Deep within the Superflow, far from reality, a chase was unfolding.
The two parties in the chase had extremely similar appearances. Both wore fragmented armor, with mysterious and vast energy flowing through the gaps in their armor. The only difference was probably the color.
The fleeing party's armor displayed a wide array of colors. Red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple—all were present.
The pursuing party's armor, however, was uniformly dark and somber.
The Celestials and the Dark Celestials!
Undoubtedly, this was the Dark Celestials pursuing the Celestials.
However, the individual strengths of the Dark Celestials and the Celestials were similar, as were their speeds. And when speeds were roughly equal, the fleeing party undoubtedly held the initiative.
Therefore, the Celestials consistently maintained a safe distance from the Dark Celestials, and the Dark Celestials could not close the gap, no matter what they did.
But the Dark Celestials showed no sign of impatience, because...
The situation suddenly changed in the next instant.
The Superflow, which had been empty, suddenly trembled violently as the Celestials were about to pass through, and then a fragment of an unknown dimension appeared out of thin air.
The fleeing Celestials were caught off guard and crashed headfirst into the unknown dimensional fragment.
The Dark Celestials quickly followed. Some entered the dimensional fragment to assist the Dark Celestials ambushing within, while others reinforced the outside of the dimensional fragment to prevent the Celestials from escaping.
Inside the dimensional fragment, the reinforcing Dark Celestials arrived and, in coordination with the Dark Celestials already ambushing within, launched an attack on the Celestials.
As dark energy beams streaked across the sky, the Celestial quickly fell into a disadvantage.
They were divided one by one, surrounded, and seemed to have no choice but to await their demise.
So, a Dark Celestial looked at the blue-armored beings before him and said excitedly, "Ziran, you have nowhere left to run."
"Is that so?"
Facing the predicament, Ziran showed no panic, only a cold response.
High-level hunters often appear in the guise of their prey.
As Ziran's words sounded, another team of Celestials burst into the dimensional fragment.
But this was a team of Celestials, led by Exitar, one of the Celestials' high-tier combat forces.
As for the Dark Celestial squad outside the dimensional fragment, they had already been routed by Exitar's team.
Ever since receiving orders from the One Above All, Ziran had been leading his Celestial squad to search for traces of the Dark Celestials.
During this time, he had already had several encounters with the Dark Celestials. Unfortunately, there had been no opportunity to capture one or two Dark Celestials for interrogation, and thus locate their lair.
In the entanglement between the Celestials and the Dark Celestials, personnel from both sides occasionally fell.
What the Celestials found unacceptable was that if they continued their normal work of managing the Universe, they would be exposing themselves, and in skirmishes, they would inevitably suffer greater losses.
If they focused solely on fighting the Dark Celestials, they might gain some advantage with geographical benefits, but their daily work would be disrupted.
Therefore, Ziran used himself as bait, deliberately leaking his whereabouts to entice the Dark Celestials to concentrate their forces and intercept him.
Exitar, meanwhile, lied in ambush nearby, ready to counter-encircle the Dark Celestials, striving to eliminate their effective forces and, if possible, capture one or two alive, hoping to use them to find the Dark Celestials' lair.
With Exitar's squad joining, the battle situation within the dimensional fragment suddenly reversed.
Ziran asked mockingly, "Now, who has nowhere left to retreat?"
However, contrary to his expectations, the opposing Dark Celestials showed no fear at the sight of Exitar leading the reinforcements, only a hint of regret.
Something's not right!
Without needing anyone to remind him, Ziran noticed the anomaly. He immediately shared this information with the other Celestials within the dimensional fragment and reminded them to remain vigilant.
Although the other Celestials were puzzled, they did not question Ziran's judgment at this time.
Of course, they would not abandon their plan to counter-encircle the Dark Celestials because of a mere suspicion. They would simply reserve more power during their attacks to guard against a counterattack.
For a time, as the Celestials adopted a more conservative strategy, the intensity of the battle decreased, and the rate of casualties on both sides also slowed.
Both the Celestials and the Dark Celestials could accept this outcome.
But someone else could not accept it.
On the edge of the battlefield, two shadowy figures were stealthily observing the war between the Celestials and the Dark Celestials.
"Chthon, why have the Celestials slowed their offensive?"
"Perhaps they've detected the Dark Celestials' arrangements in this dimensional fragment, Set."
These two shadowy figures were none other than Chthon and Set.
After the Creator visited the Flickering Realm and met with the two, both were persuaded by the Creator in different ways, agreeing to disguise themselves as Dark Celestials amidst the chaos and assassinate the Celestials.
During this time, with intelligence support from the Creator, Chthon and Set had achieved numerous victories.
It could be said that if it weren't for their assistance, the Dark Celestials would have been finished sooner or later.
In fact, it was Chthon and Set who caused the Celestials to misjudge the strength of the Dark Celestials, leading them to urgently want to use this 'fishing' plan to eliminate the Dark Celestials' effective forces.
"Then what should we do?" Set asked.
"Let's give them a hand." Chthon replied with a sinister smile.
"You mean?"
"Exactly."
Set and Chthon exchanged glances, both letting out cackling laughter in unison.
Subsequently, Set and Chthon stealthily headed deeper into the dimensional fragment.
By the time they reached the depths of this dimensional fragment, which the Dark Celestials had chosen as their battlefield, Chthon and Set had already transformed into the likeness of the Celestials.
After a brief setup to block energy fluctuations from escaping, they boldly launched an attack on the few Dark Celestials who remained on guard.
Boom!!!
Attacked by Chthon and Set, two of the most powerful Elder Gods, the unsuspecting Dark Celestials on guard immediately collapsed and were all slaughtered within a very short time.
Before dying, a certain Dark Celestial activated a device, a device to detonate this dimensional fragment.
Or rather, this dimensional fragment itself was a bomb prepared by the Dark Celestials for the Celestials.
"Go to hell together, traitors!"
Set and Chthon, upon hearing this, smiled with satisfaction and immediately transformed into two streaks of light, speeding towards the pre-arranged passage.
A moment later, the Dark Celestials' expressions all changed. They received news that their rear had been attacked and the device had been activated.
"Gather on me!"
At the command of the Dark Celestial squad leader, the Dark Celestials each used their abilities to force back their opponents and moved towards the Dark Celestial leader. One by one, the Dark Celestials rushed to the side of the leader and crashed into him.
As dark light flashed, these Dark Celestials merged with their leader.
The leader, having fused with numerous Dark Celestials, saw his energy intensity surge. He seized the opening when the Celestials failed to respond accordingly, broke through the encirclement with his immense power, and then sped towards the depths of the dimension.
The Celestials naturally would not allow the Dark Celestial leader to escape with so many Dark Celestials. They all transformed into streaks of light and pursued him.
Seeing this, the Dark Celestial leader's heart filled with joy. He simultaneously fended off the attacks of the many Celestials behind him while continuing to head in a certain direction.
However, very soon, his joy turned into terror.
The timing is off!
The actual explosion time of the dimensional fragment was earlier than the estimated time sent by the Dark Celestials of the stationed device.
This is impossible!
The Dark Celestials have already matured this technology, so such a serious error cannot occur.
What on earth happened?
Before the Captain of the Dark Celestials could figure out this problem, an invisible force within the dimensional fragment had quietly condensed.
In just an instant, this force expanded, instantly devouring all light and sound. At the same time, it also swallowed a pre-reserved path leading out of the dimensional fragment.
"So that's it. These Dark Celestials want to perish together with us. How insane. Prepare defenses."
Ziran, who had pursued them, seemed to realize something, but he clearly misunderstood.
In the original plan of the Dark Celestials, they would intentionally lure the Celestials here, and then leave through the reserved passage a few moments before the dimensional fragment exploded.
This way, although they would not be able to completely avoid the shockwave of the dimensional fragment's explosion, they would ensure that the Celestials were at the center of the explosion.
However, because of being tricked by Chthon and Set, the Captain of the Dark Celestials received incorrect information about the dimensional fragment's explosion time.
As a result, he failed to leave through the passage in time and was left at the center of the explosion, while the Celestials were mostly at the sub-explosion center at this time.
This changed the situation to him suffering greater than the Celestials.