Not to mention, there is also the Eternal Lord who is planning to achieve greatness.

According to Yiteo and Diana’s prediction, Yiteo will achieve greatness in no more than seventy years. At this rate, before Eve succeeds, the other side will have already been promoted.

Of course, there is another way, which is for Eve to further expand the number of players...

But frankly, according to Eve’s investigation of the Blue Star Network, so far, the number of people owning stealth cabins on the entire Blue Star does not exceed two hundred million.

Even if two hundred million players are summoned, it would still take at least fifteen years to break through the blockade.

Fifteen years seems to meet the conditions, but it’s important to know such a large number of players is more than Eve can handle right now.

Although having already achieved greatness, the maximum number of players She can support is no more than thirty million.

Any more, and She might not be able to sustain the consumption.

Unless... Eve officially initiates a plane war with the Eternal Lord, using battle to sustain battle.

Maximize the use of [Devour] ability, maintaining the entire large system through players’ [War Sacrifice] capabilities.

And this also means that the entire Segis Universe will likely face a truly catastrophic Fourth Calamity.

Of course, there is also a prerequisite.

That is Eve needs to first thoroughly expel the power of the Eternal Lord from the Segis World, so as to rely on the army of players to start a plane war through the unsealed major plane channels.

Although the Gate of Reversal is considered a bug, if one wants to teleport such a large-scale player army, the consumption is still too terrifying and must rely on Segis World to communicate with the channels of other planes!

Eve quickly figured out everything.

Perhaps... it is time to start closing the net in the Segis World.

Thinking of this, Eve returns to the Divine Country, looking at the Segis World sand table transformed by Divine Power in the supreme temple.

Only to see, in the Human Kingdom occupying nearly two-thirds of the continent’s territory, the light of faith is already a raging fire.

And now, it has only been half a year since She gave the players the order to preach in the Human Kingdom.

Such a short time, and faith has spread so rapidly, the downfall of the Eternal Church... is evident.

However, at this moment, Eve’s heart moved slightly and she looked at a certain faith star on the sky of the Divine Country.

The star is shimmering, radiant.

But at this moment, it is covered with a layer of shadow, obstructing Eve’s perception.

That is the star of the Divine Favored, Old John...

...

Segis Continent, the border between the Holy Mania Empire and Aries Kingdom.

On the shimmering banks of the Vimur River, a procession riding Dragon Scale Horses continues to move forward.

Many people in the team are wearing hoods, with lavish equipment on them, clearly concealing their identities as players.

Though... the lavish equipment has almost exposed their identities.

If you look closely, you will find the whole team is arranged around a white-robed priest, with everyone continuously protecting him.

That priest is no one else but Old John who left Larona.

After leaving Larona, Old John preached as he walked along the empire’s border, lighting up a long channel of faith.

This is a very clever move. The border is a region where the Eternal Church has relatively weak control, yet thanks to the trade between the two countries, this area is not sparsely populated. Although a lot of people fled due to the war, most were nobles and the wealthy, while many commoners and the impoverished remained.

Preaching here is a great choice.

Months have passed, and Old John’s name has gradually spread prominently along the empire’s border, and through his preaching, more and more believers have converted to the Goddess of Life.

Along with this, the seventeen players who protect Old John have also gradually gained fame, known as the seventeen disciples of the Divine Favored John.

And Old John’s next target is the empire’s Eastern Territory.

Recently, two lords there have erupted into war again, causing the people to suffer greatly. The Eternal Church’s power is relatively weak, and it is the time when the light of hope is needed.

He plans to first head south along the border and meet with Frank, who has already settled roots there, and then take the eastern route into the empire’s Eastern Territory to spread the Goddess’s way.

Several more months passed, and as it turned to early winter, the Vimur River, always famous for its warm waters, showed some traces of greenery along its banks.

Those are the reeds growing by the river.

The reeds grow very tall, up to two or three meters, forming large clusters of dense meadows. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

And just as the entire team was advancing into a meadow of reeds, the players leisurely enjoying the scenery on either side, suddenly, amidst the sound of a whistle, hundreds of arrows shot in from all directions towards the team.

Seeing the arrows glowing with magical luminescence, feeling the formidable power within them, the player leading the team’s expression changed slightly:

"Not good! Quickly dodge!"

But it was already too late.

Taken by surprise, four or five players, already of the Golden Rank, were instantly shot into hedgehogs, without even making a sound, disappearing into dazzling rays of light.

And while the remaining players managed to resist thanks to luck or skill, half were directly heavily injured.

Only Divine Favored John was spared, thanks to the layers of protection from the players.

"Gold Professionals! All Gold Professionals!"

Feeling the numbing force that passed through his arm when blocking the arrows, the player specialized in guarding Old John’s protection showed a grim expression.

As soon as the words were uttered, the sound of rustling came from all around.

The reeds swayed, and Judgement Knights clad in silver armor and white robes, fully armed, appeared in the players’ field of vision.

Their eyes were cold, their strength formidable, and at least one hundred of them quickly surrounded the scattered team.

"Judgement Knights, Eternal Church..."

The players’ expressions became increasingly serious.

Although their route was low-key, it wasn’t entirely secret, and for those with ulterior motives, it was still possible to deduce their plans.

Clearly, this ambush targeted the recently rising Old John.

"Lord John, we will protect you! You quickly jump into the water and escape!"

The leading player turned to Old John and said.

However, what came was a gentle sigh from the other party:

"It’s too late."

Just as he finished speaking, a faint golden light gathered in the sky, gradually transforming into a translucent platinum-colored shield, enveloping the entire team within.

The Eternal Church’s Divine Descent Curse—[Cage of Order]

It’s a forbidden Divine Art that only those of the Eternal Church with Legendary Power or higher Divine Favored can cast after a certain amount of preparation time, able to completely lock down an area and even temporarily imprison the power of surface-level faith networks.

In other words, even though Old John is a Divine Favored, from this moment on he cannot borrow Divine Power.

"Capture the Life Preacher John, the rest are to be executed!"

The leading Judgement Knight coldly ordered.

With the order given, the knights swarmed and began fighting the players.

Weapons clashed, shouts echoed.

The outcome... was without suspense.

Already heavily damaged by the rain of arrows, the players were no match for the Judgement Knights, and upon engagement, fell back step by step, each dying in battle.

In less than five minutes, the last player also vanished in a flash of light, leaving only the cry "Long live the Goddess" echoing in the air...

And Old John, was also bound by the Magic Prohibition Chains wielded by the swarming Judgement Knights.

Although he is a Divine Favored, once cut off from the power of the faith network, he could not use Divine Power.

The Judgement Knights showed no delight in the victory of the battle, remaining cold and emotionless from start to finish, like emotionless machines.

Several silver swords were held against Old John’s neck, and shortly after, the knights made way for a path, and a black-robed Eternal Bishop emerged.

His eyes rested on the calmly-faced Old John, with a slight smile:

"Lord John, the Pope wishes to see you."