Chapter 2: New Century (Epilogue)
Chapter 2: New Century (Epilogue)
Orc Royal Court, Border, Mohsinvik Highlands.
This was the last line of defense for the Orc Royal Court in the west. Two deep fissures served as natural barriers, and the Orc Royal Court’s largest tribe, the Thunderfang, was located near these two fissures. Currently, this defensive line was still stable.
Orc King Kulkul stood before the fissures.
Tens of thousands of orc troops formed a heavy fortress to resist the army of Old Ones’ Retainers. Swarms of ghouls covered the mountainsides within the fissures. These ghouls came from all directions, wearing decent basic equipment. They had strange appearances, and many even had gaudy, peacock-like hair.
“Your Majesty, news from the eastern front: Dragon’s Ridge Fortress has held.”
An orc rode a seat wolf, stopping behind Kulkul and bowing to report.
“Dragon’s Ridge Fortress held?”
Kulkul was incredulous upon hearing this. He knew the situation at Dragon’s Ridge Fortress the best. There was a Dominator’s Incarnation there, and he had already planned to abandon it. The orc army at Dragon’s Ridge Fortress was merely a sacrificial pawn, tasked only with delaying time. He had even prepared their withdrawal route.
Now, he suddenly heard that Dragon’s Ridge Fortress had actually held! No longer would they need to withdraw. This was indeed good news!
“Good! Good! That’s excellent! Who is the commander at Dragon’s Ridge Fortress? They must be thoroughly rewarded this time!”
Kulkul laughed heartily, striking his giant axe with a loud clang.
The orc soldier’s expression was not good.
“Your Majesty, the commander at Dragon’s Ridge Fortress is Lord Grossol.”
“Oh, Grossol.”
Kulkul blinked in surprise. Grossol was someone he had specifically sent to Dragon’s Ridge Fortress. After escaping from Kalun, his injuries had become more and more serious, with a hidden tendency to fall from the Legendary-grade. Grossol, the second most powerful figure in the Orc Royal Court, had become a considerable threat. Plus, Grossol had considerable renown, and possessed royal orc blood. Therefore, he had to guard against this governor. He had originally thought Grossol would seize this opportunity to cause trouble, but unexpectedly, the latter readily accepted the mission to garrison Dragon’s Ridge Fortress, even knowing how dangerous it was and that he might die. Now, with Grossol holding Dragon’s Ridge Fortress, his prestige would surely increase again? Thinking of this, a hint of ruthlessness flashed in the Orc King’s eyes. He turned to the orc soldier and said, “Where is Grossol? Have him come see me!”
“Your Majesty, to preserve Dragon’s Ridge Fortress, Lord Grossol has returned to his ancestors.”
The orc soldier’s voice choked with emotion. The number of strong warriors among the orcs was dwindling. Especially heroes like Grossol who placed the great cause of their race first. The once glorious orc race was no more. What would be the future for the orcs?
“He’s dead?”
The Orc King’s lips curved into a subtle smirk, which quickly vanished. Just as he was about to feign sorrow and mourn, a sudden thunderous roar echoed from the sky. Looking up, he saw countless cracks appearing in the overcast sky, which then tore open into a massive gap. Accompanied by terrifying whispers, a giant eye entwined with tentacles peered down at Cain from the rift, filled with malice and greed. However, a glimmer of golden light, forming a barrier, was visible, blocking the eye. After a single glance, the eye retreated, leaving behind a widening void, like a scar.
The sky had fallen… Or rather, the Divine Realm of Cain had collapsed. The entire main material plane trembled violently. The barrier between the Divine Realm and the main material plane had vanished, and the rules of power limitation naturally disintegrated. This would mean that powers of the god-tier could roam the main material plane of the Cain Continent. All living beings watched the sky. Those who would soon roam the main material plane might not be gods, but extremely terrifying existences.
Above Dragonflame City, as a massive black hole opened in the sky, fragments of the highest heaven, like falling stars, plummeted from the edge of the black hole towards the ground. Simultaneously, a stream of golden light also fell, streaking across the sky and tumbling towards the wilderness. The wind howled in his ears, his vision blurring. Golden divine blood seeped from his shattered body. Since becoming a god, Lewenstein had never felt such agonizing pain, as if his entire body was being gnawed by countless insects. He wanted to move his body, at least control his wings to avoid crashing into the city and harming the innocent, but he couldn’t even move a finger. He was getting closer to the ground. Lewenstein smelled the scent of the wilderness and the river. This somewhat reassured him, at least he wasn’t falling into a city. His lingering will urged him to repair his injuries as much as possible, so he might still have a chance to fight after landing.
The gods ultimately failed to defend Cain’s last line of defense. Now, the angel legions were almost annihilated. The four Archangels were torn to shreds by the Old Ones, and even half of the gods were devoured by the Dominators of the Old Ones. Only the God of Light and a few other more powerful gods were struggling to hold on. Lewenstein had no time to think further. He had a very important mission, and the current opportunity was bought with the lives of countless angels. The pursuers from the Old Ones were right behind him. After landing, he had to find Xi Wei immediately.
“Boom—”
The angel fell to the ground like a kite with a broken string. The impact of the landing sent him rolling for an unknown distance before he finally stopped after hitting a mountain wall. The impact made him spit up blood. He lay on the ground for a long time, his breathing like bellows. Finally, he felt a little strength return to his body. Leaning on his long sword, he shakily got up from the ground. His broken angel wings drooped behind him. Without the ability to fly, they had become completely cumbersome. Lewenstein gritted his teeth, swung his sword, and severed one of his angel wings. The intense pain made him cry out. Taking a deep breath, he then cut off the other wing. This way, his movement speed finally increased significantly.
Where his eyes should have been, there were only two bleeding sockets filled with golden blood. The chaotic power of the Old Ones could be seen writhing at the wounds. Although he could no longer see, he could still sense Xi Wei’s location. He was fortunate to have given the Holy Light Horn to Xi Wei, and Xi Wei was not far from here.
“Lewenstein!”
A gleam of light seemed to appear in his pitch-black vision. The voice grew closer. He recognized this voice intimately; it was Xi Wei. He never expected that after suffering misfortune for thousands of years, his luck would finally come to him here. Lewenstein’s lips curved into a faint smile. He wanted to say, “It’s good.”
“Xi Wei…”
The angel sighed weakly. As a pair of arms caught him, he could no longer support his spent body and collapsed to the ground. Lewenstein took out a purple crystal, carefully handed it to the figure before him, and said with a faint breath, “Xi Wei… Holy Dragon Lord cannot live on. This is her origin crystal. She has already chosen a successor, Connie. Give the crystal to Connie and let her ascend to godhood. She, she can help you… And, and this…” As he spoke, Lewenstein took out a mass of silver-gray energy from his Space Ring. “This is the Source of Cain Will. Fuse with it… Then, then… go, go ascend… to godhood!!” After saying this, Lewenstein’s head drooped powerlessly.
“Lewenstein??”
Xi Wei, his eyes red, shook the angel’s body. But only a few strands of golden feathers detached. Lewenstein’s last trace of life had dissipated with the gentle breeze outside Dragonflame City. His body gradually melted, like sand scattering in the wind, turning into specks of golden divine radiance and merging into Xi Wei’s godhead in the form of Angel Divinity. This was her only way to help Xi Wei.
“Defend Cain!”
In the depths of his being, Xi Wei seemed to hear the whispers of the Archangel.
