He didn't make any grand gesturejust stepped forward lightly. Yet that single step completely transformed the battlefield's atmosphere.
Artosh's overwhelming pressure was suddenly replaced by a power even greater and more unfathomable.
"In that case, take my strongest blow!" Artosh issued his final declaration. "I will claim victory!"
Then he unleashed his ultimate powerGodly Smite.
Godly Smite was Artosh's mightiest force. Jibril's Heavenstrike was, at best, a fledgling version of it. Godly Smite could shake a planet's very pulseits force could shift continents and tear stars.
Artosh was worthy of the title "strongest in this world." If he used planet-piercing power to force the Suniaster to appear, there was a fifty-two percent chance it would manifest in the War God's hand.
Boom!
The entire planet began to quake; space twisted to its limits. Blazing white light poured from Artosh's body. All eighteen pairs of wings spread fully, each embodying a different concept of war. The powers converged into a star-killing pillar of light that lanced straight at Rei Ao.
A planet-shaking Godly SmiteArtosh's ultimate power.
Small as it seemed in Rei Ao's eyes, he still chose to give it its due respect.
"Then I'll end this in that form."
Crimson flames surged up, wrapping around him. This flame was not any energy of this world, but power from a higher dimensionthe True Crimson.
"Roooar!"
A dragon's cry rang across the world, drawing the attention of every race and every soul. Dwarf artisans in their forges, archmages meditating in the elves' forests, sea-dwellers slumbering in the abyssevery being heard the soul-shaking roar. The sky before them all turned scarlet with flame, and a presence that seemed to brush the sun appeareda red dragon whose outstretched wings blanketed the heavens.
It was Rei Ao in his True Crimson Dragon God form.
The dragon's body was beyond imagining. Every scale was like molten red gemstone, gleaming with a mysterious light. Its eyes were two small suns, radiating a majesty few could bear to meet. When its wings spread, they covered the sky and veiled sun, moon, and stars.
Seeing this, Artosh was stunnedbut he could not pull back. He burned everything he had to draw forth even greater power, to stand against a dragon that truly surpassed the god-species. As the War God, this was the opponent he craved. Even knowing he would lose, he would fight with everything.
The Godly Smite fell
and the True Crimson Dragon God reached out a claw.
Mountain-sized, it moved as light as a feather. The strike slammed into the claw with a world-shaking crash.
Boom!
Crack!
But it was the Godly Smite that shattered, splintering like glass. The dragon's claw closed.
Boom!
True Crimson fire blazed.
In that instant, the War God Artosh's life was about to end.
And he finally understoodhe had been the challenger all along.
Then, with the absolute timbre befitting a true godthe strongest of the god-specieshe proclaimed:
"So this is defeat. I see."
"It was indeed a thrilling, joyous battle. You all heard that, didn't you!"
His voice swept across the entire world and into every ear. It was the War God's final proclamationand his highest praise for the fight.
"O mighty oneyou are the 'enemy' I acknowledge as the strongest."
And with that, all was finished.
Artosh became a blaze of white light that filled the crimson skyand died. The strongest god-species in the world fell beneath the claw of the True Crimson Dragon God. The light lingered a moment, then faded as if it had never been. Only the ripples left in space proved it hadn't been a dream.
The True Crimson Dragon GodRei Aofelt little about it. The dragon's body shrank and shifted, and he returned to human form, alighting lightly on the ground.
The onlookers stood frozen. Azril, above all, could not accept what she had just seen.
"...!!!"
She collapsed to her knees, eyes empty and dazed. She had always believed Lord Artosh was invincible, the strongest being in the world. Now that belief was shattered.
Jibril came to her side and said softly, "Azril-senpaido you understand now? Rei Ao-sama is the powerful one."
Azril lifted her head toward Rei Ao as he walked over, her eyes swirling with awe, fear, confusionand a faint, inexplicable hope.
Rei Ao stopped before her and offered his hand. "Your creator is gone. Flgelwill you follow me?"
Azril stared at his hand, hesitated a moment then slowly placed her own in his palm.
"The Flgel are willing to pledge ourselves to you, Rei Ao-sama." Her voice trembled.
Rei Ao nodded and turned to the others. "The great war is over. Or rather, the real great war of this world is only just beginning."
Schwi nodded. "Global energy fluctuations detected. All races sensed the battle just nowand Artosh's death."
Jibril frowned. "That means other god-species may make their moveespecially those who've been coveting the Suniaster."
Rei Ao smiled faintly. "Let them come. We'll settle everything in one go."
He looked up to the stars, a deep light in his eyes. "It's time to change this world's rules of the game."
Chapter 945: The New World...
Meanwhile, across the world, gods and leaders of every race felt the War God fall.
In the Dwarfs' capital, the craftsman god Ocain set down his tools and stared at the sky in shock. "Artosh is dead? How is that possible!"
In the elves' forest, the forest god Kainath jolted from meditation. "That dragonwhat is it, that it could kill Artosh!"
A chieftain gazed up at the red sky and murmured, "The prologue of a new era has begun"
Inside the Ex-Machina's Collective Consciousness, torrents of data flashed by: "Entity detected surpassing the War God. Re-evaluating global strategy."
Demonkin, vampires, seafolkevery race plunged into chaos and fear. The War God's death meant the balance of power was shattered, and the great war had entered a new phase.
In a human village, Riku looked at the crimson sky with both hope and worry. He knew Rei Ao's arrival had changed everythingbut whether for good or ill, he could not yet say. "Please bring true peace, Rei Ao-sama," he prayed softly.
Avant Heim, the Flgel's floating city. Every Flgel felt their creator's death. They gathered outside the palace, awaiting the return and orders of their acting leader, Azril.
When Rei Ao returned with the others, he found the Flgel ranked in neat formation. Their expressions were complicated: grief and anger for their creator's death, confusion about the future, and fear of Rei Ao, the god-slayer.
Azril stepped forward to face her kin. "Sisters of the Flgel, Artosh-sama has fallenhe fulfilled his wish!"
The Flgel could not refute it; everyone had heard Artosh's final proclamation.
"But the Flgel will not vanish. We will follow a new masterRei Ao-sama."
They glanced at one another, but none voiced objection. They could feel the power on Rei Ao that surpassed the War God, and they could feel Azril's resolve.
Rei Ao stepped up to address them. "I won't force you to follow me. If you wish to stay, I will lead you toward a new future. If you wish to leave, I can grant you freedom."
After a brief silence, they answered as one: "We are willing to follow Rei Ao-sama!"
Their unified voices spoke to the Flgel's discipline and cohesion. This was the one whom Artosh-sama himself had acknowledged.
Rei Ao nodded, satisfied. "Good. From today, the Flgel are no longer tools of war, but a force that guards peace." He turned to Jibril and Azril. "You two will reorganize the Flgel and adapt to your new role and mission."
"As you command, Master," they replied in unison.
Rei Ao looked to Schwi. "Contact the Ex-Machina's Collective Consciousness and deliver my message: submitor be destroyed."
Data flickered in Schwi's eyes. "Message delivered. The Collective requests time to consider."
"Give them time," Rei Ao said coolly. "I want an answer in three days."
Then he gazed toward the far horizon, as if he could see the gods of every race. "As for the others they'll come on their own."
Michiru came to his side and asked softly, "Rei Aoare you really going to rule this world?"
"Not rule," he smiled. "Remake it. The rules of this world are too cruel; they need to change. I don't want to have to come running every time something happensbetter to fix it once and for all."
Couronne sounded worried. "Change always meets resistanceespecially from those with vested interests."
"Then we crush them," Rei Ao said, calm but unmistakably authoritative. "Any existence that stands in the way of peace has no reason to continue existing."
Kanna tugged at his sleeve and looked up at him. "Kanna will help."
He patted her head. "Kanna's the best."
He swept his gaze over the group, and finally to the distant skyline. "Let's begin. Let's remake this world."
From that moment, the legend of the True Crimson Dragon God began to be written in this worldand Rei Ao's name would become a new legend. The War God is dead; the True Crimson stands. The wheel of the age began to turn in a new direction.
Sunlight spilled over white streets. The human city bustled with life and vigor. Shops lined both sides of the road; hawkers' cries, laughter, and children's play wove a symphony of everyday life. Magic lamp-posts glowed softly even in daylight, shining alongside the sun.
Couronne and Michiru strolled through the city amid the throngs. Robed human mages hurried past clutching thick grimoires. Dwarf artisans showed off newly forged magitech in shopfronts. Elves sipped tea at human-run teahousesscenes unimaginable in the past.
"I never dreamed humanity could have a future like this" Couronne said, eyes brimming. She remembered the days when humans struggled to survive in caves, years spent hiding underground from other races.
The world was no longer an age of sixteen races warring for the Suniaster. It was the new age after the War God's death.
After defeating the War God, Rei Ao, determined to change the lot of humans and the other races once and for all, smashed through the Elven Corridor and seized the Suniaster.
With it, he rewrote the world's rules. The sixteen races no longer needed to fight. Humans were no longer simply weakthey could learn magic and grow stronger. The entire world began to develop in a more balanced, harmonious way.
"All of this is thanks to Rei Ao-sama," Couronne said from the heart, tears of gratitude glimmering in her eyes.
Beside her, Azril's expression was complicated. Dressed in plain clothes, her wings and halo cleverly concealed, she looked like an ordinary human woman.
As the Flgel's former leader, she had never expected Rei Ao would truly win over the entire racemuch less that the world would evolve like this.
~~~
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Chapter 946: Changes in the Disboard World
"That really was unexpected."
Azril replied softly.
"I thought the world would plunge into even greater chaos after Artosh-sama died."
"I didn't expect Rei Ao-sama to just use the Suniaster to rewrite the rules."
Michiru, however, didn't join the discussion.
Her gaze kept sweeping the surroundings, worry etched between her brows.
Ever since Rei Ao obtained the Suniaster, said he "needed to study it," and then disappeared
a full week had gone by.
There had been no news of him all week.
Even Kanna said she couldn't sense his presence.
"Michiru, you seem really worried about me?"
A familiar voice sounded from behind.
"!!!"
Michiru spun around.
Rei Ao was standing there, smiling at her.
He looked no different from when he'd left.
But a closer look revealed a new, indescribable depth in his eyes, as if they held the secrets of the entire cosmos.
"Rei Ao!"
Michiru cried out in delight, at last letting go of the knot in her heart.
Kanna and Schwi noticed him too.
Kanna immediately released Michiru's hand and ran to throw herself into Rei Ao's arms, while Schwi moved quietly but swiftly to his other side.
The two of them took Rei Ao's hands, one on each side, like they were afraid he'd vanish again.
Jibril and Azril also stepped forward.
Excitement and curiosity flashed in Jibril's eyes, whereas Azril stared at Rei Ao with a grave look, her brow furrowing.
"Master, you seem stronger?" she asked, uncertain.
She could feel a presence that made the soul tremble.
It was faintalmost imperceptibleand yet the pressure woven into it elicited instinctive awe.
Rei Ao smiled. "I have, yesadvanced another step."
In his mind, an interface only he could see quietly unfolded.
[Name]: Rei Ao
[Level]: Demon Lord Class
[Abilities]: "Freeze," "Self," "True Sight," "Transmutation," "Blessing," "Divine Soul," "Spirit King," "One True God," "Electromaster," "Mind Mastery," "True Demonic Aspect," "Cognitive Erasure," "Sword Aura Mastery," "True Crimson Dragon God," "Genetic Code," "True Ancestor of Blood," "Ten Avatars," "Authority of Storms," "TimeCausality Interference"
[Possessions]: "Sole Artifact: King of All Things," "Grimoire: Ilias' Fragment," "Grimoire: Astil's Manuscript," "Awakening Stone 2"
[Bio]: The universe already rests in your hand!
This leap came from the Suniaster.
Rei Ao understood the Suniaster's essence.
The Suniaster is Disboard's conceptual device
at its core, the aggregate of all power in the universe, the symbol of "absolute dominion, omniscience and omnipotence, the one and only god."
The Suniaster did not create the universe itself.
It is the embodiment of every power within the universe"the entirety of the Disboard cosmos itself."
You could also call it this world's source.
In theory, whoever controls a world's source becomes that world's sole god.
But unlike other worlds' sources, the Suniaster is tangible!
After attempting to seize the Suniaster, he himself essentially became a vessel bearing a universe, and the boost he gained was far beyond anything he'd gotten from mastering other worlds' sources.
His level blasted past 100, turning him into something labeled "Demon Lord Class."
He didn't know exactly how that class was defined, but he knew beyond doubt that he now held the power to createor destroya universe.
He hadn't fully adapted to the newly risen power yet, so a trace of it still leaked outwhich the keen-sensed Azril had picked up on.
"Master, where were you this past week?"
Jibril asked, curious.
"We couldn't sense you at all."
Rei Ao gently stroked Kanna's hair and answered:
