Chapter 469
"State of war, Golden Fleet, deploy."
The Ancient World Tree is long dead; its body has been transformed into a warship. The compartments separated by its roots surpass any known alloy, and its massive magical core can withstand a large amount of firepower.
Every race evolves in the Great Game, with stronger magic and more powerful energy, all in service of war. As the game nears its end, the Elven Queen feels both longing and apprehension.
The four-race Alliance possessed overwhelming power that no single race could withstand. If it weren't for the utterly foolishness of her assigned allies, she would have joined long ago.
On the other hand, she hadn't expected the situation to change so quickly; before she knew it, the Alliance had been formed, leaving her completely unprepared.
According to the helpers, this is a group of abnormal beings whose target is the helpers of the Machine Race. Who could have predicted this? It was thought that, as recorded in the documents, the helpers could not change the course of the game.
So she had no choice; if she didn't take the last ticket, she would die. She had no choice but to fight her nemesis. But then, an envoy from the Crimson Moon brought another option.
The Divine Race, they still exist.
The Elves knew about the Second Cataclysm, or rather, any race on Earth that wasn't blind could see the changes on the moon and had explored the sealed heavens.
The conditions are simple: unite with the Dwarves, plus the undead and sirens. This is obviously not enough, but the Divine Race will directly participate to make up for the lack of strength.
With two allies locked in a stalemate, neither able to gain the upper hand, the Great Game will continue.
"Your Majesty, haven't you made up your mind yet? The Sirens will be destroyed, and you'll have one less trump card."
A handsome man with dazzling blond hair, as beautiful as marble, stood beside the throne, his oppressive aura increasing every second.
"The Sirens too weak; their presence or absence makes little difference." The Queen turned her head, a slightly mocking smile on her face. "The angels are watching us. Once they discover that the Elves and Dwarves have joined forces, they will attack with all their might, and you are insufficient to provide protection."
She's not stupid; these Divine Race clearly want the elves to be cannon fodder and for the angel Alliance to suffer mutual losses.
Suspicion, jealousy, Procrastination —the Elf God truly created a group of inferior servants. Even after all these years, the inferiority etched deep in their souls still remains.
The man was somewhat disappointed, but reason was also etched deep within the Divine Race soul, and He understood the thoughts of these servants.
Too many years have passed. He wasted too much time just explaining his identity. The elves had no idea how powerful the Divine Race were. It was just a pity that the Divine Race who created these servants had long since perished and could not use their authority to suppress them.
When it comes to discussing interests, how could these races, who have fought brutally for countless years, be easily persuaded?
"My power needs to be delivered gradually across the 'boundary,' which does indeed take time," the man said sincerely. He seemed like a projection that was gradually solidifying, and Yuki had indeed guessed correctly.
The Second Cataclysm divided heaven and earth. It wasn't that the Divine Race didn't want to intervene, but each intervention came at a great cost. The Elven Queen didn't know that if the man were to descend completely, he could never return. And if he wanted to go home, there was no way for the two allies to be in a standoff.
"There's still time, I can wait for you." The Queen smiled politely, rose and paced a few steps, her expression pitiful. "I'm actually fine here, you'll have to convince those dwarves first, they've been clamoring for war."
"I have already met with the Dwarves; it will take some time to persuade him."
"That's why I told you not to rush. Convincing the dwarf and then granting the assistants the power of the contract will take time."
"Isn't the oversight of the Great Divine Race more useful than those extraterrestrial visitors?"
"No, the glory of the Divine Race has long become a legend. I only believe in the rules of the Great Game." The queen suddenly became expressionless, filled with supreme majesty. As the representative of her race, she bore the fate of the elves and could not make a decision lightly.
If it were Orcs, they would have already started fighting upon hearing that a powerful figure was protecting them. But elves are different; they haven't even thought about whether to accept the offer.
The fact that the legendary Divine Race are acting as liaisons suggests weakness, doesn't it? If we team up with the birdmen, what if we can obtain the Divine Torch and become the new Divine Race?
These inferior elves are the ones who truly waver between two sides.
The marble-like man was very clear-headed; he knew how greedy the Elves were and how difficult a race they were to control.
There's nothing I can do; those who are easy to control and powerful have become my enemies.
'Lord Marcus is right. This Great Game has reached a dead end. It's time to establish new rules. Tens of thousands of years have passed, and even the most exciting drama has become tiresome.'
The man shut his mouth. He needed power now, and it would be best to kill all ten races together. With the Divine Race weakened by internal strife, a group of killing machines carefully selected from endless slaughter was too dangerous.
Hmph, they want to use me as cannon fodder.
The Queen glanced at the man; she was equally clear-headed, now preoccupied with something else entirely.
"When will those good-for-nothings accumulate enough merit to gain the agency rights so I can hedge my bets on both sides?"
She was essentially ruined by the assigned player. Since the player couldn't establish a contract without the right to act as an agent, she couldn't join the Angel Alliance, even if she followed the Divine Race's plan.
Without a contract, how could she dare to cooperate with those smelly dwarves? They knew that the dwarves, like her, were betting on both sides and had already received intelligence that the Dwarves had made contact with the angels.
"Could those dwarves have gotten the last ticket and are just putting on an act with me? If they really join forces with the Angel Alliance, how am I supposed to stop them?"
The queen began to feel anxious and suspicious again, constantly glancing at the magical screen. The Machine Race's steel fleet was patrolling right behind her; what if the Dwarves started a war and then betrayed her? Wouldn't the Elves be doomed?
There's still time. I have to wait until the Sirens is wiped out before I can make a decision.
They dared not retreat, yet did not want to fight, so the situation remained deadlocked. Just then, a beautiful elven maidservant approached, seemingly oblivious to the handsome man beside her, and bowed slightly.
"Your Majesty, the Angels has made unusual movements."
The magical light screen immediately shifted its target, and a golden warship appeared on the screen. The coordinates of that warship made the queen jump up.
"Oh no, this is behind the dwarf. Why didn't they warn me when those birdmen were about to attack?"
"This is forcing the Dwarves to take action and break the balance." The man instantly understood what it meant. The Elves were in front, and the Dwarves were behind. It was like sandwiching cheese between two groups.
What choices do the Dwarves have? Fight the Angels with all their might? Even setting aside the feasibility of that, what about their backs?
"I'll go right away."
"Don't waste your energy. Do you think those stinking Dwarves will believe you? With your words alone, do you think they'll entrust their backs to me?" The Queen frowned and looked at another screen.
The Machine Race was also closing in. To the Dwarves, this was a sign of a joint attack by the elves, angels, and Machine Race. But to the elves, didn't it seem like the Dwarves, angels, and machine race were joining forces against them?
It was difficult to distinguish friend from foe; the battlefield was like a cookie, with one layer sandwiched between another.
The Machine Race and the Angels are far from the battlefield, and their cruising speed is insufficient to join the battle within half a day, yet they have blocked all escape routes.
"Do you have a way to stop them? Even just show a possibility?" The Elven Queen glanced at her sideways; she didn't want to hear any nonsense.
The man hesitated for a few seconds, then slowly shook his head. "With my current abilities, I can't stop them, and I might even expose myself."
The Angel Alliance certainly knew of the existence of the Divine Race, but they certainly didn't know that the gods had the ability to directly intervene. However, given the outcome, whether or not they had the ability to intervene is meaningless.
"Then don't blame me." The Queen was decisive. Even being a fence-sitter requires tactics. The Divine Race are useless now, while the Angel Alliance's sword is already at her throat.
"There may be opportunities for cooperation in the future, but I cannot allow those dwarves to join the Angel Alliance and destroy the great elves. I will not speak of your matter; please leave."
This was a clear order to leave, but the man didn't linger. He sighed and disappeared on the spot, his only gain being a handle on the Elves' duplicity, which might come in handy in the future.
"Too fast. Did they anticipate our intervention? That's impossible; the Divine Race have been gone for ten thousand years."
The man ascended into the air and saw two fleets set sail, heading straight towards him. There was nothing he could do; the elves and Dwarves were sworn enemies, and he simply didn't have enough time to maneuver.
The alliance of two races is indeed a formidable force, but whether it's elves or Dwarves, if one side joins the Angel Alliance, the other will be crushed.
No one dared to bear this price; they had to fight to the death to pledge their loyalty, or eliminate the enemy to secure their final ticket.
"Dietrich, do you think it's possible that those servants were trying to wipe out both sides?"
A voice suddenly appeared in my ear, calm, indifferent, and filled with supreme authority, like a spectator high above, watching the gladiators fight.
"It's unlikely, Lord Marcus," Dietrich replied with a slight bow. "I've investigated with the utmost efficiency. Of the ten servants, only the elves and Dwarves have any value in forming an alliance. The rest are either too weak or we dare not let them obtain the Divine Torch."
The Orcs have been eliminated, the Sirens are under attack, Undead have no chance of the Alliance. Only three races remain. A simple table analysis will provide the answer.
"Dwarves, elves, and insects—we can't just abandon two powerful races and join forces with the Insect Race, which has little fighting power."
"Don't forget the humans; the helpers are a variable," the God of War reminded him, swallowing as if he had just drunk some fine nectar. "Continue to cross the barrier and concentrate your strength. What I can guess, the servants can guess too. Just watch; they won't really fight to the death. Once they show signs of being surrounded, their survival instinct will make them huddle together."
Dietrich was taken aback. It was indeed possible. No wonder the Elven Queen had issued an order to leave but hadn't pursued him to offer his allegiance.
"Then what do I need to do?" The man bowed, offering his respects to the last remaining patriarch of the lineage.
"Give them a hand when the time is right, eliminate as many slaves as you can, and then enjoy the rest. This is the final act of the drama before the Golden Return."
"Since it's a play, I need actors. Without them, I can't get the Divine Torch. But the actors can't be so powerful that they're out of control. We must ensure that we are the final victors."
"Yes, Lord Marcus." Dimitri bowed his head. They had been planning this ever since before the Second Cataclysm, and they would not tolerate failure.
Above the Crimson Moon, a handsome blond youth sat on a divine throne, dressed in a white gauze robe, every cell of his body perfectly sculpted.
The image of the earth appeared in his golden eyes. The vast palace was lonely and cold, with only Him, swirling a wine glass, and the sound of a choir filled the hall as He softly chanted.
"The Crimson Moon is shattered, the lineage withers."
"The slaughter is like a sea of blood; war pleases the gods."
"Great Game, Great Game, the Divine Torch is reborn, the rules are being redefined."
"With our blood, we will rebuild the Divine Race and sever the ties to the heavens—"
"Take control of your Destiny!"
Chapter Twenty-Two: Waiting for a Rabbit to Run into a Tree Stump!
Here we go.
Yuki raised his head, watching as nuclear bombs, filled with destructive power, exploded in the sky, their emerald green protective shields rising and falling.
The exploding bombs resembled countless suns, flashing, Elves, and linked together. The elven light spears were equally impressive, like beams of light weaving through the airship. Upon contact with the airship's transfer force field, they scattered across the sky like celestial maidens scattering flowers.
Boom--
The muffled explosions echoed continuously. Stray bullets landed on the ground, creating deep craters, or grazed the mountaintop, accompanied by the crashing sound of rocks crumbling.
The war between the two races was more intense than the siege of the Judge. After all, the players were small targets with unpredictable abilities, and it was impossible for them to engage in a direct battle with a fleet. What they were witnessing was more like a duel between two behemoths, with nothing fancy or complicated.
Destructive power, defensive power, tactics—that's it all. Witnessing the clash between two powerful races, Yuki became even more convinced of the theory of evolution.
Of course, there were epic-level powerhouses in ancient times. According to the documents found, this world has experienced countless changes.
From the initial duels between the strongest, to the later gentleman's wars, and then to forbidden spell magic guilds, blood fortress knight charges, and gun-firing wands, countless more efficient and powerful things were developed. Races that developed at a slightly slower pace were either wiped out long ago, or turned into rats like humans.
Frieren should be quite aware of this; a powerful demon, after being sealed away for decades, fell directly behind the times.
So, can the Divine Race, so far removed from the world, withstand the sharp weapons bred from these venomous insects?
Yuki grew increasingly confident, but after watching for a while, he slowly shook his head.
"They're playing dirty tricks; as expected, none of the surviving races are easy to deal with."
The two races were engaged in a fierce battle, which was actually just dozens of warships lined up in formation, exchanging fire at a distance of more than 200 kilometers. The special effects were spectacular, but the actual casualties were very small.
They weren't stupid. What if the Angel Alliance wanted to annihilate both sides? If they really wanted to fight to the death, they'd have to wait until the treaty was signed.
The problem is, all the spots are already filled.
"Should we order Skywing to speed up the advance?" Ikaros had been calculating. Now that both the Machine Race and Angels fleets were slowing down, they were unwilling to rashly join the battle.
"No, pushing them too hard will leave them with no other choice. Once they band together, it'll take a lot of effort to take them down." Yuki didn't know the strength of the Divine Race, so he wouldn't use up his trump cards.
The fisherman shouldn't get involved too early; no matter which side he joins, the other side will fight to the death.
"How are things on the Sirens side?"
"The battle has already begun. Calculations show that our strength is insufficient to overwhelm them. Why not send more people?" Ikaros retorted. On the Sirens side, there was Mai Sakurajima and others, along with some Machine Race and two epic-level Magical Beasts.
"Because I need to maintain control of this battlefield. Don't worry, they can take it. What about the humans?"
"We are clearing out the third undead settlement. Would you like to see the detailed battle report?"
Yuki shook his head. The Undead was like an experience booster; after their representative fell, the entire race's strength was weakened. As for the war tools created by humans, he couldn't understand them at all.
The plans are progressing smoothly, and we're just waiting for the outcome to be decided here.
"At the current intensity, they can fight continuously for more than five days, during which time unexpected events may occur." Ikaros calculated the result, without needing to remind them what those unexpected events might be.
If the Divine Race really intervene, the longer it takes, the better. Also, players affiliated with both races are frantically grinding reputation in the war, and it won't be long before they gain access.
The quota is already filled, so it's impossible to sign a contract no matter which side comes. Yuki is even more afraid that the Divine Race will try to broker a contract between the elves and Dwarves, forcing them to entrust their backs to each other.
Hatred is negligible compared to survival.
How can we get them to fight to the death without any worries about their own safety?
His fingers tapped lightly on his thigh. With the enemy's intelligence intact, it wasn't easy to be the one to reap the benefits. The entire plan had to be scrapped and restarted. His gaze swept across the battlefield again and again.
'Time is on my side too; every little bit helps. I'll use this time to eliminate the Sirens and the Undead, and then gather my outstretched hands into a fist.'
'But I can't just stand by and watch. Ideally, I'll retract my fist, and the elves and Dwarves will be both severely wounded. What could possibly cut off their escape route so they can focus solely on grabbing the last ticket?'
Under rigorous logic, Yuki deduced step by step and soon came up with an idea.
"Tell Kong to lead the Insect Race to the battlefield, the whole race. The long-eared monsters and dwarves will keep monitoring the surroundings; they'll definitely find us."
"You want to use the Insect Race to put pressure on them?" Ikaros realized that now it was a single ticket, and three races were vying for it. If the elves and Dwarves were going along with it, they shouldn't blame the Angel Alliance for finding other partners.
"Hmm, they don't know a crucial piece of information." Yuki held up a finger and said coldly, "I know more about the 'Divine Race' than they think, and I anticipated that the Divine Race would intervene."