Chapter 1289
Sacrifice and Succession
At this time, Abyss Heavenly Envoy and Calamity Red were engaged in a “Brave Duel.”
The two were speeding towards each other on motorcycles, racing across a narrow log bridge at high speed. Below the bridge lay rapids and碎石 (gravel).
If neither was willing to back down, their only fate would be mutual destruction, their bodies shattered.
However, if one chose to swerve their bike and plunge into the river, while facing significant mortal danger, it would at least not be certain death. Correspondingly, the other would be able to pass safely and reach the other side.
This was not a “the brave triumph when paths cross” type of arena.
The cowardly would be covered in wounds; however, if both were brave, the result would be their shared demise.
Calamity Red could certainly choose to retreat.
That would mean he chose to admit defeat.
His path was not defined by words like “duel” or “challenge”; “war” was inherently cruel, employing any means necessary. Therefore, no matter what trick the opponent used, if he fled, he would have lost.
—But the Pillar God of the Seventh Origin River would never allow failure.
This was also why the Silver Crown Dragon, even after becoming a Pillar God, did not immediately eliminate the remnant of Bear Heavenly Envoy but allowed him to develop his followers and stockpile his Discs right under his nose.
Because the Pillar God of the “Violence” Origin River did not allow for failure—if He had initiated this conflict, then even a draw would be considered a defeat.
Bear Heavenly Envoy did not even need to defeat Silver Crown Dragon; simply escaping from Him would be considered a survival victory.
It was akin to a hunter going out for prey. Even if not killed by the prey, one could not claim, “I fought the prey to a draw.”
When the war objective of the one who initiated the war is not achieved, it is already considered a failure.
And a single failure would cause the Pillar God’s position to tremble and waver.
Just like the ritual when Arthur challenged Supreme Heaven in the past—Supreme Heaven lost just once and forfeited its Pillar God position. And his so-called “failure” was merely killing Arthur one more time when they fought.
—Innumerable tentacles condensed, clashing fiercely with the materialized weapons.
As Abyss Heavenly Envoy poured in more and more Power, a surging tide began to seep from the mirror… as if the mirror was gradually bleeding, or a dammed waterway was starting to leak.
The next moment, like a breached embankment—the surging tide roared out!
Calamity Red also grew solemn.
The Power of the newly formed War path surged completely.
What He summoned were not mere fleeting afterimages, but fully manifested Heroic Spirits.
All individuals who died in “War” were summoned by the Calamity Red Dragon, becoming His immortal Legion.
Like the receding tide of the Underworld River, countless Undead trudged forth.
They were minuscule compared to the vast Sea. Yet, they were fearless, charging forward at the command of the Lord of Hosts—and after being shattered, they would resurrect again.
Their bodies were stained with Scarlet spiritual energy.
This was War energy, the same BUFF as the aura carried by Helchin.
Helchin’s version of War energy allowed him to always land a critical hit when facing enemies whose actions were impaired or who were flanked.
As the God of War, the Lord of Hosts, the buffs that Calamity Red provided to His Legion were several, even tens of times greater!
Life Steal, Strength, Defense, Link, Power Equalization, and constantly appearing resistances and buffs—even a mortal with enough will to fight, even if not an Extraordinary, could face an adult Giant in a hand-to-hand combat just by standing there.
And as more and more Heroic Spirits were pulled forth, the level, scale, and intensity of “War” continuously expanded… and the Power of the “War” energy accumulated by the Red Dragon also continuously rose.
The constantly regenerating, dense tentacles, however, were slowly receding.
—It was not that Abyss Heavenly Envoy chose to retreat, but that the regeneration speed of the tentacles was beginning to lag behind the unfolding War power of Calamity Red. Within just a few minutes, Calamity Red’s Legion began to push Abyss Heavenly Envoy out of the Dream Realm.
However, Abyss Heavenly Envoy grew increasingly angry—Eivass could clearly feel the Power Abyss Heavenly Envoy was mobilizing growing stronger. As his tentacles angrily struck the Earth, rumbling earthquakes gradually spread outwards.
On the Anxi border, far from Holy Spring City, and even in Horus, the continuous and increasingly intense earthquakes could be clearly felt.
This unprecedented phenomenon, which had never appeared in prophecies, filled the Anxi people with immense fear.
Some believed it was the deity of the desert angered, ready to unleash divine wrath upon them, dooming them all. Others thought the Lords had finally angered the desert and it was time for an uprising. Still others believed the sacrifices were insufficient, leaving the desert thirsty and attempting to appease its anger by randomly sacrificing Passerby.
Meanwhile, as Abyss Heavenly Envoy and Calamity Red were locked in a stalemate.
In the Grey Cave of Grey Heavenly Envoy, Geometric Heavenly Envoy had already begun preparing the highest-level elemental spells—
The four elements converged, swirling and shaking the heavens and earth.
One by one, four-colored runes appeared and vanished from the void, compressed and chanted by Geometric Heavenly Envoy at hundreds of times the normal speed. The spell sounded like a sharp and strange cry. The quadruple-layered chanting was as noisy and unbearable as the grinding of metal.
The surrounding Mana surged, being continuously drawn away by Geometric Heavenly Envoy. Even the World itself began to disintegrate under the spell—earth, fire, water, and wind gradually collapsed and dissipated. The areas close to Geometric Heavenly Envoy gradually turned into colored particles and converged towards him.
The Power of “Spell” itself originated from the Void.
This was also why the Great Philosopher chose to remain silent after glimpsing the Truth.
The Power used to create the Sky-Piercing Tower originated from the Void from the very beginning.
—It was a magnificent Power capable of creating something from nothing and performing all manner of miracles.
It was only after the Great Philosopher struck the Sky-Piercing Tower with lightning, causing it to collapse and scattering the People of the Earth, that a group of Mages rebuilt the second Sky-Piercing Tower. And the ultimate goal of the Supreme Host, Plato, was to reach the end of Truth.
The Mages had vaguely realized that the reason the Winged One of the past suddenly turned hostile and abandoned them likely had a reason. Especially since no matter how they called out to the Great Philosopher, he deliberately did not respond to their summons or answer their questions, yet he did not punish their transgression—this led these intelligent individuals to gradually understand something.
It was likely that at the end of the Gate of Truth lay unspeakable secrets.
The so-called Gate of Truth was a “mirror” immersed at the end of the Fourth Origin River.
If one could reach the end, they could see through that mirror and know all the mysteries of the World, answering all questions. Thus, from omniscience, one would attain omnipotence, obtaining supreme authority and becoming the God above all Gods. Because it was at the end of the Fourth Origin River, even other Pillar Gods could not reach it.
This had existed since the era of the Winged Ones. It was also the reason the Winged One split into two to enter the Origin River of Truth.
However, after the Great Philosopher entered the Origin River of Truth, he uncharacteristically chose silence.
The Mages soon realized…
The Gate of Truth seemed to be a trap!
Rather than the Great Philosopher monopolizing this sweet truth, he had been forced to become an eternal prisoner, unable to transcend.
So, what should they do?
—Should they worship the Great Philosopher, so that future generations would remember his greatness?
—Should they seal the news, so that the Great Philosopher’s sacrifice would be more meaningful?
They chose neither the path of openness nor the path of secrecy. The Mages who pursued truth would not stop for such reasons; thus, they chose another path.
That was to obtain all truth from outside the Gate of Truth.
Relying on the collective calculations of the wise to exhaust all truths in the World!
This was the original mission of Geometric Heavenly Envoy himself—the Supreme Host, Plato.
This was not a foolish act of a group of people who did not understand the confidant’s plight and were trying to court death.
Rather, they had surmised from the beginning what the Great Philosopher was bearing, and intended to reach it with their own Power, thereby replacing the Great Philosopher.
They were a group of loyal, curious, tenacious… juniors who would never give up or accept their fate.
Therefore, from the moment of their birth, Geometric Heavenly Envoy’s mission was to completely replace the Great Philosopher.
To other paths, this was a rebellious group that did not conceal its ambition and hostility at all. Even later Mages viewed Geometric Heavenly Envoy and the Great Philosopher as antagonists—Geometric Heavenly Envoy even originated elemental spells that were easier to learn and more practical than ancient spells. Was this not acting as the God of Mages?
However, only a very few people knew this was not rebellion.
It was sacrifice… and succession.
Gathering the ancient Winged sage in the “Serpent Vortex,” and uniting the souls of all wise individuals from various civilizations, past and present.
—Not to uncover the answer, but to provide the answer with their own Power!
Geometric Heavenly Envoy’s chanting grew more intense.
The surrounding World trembled more frequently—all matter began to disintegrate, turning into patches of shadow. Even the body of Fiery Fist Hassan could no longer be preserved.
Even with the protection of Grey Heavenly Envoy’s “Lie,” the Great Abyss should have already noticed this place.
However, at this moment, the Great Abyss was passionately engaged in a confrontation with Calamity Red and had no time to spare.
This was the opportune moment for “Mages” to chant—
