remained composed and saw through everything from the smallest clue. If this lawyer had been the real Resurrection Church cultist, he could not fathom what kind of nightmare they would be facing. By comparison, even the legendary Saintess of the Resurrection Church hardly seemed as horrifying. And that was precisely why, even when staring down the Saintess of Destruction, he still felt a sense of reassurance. Because right now, this lawyer was a teammate on their side! ... While these individuals were all suffering more or less from the indiscriminate negative effects of the Poet of Great Love... Three individuals had received something that was not a negative effect at all! "Cultists! Kill, kill, kill!!!" "Truly worthy of being a friend of the High Priest!" "All of this is the Goddess's grace!" Inside the sanctuary, the three clerics looked as if they had downed a potion of frenzy. Fanatical faith spread through their veins like a contagion, making them feel as if fire were coursing through their very blood! Having spent the entire afternoon absorbing Lanqi's anti-cult teachings, and now spurred by the Poet of Great Love's emotional trigger, the three Northern Continent clerics had essentially morphed into zealots, their combat prowess surging. In their eyes, only the two Resurrection Church cultists who had bared their murderous intent remained. They no longer saw them as humans, but as an aberration, a sin to be cleansed—or perhaps, a colossal bundle of divine merit! With a resounding battle cry, a chaotic siege erupted across the sanctuary!