Sterl's heart raced with excitement as he began plotting how to achieve his ultimate goal. If he could succeed, he might rise to become the undisputed number one or two figure within the Nation of Orichalcum. With access to the map module, he could easily set up a trap to decimate the majority of Orichalcum's active forces.
The very thought filled him with exhilaration. His legendary story would be unprecedentedly spectacular, clearing away numerous obstacles for his future ambitions.
At that moment, the oppressive power of the upper-tier god grew even stronger, pressing down on the surrounding gods with an almost suffocating weight.
The next instant, a faintly translucent, slightly blurred figure appeared in the divine hall. This was the upper-tier god. Upon closer inspection, one could see that his form was bound by numerous chains, restricting his power and preventing him from fully descending into the world.
However, with the Heart of Dimensions and his mastery of Space Law, Sterl was acutely aware of every fluctuation in space. He could sense that the chains binding the upper-tier god were weakening ever so slowly. At this rate, it was only a matter of time before they could no longer hold back the full extent of his power.
Eterna began recounting all recent events to the upper-tier god in meticulous detail. After listening in silence, the god paused momentarily before releasing an even more terrifying aura.
"Shielding Power? Nothing more than insignificant parlor tricks unworthy of mention. No one can halt the descent of the Nation of Orichalcum!"
With those words, he waved his hand, and three longswords brimming with devastating energy materialized before him.
"All who stand in the way of Orichalcum shall be annihilated."
His gaze swept across the assembly of gods before finally landing on Sterl.
Sterl felt his heart skip a beat. Had this upper-tier god seen through him? That shouldn't be possible, right?
Fortunately, the god spoke in a calm yet commanding tone.
"Thank you for your assistance. The Nation of Orichalcum has not yet fully fused with this world, and we cannot completely descend at this time. However, once these natives are eradicated, we will grant you any wish you desire."
The words struck like a thunderclap, leaving all the gods visibly stunned.
Such a promise was extraordinary! Any wish? Did that mean even ascending to become an upper-tier god was on the table?
Sterl, maintaining his composed exterior, carefully suppressed the storm of thoughts brewing in his mind. This was an unprecedented opportunity, one that might reshape everything he had planned.
This bold promise from the upper-tier god stirred a wave of jealousy among the gathered deities. Many of them had served the royal city diligently for centuries, even millennia, yet their efforts paled in comparison to the reward being offered to an outsider who had joined less than a day ago.
All because he was powerful?
The stark contrast was hard for many to swallow, especially since most of them doubted whether this so-called Hades was truly as powerful as rumored.
Sterl, however, remained unperturbed. He'd long stopped believing in promises made by gods or anyone else. No matter how grand the offer, it was nothing more than an illusion unless it was already in his hands.
He was certain Eterna had relayed everything Morette and the others had said to the upper-tier god. Sterl also understood their intent—they simply wanted to tie him firmly to Orichalcum's cause.
And yet, something completely unexpected happened.
"Silence!"
"Hades, how dare you defy the hierarchy! Such audacity! Were it not for your earlier assistance, I would make you pay dearly!"
One of the gods, seated among the core divine thrones, unleashed a wave of oppressive energy aimed directly at Sterl. His aura was overwhelming, his presence comparable to Eterna's. This god also wielded three divine authorities, though his Divine Power fell slightly short of Eterna's level.
The oppressive force roared toward Sterl, the gathered gods holding their breath, awaiting his reaction.
Normally, Boris was already overshadowed by Eterna. But now, with Hades suddenly appearing as a new contender, he couldn't resist the opportunity to act. This was his chance to prove his worth in front of the upper-tier god.
Seeing this, Sterl couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. This is perfect. These gods doubted his strength, and now one of them had foolishly stepped forward to test him.
Sterl shot Boris a dismissive glance and said flatly, "Trash."
There was a brief silence, and then—
Pfft!
Diana, who had been worried about Sterl, suddenly burst into laughter. She hadn't expected Hades to be so blunt, outright refusing to give Boris even a shred of face.
Morette and the other gods exchanged looks, their expressions a mix of confusion and amusement. From their perspective, Sterl wasn't entirely wrong. After all, while Boris wielded the divine authorities of Curses, Desert, and Battle, his overall strength wasn't far beyond theirs.
Against Hades—who had surpassed the limits of minor Divine Power and allegedly annihilated five gods in an instant—it wasn't unreasonable to call Boris "trash."
But to Boris, this was nothing less than an outright insult, a blatant provocation.
Even the upper-tier god frowned slightly at Hades' brazenness. This so-called Hades was clearly powerful, but his arrogance seemed to have no bounds.
As the upper-tier god pondered how to respond, Boris, his face twisting with anger, declared, "I challenge you! As the price for your insult, if you lose, you must sign a contract and become an eternal servant of the Nation of Orichalcum!"
Sterl blinked, surprised by the challenge. Studying Boris more closely, he noticed that the supposed fury in Boris's eyes was far from genuine. Instead, there was a glint of cunning amusement.
Ah, so that's it.
Sterl quickly pieced it together. Boris wasn't acting out of pure anger. He was setting a trap. Having analyzed Sterl's outwardly aggressive and domineering personality, Boris had deliberately provoked him into insulting him first. Now, under the guise of righteous retaliation, Boris could issue a formal challenge. This allowed him to test Sterl's true strength while earning the approval of the upper-tier god.
Realizing the ploy, Sterl's heart tightened. These gods, with their centuries—or even millennia—of experience, were far from fools. He'd need to tread more carefully when dealing with them in the future. Still, he knew that overwhelming strength could shatter even the most intricate conspiracies.
At this moment, everyone else finally realized what was happening—this was actually a conspiracy targeting Hades! Could it be that Boris truly wielded the divine authority over conspiracy itself?
The challenge was issued, and Hades, having acted so brazenly, had no choice but to accept it. Refusing would surely anger the higher gods. If Hades were to lose, the consequences would be disastrous—essentially becoming a slave to the nation of Orichalcum. But if he won, Boris wouldn't suffer a loss either. At the very least, he would earn the favor of the higher gods.
Cunning! Utterly cunning and despicable!