Chapter 804: Divine Messengers
For now, Sein and the others had no idea where the battle in Wild Gorilla City would ultimately lead.
However, the battle on the northern icefield concluded swiftly.
More than seventy percent of the Wild Gorilla Army stationed there were local creatures.
These beings thrived in the cold and chose not to retreat with the main Wild Gorilla Army, opting instead to defend their homeland.
In terms of high-ranking combatants, only three Gorilla Gods were present to support this legion that refused to back down.
One of them was already familiar with the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring Army, having been chased by four giant Sea Kings in a prior battle.
The other two Gorilla Gods included a Rank Four deity who had been spreading his faith in the northern icefield and another who had been withdrawn from an adjacent war zone.
Bernice had recently battled with this particular Gorilla God.
While the low-ranking troops in the Wild Gorilla Army fell like wheat to a scythe as the war dragged on, the Rank Four or higher Gorilla Gods moved from one battlefield to another.
The frequent injuries among these deities and the collapse of faith strongholds made it increasingly uncommon for them to remain on a battlefield without retreating.
The final clash in Wild Gorilla City was anticipated to be the last significant showdown between the native Gorilla Gods and the mightiest forces of the Magus World.
If Wild Gorilla City were to fall, it would effectively signal the collapse of Wild Gorilla World as a whole.
Sein’s involvement in the northern icy battlefield was minimal—only in the early and late stages.
The harsh, frigid environment was far from ideal for a Pyromancer like him.
Toward the end of the conflict, Sein’s presence on the battlefield was primarily driven by his mage’s instinct to collect experimental materials in unfamiliar territories.
As with the previous battle at Miseryth City, after the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring-led coalition decimated the main Wild Gorilla forces in the icefield, the native creatures’ will to resist plummeted.
The three Rank Four or higher Gorilla Gods who appeared on this frozen battlefield ultimately chose to flee.
Despite the efforts of Lorianne, Black Oblivion, and others, the Gorilla Gods’ determination to escape, coupled with the blessings of their homeplanar laws, made them difficult to pursue.
While none of the Gorilla Gods were captured, the battle was not without gains for Lorianne and the others.
Among the three Gorilla Gods resisting in the icefield, the “Ice Gorilla God” was the most resilient.
Both its divine nation and temple were positioned at the highest point of the tundra.
The so-called “divine nation” was essentially a subspace created by a Rank Four or higher being through their mastery of laws and potent energy.
The size of these subspaces varied depending on the strength of the individual.
While demigod-level knights and mages of the Magus World could also create subspaces, their size was limited—ranging from a few hundred square feet to, at most, an area the size of a manor.
Sein recalled entering a manor-sized subspace during his early trials on the Knight Continent.
Only the strongest demigod-level beings could manage such a feat.
In contrast, Rank Four and above powerhouses could open subspaces vastly larger than any ordinary demigod’s domain.
In the Magus World, many high-ranking mages and knights who preferred seclusion often set up their magic towers or research bases within these specially crafted subspaces.
Some tower masters even chose to relocate their entire divine tower into subspaces.
However, this practice was rare due to the challenges it posed for registered mages and initiates to access the tower.
Sein’s extensive knowledge had taught him that in civilizations following a system of divine beliefs, Rank Four and above beings would construct grand “divine nations” to house the most talented among their devoted followers.
At the highest peak of the northern icefield, the subspace where the Ice Gorilla God’s divine nation dwelled was discovered.
It housed nearly six hundred thousand fanatical followers and served as the vault for the Ice Gorilla God’s accumulated wealth amassed over tens of thousands of years—all of which was claimed by Lorianne and her allies.
They also had no intention of letting the Ice Gorilla God escape unscathed.
Among the spoils of conquering the divine nation were two female gorillas that Lorianne casually passed on to Sein as research specimens.
These creatures bore a remarkable resemblance to humans from the Magus World, distinct from their kin. They had silver-white hair and eyebrows, lacked excess body hair, and stood at impressive heights of 2.5 meters and 2.3 meters respectively.
These two Ice Gorillas, who appeared to be mother and daughter, were the “divine messengers” of the Ice Gorilla God.
These so-called “divine messengers” referred to certain fanatical followers of a Rank Four or higher being, whose fervent belief granted them the special ability to communicate with such powerful beings and, in some cases, wielded a portion of the power lent to them.
After Sein’s previous unsuccessful attempt to study the divine fire of a Rank Five Gorilla God, he had developed a strong interest in creatures of Rank Four and above.
One must rise where one stumbled.
There had to be a reason why beings of Rank Four and higher were referred to as “gods” or “deities”.
The unique qualities and capabilities that distinguished Rank Four and above beings from Rank Three creatures had become a major area of interest for Sein’s future research.
The two female gorillas, possessing traces of “divine power”, were ideal subjects for his experiments.
Even Leena, who had been delving into occult arts, occasionally visited Sein after learning about these divine messengers.
She even took the opportunity to collect blood samples from the gorillas for her studies.
Within these two female gorillas, there were enigmatic energy particles that Sein had not yet been able to fully analyze.
Hence, they were identified as “divine power.”
Meanwhile, Lorianne and her allies were using the fanatical followers captured from the divine nation to trace the Ice Gorilla God and its companions.
While the chances of tracking down other Gorilla Gods remained uncertain, Lorianne’s recent remarks indicated a strong possibility of capturing the Ice Gorilla God.
Every interplanar war brought not only the accumulation of wealth and resources but also an expansion of knowledge and insight.
Looking at the two divine messengers locked in their metal cages, Sein felt a profound sense of fulfillment.