Read Novel Full Chapter 1636: Gathering of Thieves
Chapter 1636: Gathering of Thieves
So, The Lifeless Dreadgod hatched a plan—the exact same plan as Orion’s.
He summoned his own Divine Kingdom, anchoring it just outside the Titanion Realm. But before his World Tree roots could even brush against The Realm Barrier, the Titanion Realm’s Will of the Realm detected the intrusion and repelled him.
The Lifeless Dreadgod had rotten luck. Thanks to Orion’s earlier stunt, the Will of the Realm had automatically patched that very exploit. From this day forward, no one besides Orion could extend their Divine Kingdom’s World Tree roots into the Titanion Realm.
Damn it. This route is blocked. I can’t sneak past the barrier or leech off the World Tree! His idea had perfectly mirrored Orion’s: mimic the aura of the Titanion Realm’s World Tree and plunge his Divine Kingdom’s roots into the swirling vortex of worlds. Unfortunately, the Will of the Realm had flat-out denied him.
Looks like I’ll have to do this the hard way. I’ll shatter those three worlds’ The Realm Barrier from the outside! The Lifeless Dreadgod fell silent, his aura darkening noticeably.
This sudden shift caught the attention of the Insect Queen, Moriphara. She glanced between The Lifeless Dreadgod and Orion. One was brooding, the other unnervingly quiet. A bad feeling crept over her. Yet, no matter how hard she pondered, Moriphara couldn’t figure out their game.
Meanwhile, outside the three great realms.
An ink-black World Tree root materialized beyond The Realm Barrier. It coiled and spun, rocketing forward like a massive drill.
The Realm Barrier shuddered, trying to hold firm. But from the inside, three other World Tree roots were already tearing it apart, violently siphoning its World Essence.
The Realm Barrier’s defense was pathetic. The world’s power offered only a token flash of resistance before the pitch-black root punched right through.
"Hahaha... When the blood moon and blood sun rise again... When all matter and life begin to twist... Wait, what is that?"
Having successfully invaded the realms dragged in by the Cult of Four, The Lifeless Dreadgod had been gearing up for a grand, theatrical entrance. But the sight before him choked the words in his throat.
"Hahaha... damn it, this is hilarious!" he roared. "These are the followers of the Four Gods? Where is your so-called devotion? Betrayal, theft, deceit... From the looks of it, you mortals are the real Dark Deity!"
The Lifeless Dreadgod’s mood was a complicated mix of amusement and disgust. He was thrilled to claim his piece of the pie, but staggered by the sheer hypocrisy on display. The unreliability of the faithful, the raw selfishness and malice of mortals—it was all laid bare.
"You will face divine retribution! You will bring down the wrath of the gods! You will—" The Lifeless Dreadgod slipped back into his hysterical raving, but abruptly froze.
"You... you’ll draw the gaze of the Four Gods!" he bellowed. "You filthy bastards! You’re dragging me into this! You’re making enemies for me and using me to do your dirty work! Damn you... damn you all to hell! You insidious scum!"
The Lifeless Dreadgod’s furious roars echoed from the pitch-black World Tree root.
But no one cared. Compared to the staggering riches sitting right in front of them, what did future risks matter?
"Gahahaha... Enemies of the Four Gods... Battling the divine... I’ll rip them from their Divine Mantle... and I, The Lifeless Dreadgod, shall ascend to the Divine Mantle!" he chanted. "When the blood moon and blood sun rise again... When all matter and life begin to twist... When the darkness within tears free from the flesh... When all living things sprout limbs that are not their own..."
A Dark Deity was, at their core, a Dark Deity. Regardless of what sparked it, The Lifeless Dreadgod shifted from panicked hysterics into a state of fearless, battle-crazed euphoria.
That old bastard really is a treacherous snake, Orion thought.
In truth, the exact moment the black root appeared, Orion had detected it and recognized The Lifeless Dreadgod’s signature. But Orion knew that trying to drive the old god away was a waste of time. It was far better to focus on absorbing as much World Essence as possible. True power came from strengthening oneself, not squabbling over scraps.
A bizarre silence fell over the World Tree.
Archbishop Kysar was throwing everything he had into pulling the three realms closer. Orion and The Lifeless Dreadgod were secretly siphoning World Essence from the inside and outside, respectively. Only Moriphara, having fully integrated her Divine Kingdom into the Titanion Realm, found herself utterly powerless to join the heist.
You are falling behind, an ancient, androgynous voice echoed in Moriphara’s mind. It belonged to the phantom of the ancestor she had summoned through sacrifice. Moriphara might have been blind to the underlying currents, but the phantom saw everything perfectly.
They are using their own methods to devour the World Essence of those three realms. Compared to them, you are at a severe disadvantage because you cannot mobilize your Divine Kingdom! Moriphara remained silent. She cast her gaze over Orion, The Lifeless Dreadgod, and Archbishop Kysar. All three were entirely consumed by their plunder, paying her zero attention.
What you must do now is channel all your power into the Titanion Realm’s World Tree roots. Push it to devour as much World Essence as possible, the ancestor advised. Only then will you receive a greater share of the harvest when the roots withdraw. It is the only way to mitigate your losses! Her ancestor’s words sparked a realization in Moriphara’s eyes. She immediately cut off the world power she was lending to Archbishop Kysar and redirected every ounce of her strength to empower the Titanion Realm’s World Tree roots.
Orion, The Lifeless Dreadgod, and Archbishop Kysar noticed her sudden shift. None of them said a word. They just kept gorging on the World Essence.
Order your swarm to begin the sacrifice, the voice urged. Drag one of our race’s greater realms here and fuse it with this world. That is the only way you will gain more of the realm’s Authority. When the time comes, it will make seizing the Divine Mantle much easier... The phantom of The Progenitor Swarm perched on Moriphara’s shoulder flickered. A strange, ancient power surged into the World Tree roots, accelerating their consumption of the essence. At this juncture, boosting the World Tree was the most effective way to quietly cripple the other three.