Chapter 286: Holy war 24

"My queen... What should we d—"

BOOM!

With a flash of golden lightning that roared throughout the heavens, the small god in front of Eris was instantly reduced to dust. He couldn't even finish his words as Eris's annoyance skyrocketed.

Looking up at the night sky of their very heaven, Eris observed in growing fury the disappearance of the seven stars that formed the constellation of Luwanal. They were gone, vanished as if they had never existed. Such an action was unfathomable within their world, something that shouldn't be possible.

This could only mean one thing: someone from outside their world had killed Luwanal. And that someone was allied with the mortal she sought to kill—Adrian Vulter Tellus. Just like her, he had made his move, but it was something their entire pantheon couldn't have prepared for. Well, they had prepared, but not to the extent needed to counter his attack, especially since he had brought that damned wolf with him.

Three other gods, kneeling and slightly trembling at their primordial's annoyed state, looked down and waited until she had calmed her nerves before speaking up. They did not wish to end up like the unfortunate god who had just perished.

Eris's anger was palpable, her divine presence crackling with barely contained rage. She clenched her fists, her eyes glowing with an intense light.

Surveying the events unfolding inside the dimensional garden she had created, Eris watched as her angels—her beloved children—were mercilessly massacred by the demonic army.

Some were killed, others eaten, some raped, and many tortured, forced to witness their brethren being torn to shreds.

The seething anger within Eris grew as she continued to watch, yet she could do nothing about it. As long as that wolf was there, practically no one from their pantheon was capable of handling him.

"Why didn't the trap activate the moment that abomination entered the dimension?" she finally spoke, breaking the tense and silent atmosphere she had created.

One of her subordinate gods, trembling, responded, "...I-it's because the trap didn't recognize his presence, my queen."

"Huh?" Eris's eyes narrowed in confusion and fury.

"For some reason, the trap...thought of him as one of our own."

Crossing her legs and clicking her tongue in irritation, Eris gestured for the god to kneel again. The explanation made the situation clear to her: that bastard had grown significantly stronger in the last few days since he entered the battlefield.

To think he now had the ability to mimic their energy...

Eris's mind raced, contemplating the implications.

If Fenrir could mask his presence so effectively as well it would be safe assume that his current master that abomination could do so as well, it meant their defenses were even more compromised than she had initially thought.

This was no mere power surge; it was a strategic evolution that posed a severe threat to their very existence.

Turning her attention back to the god, she spoke with a voice laced with venomous calm, "And what of our other defenses? Have any of the additional measures been triggered?"

The god shook his head, fear evident in his eyes. "No, my queen. The secondary and tertiary defenses remain inactive. It's as if...he bypassed them entirely."

Eris clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. The realization that their carefully laid traps and defenses had been rendered useless was infuriating.

She had underestimated Adrian and his allies, and now her angels were paying the price.

They say nothing is more foolish than underestimating your opponent in a war. For a goddess like Eris to make such a mistake was unthinkable, a testament to just how badly her mind was unraveling under the strain.

"Haah..."

She sighed in exhaustion. For months, she had done nothing but supply energy for their pantheon, ensuring any potential dimensional cracks were sealed off from their realm, their heaven. The effort had been monumental.

She had successfully closed the black crack last time, but the memory of its destructive potential still haunted her.

To prevent any recurrence, she had taken stringent precautions, locking down their pantheon with only her closest allies and aides having access.

This level of vigilance had kept her from participating directly in the war, yet she had meticulously overseen the planning and execution of their strategies, ensuring each step was approved by her.

Despite these efforts, the recent losses were significant. They had lost their leverage over Adrian. Without a bargaining chip like Elena, there was no way to contain the monster within him. In fact, he might even relish the opportunity to unleash his fury on the battlefield.

Eris looked around at her remaining gods, their expressions a mix of fear and determination. She knew that morale was slipping, that her subordinates were beginning to doubt her leadership. But she could not afford to show any weakness. The survival of their realm depended on her strength and resolve.

'I should've locked that bitch up here!!!' Eris thought furiously, her mind racing with the ramifications of her past decisions. The only reason she hadn't done so was her constant worry about the abnormal entities trying to break in or an all-out war of pure violence erupting. But now, she greatly regretted that decision. If they had imprisoned Elena, they might still have leverage over Adrian.

There was too much at stake. One wrong move and everything could end instantly. The only reason they had made it this far was because the Dragon Lord finally accepted their deal.

Yet, they couldn't simply command the dragons. Despite being favored as descendants of dragons, the Emperor knew all too well how selfish they could be. If push came to shove, the dragons would be the first to abandon them on the battlefield.

Moreover, it wasn't the dragons the demons targeted during battles. It was the humans—pesky, fragile humans who were insignificant before high-ranking demons. Despite the support of their draconic allies, the true burden of the war fell upon the empire's soldiers.

It might seem cowardly, but the Emperor had to be pragmatic. The already corrupted lands were tainted beyond recognition.

Even if they won back this portion, it had been demon territory in all but name. Risking his army's lives for such a thing was unacceptable.

That was why he had ultimately decided to stay on the defensive and ensure they maintained their current positions until a real, viable offensive plan could be formulated.

The Emperor sighed, gazing at the holographic map. "Christine, we cannot let desperation dictate our actions. Every life lost must count for something. We need to be smart, not just bold."

Christine hesitantly nodded but frustratingly walked out of the tent, anger evident on her face. Even with her father's wise counsel, she understood completely what he meant. Still, dilly-dallying like this would only hasten their end. The gnawing urgency to take action warred with the wisdom of caution in her mind.

"Your Highness?" A voice suddenly got her attention as tears welled up in her eyes.

"Ah, Tristan, you're back?"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

In front of her stood her most trusted knight, Tristan—the strongest human contributor in their battle against the demons. His presence was a beacon of hope and strength amidst the chaos. Looking at him, Christine tried to mask the frustration inside her as she smiled gently at him.

"So... What news do you bring?" she asked, her voice steadying as she composed herself.

Tristan bowed slightly before responding. "The scouts have confirmed significant movements among the demons. They seem to be consolidating their forces near the eastern border. It appears they are preparing for a major offensive."

Christine's heart sank, but she maintained her composure. "And what of the dragons? Have they shown any signs of wavering in their support?"

Tristan shook his head. "No, Your Highness. The dragons remain steadfast. Their leader has assured us of their continued alliance. However, they too are wary of the demons' next move."

"I see...." Although the news wasn't exactly new to Christine, as she had heard the same reports from her other subordinates, hearing it from Tristan's mouth now gave her the confirmation she needed. "Is there any sign of movement from the Holy See?"

"No, Your Highness. As always, they have returned the same message ever since this war started—they wish to remain neutral."

"So they wish to stay neutral, huh... lucky them, being beloved by the gods and such. If only that damn goddess would look at us in the same way."

"Your Highness, that's—"

"Blasphemous? Haha, you really think I would care now?"

"....."

Christine's eyes blazed with a fierce determination. Even if the gods cursed her now, she wouldn't care. For as long as she lived and her consciousness remained, she would curse the wretched gods above for only watching them suffer.

"Tristan," she continued, her voice steady but laced with bitterness, "even if the gods have turned their backs on us, we must not waver. The people of this empire depend on us, not on divine intervention. They need leaders who will fight for them, no matter the cost."

Tristan nodded, understanding the depth of her conviction. "We will fight, Your Highness. We will protect our people and our lands, with or without the gods' favor."

Christine took a deep breath, pushing back her anger and focusing on the task at hand. "Good. Now, we need to finalize our plans. Gather the commanders; we will meet at dawn to discuss our next moves."

"As you command, Your Highness," Tristan said, bowing slightly before turning to leave.

....

Later that night, Christine stood on a hill overlooking the battlefield. The fires of war burned brightly in the distance, casting an eerie glow on the horizon. She felt the weight of every decision, every life lost, and every moment of hesitation. But amidst the darkness, she also felt a flicker of hope.

With allies like Tristan and the strength of the dragons, they had a fighting chance. And with her father's wisdom and her own determination, they would find a way to turn the tide.

The gods may have forsaken them, but Christine knew that the real war was one of endurance and resolve. As long as she had breath in her body, she would fight for the empire and for the future of her people. She clenched her fists, her resolve unwavering.

"Let the gods watch from their heavens," she murmured to herself. "We will forge our own destiny."