NOVPUB"Master, I think the power he received from the contract with the Great Demon of Pride. Although his title is Pride, this demon’s power is actually mind domination. Hell is connected to all mortal worlds, and I’ve read several records about it. So, most likely, this information is reliable." Uriel put on her magic glasses and opened her grimoire.
"The power he received from the Demon King of Pride is mind control, hmm..." Miko put her hands on the table, waiting for other opinions.
"Our master said this fake hero received more than three awakenings. The main problem is where he got those powers from." Michael reminded the others of the main point.
"Uh, yes, you’re right. His first awakening was on Earth through the same procedure as the other summoned heroes. The second one was from the Council of Gods, and the third was from the contract with the Great Demon of Pride. We need more information." Uriel recounted the available information.
"His original ability is water magic, the second is stealth shadow, and the third one is mind control. So, what is his fourth main ability? Jophi, what do you think?" Rafaela pondered about it and asked for an opinion from the only person who had ever encountered the said fake hero.
"I don’t know, but I froze the moment he captured me. He thought I was an undercover demon who infiltrated the Elysion Church, his kindred. After failing to dominate me, he asked me to cooperate with him by threatening me..." Jophiel muttered softly, feeling a little embarrassed.
"Hm, should we send Jophi as a spy? She can cooperate with the fake hero and then stab him in the back. It’s a beauty trap." Azrael came up with an idea.
"No, never! I may play with people’s feelings as mere playthings, but I will never play the betrayal plan. That would be so unladylike." Jophiel rebuked sternly as she was utterly against Azrael’s idea.
The disciples and representatives of the Elysion Church also stated their opinions regarding their tentative guesses. After listening to everything, Miko pondered about it, and the silence made Jophiel feel nervous.
"Do you know... what we need to find out is his mysterious power source. Besides the power of water, shadow, and mind control, he also possesses the soul fire. The fire can burn one’s soul and it can’t be extinguished. Whoever kills him will be burned together with him. Our current assumption is he also has a contract with a Demon God." Miko crossed her arms, feeling confused about it. Even the Sacred Heaven Grimoire couldn’t answer everything in detail without proper clues.
"!!!" Everyone gasped in shock. They could never expected it if their master didn’t say it. 𝓷ℴ𝓿𝓅𝓊𝒷.𝓬𝓸𝓂
Knowing about this situation, the fake hero’s position was so tricky and difficult to deal with. The Council of Gods, including the Glorious God was unaware of it yet, but this fake hero possessed four different power sources.
"You don’t have to worry. We already have a plan for this. Wait for our next instructions as the main stage will begin when the hero expedition team departs. Just be careful of this fake hero, Liu Kang, the Water Devil." Miko faintly smiled as she knew her true body already had everything planned.
"Obey." Everyone responded with great reverence.
Miko’s task was only to ensure Jophiel was safe, but because of what happened, Jophiel had to be dismissed from the stage temporarily. She informed it to Jophiel, and Jophiel obeyed the arrangement like an obedient girl.
’Hum, as long as their faith stays strong above 95%, nothing can invade their minds, not as long as my true body is conscious. I now wonder who has fallen under the fake hero’s mind control...’ Miko muttered in her mind as she found it would require extra attention.
Those who were affected by the fake hero’s mind control were equivalent to the additional enemies under his command.
"The Elysion Church will take a major role in the future. For now, we need to monitor anyone who comes into contact with the fake hero." Miko stood, looking at those with infiltration and espionage experiences.
"I can do the perfect job for it." Daemyx raised his hand to volunteer.
"My ability and experience as an assassin are perfect for this. I’ll look into it more deeply, master." Azrael bowed like a knight.
"Good. The competition will start soon. Do it for later as everyone wishes to see how you fare against the summoned heroes and other talented young prodigies. Please give your best, but refrain from crossing the limit. We’re cheering for you~" Miko put her hands together with an encouraging smile, putting aside the previous problem for the time being.
"The honor is ours." The participants were honored. They had to perform to the best of their abilities, but still had to pay attention to what they could do and not.
They should show their progress for the glory of their Goddess. It didn’t matter if they won the match or not, they had to show everyone their might and potential in the arena.
"Myra, Daemyx... Jophi is unwell and needs to return early. Therefore, Sacred Sakura Saintess, Priestess Miko, will replace her for today." Miko put a veil on Jophiel’s face and cast a disguise magical technique to turn Jophiel into her temporary handmaiden.
"At your service, Priestess Miko." Myra, Daemyx, and the Elysion Church representative bowed respectfully.
"I’ll be a handmaiden?" Jophiel was pleasantly surprised. She would gladly become her master’s handmaiden!
"Hm?" Miko began to consider sending Jophiel to her true body’s group instead.
"Please allow me to become your handmaiden, master. I won’t cause trouble anymore, hehe~" Jophiel grabbed her master’s hand.
"You should, junior sister." Gabriella heaved a subtle sigh.
"Let’s go." Miko beckoned Jophiel to stand up.
Seeing the green light after being forgiven, Jophiel immediately removed the concrete bricks from her thighs. She stood up, but her legs refused to respond. She staggered and fell into her master’s arms.
"Does it hurt? This way, you will always remember your lesson even if you wish to forget it." Miko cast a healing magic on Jophiel’s legs.
"Jophi learned her lesson, master." Jophiel smiled in relief.
The Elysion Church’s group soon left the gathering place and headed toward the Imperial Arena.
---
While Miko and her group talked about the summoned heroes, or more precisely focused more on the fake hero, the hero party led by Yuusha Mashiro also consulted each other regarding the Elysion Church’s representatives.
On the one hand, he felt confident about his team’s prowess, but on the other hand, he knew that his team had to go all out if they wanted to gain an upper hand in the main tournament. The Elysion Church’s representatives would be formidable opponents for sure. They also had to prove themselves because according to rumors the main tournament would be witnessed by the Gods.
Since it was not a team match, but rather a contest between two warriors in the arena, they could only devise the strategies to face an opponent they did not yet understand. The Elysion Church’s representatives had yet to fight seriously during the preliminary round, and it was the hardest hurdle since they had to test their opponent first.
The meeting concluded and they went to the Imperial Arena because the match would soon begin.
"Huh?" Liu Kang was taken aback to see the VIP seats for Elysion Church not attended by his beautiful kindred, Priestess Jovee. He hit her up just a few minutes ago and tried to invite her to his circle, but she ran away due to his threat!
’Did it pressure her a lot? She is much weaker than I expected. But, I became a little suspicious and curious about her true aim in infiltrating the Elysion Church.’
As that thought crossed Liu Kang’s mind, a sacred lady of divine-like beauty clad in a white-red shrine priestess robe came into view, replacing Priestess Jovee as the most revered person in the Elysion Church’s representatives. The Holy Knight Deity and the Demi-God Priest guarded her, but Priestess Jovee was still missing.
"What, the- why, why is there someone in Japanese miko clothing?" Yuusha Mashiro gasped in shock.
"Uh-huh? Did she got summoned like us?" Mizushima Katsue was just as shocked because she was aware that they were in the other world.
Although this world might also have a shrine, the shrine maiden’s outfit shouldn’t have too much resemblance to the Japanese miko clothing.
Even the priests and monks in this world were not the same as those on Earth. There were always differences. And yet, it was exactly the same dress code back in her hometown, a white robe hakui with a pair of red hakama!
The attention of most people was soon drawn to the Elysion Church. In contrast to Priestess Jovee’s seductive beauty that exuded the alluring charm of love, the newly arrived sacred lady possessed a pure and holy aura, accompanied by the ethereal, divine-like beauty to attract profound reverence and respect.
Her presence alone was like gracing them with an indescribable sense of peace and tranquility. Yet, no one dared to look at her in the eye because it was as if her gaze could see to their deepest secrets.
"!!!" Yuusha Mashiro recalled about it one more time and a fleeting figure came into view. The sacred lady of Elysion Church truly resembled the highest-level mysterious person in the intel network. Miss Ely, the liaison of the mysterious organization consisted of many godly warriors, the Guardian of Dream.
As that thought crossed his mind, he considered nothing more and leaped high, swift, and precise. He sped up and landed in the Elysion Church’s VIP seats.
"Freeze. State the purpose for your sudden arrival, White Hero." Myra extended her arm to the side, her right hand on her sword’s hilt.
"Please pardon me for my rudeness... Are you perhaps, Miss Ely?" Despite feeling doubtful, Yuusha Mashiro mustered his courage to ask it as he urgently had to confirm the truth.
