Hehe... hehe...

The charred "Black-robed Nuns" twisted their bodies like severe epileptic patients, their joints cracking continuously. They moved step by step towards the frantic believers trying to escape but failing to flee quickly.

Before they approached, the terrible smell of blood and charred flesh mixed together forced a person to gag.

"Help... help!"

"Don't kill me!"

"....."

Facing the cries and screams for help from the mortals.

The dozen or so "Black-robed Nuns," with faces burned beyond recognition, even losing their features, unmistakably displayed a look of pleasure.

Because they were greedily sucking the fear from the mortals, then offering it to their noble master.

Obviously, [Ability: Desecration] enables the Demon God to absorb the Power of Faith from other deities, slowly restoring strength even if nothing else is done.

However, the Demon God that came to Sheffield City seemed unsatisfied with this slow "income-generating" business.

Instead, it sought to quickly regain power by generating fear and even resorting to slaughter!

"Devil! Stand still for me!"

Just as the hundreds of believers, trying to flee for their lives but finding their limbs as if laden with lead, began to despair, an aged yet dignified shout suddenly echoed in their ears.

It was the elderly Holy Professional who had just presided over the mass, standing out resolutely in this moment of crisis.

Not only did he refuse to flee, but he stood firm like a nail where he was, blocking the advance of the "Black-robed Nuns."

At the same time, he raised high the Black Iron Cross Holy Emblem with an anchor point in his hand towards the bizarre creatures.

He loudly chanted the Holy Words of exorcism:

"The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire!"

"Even if you are angry, do not sin, do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give a foothold to the devil!"

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see the True God!"

"..."

The majestic light patterns rapidly spread outward with the Holy Emblem as the core, filling the main hall of the church like a vast brilliance.

Ee! Ee! Ee!...

The Holy Words from the mouth of the Holy Professional obviously made them extremely uncomfortable, their charred claws constantly scratching at the air in front of them, as if scraping on glass, producing piercing shrieks.

However, the Holy Professional's efforts only went so far.

A mere elderly dean, equivalent to a Tier 2 Official Transcendent, was clearly no match for a group of "Black-robed Nuns" at least of the same tier.

Before the temporarily freed believers could run far.

His thin body began to tremble slightly, producing the same "gak gak gak" joint popping sounds as the "Black-robed Nuns."

Even though he gritted his teeth, refusing to retreat a step, his slender body was slowly pushed out of the church's main hall under the pressure of an invisible force.

"Aiven, take me over there!"

Seeing this scene, Liweina felt an urgent tug in her heart.

Regardless of the unclear situation or any unseen dangers that still might be present, she could not sit idly by and watch her people be slaughtered.

Aiven gently patted Liweina's shoulder, comforting her:

"Don't worry, the enhanced version of the [Mind Network] over these three years has already covered the whole Tulip territory and the main routes.

We don't need to intervene. Based on the 'information sharing mechanism' and the 'emergency response mechanism' against the Demon God, it will also be promptly reported to the relevant rapid response department.

This incident is also a practical test of our national defense system."

"But..."

Liweina still looked worried.

Daring to act recklessly on the territory of the world's strongest nation, and this time not appearing in a "demon-like" form, it is very likely not a minor character.

At this moment.

As all the "Black-robed Nuns" suddenly extended their clawed right hands fiercely towards the elderly dean.

Whoosh——!

The ground beneath his feet suddenly cracked open, with ghostly blue flames shooting out, countless withered arms emerging, grabbing his limbs to pull him into the ground.

"Supreme 'Sea Monarchy,' please forgive your servant's incompetence..."

Just as he accepted his fate, beginning to pray to the Goddess for repentance.

"Throw the bomb!"

Boom! Boom!

Two red shadows suddenly flew over, exploding loudly above the elderly dean's head.

They were two [Holy Salt Bombs] produced in the Galliot Duchy.

The raw material wasn't the table salt commonly used in many Church rituals, but a red sulfate crystal prepared through Witchcraft.

The next second.

When the air-bursting [Holy Salt Bomb] scattered a fine rain of red crystals, it filled the entire space.

The old dean felt no abnormality, but those dry arms and a few "Black-robed Nuns" seemed to be bathing in acid rain, emitting blue smoke and letting out shrill screams of agony.

"Haha, Your Excellency Dean, let us perform an exorcism through physical means!"

Accompanied by a cheerful voice, a team of twenty fully armed personnel rushed over under the gas lamps illuminating the way to the small chapel.

Besides the two leading "Crowmen."

This group of armed personnel mostly wore steel helmets and steel half-body armor, with uniquely designed firearms connected by reinforced rubber hoses to personal "steam pressure tanks" on their backs.

Although they looked heavy, in this world, even the non-Extraordinary possess remarkable physical fitness, so such a burden wasn't considered cumbersome.

These were the Kingdom City Guard equipped with the new [High-Pressure Steam Guns].

In this regard, even Aiven, who temporarily hadn't prepared to hand out modern firearms to the "capital" tide, chose to follow suit.

Similarly, he equipped the Army and Sky Knight teams with the [High-Pressure Steam Guns].

Yes, all locally produced, without paying any patent fees to the "Steam and Mechanism Cult."

Bam! Bam! Bam!...

Because the "Combat Manual" written by the Military Department requires maintaining the pressure of the [High-Pressure Steam Guns] above 80% during well-supplied city patrol missions.

Even in rapid movement, they raised their guns at the first command, unleashing a metallic storm with a red glow on those charred "Black-robed Nuns."

These meticulously crafted high-pressure steam guns can fire ten rounds in rapid succession when fully pressurized. Additionally, the equipped coral steel bullets add an extra layer of power.

Screech—!

Amidst the horrifying screams, each shot made the "Black-robed Nuns" lose a significant part of their form.

Clearly, their essence was just a group of Evil Spirits, severely restrained by the [Holy Salt Bomb] and [Coral Steel].

The true forms of the Demon Gods were all hidden securely, and these creatures, escaping from holy statues, although directly controlled by the Demon Gods, were merely tools to gather fear, flesh, and souls.

"Kill! For Her Majesty the Queen!"

"For Her Majesty the Queen!"

During the "Spirit Tide" period, the Holy Salt Bombs, sword oil, and coral steel weapons were already standard equipment for the Crowman Team, and now the conventional army assuming expanded functions inherited them well.

With the coordination of these sharp weapons and elite forces, more than a dozen Evil Spirits couldn't hold on for long before being extinguished by the relentless rain of bullets.

The City Guard's first battle with new equipment was a big victory.

Prepared, the [High-Pressure Steam Guns] held a great advantage over ordinary firearms.

However, before they could breathe a sigh of relief.

The leading Crowman suddenly noticed an eerie female figure appearing at the church door, where the Evil Spirits had emerged, without anyone noticing.

Her face was so pale it seemed faintly green, her eyes blood-red, and curved horns grew from her head. She wore a luxurious black dress with golden trims, and at the hem were not human feet—but a pair of... mule's black hooves!

She licked her pale, bloodless lips at the group of soldiers:

"Heh, an interesting technological weapon, humans truly are the most creative race, though I lack the field for that."

The lead Crowman suddenly turned pale.

"You are...! Open fire!!!"

Bam! Bam! Bam!...

Yet this time, the storm-like [Coral Steel] bullets seemed to hit water waves on her, without making the slightest impact.

"Ai...."

About to ask Aiven for a strategy, Olivia and Liweina suddenly realized that a ghostly figure identical to him had split from his body, then vanished abruptly.

[Witchcraft: Projection]

Possessing two points of [Divinity], Aiven can now segregate a powerful projection with the same abilities that equally ignore all mundane attacks, much like a Demigod projection.

This ability is even more convenient and formidable than [Eternal Shell]!

Furthermore.

At the moment the Demon God appeared, Aiven identified her at once.

Among the 72 Pillar Demon Gods, four are the most revered. They not only hold the status equivalent to that of demigods but also are the strongest among demigods, referred to collectively as the [Supreme Four Pillars].

They are:

The Eastern Monarch "Milibali," ranked as the Dark Prince; the Western Monarch "Baimon," ranked as the Dark Prince;

The Southern Monarch "Astaroth," ranked as King; and the Northern Monarch, also possessing unparalleled beauty and immense power, the Queen Asmodeus, ranked as the Dark Prince.

The one appearing in the Tulip was not one of the four Monarchs of the [Supreme Four Pillars], but still one of the highest-ranked among the Demon Gods—a member of the top echelon of the 72 Pillar Demon Gods, ranked 4th: Samikina, ranked as King!