Don't Run

Poseidon and Apollo flew toward the eastern lands at full speed, the earth-shaking explosions in the distance growing ever clearer.

Meanwhile, at the eastern fringe, a man and a beast were locked in fierce combat.

Jiang Yang stood in midair, a world of flames behind him shrouding half the sky. He wielded a massive sword formed from golden flames, sending countless streams of flaming Sword Qi flying.

Opposite him, the Sphinx stood upright, his savage head raised high, a domain composed entirely of wind and sand hovering above him.

With his roars, claws of wind and sand that blotted out the sky manifested one after another and attacked Jiang Yang.

Sword Qi and wind blades collided violently in the sky, countless flames and grains of yellow sand falling to the ground from time to time.

On the ground, the tribes throughout the region all saw the God War unfolding in the sky.

They fell to their knees, praying incessantly for the deity's victory.

High in the sky, although the Sphinx possessed an enormous body and an Emperor-Rank domain, his combat instincts were nowhere near those of Jiang Yang, who had fought on the edge of life and death countless times.

Jiang Yang's Sword Qi had already cut countless bloody lines through his glossy golden fur.

At first, he had cried out in pain when struck, but now he seemed numb to it.

This guy was too powerful.

A hint of retreat crept into the Sphinx's eyes. He really could not win.

His body might have been immense compared to Jiang Yang's, nearly thirty stories and a hundred meters tall.

But to Jiang Yang, who was exceptionally skilled in combat, he was merely a somewhat larger target.

"Sphinx, are you still refusing to surrender? Don't worry, I won't kill you. I want to know the secret behind your ability to speak."

In midair, Jiang Yang stood upon the void, fierce flames burning in his eyes as his long golden-flame sword pointed straight at the lion's head.

His blazing, overbearing aura brooked no equal, his divine might vast as the sea, oppressive as a prison!

The Sphinx looked at him, fangs clenched, his teeth itching with hatred.

Damn it, I asked who you were earlier, and you said nothing, just attacked without a word. Now the first thing out of your mouth is telling me to surrender.

Did Lord Sphinx have no dignity left?

Although he thought he could not win, he had no desire to surrender.

If he could not beat him, couldn't he run?

He had escaped the Olympian Gods' previous purge with ease, and he was confident he could do it again.

After all, he had more or less figured it out. They were all in the Emperor realm now. Zeus might be a little stronger, but could he really exceed that realm?

Right, he still thought Jiang Yang was Zeus. Didn't his silence amount to agreement?

Since he was preparing to flee, he wanted to deliver a threat before leaving.

He, the Sphinx, had never been inferior to anyone in his life. This was a strategic retreat; he would attack again once he grew stronger.

And so, he threw his head back and laughed, his roar like thunder.

"Zeus, Lord Sphinx is tired of fighting today. I don't want to play anymore. Next time I return, I will make rivers of blood flow through your Olympus. Goodbye!"

With that, the Sphinx shook his sky-blotting wings. Wind power swirled around them, and with one mighty flap, he shot into the clouds like a rocket.

"Bye-bye to you! Hahahahaha!"

Laughing, the Sphinx prepared to fly north.

He was confident that, bolstered by wind power, his flying speed was unmatched.

Not far away, Jiang Yang could not help being amused as he watched this fellow throw out threats while fleeing, even calling him Zeus.

Well, well, a beast who was both ignorant and polite. All the more reason not to let him get away.

He closed his eyes, and the state that had emerged during his battle with Gilgamesh began to return.

Forbidden Domain!

When he opened his eyes again, they shone with incomparably brilliant golden light!

Endless mysteries seemed to ripple within that golden radiance, like the emblems of the Great Dao and hymns of heaven and earth surging within it.

Jiang Yang took a step, appearing on the Sphinx's back like a streak of golden light, and swung his sword at the Sphinx's head.

Before the Sphinx could react, he felt an overwhelming sense of danger from behind, followed by a cold gust across his back.

Then his vision went black, and his enormous body fell to the ground, unconscious.

Before he hit the ground, a remark still echoed in his ears.

"You really refuse the toast only to drink the penalty wine. I'll knock you out first and deal with the rest later. Also, I'm not Zeus, little lion!"

"Then who exactly are you?"