The text on the screen faded, and a new image surfaced:
In the deep, dark sea of empty void stars, countless starships were huddled tightly together, surging forward one after another like a swarm of bees.
Ahead of this boundless fleet, in the center of the star system, several stars had converged to form a massive "War Forge" the size of a galaxy. It stood in the center, while various stars in the system were shattered. Many planetary images looked as if they had been gnawed on by something, leaving behind scars of despair.
This was Adlivun, the tragic homeworld of [The Destruction] Nanook.
In this star system trampled by countless disasters, enslaved by the Swarm, and finally burned by [The Destruction] Nanook's own hands, the entire system exuded a desolate and lonely scent, carrying a hellish sulfuric smell.
Within this system, countless twisted creations of the Antimatter Legion fell into the "War Forge" in the center to be recast. They were spewed out from the exit, cooled, and finally became twisted and mad [Destruction] creations. Under the training of the Head of [Destruction], Nanook, they cast their malice-filled gazes toward every civilized world in the star sea.
If it were before, the Legion's twisted creations were constantly being reforged in the "War Forge." Not to mention the ordinary Voidrangers being twisted and turned, even the remnants of ancient beasts from the Swarm Wars and countless resentful souls were forged into terrifying Legion creations numbering in the uncountable. Every moment, they were being forged in the "War Forge" and spread throughout the system.
The Adlivun of that time was one of the few terrifying places in the star sea, with calamities too numerous to count. It was absolutely not a place one could barge into.
---o---
But now it was different...
[The Destruction] Nanook's state was extremely poor. He had temporarily lost the ability to chase the star sea and was powerless to impose his will onto the "War Forge" to continue forging more Legion creations.
Now, the "War Forge" was merely relying on the residual will left by Nanook in the past, struggling to forge Voidrangers bit by bit. It was far from the magnificent spectacle of swallowing antimatter matter in the past.
Although the Voidrangers currently forged by the "War Forge" could still form a not-so-weak legion—as long as there was a Lord Ravager leading them, they could perhaps challenge civilized worlds controlled by the IPC—against the strongest force in the universe right now, snapping a feeler and slapping the IPC while still jumping around...
These Voidrangers were completely not a threat. If it were anyone else, maybe, but New Belobog specialized in the Antimatter Legion. There was no need to fear these Voidrangers just fresh out of the "War Forge."
After all, the current New Belobog was special—having absorbed the Path fragments of [The Destruction], only lacking the final core piece to complete itself, the [Salvation] Path had already manifested some special effects...
The [Salvation] Path was similar in philosophy to [The Destruction], but completely opposite in the choice between destruction and rebirth. One only cared about the grandeur of [Destruction], while the other only cared about the new life after[Destruction].
Therefore, the essence of [Salvation] and [Destruction] was full of contradictions and divergence. They were two diametrically opposed Paths.
The degree of opposition and hatred... perhaps could be compared to the relationship between [The Hunt] and [The Abundance].
Thus, the current [Salvation] Path had granted power specifically targeting [Destruction]—
Aside from the Divine Authority Herta obtained after killing a Lord Ravager: Voice of Vengeance, the remaining Salvation Knights, during these few battles, had all without exception gradually received the "Light's Blessing" from [Salvation]...
They obtained an extremely special power—this power was once the "Holy Light" used by Ron as his main combat method when he was the Aeon of [Salvation]. Now bestowed by the [Salvation] Path, it had undergone a small change...
The new power of the Holy Light was simple, but also very strong—in short, if one gave it their all, they could attempt to consume all the Imaginary Energy they could mobilize as a Pathstrider, and then unleash an extremely blazing Holy Light irradiation.
The illuminated Holy Light looked no different from other Holy Lights, but in reality, these Holy Lights had already swallowed a portion of [The Destruction]'s power, so naturally, they carried a portion of the traits derived from destruction...
Now, what was loaded onto this Holy Light was the simplest "Annihilation"—
Annihilation targeting the Antimatter Legion.
As long as Legion creations were illuminated by the Holy Light, whether they were Doomsday Beasts or Voidrangers, under sufficient power, they would be thoroughly annihilated into nothingness. Even the imaginary energy within their bodies from the [Destruction] Path would completely vanish, swallowed by the [Salvation] Path without caring how little it was.
---o---
And now... what was playing out in this star sea was the Destruction brought by [Salvation] to [The Destruction].
Countless starships from New Belobog swarmed like bees, skimming past planets crushed into powder by disasters, opening fire on the Legion creations wandering aimlessly between the stars because they lacked [The Destruction] Nanook's orders—
Following this, the Salvation Knights in the starships extended their hands into an extremely precise groove. Endless burning heat flowed from the Knights' bloodlines, rushing into their palms along with the blood flow, then input into the power converter, turning into main cannon energy filling the main cannon chamber...
And then... the galaxy flickered.
Countless flashing golden star points shone at this moment, followed by countless golden pillars of light piercing the void, scouring and burning the terrifying creations forged out of the "War Forge."
These monsters let out screams that did not sound human. Separated by the icy void of the universe, one could see the vibration of their throats, but could not hear their dying screams.
The Salvation Knights of New Belobog did not have the fetish of listening to screams. They watched coldly as the Legion creations were thoroughly annihilated in the star sea, immediately reporting to their superiors that they had completed the mission of killing the remnants of the Antimatter Legion.
However, such a great victory did not let anyone relax their expressions... Everyone's face was cold and solemn, their gazes passing through the starship's portholes, looking at the only planet outside the window in Adlivun that still maintained a complete shape.
That planet was almost burned out, but it still maintained its appearance as a planet, draped in gray-white ash, covered in a dark golden sheen—
[The Destruction] Nanook was standing on this planet. Everyone could see that dark-skinned, white-haired, ruggedly handsome Aeon.
He was standing on this planet, yet not truly standing there—even an Aeon wouldn't stand on a ball for no reason, after all, the ball always spins, and it's slippery.
He only existed in another world far from the mortal dust, using this homeworld that was ultimately burned and destroyed by him as an anchor, fixing the connection between himself and this realistic world.
He stood there, yet was not standing there, merely piercing through reality and void, situated in the gap between existence and non-existence...
Standing on the fleet's main flagship, Herta moved her joints a bit. Oil lubricated the mechanism, allowing this disposable puppet she hastily made to ensure mobility.
She moved her cheap glass-like eyeballs, looking at that [Destruction] Aeon not far away. Her gaze was indifferent and cold, like looking at prey within reach.
Watching the image on the screen, Ron's movement of sending a snack to his mouth stopped.
He bit on the small snack, staring intently at the screen in front of him, expecting Herta to bring him a small "Genius Shock."
Objectively speaking, [The Destruction] Nanook's condition was indeed not good...
Just looking at his appearance, one could see the two wounds cut open on his chest. Huge lacerations crossed together, one new and one old, neither able to heal. Dark golden divine blood constantly gushed outward, falling along his body to his feet turning into dark golden flames that burned ceaselessly.
His figure also seemed to have turned virtual, slightly transparent—this was the manifestation of the [Destruction] Path being torn apart and completely swallowed.
---o---
The current [Destruction] Nanook was also just an Aeon holding onto an incomplete Path. He was heavily injured; it was a good time to kill him—
So, how exactly would Herta complete this God-Slaying Feat?
Ron looked at the screen in front of him, watching Herta in the image order all Salvation Knights to stand by and not act without permission, while she herself took a small lifeboat and flew towards the planet not far away, preparing to face [The Destruction] Nanook alone...
"Holy shit, one person?"
Ron was instantly shocked, looking at the snack in his mouth in astonishment—did he miss this much information?
Is Herta this strong now, actually confident enough to face an Aeon alone?!
This solo meeting, such heroic spirit... swapping a puppet body for a lonely Aeon, one-for-one with an invincible Aeon, only a strong person like Herta could pull this off. Waiting until Herta completes the God-Slaying Feat, I will thoroughly acknowledge her as the number one among Emanators...
Ron gave Herta a big thumbs up in his heart, looking expectantly at Herta sitting in the lifeboat on the screen as she finally entered the planet's orbit, passed through the ash cloud formed by burning ash, and flew into [The Destruction] Nanook's hometown.
And at this moment, [The Destruction] Nanook suddenly opened his eyes.
This Aeon, who had been closing his eyes to rest and repair his body, trying to fix his disadvantage, finally sensed the scrutiny from beside him that felt wrong.
He opened his eyes. Two dark golden pupils slowly rose, like two rounds of dark golden suns suddenly rising, shining with colorful brilliance outside the sky of this planet.
[The Destruction] Nanook used his body the size of a star to descend upon this planet. His eyes merely opened lightly, and in the next moment, he clearly saw Herta who had already landed on the planet.
And Herta was not idle at this time. She pushed open the door between the imaginary domain and the real world, walking with familiarity on the withered branches of [Salvation]. With difficulty, she forcefully retrieved a tattered lantern that looked like it was glued together from shards...
The infinite pressure and awe from [The Destruction] Nanook fell along with his gaze. If a normal person saw it, their scalp would likely go numb instantly, and their soul would scatter. Just the pressure of [The Destruction] Nanook was enough to crush a normal person, but Herta was obviously not a normal person.
The flame in the tattered, shard-glued lantern in her hand, which was almost about to go out, flickered slightly, blocking the terrifying pressure of the Aeon for Herta...
Ron looked at the image on the screen, feeling somewhat emotional.
"So Herta already has a way to wield the [Salvation] Path. Otherwise, she couldn't have possibly retrieved the lantern representing the [Salvation] Path..."
"She exchanged a move with [The Destruction] Nanook and didn't lose by much. It can be considered a draw... Tsk tsk, Herta is so strong."
"Next, victory should be decided quickly, right? Nanook is heavily injured and can't fight a protracted battle. He will definitely seek a rapid victory..."
"Herta doesn't know why she used a puppet that's about to be scrapped today. It won't last long, so obviously she will also seek a rapid victory... It's really fast."
Ron felt slightly emotional, watching Herta on the screen in front of him already charging towards [The Destruction] Nanook without hesitation. Her eyes were firm and cold, like a hunter hunting prey, full of confidence and arrogance. Ron's eyes flashed with expectant light:
"Is this move the move that will define victory? How is Herta preparing to—"
Snap.
Ron hadn't finished speaking when he saw Herta crash in front of [The Destruction] Nanook...
Then [The Destruction] Nanook gently reached out and pinched Herta, no matter how she struggled, she couldn't escape the palm of [The Destruction].
He squeezed casually, and Herta's practically scrap puppet body thoroughly shattered. Low-quality mechanical oil flowed out from the puppet body, burning to ashes in the dark golden flames on Nanook's body.
The shattered [Salvation] Lantern, at this moment, fell thoroughly into the palm of [The Destruction] Nanook—
This [Salvation] Path, seemed to have become [The Destruction]'s possession...?