"I'm curious—what part of your analysis told you I stood no chance of winning?"
Orson's stunned expression slowly shifted into a mocking smirk as he turned to face Ku'Jalai, who had just unleashed what was meant to be a finishing blow.
"You—"
Ku'Jalai's eyes widened in disbelief. The moment the black beam of death energy touched Orson's body, it shattered into a shimmering cascade of divine light.
In Orson's hand, a statue of a smiling woman had appeared from thin air.
"Eternal Radiance." Orson whispered with calm amusement.
The wings of elemental energy on the elven queen's statue unfurled in radiant brilliance. What was once dull obsidian turned to flawless ivory—lifelike, poised to soar through the skies.
Immune to all damage for 30 seconds.
Invincible.
Miss!
The Spirit King's SS-rank assassination technique struck something smooth and impenetrable—it was as if it had crashed against a polished wall of divine jade. The attack rebounded with a harsh curve, nullified completely.
"Crimson Lizard King, return to humanoid form," Orson thought calmly.
Black mist coiled around her as the Crimson Lizard King's massive body shrank. Clutching her wounds, she appeared not far from Orson.
"Move! Get out of there!"
Ku'Jalai's eyes widened further in shock. His warning came too late.
The Flame Spirit King, transformed into a raging inferno giant, had been pursuing the Lizard King and was closing in fast.
"Farewell, child of fire."
A cold smirk crossed Crimson Lizard King's face as black lightning arced through the air.
Zzt!
The streak of dark energy only grazed the Flame Spirit King's waist, but the aftermath was explosive.
"Ku'Jalai, you—!"
The flames cloaking Flame Spirit King extinguished instantly. His pupils dilated, then began to crumble. He staggered back powerlessly, a twisted beam of light unraveling from his core.
Then—boom.
The distorted light exploded into misty particles.
Lethal Strike!
True Damage: -750,000,000!
Soulrend Abyss Slash.
An assassination skill that bypassed all defenses and resistances, striking directly at the soul.
The throne room fell dead silent.
An icy chill seeped into the bones of every king present. One of their own—Flame Spirit King—had just perished. Instantly.
Wind Spirit King's face went pale. He murmured to himself, "That artifact… wasn't it destroyed by the Dark Elf Queen?"
Orson offered no chance for reflection. He smiled lightly. "Wings of the Fey."
Attack Power increased.
Agility increased.
Almost invisible wings materialized behind him, ethereal and glimmering—combined with his War Supreme battle armor, he looked like a demon rising from the abyss.
"To me—and to all players—the Light Dragon Empire no longer deserves to exist."
Orson raised his blade.
A booming explosion followed as he rocketed toward the throne, toward the very symbol of divine and imperial authority.
Jenonis' expression darkened. He raised a hand and muttered, "Final Radiance: Shield of Judgment!"
A towering wall of flame-wreathed light erupted before him. It carried a staggering 2 billion shield value and waves of searing holy fire capable of melting through mortal flesh.
But Orson knew—it was a stall tactic.
Eternal Radiance may grant invulnerability, but it didn't ignore physical collisions. Barriers and shielding could still block his approach.
"My ancestors devoured beings like you," Crimson Lizard King sneered. "They must've liked the taste—you appear often in our inherited memories."
With that, she bent her legs.
Boom!
The floor cracked as she launched upward, her bone sword crashing into the flaming shield, sending shockwaves reverberating throughout the hall.
ROAR!
Her roar split the heavens.
Celestial Winged Dragon bloodline—activated.
Full power unleashed.
Her black hair flared in the firestorm, and her arms radiated terrifying power.
Jenonis gritted his teeth. That damn snake-dragon was actually holding back his shield!
He glared, golden hair ablaze. With a shout, he brandished his artifact.
"Angelic Technique: Kingdom Unbroken!"
Holy light swirled around him as he transformed into a nine-meter-tall seraphic colossus. His blazing sword enlarged with him. With a roar, he swung downward.
Lethal Strike: -80,000,000!
Holy Flame Burn: -10,000,000… -10,000,000…
Crimson Lizard King's body was torn open, half her frame obliterated. Holy fire engulfed her entirely.
Her HP dropped like a landslide.
And yet—her blood-red eyes remained emotionless, locked onto the Archangel.
"Death God Dragon Clan—scum that defied the creator god's leash…"
Jenonis muttered between gasps. The vessel he occupied—his former pope's corpse—was reaching its limit.
Meanwhile, Orson had reached Bairinador.
"It's okay now. You don't have to be afraid."
He reached out and took Hazel's trembling hand.
"…You don't seem weak at all."
Tears welled in Hazel's eyes, her entire vision filled by the man before her.
"You have great eyes," Orson grinned. "Sharp instinct."
"Really?"
"Of course."
He gently patted her head. In Hazel, he saw a reflection of young Sienna—naive, sweet, just a little bit silly.
Then he turned.
The Supreme Arcane Blade ignited with chaotic light, its aura thick with killing intent. A shadow loomed over the imperial court.
Moments later—a golden barrage of messages surged into the global sky.
US Server | System-Wide Broadcast:
Anonymous Player: "NPCs are just stepping stones. Declaring war on the Light Dragon Empire is only the beginning."
Anonymous Player: "The empire is rotting. Who dares challenge us?"
Anonymous Player: "WHO DARES!?"
The player base erupted.
"This is nuts! That guy's right near the palace!"
"Wait… that voice… isn't that the Lord of Forever City?!"
"SO DAMNED BOSS!!"
"Wait, isn't he from Godslayer Guild? Wasn't Orgod killed by him?? Now they're teaming up?"
…
The global chat exploded. Whether guild elite or solo team, every player began to question the system's hierarchy.
Because it was true—
What are dragon kings? Just background mobs!
This is the US Server. We're the protagonists now.
Watching the feverish channel flood, dozens of guild sponsors began backing the move.
Within seconds, every chat—world, zone, guild—was flooded with one word: "War!"
Orson smiled with satisfaction.
He had planted the seed.
No matter how many armies, kings, or demi-gods the Empire possessed, it was only a matter of time before they were drowned in the blades of the player horde.
Lose once? Fight again.
Ten times. A thousand.
One day, players would rule this world.
Bairinador collapsed back on the throne, begging: "Don't kill me! It was all Jenonis—he made me! He wanted to anger you!"
Clang! Clang! Clang!
His dwarven emperor's armor flared with light.
99% physical damage reduction.
Critical hit negation.
-600
-700
Orson frowned as his blade struck repeatedly, dealing barely thousands in damage.
Switching to mage form, he blasted from point-blank range.
But Bairinador's artifact shimmered with divine resistance. Not only did it shrug off most of the damage, even the Burn effect failed to apply.
"Interesting… very interesting," Orson's eyes glinted.
Jenonis sneered, "Even if he's a worm, with artifacts like that, he's untouchable."
"Is that so?"
Orson smirked, turning slowly to look at him.
"Artifacts only matter… when they're worn by gods."
Jenonis flinched.
A terrible premonition clawed at his chest.
From the depths of the underworld, deathly energy surged around Crimson Lizard King.
Her HP skyrocketed.
Death God Dragon Physique—activated.
HP fully restored.
Max HP increased by 50%.
Orson smiled, radiant and cold.
He looked at her and said softly—
"We—are of one mind."