[ Player Perspective ]
The massive eye high in the sky was not a first-time sight for the players, having encountered similar ones in the Abyss and the Ruler of Death's realm.
They had initially assumed the two colossal eyes would simply glare at each other for a while before peacefully parting ways, as they had done before.
Instead, they were witnessing the true Ruler of Death herself!
[Is that the Ruler of Death?! ]
[??? So it has a human form too? ]
[Baby, so this is what you look like? I thought you'd be a mature woman... ]
[Brothers, this is hitting me so hard! ]
[The powerful aura, the icy expression—it's just so cool, okay? Anyone else getting this vibe? ]
[Another Abyss entity has emerged. I'm wondering, can we even win? ]
[ We should be able to, right? After all, she's one of the Four Shades... ]
-
Ronova noticed the humanoid figure emerging beneath the Abyssal Giant Eye, clearly visible even from a great distance.
The figure stood approximately two meters tall, slender and wielding a pitch-black longsword. Its face was obscured by swirling black miasma, completely obscuring its features.
Ronova extended her right hand, which swiftly transformed into an irregular, flowing mass of crimson energy, radiating an aura of deathly stillness.
With a scowl, Ronova charged toward the figure beneath the Abyssal Giant Eye.
Jiang Mumu had temporarily designated this figure "Temporal Husk"—essentially a tool-like monster with a short lifespan, but possessing immense power.
Ronova's right hand dissolved into millions of crimson threads that pressed down on the Temporal Husk. Wherever these threads passed, space itself was corroded, died, and vanished.
The Abyss Power carried by the Temporal Husk teleported it instantly behind Ronova, forcing its way into the space she had already declared dead.
The figure's right hand slashed a rapier at Ronova's neck. Ronova casually raised her left hand, blocking the strike.
The Temporal Husk withdrew its blade and thrust again, its right foot sweeping toward Ronova's waist. Ronova hastily retreated, and the Temporal Husk's attack slammed into the island below. With a deafening roar, the island shattered into fragments!
The colossal Abyssal Giant Eye gradually vanished from the sky, lifting the oppressive pressure on the Gods. Under that immense pressure, they had been unable to even raise a finger!
Boom!
In the distance, the battle between Ronova and the Temporal Husk raged on. To stall all the Gods, the Temporal Husk couldn't possibly fight the Ruler of Death evenly.
Initially, Jiang Mumu hadn't grasped the Ruler of Time's true power, but now she had a much clearer understanding.
She continued to tip the scales in the Temporal Husk's favor. Ronova had already been fighting defensively, relying more on blocking than attacking. Now, with the Temporal Husk's enhanced power, she couldn't withstand the onslaught.
After only a few exchanges, Ronova's defenses began to crumble.
"Attack!" Morax roared, enveloping the Gods in protective shields as he charged forward. The other Gods followed swiftly, launching a righteous gang assault!
In an instant, the seawater evaporated, the seabed melted into molten slag, and shockwaves reverberated across thousands of kilometers. The dark clouds in the sky were instantly cleared, and the battlefield seemed to ascend, space itself trembling on the verge of collapse.
Every creature in the sea, whether fallen Gods or ordinary high-level organisms, fled in terror. Those too slow to escape were instantly annihilated.
Ronova led the charge, with Morax and the other Gods providing support.
Though Ronova absorbed the brunt of the attacks, gods and Dragon Sovereigns were still occasionally sent flying.
The Temporal Husk carefully controlled its power, ensuring every strike remained within manageable limits, yet remained imperceptible.
One Temporal Husk was fighting the Ruler of Death and a horde of gods and Dragon Sovereigns, and still firmly maintained the upper hand!
The gods coordinated seamlessly, narrowly escaping death at the Temporal Husk's hands several times.
Rukkhadevata, hovered on the periphery, surveying the battlefield. Whenever she saw someone in mortal danger with no means of escape, she would use her divine power to pull them out of the Temporal Husk's attack range.
The pressure on Ronova grew unbearable. Finally, she couldn't help but shout in one direction:
"What are you still waiting for?!"
The instant her words rang out, two figures materialized in the direction she had shouted.
To the left stood a figure with heterochromatic eyes and a blue halo shaped like a DNA double helix floating behind their head. This was the Ruler of Life, Naberius—or rather, one of the Five Sinners, Witch R of the Hexenzirkel, Gold Rhinedottir.
To the right stood a figure with a massive metal ring suspended above their head, clock hands dangling beneath it, and a cloak composed of perpetually flowing sand. Invisible thousand winds swirled around them.
This was the Ruler of Time, Istaroth!
The appearance of the two figures drew the attention of the Gods on the battlefield, even Temporal Husk cast a glance in their direction.
At the same moment, the space behind Temporal Husk shattered. Alice, holding a massive bomb with both hands, hurled it directly at him.
"Everyone, clear out! Let's give this guy a taste of our newly upgraded 'Super-Duper-Ultra-Mega-Giga-Boom-Tastic Adventure'!"
With a whoosh, the Gods retreated at lightning speed. Temporal Husk prepared to withdraw as well, but suddenly felt time accelerating around him and the very air growing heavy.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A colossal mushroom cloud, piercing the heavens, erupted skyward. Morax and the other Gods each deployed their protective barriers, yet were still hurled back hundreds of meters by the blast.
At the epicenter of the blast, Temporal Husk's head rang with a deafening roar, his mind reeling.
Something's wrong... Is the power really this immense?!
Before he could fully react, the Three Archons had already arrived and launched their assault.
Standing at the center of the crater, Temporal Husk felt not frustration, but rather satisfaction.
The Hexenzirkel, three of the Four Shades, and all the Gods are gathered here. Excellent. As long as I can keep them occupied, my mission is complete.
One thing to keep in mind, though: I must hold back. Otherwise, I might accidentally kill some of these Gods...
-
Meanwhile, Lumine, Angie, and Fidelle had arrived in Natlan after entering the teleportation portal.
"The Abyss's abilities and the Chaos Order's energy share the same origin. That's how we were able to bring you back at this critical moment, though it came at a considerable cost!" Aether explained, his gaze fixed on Lumine's eyes.
"Thank you, Brother, but I'm pressed for time. I'll come find you again after everything is resolved."
Relieved that Lumine harbored no resentment toward him, Aether let out a sigh of relief.
"I'll help you!"
Aether didn't offer to bring the entire Chaos Order. Many of its members were Abyss Monsters in disguise, and he feared his sister might eliminate them before they even reached the enemy.
"Mm-hmm."
Only a few hours had passed since they left, yet Natlan had already undergone a dramatic transformation.
Dark clouds once again blanketed the sky, and a raging wind swept through the land. Apart from the howling gale, an eerie silence hung in the air, creating an atmosphere of impending crisis, like a storm gathering before the deluge.