Chapter 843 - 560: Beheading a World Destruction Level, the War Sweeping Across the Continent Descends

Chapter 843: Chapter 560: Beheading a World Destruction Level, the War Sweeping Across the Continent Descends

"The feeling is mutual." Austin Sage laughed heartily. "I have also received His Majesty the Emperor’s sincerity, in the form of a Divine Servant’s head as a return gift."

Through their conversation, the two beings standing at the pinnacle of the world had already defined the earth-shattering battle just now as a proof of commitment, a mutual display of resolve.

Mage City drawing a Star to bombard the Light Holy See’s expeditionary fleet was their way of telling the Red Dragon Empire that they had completely severed all ties with the Light Deity and had no turning back.

Meanwhile, the Red Dragon Emperor’s brazen strike, slaying the intervening Divine Messenger in front of the entire world, was a declaration to Mage City that he, and the Red Dragon Empire behind him, shared the same fight-to-the-death determination.

Both sides used their actions to tell the other that they were now standing at the edge of a cliff. They had no choice but to join forces against a formidable enemy.

"In that case." Austin Sage made an inviting gesture toward Aragon II. "Would His Majesty the Emperor care to step into Mage City for a discussion?"

"That is exactly why I came here." The corners of Aragon II’s lips curled up slightly.

As his voice fell, their silhouettes simultaneously turned ethereal, like reflections in water. In the next moment, they blended into the surrounding Cloud Sea and disappeared completely.

***

The aftermath of the Battle of Cliff Horn was far fiercer and longer-lasting than the tsunami that had been forcefully quelled.

Over the course of a month, two pieces of news completely detonated across the Continent like two nuclear bombs dropped into a tranquil lake.

First, Mage City summoned a Star from Beyond the Heavens and completely annihilated the Light Holy See’s expeditionary fleet in the Endless Sea. Three hundred thousand elites, along with thousands of warships, were wiped out without a trace.

Second, Aragon II, Emperor of the Red Dragon Empire, personally descended upon the battlefield and slayed the "Twelve-winged Angel of Death," a World Destruction Level Divine Envoy serving the Light Deity. He then publicly met with Mage City’s Austin Sage, marking the formal alliance of the two giants as they declared war on the Light Holy See.

As the news spread, the world was in an uproar. Hundreds of nations and independent factions on the Continent, big and small, focused their eyes on the center of this storm.

Overnight, Minstrels in the taverns changed their lyrics. The discussions in the nobles’ salons were no longer about romance and leisure, but about war and alliances.

Everyone understood that an era had ended. The era of superficial peace that the Continent had maintained for centuries was smashed to pieces by a falling Star. The theme of the new era was war.

***

A month later, in Black Stone City.

Raylo sat behind his desk, his gaze resting on an open document. The document was made of the finest parchment, bearing a joint declaration written in the common tongue. At the end of the declaration were the crests of the two most powerful factions on the Continent. One was the "Eye of Truth" symbolizing Mage City, and the other was the "Burning Crown" representing the Red Dragon Empire.

The content of the declaration was simple and brutal.

"All nations and organizations that worship the Light Deity are given a one-month deadline to renounce their faith and expel personnel of the Holy See. Those who exceed the deadline will be deemed the common enemies of Mage City and the Red Dragon Empire."

It was just a single sentence, but its wording was uncompromising, leaving no room for negotiation. This was an ultimatum. These were the two factions standing at the pinnacle of the world, announcing their will to the entire Continent.

"Domineering." On the sofa beside Raylo, Mage Delin held a cup of hot tea and blew on it. It was impossible to tell from his tone whether he was expressing admiration or lamentation.

"It’s more than domineering." Raylo’s fingers paused as he picked up the document. "This is forcing everyone to pick a side. A war sweeping across the entire Continent is about to break out. This Continent will no longer allow any nation to sit on the fence and play the opportunist hoping to reap future spoils."

He tossed the document back onto the desk.

Mage Delin set down his teacup and said, "The kingdoms and duchies across the Continent are already in total chaos. Especially for those nations where the Light Deity is the state religion, their kings are probably tearing their hair out."

"They have no choice," Raylo said. "The Red Dragon Empire and Mage City have already made their choice. Anyone who dares to resist will be immediately crushed and used to make an example of the rest.

"We also need to prepare early.

"The Fiery Sun Kingdom and the Radiant Duchy border us. If they fail to make a choice after a month, or if they make the wrong choice, it will be our turn to step in."

Mage Delin nodded. "Severing the faith is cutting off the roots with which the Light Deity encroaches upon our world. This step is imperative.

"With your current power, the Fiery Sun Kingdom and the Radiant Duchy are mere fireflies. You don’t need to worry about them.

"I actually think you should shift your focus away from the surroundings of the Thunder Dragon Duchy and look further ahead."

Raylo looked at Mage Delin and asked, "What do you mean, Master?"

Mage Delin walked over to the map of the Continent hanging on the wall. "Looking at the Continent’s situation, the Light Holy See’s power is primarily concentrated in the South. This region is prosperous and wealthy. Led by the Saint Violet Empire, there are dozens of nations believing in the Light Deity guarding the Light Holy See.

"On the other hand, Mage City and the Dragon Realm, led by the Red Dragon Empire, are almost entirely situated in the northern part of the Continent.

"With the Yellow Mud River as the boundary, a standoff between the North and South of the Continent has already formed. Raylo, although you have advanced to the Catastrophe Level, once the Northern Territory is pacified, there won’t be much room for growth—either for you personally or for the Thunder Dragon Duchy. You will only be able to head to the Yellow Mud River frontline.

"That place is a meat grinder. Furthermore, from what I know, the Emperor of the Saint Violet Empire has assembled the imperial expeditionary army for a personal campaign. The Yellow Mud River is about to become a battlefield for World Destruction Level beings."

Mage Delin analyzed, his gaze turning to the western side of the Continent. He pointed at an archipelago in the western Endless Sea. "My suggestion is here...

"The Radiant Sun Islands. There are quite a few kingdoms here, both big and small, but four Catastrophe Level powerhouses already fell during the Battle of the Falling Star. Their strength is vastly diminished, making this the perfect time to conquer them.

"You can use this period to hone your Catastrophe Level power through battle. Once you completely master that new power within your body, you will have no rivals in the Catastrophe Level. You could even be considered a Half-Step World Destruction Level being."

After pondering deeply for a moment, Raylo nodded emphatically. "Alright, we will do as you say, Master."

Just then, a light knock came from the study door.

"Come in."

Personal Guard Captain Ed pushed the door open and entered. "My Lord, your guest has arrived and is waiting in the reception room."

"Guest?" Raylo stood up, adjusted his robes, and said to Mage Delin, "I invited the Necromancer, Modi Caesar. Master, let’s go meet this guest together."

The Necromancer, Modi Caesar. This was a name with a reputation in the Magic Realm even more resounding than many Legendary Powerhouses. However, his infamy was closely tied to words like "evil," "taboo," and "death." In the eyes of the world, he was a living Legend, a walking calamity.

"Very well." Mage Delin also stood up. He had long heard of Modi Caesar but had never gotten the chance to meet him.

***

In the reception room.

An old man dressed in a black Mage Robe stood quietly in front of the massive floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out at the scenery of Black Stone City. His face was gaunt, and his deeply sunken eye sockets looked as if ghostly fires were burning within them.

He was Modi Caesar.

His gaze swept across the Alchemy Factory under construction in the distance, and then over the Griffin Knights and Pegasus Knights occasionally flying by on patrol in the sky.

Everything here made him slightly uncomfortable. It was a vigorous, upward-surging Life Force that was the complete opposite of the death and silence he was familiar with.

He recalled his own experience of advancing to the Catastrophe Level. It had been a path paved with bones and solitude.

But the young man before him...

Modi Caesar’s gaze fell upon Raylo, who had just walked into the reception room.

He was too young. Unreasonably young. For this young Catastrophe Level Lord standing before him, the path that had taken Modi Caesar centuries to traverse had taken this young man less than twenty years. It didn’t make sense.

Within Modi Caesar’s sunken eye sockets, two specks of Soul Fire flickered faintly. Was it jealousy? No, he was long past that stage.

"Master Modi Caesar, I have heard much about you." Raylo’s voice broke the silence, and he wore a perfectly measured smile. "Welcome to the Black Stone Territory."