The appearance of the two highest ranked women of the imperial harem only heightened the tension. While in other times, many would revel in their beauty, with the situation at hand, none dared lose sight of the priorities. Of the three high exarchs standing against them, two were paragon spirits while the last one was a flame spirit.

　　Although in the spirits' hierarchy, Elemental Spirits ranked below True Spirits, because of the unique connection between elemental spirits and their respective Divine Lord, their status within the Celestial Church was sky-high.

　　In the Holy Flame Church, four of the high exarchs were flame spirits. The rest were all paragon spirits.

　　Hearing Olrich's overbearing words, the high exarchs let go of their last bits of restraints.

　　"-All things within this empire belong to me.- Good. Very good. It seems the centuries made you forget how you took your throne and why you were able to hold onto it. To think that one day you would dare say such words in my face, Olrich, I underestimated you.

　　But since we made you, we can also crush you!"

　　Killing intent bloated the sky, alongside terrifying waves of magical power as the three high exarchs drew their magical circles.

　　"Sixth Circle Spell: Searing Sky!"

　　Each of the high exarchs summoned six red magical circles which revolved around their form and coalesced into three gigantic pentagrams that stretched across the sky.

　　The three pentagrams glittered in red light, turning half of the darkened sky into a crimson red furnace from which rained a deluge of fire.

　　The heavenly firestorm descended at breakneck speed, threatening to obliterate everything beneath the sky across a hundred miles. If Olrich fell under its might, the lives of the thousands of contestants below would be forfeited.

　　"Run…run away!"

　　It was unknown who said it first, but thousands of the spectators unanimously began running for their lives, shooting from their seats to rush toward the nearest exit. The more lucid, however, remained still. They knew that no matter where they went, the descending firestorm wouldn't follow them. There wasn't enough time to escape its reach.

　　The only path to survival was to stay below the emperor, hoping that he could avert the catastrophe.

　　Seeing the descending fire deluge that stretched across several miles, Olrich was unfazed. He stretched out his palm, summoning six red magical circles.

　　"Sixth circle spell: Devouring Flame Gate."

　　A large red gate emerged from between his magical circles and flew toward the descending firestorm. The gate opened, releasing boundless devouring power that swallowed the raining firestorm whole before vanis.h.i.+ng within the clouds.