Chapter 957 Return

?Souta stood atop the walls of the Selnes Country, observing the ongoing war and the intense battle between the two Seventh Shackles high above.

Turning his gaze towards the devastated state of the Selnes Country, he couldn't help but feel a sense of disbelief. The once renowned Selnes Country now lay in ruins, a shadow of its former self.

Shaking his head, Souta shifted his attention back to the sky where the two Hero-ranks clashed. Even from this distance, he could sense the subtle vibrations in the air, a testament to the immense power being unleashed.

"S-Souta..." Kessa's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Yes," Souta acknowledged her, turning to see an astonishing sight unfolding before them.

With a swift motion, various spells—fireballs, lightning bolts, torrents of water, and massive boulders—hurtled through the air towards the battlefield. Each spell carried tremendous force, capable of wreaking havoc upon impact.

"The war isn't going to stop. The battle here is just the opening," Souta muttered solemnly.

Boom!!

Explosions erupted as the spells landed on the battlefield, illuminating the area with blinding flashes of light and shaking the ground with deafening blasts. The sheer power of each spell was terrifying to behold.

Souta took one last look before turning away. With a gesture, he levitated the unconscious woman using his gravitational field.

With reinforcements arriving, Souta and the other warriors needed to rest. Until further instructions were given, they couldn't return to the battlefield.

Three days had passed in the blink of an eye...

The war had escalated as hundreds of SSS-rank experts were dispatched. Selnes Country and the other two territories became theaters of conflict, each overseen by two experts at Hero-rank.

The events in the Selnes Country shook everyone. No one had expected such a massive battle to erupt within the barrier. Souta had earned a multitude of merits in the battle, and his name was on everyone's lips.

He was now known as the legendary Blood Lightning Monster, the one who had brought an end to the chaos in the Selnes Country. His reputation had soared to unparalleled heights, with many considering him the strongest fourth-stage monster.

Dubbed by numerous names, Souta's fame had reached extraordinary levels.

Sitting down on a vacant chair, Souta exhaled deeply. "They made me write those reports. I hardly had any time to recover myself," he muttered.

Looking around, he asked, "Anyways, Eztein and Franklin are still unconscious, right?"

"Yeah, we've already consulted several healers, but they haven't found anything wrong with them," Alice replied.

"I see... Don't bother them anymore. I'll personally check their condition later," Souta said, waving his hand dismissively. Then, he turned his attention to Alice. "It seems like you've benefited a lot from the battle. You've pushed through your limits."

Alice glanced down at her hands, nodding. "I wanted to participate in the battle again. I think I'll be able to improve my skills to the next level."

"I believe you're ready to join the battle again. It will take a while before the return request is approved," Souta said before turning to Eilish. "And what about you? You just broke your Third Shackles, so your progress must have been significant this time."

Eilish smiled confidently. "Yes, my progress has been satisfactory."

They chatted for a while longer before Souta closed his eyes. Finally having some time to himself, he began to organize the knowledge and experiences he gained after becoming the Crimson Twilight Emperor.

It took him several hours before he opened his eyes again. The information about the Crimson Twilight Emperor was unbelievable—it was simply amazing.

"I could finally exert the true potential of Crimson Twilight," Souta muttered to himself. This exceeded his expectations. Although his level remained the same, the effects of the Tears of Divine Might surpassed his imagination. Additionally, it granted him a new ability: Divine Might.

Divine Might was a passive skill that enhanced all of his energy-based attacks by 50%. There were no exceptions; it could even amplify his Archetype. In short, his best feram carried the properties of Divine Might.

"I'm eager to test my newfound strength on the battlefield, but I need to restrain myself. Drawing too much attention could be risky, so I'll lay low for now," Souta reasoned with himself. Excitement coursed through him, but he reminded himself to be patient.

As for his rewards, Souta narrowed his eyes, contemplating them.

[Congratulations on completing the quest Prototype Omni Creation Tree!]

[You've obtained an Origin Seed, 30 free attribute points, 15 skill points, and 100,000,000 experience points!]

His attention was entirely captured by the Origin Seed. The system hadn't provided any details about this item, leaving everything for him to discover.

Ohm!

Souta opened his palm and beheld a small seed, no larger than a bean. It appeared unremarkable, almost ordinary.

"What could this seed be?" he wondered aloud.

He attempted to infuse it with his energy, but to no avail. Despite increasing the force he exerted, the seed remained unchanged. Even the energy he employed was sufficient to vanquish an expert at the Solidifying Realm, yet the seed remained unscathed.

Souta shook his head and tucked the seed into his pocket, determined to uncover its secrets in due time.

Five days passed swiftly, and Souta's request to depart was granted. With his objectives fulfilled, he saw no reason to linger any longer.

The war raged on unabated, a relentless conflict with no end in sight. Souta knew that Gluttony would soon reemerge, plunging the situation into further chaos.

"I wonder if Amanda has completed the task I assigned to her," Souta pondered aloud. Amanda, like Red Mist, was a witch, though from a different tribe originating from a sub-world. While Red Mist had been formidable, her journey to god-level had been tragically cut short.

Souta vividly recalled the events surrounding Red Mist's demise, a moment etched into his memory from his time in the game.

"I never ask for anything... I don't need anyone's pity... I never..." Red Mist's voice trailed off as she slowly crumpled to the ground.

In an instant, the Jade Emperor obliterated her body, leaving nothing but ash in his wake. It was a display of unparalleled power, a shocking event that marked the first time the Jade Emperor had descended from his throne.

Red Mist's connection to the survivors of the Walpurgis marked her as a traitor, though the specifics eluded Souta. Nevertheless, she had been a force to be reckoned with, ranking among the top experts below the realm of gods.

These individuals, the strongest mortals of their time, were a volatile mix of destiny and ambition. Some would fall while others would rise, but they collectively represented the pinnacle of mortal power.

At the summit of this hierarchy stood Bargan Hevifield, the Flame Master, hailed as the unrivaled strongest mortal in history.

Burghis Dham, known as the Divine General of the Giza Continent, held the esteemed title of the strongest general within the Red Crystal Empire.

Holer, renowned as the Undying Undead of the Ruin Desolate Land, commanded legions of undead with unyielding authority.

Yvis Yulen, dubbed the Butterfly Arrow of the Mars Archipelago, was famed for her unwavering accuracy, vowing never to miss a target.

Khorghul, feared as the Ultimate Variant of Vulcan's Ring, was a monstrous being that consumed other creatures to fuel its own power.

Blue Fang, hailed as the Great Bounty Hunter of the Mars Archipelago, possessed a body akin to the wind itself, moving with unparalleled agility and grace.

Xue Yi, known as the Transcendent Lightning of the God's Continent, wielded control over thunder and lightning with unmatched mastery.

Avine Abaddon, recognized as the Demonic Princess of the Demon's Land, held sway over dark forces and held a position of formidable authority.

They were among the strongest mortals Souta could recall, alongside Red Mist. However, he wasn't entirely certain about the accuracy of their rankings, considering they were players. Nevertheless, he knew that those NPCs who were ranked were significantly more powerful than others of the same rank.

Surprisingly, none of the individuals from the Frozen Continent made it into the rankings. This was likely due to the removal of the barrier around that continent was last, making it the most enigmatic land in the Imperium.

With a smile, Souta turned away from the battlefield, taking one last look before departing. He gathered everyone beneath his Grain, preparing to return as he had received approval from the higher-ups.

Standing before him were Alice, Eilish, and the others who had fought alongside him in the Sixth Grain War. However, Franklin, Eztein, and the woman named Erkigal remained unconscious.

Having checked on their conditions days prior, Souta knew that the mysterious haze surrounding them had dissipated. It was only a matter of time before they regained consciousness.

"Everyone! Let's move out!"

A few days later, the group arrived at the Champion's Den. Despite using portals for travel, it still took them several days due to the necessity of stopping at various bases to report on the battlefield situation.

Inside the headquarters of Athen's Champion...

Souta found himself in a room with Vandal, the Chief Captain of the Third Set Pallas Division, along with other Grain Leaders who were there to listen to his report.

"Grain Leader Souta, you've earned significant merit this time. You performed admirably in the war," Vandal commended, setting down the papers he had been reviewing. He then regarded Souta with a keen eye before continuing, "Your growth is evident. You may now rest; we will inform you if your presence is required on the battlefield."

"Thank you," Souta replied with a salute.

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