Chapter 480
"The Flame Lineage obeys my command; not a single one can escape."
"Find the players and hunt them all down. Even if I fail, I'd rather hand them over to these servants."
This anomaly caused the intensity of the war to surge dramatically, naturally exciting all the races involved.
"The Divine Torch is about to be revealed."
"Hold on, get it, and we'll return to peace!"
"Slay these lackeys of the gods! They are the ones who caused the earth to shatter!"
Willpower dispelled fatigue, and both sides fought to the death for the same goal. There were no explanations, no empty words, only a determination expressed through more powerful artillery fire and fierce fighting.
As the spatial rift between the moon and the Divine Torch thinned, Marcus glanced at the various races' fleets desperately trying to break through. The latter were already fighting tooth and nail, and even with the Divine Race infiltrating inside and the continuous explosions from the inside out, they were still moving forward at full speed, just to get a little closer to the Divine Torch.
He looked at the heavily damaged Machine Race. Four warships suddenly emerged from the rear of the formation, their bodies ablaze with flames, and approached him. A familiar figure stood on the deck.
Yuki one-on-one duel was uncertain, and there was a chaotic battlefield between them, so he couldn't afford to waste even a single bit of energy.
"Although you were very capable and caused many deviations from what was originally an easy plan, I still won."
Marcus gave a cold laugh. There was something he didn't say, and the other party couldn't possibly find out.
Why can only one person obtain the Divine Torch? It's because the 'Divine Realm' may weaken but will never disappear, and only one person can leave it. In the setting of this Great Game, the strongest warrior should fight in the place closest to the gods.
Risk your life, burn your entire body and will, and receive cheers. When the Survivors emerge from the fault, they will see the gods before the Divine Torch, who will then bestow upon them an eternal reward called 'Death,' and their body and soul will be crafted into a precious artifact.
"But now that the gods have departed, if I enter the Divine Realm first, I can pass directly through it!"
Without the slightest hesitation, He turned and left, the golden meteor leaving a long trail. No one could stand in His way, or rather, apart from Yuki, anyone who dared to stand in His way would surely die.
"He will take the Divine Torch!"
All races went mad, launching even more ferocious charges. It was clear to everyone that this was a race against time; for example, Skywing even broke away from the warship and flew himself.
But it was no use. The Divine Race had gone mad. They couldn't afford any mistakes in the final step and desperately tried to stop them. The Skywing Chief and several eighth-ring angels were instantly buried by heavy firepower.
You can't catch me, nobody can!
Marcus felt his heart was about to leap out of his chest. Ignoring the commotion behind him, he moved like a shooting star chasing the moon, his eyes filled with the radiance of Divine Torch.
He crashed into the fault line, which had once been a penal colony for criminals, because no one thrown in could escape, no matter how strong they were.
No one can leave until the Divine Torch is activated, but after the Second Cataclysm uncovered some of its secrets, this place became a site for exploration until he gained some authority.
These are the sources of the prisoner and Adventurers skeletons that Yuki saw. Marcus later cleared the Divine Realm Fault Zone of any living creature, for a simple reason—
When the Divine Torch is activated, the fault line will become a two-way passage. As the place closest to the Divine Torch, if there is a life form remaining inside, it will have a significant advantage. Therefore, the rule of the invitation is that if He leaves, no one can stay.
"Now that there's no one left in the Divine Realm, I can simply travel through time!"
He crashed into the fault line, returning to that enormous palace, where countless bands of light and columns came into view. He had explored this place countless times and read countless confidential documents, just like the hymns of ancient times:
"Fight to the death to please the gods."
"When only one hero remains, the Gate of Glory appears."
"Push open that door, go and meet the gods, and receive eternal rewards."
"Where's the door?!"
Marcus, who had rushed there at all costs, was stunned. The Divine Realm was exactly as it always had been, and the legendary gate had vanished without a trace.
Could it be that the Divine Torch hasn't been activated yet? No, it's already activated, and I've lost control of it.
This point was quickly rejected. Previously, He had borrowed the power of the Divine Torch, but now the Divine Torch has been revealed according to the rules of the game and is awaiting its true master.
The legend is wrong? Impossible. Even the gods themselves cannot defy the Great Game. If it were wrong, why would it leave behind a hymn?
The brain had never been so agile. After a few seconds, it paused slightly, then considered a possibility:
I am not the only one in the Divine Realm.
Yes, just as He didn't know how Yuki managed to circumvent the 'invitation' and leak the plan before, a player can circumvent the rules, but at this moment, facing the complete Divine Torch, the opponent can no longer evade it.
The gods aren't fools; they wouldn't let themselves be so easily fooled.
He turned around and looked back through the crack, and saw that the race had changed again.
While the Wing Commander drew away most of the forces that day, humanity's two remaining warships charged to the front, engulfed in flames and with parts flying everywhere. However, under the cover of the Machine Race's reckless disregard for their own lives, they were rapidly closing in.
The man on the deck was... well, he was surrounded by a few more people. Marcus recognized them; weren't they the players assigned to the Angels?
Longbows shot out, Death Knell tolled, and Hayasaka Ai and the others guarded the perimeter of Yuki, firing at full force, while the black-haired man stood with his arms crossed, coldly watching them.
If it wasn't him, then who was it!?
None of their clones or summoned creatures could remain in the Divine Realm; the gods didn't want to watch a few fake figures fight each other.
"Who's there? Show yourself!"
Marcus was getting anxious. He just couldn't take that final step. Layers of light spread out, shattering countless pillars, as he looked back at the fleet that had almost broken through the battle line.
Damn it, how could he know? How could he possibly know!
A golden round mirror appeared, and after a short while, an identical God of War emerged from it, took the halberd, and charged directly out of the Divine Realm, while more halos spread out, indiscriminately covering the surroundings.
The Magic Mirror Lineage: Mirror Clone.
Another trump card has been revealed. Marcus now has no choice but to stall Yuki and find the Rat before he enters the Divine Realm. Otherwise, if the Rat gets in, it will truly be a matter of life and death.
[Only one person may have an audience with the gods]
These are unquestionable rules: those who enter must either leave or fight their way out. However, in the previous battle, Marcus was not confident of defeating Yuki. Now that the latter has brought a group of players, of course, he must be stopped outside the Divine Realm.
Faster, faster!
Golden beads of sweat covered his forehead. The Divine Race had already suffered heavy losses. Even if they killed Yuki, the invaders would keep coming. If He truly had the power to wipe out this void and leave only Himself, He wouldn't need to go to such lengths.
"He was in a hurry, which even affected his judgment."
Yuki remained calm and unhurried, even letting out a long sigh of relief when he saw the Mirror Clone appear.
Yes, he was also gambling, gambling on whether his conjecture about leaving the Divine Realm for the first time was correct. Marcus ultimately underestimated Yuki's imagination; once he experienced it firsthand, he would be able to make the connection.
"His original plan was for the Divine Race to watch the show, let the five races fight amongst themselves, use war to push forward the last bit of progress, use one force to devour another, and then act as the oriole unaware of the other, letting the Divine Race, whose strength has been preserved, clean up the battlefield."
"So you're betting that only one person can obtain the Divine Torch, and that there's a final layer of rules in the Great Game?" Hiyori's eyes sparkled; she thoroughly enjoyed listening to Yuki's analysis.
"Well, Marcus was also gambling. In that situation, I thought there was only one way to turn the tide: kill him before the Divine Race came to our aid and leave the fault line as the victor."
"No, you don't know this secret. Even if you kill Him, you can't leave the Divine Realm unless Mr. Kong, Miss Ikaros, and the others perish together, leaving only you."
Hiyori's correction made Yuki nod slightly. He didn't believe in luck, a low-probability event. Even if he eliminated Marcus, his first reaction would be to retreat. At that time, what would come to him was the army of the Divine Race.
Exhausted, how could he possibly win? He would surely die anyway. And the leader of this secret lineage must know that even if Marcus dies, his flesh will remain rotten in the pot.
"A man of deep thought and foresight, he's quite a character, but I'm betting on more than just that." Yuki looked at the curious Hayasaka Ai and the pensive Hiyori, and, too lazy to beat around the bush, pointed to the golden, radiant clone in the distance.
"I can't advance in the Divine Realm, but I can leave. Now my last worry has vanished."
The three exchanged a glance and laughed in unison. It was Yuki betting on behalf of her senior.
Mai Sakurajima was the one who entered the Divine Realm card progress. Her special ability allowed her to evade the initial rules, but it was impossible for her to evade the complete Divine Torch. At the last step of the progress, the senior left the battlefield, activated her special ability, and waited at the entrance of the fault line.
Adolescence Syndrome is the most terrifying thieving skill, it's just a pity that Marcus reacted too quickly and didn't let the senior steal the Divine Torch.
Needless to say, the risks involved were immense. As usual, Mai Sakurajima went without uttering a sound, presumably enduring the torment of being by the side of the raging God of War.
"That's why I'm convinced." Hayasaka Ai had to admit defeat. Mai Sakurajima- senpai had done countless infiltration missions like this, where being discovered meant certain death.
It's not just Marcus who poses a threat; if the Divine Realm is only accessible but not exitable, Yuki would have to kill his senior with his own hands if he wanted to obtain the Divine Torch.
"Alright, enough chit-chat." Yuki had completely relaxed. He would never touch such a poisonous topic as killing his sister to prove his Dao. "Kaguya, Hiyori, you and Om, along with the human fleet, hold off the pursuers while keeping this clone occupied. Don't be nervous, just buy some time. It won't last long."
"Alright, alright then." The young lady wasn't as decisive Mai Sakurajima. Looking at the monster, which was clearly of epic level, she nodded with a forced smile.
There was no need to worry. Yuki wasn't just thinking about her senior. As long as she wasn't instantly killed, Mona would come to her aid soon. On this battlefield, enemies were everywhere, and only the team members were trustworthy.
This is already quite remarkable. Under normal circumstances, how could any player be willing to stay behind? In the setting of the Reincarnation Game, this step is just the beginning of the brutal internal struggle.
"Hayasaka."
"Hmm." The maid held the Death Knell, her eyes filled with anticipation.
"Come with me to kill the God of War, rescue my senior, and retrieve the Divine Torch."
"Good."
That single word almost ignited a fire within Hayasaka Ai. How long had it been since she had fought alongside Yuki? Wasn't this the very meaning of growing up for this moment?
"We'll discuss the battle plan on the way. Let's go."
Using the Ice Enchantment to Spatial Rift Spear a path, Yuki and Hayasaka Ai advanced side by side. He saw cracks appearing around the Mirror Clone, indicating that the Void Lineage, which excels at spatial stealth, had returned to their aid.
But he didn't make a move, and the human warships charged forward like they didn't care about their lives, using their steel bodies to forcefully break through the defenses.
At a time like this, how could we possibly let you procrastinate?
Void Alchemy created a giant circular shield, under which Yuki forcefully broke through the obstacles, grasped Hayasaka Ai's hand, and crashed headlong into the Divine Realm.
Thump.
Hours later, he revisited the place and looked at the ruins and craters. He then looked at the strong figure in the middle, panting and looking helpless.
The rat was never found, and the enemy was not delayed; a sense of frustration filled his heart.
So close, so very close.
Yuki landed on the ground, his mindset completely opposite to Marcus's, and he pulled out his Hunter's Blunderbuss.
"I am now a general, the God of War!"
Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Fall of the God of War
The race has come to an end. Amidst the battle of a hundred races, only four remain to cross the finish line of this Great Game.
'God of War' Marcus, Yuki Sorajima Hayasaka Ai had little presence, but Mai Sakurajima was left with the last child.
The complex game eventually becomes surprisingly simple: the four players are divided into two teams, and only one team can break through the finish line and take the Divine Torch.
There are no coincidences, no luck; the final act of this Great Game must be decided by the bloodshed.
When the Black Hole muzzle of a gun was pointed at him, Marcus resigned himself to his fate in that instant. No matter how far he planned, he could not defy Destiny, nor could he defy the laws set by the gods.
"There was no other choice but to fight to the death."
A surge of fighting spirit filled the air; this was the final the Roar of a desperate soldier, a warrior defying Destiny, which caused even Yuki to change color slightly.
"You can choose to withdraw. I'm not as greedy as you think. I will take the Divine Torch, and I will also grant your wish, or rather, only I can grant it."
Marcus's expression turned strange. Why resort to verbal sparring at a time like this? But upon closer inspection, Yuki didn't seem to be playing psychological warfare.
"Mercy?"
"No, because we're the same kind of people." Yuki sighed. He rarely talked nonsense before a battle, but this time he still wanted to give it his all.
The Great Game and the Reincarnation Game are essentially no different. He also wants to break free from these constraints, but when the words come to his lips, he doesn't know how to use his persuasive skills.
Extending the cause of the gods' departure to Taiyi? If it were a player, that would be one thing, but how could Marcus, a plot character, know so much?
"I believe that." Marcus nodded unexpectedly, then replied thoughtfully, "But we haven't had time to get to know each other. I've prepared for countless years, and it's impossible for me to place my hopes on you at the last minute."
It was the most helpless yet reasonable choice. Even if Yuki herself, she wouldn't have given up. Otherwise, what would all those sacrifices have amounted to?
"I will leave you with a whole corpse, so you can see the end." Yuki steadily raised his gun, without much emotion.
Marcus was taken aback, then a smile appeared on his face, devoid of his previous elegance and arrogance, replaced by sincerity.
"Okay, me too."
That's how it is between men. I'll give you a chance, and you can choose for yourself. Since the God of War has chosen to fight to the end, then Yuki has nothing more to say.
Epic Metamorphosis. The Soul King.
A surge of energy erupted like a tidal wave, spreading the darkness of the Eternal Night. This was their second encounter, and both sides had a deep understanding of each other, but this time the situation was slightly different.
Marcus could no longer borrow the power of the Divine Torch's rules, so he had never seen the Eternal Night. Moreover, the vast amount of power he had plundered had been exposed, and more importantly, he had more than one enemy.
His gaze swept over Hayasaka Ai. The blonde girl was far less powerful than Ikaros. After all, there was a huge gap between Monster IV and Epic. But his intuition told him the opposite.
'These two have an unusual relationship; their teamwork is unparalleled. There's also another player hiding in the Divine Realm; they're likely a highly skilled assassin.'
Facing three opponents alone, and having suffered heavy losses in the previous fleet battle, Marcus took a deep breath, his fighting spirit only intensifying.