The Fragile Divine Alliance
The three Demon Kings of Schemes and the God of Knowledge wore grim expressions after hearing the words of the Main God of the Divine Realm. They all seemed to know exactly what kind of place the Divine Realm was. ‘Do they know about the goddesses? That explains why they never brought their superior forces directly into the Divine Realm.’ If they provoked the goddesses carelessly and the goddesses decided to march on the Spirit Realm, the Demon Realm itself would be torn apart. Judging by the female Demon God’s furrowed brow, she had roughly grasped the situation as well.
“I believe the words spoken by the great Main God of the Divine Realm—that a man’s dream is carried on by his son—are correct. Moreover, I am still far from sufficient. As a complete Main God, I still require more training.”
“Th-that is true, but…”
“How could I covet the Divine Realm that the Main God of the Divine Realm completed through blood and sweat? Furthermore, with an independent successor already present, such an unethical act would be impossible. What would other Divine Realms say if they found out?”
“That is true. Whew-!”
It was something the Main God of the Divine Realm had said directly during the sparring match with the War God. The Main God of the Divine Realm’s gaze grew dark as he looked toward the former War God hiding in a corner. ‘As the direct descendant of a Main God of the Divine Realm, I should be among the highest of the high. It would not be strange for me to be born at the Main God level. Yet because I lived comfortably without any training, I am only at the middle of the highest tier. The direct line of a Main God of the Divine Realm possesses greater potential to become a Main God than anyone, so I could not give up. That is why the War God insists so strongly.’
‘If I inherit the Divine Realm with such a successor, the other absolute monarchies will mark me. Turning that parasitic brother into a Main God will require considerable effort. The best course is to quietly accumulate divine power and magic, create my own star, and receive recognition from the Divine Realm.’
Creating a habitable planet was far too easy for the Dimensional and War God. ‘If I push myself, I could create a planet dozens of times larger than the current Main God Star and adjust its gravity so life can thrive. Or I could simply expand my Survival Magic Tower and complete my star that way. As for the Demon God War required for recognition as a Main God of the Divine Realm, it would not matter as long as the opponent is not a Demon God King, who ranks above ordinary Demon Gods.’
A powerhouse like a Demon God King would never be assigned to a newly ascended Main God of the Divine Realm. Such opponents only appeared when a Creator God underwent the recognition trial. ‘A star is no problem for me. There is no need to fight the goddesses while I still possess the Main God Star. If what the goddesses desire is the essence containing my divine power, then there is no issue at all. After all, it is divine power from the Sun of the Origin, which endlessly generates it through my direct connection. Other gods may treasure their divine power, but in my case, it is merely power that would otherwise flow into the Cosmic Tree if left unused.’
What he needed now was time for training and proper rest. ‘Once I reach the eleventh circle in magic, I can bid farewell to this cursed Divine Realm. But reaching the eleventh circle is proving far from easy.’
Since no one had ever reached this realm before, even pushing forward with the pure mana of the Great Forest had its limits. ‘I truly need rest and research. Perhaps there is a clue somewhere in the Otherworld?’
From his perspective, a decisive battle with the Substitute Gods would be difficult given the internal circumstances of the Divine Realm where the goddesses resided and the current strength of the Main God of the Divine Realm. ‘With our current forces, a decisive confrontation is impossible. We must maintain superiority over the demons and Substitute Gods while stabilizing and developing the Divine Realm. I will take on an essential, central role, receive compensation, and then go into hiding.’
After amassing a fortune, going into seclusion became the Dimensional and War God’s next plan. Under the current circumstances, there were no problems. ‘Right now, continuously managing the relocated star to keep it fixed in its current position is essential. Only I, who possesses both Dimensional Authority and planetary magic, can do that.’
The Dimensional and War God organized his thoughts while simply observing the negotiations between the Main God of the Divine Realm and the female Demon God. In the end, it was decided that the current state would be maintained for two months while all forces focused on preparation. ‘I will accumulate mana again and stabilize my body. Since I agreed to periodically provide the essence of divine power, the goddesses should quiet down somewhat.’
The Dimensional and War God was content with the current situation, sealed off from the Divine Realm where the goddesses were causing trouble, and was quietly drinking and resting when the world proved far from accommodating. The Divine Realm was now in an uproar because of the divine power amplification gems he had given to the high-ranking angel.
“You received such a precious divine power amplification gem just for running a simple errand?”
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
“Even we would struggle to obtain one.”
“The Dimensional and War God transformed his temple in an instant? He can use matter conversion that easily?”
“Moreover, he expanded the space of a temple fixed in the Divine Realm by dozens of times? Is that possible even though he is not a Main God of Spatial Authority?”
“What? His Dimensional Authority appears to be at the Main God level or higher?”
“Was he not simply the War God? How does he possess so many authorities?”
“And most of them are at Main God level or above!”
Once this level of information was uncovered, it was impossible not to understand Granraha’s intentions. “Granraha! What exactly are you trying to do right now? Why did you omit such important information?”
“It seems she plans to switch to the Dimensional and War God without telling us.”
“What? Where is that woman now?”
“She appears to have already gone to the temple of the Dimensional and War God.”
“Ha! This mother and daughter are exactly the same. They will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.”
“Well, it has been a long time since she became single. Her hostility toward male gods has probably faded somewhat.”
“Even so, to act like this?”
“She must have already laid some groundwork.”
“Just how capable is she? This is truly troubling.”
For the divine race, which was competing with the Substitute Gods for control of the universe, nothing was more valuable than a powerful Main God. “To think he possesses Dimensional Authority that has reached the Main God level? There has never been a Main God of this caliber before.”
“He will become a Creator God in no time. No, he might even surpass that.”
“Hmm! What should we do? If the goddesses learn of this, it will truly cause an uproar.”
Merely showing the potential to become a powerhouse capable of overwhelming the Substitute Gods would bring enormous benefits. It would be enough to whitewash the past of any former goddess who had failed. “For now, continue serving the Dimensional and War God well and watch your words.”
“Dispose of the divine power amplification gem quickly as well. It is not something you should possess.”
“Understood!”
The high-ranking angel, who had been dragged into the conference room of the highest-ranking goddesses after attempting to dispose of just one divine power amplification gem given by the Dimensional and War God, nodded repeatedly while trembling as she received the gem back. ‘I only tried to dispose of one, and it came to this.’
Afterward, she had been bombarded with questions and thoroughly investigated. ‘If they find out I received dozens of divine power amplification gems at once, it will be disastrous.’ The high-ranking angel finally understood just how significant what she had obtained was. ‘At this rate, I might disappear without anyone knowing. I must stay close to the Dimensional and War God no matter what.’
The high-ranking angel made her resolution as she carefully slipped away, leaving the highest-ranking goddesses behind to fiercely debate the treatment of the Dimensional and War God. The conversation between the God of Knowledge, the practical administrator, and the three Demon Kings of Schemes continued for a long time. When they saw the female Demon God hurling curses at the Main God of the Divine Realm for his past fraud on the moon and the Main God of the Divine Realm silently enduring it due to his guilt, the spiritual beings realized one difference between themselves and humans. ‘There is no forgetting, and because they live eternally, even a single mistake brings endless consequences. I must be careful. Underhanded methods are indeed not good.’
The decisive battle on the moon was an immeasurable eternity by human standards. To think that a single act of fraud from so long ago still drew such curses, leaving him unable to utter a single word in defense—it was enough to instill vigilance.
Once her mood had somewhat improved, the female Demon God addressed the Dimensional and War God. “Where do you plan to establish your star, Dimensional and War God? The Demon Realm asked me to find out.”
Selecting the Demon God to be deployed for the Demon God War that would recognize the Main God of the Divine Realm’s qualifications was extremely important. ‘If a Demon God far stronger than the Main God of the Divine Realm is deployed, the opportunity to eliminate another budding Main God of the Divine Realm who could become a Creator God would be lost. If a weak Demon God is chosen, the Creator God Realm will protest that the recognition trial is meaningless.’
Only when the matchup was appropriately balanced, like the current Main God of the Divine Realm and female Demon God, would the effect of the recognition trial be maximized. “Hey now! Why would you abandon your homeland? My Divine Realm is an independent Divine Realm that has developed into the upper ranks. Look at me! There are very few Main Gods of the Divine Realm who obtain the qualifications to become Creator Gods! This is all thanks to the Divine Realm.”
“I still need to accumulate more divine power. Once I become a complete Main God later, I will inform you. It would not be right to inherit a Divine Realm that already has a legitimate successor, would it?”
As the Main God of the Divine Realm kept urging him to inherit the Divine Realm, the Dimensional and War God’s eyes narrowed. ‘This raccoon Main God of the Divine Realm! He still has not given up. Is it not enough that he has been endlessly cursed by the female Demon God for a single fraud committed over an eternity?’
The Dimensional and War God could not understand what the Main God of the Divine Realm was thinking, wondering what would happen if he inherited the Divine Realm and survived the goddesses. Then a chilling possibility occurred to him. ‘He is not planning to become a Creator God and continue behaving like this, is he? That would not end with just him.’
While the Main God of the Divine Realm, the female Demon God, and the Dimensional and War God conversed, the practical administrators’ coordination finally concluded. “The joint defense agreement will be maintained even after the war with the Substitute Gods. Combat is prohibited in the Three Realms, but recognized at the Boundary. Available forces will prepare defensive battles here. The only change from before is that combat is prohibited until the battle with the Substitute Gods ends?”
“Well, this is just a temporary truce.”
“The enemy’s forces are powerful. We must prepare thoroughly.”
“The Demon Gods and the Main God of the Divine Realm are all at the Boundary. No matter how strong the Substitute Gods are, what can they do?”
The Dimensional and War God shook his head at the Main God of the Divine Realm’s words, which showed no doubt about his own strength. “Four planets have fallen into the hands of the Substitute Gods. We must assume they have at least four Main Gods. That is why cooperation with the Demon Realm is crucial.”
Thud-! At the Dimensional and War God’s words, the color drained from the faces of the surrounding Demon Kings and gods. The Substitute Gods fundamentally possessed the authority of god-slaying. Though weaker than a Demon God’s god-slaying, it could still reduce a divine rank by roughly half a circle. Therefore, the Main Gods of the Substitute Gods were even more powerful than ordinary Main Gods or Demon Gods. “That is not something to say lightly. What is your basis?”
The Main God of the Divine Realm questioned him, reading the darkening atmosphere. No matter how strong he was compared to other Main Gods, he was only on par with the Main Gods of the Substitute Gods. “My Dimensional Authority cannot be blocked by Upper Main Gods. Yet my search of the planetary cores occupied by the Substitute Gods was obstructed. That means there is a powerful Main God capable of blocking my Dimensional Authority.”
This level of evidence was certainly convincing. “Were there Main Gods on all four planets?”
“Yes. The old planets with the enemy’s planetary fortresses each have different Main God-level defenses.”
“That means up to five.”
“Four are complete Main Gods, and one is incomplete, like myself.”
It meant that while the alliance of the divine race and demon race had three Main Gods, the Substitute Gods had five. “A twofold difference in power. In an all-out war, we would be completely overwhelmed.”
“That is not necessarily the case. The Main Gods of the Substitute Gods only leave their planets at the moment when the planet’s life force is depleted and it faces destruction. They cannot engage in an all-out war unless they truly intend to see things through to the end. Therefore, defeating them individually must be our top priority.”
“Hmm! If there are four Main Gods of the Substitute Gods, it is certainly impossible for the Divine Realm or Demon Realm to handle alone.”
“Although this is inferred intelligence rather than information directly confirmed by observation, the possibility is significant. Since we have already begun the war, maximum preparation is necessary. For the sake of the eternal prosperity we have barely obtained, now is the time to join forces.”
The Dimensional and War God’s divine words and magic power interfered with the minds of the divine race and demon race. Gods with high divine power naturally guided the thoughts of lower-ranking gods according to their own will. Demon race members who resisted the divine power were suppressed by overwhelming force.
Whooooosh-! The mutual hostility that the divine race and demon race fundamentally held toward each other disappeared. ‘It worked! It has not completely vanished, but at least this prescription will hold until the end of this war.’
Suppressing mutual hostility for the sake of the alliance was originally the role of the Demon Gods and the Main God of the Divine Realm, but due to their own emotions, even they could not control themselves. Thus, the Dimensional and War God had no choice but to do it.
“Good! Now let us stop seeing each other’s faces and focus on preparing for war.”