[The day after you left Allenson City, you woke up to Krisha’s apologetic greeting.]
[She was deeply sorry for falling asleep without permission while you were speaking last night. She even requested that you punish her for her behavior.]
[You reassured her that it wasn’t necessary, but the girl insisted on being disciplined.]
[So, you lightly tapped her forehead with your index finger, calling it her “punishment.”]
[After that, you began your day with washing and eating.]
[From the top of the mountain, you looked toward Allenson City and saw that it was still ravaged by monsters. Twisted, mournful flames continued to burn without showing any sign of subsiding.]
[You decided to remain patient, communicating with the elements atop the mountain as you worked to create broader and more comprehensive magic.]
[Your elemental perception continued to activate… Mortal wisdom continued to activate…]
[Your understanding of magic deepened further.]
[On the third day after leaving Allenson City, heavy rain fell from a gloomy sky.]
[The torrential downpour extinguished the fires in Allenson City, but the monsters lingering in the ruins didn’t leave. They seemed to be waiting for something.]
[You resolved to wait patiently as well.]
[Meanwhile, you noticed a change in Krisha’s eyes. The previously chaotic mix of black and gold seemed to have shifted into a more orderly arrangement. The girl’s eyes looked even more beautiful, almost captivating.]
[In your spare time, you read magic books and attempted to develop your own magical tools.]
[On the fourth day, the skies cleared.]
[You began to wonder if you had miscalculated. From what you could observe, Allenson City still appeared as a desolate ruin, overrun by monsters, with no signs of significant change.]
[Nonetheless, you chose to stay.]
[The food in your space ring was plentiful, ensuring that you and Krisha could endure life in the wild for an extended period. However, the lack of stability was undeniable.]
[Krisha, determined to be of greater help to you, devoted herself to magical training with increased fervor. Her progress accelerated noticeably.]
[On the fifth day, your patience was rewarded.]
The earth trembled violently.
Mountains quaked, and a dark “wave” emerged on the horizon.
A deafening roar filled the air as thousands of steam-powered armored vehicles rolled forward, their massive wheels crushing everything in their path. Towering columns of steam hissed into the sky, and sharp, piercing whistles echoed.
Underneath the relentless cacophony of grinding gears and shrieking steam, legions of soldiers marched in unison, their iron boots pounding the earth in a dull, oppressive rhythm.
From above, mages stood on floating platforms, chanting praises to their gods, their voices rising in a chaotic symphony of prayers, roars, and marching orders.
Finally, all the voices unified into a single, resounding cry:
“Gods above, destroy these heretics!”
Dark steam cannons roared to life, gathering energy. Wands brimming with elemental magic glowed with preparation.
War had begun.
Human legions bearing the emblems of various gods charged at the monstrous horde that had taken over Allenson City. Explosions erupted across the battlefield, and the initial assault annihilated thousands of lesser monsters.
The results appeared promising.
But Xu Xi frowned deeply.
Something was wrong.
The sight of human armies and divine magicians battling monsters might have seemed normal, but to Xu Xi, the situation reeked of inconsistencies.
Why had the orcs breached the Church of God’s border defenses?
Why had the legions arrived so late, when it was clear that no survivors remained in the city?
And most importantly, Xu Xi murmured to himself, “Why are these forces so inadequately prepared? Their weapons and magic are insufficient for reclaiming Allenson City.”
During his escape, Xu Xi had encountered these monsters firsthand. While he had been able to overpower most of them, he had also sensed beings among them with power rivaling a Grand Magister or even a Holy Domain Magister.
The human legions’ best efforts barely matched the power of a single great magician. Their equipment might clear out weaker monsters but stood no chance against the true threats.
“It’s impossible that those in power didn’t anticipate this,” Xu Xi mused grimly.
“So what is their real objective?”
[You observed the battle closely and found your suspicions confirmed.]
[Despite their initial success, the human forces quickly reached a stalemate. Their advanced weapons couldn’t penetrate the monsters’ defenses.]
[Enormous sub-dragon species rampaged through their ranks, effortlessly smashing armored vehicles to pieces.]
[Flying creatures like poisonous dragons and blood bees harassed airborne mages, who retaliated fiercely but found themselves outnumbered and overwhelmed.]
[The tide of battle shifted. The land was filled with chaos and death.]
Xu Xi’s unease grew.
“Are these legions being sent here to die?” he wondered, his brow furrowing.
Suddenly, amidst the chaos, Xu Xi heard the fervent prayers of the soldiers.
“Save me, great gods who created the world! Please save me—I don’t want to die!”
“Atona! Atona! Help me, I beg you!”
“Don’t come any closer, monster!”
“Ahhhhhh!”
Cries of desperation echoed across the battlefield. Soldiers and mages alike, faced with the terror of death, abandoned all pretense of courage. Their spirits cracked under the pressure, and they screamed for salvation.
Would the gods hear their prayers?
Xu Xi wasn’t sure. But at that moment, he witnessed something extraordinary.
The sky turned dark. Clouds swirled violently as thunder rolled across the heavens. Lightning flashed, illuminating the chaos below.
And then, from the stormy sky, a small, radiant particle of light descended.
The earth trembled as the light fell, and for a brief moment, everything became silent.
Xu Xi’s eyes narrowed.
He was about to witness the arrival of a “god.”