Inside Fyxestroll Garden, everyone was still discussing how to deal with the Heliobus [Ignarous].
"Ignarous may be powerful, but if we can find a way to split it into several fragments, there is hope to suppress it."
Cirrus couldn't out-stubborn Bertnis. It felt that if they wasted any more time, its flawless plan would be exposed! Better to get down to business first!
" Lord Judge really knows how to calculate. Since the atmosphere has reached this point, I am willing to contribute a plan. Let's go to a more open place first... like the Swallowsong Pavilion over there."
After walking to the pavilion Cirrus mentioned, it cleared its throat.
"Everyone knows the story of the Great Heliobus [Ignamar] fighting the General. It was the result of many Heliobi merging into one."
"However, we Heliobi are each tainted with the emotions and desires obtained when possessing hosts. We despise each other, and no one wants to merge with anyone else—it's like having 'multiple personalities' in one head, fighting from time to time."
Cirrus looked at the innocent-looking Stelle: "Take her for example. When I possessed her body, I saw many strange and weird items."
"A scorching golden sun, a cup of milk tea with a straw, a mask with an invisible expression... and a lance covered in fire."
"Therefore, I deduce that there are at least three... oh no, four personalities existing in this sister's head!"
Stelle gave Cirrus a thumbs up. As expected of a Heliobus, spouting slander so naturally, and the analysis even sounds plausible. I almost believed it myself!
"A powerful Heliobus might be able to swallow weaker Heliobi, making them temporarily submit to become one—like [Ignamar]. However, once stimulated by external forces, this balance is easily broken."
"See, that's how [Ignamar] became 'us' after the great battle with the General."
"Inducing Ignarous to collapse... this method might be feasible. While Ignarous splits and its power weakens, the Ten-Lords Commission can use Dharma vessels to seal its fragments one by one."
Xueyi agreed with the plan Cirrus described, but she didn't understand. "Why do thee betray thy own kind? Why help the Xianzhou that suppresses thee?"
"Reason? Do Heliobi need a reason to act? Maybe because I don't want Ignarous to swallow me, maybe I look down on that big fool who only uses brute force, maybe I want to have a bout with the General..."
"Or maybe, I want to exchange for a promise from the Ten-Lords Commission to [Let me leave]?"
As soon as the words fell, Cirrus felt two burning gazes focusing on it.
The two gazes came from Bertnis and Stelle respectively.
"The Judges of the Ten-Lords Commission never make empty promises. If the crisis before us can be resolved, I can report to the Ten Lords and return thy freedom. But the result... I cannot guarantee."
"Ouch~" Cirrus swayed. Why does it feel like this puppet judge is making empty promises (drawing a pie)?
"Really stubborn. Well then, I'll have to suffer a bit today and do a 'Cash on Delivery' deal. Puppet, you must keep your word."
As the saying goes, a Judge who doesn't keep their word isn't a good Judge. With so many people watching, Xueyi couldn't go back on her word later, right?
However... once Cirrus's plan was realized, it wouldn't be afraid of these little Ten-Lords Judges anymore.
"Hehe~ Ignarous and I were cellmates in the furnace; we know each other inside out. Although his power is strong, his mind is more childish than a kid's, blindly obsessed with [Victory or Defeat]. I only need three sentences to make him collapse without being attacked."
According to Cirrus's plan, Stelle stood on high ground and shouted towards the opposite mountain top:
"Ignarous! Ignarous—!"
A faint response came from the distance.
"It is still early for the duel with the General. How about you and I decide a winner first?"
A ball of spirit fire, similar in color to Cirrus, flew over from the distant mountain top.
"Cirrus? Little thing, on what grounds do you compete with me? I have already turned the garden into my territory and made the running dogs of the Ten-Lords Commission into puppets! I only wait for the General to arrive so I can restart the battle from that year. Why confront your own kin at this time?"
Stelle put her hands on her hips, her eyes full of disdain: "Controlling that mob counts as some ability? They are just rotten fish and smelly shrimp, unable to withstand a single blow."
"I am different. By chance and coincidence, I possessed an excellent chess piece... An excellent chess piece who once drove away Phantylia, took a Doomsday Beast's ultimate move with her face, handled a Creation Engine that pinched a planet, and even had an Aeon hand her milk tea!"
"Ad-libbing. Sister, I admit my voice was a bit loud when speaking to you before."
Cirrus remained inside Stelle. The original plan was for it to control Stelle directly to speak, but unfortunately, the milk tea and mask inside her body gave it no face at all, chasing and beating it.
"Eh? Why is Miss Stelle talking more and more outrageously?"
Hiding inside the pavilion, Huohuo asked in a whisper. She only knew about a [Lord Ravager] Phantylia; she couldn't understand the rest at all.
"Tsk tsk, according to Ignarous, haven't the Netherworld Tokens outside been completely wiped out? So useless!" Tail's focus was on the Ten-Lords Commission.
"Phantylia? I remember! Such a good chess piece, I want it too!"
"Heh? You can send the Netherworld Tokens in your hands to find me. If you can defeat this Nameless I occupy, I will willingly be swallowed by you, contributing a helping hand to your great battle against the General. What do you think?"
"It's a deal!"
The bait had been cast; now they just had to wait for Ignarous to hook himself.
"Look, handled easily."
Looking at the silent Xueyi, Cirrus finally caught a chance to mock her.
"Yo~ Do puppets also retain sympathy? It looks like everyone doesn't want to defeat Ignarous, huh?"
"In the eyes of a Heliobus, this matter is as simple as a business transaction. Who cares if it's kin or colleagues? As long as victory can be won, what can't be sacrificed?"
"Next, I'll trouble everyone to harden your resolve and fight Ignarous's puppets—which are your colleagues."
Seeing Cirrus's despicable face, Bertnis couldn't help but slap it twice.
Cirrus: ???
"Why hit me!"
"Shut up. For the sake of the [Eternity Church], sacrifice a bit. Your words just now were too loud for HIS ears."
"Ha?!"
Cirrus looked incredulous. This red-haired man clearly just wanted to beat me up! That puppet judge is just watching from the side; is there no justice anymore!
"It doesn't matter, I will show mercy to those Netherworld Tokens."
Stelle pulled off the hourglass necklace. Unknowingly, this thing was already being treated as a vacuum purifier in her hands.
"She has not been a Judge for long and still needs experience. Aside from that, please also show mercy to those Netherworld Tokens who have fallen under Ignarous's control."
"Mr. Tail, we are going to face very dangerous enemies together next. Please lend me a hand too!" Huohuo turned her head and said.
"Oh~ Didn't expect you to look quite convincing when talking tough... If your two legs weren't shaking so badly, I would have believed it!"
Tail looked at Huohuo's trembling legs and complained.
"P-please don't expose me. I also... had a hard time mustering up this little bit of courage! As a Judge, I haven't helped much along the way, just hiding behind Miss Stelle..."
This was Huohuo's final stubbornness. It was rare for the little girl to be brave once.
"Lady Xueyi said that a person occupied by a Heliobus won't be possessed a second time. Right now, I'm the only one who can help everyone!"
"Haiyaya, this great master feels like a balloon being inflated by this little coward! What are we waiting for? Let's go!"
A great battle was triggered instantly...