Chapter 257: The Aftermath of the War
Five months had passed since the massive battle that took place within the territory under the White Star Radiance Alliance inside the Pocket Dimension.
During that period, two additional large-scale conflicts occurred. The first was an attack launched by the largest alliance of Natives, intended to tear apart the still exhausted experts of the White Star Radiance Alliance while their territory remained largely in ruins. Naturally, the clash was brutal. Many of the top experts on both sides were either absent or deliberately concealed.
The enemy Natives did not expect the alliance to retain such strength in less than a month. Even so, they pressed forward with confidence, determined to inflict as much destruction as possible. Figures such as Ramiro took command of their forces, wildly swinging his spear across the battlefield. He had become a clear priority target, his power already surpassing the peak of what it meant to be a Golden Lord.
Other experts, including Aeloria, Jewleaf, and several others, were similarly marked for elimination for various reasons. Despite this, the enemy Natives gravely underestimated them, along with those who had aligned themselves with the White Star Radiance Alliance. Among those allies was the Blue Mountain Star Clan, their strongest Native supporter. The battle ultimately settled into a temporary stalemate.
That balance shattered when several powerful experts on the enemy side finally revealed themselves.
As if on cue, five Middle Stage Mortal Lords charged toward the base, brilliant light gathering in their palms as they prepared devastating attacks.
That was the moment it happened.
The minds of the five Mortal Lords shook violently, their momentum faltering. In an instant, their consciousnesses were drawn into a space beneath star-filled skies where a pair of crimson, starry eyes covered in shifting magical symbols gazed down upon them. They forcefully broke free by channeling power into their spirits, but the interruption was enough. Their attacks lost much of their original force, leaving them vulnerable.
Christian, along with a Middle Stage Mortal Lord from the Soloman Clan, and a Middle Stage Mortal Lord crimson-eyed expert under Shayleaf each unleashed powerful attacks, striking against three of the Mortal Lords. Christy, who had recently completed her breakthrough and officially become a Mortal Lord, fought alongside Jonovan against another Middle Stage Mortal Lord.
As for the final one—
A bolt of white lightning tore through the skies, slamming directly into the remaining Middle Stage Mortal Lord. Almost simultaneously, Shayleaf summoned a magic circle overflowing with intense nature magic. Fourteen gold and red, mana-filled tree branches erupted with power as they pierced through the ground around her.
Elton emerged wrapped in white lightning, the Blue Heavenly Star Destroyer gripped in his hand as he crashed into the final Mortal Lord. He turned slightly, his gaze landing on Shayleaf and the surging branches. With a smile, he nodded before extending a single hand.
The fourteen branches ignited instantly as they came flying towards him. White flames layered with lightning engulfed them as they reshaped, transforming into forms resembling the Blue Heavenly Star Destroyer.
As enemy experts finally recognized who had entered the battlefield, their faces drained of color.
"Ahhh! He appeared! The White Lightning Sage is here!"
"Damnit! It's Daoist Blue Heavens Sword! We have to retreat!"
"Kill him! Kill that Sect Master! He slaughtered so many of my men even as they fled back then!"
Panic and fury spread through the enemy ranks. At the same time, allied morale surged violently. Cheers thundered across the battlefield, even from those who had initially intended to fight only if forced due to severe injuries.
Renji exhaled slowly before his lips curled into a snarl, murderous intent pouring from him. "Since so many Junior Brothers and Sisters are stepping forward, I might as well help even in my current state. Hahahaha. Damned Natives!"
In the end, the White Star Radiance Alliance successfully repelled the invading force. One Middle Stage Mortal Lord Native suffered devastating injuries after being blindsided by Renji. That Mortal Lord had been fighting Christy and Jonovan in complete shock as he found himself struggling to contend with two Early Stage Mortal Lords. Whether he survived after escaping remained unknown.
Then there was one Middle Stage Mortal Lord Native who was actually successfully captured after a hard-fought battle, or at least that was how it initially seemed. It was none other than Elton's opponent. On top of that, many other Natives were taken prisoner by the White Star Radiance Alliance in the aftermath. Naturally, news spread far and wide, adding to the growing legend of the White Star Radiance's supreme sect master, the White Lightning Sage Solman.
From time to time, the inner voice would scoff within Elton's mind, muttering about how people kept missing the word "Star," which it considered far more important than the title "White Lightning." Elton would simply shrug without much concern.
A little over a month after the Native army's attack, the Demonic Alliance returned, driven by both retaliation and bloodlust. This battle lasted three days. Unfortunately, halfway through, many unexpected developments occurred, including betrayals within the demonic ranks.
One major cause of betrayal was the demon woman Taurawnack, who had been forced to betray her people two months earlier during the great war because of Elton's forcefulness. Unlike before, she now pledged undying loyalty and devotion to him and even managed to break through to the Middle Stage of the Mortal Shedding Realm, shocking many of her former comrades. Elton himself was also a major catalyst for the betrayals once he appeared on the battlefield.
Another significant factor involved individuals who had secretly become devotees of the Divine Eyed Goddess or were influenced by the Four-Armed Black Devil. Christy fully utilized her Kokon Tengan from above as her gaze swept across the battlefield, exerting pressure that far surpassed the Early Stage Mortal Lord. A portion of the Demonic Alliance army had previously participated in the battle against Zoro in his bedeviled form. The overwhelming pressure and illusion of a goddess's divine gaze reawakened something deep within them.
Then came the second greatest shock of all.
The Black Reaper Corps appeared on the battlefield, including former Demonic Alliance and Night's Light Devouring Church warriors who had once been imprisoned and were now subservient members. Most shocking of all was the return of the one known as the Four-Armed Black Devil.
A black, blood-soaked shadow silently manifested on the battlefield, radiating terrifying murderous devil ki mixed with red, black, and white energy. Two black katanas appeared in his hands, their sharp auras cutting through the air. His scarf fluttered unnaturally, its ends moving like living fingers. Although he was not in his complete bedevilment transformation, patterned burn marks could be seen across his body, faintly glowing as white light writhed around them.
"W-Why?! How is that black katana-wielding idiot already an Early Stage Mortal Lord, almost stepping into the Middle Stage?!" Ramiro muttered in disbelief.
Ironically, perhaps driven by jealousy, fierce competition, refusal to be left behind, accumulated power, deepening insight, and endless battles, Ramiro broke through in the middle of the war into the Mortal Shedding Realm. It was extremely dangerous and normally disastrous if anything went wrong, but the Demonic Alliance's already shaken morale plummeted even further.
Kageha and Kuroha also arrived and had already once again broke through, becoming Golden Lords and bearing similar marks as Zoro. They were not the only ones, but they benefited the most.
Once again, the Demonic Alliance suffered heavy losses and was forced into retreat. The demonic beasts of the forbidden zone under Orochicanda played pivotal roles. Their number of Mortal Lord demonic beasts increased once more, with two breakthroughs and six new recruits ranging from defectors to independent tribes. Two were even Middle Stage Mortal Lords, with one challenging Orochicanda for dominance. In the end, Orochicanda prevailed through power, intelligence, and discreet assistance from Elton.
Now, everything had entered a standstill.
Even the largest Native forces refrained from escalating further. Time passed as things finally began to settle, at least within the territory controlled by the White Star Radiance Alliance.