Book 10: Chapter 45: Melee

After the Patroller Team, the Chaos Team, and the Holy Light Team all entered the funnel pyramid ruins, over a hundred dreamlike human-shaped smoky figures appeared amidst the pure white clouds above the ruins.

The upper bodies of most smoky figures slowly solidified, eventually turning into giant, glass-like humans, while their lower bodies remained as smoky swirls, hovering above the clouds, bending down to gaze at the ruins below.

These spiritual smoky beings, capable of freely shifting between reality and illusion, were naturally the Hismael, along with the temporary apostle team formed by the “Spectral Enchantress.”

“Lady Mei, when are we going down?” Looking at the many Insectoids guarding the bottom of the ruins, a bald man behind Qin Mei asked with excitement.

“This is the largest inheritance site of the Angel Race and the most important sanctuary of the gospel. Obtaining the inheritance data here will determine the final outcome of the ten-thousand-year conflict between the Hismael and the Gigius Insectoid. History will prove that we are the true successors of the Angel Race.”

Among the many spiritual smoky figures, a beautiful and sacred-looking Hismael woman stepped forward and nodded politely toward the apostles led by Qin Mei. “Thank you, Qin Mei, and all respected Descendant Apostles. The Hismael will forever be grateful for all you have done. As for now… the final work is for us, the Guardians, to complete!”

“Saintess Ruxin, this is not what we agreed on!” The apostles’ expressions changed, and the bald man frowned unhappily.

This elegant Hismael beauty was the Guardian Saintess of the Hismael, and she held the highest status among the Hismael who entered the Paranto plane with Qin Mei and the others.

The Gith received help from the Angel Race during their evolution but were not their designated civilization successors. The Insectoids were intended by the Gith Angels to be physical vessels for housing fragmented souls. The ancient Insectoid planet had the most advanced biochemical technology.

Different from the Gith and the Insectoids, the Hismael, who inherited some soul knowledge, were actually the race with the clearest Angel inheritance since ancient times. Throughout history, a prophecy poem about the “Final Gospel” had been passed down.

Unlike Gan Luo, who deliberately waited for the Patroller Team to act first, the Hismael explored several small ruins after entering the Paranto plane due to their unique forms, obtaining partial Angel inheritance. The funnel pyramid here was the last inheritance site.

“Do not worry, respected friends. The Hismael are not ungrateful. We know that the Descendant Apostles also have missions assigned by the Star Projection. However, as Guardians, the final inheritance must be obtained by our own hands.”

The Hismael Saintess, called Ruxin, showed a gentle smile. She raised her fair, lotus-like hand and waved it, leading the Hismael as they leaped from the clouds. Their numerous smoky, illusory figures drifted down like countless glowing willow catkins toward the ruins on the ground.

“After we obtain the ‘Final Gospel,’ we will provide you with a copy of the process as a reward for the Descendant Apostles’ exploration mission!”

“Lady Mei…” Seeing the Hismael break the cooperation agreement at the last moment, the apostles became visibly angry and anxiously looked at Qin Mei, who had remained silent until then.

“Hehe, isn’t this good? We can just watch from behind and still get part of the mission progress, without putting ourselves in danger!” Qin Mei said with a laugh.

“Lady, you must be joking. If we don’t participate in the storyline, even if we get a projection copy, the exploration rate reward will be greatly reduced,” the bald man muttered.

“Lady Mei, those native Hismael only avoided the four-team battle thanks to your planning and even got the data from the other inheritance ruins ahead of us. Now they’re leaving us to act alone, and the team will only get the lowest storyline completion rate. This is just too much…”

“Exactly, without you, Lady, the Hismael might not even have entered the Paranto plane… Since they broke the agreement, why don’t we just follow them in? Do the Hismael really dare to turn against us?” The apostles angrily discussed among themselves.

It was no wonder the apostles in Qin Mei’s team were upset. Since entering the Gospel World, the Hismael, through Qin Mei’s schemes, disrupted the balance originally set by the Star Void, tilting the main storyline in favor of the Hismael.

Looking back now, among the four apostle teams that entered this world, the Holy Light Team had the worst outcome. First, due to Leader Wolf’s misjudgment, Jannamer Silver Lightning was devoured by the Cosmic Octopus. Then, after battling Qin Lun and others, they indirectly caused the entire team to be defeated by Chaos, losing two companions.

The Patroller Team, led by Robin and Qin Lun, didn’t fare much better. Although Qin Lun fought desperately to escape the Holy Light Team, the Faith was destroyed, and they were almost eliminated early. Without the sacrifice of Dr. Norton and others, they might not have even made it to Paranto.

As for the Hismael side, if Qin Mei hadn’t seen through the truth of the guidance mission from the Divination Poem early on, the four-team battle should have occurred in the X-352 star system. Only the winners would have had the chance to enter the Paranto plane—it wouldn’t have been as easy as it was now.

As for the Chaos Team, who benefited from the situation, their success was largely due to Qin Mei’s team not participating in the battle. Otherwise, the Holy Light Team might not have faced the well-rested Chaos Team.

“All of you, shut up! Since you understand that this mission’s success relies solely on Lady Mei, stop nagging!” Junko said coldly, her face like frost. “Lady doesn’t need you to tell her what to do!”

The apostles fell silent and turned their attention to Qin Mei.

“Hehe, our journey has been smooth, so much so that it gave the Hismael Guardians a false impression.” Qin Mei still wore a smile, but a faint cold light flashed in her crescent-shaped eyes. She pointed a slender finger toward the ruins below.

“They haven’t truly witnessed the power of the apostles yet. Down there, three apostle teams are gathered. Do you really think the enemies are fools and believe the ‘Final Gospel’ will be so easily obtained?”

“But the Hismael brought over eighty Guardians…” one apostle muttered under his breath, but then he sensed the strange atmosphere. Looking up, he saw Qin Mei staring at him coldly, making him shudder, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

“Hmph, disperse and guard near the ruins. Wait for my command to act.” Qin Mei waved her hand impatiently, and the apostles scattered quickly as if granted amnesty.

In truth, these apostles weren’t unaware of the strength of the three apostle teams. However, the mission had proceeded smoothly so far, and the Hismael Guardians were also strong, so they subconsciously felt they held a significant advantage.

Qin Mei’s planning not only disrupted the balance of the Star Void’s guidance mission but also created an imbalance in the strength and condition of the four apostle teams after entering Paranto.

Unlike the other teams, the Hismael side, thanks to Qin Mei’s early deciphering of the ancient Divination Poem, made ample preparations before entering Paranto, bringing in over eighty Guardians. Although the apostle side didn’t gain extra strength, the storyline faction’s power was enough to crush the other two sides.

According to Star Void’s calculations, one Hismael Guardian was equivalent to a three-person mecha squad. Over eighty Guardians were comparable to over 250 non-apostle-piloted Bingren. The Guardian Saintess named Ruxin possessed strength no less than a High-Rank Apostle.

Thus, the Hismael’s apparent strength even surpassed the combined teams of Chaos and Holy Light. Moreover, the Holy Light Team was only assisting Chaos due to contractual obligations and might not be reliable at critical moments.

This was why the Hismael dared to break away from Qin Mei’s team and act alone. It was also the confidence that allowed them to explore other small inheritance ruins immediately upon entering Paranto.

“Lady Mei, you’re not planning to…” After the team members dispersed, Junko approached Qin Mei and quietly asked.

Unlike the others, she knew that Qin Mei’s insistence on pursuing the Faith wasn’t necessarily to gain an advantage for their side but to help Qin Lun’s team avoid the final battle.

They had been in the Devil’s Horn for some time and had some understanding of the current situation in the Apostle City. In fact, in the previous Quest World, Qin Mei’s team participated in the clash between the Superstring Space and the Shattered Starry Sky in a High-Magic World.

Contrary to the Holy Light Team’s assumptions, Qin Mei didn’t actually join forces with the Superstring Reincarnators to ambush the Light Team. She only took advantage after Light’s defeat, indirectly causing the remaining high-ranking apostles of the Light Team to be wiped out.

Of course, they hadn’t expected the Order Front to be so fragile—after the Light Team’s destruction, the alliance faced the risk of collapse. By the time Qin Mei returned, the situation was irreversible, so she went along with the mistake and leaked the information to the Holy Light Team, who were also from the Order faction.

“Hehe, Brother doesn’t need my help. Since he guessed the secret on this side of the Wormhole and entered Paranto even after the Faith’s destruction, he must have been mentally prepared.” Qin Mei’s beautiful eyes sparkled as if thinking of something, a sweet smile appearing on her face.

“Junko, did you think I destroyed the Faith to help Brother avoid the Chaos Team?”

“Wasn’t it?” Junko asked, puzzled.

“Of course not. The Chaos Alliance doesn’t necessarily have to kill them. If I had to choose, it might not be so bad for Brother to join the Chaos Alliance!” Qin Mei sighed. “I just couldn’t decide whether to see him or not!”

“Oh…” Junko looked helplessly at the young woman, thinking, After all the trouble you went through, chasing from the Superstring Space into the Shattered Starry Sky, and now you’re hesitating to see Qin Lun? What exactly are you trying to do?

“You don’t understand. The relationship between Brother and me… is a bit complicated. He might not want to see me!” Qin Mei seemed to understand what Junko was thinking, frowning slightly and speaking with distress.

While the two were talking, the Hismael Guardians had all landed on the ground. The massive steps of the funnel pyramid immediately echoed with the rising and falling roars of the Insectoids.