Chapter 535: The Ambition to Become a God

Chapter 535: Chapter 535: The Ambition to Become a God

The phantom slowly floated, circling Seraphina Sullivan once.

"The birth of a new god."

He said, "The Holy War is the process by which new gods are born. Once the number of Level 5 Divine Favor Players reaches a certain threshold, the war will begin."

He stopped, the phantom now facing Seraphina Sullivan. Though she couldn’t make out his features, Seraphina could feel his gaze upon her.

"My dear little one."

The God of Cuisine’s voice carried a hint of concern.

"What about that Beloved of the God of Magical Beasts you control? You’re Level 5 now, so he should be, too. If you both participate in the Holy War, your chances of survival might be a little higher."

He paused, his tone growing serious. "This Holy War is no minor skirmish in some dungeon. The mortality rate... is very high."

Seraphina Sullivan fell silent.

She lowered her head, looking at the Food Atlas floating in her hand, and said softly, "Sean Chandler... he didn’t come back."

The God of Cuisine seemed taken aback. "He didn’t come back?"

Seraphina Sullivan briefly recounted what had happened in the Demonic Apocalypse Dungeon.

The Demon God’s Pillar, the Ancestral Witch, Sean Chandler devouring the Blood Ancestor and gaining a Divine Status, and how he was left behind in that world.

After she finished, Seraphina Sullivan looked up at the phantom. "What’s his condition now? Can he still come back?"

The God of Cuisine was silent for a long time.

So long, in fact, that just as Seraphina Sullivan began to think he wouldn’t answer, he slowly began to speak.

"I see."

His voice was placid, holding the tranquil detachment of one who has seen it all.

"There is no need to worry."

Seraphina Sullivan froze.

"In his current state, that little fellow is a Demigod at best."

The God of Cuisine explained, "He obtained a Demon God’s Divine Status and merged with its Power, but he has yet to undergo the trials of the gods. If he wants to truly become a God—"

He paused, his tone resolute. "He must participate in the Holy War."

Seraphina Sullivan’s heart leaped into her throat. "You mean..."

"He will return," the God of Cuisine said. "Or rather, it’s possible for you to meet again, just not here.

The Holy War is the battlefield for all Level 5 Divine Favor Players; it’s impossible for him to be absent.

The rules of that world cannot confine him.

The Divine Status is merely the entry ticket. The true Crown awaits him at the end of the Holy War."

The phantom floated before Seraphina Sullivan, and a warm light that smelled of fragrant food enveloped her.

"This is a good thing."

There was a smile in the God of Cuisine’s voice. "With him there to protect you, I won’t have to worry."

Seraphina Sullivan opened her mouth to speak, but found her voice was a bit hoarse.

"The God of Sweet Dreams’s Desire Candy..."

The God of Cuisine’s voice took on a meaningful tone. "Its effect cannot be dispelled by anything. So you also don’t need to worry about Sean Chandler betraying you."

Seraphina Sullivan was taken aback.

She remembered the reward candy the God of Sweet Dreams had given her in the Divine Kingdom of Sweet Dreams dungeon.

In truth, the reason she was so worried was her fear that Sean Chandler, upon becoming a God, would break free of her Control.

’Anyone who was controlled would want to kill the person who controlled them after breaking free.’

However, even though Seraphina had this thought, she had also been cooperating with Sean Chandler for so long that she considered him a comrade.

She didn’t want them to end up as enemies.

Now, hearing the God of Cuisine’s words, Seraphina Sullivan felt a little more at ease.

The God of Cuisine didn’t explain, only chuckling softly.

"Prepare yourself, little one."

"The Holy War is not far off."

The ball of warm, food-scented light slowly dissipated.

The world resumed its motion.

The dappled light in the Redwood Tree’s canopy began to dance again, the Four Seasons Deer lowered its hoof, and the dust motes in the air resumed their drift.

Crystal Lynn, Dexter Luther, Matthew Dawson, Paul Payne—everyone started moving again, completely unaware of what had just transpired.

Only Seraphina Sullivan remained standing in place, clutching the Food Atlas, her mind elsewhere for a long time.

Seraphina Sullivan didn’t immediately tell Crystal Lynn and the others what the God of Cuisine had said.

She sat under the Redwood Tree, clutching the Food Atlas, and remained silent for a long time.

’Holy War.’ ’The term was too heavy, so heavy that she needed time to process it herself.’

’For Crystal Lynn, Dexter Luther, and the others, it was probably a concept far beyond their reach.’

’Perhaps it’s a good thing they aren’t Divine Favor Players.’

’They don’t have to get embroiled in the games of the gods, or face a war with an extremely high mortality rate.’

’All they have to do is survive.’

Seraphina Sullivan took a deep breath and recalled the Food Atlas to her Scavenger’s Farm.

Her thoughts gradually began to clear.

’Rod—the Demon God who fell in the Demonic Apocalypse Dungeon—how did he manage to become a God so quickly?’

’Thinking about it now, he most likely participated in the last Holy War, distinguished himself, and ultimately attained the status of a Demon God.’

"This is an opportunity," Seraphina Sullivan murmured to herself.

’The Holy War is a crisis, but it’s also an opportunity.’

’Sean Chandler will return, and he’ll face that war with me.’

’And I’ll have a chance to get what I want from this war.’

’Godhood.’

’That word once seemed so distant, so far-fetched she hadn’t dared to even think about it.’

’But now, as a Level 5 Divine Favor Player and a participant in the Holy War—she realized she wasn’t as far from that goal as she’d imagined.’

Seraphina Sullivan looked down at her own hands.

"Godhood..."

she murmured, a complex expression touching her lips.

’If I become a God, I can protect Azure Star. That world would no longer be subjected to system-sent natural disasters, there would be no more endless apocalypse dungeons, and no one would die because of them.’

’Crystal Lynn wouldn’t have to worry about Freya’s future, Dexter Luther wouldn’t have to struggle on the brink of life and death, and the ordinary people waiting for hope in the Shelters could truly live.’

’Living a peaceful life... that’s been the dream ever since the dungeons appeared.’

But now, Seraphina Sullivan was thinking about more.

Her experience in the Demonic Apocalypse Dungeon had shown her the other side of things.

’After Rod became a God, he was betrayed, murdered, and devoured by those he had once trusted.’

’His benevolence was devoured by greed, his sacrifice taken for granted.’

’Becoming a God didn’t mean it was over. It was the beginning of a new kind of danger.’

"Does this mean only one person in a world can become a god?"

Seraphina Sullivan frowned.

’If that’s the case, then between me and Sean Chandler...’ She shook her head, casting the thought aside.

’It’s too early to be thinking about that.’

’The priority right now is to get stronger, to prepare, to amass enough Power and resources before the Holy War arrives.’

Seraphina Sullivan took something out from her Scavenger’s Farm.

A Crown.

The Crown was made of solid gold, its design ancient and majestic. Seven differently colored gemstones were set into its band, each one glowing faintly.

The red gemstone at its peak was the largest, radiating a warm and solemn light.

[Imperial Crown].

This was an item she had acquired from an enemy.

It had been stored deep within her Scavenger’s Farm, practically untouched.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to use it, but rather that the conditions for its use were too demanding.

Seraphina Sullivan held up the Crown, and its description appeared before her eyes:

[Imperial Crown]

[Effect: Creates the "Kingdom of Dreams," opening a new Space and establishing your own personal Kingdom of Dreams. You will be its sovereign.

Within the kingdom, the wielder possesses absolute dominion, able to establish rules, shelter its people, and gather the power of faith.]

[Requirements: 1. One thousand Player followers; 2. One hundred thousand ordinary citizen settlers; 3. Extraordinary Power of Level 5]