*****
Eternal Divine Continent,
While Lev was fighting against the Gods, the entire Eternal Divine Continent was filled with fear. Although the people could not see what was happening, the terrifying sounds of destruction and explosions could be heard throughout the continent, making everyone realize that something unimaginable was taking place.
Fortunately, they were safe for the time being. Thanks to Lev's earlier warning, his subordinates had already taken swift action and ordered the civilians to remain inside their homes and avoid going outside. With nowhere else to go, the people could only pray and wait for the calamity to end.
**********
---The next morning---
Eternal Divine Palace,
The battle had continued throughout the night and into the early hours of the next morning. By now, only Poseidon, Rakshasa God, Angel God, and a small number of the more capable Gods remained.
Even with Lev's overwhelming battle prowess, which allowed him to contend with First-Class Gods despite the restrictions imposed upon them by the continent, he was still gradually being overwhelmed by their sheer numbers.
After fighting continuously for an entire day, the remaining Gods looked at Lev with nothing but horror.
They had fought him for hours.
They had used every strategy and underhanded tactic they could think of.
They had even targeted the people he cared about in an attempt to force him into a disadvantageous position.
Yet despite everything they had done, Lev was still standing.
His clothes were damaged, his breathing was heavy, and exhaustion was clearly visible on his face. However, the Gods could also sense something that frightened them even more.
Lev was getting stronger.
"Poseidon, this is the end. No matter what tricks you have left, you're all still bound to lose." Lev spoke while breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling with every breath. "Huff... huff... I admit that I underestimated you. I also overestimated how easily I could handle all of you, even with the restrictions reducing your strength to the level of Extreme Douluos."
Although exhausted, Lev's eyes remained sharp.
He knew the battle was not over yet.
"Human, don't think you've already won!" Poseidon shouted, trying to maintain his composure. "The God Kings are the strongest beings in this world! Once they descend, your end will come!"
Poseidon was desperately reassuring himself with those words.
If even the God Kings could not deal with Lev, then everything they had done would have been meaningless.
"You said the same thing earlier, but look at you now."
Lev chuckled mockingly.
"You lost horribly and even resorted to targeting the people behind me because you couldn't defeat me directly. And now you're still relying on the God Kings to save you. Heh."
Hearing this, Poseidon could only grit his teeth in anger.
He wanted to refute Lev, but no words came out.
The same was true for Rakshasa God and Angel God. All of them were exhausted after fighting continuously for an entire day, and even standing had become difficult.
"Resshin."
Lev's expression suddenly became cold.
"Devour them."
Hearing the command, Resshin immediately moved.
The enormous dragon charged toward the remaining Gods, its terrifying presence causing the already exhausted Poseidon and the others to despair.
They wanted to fight back.
They wanted to escape.
But their bodies had already reached their limits.
There was simply nothing left.
Resshin opened its enormous jaws and completely devoured the remaining Gods, ending the battle once and for all.
Seeing this, Lev finally allowed himself to smile.
"Finally..."
He had barely finished speaking when the entire sky suddenly darkened.
Lev's smile disappeared.
He slowly raised his head and looked toward the heavens.
The darkness covering the sky was far more oppressive and terrifying than the phenomenon that had occurred when the other Gods descended.
The entire world seemed to tremble.
Lev immediately understood what was happening.
'So, after dealing with the small fries, the boss finally makes an appearance.'
He had been waiting for this moment.
The God Kings.
After fighting continuously for an entire day, Lev's body had already been pushed to its absolute limit. Every muscle in his body ached, and his body trembled slightly from exhaustion.
He had originally been nothing more than an ordinary human.
Even after gaining tremendous strength, his body still had its limits.
Yet despite the exhaustion coursing through him, Lev somehow still managed to maintain a smile.
He had survived.
And now, the real battle is finally beginning.
After waiting for a while, cracks suddenly appeared across the darkened sky.
CRACK!
The cracks rapidly spread like shattered glass, eventually forming an enormous rift above the continent.
This time, five figures slowly descended from within it.
The moment they appeared, the atmosphere throughout the continent changed.
Each of the five possessed a distinct appearance, but what truly caught Lev's attention was the terrifying aura surrounding them.
It was vastly different from the Gods he had fought before.
Much stronger.
Much more oppressive.
The moment Lev sensed their presence, his eyes narrowed.
The God Kings had finally arrived.
*****
Eternal Divine Continent,
The moment the five beings descended, the entire continent seemed to tremble beneath their presence.
The world itself appeared incapable of supporting their existence.
Cracks began spreading across the ground as if the earth were about to collapse. The seas surged violently, producing enormous waves that crashed against the shores, while the once-clear sky became filled with dark clouds, thunder, and countless bolts of lightning.
The people throughout the continent could only stare at the heavens in terror.
Many believed that this was the end of the world.
Some began crying while desperately embracing their families, while others dropped to their knees and started praying, hoping that whatever calamity had descended upon them would end soon.
Yet all of this was merely the consequence of five beings descending into the mortal world.
Their very presence was enough to shake the entire continent.
*****
Eternal Divine Palace,
On the other hand, Lev stood beneath the terrifying sky and finally saw the five Great God Kings with his own eyes.
His palace—the place he had built and regarded as his home—had already suffered tremendous damage from the battle. Large portions of it had collapsed, and Lev knew that it would probably be reduced to ruins once everything was over.
He took a deep breath.
Then, he steadied himself.
His body was exhausted after fighting the Gods for an entire day, but there was no room for weakness now.
Lev immediately activated all his defensive abilities and prepared himself for the battle that was about to begin.
He was about to speak when—
BOOM!
A terrifying attack suddenly tore through the air and rushed toward him at incredible speed.
Lev's eyes narrowed.
He immediately reacted and activated Madoka's defensive barrier.
CRACK!
The attack collided with the barrier.
For the first time since obtaining Madoka's ability, Lev witnessed the seemingly indestructible barrier begin to crack.
Then—
BOOM!
The barrier shattered completely.
Lev's expression changed.
"What?!"
This was the first time he had personally witnessed Madoka's barrier being destroyed by a single attack.
Without hesitation, Lev activated his hidden Soul Bones.
The moment he did so, a familiar aura suddenly spread throughout the battlefield.
The five God Kings immediately froze.
"What?! Impossible!"
Their expressions changed drastically as they simultaneously sensed the aura coming from Lev.
They had felt this aura before.
They could not understand how it was possible, but its existence alone forced them to take the situation far more seriously.
"So that's how it is..."
Asura God King narrowed his eyes while staring at Lev.
"Human Lev. It was the world's blessing that someone as talented as you was born into this world. However, that blessing has also become a curse."
His expression became complicated.
"You have strayed from the path that should have been yours and chosen to stand alongside the Spirit Beasts. After witnessing you slaughter the Gods we sent despite being mortal, I can now say with certainty that your danger level is even higher than that of the Silver Dragon King."
Asura God King's gaze became solemn.
"I don't know how you obtained that power, but I know one thing."
"You are not the Dragon God."
Lev raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.
"Is that supposed to be a compliment?"
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Heh. If it is, then I don't particularly like hearing it from you."
Despite his words, Lev remained completely focused as he adjusted his stance.
He could already tell that the five God Kings were on an entirely different level from the Gods he had fought before.
Even under the restrictions of the mortal world, their strength was extraordinary.
"You will sooner or later become a great God," Asura God King continued calmly. "Perhaps you may even become a God King yourself if fate allows it."
His expression gradually became colder.
"Unfortunately, with the power you possess now, you were destined to become our enemy."
The moment those words fell, Asura God King raised his sword and pointed it toward Lev.
SHING!
A terrifying blade-like energy suddenly erupted from the sword and shot toward Lev at tremendous speed.
Lev's pupils contracted.
He immediately activated the ability of his right-leg Soul Bone.
WHOOSH!
His figure vanished from his original position and reappeared beside Gu Yuena and Bibi Dong in an instant.
"Stay behind me."
Lev's voice was calm but firm.
Immediately afterward, he activated the ability of his left-leg Soul Bone.
A massive crescent-shaped wave of energy erupted from his body and swept forward.
BOOM!
The crescent-shaped energy collided with Asura God King's attack head-on.
The resulting explosion shook the entire battlefield.
Lev's eyes narrowed as he stared at the five God Kings.
The true battle had finally begun.
[Right Leg Soul Bone: Dragon God]
[Description: A Soul Bone extracted from the Dragon God, the initiator of all Spirit Beasts and the creator of the Divine Dragon Domain.]
[Skills:]
[Dragon God's Leg (Active)]
[Description: Upon activation, the host's right leg transforms into that of the Dragon God. In addition, the ability temporarily grants the host the Dragon God's constitution, greatly increasing the host's overall speed and defense.]
[Dragon God Time Acceleration (Active)]
[Description: Allows the host to alter the flow of time itself. The ability can accelerate anything, whether it is the host or a directly targeted individual or object.]
[Dragon God Time Deceleration (Active)]
[Description: Allows the host to alter the flow of time itself. The ability can decelerate anything, whether it is the host or a directly targeted individual or object.]
[Left Leg Soul Bone: Dragon God]
[Description: A Soul Bone extracted from the Dragon God, the initiator of all Spirit Beasts and the creator of the Divine Dragon Domain.]
[Skills:]
[Dragon God's Leg (Active)]
[Description: Upon activation, the host's left leg transforms into that of the Dragon God. In addition, the ability temporarily grants the host the Dragon God's constitution, greatly increasing the host's overall speed and defense.]
[Dragon God Space Dome (Active)]
[Description: Allows the host to manipulate space by creating a dome-like prison that exists separately from the outside world. Anything trapped within cannot escape unless the host permits it or the host is killed.]
[Dragon God Space Wave (Active)]
[Description: Allows the host to unleash a powerful spatial attack capable of swallowing anything into the depths of space.]
As the two powers collided, the Dragon God Space Wave completely devoured Asura God King's blade-like attack.
The spatial wave continued forward, causing Asura God King's expression to darken.
He immediately swung his sword once more.
SLASH!
The terrifying spatial wave was cleanly split in two before dissipating into nothingness.
Lev narrowed his eyes upon seeing this.
"Did you not feel it?"
He slowly clenched his fist.
He knew better than anyone just how overpowered the Dragon God Space Wave could be. However, its effectiveness was ultimately dependent on the opponent's understanding and mastery of space.
Against beings who knew nothing about spatial laws, it could swallow almost anything.
But against someone capable of tearing through space itself, it was an entirely different matter.
Asura God King stared at Lev with a solemn expression.
"I may be tired, but I can still feel the difference."
His grip tightened around his sword.
"The 'me' you faced earlier..."
He raised his weapon and pointed it toward Lev.
"...was not the same 'me' you're facing now."
Despite those words, Lev's confidence did not diminish.
On the contrary, a faint smile appeared on his face.
He had already expected this.
The previous battle had pushed his body to its limits, but it had also given him something invaluable.
Experience.
His understanding of his abilities had continued to improve throughout the battle, and his body had adapted to the tremendous pressure.
Now, he was facing the strongest beings in this world.
And Lev had no intention of losing.
Suddenly—
BOOM!
A powerful fluctuation erupted from Lev's body.
A brand-new Spirit Ring slowly emerged from beneath his feet and rose into the air.
The sight immediately caused the expressions of the five God Kings to change.
Lev looked toward them with a confident smile.
"Then let's see how strong you are."
Seeing and hearing Lev, Asura God King and the other God Kings could not help but feel surprised when they saw the new Spirit Ring appearing around him.
Their expressions immediately became solemn.
Another Spirit Ring at this moment could only mean one thing.
Lev had finally become a God.
But how?
Becoming a God within the mortal realm should have immediately attracted the world's rejection. The will of the world should have descended upon him just as it had restricted them when they descended from the God Realm.
Yet Lev was still standing there.
He was neither being suppressed nor showing any signs of being harmed.
The God Kings could not understand it.
[Spirit Ring has been absorbed.]
[God Spirit Ring]
[Description: Upon activation, the Flame Dragons will return and merge with the host, embodying all of their powers within a single existence.]
[Skills:]
[Flame Dragon of Destruction (Active)]
[Description: In this form, the host can directly utilize the abilities of every Flame Dragon without needing to summon them individually.]
[Sword of Devouring Dragons (Active)]
[Description: An attack encompassing the power of all the Flame Dragons in existence. Upon activation, the user can unleash a devastating dragon-shaped attack capable of burning through everything in its path.]
[Domain of the Flame Dragon (Active)]
[Description: Creates a massive ring of flames around the surroundings, greatly enhancing the host's strength while continuously burning enemies trapped within the domain.]
[Flame Sword of Destruction (Passive)]
[Description: Creates a sea of flames capable of incinerating anything with every swing of the sword.]
Lev carefully read through the descriptions before retracting all of his Soul Bone abilities.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"So this is the power of my new Spirit Ring."
Without hesitation, Lev activated the God Spirit Ring.
BOOM!
An overwhelming surge of energy erupted from his body.
The temperature surrounding him immediately began to rise.
The earth beneath his feet started to melt, while the air itself seemed to distort from the sheer heat.
One after another, the Flame Dragons appeared around Lev.
Saiha.
Nadare.
Homura.
Setsuna.
Madoka.
Rui.
Kuko.
Resshin.
Recca.
The dragons circled around him, their enormous bodies moving through the sky like a group of ancient guardians protecting their master.
However, this was merely the beginning.
One by one, the Flame Dragons suddenly began disappearing.
Lev's eyes narrowed slightly.
He could feel their energy entering his body.
Every time another Flame Dragon merged with him, his strength increased.
His muscles became stronger.
His spiritual power surged.
His senses became sharper.
His entire existence was undergoing a tremendous transformation.
"Good..."
Lev clenched his fist as an exhilarating sensation coursed throughout his body.
"More."
One after another, the Flame Dragons continued merging with him.
Meanwhile, Asura God King and the other God Kings watched the transformation with solemn expressions.
Something was wrong.
They could feel it.
The moment Lev activated his new Spirit Ring, the will of the world had begun moving against him.
Yet, strangely enough, they were not in a hurry to attack.
They wanted to see exactly what Lev was trying to accomplish.
If the world itself was already beginning to reject him, then perhaps they could simply wait and allow the mortal world's laws to deal with him.
Gu Yuena and Bibi Dong, meanwhile, were completely stunned.
Neither of them had ever seen Lev use this ability before.
Even Gu Yuena, who possessed an extremely powerful understanding of energy and the laws of the world, could feel just how extraordinary the transformation taking place before them was.
Tsunade, who had already been moved away from the battlefield, simply smiled.
Despite the blood trickling from the corner of her lips, she did not look worried.
Instead, she calmly wiped the blood away while staring at Lev.
She knew that he was far from finished.
Finally—
The last Flame Dragon disappeared.
BOOOOOOM!
A tremendous explosion of flames erupted.
An enormous pillar of fire engulfed Lev's entire body, shooting high into the heavens.
The sky suddenly changed.
Dark clouds rapidly gathered above him, accompanied by thunder and countless flashes of lightning.
The scene was eerily similar to the phenomenon that had occurred when the God Kings descended upon the mortal world.
The atmosphere became increasingly oppressive.
The temperature continued rising.
CRACK!
The ground beneath Lev's feet suddenly split apart.
Then another crack appeared.
And another.
Soon, countless cracks spread throughout the surrounding earth as blazing magma began flowing out from beneath the surface.
"This heat..."
Bibi Dong's expression changed.
Even with her current strength, she could no longer endure the temperature.
Gu Yuena also frowned as she immediately retreated with Bibi Dong.
The two continued moving farther away from Lev, while Tsunade and the others watched from a safer distance.
At the center of everything, Lev remained standing within the raging flames.
And above him, the five God Kings silently watched.
For the first time since descending into the mortal world...
They felt that they might have made a grave mistake by underestimating him.
Not long after, the flames surrounding Lev gradually began to disappear.
The five God Kings, Gu Yuena, Bibi Dong, and everyone else immediately focused their attention on him.
The moment the flames vanished completely, everyone fell silent.
Lev had changed.
Two enormous horns now protruded from his head, while dark scales covered his arms, resembling those of a mighty dragon. His long hair flowed wildly behind him, its strands dancing like flames even without any wind.
At this moment, Lev no longer looked entirely human.
He looked like a dragon that had taken human form.
Everyone present could feel the tremendous power radiating from his body.
Lev himself was equally fascinated.
He lowered his head and examined his transformed body, slowly clenching and unclenching his fists.
The sensation was incredible.
His strength had reached an entirely different level.
He could feel the sheer power coursing through every part of his body, to the point that he felt as though he could destroy the entire world with a single thought if he truly went all out.
"Hmmm..."
Lev casually raised Sword Infinity.
He simply waved it toward an empty area.
BOOM!
The instant the blade pointed in that direction, a terrifying sea of flames erupted and completely engulfed the area.
Lev raised an eyebrow.
"Interesting."
Gu Yuena and the others stared at him in shock.
However, beneath their amazement was another emotion.
Fear.
The Lev standing before them no longer felt like the same person they had known.
To their eyes, he looked more like a monster—or perhaps an actual God.
Yet despite that fear, none of them moved away from him.
They trusted him.
Whatever Lev had become, they still believed that he was the same person they had chosen to follow.
The five God Kings, meanwhile, were experiencing a similar sensation.
They stared at Lev with unprecedented solemnity.
How did this happen?
How could a mortal suddenly transform into such an existence?
More importantly...
Why did they feel a threat from him that was even greater than the Dragon God King had once represented?
Asura God King's expression became increasingly grim.
This was no longer a matter of dealing with a talented human.
This was something entirely different.
Lev carefully examined his transformed body for another moment before his expression changed.
He could feel it.
The will of the world was beginning to restrict him.
His newly acquired power was already attracting the rejection of the mortal realm.
'So I don't have much time.'
Lev looked toward the five God Kings.
If he wanted to fight them at his current peak, he needed to end this battle before the world's restrictions became too severe.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Then let's finish this."
Lev casually raised Sword Infinity.
The weapon was already engulfed in blazing flames.
He then swung it toward the heavens.
SLASH!
A massive blade-shaped wave of flames tore through the sky and rushed toward the five God Kings.
The moment they sensed the attack, their expressions changed.
Danger!
An instinctive sense of crisis immediately erupted within them.
They could feel it.
That attack possessed enough power to obliterate them.
"Block it!"
Asura God King shouted.
The five God Kings immediately unleashed their divine powers.
BOOOOM!
Their combined strength collided with the incoming flaming blade.
The heavens trembled.
The surrounding space distorted violently as the two forces continued clashing.
Yet despite the combined might of five God Kings, they found themselves struggling to repel a single attack.
"What?!"
Their expressions turned ugly.
They had to combine their powers just to stop one casual attack from Lev.
Finally, after an intense struggle, they managed to disperse the flaming blade.
However, none of them looked relieved.
Instead, they stared at Lev in horror.
He had ascended to the God Level.
And despite being suppressed by the will of the mortal world, his strength was already comparable to—or perhaps even greater than—their original strength.
This was completely beyond their expectations.
"To think that I have been referring to you as a human until now..."
Asura God King's voice was filled with disbelief.
"How naïve."
His eyes narrowed as a distant memory suddenly surfaced in his mind.
"I don't know what you truly are. Perhaps you're a human, perhaps you're a Dragon, or perhaps you're something that doesn't even belong to either."
His grip tightened around his sword.
"But looking at you now, I can't help but remember someone from the past."
A dangerous smile appeared on his face.
"However, it doesn't matter. I defeated him with my own hands back then."
His killing intent suddenly erupted.
"And it will be the same with you!"
Asura God King raised his sword and pointed it directly at Lev.
"I will kill you here!"
Lev merely smiled.
"Heh."
He could feel the tremendous pressure of the world's will bearing down on him, but his confidence remained unchanged.
"Truthfully, I'm starting to question what I really am..."
Lev glanced at his transformed hands before looking back at the God Kings.
"And I don't know what I'll eventually become."
His smile widened.
"But I can tell you one thing."
"This form is only the beginning."
His eyes gleamed with determination.
"I still have a long way to go."
"So I definitely won't allow myself to die here."
"Then we cannot allow this human to live."
One of the God Kings immediately stepped forward, tightly gripping his weapon.
"He's becoming far too dangerous."
The others exchanged glances.
They no longer possessed the arrogance they had shown when they first descended.
They had finally understood the gravity of the situation.
If they allowed Lev to survive and continue growing, the consequences would be unimaginable.
One after another, the God Kings drew their weapons.
Their divine auras erupted simultaneously, shaking the heavens and causing the entire continent to tremble.
Their only objective was now clear.
Kill Lev before he had the opportunity to become something even greater.
For the first time, the five God Kings no longer viewed Lev as a mortal they could easily control.
They viewed him as a potential calamity.
And they were determined to eliminate him before that calamity could fully awaken.
"Asura God, God of Evil, Goddess of Life, God of Destruction, and Goddess of Kindness. I am shaking with excitement just thinking about which side will emerge victorious. However, fighting you all while you are restricted by the laws of this world is something I would take no pride in. If I am going to defeat you, I want to do it while you are in your original state. Only then will this be a truly fair battle."
Lev tightened his grip around Sword Infinity and looked at the five God Kings with a confident smile.
"So, leave this continent for now and wait for me in the God Realm."
The five God Kings stared at Lev in silence. None of them expected such a declaration from him, especially after witnessing the power he had just displayed.
Lev, however, did not wait for their response.
He slowly closed his eyes and lowered his body into a battle stance. The flames surrounding him suddenly intensified as he prepared to test another ability of his newly acquired form.
He had already experienced the overwhelming power coursing through his body, but there was still one ability he had yet to test.
He wanted to know just how powerful it truly was.
At the same time, he intended to use it to send the five God Kings back to the God Realm.
"Let's see how powerful this is."
Lev slowly opened his eyes.
"Sword of Devouring Dragons."
The moment his voice fell, he swung Sword Infinity toward the sky.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
A terrifying roar suddenly resounded throughout the heavens.
From the blade erupted a gigantic flame dragon formed entirely from destructive crimson flames. Its enormous body twisted through the sky as it rushed toward the five God Kings, its presence alone causing the surrounding space to tremble violently.
"Not good!"
Asura God King's expression changed instantly.
The other four God Kings also sensed the terrifying power contained within the flame dragon, causing their vigilance to rise to its absolute peak.
Although it appeared to be nothing more than a simple sword slash, they immediately realized that they had underestimated it.
"Stop it!"
The divine power of the five God Kings erupted simultaneously.
Their immense divine might surged through the heavens as they combined their strength once again. Five terrifying forces converged into a single overwhelming attack and collided directly with the incoming flame dragon.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
The collision shook the entire continent.
For a brief moment, the two opposing forces remained locked against each other.
Then—
The expressions of the five God Kings changed.
The flame dragon began devouring their combined attack.
It did not slow down.
It did not weaken.
Instead, it continued forward as though their combined power were nothing more than fuel for its flames.
"What?!"
The five God Kings were horrified.
Their combined attack was being consumed completely.
"Impossible!"
They desperately tried to increase their power, but it was already too late.
The flame dragon broke through their defenses and continued rushing toward them.
"LEVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV!!!"
Asura God King's furious roar echoed throughout the heavens.
The next instant, the gigantic flame dragon swallowed the five God Kings completely and carried them into the sky.
The heavens trembled.
The terrifying flames continued rising higher and higher until the figures of the five God Kings completely disappeared from sight.
[The Five God Kings have been defeated.]
[Experience and True God Coins have been awarded.]
Hearing the system's notification, Lev smiled.
He looked toward the now-clearing sky and quietly watched as the darkness that had covered the continent gradually disappeared.
'It's only the beginning.'
Lev knew better than anyone that the five God Kings had not truly been killed.
Because they were still beings connected to the God Realm, they would eventually be resurrected there.
If he wanted to completely eliminate them, he would have to personally enter the God Realm.
'I'll go there soon.'
With that thought, Lev canceled his Flame Dragon of Destruction.
The enormous horns disappeared, the dragon scales covering his body faded away, and the flames surrounding him gradually vanished.
His appearance returned to normal.
However, something had changed.
Lev had already ascended to Godhood.
The moment he returned to his normal state, the laws of the world immediately began acting against him.
An invisible pressure descended upon his body.
Lev immediately understood what was happening.
"Tch."
He quickly took out the Universe Identity Token and activated its power.
The moment the token's ability took effect, the overwhelming pressure surrounding him gradually disappeared as his divine aura was concealed.
Lev finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"That was close."
He then turned around.
The moment he did, several figures rushed toward him.
"Master!"
Megatron flew down from the sky together with several of the other summons.
At the same time, Gu Yuena, Bibi Dong, Tsunade, Zhu Zhuqing, Dugu Yan, and Xiao Wu immediately rushed toward Lev.
"Lev!"
"Master!"
"You're okay!"
They surrounded him almost instantly.
Gu Yuena was the first to reach him, followed closely by the others. Without hesitation, they all hugged him tightly.
The force of their combined momentum was enough to knock Lev backward.
"Whoa!"
THUD!
Lev fell onto the ground with Gu Yuena and the others piled around him.
Despite that, Lev could not help but laugh.
Seeing everyone safe and sound after such a terrifying battle made him feel relieved.
He wrapped his arms around them and pulled them closer.
"Don't worry. I'm fine."
The women remained close to him, unwilling to let go after witnessing how dangerous the battle had become.
Tsunade, meanwhile, simply smiled as she looked at Lev.
She had never doubted him.
Even when the five God Kings descended, she had believed that he would eventually emerge victorious.
At that moment, another system notification appeared.
[Do you wish to name the God Spirit Ring?]
[If the Host does not provide a name, the system will automatically assign one.]
Lev paused for a moment.
He thought about the power he had just obtained and the transformation it had brought him.
Then, he smiled.
"Let's call it Hendra from now on."
[God Spirit Ring has been named: Hendra.]
Lev smiled upon hearing the notification before tightening his embrace around the women surrounding him.
The battle with the God Realm was far from over.
If anything, it had only just begun.
*****
Eternal Divine Continent,
Everyone living on the continent would remember this day for the rest of their lives.
The sight of a gigantic flame dragon soaring into the heavens had been etched deeply into their memories. No matter where they were, they had witnessed the terrifying yet magnificent spectacle that had appeared in the sky.
For many, that moment marked the beginning of a new era.
The darkness that had covered the continent gradually faded, replaced by the warm radiance of the sun. The terrifying pressure that had descended upon the world disappeared, and the people slowly stepped out of their homes.
They looked toward the sky in silence.
The calamity had passed.
And with it came hope.
From that day onward, the people of the Eternal Divine Continent would refer to this moment as the beginning of their Golden Era.
*****
Elder's Palace,
Qian Daoliu stood silently while looking toward the sky.
After confirming that the terrifying pressure had completely disappeared, he finally released the breath he had unknowingly been holding.
"H-He made it..."
A wide smile slowly appeared on his face.
He had always believed that Lev was different from everyone else, but even he had never imagined that Lev would actually survive an encounter with the five God Kings.
Not only had he survived—
He had defeated them.
"Just what kind of monster did I choose to follow?"
Qian Daoliu muttered with a mixture of amazement and relief.
More importantly, he could already foresee what this meant for the continent.
The era that followed would undoubtedly be completely different from the past.
*****
Seagod Island,
At the same time, Bo Saixi stood outside the island while staring toward the distant horizon.
Her eyes were filled with disbelief.
She had witnessed the battle from afar, and even though she could not see every detail, the terrifying fluctuations that had spread throughout the continent were impossible to ignore.
"The God Kings..."
Bo Saixi murmured.
She still found it difficult to believe what had happened.
Lev had actually defeated the five God Kings.
She slowly sighed before looking toward the direction of the Eternal Divine Continent.
"Just what kind of future awaits this world now?"
*****
Somewhere near the Eternal Divine Palace,
Several kilometers away from the palace, a lone figure stood motionless.
Tang Chen's entire body was trembling.
He had witnessed everything.
From the moment the five God Kings descended to the final clash that sent them back to the God Realm, he had seen it all with his own eyes.
He had originally believed that the arrival of the God Kings would be the beginning of Lev's demise.
Instead—
It became the complete opposite.
Tang Chen's face was pale as his mind struggled to process what he had witnessed.
"H-He m—"
Before he could finish his sentence—
SWOOSH!
An arrow suddenly tore through the air.
PCH!
Tang Chen's eyes widened.
A hole had been pierced straight through his chest.
He slowly lowered his head and stared at the arrow protruding from his body before turning his head toward the direction from which it came.
Far in the distance, Lev stood with a bow in his hand.
A faint smile could be seen on his face.
Tang Chen's eyes widened in disbelief.
"You..."
His body finally lost its strength.
THUD!
Tang Chen collapsed to the ground.
His face remained filled with unwillingness and regret until his final breath.
He had wanted revenge.
He had wanted to personally kill Lev.
Yet, in the end, he could not even reach him.
*****
God Realm,
The atmosphere inside the God Realm was unusually quiet.
An oppressive silence filled the entire hall.
Numerous Gods had gathered together, but none of them dared to speak.
Their gazes remained fixed upon a single figure.
Asura God King.
The usually composed God King stood motionless, his fists tightly clenched.
His expression was frighteningly dark.
The defeat had been humiliating.
Not only had they failed to eliminate Lev and the Silver Dragon King, but all the Gods they had sent to the mortal realm had been defeated.
Even the five God Kings themselves had been forced to retreat.
It was something that had never happened before.
"A-Asura..."
Goddess of Life finally spoke cautiously.
Asura God King slowly raised his head.
His eyes were burning with rage.
"Call all the Gods."
His voice was cold and commanding.
"I don't care where they are. I don't care what they're doing. I want every capable God gathered here."
Goddess of Life hesitated.
"Are you sure?"
"I said all of them."
Asura God King's voice became even colder.
"I want every God capable of fighting gathered here."
"Y-Yes."
Goddess of Life lowered her head.
Although she had a different opinion regarding this matter, she did not dare to argue further.
She understood that Asura God King's mind had already been made up.
The other God Kings remained silent as well.
They were furious.
They were shocked.
But most importantly—
They were wary.
They had underestimated Lev once.
They would not make the same mistake again.
Around them, the lesser Gods were still struggling to accept what had happened.
The five God Kings had descended personally.
And yet—
They had still been defeated by a mortal who had only recently ascended to Godhood.
The implications were terrifying.
Asura God King slowly looked toward the distant mortal realm.
His eyes were filled with killing intent.
"Lev..."
His voice echoed throughout the silent hall.
"When you step into this realm..."
His fists tightened.
"I promise that I will kill you with my own hands."
He knew that they had lost.
He knew that Lev had defeated them.
And he refused to make excuses for that defeat.
A defeat was a defeat.
Blaming circumstances simply because one could not accept losing was nothing more than the behavior of a loser.
But precisely because he accepted that defeat—
He would make certain that it would never happen again.
"The next time we meet..."
Asura God King's eyes became cold and murderous.
"...you will not leave the God Realm alive."
*****
Eternal Divine Palace,
After an entire day of intense fighting, the once-majestic Eternal Divine Palace had been reduced to ruins.
Lev and the others stood among the destruction, looking at what remained of their home.
"Looks like we'll have to stay somewhere else for a while."
Lev sighed as he looked over the destroyed palace. Fortunately, they still had their other home in the Star Dou Great Forest. They could stay there temporarily while the palace was being rebuilt.
Not long after, the sound of marching footsteps suddenly echoed from every direction.
Lev and the others turned their heads and saw countless figures approaching them.
Ning Fengzhi was among them, accompanied by the heads of the various clans and a large army of Spirit Masters.
They had received word from Dugu Bo that a terrible war was about to take place, but none of them had expected it to happen so suddenly.
They had wanted to come sooner.
However, the terrifying pressure surrounding the battlefield had made it impossible for ordinary Spirit Masters to approach.
"Y-Your Majesty, are you okay?"
Ning Fengzhi hurriedly stepped forward, his expression filled with concern.
"We heard about the battle from Dugu Bo. We were worried about what might happen to you."
Behind him, the other clan heads and Spirit Masters also looked toward Lev with concern.
They had come here because they wanted to help.
Although they knew their strength was insignificant compared to the beings Lev had fought, they still wanted to contribute in whatever way they could.
Unfortunately, they had only been able to arrive after the battle ended.
Lev looked at them before giving a faint smile.
"Well..."
He glanced around at the destroyed palace.
"I've won."
His simple words caused everyone to breathe a sigh of relief.
They had already witnessed the aftermath, but hearing it directly from Lev made their hearts finally settle.
Lev then stood up and looked toward the gathered Spirit Masters.
"Gather everyone."
His expression became serious.
"We will now commence a continental meeting."
Ning Fengzhi and the others immediately nodded.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
They quickly began carrying out Lev's orders.
The war was over.
Now, it was time to deal with its aftermath.
**********
—Night—
Star Dou Great Forest,
After finally getting some time to rest, Lev and the others returned to their house in the core area of the Star Dou Great Forest.
The exhaustion accumulated from the day-long battle had finally caught up with them.
The moment they settled onto the bed, their bodies felt completely drained.
Every muscle ached, and even moving their limbs felt difficult.
Gu Yuena quietly looked at Lev before lowering her head.
"Lev... we're sorry."
Her voice was filled with guilt.
"We only ended up holding you back."
Although Gu Yuena possessed the strength of a First-Class God, she had still struggled greatly against the numerous Gods they had fought. The restrictions placed upon those Gods had certainly weakened them, but their experience and sheer numbers still made them extremely difficult opponents.
Bibi Dong, Zhu Zhuqing, Dugu Yan, and Xiao Wu also looked at Lev sadly.
They felt the same way.
They had believed that they had already become strong enough to stand beside him.
But today's battle had made them realize just how vast the gap between them and the true powerhouses of the world still was.
Some of them had even been forced to leave the battlefield because they could no longer contribute.
Without Lev, Gu Yuena, and the Spirit Beast army protecting them, they knew they would never have survived.
"We thought we were already strong..."
Bibi Dong murmured.
"But compared to them..."
She clenched her fists.
"We're still too weak."
Lev looked at them for a moment before smiling.
"Hmm."
He reached out and gently patted Gu Yuena's head.
"It's not that you're all weak."
He then looked at Bibi Dong and the others.
"They were Gods, after all. Even with their strength restricted, they still possessed the experience and abilities of Gods. It's only natural that they were strong."
Lev's words caused the women to become quiet.
"You all did well."
He smiled.
"You didn't run away when the calamity came. You stayed and fought alongside me despite knowing how dangerous it was."
His expression softened.
"That's more than enough."
The women looked at him quietly.
Lev then continued.
"Wait for me."
His voice became filled with confidence.
"Once I finish dealing with those Gods..."
He looked toward them with a smile.
"I'll give every one of you a God Position in the God Realm."
Everyone's eyes widened slightly.
"A God Position..."
Gu Yuena murmured.
Lev nodded.
"That's right."
He had already made his decision.
If he was going to enter the God Realm, he would not leave his loved ones behind.
He would make sure that they all had the opportunity to reach a higher realm and stand beside him.
"Until then, just keep getting stronger."
The women nodded.
Their earlier sadness gradually disappeared, replaced by determination.
They still had a long way to go.
But now they had a clear goal.
After that, Lev continued talking with them for a while.
Eventually, the exhaustion became impossible to resist.
One by one, the women slowly fell asleep around him.
The room became quiet.
Lev looked at everyone sleeping peacefully beside him.
Despite the aching throughout his body, a faint smile appeared on his face.
The war had finally ended.
The God Realm was still waiting for him.
But for now...
He simply wanted to enjoy this moment of peace.
Lev slowly closed his eyes.
Soon, he too fell into a deep sleep with a smile on his face.
For the first time in a long while, he believed that the continent could finally experience a period of peace.
At least...
Until the day he stepped into the God Realm.