The players in the venue were once again left dumbfounded.
At this moment, Sterl was also struggling to process the situation. If there had been any room for pretense before, now tossing this loyal group of players right in front of him felt a bit excessive.
This was a severe blow to the morale of the other players in their faction. Even in a world where a divine being's power could crush everything, the enthusiasm of the people executing tasks or their deliberate sluggishness made a significant difference in efficiency.
These two gods were practically undermining the foundations of the Golden Kingdom and Ashen factions!
Sterl's heart was filled with caution, as this situation could only indicate one thing: he must possess something that could offer them even greater benefits. The benefits gained from other players in [Transcendence] likely revolved around killing and looting equipment... Just like his own [Consume] ability, which could only be triggered by defeating other players.
Looking at the players who had collapsed on the ground, Sterl merely said coldly, "It's fine to let them go."
"Aren't they also loyal members of your faction?" he added casually.
Sterl reasoned that his current identity was a disguise anyway, and the players from the three major factions bore him no grudges. Or perhaps it was that the targets of their hatred were too broad and scattered.
Just like earlier, when everyone was shouting in anger but no one dared to act, individual players were extremely frustrated with the enigmatic demigod, but it wasn't to the extent of a life-and-death feud.
There was no need for Sterl to kill them. His principle was to avoid harming others unless absolutely necessary; if there was even a slight necessity, then he would act decisively.
The two gods were taken aback by his words, then chuckled as they said, "No problem, young friend. You are indeed kind-hearted."
With that, they waved their hands slightly, sending the players back into the crowd and lifting the bindings placed on them.
Those players, feeling as if they had narrowly escaped death, took a moment to crouch on the ground before finally managing to stand up, trembling all over. They knew that the earlier scene was no mere act. The gods had genuinely intended to slay them, but had delayed their strike to appease the mysterious demigod, ultimately leading to their reprieve. They had brushed against death.
The other players from the three factions watched in silence as these few players exhibited such a demeanor, their eyes glinting with an indescribable light.
Meanwhile, the players themselves were confused; the hatred in the eyes of the Ashen and Golden Kingdom members towards the mysterious demigod had somewhat dissipated. Mostly, it was due to the fact that even the gods were treating him so gently, willing to let people go, which left them feeling strangely flattered and bewildered.
The hatred had lessened a bit—until a furious roar echoed from the sky.
"Damn it, have you two lost your minds?"
"Hmm? How dare you!"
Marlon descended from the heights, roaring with rage, his figure enveloped in a dark purple aura reminiscent of the night.
He had just been trapped by the two gods using their combined powers. It was only through a full burst of divine authority that he managed to escape, and now he was extremely agitated.
As the players from the three major factions looked on, their expressions changed once again!
Especially the members of the Hall of Valor, who had suffered heavy losses, eagerly watched the unfolding scene.
Yes!
The other two factions' gods could potentially win over the mysterious demigod, but what about the Hall of Valor? They couldn't possibly sway him, could they?
Their entire faction had been put in such a dire situation; if they were let off lightly, how could they establish themselves in the future? The reputation of the Hall of Valor would be in tatters. Would anyone still want to join them? Powerful beings above the demigod level could easily traverse mountains and rivers to align with other top factions!
Moreover, Marlon's furious demeanor only added to the tension.
A glimmer of hope surfaced in the eyes of the players from the Golden Kingdom and Ashen.
The players from the Hall of Valor looked at him with excitement as if they were witnessing the arrival of a savior.
At that moment, however, Marlon ignored the many players under his command and made a beeline for Sterl.
The players from the Hall of Valor watched as this god, flying through the air, seemed to be dissipating, losing all his energy, and they felt something was off.
Combining this with the previous events, an ominous premonition settled in their hearts.
"It can't be."
"Our organization and unity in the Hall of Valor are far stronger than Ashen and the Golden Kingdom."
"Lord Marlon is definitely here to uphold justice for us."
One by one, they spoke with conviction, though it was unclear whom they were trying to convince.
...
And the more excited Sterl became while chatting with the three gods, the more the surrounding players' mental states began to crumble.
The players from Ashen and the Golden Kingdom suddenly felt refreshed, as if their discomfort had lessened.
It was vital to note that the Hall of Valor had suffered the most losses, yet their so-called losses were all caused by an internal ally?
Moreover... who didn't know that the Hall of Valor was a loosely organized faction? The mysterious demigod claimed to be one of their own, but in reality, he had very little connection to the Hall of Valor.
Instead, he could leverage this identity to gain Marlon's favor, while the ordinary players of the Hall of Valor suffered losses for nothing!
"Haha! This is hilarious."
"Let's just say the people of the Hall of Valor have a good sense of humor."
"Thank you all! I was feeling terrible, but now I feel much better."
The members of Ashen and the Golden Kingdom mocked them, primarily because they were now too afraid to insult that mysterious demigod.
They dreaded ending up like that unfortunate fellow who had been captured and left to his fate.
The mysterious demigod had expressed that they would let it go this time, but the next time? That was uncertain...
As for the players from the Golden Kingdom—
"What nonsense are you all talking?"
"I'm feeling great, thanks!"
"That mysterious demigod is one of us! Just wait until we dominate you on the battlefield!"
They gritted their teeth, yet all they received in return were pitying looks from the players of the Golden Kingdom and Ashen.
Goodness, now not only had their mentality crumbled, but they had also completely lost it!
Do you even believe what you're saying?
...
Then, the few gods finally revealed their true intentions.
"Additionally, you should be able to secure first place on this merit leaderboard."
"The two big shots from that place you should know want to meet you."
"We wonder if we have the honor of taking you to see them."
Sterl was taken aback, finally feeling as if the truth was revealed.
He had cracked the case!
From analyzing their words, it seemed that his performance had caught the attention of someone mysterious from the upper realms.
That made sense.
Sterl thought about it; wasn't his own Twilight guild also focused on recruiting talented players?
The reason the three gods remained silent in the face of their players' significant losses was that the individuals from the upper realms were tied to their interests, and they couldn't afford to offend them.
Otherwise...
Why would Sterl want to hide?
After all, there were plenty of legends in the Hall of Valor about geniuses whose talents were snatched away by powerful beings.
However...
At the same time, it wasn't necessarily a good thing that the people from the upper realms sought him out; their abilities and resources could easily strip away talents, skills, and professions.
At this moment, seeing the three gods speak with such earnest expressions, especially the two gods from the Golden Kingdom and Ashen, it was clear they were genuinely anxious.
Sterl didn't hesitate much; he slowly opened his mouth—