Book 19, Metamorphosis – Chapter 57, The Final Battle


    Within the courtyard, fifty-plusmander-level experts were gathered together. Linley’s group of four was seated in the corner, while servants walked about, carrying tters and delivering wine, food, and fruit.


    “This gathering ispletely boring!” Bebe went ‘crunch’ ‘crunch’ as he chomped through a round, slick, violet-skinned fruit. The juice dribbled down. “What’s the point of having use? This gathering is centered around thosemanders with military camps discussing their strategies for the final battle. The rest of us are just sitting around and watching like idiots.”


    Linleyughed, then nced at themanders located closer to them within the courtyard.


    This group ofmanders was consisted ofmanders who managed military camps. Clearly, they were discussing some of the details of the final battle. As for Linley and the other solitarymanders, they didn’t participate in the discussions.


    “We didn’t bring any soldiers. What is there to discuss?” Reisgem nced at themanders, then at the othermanders who, like them, were bored and chatting in the corners of the room. “The others are like us. They are just sitting there, bored, right? The purpose of using is to familiarize ourselves with the othermanders. This is just a gathering. Nothing else.”


    Clearly, the discussion regarding the details of the final battle was a fairly simple one, as a short timeter, that group ofmanders finished their conversations.


    “Everyone.” One of themanders, a man with three eyes, stood up and looked at them. Smiling, he said, “There isn’t much time left between now and the final battle! Everyone, whether you choose to participate or to spectate is up to you! If you n to participate, it will be the same as it always has been; you’ll be mixed in with the soldiers! I trust there’s nothing more that I need to say!”


    The nar Wars had been carried out many, many times now. Many things had be customs already.


    When intermixed in with ordinary soldiers, it would be hard to tellmanders apart from ordinary soldiers. That helped guarantee that the enemies wouldn’t focus their fire on onemander in particr. It would increase the odds of survival, but of course, if someone’s performance was too impressive, it would still be dangerous.


    “The side of the Divine Light ne, do they have any particrly powerful experts? If they do, please let us know, so that we will be prepared.” The three-eyedmander said.


    “I know that the Divine Light ne has Magnus in their camp!” Amander-level expert said loudly.


    “Magnus. We do indeed have to be careful.” The three-eyedmander nodded solemnly.


    Reisgem, seated in the corner,ughed loudly. “I know of another person, the Paragon of Wind, ‘Bayer’. He is here as well. In addition, he is on the side of the Divine Light ne.”


    “Bayer?” This name attracted everyone’s attention.


    Although though quite a few more names were listed, clearly, what everyone was truly concerned about was the presence of ‘Magnus’ and ‘Bayer’. After all, Paragons already stood at the very tip of power. If Paragons wished to kill ordinarymanders, it would be a ughter. In addition, if one tried to use group attacks, given how astonishingly fast Paragons were, using such a tactic would just beughable.


    “Bluefire, why hasn’t Bluefire revealed himself?” Reisgem secretly chatted with Linley. “He belongs to our side. He should show himself.”


    Linley shook his head, puzzled. “I’m not sure either. He prefers to travel alone, I suppose.”


    This gathering was a chance for the variousmander-level experts to meet each other; after all, outside of the nar Battlefield, it wasn’t too practical to arrange a meeting of so manymanders. This sort of gathering was also amunity; amunity of the highest level Deities.


    Although Linley didn’t want to chat much with these people, there were still many who came and said a few words to him. They were all acquainted now, and at least these people all knew who Linley was.


    “I’ve already arranged residences for everyone.” The three-eyedmander thenughed. “Everyone, you can choose any of the residences nearby. This ce is fairly close to the banks of the Ster River. Once the final battle begins, all of youmanders will be able to easily enter the battle.”


    No one stood on ceremony; they each selected a residence and moved in, quietly awaiting the final battle.


    This was the situation on the side of the Divine Darkness ne, and the side of the Divine Light ne had its own gathering as well. However, of the Paragons belonging to the Divine Light ne, only Magnus appeared; as for Bayer, he didn’t participate in the gathering.


    “Mr. Magnus.” All of themanders, over the course of this gathering, greeted Magnus in a very warm, friendly manner, unconsciously acting in a meek, humble manner.


    Although they weremanders and very arrogant, in the face of a Paragon...it was very natural for them to act like this. They felt likemoners meeting an emperor. Although themoner might be arrogant, they would naturally grow modest in this situation. And this sort of modesty...didn’t make them feel ashamed, because it was only appropriate.


    For example, if one knelt upon seeing a Sovereign; this was something which their subconscious told them was only proper.


    The reception Magnus received in his camp waspletely opposite from the one Linley received in his.


    But Magnus couldn’t care less about these people; he too went into a corner, and by his side was Oman, Chegwin, and Ramson.


    “Everyone, are there any formidable experts on the side of the Divine Darkness ne whom we need to be aware of? If you know of any, speak up and let us mentally prepare for them.” A white-browed, white-haired youth spoke out.


    Immediately, all of themanders began to list out some names, with the likes of Reisgem and Bebe being discussed.


    “We encountered an expert who should be a Paragon.” Oman said. “He is a Paragon of Fire! He belongs to the enemy camp, but his name...we aren’t sure. All we know is that he has crimson eyebrows!”


    Themanders immediately all fell silent. Compared to a Paragon, neither Reisgem nor Bebe were even as remotely as threatening.


    “I have a name!” Hemmers said loudly. “I suspect he, too, is a Paragon!”


    These words caused everyone to look towards Hemmers. Everyone knew who Hemmers was; given Hemmers’ strength, his words should be true.


    “This person is a member of the Azure Dragon n, of the Four Divine Beasts n. His power is very bizarre; at first, he was very weak, but afterwards, he grew to be even stronger than me. He’s made vast improvements over just a few centuries, and he said that he has trained for less than three thousand years. I don’t dare believe it, but one thing is certain; his power is greater than mine!” Hemmers said unhappily. “I suspect that he has already reached the level of Paragon!”


    Instantly, a unison ofughter.


    Everyone knew that Hemmers was a thick-headed fellow who wasn’t very clever. Hearing Hemmers’ words, however, they allughed hard.


    “Hemmers, less than three thousand years, and a Paragon, you say? If he became a Paragon in less than three thousand years, then the rest of us no longer have any face to stay here. Haha.” Clearly, not a single member of these experts believed him.


    “Hemmers, don’t believe this person’s lies.” Themanders didn’t believe it at all.


    “That expert of the Azure Dragon n, ‘Gison’? He’s only on par with us; how could they have a Paragon? If they did, they wouldn’t have been abused to such an extent by the eight great ns.”


    The discussion made it clear that no one believed Hemmers.


    “Impossible!”


    Magnus, seated in the corner of the room, said slowly, “Be a Paragon in less than three thousand years? Absolutely impossible! Forget about three thousand years; even thirty thousand years or three hundred thousand years is far too short for someone to reach the Paragon level! To reach the level of Paragon in under a million years is something which isn’t possible.”


    Magnus, as a Paragon himself, was an authoritative source.


    “Can it be that I, Hemmers, would lie to you!” Hemmers was furious. Steam came from his nostrils, and his eyes turned absolutely round, like a pair of copper gongs as he stared at the others. Thesemanders unconsciously began to lower the volume of theirughter. They still truly did not wish to irritate this fellow, Hemmers.”


    “If you don’t want to listen, then don’t. When you die, don’t me me.” Hemmers snorted, then sat down, grabbing a roasted leg of meat on the table and chewing it withrge bites.


    The Divine Light ne’s camp and the Divine Darkness ne’s camp were both waiting quietly at each end of the ster River. They were awaiting the arrival of the final battle. Compared to themanders, though, it was actually the soldiers who were the most eager!


    The mortality rates amongst soldiers in the nar Battlefield was simply too high.


    These soldiers all wanted to earn military merits and perhaps trade for Sovereign’s Might. And many of these soldiers...had lived for far too long. They wanted to experience the legendary, truly terrifying...nar War! Thus, they allowed their divine clones toe up. They were willing to sacrifice a divine clone, so as to experience the legendary nar Wars for themselves.


    Was this foolishness or insanity?


    Hard to say. But after a Deity had been alive for countless years and no longer had any emotional attachments, they were capable of doing anything.


    The nar Wars were savage, crazed battles to begin with!


    The Divine Darkness ne’s camp, where themanders lived. Linley’s group was living within their courtyard.


    Reisgem and Bebe were seated across from each other, chatting casually.


    Suddenly...


    “Rumble...” A terrifyingly powerful rumble filled the skies. It was as though an energy ripple capable of causing the heavens to copse and the earth to shatter was wildly spreading in every direction.


    “Whooooooosh.”


    The buildings on each side of the Ster River, when encountering this energy ripple, were instantly converted into dust, revealing the soldiers andmanders within. In almost the same instant, the countless soldiers and manymanders on each side of the Ster River turned to look towards the ‘Ster Corridors’.


    This vast sea of people all stared towards the Ster Corridors.


    Linley stared into the distance, only to see the two corridors of the Ster Sea emit a rainbow aura. This aura rose to the skies, causing the space above to tremble. In this instant, the two corridors of the Ster River were more eye-catching than they ever had been.


    “The final battle is finally about to begin!” Linley, seeing this, couldn’t help but murmur to himself.


    ording to the rules of the nar Wars, after a thousand years passed, the Ster Corridors would explode forth with a rainbow aura that would cause the world to tremble. This was the sign that the final battle was tomence! ording to some legends, this was designed by Sovereigns, but ording to other legends, it was designed by the Overgods. But one thing was for certain...


    The final battle was beginning!


    There was no unified deployment, nor was there any hesitation.


    “Kill!” A cacophony of bellows shook the heavens.


    The soldiers who had been waiting this entire time on each side of the Ster Corridors immediately flooded into the corridors, charging towards the opposite side. As for the soldiers of Divine Light ne’s camp, they didn’t hesitate either, also flooding into the Ster Corridors and attacking their foes.


    “Haha...the battle has begun!” Reisgemughed loudly. “Let’s head out!”


    “Move out!” Bebe called in jubtion as well.


    Linley’s group of four moved lightning-fast towards the Ster Corridor’s opposite side.


    The variousmanders didn’t need to be organized into squads; they all moved as they pleased. As for the soldiers of the military camps, they immediately formed into squads and then, like a long, sinuous dragon, had begun to wind their way through and flood through the corridors. The mission for each camp was arranged during the previous gathering.


    The ughtering instantly began!


    The dreamy Ster River’s two Ster Corridors were now both emanating a rainbow glow, making it appear even more illusory and dreamlike. But the two sides on the Light camp and the Darkness camp were beginning to ughter and butcher each other in the two corridors.


    Linley, Bebe, Reisgem, and Reihom stood at the sides of the Ster Corridor.


    “It really is madness.” Linley was watching.


    The air above the Ster River was filled from top to bottom with countless soldiers, with each unit numbering in the thousands. They collectivelyunched material attacks or soul attacks against each other, unleashing their most powerful attacks towards the enemies in front of them. These long-distance attacks went on for only a few instants, and then, the two massive armies, like a pair of behemoths, shed into each other. The chaotic battle had begun!


    Blood flew everywhere, divine sparks rolled out, and badges descended.


    A battle that was utterly crazed!


    “ording to the rules of the nar Wars, if one side wins the battle within both corridors, that is considered a victory. If they only win in one corridor, it is considered a draw.” Reisgem’s eyes were shining. “Haha, Linley, let’s not hesitate. The othermanders have already charged out!”


    Linley personally witnessed one white badge and ck badge fall after another. Some soldiers, with a single swipe, were able to acquire ten or twenty soldier badges. In this sort of wild ughter, umting military rewards really was quite quick. But it was also dangerous and crazed.


    “Let’s go!”


    Linley’s group of four charged into the Ster Corridor as well, merging into the crazed flood. Behind them was an endless stream of soldiers, as well as the variousmanders who had charged in as well.