In Alka's dreamland.
This dreamland hadn't changed much since its inception. It wasn't at all like what those outside had imagined, that the dreamland was slowly crumbling.
In this realm, besides the dream bubbles that served as a counterpoint to reality, there were also densely packed silver buildings.
Each of these buildings resembled a work of art, densely packed together.
However, each building was almost devoid of the dream creatures operating it, and the white mist that had once permeated the entire realm had almost dissipated, leaving it completely empty.
The scene here resembled an uninhabited wilderness.
Although vast expanses of wilderness existed within the dreamland, at least the dream bubbles still existed.
But this place corresponded to a scar in the real world.
It corresponded to the largest city in the Infinite Sea.
But aside from the overflowing dream bubbles and dream-like buildings, there wasn't a single dream creature here.
Except for the towering furnace tower in the center.
Only within the furnace tower could one see a few dream creatures operating.
And above this dream...
A floating stone platform with a throne.
Sofia and the others stood atop this platform.
Besides these gods and powerful beings from reality, there was also Lilu, the one who had brought them with him.
Next to them was a crystal deer, Hirvi, a translucent creature resembling a fantastical creature from a dream.
A black figure, a humanoid creature composed entirely of black blocks, Shadow Robe.
Shadow Robe looked at Sofia and the others descending, approached, and bowed respectfully.
Sofia and the others, in turn, surveyed the entire dream kingdom.
This place seemed different from what they'd imagined, yet also somewhat similar.
You know.
After Alka left, it had been ages since they'd visited this dreamland.
"Is this place really going to fall apart? It looks so desolate," Julia said.
Even though Alka's presence had given them some understanding of the dreamland, they were, after all, creatures of reality, and didn't know much about many aspects of the dreamland.
Now, the desolation of this dreamland seemed truly ruined, as if Alka had truly sacrificed himself.
Hearing this,
Shadow Robe patiently explained.
"For those outsiders who can't see the reality of dreams, the abundance of dream creatures seems to determine a nation's prosperity.
However, this isn't true. These dream creatures are incredibly easy to move.
Simply have them migrate out of the dream realm in batches over time and then return, and the illusion of a nation gradually decaying can be created.
The look, feel, and effect are all incredibly lifelike."
In short, deceiving real-world creatures is easy.
Because it seems so consistent with real-world logic.
But this is a dream.
"True decay is just like it once was."
Shadow Robe wasn't Alka's steward.
His predecessor was Alka's predecessor.
When a nation in a dream truly decays, it dissipates like a bubble being popped.
There was no such thing as it slowly crumbling over time.
Shadow Robe's words gave everyone the ultimate reassurance in this final moment.
"I called you all here because His Majesty has something to entrust to you. He instructed me to give it to you at this time."
"What is it?" Sofia asked immediately.
Shadow Robe extended his hand, and a spherical object slowly emerged from his palm.
It didn't look like a crown-level treasure at all.
It was just a beautiful crystal ball.
"A... treasure? Holy Grail-level at that?" Simon said, narrowing his eyes.
He easily saw the bottom line of this treasure.
Why?
Why would Alka suddenly give them a Holy Grail-level treasure?
Sofia extended his hands and solemnly took the treasure in his own palms.
Looking at the treasure's appearance.
There was indeed nothing special about it.
"Did he give them any other instructions?"
It couldn't possibly be simply giving them a treasure.
Shadow Robe nodded and continued, "He said, when the situation outside is dire, when the enemy is at the gates, poised to annihilate us."
Everyone understood after hearing this.
He was probably referring to three days from now.
Sofia merged the treasure directly into his body, hiding it within him. He nodded solemnly.
"I'll do as you say."
"Then I'll leave it to you," Shadow Robe said with a deep bow.
At this moment, Crystal's Dream Deer Hirvi slowly approached.
His voice echoed directly in everyone's minds.
It was a disembodied, toneless voice.
Or perhaps it was simply information.
"Huanlu, who is Huanlu?"
Hirvi was a newborn dream creature, even though he appeared to hold a high position at National High School.
However, his newborn form made it difficult for him to convey his message through speech in a way humans could understand. He had no idea who was who, even though they had often existed in dreams for a long time.
After all, he was a dream creature, and his growth and experience made it difficult for him to distinguish them.
But everyone understood.
Huanlu walked out and stood before them.
Hirvi tilted his head and looked at him.
Then he produced a key, a simple key made of mist.
The key floated directly into Shadow Robe's hand.
Shadow Robe nodded, thrust the key into the air, and twisted it as if opening a door.
A vortex appeared in the air.
Then a mirror appeared.
It wasn't him in the mirror.
Instead, he saw a small space.
Inside it was a small, round ball. It looked like jade, but not soft.
But it had a somewhat springy quality.
The shadow robe held it out to Juanlu.
"Eat it. Your Majesty said so."
Juanlu took the soft, springy, fist-sized object, bewildered.
"What is this?"
"This is the result of my research. Your Majesty said that if I figure it out, I'll let you eat it."
Hearing this, Juanlu frowned as he stared at the object, pinching it to feel its rebound.
Then, under the gaze of the crowd, he closed his eyes, opened his mouth, and swallowed it whole.
The moment he swallowed it, the sphere seemed to transform into gas, filling his mouth.
"Tasteless?"
Juanlu first savored it, quite professionally.
Then, frowning, he felt it for a moment.
"I don't seem to notice any unusual changes."
After consuming it, he could sense that this substance might have some effect on his constitution.
Just as other foods strengthened his constitution.
Shadow Robe approached, and another object appeared in his hand.
This time, everyone could clearly see that it was a divine essence. Judging by its strange appearance, it was clearly a scepter-level divine essence.
However, according to their understanding, Alka shouldn't have a scepter-level divine essence. It should only be at the Holy Grail level.
Because even before Alka sacrificed himself and turned into crystal, two members of their team still lacked a scepter-level treasure.
The scepter-level artifacts Simon and Juanlu were missing were acquired in recent years through trade with their remaining Holy Grail-level artifacts.
It took some effort, and they owed a few small favors.
But everyone was happy to owe them the favor.
Because each of them could be considered a reserve god.
Additionally, with the existence of the Trial Tower, scepter-level artifacts were no longer as precious as they once were.
This led to a slight oversupply of Holy Grail-level artifacts.
Though puzzled, they didn't ask.
"Here, take it and see if your magic can blend with it."
Juanlu nodded and took the divine essence in his hand.
To be honest, aside from the slight trembling of the divine essence, there didn't seem to be anything special about it.
As the magic power poured into it,
Juanlu finally noticed something amiss. Something new had appeared in his magic.
He said bluntly, "My magic has gained something I never had before."
"It's just a normal effect from what you just ate."
Hearing this, Juanlu nodded, feeling relieved.
He didn't really feel anything from the sudden appearance of his magic; instead, it felt familiar.
Then he felt the divine essence swaying in his palm, but the unknown element within his own magic tightly entwined it, flowing through his own magic into the divine essence.
Clearly, this divine essence wasn't meant for him.
He could sense the rejection of his treasure.
But at least as his magic absorbed it, it didn't resist as it had before.
"This divinity isn't suitable for me."
Juan Luo said, handing the divine essence to Yingpao.
Even if it suited him, he wouldn't use it now. He would have to wait until he ascended to godhood before considering incorporating additional divine essence.
This was the only way to ensure his first authority was pure enough.
This was the feeling and experience shared by Sofia and the others.
You should know that Sofia and Lusilia must now possess more than the six treasures they once held.
They both possessed other, more suitable treasures.
Especially Sofia.
Porolo and the other deified beings could clearly sense the gap between themselves and Sofia.
They could also sense the gap between themselves and Lusilia, though not as great as Sofia's.
"It's not about mastering it, but about whether you can infuse it with your own magic power and stabilize it."
"What do you mean?" Sofia asked. This was clearly a grand scheme by Alka, and it must have been part of Alka's solitary sacrifice.
"Some things cannot be spoken or explained. If spoken or explained, they will spread."
This phantom voice echoed through everyone's minds, still toneless, like a message.
Everyone silently shut their mouths, no longer questioning.
Clearly, Alka and his companions had engaged in this very thing.
Because even the Archbishop truly believed Alka had sacrificed himself.
And until now, until entering the dream, Sofia and the others had been in a state of half-guessing, half-suspecting, simply unwilling to believe Alka's sacrifice.
Furthermore, various details indicated that Alka must have done it intentionally.
But they had hardly any definitive information to reassure themselves.
Until now.
Until Alka's crystal stone broke.
But until now, they couldn't know the full story. It seemed they could only wait until Alka fully recovered.
"The most important thing now is the most important thing His Majesty has entrusted to me."
Shadow Robe waved his hand.
And below, in the furnace tower, the fire dragon in the center began to boil, and then a long stream of transparent, water-like liquid flew up.
It transformed into a giant water ball, floating above everyone's heads.
"Save it."
Hearing this, Matresha understood.
The bottle-like treasure, the Water Control Bottle, completely filled it with the liquid above.
Then Shadow Robe looked at Hulu and said, "Before the time arrives, you must ensure that all combatants above Stage 6 consume a portion.
This, like the one you just mentioned, is the result of my research and a specific request from His Majesty."
Since this was addressed to Hulu, the method he would use was self-evident.
Hulu nodded.
He didn't ask why or how.
"Now, leave! This kingdom will be shattered and hidden until His Majesty returns."
Hearing this,
Everyone nodded and vanished from the spot.
In the instant they vanished,
The entire kingdom shattered like a mirror, shattering into fragments, one after another, each shattered mirror floating in the area they were in.
As if the shattering had vanished in half, forever.
The dream kingdom was damaged.
Reality immediately reacted.
The rift leading to the abyss widened again in an instant, and all the demons could feel the surging abyssal aura gushing out like a tide.
The demons laughed wildly again.
This meant that victory was within reach.
Countless demons were gathering.
Under the overwhelming pressure of each demon lord, they tried their best to maintain stability.
Although fighting still occurred from time to time, it was only among the weaker demon groups.
And now...
Back in the real world, back in Greyfard's office, everyone looked at each other and couldn't help but chat.
"How can we get those people to eat? We also have to explain the elements that will be re-infused into their magic power after eating."
Huanlu said with some distress.
Sofia said from the side, "First, the church will definitely support us, and our status is enough to guarantee us. We don't have much time to explain the current situation.
So I suggest immediately arranging a dinner for all Stage 6 and above.
Schedule the dinner for two days from now, the day before the last day when the demons are most likely to launch a large-scale attack.
Make sure all Stage 6 personnel participating in the battle can attend the dinner, and even make the banquet large so that everyone can have a full meal.
Also, let the Stage 6 personnel eat what is needed."
Hearing this suggestion, the others added to it and made revisions.
They began to discuss.
Sitting in the corner, looking out the window at Grey Vanir, his expressionless face.
So they didn't see
Am I the type?
"Uncle Greyfar, what do you think?"
Are you still asking for my opinion? What on earth are you all talking about?
All he got in return was Greyfar's confused eyes and a puzzled expression.
"If it's a banquet, I'm certainly in favor. Logically, the Church and the Council would have made such arrangements.
This will boost our morale and allow for final deliberations and leadership."
Finally, he offered his opinion, though he had no idea what the people before him were discussing.
"Okay, it's decided. Let's begin preparing."
Sofia said, making his decision.
Everyone immediately dispersed and began making arrangements.
Those who had already attained godhood also had to rearrange their existing arrangements, as they would have to participate in the decisive battle three days later.
In that situation, every demon lord would be an opponent they needed to contend with.
This is what allowed them to ascend to godhood over the years.
And don't assume they were the only ones to ascend to godhood during these years. The Four Gods made ample preparations.
They ensured that every demon lord had a god to counter them.
After all, the former gods had ascended beyond the world to protect it.
And naturally, the only gods who could participate in this great war were these new gods.