Chapter 502

"Doesn't that mean there are many wrongful convictions and miscarriages of justice here?"

"Of course, if I'm not mistaken, even if humans and demons both become gods, their treatment will be different."

The War General held his breath and nodded with a hint of disdain. Of course, the Great War was between humans and Divine Race against dragons and demons. The latter two were not wiped out, and they even became gods. Many people felt that this was unfair.

If it's a common tactic, then there are many pitfalls involved.

"Wrongful convictions are one thing, but what I fear is inciting a war between gods and demons. Put yourself in the demons' shoes: they abide by the law, strive to become gods, and even help their former enemies exterminate their own kind, only to be hunted down now. Wouldn't they rebel?"

"Of course I will. I can lose, but I can't be a pig or a dog." Zhan Shuai nodded decisively, then blinked. After Yuki's analysis, he got the answer.

Yes, that explains the unusual activity in the Abyss Grade and even the continent.

No, the order we painstakingly forged, the peace we so painstakingly built—hasn't this shattered it all?

"Why? The gods, no, the six main gods, wouldn't do something so reckless, forcing the dragons and demons to rebel, gaining absolutely nothing."

"I'm not a fortune teller. I can't just stand here drinking and chatting with you and predict the future." Yuki shook his head. He had also obtained the answer through Dias's information. "We need to investigate. When the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact. The current crisis doesn't lie with the dragons at all. As long as the foundation remains intact, whatever they do is courting death."

"But if the foundation collapses, they will have a chance to break away from the Eye of the Abyss. Without the support of the Divine Race, can the Abyss Fortress withstand their onslaught?"

Naturally, this cannot be stopped. This is just an outpost, a city-state, and all human city-states are the same. Truly capable and idealistic talents have long since embarked on the path to godhood.

Dias stared blankly, unable to process what had happened. He had approached Yuki to entrust his son to him in case of emergency, but how did it escalate to the whole world?

"I'm just a lowly Abyss Fortress War Commander, how can I investigate matters within the Divine Race?"

Yuki's words were shocking, yet they made sense. Even the most solid order can be easily broken by its creator. Discontent and hatred were accumulating, and a single spark could ignite it.

When flames blaze, all sorts of evil will emerge.

A terrifying future, but all he felt was confusion. This was far too big for him and his wife to have imagined; it was something that a mere Abyss Fortress could not possibly address.

"You can't investigate, and you're not qualified to investigate. One order could trap you in Abyss Fortress, but I can." Yuki squinted contentedly, enjoying the comfortable sea breeze.

"Don't forget, I am an ascendant to godhood; I was born to participate in the trials."

Chapter Four: The So-Called Pantheon

Early morning, at the luxurious mansion.

"That bastard really did use me as an excuse to drink excessively."

Yuki sat up, scratching his head. He'd had another good drink last night under the guise of a 'farewell party,' and suddenly realized why he found Zhan Shuai so agreeable—wasn't he just like those goofy guys from the Diving Club?

Drink when you're sad, drink when you're in pain, drink when you're happy. There's nothing a cup of the water of life can't fix; if there is, then have two more cups.

Shaking his head, he realized there were no girls in the spacious bedroom this time. The Abyss Fortress's enthusiasm stemmed from respect; they respected Yuki's steadfastness in love and would only offer their blessings.

"Sigh, they didn't even test me a little more."

Yuki smiled. He had just finished washing up when the door was pounded on loudly, and Dias's loud voice made the chandelier shake.

"Crown! Still sleeping? That's lame, sleeping this late after only a little bit of alcohol!"

Once they started chatting, he simply stopped using the honorific "Your Excellency".

Before long, Yuki, who looked rather grumpy, opened the door and saw that the area outside was packed with hundreds of people, all dressed in fine clothes. The men were in full armor, and the women wore light makeup.

"This is..."

"Gentlemen, those who aspire to godhood are about to embark on their trial journey!"

Suddenly, someone shouted, and the bells on the wall rang out, along with the war drums and bugles. The whole city erupted in cheers, like a grand festival, catching Yuki completely off guard.

Only then did I realize how precious the word 'trial' truly was.

This is the only path to immortality established by the six main gods; the mere qualification to undergo the trial is enough to make anyone envious.

"It's rare for a city-state to produce a god in ten years, so of course we should congratulate them." Dias laughed heartily, repeatedly telling them not to embarrass Abyss Fortress and not to come back unless they become gods.

"Hey, have you forgotten what I went there for?" Yuki lowered his voice. He was there to Reconnaissance the situation; there were rewards for completing the trial, so it was just something he did on the side.

Players cannot stay in the dungeon forever; becoming a god is useless.

"I know, but it doesn't matter, it's still something that makes me look good." He casually took the wine flask, unscrewed the cap, and then froze, chuckling awkwardly as he stepped aside. "Uh, we already celebrated last night, so let's skip today. My wife has a gift for you."

Elfi glared at her husband, then strode forward, followed by Hathaway and a group of maids carrying trays.

"Lady Elfi." Yuki nodded in greeting. She was also a remarkable woman, second only to the War Marshal in status within Abyss Fortress.

"Mr. Crown, you've had a hard time these past few days. My silly son always uses you as an excuse." The woman clearly knew what was going on, but she hadn't stopped her in the past few days. She waved her hand gracefully, letting her daughter come forward.

The tray contained a complete set of armor, its chest adorned with the Abyss Fortress's trident emblem, and it looked exquisitely crafted.

"A deity will come to take you away soon. After thinking it over, I don't have much to give you as a parting gift. This sword and armor are of the finest quality, so please accept them. You might need them in the future."

Yuki blinked. In the past, props in the scripts were either stolen, killed, or accumulated enough merit points. This was the first time he had received a gift for free.

"Uh, I don't have anything to return the favor."

"No need for that. It's our honor that you're representing Abyss Fortress in the trials. Whether your guess is right or wrong, just don't embarrass us."

He was poised, decisive, and Yuki took a liking to him and nodded repeatedly in agreement.

"That's more like it. We in Abyss Fortress Keep hate people who dawdle the most. Hathaway, you help Crown change his clothes yourself."

"Yes, Mother." The blonde girl curtsied and accepted the tray.

"Lord Crown, please follow me."

When they first entered the instance, Yuki had refused, but this time he said nothing and went back into the house with the girl. He took off his tuxedo and waistcoat, put on the golden armor, and murmured as he touched it.

[Special Item: Abyss Fortress Armor, Vice-General Level]

[Extremely strong physical defense, comes with the Sea God's Blessing, lasts for 2 minutes, and can be replenished with sea god energy after it is depleted]

[Sea God's Blessing: A rule-based ability that creates spacetime tides within a 100-meter radius of the user, possessing a spacetime suppression effect.]

[Note: This equipment cannot be upgraded; it can be repaired with enhancement points if damaged.]

This gift is really nice.

I've seen the Sea God's Blessing in Yuki before. It's a bit like a slow-motion world. For the weak, it's like network latency, specifically designed to suppress dynamic vision. In the past, I could only see a blurry shadow, but now my head falls off before I can even react.

For strong opponents of the same level, the movements of both sides will slow down. This is very useful for melee fighters, especially those who rely on skill. After all, at this level, they exchange hundreds of punches per second, and no exquisite techniques can be used.

"Remember, don't use the Sea God's Blessing that comes with the armor carelessly. Once it's used up, you'll need to return to Abyss Fortress or ask a god from the Oceanic Pantheon to help replenish it."

Hathaway's slender fingers brushed against his skin as she secured the armor, then gently pressed on the trident emblem. The metal armor shrank like a bodysuit, fitting snugly against Yuki's body.

Yuki nodded; for Soul King, such trouble was unnecessary.

Poseidon's energy is a special energy frequency. Yuki has observed the Abyss Fortress warriors using it many times in the past few days, and it can be completely simulated using 'Soul Mimicry'.

"Thank you, Miss Hathaway."

"No need to thank me. Father believes in you, and Mother believes in you too. You must be a hero. If you really want to thank me, could you answer one question for me?"

"Please speak."

The girl pressed her breastplate against her chest, tilted her head back, her face slightly flushed, and her eyes, as pure as the ocean, held both shyness and determination.

"Is your wife really unwilling to share?"

Yuki changed into a set of golden armor, held a spear, and walked out of the gate to be greeted by cheers. At least from the outside, he was no different from the warriors of Abyss Fortress.

"That's more like it. Her previous outfits were weird and effeminate." Zhan Shuai crossed his thick arms over his chest, nodding repeatedly. Seeing his dejected daughter, he glared at Yuki. "Hey, I don't know why, but I suddenly feel an itch to do this."

Yuki rolled his eyes. This barbarian had no idea what British gentlemanly style was. He raised his hand and punched the other man in the chest. "If you're itching for a fight, just wait for me to come back. I'll give you a chance to get revenge."

"Ha, the outcome of our fight is uncertain; hand-to-hand combat is my forte."

But melee combat is only a small part of my skill set.

Yuki smiled without saying a word, glancing around. "Where is the god who came to take me?"

"It's at the dock square, of course. Follow me, everyone make way, don't block the road."

Protected by a hundred guards, Yuki walked side by side with the war commander. People crowded on both sides, and various ribbons and Petal fell from the building. Children rode on their fathers' shoulders to look out and said that they wanted to be heroes when they grew up. Applause and cheers filled the air.

It's just like a grand festival, so grand it's almost unreal. Of course, just like the prestigious status players have in 'The Wizard's Tower,' each place has its own local customs and traditions.

Just like when Mebius set off from the Lighthouse City, although the city-state valued her highly, it didn't have the same enthusiasm. The sages simply visited one by one, coldly and politely offering gifts, which Mebius, this shameless woman, naturally accepted without question.

"Finally, my luck has turned around for once." Yuki puffed out his chest. He wasn't a masochist, so of course he enjoyed the cheers and praise. It was the same old story.

Treat me with sincerity, and I will treat you with sincerity in return. If you try to play dirty tricks on me, I will be even more cunning than you.

Just like the Diving Club, everyone is a pure friend with no conflict of interest. Just like now, without Zhan Shuai's reminder, Yuki instinctively puts his brain to work.

"After I leave, continue to pray. If the god of the sea responds, then I've misunderstood."

"Whatever you do, don't go to the Eye of the Abyss. Treat what we said a few days ago as top secret. If it leaks, it could lead to your death."

"Remember to strengthen your defenses. My kind will definitely cause trouble. Their power system surpasses that of the Hero Continent. Don't let your guard down."

"I'll find a way to send the message back. If it's not me, it's someone like me, but you can't completely trust her."

"Alright, alright, you've said it so many times." Zhan Shuai picked at his ear, saying impatiently, "You're a good person in every way, except for your constant chatter. I'm tired of hearing it. I'm not stupid, don't worry."

Damn it, this is the first time someone has ever called me a chatterbox.

Known for his 'ruthless and taciturn' Yuki gritted his teeth and simply shut his mouth. He knew that Dias was rough on the outside but meticulous on the inside, and that he was being too concerned.

Who can blame me when this place is nice?

Yuki brushed the Petal off his hair. In front of him was the dock square, in the center of which stood a sculpture of the Tido, God of the Sea. The floor was made of azure ocean stone. A few days ago, he had eaten grilled fish here while watching the bustling dock and appreciating the hard work of the laborers.

The square was specially decorated today, with gold ribbons hanging from the pillars and ocean-themed flowers adorning the surroundings. Guards formed a cordon, but the crowd of onlookers was completely different from those around them, and the cheers were drowned out by the murmurs.

The reason was simple: a figure stood in the wide square. She wore a black robe with gold trim, and from a distance, she looked like a black butterfly. Her light purple hair reached her waist, and she had golden eyes and a beautiful face. However, she had two slender, pointed horns on her head, and her ears looked more like a pair of small white wings.

"Demons becoming gods?"

These Yuki few days, Yuuki hasn't just been eating kebabs; he's also read up on the necessary information. Of course, demons can become gods, but in his eyes, demons are more like monsters from Eastern fantasy, which can be divided into dozens of types.

"To be precise, it's Feather Demon. I'm suddenly starting to believe your absurd guesses. Aren't you just trying to disgust me?" Zhan Shuai stopped laughing.

The Feathered Demon's original form resembles a winged caterpillar. It ravaged the coast during the Great War, causing massive casualties. No wonder the people of Abyss Fortress didn't cheer when they saw the god; there was a deep-seated hatred between them.

Logically, the Ascended God of Abyss Fortress should have been greeted by someone from the Oceanic Pantheon, but instead, they sent a Feathered Demon, who, judging from the Black Butterfly emblem, is from the Underworld Pantheon. Isn't that disgusting?

The Abyss Fortress fears nothing more than the god of the underworld, who controls calamities and death; who among those who venture out to sea wants to perish as the belly of a fish?

"Perhaps it's a coincidence."

Hopefully.

Yuki stepped into the plaza, he saw the girl's golden eyes slowly moving toward him. It was truly slow; her expressionless face resembled that of a doll, and she seemed oblivious to the surrounding chatter.

Yuuki gave the commander a reassuring look, Yuki forward, extending his right hand. "What's your name?"

"Servant of the Underworld, Moresa, don't get too close to me." The woman's voice was cold and sharp, sending a chill down your spine. Her movements were slow, and she made no attempt to shake hands.

This self-proclaimed title is quite interesting. The gods in the eyes of mortals actually call themselves servants, which means servants of the gods. There are only six true gods in all senses.

Epic tier, no higher than Tier II, even slightly inferior to Dias.

Yuki didn't care about appearance or personality. He used his intuition to roughly judge the opponent's strength and, imitating the people of Abyss Fortress, lightly tapped his right chest.

When do we depart?

"You can leave whenever you're ready."

The girl answered blankly, then went back to standby mode.

Is it really that difficult to communicate?

Yuki didn't know what to say. He turned around after hearing the sound of hooves and saw Lady Elfi leading in a magnificent warhorse. It was over two meters tall, with azure skin and a pair of white wings.

Ocean Warhorse, damn it, why does Abyss Fortress have to put "ocean" in everything?

"This is the strongest horse in the cavalry. The journey is long, so you should take it with you."

"Thanks."

With armor and a warhorse as gifts, Yuki felt a little embarrassed. He gently patted the horse's head as it nuzzled him, clearly indicating it was quite intelligent.

Yuki didn't like naming things, and kept saying "good horse." He turned around and saw that Moresa had also summoned a butterfly mount, which was already mounted and waiting.

They wouldn't stay a second longer.

Yuki had rested enough and needed to stretch his legs, so he mounted his horse, took the reins, and glanced at the warlord one last time.