Both commanders are no fools. In this situation of facing each other across a gorge, both sides first chose to build their defenses.

On Mohe's side, there are the Dwarves, who are quite adept at construction, while on Doro's side, there's the Alchemist Association, whose ability to build positions is not inferior to their opponents. Both sides immediately began building fiercely on opposite sides of the gorge, separated by some distance.

"In terms of power comparison, our high-level combat power is not inferior to the other side. The problem lies in the top-tier combat power. Myself, the Dwarf King, Hidden Nephilim, and Noel have decent combat strength," the Wise King assessed. "However, the other side's top-tier combat power, with Adeline, Adriana, the Sword Saint, and several skilled mages from the Mage Union, is slightly more than ours, but not to a desperate extent. As long as we don't engage in an all-out confrontation with them at once, we have a fighting chance."

Hidden Nephilim raised a question: "Are you sure you don't need to worry about Charlette's combat power? She is not the type to surrender easily."

"Of course, I know, I'm factoring in her combat strength by excluding her from the top-tier combatants," the Wise King waved his hand dismissively. "She's too easy to deal with. It doesn't take much effort to defeat her, so there's no need to worry about her."

Although it was unclear where she got this conclusion from, it was accepted for the time being.

The Nature Ranger felt somewhat dissatisfied, "Am I not considered top-tier combat power in your calculations?"

"You can only be considered as high-level combat power, Nature Ranger. You must admit that if you were to fight us, you couldn't withstand ten moves, though it seems like you're just a hair away. Otherwise, you wouldn't be the acting Elf Queen but would have become the Elf Queen outright. That seedling left by your queen is also still there— I think that thing won't recognize your status."

The Nature Ranger wanted to argue, but she knew there was no room for debate. If she were strong enough, she wouldn't be so humble. The Elf Race needs a sufficiently powerful existence, and she does not have such power.

So she has always been just the Acting Elf Queen.

The Dwarf King intended to say something for the Elf Queen, but the Wise King had no intention of letting them speak and continued, "Since the other side hasn't crossed the gorge to attack us immediately, I judge that the commander on the other side is not Charlette, but someone else. It's hard to say exactly who, but this gives us a chance."

"You mean if it were Charlette, she would've attacked immediately?" Noel asked.

The Wise King nodded, "Exactly, that woman knows very well that if she drags out the confrontation with me, there's no hope. Only by going all-in at the very start could she possibly defeat me, but her opinion probably won't be accepted by their commander. No one would take such a huge risk."

She seemed to have calculated everything into it.

"Let's first discuss the methods to break through the opponent's top-tier combatants."

The Wise King began to make detailed arrangements.

...

"You're suggesting going head-to-head with the other side?" Everyone was stunned by Charlette's suggestion.

Duke Regulus touched his chin, pondering, "Impossible. Regardless of how you think about it, objectively, it couldn't be done."

He directly denied the proposal.

Charlette stared at Duke Regulus, "You are a loyal follower of the Wise King. You should be very clear that prolonging the fight and competing on development and strategy against that Wise King is hopeless. Except for that Demon King sitting above, no one can outplay him. Doing so would be waiting for death; only by rushing in and exploding can we possibly win."

"So I said, it's not a matter of whether to do it, Charlette. It's a matter of being able to."

"Why not?"

"Because you are no longer the Saintess!"

Duke Regulus shouted, "Because you massacred the Lizardmen! Because you were defeated by the Human King, because you were excommunicated by the Church! Do you understand? Because we are a force of the Human King! The Human King is kind and merciful! The Human King was once the Hero! So we can never just explode head-to-head with the other side! The other side, however, can do just that because they are the Demon King's forces! Cruel and cold-blooded Demon King!"

Regulus seemed quite emotional, so much so that he, having considerable strength himself, was a bit breathless after finishing his speech, "Forces standing with the Human King, people gather because of the name of the Human King, because of the name of the Hero, so we are doomed not to be able to head-on erupt against the other side. Major races, major forces, would see it as sending people to their deaths! Do you understand what I mean? They won't fully obey. Otherwise, you let those present go back and tell the others?"

Forces united under the name of goodness and compassion find it difficult to reach a consensus in decision-making, whereas the Demon King's almost dictatorial regime could quickly display its power at such times.

"You're right."

Charlette originally had much more to say, but she recalled what Adeline had said to her before, so she conceded to this notion, "So, what do you plan to do?"

"No one can play against the Wise King on a long game, so we must directly settle the Wise King. It's a very simple problem."

Duke Regulus outlined his strategy, "Our top-tier combatants outnumber theirs, so even if the cost is at the expense of our top-tier combatants, I will forcefully eliminate the Wise King. Once the defenses are established on both sides, in our first battle, we must reveal our fangs to the Wise King at once, at any cost, and make sure to take the Wise King out. Remove her from this battlefield. Only then will we have room to operate—the Wise King's death would leave them without an absolute commander, unless that king on the throne above, Mohe, intervenes. If so, this duel's outcome can be declared. No one can be sure of the kings' thoughts above, but this is what we can do."

Everyone nodded, expressing agreement with his idea, acknowledging why the Wise King chose him as his successor and willingly died for him in the first place.

...

"This is..."

Feiker looked at the crack in the sky, and furrowed his brows. The Hero's Sword responded to his call from a distant location and fell into his hand. Then, he directly charged into the sky with his sword.

The Demon King and the Human King launched a war, and all the powerful beings in the world had already gone to that place called the Void Realm.

Feiker knew about this matter; he had always been paying close attention to the affairs of the Demon King and the Human King—but after their departure, such a thing appeared... Does it mean that something has always been watching this world? But if that's the case, didn't the Human King and Demon King notice?

After all, they are so strong.

The Sword of the Sun and Light was imbued with the flowing fire of the sun, and he swung the sword to sever a tentacle. The flames burned the tentacle to ashes.

"It's very tough… but I seem to be able to handle it. However..."

He looked at the sky, where numerous cracks and tentacles were emerging one after another.

At this moment, he felt intense hostility. Clearly, his action of severing a tentacle had angered some existence.

"How interesting, is this the meaning of my existence? If the Goddess has always been watching this world, guiding this world, then is my birth guided by the Goddess? If so, is my existence for this moment, allowing them to safely decide their victor?"

The Hero's Armor also converged from afar and adorned his body.

"If this is the arrangement of the Goddess, then could this be my opportunity? I cannot reach that realm through battles with the Hero and the Demon King, so how about fighting these bizarre things?"

Feiker did not feel excited, for there was no such strange presence in his memory. This was an unknown enemy, but he understood his mission.

Even if he was a false life, even if he could not defeat the Demon King like the real Doro.

Yet his false memories still told him.

"You should defeat evil and protect this world."

Pure white light shone from his body as the power of the Hero's Sword and Hero's Armor was unleashed to the limit at this moment.

"Someone has already abandoned the Hero's mission, so give your strength to me!"

Like a massive fireball, he charged toward the countless tentacles.

...

War—the war that swept across the world proceeded in this manner.

Hidden Nephilim didn't quite understand.

Everyone was serious, but should the fate of the world really be decided in this way by Doro and Mohe?

She couldn't help but look up and saw Mohe and Doro sitting on two ethereal thrones, faces adorned with smiles, even chatting and laughing about something.

This feeling was just like... two good friends playing chess.

Chatting from time to time, not caring at all about winning or losing the chess game, moreover, these chess pieces moved by themselves, requiring no thought from them. They just needed to watch. So they could comment on both sides' strategies, share their own ideas, and then crack some jokes... so noble and elegant.

It shouldn't be like this.

The Demon King might always have been this way, but Doro shouldn't be like this.

Hidden Nephilim remembered the look in this man's eyes when he found her; back then, his gaze was so passionate, so intense. It was because of that gaze that Hidden Nephilim chose to believe, to believe that this man would lead the Curse Master out of their plight. But he failed to fulfill his pledge, and it was precisely because of that gaze that Hidden Nephilim felt particularly disappointed.

But now, the fiery gaze he once had was long gone.

He might still be kind, benevolent, and perhaps still love many people. But it's not the same; his passion has disappeared.

Passion...

What a meaningless word?

The present Doro seemed very mature, as the Human King, lofty, capable of controlling everything...

But how unfamiliar!

Was he really happy with this position?

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