The Oracle Envoys were completely unaware of Gabriella’s situation, yet they were already facing a second enemy.
Liya’s appearance was exactly the same as Morphis remembered.
Aside from her distinct demonic features and that intimidating, teasing gaze, everything about her seemed unchanged — as if she stood above them, observing them with everything under her control.
“Liya… is that you?”
Morphis asked cautiously.
For three Oracle Envoys, facing one of the Divine Lady’s attendants was not an impossible task.
However, their enemy was not just Liya alone, but also the Evil God lurking in the shadows.
Judging from the demonic aura surrounding her and her fully demonized body, Liya might already be completely under its control.
Even so, her tone remained just as familiar as before:
“It’s me, Morphis. Your current name, hmm~ it’s quite nice.”
“We? Lady Liya, why would you help the Evil God? Why betray us?”
“Betray?”
Liya laughed.
Morphis shook her head.
Negotiating with Liya seemed impossible.
“Mmm, of course, if all of you join the shadows and become puppets of the Evil God, then it wouldn’t count as betrayal anymore~”
This battle was not unwinnable.
The Divine Lady and Miss Elsa were among the top combatants of the Oracle Envoys, and Philina was also a Nightwalker.
Morphis herself could provide support to all three.
If the Evil God appeared, along with the Holy Queen and reinforcements from humanity, they would certainly stand a chance.
However, the Saintess was nowhere to be seen, and she hadn’t had the chance to ask about her.
More importantly… the other two Oracle Envoys showed little will to fight.
She glanced at Elsa and Philina.
Both of them had spent some time in that so-called “Residential Palace.”
But could those brainwashed and controlled memories truly be the reason for their hesitation?
Oracle Envoys had their own mission.
Why were they showing such abnormal emotions…? Morphis couldn’t understand.
Moreover, her head began to feel hot, as if she were falling ill.
Especially when she looked at the shadows, something felt… wrong in her mind.
It was as if her brain was being forced to think, to imagine those eerie forms of darkness — trying to outline their “shape.”
And the moment she realized it, her body grew even hotter.
“How is Simona now?”
“Oh, you mean Simona~ She’s at the top floor. Of course, I won’t hand her over to you,” Liya said with a smile as she slowly approached.
Philina and Morphis immediately became alert, taking battle stances.
They didn’t want to fight former companions, and a sense of resistance lingered in their hearts…
Tina was one thing — Liya even more so.
All they could do was curse the Evil God inwardly, that manipulator so skilled at exploiting the human heart.
But just then, Liya suddenly stopped.
She looked deeply at Morphis and Philina, then glanced at Elsa.
In that instant, she seemed to understand something.
“You all…”
She didn’t finish her sentence.
A sphere of black magic appeared in her hand.
Then, as the demonic aura dissipated, it transformed into a purple-red crystal orb.
Within the orb floated a black diamond-shaped core, emitting a faint glow.
It looked like a terrifying eye, silently watching the Oracle Envoys.
Bzzzt—!
Suddenly, Philina’s body went limp.
She clutched her head as if about to collapse, letting out a soft cry.
“Ugh…”
Morphis caught her and held her in her arms.
Only then did she notice — on Philina’s forehead, a black diamond-shaped mark like a curse seal was emitting dark magic, resonating with the purple crystal orb!
“W-What?!”
Morphis was stunned.
She had no idea what Philina had gone through… nor what fate now awaited her.
She quickly began gathering magic again, praying she could hold Liya off for a little longer.
What none of them knew…
Was that deep within the chaos, Gabriella stood calmly before Tina.
She used both hands to揉揉— to gently knead and ruffle the head of this foolish demon girl.
Her eyes were filled with confusion… and a trace of helplessness.
Tilting her head, she asked:
“So, Miss Tina… you put yourself in danger just because you were worried about Elsa?”
Tina nodded.
She rubbed her hands together, curling up slightly, as if apologizing and admitting her fault to Gabriella.
To understand what happened, one had to go back one minute earlier.
Gabriella had pretended to attack the Ice Saint Tina, rushing up to her and putting on a show of fierce combat.
But in reality, from beginning to end… she had just been acting.
These shadows posed no obstacle to her at all.
On the contrary, Gabriella could clearly see — or rather, sense — everything within them.
That black sword that pierced through the golden bell?
She had summoned it herself.
If not for her Holy Body, she would have already been exposed.
To be honest, she never thought Tina had any real chance against the Oracle Envoys.
Yet somehow, she had still managed to face all three of them at once — it nearly drove Gabriella mad.
Even if Tina had been “holding back,” that was still ridiculous!
Gabriella had to pretend to be busy the whole time.
If she hadn’t been controlling the shadows to cooperate with the Evil God’s attacks — while also faking attempts to purify her own body — the Oracle Envoys might have chosen to injure her and send her back, which would have been troublesome.
Only later did she learn that Tina hadn’t originally planned to join this operation.
She had simply followed after Elsa when she saw her leave.
“I… I was wrong!”
Tina kept her head lowered the entire time, not daring to look at Gabriella.
At first, she had thought that even Gabriella might be momentarily lost.
But now, it seemed she had worried for nothing.
Lady Gabriella had already fallen deeply in love with the Demon King — of course she would never betray her.
Tina spoke with grievance in her voice:
“Lady Gabriella… I want to know… what Elsa said about me…?”
Gabriella tilted her head, suddenly recalling something.
Back then, due to a misunderstanding, she had accidentally drawn the two girls into the demon faction.
She still felt somewhat guilty about it.
That was why she had been so eager to protect them.
Another reason… was the relationship between her and the Ice Saint Tina.
However, Gabriella had forgotten one important reason why Elsa chose to stay.
Originally, Elsa had only been providing Tina with magic — charging her as a “judicator.”
But that had also caused their relationship to rapidly deepen.
Gabriella couldn’t help but begin to wonder…
Was the “charging” Elsa gave Tina really proper charging?
She had seen them several times before, chatting intimately in the corridors, like an inseparable pair of lovers.
“Tina, Elsa is an Oracle Envoy,” Gabriella chose to tell the truth.
She stopped ruffling the girl’s head and let out a helpless sigh.
“I-Is that so?” Tina’s voice was filled with shock — nine parts disbelief, and the rest anxiety.
The icy wings behind her trembled slightly.
“Elsa is an Oracle Envoy. She regained her memories and recalled many things from the past, which is why she’s so confused right now. Please forgive her.”
Gabriella gave her a gentle smile.
“Don’t worry, Tina. I’ll bring my foolish little sister back to your side.”