"Sofia? You've arrived."
When Jason and the others leaped off the wall and arrived beneath the crystal pillar Alka had transformed into, they saw a figure standing nearby.
The figure, with a faint glow beside her, was naturally Sofia.
Hearing the voice behind her, Sofia turned and smiled, then walked over and hugged Matlisa and Urulius.
"Lucilia will be here soon," Sofia said with a smile.
She was clearly delighted to meet them.
As soon as she finished speaking,
the crisp sound of bells, combined with the murmur of flowing water, echoed in everyone's ears.
A mist, like a soul, permeated the surroundings.
In the mist,
a single boat made of dead wood approached, seemingly sailing on the ground.
Lucelia, dressed like the Grim Reaper, also emerged from the soul mist.
She lifted her hood, revealing her face.
Her once emerald green hair had turned a darker shade of green, and her complexion had become paler than before.
"Your appearances are getting more and more impressive," Jason said with a hint of envy, looking at the vast soul mist surrounding them and the land boat.
Honestly, this appearance was truly impressive.
Lucelia smiled at this.
She had carefully planned her own entrance, aiming for it to be both imposing and appropriate for a god, yet not too frightening.
So, she chose this method.
It also suited her deity.
"But why are you two here? That's a bit strange," Juanlu said from the side.
After all, if we were to ask who was the busiest, it would undoubtedly be these two.
They were busy most of the time, but seeing them both at the same time tonight beside this crystal pillar was a rare sight.
Hearing this, Lucelia's expression darkened slightly as she stepped forward and touched the surface of the crystal pillar.
"Because the crystal's energy is almost depleted, it's about to shatter. The moment those demons have been waiting for is approaching."
However, it wasn't Lucelia who spoke.
It was Simon who emerged from behind the crystal.
He wore a black, slightly ornate scholar's robe. Interestingly, the robe was adorned with metal structures.
Around him, various metal blocks floated, swirled, combined, and separated.
"How long will it take? It can't be today, can it?" Jason asked, somewhat surprised.
Although they all knew that the energy of Alka's crystal form would soon be exhausted, they hadn't yet determined the exact date.
Perhaps Alka or the Four Gods possessed a unique structure that made it difficult for those without sufficient strength to detect the collapse of the crystal pillar.
They speculated that even among the demon lords, only the strongest could sense the arrival of the time.
And among them, only those who had attained godhood could see it clearly.
Jason and the other two, at the bottom of the god ranks, could only vaguely sense it.
A faint sound wavered in the air.
As the sound wavered, Julia's figure appeared.
Julia was now dressed in the most luxurious and bright attire, resembling that of a court musician.
A large, beautiful harp floated beside her at all times.
A loud booming sound. A bolt of lightning struck all around them.
Following the thunder, naturally, was Pororo.
Everyone had gathered at the same moment.
But Pororo was interesting. His attire was exactly the same as before, even wrapped in bandages.
Matrica walked over and patted him.
"Shouldn't you be recuperating?"
Hearing this, Pororo immediately removed the bandages. The wound appeared to have almost healed.
"Look, it should be fine."
The fact that everyone had gathered at this moment spoke volumes.
"So, the moment of collapse is today?" Juanlu asked, gazing at the crystal.
Simon nodded.
"That's right. After dawn, until noon, that's when the collapse will begin."
Hearing this, Jason frowned. "Does the Council know?"
Once it collapses...
Then they'll inevitably face a massive demonic attack, potentially the most challenging offensive they've ever faced.
It might even be a decisive battle.
Simon nodded. "I've asked, and they know the exact time. But while the crystal will collapse, its suppression of Chaos will gradually fade.
It will probably fade within three days, and the crystal's collapse will signal the impending rally and decisive battle."
"No wonder," Juanlu muttered.
As a chef, and a field chef at that, he was sensitive to the logistics of the battlefield. During this time, all kinds of supplies were essentially stored everywhere.
This was the most abundant supply he'd seen in the past ten years. The stockpiled supplies were enough to sustain them for a full year of fierce fighting.
And these supplies were constantly being delivered, and even the reinforcements were far more numerous than before.
The soldiers who had signed contracts at the Trial Tower and possessed treasures were also slowly accumulating.
The accumulation of powerful individuals over the past ten years was enormous.
Especially during this period.
Some who had fulfilled their contracts and left the World Scar were gradually returning, and Juanlu saw many familiar faces.
It was obvious.
They were gathering forces.
Some people at various nodes had cleverly noticed this.
Huanlu and the others naturally noticed it too.
"So, what exactly is hidden in your sacrifice?" Sofia muttered, touching the surface of the crystal.
It wasn't just her.
Everyone wanted to know.
…
Time soon dawned.
At dawn.
Just then, the high-ranking members of the Council arrived at the front lines for an inspection.
Jason Sofia and the others had also disguised themselves, appearing like mortals, and stood atop the stone tower.
"Are you waiting for the moment the crystal shatters?"
Inside the stone tower.
Not only them, but also Greyfar.
Because this was Greyfar's private living room and office.
Primarily, it offered the best vantage point, allowing for a clear view of the crystal in its entirety.
Jason nodded at Greyfar's question.
"Six gods gathered in my office in one day. I have to find a way to buy it."
Greyfar, looking slightly wrinkled, smiled.
This was a little unlike him.
As if due to his age, the once serious man had also learned to joke.
"Then you'll have to pay me some money," Jason said with a laugh.
"Hahaha."
As the laughter spread,
The guards outside the door were somewhat surprised; they rarely saw their general so happy.
Time passed.
Simon, who had been staring at the crystal, suddenly knocked on the table.
"It's coming."
Hearing this, everyone immediately looked in the direction of the crystal.
"Crack!"
It sounded like shattering glass.
It was unusually crisp.
The strange sound even spread throughout the World Scar. Everyone heard it, a sound like shattering.
The second sound that followed was only audible to those near the front lines.
The crackling sounds grew more and more frequent. Cracks began to appear on the crystal.
The soldiers on duty on the city wall watched this scene with wide eyes.
"No, this is bad! The crystal is cracked!"
The moment his voice fell...
"Crack!"
The massive crystal pillar shattered.
Everyone was stunned.
The shattered crystal transformed into tiny specks of starlight, instantly scarring the entire world.
Crystal dust fell like raindrops.
It was like a shower of light from the sky.
As more and more people turned their attention, they saw the shattered crystal pillar.
Panic spread.
At some point...
This crystal pillar seemed to have become a pillar of support for everyone.
And now...
The pillar had collapsed, shattered.
"Panic is spreading, fear is growing, and despair is growing."
Jason, the hope, quietly felt the wave after wave of emotions, conveyed through the invisible air.
And he...
He could clearly feel, could clearly feel the beating of these negative emotions.
These negative emotions made him frown.
"Has the crystal pillar transformed from Alka's sacrifice become so important in people's hearts before we knew it?"
Urulius murmured.
"The most difficult battle is about to begin," Grayfar said, looking at the shattered light and the falling dots.
And now, everywhere...
In the obsidian hall of the crater...
Sarenster, sitting on the throne, opened his eyes. His eyes had never been brighter and more energetic than they were today.
"The pillar's shattered." He couldn't help but smile, a wanton, ferocious grin spreading across his face.
"What? What are you mumbling to yourself?" A demon arguing below turned and looked at Sullenster.
"Hahaha!" Sullenster laughed.
He stood up with great vigor.
He opened his arms and looked up at the sky.
The demons also noticed something was amiss and looked up at the sky, only to see shimmering raindrops falling from the sky.
These weren't normal raindrops.
They were dust carried by the shattered crystal.
"What is that?"
Sullenster closed his eyes, as if embracing the sky.
"It's raindrops of victory... The pillar's shattered. Don't you idiots feel it? The suppression is dissipating, and the abyss's breath is crashing in like a tsunami."
Hearing these words... Even the reckless demons understood.
He sensed his surroundings.
"Hahahaha! Finally, we can breach that damned wall and slaughter those damned humans!"
"Too many souls, they belong to my world!"
"Fight!"
The demon lords below roared.
This signaled that the ten-year wait was drawing to a close.
The open-air obsidian hall welcomed the light of victory.
"I've never enjoyed these points of light more than today," Farol said with a smile.
This also meant that his mission was almost complete.
After a moment of excitement, Salunster regained his composure and sat on the throne.
"Alright, you damned fools, now's not the time to attack. The aura of the Abyss will take days to wash away the stench of that damned order.
Now, everyone, discipline your demons, conserve your strength, return to your respective territories, and prepare those long-awaited demons.
We need a steady supply of demons. We will, like the waves of this ocean, wave after wave, bring down that damned wall and sweep across the world!"
Faced with Sullenster's leadership-like speech, the demons paid no attention.
They were concerned with the coming battle.
The aura of the Abyss was sweeping in.
These few days were the perfect time for them to prepare.
There was enough time.
All the demons, including Sullenster, began to leave the obsidian temple.
They went their separate ways to command their subordinates, who had fought for a decade.
It was time to turn their attention to this world. Besides the demons, there were also the treacherous evil gods in the sky.
The God of War was the first to open his eyes within the astral realm.
"The tide of Chaos has begun to sweep in. It's time to say goodbye to our mother."
He smiled and rose from his throne in the void.
He summoned his colleagues.
One god after another appeared beside him.
"So you're summoning us now? So you're going to witness our mother's death?"
"Yes, the demons are about to take action."
"I can't wait."
As one god after another arrived,
until the last god was absent.
"Where's the moon?" the God of War asked.
"I don't know. I haven't seen her lately."
Then everyone chatted and explored.
"She's actually hiding? I can't find her."
The God of War frowned upon hearing this.
He thought for a moment and said, "Forget it, let's not worry about that cowardly woman."
Knowing the Moon Goddess's character, he wasn't too surprised by her absence, but he just felt something was amiss.
…
"And then? And then?"
Taking a deep breath, Sofia asked, her voice growing increasingly agitated.
She didn't know who she was asking.
But then what?
The crystal pillar shattered, and what about Alka?
Shouldn't Alka be back by now?
So where had Alka gone?
Seeing this,
Julia and Matresa exchanged glances and hurried over.
Each of them supported the other and began to comfort her.
But it was obvious.
The two's attempts at comfort were completely futile.
At this moment, Grayfar, like an outsider, seemed to realize that this group had gathered not to witness the final destruction of Alka's sacrifice.
Instead, Alka's sacrifice held a hidden meaning.
At some point, a long-gone puppet girl appeared on the nearby desk, perched on the edge and dangling her legs.
"Lilu?" Lucilia recognized her presence instantly.
She was the only puppet girl who refused to serve in the Soul Palace.
In the end, she followed Alka into the dreamland.
Compared to reality, she preferred living in dreams.
She was also a puppet girl with an independent personality and the most complete sense of self, having long since become a real person.
Her arrival at this moment indicated that she must have brought news about Alka.
Everyone gathered around her.
"Lilu, what are you doing here?"
Julia asked first.
said.
The girl, sitting at the table, swinging her legs, looked at everyone carefully.
"Of course I'm here to see you."
"Seeing us? What's going on?" Sofia's voice trembled slightly.
The girl shook her head.
"I don't know, but Uncle Shadow Robe said so." The girl began to imitate Shadow Robe's movements.
"It's time. Go to the real world and summon His Majesty's companions. Remember, don't play around, or His Majesty will punish you."
"You make it sound unreliable."
The puppet girl said, shaking her head, her face full of displeasure.
"Quick, take us to the dreamland."
"Are you so impatient?"
The puppet girl murmured, but still waved her hand, instantly dragging everyone into the dreamland.
Greyfart couldn't help scratching his head as he watched everyone disappear from his room.
But a smile appeared on his face.
"I knew you wouldn't die so easily. You're so cunning."
He felt inexplicably happy, even when he shouldn't have.
At this moment, everyone sank into a dream.
They arrived at the floating stone platform with Alka's throne.
However, the throne was empty.
Alka was nowhere to be seen.