Doni's third Authority, Divine Madness, was his terrifying trump card.
This Authority, usurped from the god of wine, Dionysus, created a region where magic, cursed power, and even Authorities ran rampant and spiraled out of control. Its potency was such that it could even cause Doni's own Authorities to run amok.
By activating this Authority, Doni could force his opponents into the pure, close-quarters combat he excelled at, making it his ultimate move.
However, preparing this Authority required significant time. Thankfully, small-scale deployments could be executed swiftly.
At that moment, Doni had activated it in a limited area around himself.
The Thunder Spear lost control before it even reached Doni, but his Magic Sword and Steel Body suffered the same fate.
"Heh... it's over, Doni."
Phoenix gazed at Doni ahead, feeling insulted by the very idea of him being a Campione.
Could such a fool truly be called a Godslayer?
He dug his own grave!
Phoenix dispelled her Authority, stepped into the zone of Divine Madness, and closed in on Doni. Without hesitation, she unleashed a merciless beating on him.
Having thoroughly vented her frustration, Phoenix didn't bother checking whether Doni was dead or merely unconscious. She calmly returned to Italy.
To Phoenix, the Authorities, cursed power, and magic of a Campione were largely irrelevant. She possessed the power to slay gods herself.
And for a Campione to forfeit his powers and challenge her to a bare-handed fight? That was simply suicide.
"Your Majesty, are you alright?" Liliana rushed to Phoenix's side.
"Do I look like I'm hurt?" Phoenix stared at the young girl, speechless.
The fight with Doni had been a complete joke for Phoenix—like a strongman beating up a toddler who had just learned to walk. Doni hadn't even mustered the strength to retaliate. And this was the ruler of Southern Europe...
"I knew it! Your Majesty is the strongest!" Liliana gazed at Phoenix with adoration, the image of her pummeling the King of Swords resembling a father disciplining his son.
"Sigh!" Phoenix glanced at the lovesick Liliana, sensing her descent deeper into infatuation. She used to be such an honorable knight! Phoenix lamented inwardly. Now she's turned into this... It's all Fu Hua's fault for being so handsome.
News of the Seventh Campione's crushing defeat of the King of Swords spread rapidly across the globe.
Many influential leaders immediately classified the Campione, Phoenix, as a threat on par with Luo Hao.
As for why the Seventh Campione didn't seize control of the King of Swords' territory after defeating Doni—given that Italy was far smaller than all of Southern Europe—that remained a mystery.
In England, the Wise Men's Council unanimously approved Princess Alice's proposal to pledge allegiance to Phoenix.
After all, a being who could effortlessly defeat the King of Swords was undoubtedly on the same level as Cult Leader Luo Hao. Phoenix had already approached them once; to continue refusing after all this time would be disastrous.
Should the Kings's anger turn against them, the very existence of the Wise Men's Council would be at stake.
When Princess Alice called Phoenix, Phoenix was lounging on the sofa, enjoying fruit and watching television.
Her method of enjoyment was rather extravagant.
Phoenix didn't have to lift a finger for her fruit; Liliana personally peeled and fed her every piece.
Meanwhile, Erica knelt at Phoenix's feet, massaging her feet. Phoenix had initially resisted this decadent lifestyle.
But when she saw the crestfallen expressions of Liliana and Erica, her heart softened, and she reconsidered. After all, she wasn't the one losing out.
As for Higokumaru... she was completely engrossed in mobile gaming, glued to her phone and furiously tapping away, oblivious to everything around her, even Phoenix.
"Your call, King," Liliana said, picking up Phoenix's phone and handing it to her.
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Phoenix picked up her phone and saw it was Princess Alice of the Wise Men's Council—the beautiful White Miko Maiden.
When Phoenix answered, Princess Alice's melodious voice flowed into her ear.
"King, congratulations on defeating the King of Swords..."
"What's there to congratulate me on?" Phoenix replied, immediately rendered speechless. To be honest, fighting the King of Swords felt like beating up a child. What was there to be proud of when an adult defeated a brat? Phoenix felt no sense of satisfaction at all.
"Uh... there's something else. All the members of the Wise Men's Council have unanimously pledged their loyalty to you, King."
"Hmm. Anything else?" Phoenix remained calm.
"Anything else? Oh... would you like to visit London, King? I can accompany you the entire time..."
"You haven't forgotten what I asked you initially, have you? To become my Miko Maiden and help me summon a Heretic God."
"Ah... of course not."
"Good. Remember your promise."
After a brief conversation with Princess Alice, Phoenix hung up and turned to Liliana.
"Liliana, Erica..."
"Your Majesty?" they replied in unison.
"How are the preparations progressing for the task I initially assigned you?"
"If you mean the ritual to summon a Heretic God, all the necessary materials are ready. Since you possess the Holy Relic, Your Majesty, all that remains is securing a miko to perform the ceremony," Erica and Liliana answered promptly, exchanging a quick glance.
"Princess Alice would suffice as the miko, but I have someone even more suitable in mind."
"I heard that during Voban's summoning ritual in Japan, one miko miraculously survived. Is she still there?" Phoenix asked, turning to Liliana.
"Um... yes, she is indeed an exceptional miko," Liliana replied, momentarily surprised before nodding. As a descendant of miko lineage herself, she recognized the truth in Phoenix's words.
"Good. Prepare yourselves. We'll depart for Japan tomorrow and stay there for a few days."
Phoenix had long intended to visit Japan, not only to seek out this miko but also because of a Heretic God sealed within the Western Heaven Palace.
Luo Hao, a notorious recluse with a deep disdain for modern technology, had nevertheless traveled to Japan a few years prior and wreaked havoc, all because of this Heretic God.
Ultimately, her efforts proved fruitless, and she stormed away in a fit of fury.
Despite this setback, Luo Hao never gave up. She continued to dispatch her subordinates to find a way to break the Western Heaven Palace's seal.
The reason for her relentless pursuit was that the Heretic God sealed in Japan was none other than Sun Wukong, the legendary Monkey King, a household name throughout China.
Of course, this version wasn't the true Great Sage Equal to Heaven, but merely a cheap knockoff from the world of Japanese anime.