Chapter 137: Full-Scale War
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 137: Full-Scale War
The clash between the high-ranking angels and the Northern Lords reached a fever pitch the moment they collided.
The Frost Giants' battle-axes, wreathed in extreme cold, slammed head-on into the glowing blades of light wielded by the high-ranking angels. The resulting shockwaves were like massive tidal waves, instantly flipping the wreckage of alchemy machines within a hundred-yard radius.
As the axes fell, a giant silver wolf followed close behind. It transformed into a hundred white afterimages, darting and tearing through the angelic ranks. With every pounce, it ripped away a handful of radiant feathers.
The tide of battle seemed to be tilting in favor of the allied forces.
However, in the next heartbeat—
Streaks of light flashed.
A group of Northern Lords charging at the front were instantly impaled.
A high-ranking angel slowly withdrew his pressed fingers, looking down at the fallen Northern Lords. His cold face remained devoid of emotion.
"Hmph... low-born beasts, actually daring to covet my Master's world."
He thrust his light sword into the chest of a Northern Lord who was still struggling.
"Mere descendants of usurpers. You are not worthy..."
Before he could finish, the words caught in his throat.
The Northern Lord whose chest had been pierced slowly raised his head. He reached out and, with brute force, pulled the light sword out of his own body.
"Wait, this is..."
The high-ranking angel’s pupils constricted suddenly.
"Death Protection?!"
The angel finally panicked. But the Northern Lord gave him no time to react.
In the same instant the light sword was removed, frost-covered claws tore through the high-ranking angel’s chest. In the next second, the ashen-gray power of death surged wildly within him. Within moments, more than half of the sacred power in his body had been drained away.
At this point, the high-ranking angel finally realized something was wrong.
These Northern Lords didn't just possess Death Protection and the power of death; their combat will and strength were steadily climbing as the battle raged on.
"That’s... the power of War!?"
The other high-ranking angels realized the anomaly at the same time.
But it was already too late.
One hundred and twenty high-ranking angels of level 120 were successfully intercepted—and even slightly suppressed—by the Northern Lords, despite the latter being inferior in both numbers and level.
However, everyone knew that the true battlefield was not here.
Gazing at the four Archangels still hovering before the Gate of the Heavenly Domain, two figures that had been hidden for a long time slowly materialized in mid-air.
[Thanatos Lv.126]
[Strife Lv.126]
Death and War had descended upon the battlefield in their full forms as the Gray Horse Knight and the Red Horse Knight.
"Oh? It’s actually Death and War from those four knights. I thought they had completely dissipated."
The Seraph Gabriel lightly stroked his pure white hair, twelve iridescent wings slowly unfurling behind him. He was the most magnificent of the four angels, and also the most arrogant.
His gaze fell upon Thanatos, a strange glint flashing in his pure golden eyes.
"The Death Knight... supposedly fallen long ago in the aftermath of the Twilight of the Gods. I didn't expect we would meet here."
The corners of his mouth curled into a slight smirk.
"This Death Knight... I’ll take him for myself."
As the words left his lips, his form turned into a flowing rainbow, charging straight for Thanatos.
The Throne Angel Samael followed close behind, eight arms extending simultaneously, each wielding an ancient weapon.
"In that case, I shall take the Knight of War!"
The Virtue Angel Raphael did not move.
His expression remained calm as his pitch-black eyes swept over Taro Ball and his group.
"If I’m not mistaken, the four of you intend to face me together."
In the next second, Raphael unfurled six pairs of pitch-black wings. The sky for hundreds of yards around seemed to be swallowed by night.
Seeing this, Taro Ball did not hesitate and activated a pre-prepared item.
[Blessing of the Witch of Wind]
[Upon use, gain Flight status. Movement Speed increases by 200%, Agility increases by 25%. Every attack will deal additional magic damage equal to Agility 15%. Duration: 5 min.]*
Taro Ball, Yu Yunsheng, Maomao, and Aisarakus (disguised as a commoner) took to the air simultaneously, surrounding Raphael in mid-air.
Raphael scanned the group, a hint of irritation appearing in his dark eyes.
"Overestimating yourselves."
Yet, he did not show contempt. A massive sword of absolute blackness fell from his wings into his palm.
In his perception, Aisarakus possessed the strongest aura. But his intuition told him that the human male holding the heavy sword was the most dangerous existence among the four.
There was no hesitation, no testing.
Raphael’s figure vanished from their perception for a split second.
In the next moment, the pitch-black greatsword had already run through Taro Ball’s chest.
"It’s over," Raphael said flatly.
Under normal circumstances, Taro Ball should have already respawned back in the city.
However, Taro Ball’s body did not dissipate.
A semi-transparent system prompt appeared above the battlefield, visible to every player.
[Death Substitution Contract]
[Will you take this death on behalf of "Taro Ball Is Not Round"?]
[Attached Message: One death record equals 100 Contribution Points. The top ten contributors will be eligible to join the Wheel of Fate.]
A player harvesting low-health angels on the battlefield below froze for a moment.
"What the hell is this? I die for Big Boss Taro Ball?"
He subconsciously read the system prompt aloud, then saw the attached message.
He was stunned for exactly 0.3 seconds.
In the next second, the expression on his face shifted from confusion to solemnity, and then to passionate fervor.
"Ahem! In the face of the greater good, how can we stand idly by?! Big Boss Taro Ball has carried us through so much; now is the time for us to pay him back!"
He took a deep breath and reached out, tapping [Yes].
[Death Substitution Contract has taken effect.]
[Player "Xiu Ni Daba" has taken this death on behalf of "Taro Ball Is Not Round".]
Below, the player’s body turned into a streak of white light. Before vanishing, his face still bore a tragic, "I did it" expression of martyrdom.
High above, the fatal piercing wound on Taro Ball’s chest healed completely the moment the white light flared. He opened his eyes, his gaze toward Raphael as calm as still water.
For the first time, Raphael’s brow furrowed.
He didn't hesitate; the greatsword slashed down again.
[Will you take this death on behalf of "Taro Ball Is Not Round"?]
Another prompt appeared. Another player chose [Yes].
Then came the third time, the fourth, the fifth...
On the battlefield below, hundreds of players had now fully grasped the situation.
"Quick, quick, quick! You Archangels, swing a few more times! Let me do it!"
"Damn it, don't steal my kill! It’s my turn this round!"
"Contribution points! It’s contribution points, brothers! The chance to enter the Wheel of Fate is right in front of us!"
"Everyone who set their respawn point to the Lightless Outpost, group up! Once you die, teleport back immediately and keep camping the contract!"
Raphael’s greatsword slashed down ten times, twenty times, thirty times...
Every strike accurately hit Taro Ball’s vitals.
And after every strike, a new player went to their death gallantly.
The Death Substitution Contract acted like an inexhaustible shield, transferring Taro Ball’s death to those players over and over again.