"The fusion of profundities also has enormous thresholds."
"Finding a point of compatibility is one hurdle, and achieving complete fusion is another entirely."
"For example, even now, although I've successfully brought the final two Water profundities to the entry stage, I still haven't found a compatibility point between them and the other four…"
Hearing this, Rockpeak's brow twitched violently.
Yes, I know you still have two profundities left unfused—but listen to yourself. Is this really how someone comforts others?
As the two people closest to Locke, Rockpeak knew very well what kind of ambition Locke harbored.
He also knew that if Locke truly wished to, he could complete the full fusion of four Water Law profundities in a very short time, instantly raising his combat power to rival a Six-Star Fiend who had fused three profundities.
And Rockpeak himself?
To this very day, he still hadn't gained any new insight into the Destruction Edicts.
Just say it—wasn't this infuriating?
"And what about you, Ryan?"
After teasing Rockpeak a little, Locke turned his gaze toward Ryan.
In terms of raw strength, Rockpeak was slightly stronger than Ryan due to cultivating a Rule rather than Laws.
Locke had assumed that if Rockpeak hadn't made progress, Ryan likely hadn't either.
But to Locke's surprise, upon hearing the question, Ryan scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"Well… Boss Locke, I don't really know what a 'compatibility point' is."
"But some time ago, I noticed that when I used the Earth Pulse profundity together with the Strength profundity, my attacks seemed a bit stronger…"
"…What?"
Both Locke and Rockpeak stared at Ryan as if they'd seen a ghost.
That was no joke.
For a Highgod, unless divine power itself increased, the upper limit of attacks formed by profundities was fixed.
If Ryan's attacks had grown stronger, that meant only one thing—
He had definitely achieved preliminary fusion of profundities.
In Locke's view, a Highgod like Rockpeak making no progress in ten years was normal.
For Highgods, advancement was measured in tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of years.
Yet Ryan, after learning the secret of profundity fusion, had managed to achieve initial fusion in less than ten years.
Ryan was already a Highgod—and yet he'd found a compatibility point in a single decade.
Was his talent really that terrifying?
For a moment, Locke looked at Ryan with genuine regret.
If Ryan had learned the secret of fusion while still a God, there was a good chance his current strength wouldn't be inferior to Locke's at all.
In fact, once Ryan became a Highgod, he would have at least Six-Star Fiend combat power.
Still, Locke felt more joy than regret.
Establishing a Fiend Castle across all of Hell was impossible without powerful allies.
Both Ryan and Rockpeak were special lifeforms.
With his powerful physique alone, Ryan's combat strength had already reached the peak of a Four-Star Fiend, nearly rivaling a Five-Star Fiend.
As for Rockpeak, since Rules were half a tier stronger than Laws, he truly possessed Five-Star Fiend combat power as a Highgod.
Of course, only barely stepping into that realm.
With their physical strength combined with Highgod-level defensive artifacts, even facing ordinary Five-Star Fiends, they wouldn't fall in a short time.
Thus, when the Fiend Castle was first established, classifying both of them as Five-Star Fiends had been entirely reasonable.
After all, in this era, anyone stronger than them was either a super divine beast with terrifying innate abilities, or someone who had truly embarked on the path of profundity fusion.
Once Ryan fused two profundities, he would reach the peak of Five-Star Fiends, rivaling Six-Star Fiends.
If Rockpeak advanced further, he too could truly step into the Six-Star Fiend realm.
And now—
If Ryan's talent continued to bloom, he might even fuse three profundities one day, becoming the first Seven-Star Fiend under Locke's command.
"Sigh…"
Seeing Ryan like this, Rockpeak gave a bitter smile and shook his head.
In the past, he could suppress Ryan with ease.
But now, even before Ryan had completed full fusion, Rockpeak had little confidence he could defeat him.
"Congratulations, Ryan."
"You're a true genius."
Locke praised him openly.
Ryan only laughed foolishly in response.
The sense of hopelessness that came from seeing no path forward as a Highgod was truly suffocating.
Fortunately, they had met Locke and learned of the road beyond.
Seeing Ryan make progress, Rockpeak felt a spark of excitement as well.
"So then, Lord Locke—why did you summon us today?"
Under Rockpeak's questioning gaze, Locke nodded.
"Rockpeak, Ryan—right now, the Fiend Castle in Rockpeak City has reached its peak."
"It's time for the Fiend Castle to expand outward."
"My plan is this: out of the ten Highgods currently in Rockpeak City, three will remain behind to guard the city."
"The other seven Highgods will each lead a group of Fiends to other cities and establish new Fiend Castles."
"So—do you want to stay in Rockpeak City, or lead Fiends to establish new Fiend Castles?"
"Hahaha! Lord Locke, is there even a need to choose?"
Before Rockpeak could answer, Ryan slapped his thigh loudly.
"Of course I'm following you, Lord Locke!"
"I've been stuck in Rockpeak City for years—I'm already bored."
"Going out, meeting stronger opponents, fighting more battles… that might even speed up my profundity fusion!"
Ryan's choice didn't surprise Locke at all.
From the very first day Locke met him, Ryan had clearly been someone who lived for battle.
Over the years, which Highgod in Rockpeak City hadn't been challenged by Ryan at least a few times—aside from Locke himself?
"And you, Rockpeak?"
"How do you choose?"
"Lord Locke, although Ryan often seems a bit… slow, this time I think he's absolutely right."
Rockpeak stroked his chin and chuckled.
"There's really no choice to be made."
"From the moment we chose to follow you, Lord Locke, your will became our direction."
"And after hearing what Ryan just said, I think I finally understand why I haven't made progress all these years."
"Oh?"
Locke was pleasantly surprised.
Did that mean Rockpeak was about to advance further in the Destruction Rule?
"Explain."
"Haha, Lord Locke—I'm a Highgod of the Destruction Rule."
"A Rule named 'Destruction'—if I don't fight, don't slaughter, don't destroy, and instead rely on idle contemplation, how could I ever make progress?"
"So, this time, Lord Locke—let me take the vanguard!"
"I have a strong feeling that through intense battles and slaughter, my understanding of the Destruction Rule will rise to a new level!"
"Good!"
Locke clapped his hands, a satisfied smile forming on his face.
Sure enough, the birth of the Fiend Castle itself was part of Hell's Destiny.
By acting in accordance with that Fate, everything he did seemed divinely assisted.
From both Ryan and Rockpeak, Locke could sense faint fluctuations of the Fate Law.
Clearly, as founding members of the Fiend Castle, both of them would experience explosive growth in the coming years.
As for how far they would go—
Even Locke couldn't predict that.
"Rockpeak, Ryan—this is my arrangement."
"Right now, the strongest members of the Fiend Castle are the three of us."
"So, each of us will lead one Highgod, two hundred Two-Star Fiends, and five hundred One-Star Fiends to the three nearest cities to Rockpeak City, to establish new Fiend Castles."
Taking out two spatial rings, Locke tossed them to Ryan and Rockpeak.
"Inside are the Fiend Castle facial statues I've already refined, along with the amethyst crystals containing guidance information."
"You know what to do."
Ryan and Rockpeak nodded.
They'd spent enough time inside the Fiend Castle to know exactly how everything was arranged.
"One more thing."
"While building the Fiend Castles, don't neglect your cultivation."
"You both know—my dream is to spread the Fiend Castle across the entirety of Hell."
"In that process, more powerful allies will join us, and even stronger enemies will appear."
"If one day your strength can no longer keep pace with me, I won't stop and wait."
"Don't worry, Lord Locke!"
"That day will never come!"
"Wow—the Fiend Castle has issued a new mission!"
That day, inside the Fiend Castle's mission hall, a task glowing with golden light suddenly appeared.
"Where? Let me see!"
All the Fiends present raised their heads.
The moment they saw the mission; its contents flowed directly into their minds.
After years in Rockpeak City, the Fiends were already accustomed to this method.
Long-Term Mission: Expansion of the Fiend Castle
Target Cities: Buckley City, Red Maple City, Namor City
Mission Details:
Due to development needs, the three Five-Star Fiends—Fiend Locke, Fiend Rockpeak, and Fiend Ryan—will lead forces to establish new Fiend Castles. A group of Fiends is required to accompany them and expand Fiend operations.
Requirements:
One Three-Star FiendTwo hundred Two-Star FiendsFive hundred One-Star Fiends
(Please register with the three Lords. Selection will be based on order of registration.)
(End of Chapter)
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