The Main God Fortress Assault
The Divine Realm was naturally thrown into chaos by the sudden appearance of Seongmyeol, the Creator Great God, while the festivities were still underway. Without informing anyone, the Magic God of Dimensions activated the Main God Fortress. Even the Lower Gods of transcendent origin, who had been absorbing divine power to their limits inside the Main God Palace and standing by, had no idea. They were simply terrified by the sudden activation of the Magic God of Dimensions' divine power, which surpassed that of a Creator God.
This time, the training was conducted with the Beast God, whose venom had risen sharply after being properly pointed out, as the instructor, and the Hero God, who had become endlessly calm, as the assistant instructor. The Hero God's companions, who had finally become Intermediate Gods and awakened their authorities after enduring training that nearly killed them, were now shouting in shock at the gap in power they could finally feel.
"Wh-what—! What is this—!"
"How can the difference in divine power be this huge?"
"We're only at the ten-thousands level? The Main God of the Divine Realm has over a hundred billion? What kind of ridiculous power gap is this?"
Unlike his companions, who still hadn't fully regained their senses even after that ordeal, the Hero God, who had steeled his resolve, gritted his teeth and gripped his divine sword tightly. The Magic God of Dimensions, who was the Main God of the Divine Realm, had at least mentioned that he was a lower-level person in charge who had volunteered for this matter. The fact that no one in the Divine Realm knew about this plan proved just how great that trust was. Even the Beast God, now called the highest loyalist of the Main God of the Divine Realm, had not heard a single word about it, which made the meaning even greater.
He had to make this operation succeed no matter what. And now he knew. He knew exactly what happened to those who betrayed someone who rarely showed such trust. Shaking off the horrific memories that kept trying to surface, he stepped forward before all the Transcendents. While waiting in the Main God Palace, he had already finished the work of becoming their representative. The biggest relief came from the fact that all the High Elf Queens, who had been the greatest concern, declared they had no interest in being representatives because they were subordinate gods of Granzoa and would fully cooperate instead.
"It's starting now. Everyone, grit your teeth and endure. Never forget that we share a Common Destiny."
At those words, the Hero God's companions and the Transcendents nodded with even more serious expressions. They had once again confirmed that they could never defeat the Main God of the Divine Realm with power alone. The only one who received enough trust and consideration from the Main God of the Divine Realm to receive information was the Hero God. Whether they lived or died, they had no choice but to trust the Hero God and fight.
The Hero God's companions began chanting their joint authority.
"Joint Authority: Common Destiny activated—!"
"Joint Fate—!"
The Hero God's Indomitable wide-area authority, which he had resolved himself to use, was further strengthened based on his companions' authorities and activated. Their companions immediately linked with them as well, extending the effect to the Transcendents. Unlike when it was first activated, it had been further enhanced, strengthening the bodies of all Transcendents. Combined with the Hero God's Indomitable authority, the wide-area authority displayed by his companions added to its effect, raising their physical abilities by a full circle—though only physical abilities. If it was purely defensive capability, it might even surpass that.
It was the true power of "Indomitable," which grew endlessly stronger when based on "trust" from companions and comrades willing to risk death. Before long, it had perfectly resolved even the activation condition based on others' rare and unstable emotions. The faces of the Beast God and the Main Gods watching this scene twisted, eventually showing expressions of disbelief. It was because they knew how the joint authority of the Hero God and his companions had been created and formed. The Magic God of Dimensions had personally stepped in to resolve it, and the result was at an absurd level.
'He solved the limitation of emotions as an activation condition for authorities in an unbelievable way. On top of that, he even created a supporting authority that further strengthens wide-area authorities.'
'How could something like this be possible? When a living being becomes a god, their authority is formed indeterminately based on how they lived. Even they themselves don't know what their authority will be, yet he forcibly created the most necessary one.'
'As expected of the Mage God. Common sense doesn't apply.'
'No, this is a fundamental shift in thinking. He eliminated the possibility of choosing other authorities altogether.'
According to the Hero God's companions, just before entering the dimensional space and beginning their training, the Magic God of Dimensions had directly sent his will to them.
"Have you ever heard the words 'Common Destiny'? People often say that if you die, you die together, and if you live, you live together. That's what true friends and comrades are, or so they say. Well, I wouldn't know, but that's what the words mean. Could you perhaps explain that meaning to me? Then again, looking at your current state, I suppose that's impossible. Kukukuk—! Anyway, the more something doesn't exist in this world, the more plausible it sounds when spoken and shown. Honestly, even I found this matter absurd."
The voice of the Main God of the Divine Realm, speaking lazily and laughing, carried a terrifying killing intent. The Hero God and the Beast God were already unable to breathe, their heads bowed deeply. The direct responsibility for the Hero God's Indomitable wide-area authority becoming a mess due to the ridiculous activation condition of trust and his companions' betrayal lay with them. Though the matter had been urgent and passed over, there was no way there would be no questioning at all.
'This is bad. He really is extremely angry. Now that the Divine Realm's ego has completely turned to the Main God of the Divine Realm's side, one wrong move and it's over.'
"Ah—! These bastards are really driving me crazy. For the first major task I entrusted to them to go so wrong. Do you even understand what a disgrace this is?"
The selection battle had gone awry, and in the end, those strange metal monsters had to be mobilized. It was obvious he was in a state of maximum anger and irritation. Moreover, the current Main God of the Divine Realm was the Magic God of Dimensions, famous for not caring about methods or means. Among them, the Magic God of Dimensions was the most powerful Mage God, possessing both the reputation of an undefeated battle god who rose as a mercenary god and the infamy of the worst and most vicious Mage God.
The Beast God, who had spent a long time on the battlefield, knew well how someone with such infamy and reputation actually behaved and moved. Even the Hero God, who had participated in many battles in the Middle World, knew well how numerous famous generals fought. Their methods were all different, but they had one thing in common. Before going to war, they would stop at nothing to make all soldiers and the battlefield environment move like their own limbs. If someone interfering was a subordinate, they would behead them for insubordination. If it was a superior who could not be rebelled against, they would risk their lives to disobey or overturn the organization. No matter what sacrifices occurred in the process, they would only go to the battlefield and achieve victory after doing so.
The Divine Realm looked peaceful with its festival, but as far as they knew, this was precisely the preparation stage for war. Right now, the Magic God of Dimensions was like a bomb on the verge of exploding.
'One wrong word and it could be the end for Main Gods, gods, everything.'
They had already experienced something similar. In the Main God Palace, they had nearly been torn apart to death in front of other gods. So the Beast God and the Hero God quickly distanced themselves from their former companions, who still hadn't grasped the situation. If they stayed together like this, they would be treated the same and struck by lightning.
As expected, his true feelings burst out like an exploding bomb.
"If this selection entrusted to the Hero God fails, I'll turn all of you into bugs in the dimensional Creator God Star while keeping your god status. You'll become Bug Gods. Forever. And taste it a little right now. Un Other Polymorph—! Bug Time—!"
The 11th-circle great magic of the Magic God of Dimensions began collapsing the gods' bodies before the Hero God's companions could even speak. The Magic God of Dimensions' divinity currently surpassed that of a Creator God and was at the 11th circle by Absolute Realm standards. To directly intervene in another being's physical changes and essence like this, one needed at least three circles higher. Therefore, the Hero God's companions, who had just reached the 8th circle, had no chance of enduring. Moreover, the magic activated based on the Magic God of Dimensions' authority of reality denial was absurdly powerful. Even the bodies of immortal spiritual beings lost their form as they were.
Crack crack crack—! Kraaaak—!
In an instant, they lost their human forms and what appeared were literally bugs crawling on the ground. The Beast God and the Hero God screamed in shock at the sight of three wriggling bugs that had no business being in the Divine Realm, like earthworms.
"Waaaaaaaah—!"
"Huuuueeergh—!"
No matter how low their rank, they were still gods. Their divinity and godhood were incomparable to ordinary living beings. To nullify such a god's resistance and turn them into bugs instantly was transcendent magic that shouldn't exist, no matter how much of a Main God of the Divine Realm or power beyond Creator God one possessed. Even if it were possible, turning great gods into bugs was something that shouldn't happen.
'They said he'd gone far enough that the Main God Realm was considering subjugation, and now he's really going all out.'
Cold sweat beaded heavily on the back of the Beast God, who understood the Magic God of Dimensions' circumstances to some extent. The Mage God, who already didn't care about methods or means to overcome the worst situations, was rampaging to the point of losing his sanity.
"If this matter fails, before I meet my end, I'll turn all of you into bugs. All the Lower Gods made from Transcendents and everyone involved in the defeat."
Right before their eyes, gods had truly become bugs. The ominous premonition that those bugs could become their future selves flashed through their minds. Seeing the wriggling forms of the gods turned into bugs, the Beast God and the Hero God quickly pressed their heads to the ground, dignity be damned.
"What I uniquely experienced and know is not Common Destiny but joint responsibility. If one makes a mistake, the entire group they belong to is punished to instill vigilance. Quite efficient, isn't it? So this one thing, I've experienced it thoroughly and repeatedly in reality, so I know it well. I don't even want to know what happened to the Hero God and you companions in the past. However, I cannot forgive you for interfering with my work due to past grudges. First, die like bugs and then begin your training."
With those words, something slowly descended over the bugs that the gods had become. It was the foot of the Magic God of Dimensions, crossing through space.
Crunch crunch crunch—!
They were mercilessly flattened under the sole of his foot, their insides bursting, and though their life activities should have stopped and they should have died, as immortal god bodies, that was impossible. Though transformed into bugs, they were still gods. Even in that state, they moved, trying to come back to life immediately. An irresistible divine power rushed like a flood into their still-maintained sanity, imprinting the content like a brand.
"Remember this well. If you interfere with the Hero God's Indomitable authority activation again, you'll live like this forever. The only way for you to live as gods is to help the Hero God and make this operation succeed."
At the same time, the bodies that had become bugs were flattened again. The Magic God of Dimensions' foot rubbed and crushed the barely recovering bug bodies once more.
Crunch—! Crunch—!
As the gruesome sound echoed, the Magic God of Dimensions' voice rang out again. It penetrated the broken bodies and souls of the Hero's companions, reaching their deepest parts and leaving behind divine words that could not be erased.
"The Hero and you are both Common Destiny and joint responsibility. Abandon the illusion that only you will live well. I'll keep you like this until the end. You are Common Destiny and joint responsibility—! Common Destiny—! Joint responsibility—!"
As if venting all his anger at the twisted situation, he continued like that for a while. When the Magic God of Dimensions left, the Hero God's companions soon regained their god forms. However, they were far from normal. They kept muttering to themselves like this.
"Common Destiny…"
"Joint responsibility…"
"Co…mmon Destiny…"
After continuing like that for some time, since gods were not permitted to go insane, they quickly came to their senses. To become familiar with using divine power, guidance from higher gods and actual combat training were the best. As expected, they had talent and followed well, but throughout the entire training period, they kept making those sounds. In the end, when they became Intermediate Gods, the authority that bloomed was "Common Destiny." The horrific memories of dying multiple times as bugs and the divine words imprinted on their souls like supreme commands as the only way to escape that situation overwhelmed their past experiences.
Afterward, along with the end of training, they had a reporting time. Fearing they might be turned into bugs again if he was displeased, the Hero God and his companions lay flat on their stomachs before the seat of glory, extremely tense. Though the other Transcendents looked bewildered, having already experienced such things, they had no time to put on airs of pride.
"Common Destiny. It shares the divine power and authorities possessed by all to provide transcendent enhancement, but the death of one becomes the death of all. There are restrictions, so as a supporting authority for wide-area authorities, is it transcendent level? However, it has the best compatibility with Indomitable, which raises the physical abilities of companions who have gained trust. It's quite usable. Good work."
At the Main God of the Divine Realm's words of acknowledgment, they could finally breathe a sigh of relief and relax their tension. Afterward, while matching ranks with other Transcendents and filling and raising their divine power in the Main God Palace, the activation of the Main God Fortress was suddenly decided. If the Lower Gods inside the Main God Palace where the Magic God of Dimensions was were at that level, the gods outside were needless to say. No, they were nearly in a state of panic at the sudden appearance of the Creator Great God of the Substitute Gods.
From the perspective of gods who had barely become equals after repeating countless desperate battles, the terror of the Creator Great God of the Substitute Gods was far too great. Even struggling desperately against just the Main Gods of the Substitute Gods for a billion years, and now a higher Creator Great God was an absurd opponent. Regardless of the gods' reactions, Seongmyeol's hand grasped the dimensional Creator God Star. Then, a Creator God Star a hundred thousand times the size of an ordinary planet was completely contained within his grasp. No, it was more accurate to say that everything entered within the domain of his divine power's authority. From Seongmyeol's back, who had even taken the moon, his satellite, into his hand, twelve pairs of magic circles emitted brilliant radiance. A total of 14th-circle magic by Main Universe standards and 12th-circle magic by Absolute Realm standards was being fully mobilized.
"Coordinates: Almighty Hwi's Main God Realm! Deploying full divine power, we'll go in one go."
Vwoooooom—!
Thirteen pairs of dark wings transformed into wings of light. Twenty-six pairs of light wings simultaneously emanated powerful dimensional authorities. Forcibly converting magic power into divine power like this generated tremendous backlash. It was similar in difficulty to directly changing fire into water, with recoil like a steam explosion. Resolving that within one's body was a suicidal act unless one was a Mage God. Therefore, it was impossible for the Magic God of Dimensions' body, but for Seongmyeol, created with the Authority of Black Flame, it was all too easy. Rather, he was drawing up even more divine power based on the magic power's backlash. It was as if saying that only with this level of burden could the body demonstrate its worth in power.
The summoned Magic God of Dimensions smiled unconsciously at that strength.
"Kukuk—! Being strong is truly wonderful. For me to do something like that would require enormous preparation and a magic circle on the scale of a star system, yet you're solving it with just physical ability and authority? As expected of Black Flame and a Creator Great God. Now, the Divine Realm must protect planets and intelligent beings with full power. The moment we move, we assault the planets."
"We receive the command of the Main God of the Divine Realm."
The mechanical-toned answer of the Divine Realm's ego echoed. There might have been more to add, but there was no leeway due to fully activating the functions in operation. The dimensional movement of a dimensional god star a hundred thousand times the size of an ordinary planet was unprecedented even in the Absolute Realm, let alone the Main Universe. Even spatial movement of ordinary planets required enormous divine power and authority, and a Creator God Star transcended ordinary levels by a vast margin. This meant that if things went wrong, both the Divine Realm and the Creator God Star could be destroyed during the spatial movement. Of course, if that happened, the gods inside would naturally be annihilated. However, more important than the safety of the gods of the Divine Realm was ensuring that the Creator Great God did not destroy the Divine Realm. Moreover, the pressure alone made them lose their words and simply follow, as this embodiment of terror itself was currently the incarnation of the Main God of the Divine Realm.
However, they did not forget what they had to do. They notified the Main God Realm of the start of the Main God Fortress activation. At the sudden unilateral notification, the ego of the opposing Main God Realm fiercely protested and warned, but it could not be changed. Even they themselves were already in an all-or-nothing situation.
"We're going to collide the Divine Realm directly with the Main God Realm. All gods, prepare for impact."
Completely revealing his true nature as the undefeated and worst and most vicious mercenary god, the Magic God of Dimensions' Main God Fortress activation had begun.