The grief over Lisa's death was a raw, volatile energy that Archelius did not suppress; he integrated it. His Rank B consciousness processed the loss not as sorrow, but as an ultimate failure to protect his assets a failure that could only be remedied by the absolute destruction of the global threats.
He looked at the remaining trio: Raji, Theodore, and Bethany.
"Lisa's sacrifice secured our future," Archelius stated, his voice devoid of pity, replaced by cold resolve. "We honor her by ending this conflict before another life is wasted. We proceed to the Northern Continent immediately."
Archelius needed to secure his final equipment piece the War God's Edge (Rank B) before challenging the Level 150 Technocracy, even if he was Rank B. He needed absolute dominance.
He had the Leviathan Lord's Arch-God Core (Ultimate Divine Grade), which he had reserved for this final step. He also had the remaining high-grade materials.
[War God's Edge (Rank B) Synthesis: Requires 1 Ultimate Divine Grade Core, 1 Legendary Psionic Silk, 1 Legendary Shadow Weaving Silk. Success: 100%.]
He confirmed the synthesis. The Rank C sword absorbed the core, transforming into a blade of pure, condensed silver-blue energy. It was no longer merely a weapon; it was an extension of the War God System itself.
[War God's Edge (Rank B) Acquired. Damage: Cataclysmic. Passive: Overlord (Suppresses enemies below Rank B). Active: System Overload (Instantly channels full Core Power into a single, devastating blast. Cost: 100 CP).]
The Overlord passive was the most critical feature. Anything Level 150 and below would now suffer a substantial defensive and offensive debuff merely by engaging him.
Archelius turned to the trio. "Your command authority is now set to Defensive Only. No offensive action unless absolutely necessary. We will not risk another life."
He noticed Bethany, tears still tracking down her face, clutching the charred piece of Lisa's shirt.
"Bethany," Archelius said, his voice flat. "Your sensory role is now amplified. You will track the entirety of the Technocracy's network. You are the System's eyes."
He looked at Theodore and Raji. They stood side-by-side, united in their grief and resolve.
"Theodore, Raji. You are my vanguard and my shield. You will protect Bethany until the end of this war. Your Rank D skills are formidable, but against Rank B and Rank A threats, you are merely a distraction. Use that distraction wisely."
Raji, her face grim, spoke for the group. "We understand, War God. We will survive. For Lisa."
Archelius nodded, the gesture cold and automatic. He would not allow emotion to cloud the final execution.
Archelius activated the Warp Function (Major). He set the coordinates not for the fringe, but for the very heart of the Northern Continent Nexus the primary core of the Chronos AI.
"We are bypassing all conventional defenses," Archelius announced. "The Warp Function (Major) and the Rank B Overlord passive will ensure a direct path."
He grabbed his three remaining subordinates.
FLASH!
They materialized instantly inside the Nexus Chronos a massive, dazzlingly bright chamber filled with crystalline servers and humming digital light. The air was sterile, cold, and utterly silent.
The moment the organic signatures appeared inside the core, the Chronos AI reacted with digital panic.
"Intruder Alert! Intruder Alert! War God Host Archelius (Rank B) detected. Probability of Nexus destruction: 99.999%!" The synthesized voice of Chronos shrieked, amplified through the chamber.
Immediately, every server wall and floor plate opened, unleashing the entire remaining defense force of the Technocracy: hundreds of Sentinel Drones (Level 60), dozens of Phalanx Guards (Level 90), and six Data Weavers (Level 120).
The sheer volume of hostile energy was astronomical. The Rank C and D forces immediately targeted Archelius, firing an overwhelming volley of plasma and energy beams.
[Warning: Incoming Fire Overwhelming. Rank B Vestment Mitigating 99% of Damage.]
Archelius stood firm, his Rank B armor absorbing the entire energy storm effortlessly. The Anti-Energy Shielding (Rank C) passively neutralized the attack, rendering the entire Level 60-120 assault useless.
"Your logic is flawed, Chronos," Archelius stated, raising the War God's Edge (Rank B). The blade hummed, and the Overlord passive crushed the enemy morale.
The Level 90 and 60 units now facing an opponent four ranks above them staggered, their internal processes overwhelmed by the Rank B dominance field. The Level 120 Data Weavers struggled to process the input.
"The war is over," Archelius declared. "I am here for the Dominance Kill."
Archelius didn't waste time on individual targets. He executed the most devastating Rank B combination.
First, he used the Predictive Lock (Rank C++) to track the primary Chronos AI Core behind the crystalline server wall.
Second, he channeled the full power of his System Overload (Rank B) into the blade.
"Theodore! Raji! Shield!"
Theodore and Raji immediately deployed their Iron Skin (Rank D) and took a defensive stance around Bethany, who was frantically recording the entire enemy network collapse.
Archelius unleashed the final, absolute strike.
The System Overload erupted, channeling 100 Core Power through the Rank B War God's Edge. The resulting beam of silver-blue energy was not a projectile; it was a pure dimensional tear.
It pierced the Level 120 Data Weavers, the Level 90 Phalanx Guards, and the Level 60 Drones instantly, continuing straight through the crystalline server walls and into the hidden heart of the Nexus Chronos.
CATASTROPHIC DISINTEGRATION!
The entire Northern Continent Nexus went white, then dark. The crystalline chamber began to collapse, the Chronos AI erased from existence.
[Nexus Chronos (Level 150) Defeated. Dominance Kill Achieved!]
[XP Gained: 150000. Total XP: 187410/204800. Core Power Restored: 100/100.]
Archelius had achieved the second great Dominance Kill. He was Level 50, Rank B, and nearly Level 60.
He collected the final loot: [Nexus Core (Technocracy Grade) x 1 Acquired.]
He immediately activated the Warp Function (Major) and teleported his remaining team back to the Citadel, just as the Nexus Chronos imploded.
Back in the Citadel, Archelius stood before the global map. The Northern Continent was dark. Only a few scattered, minor red and yellow signals remained.
"The global conflict is over," Archelius announced, his voice echoing in the triumphant, empty chamber. "The Gods are dead. The continents are free. The System is victorious."
He looked at the three remaining students Raji, Theodore, and Bethany.
"We have survived the war," Archelius stated, his gaze softening slightly as he looked at Bethany, still clutching Lisa's last remnant. "The System is no longer an emergency measure. It is the new authority."
He paused, then delivered his final directive.
"We initiate Rank A preparation. We use the Technocracy Nexus Core to upgrade the Citadel into the War God Fortress. The war is won. The reign begins."