If a particular city had too many Fiends and not enough missions to go around, Little White would quietly transfer a portion of them to cities where manpower was lacking.
Over the years, he had learned how to balance supply and demand across countless Fiend Castles, maintaining equilibrium between Fiends and available missions.
Though his personal strength wasn't particularly outstanding among Highgods, the pressure of managing an ever-expanding organization had forged in him a calm temperament and steady judgment.
Which was precisely why Locke found it strange to see such panic on Little White's face.
"Are you worried we'll be ambushed by the Nightblaze Prefecture Lord?" Locke asked mildly.
Little White gave a bitter smile.
"No, Lord Locke. I'm not afraid we'll be attacked."
He truly wasn't.
When he was at Locke's side, danger had never felt real.
If anything, the danger belonged to whoever tried to attack them.
Even if Nightblaze Prefecture's Lord, Kurus, personally attempted an assassination, Little White believed with absolute certainty that the outcome would be reversed.
So, what could possibly trouble him?
"Lord Locke," Little White said quietly, "at the current speed of our metal lifeform, it will take at least three years to reach Nightblaze Prefecture."
He paused, lowering his head.
"But your battle with the Prefecture Lord is in less than two years."
The words felt heavy in the air.
According to the rules of the Duels Arena, if the challenger failed to appear on the appointed day, defeat would be declared automatically.
If Locke missed the duel…
Even if he later challenged again, his reputation would suffer irreparable damage.
The entire purpose of this challenge — to announce the Fiend Castle's rise — would collapse into ridicule.
At worst, the newly established "Seven-Star Fiend" might be dismissed as nothing more than a bluff.
Little White's chest tightened.
If that happened, the name "Fiend" would no longer signify elite strength — it would become a joke.
"Ah," Locke said softly. "I see."
He wasn't blaming Little White. The oversight was his own. He had failed to calculate the distance from Barkley City to Nightblaze Prefecture before issuing the challenge.
And this battle was not merely personal.
If he crushed Kurus cleanly, the Fiend Castle would enter a new era of explosive growth.
But if he failed to even appear…
The momentum they had built over centuries would fracture.
"Little White," Locke asked calmly, "you said it would take about three years at our current speed?"
"Yes."
Little White nodded. "Should we return to Barkley City and check whether the Azure Castle has a higher-grade metal lifeform for sale?"
Even if Barkley didn't have one, they could send word ahead to intermediary cities and arrange a purchase en route.
It was a practical solution.
But Locke smiled instead.
"There's no need."
Little White blinked.
"You said it would take three years at our current speed. So, if we double our speed… wouldn't we arrive in under two?"
Little White instinctively began to object.
"That's impossible—"
But his voice trailed off.
Impossible?
For others, perhaps.
But this was Locke.
In the next instant, the blue-haired figure before him shimmered.
A white-haired, white-robed youth stood in his place.
Locke's Fate divine clone.
Long ago — when the Fiend Castle first surpassed one thousand branches — this clone had already reached the God realm. And just like his other clones, its divine power was nine times that of ordinary Gods.
Locke raised two fingers before his chest.
Brilliant white divine power swirled at his fingertips.
"Edict: Double Speed."
Soft white light enveloped the metal lifeform.
In the next heartbeat—
The world lurched.
Even Little White staggered slightly as the vessel surged forward, its speed instantly doubling.
"This…!"
It looked absurdly simple.
Just change clones. Speak a few words.
And reality obeyed.
If Locke knew what Little White was thinking, he might have laughed.
Water Laws were relatively easy to shape into techniques through creativity.
But Fate…
Fate was far more abstract.
Over three hundred years of study had yielded only two true techniques.
The first: Edict — a distilled, combat-focused evolution of the "Great Prophecy" once created by Auf.
The second: Foresight — the ability to trace the trajectory of a being's destiny and glimpse a second into the future.
In battle, those two techniques were devastating.
Even now, Locke calculated the expenditure of Fate divine power.
One augmentation could sustain double speed for three days.
At this rate…
He would spend the next year and a half almost entirely channeling divine power.
So be it.
Some things were worth the strain.
Nightblaze Prefecture.
Rockpeak stepped out of his metal lifeform and immediately sensed a familiar aura.
He looked up—
Ryan stood nearby, arms folded.
Rockpeak burst into laughter and strode forward, clapping him on the shoulder.
"Ryan! I don't recall telling you I'd arrive today. How'd you know?"
Ryan blinked. "Rockpeak? You're here today?"
Rockpeak paused.
"I'm not here to greet you," Ryan added bluntly. "I didn't know you were coming."
"…What?"
After a moment, Rockpeak narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
"Locke is arriving?"
Ryan nodded. "One of the Fiends traveling from Barkley has a divine clone in my former city. That's how I got the news."
Rockpeak exhaled. "Lucky you. I only had a rough estimate. I didn't know the exact date."
Ryan scratched his head.
"Actually… I don't know the exact date either."
"…Then why are you here?"
"I estimated the time frame and have been waiting here every day."
Rockpeak stared at him.
"…Who are you, and what have you done with Ryan? He's not smart enough for this."
Ryan frowned. "Do you always think I'm an idiot?"
"Yes."
"…."
After a brief exchange of insults — their old rhythm unchanged — the two stood side by side, refraining from spreading their divine sense recklessly.
This was a Prefecture City. Powerhouses were everywhere.
Especially now.
The duel between Locke and Kurus had drawn experts from across the Infernal Realm.
Even Rockpeak and Ryan could sense the weight of powerful auras scattered throughout the city.
Over three centuries, Rockpeak had advanced half a step deeper into the Destruction Edicts. His strength had nearly doubled. Among Five-Star Fiends, he was far from weak.
Ryan's growth, however, was even more terrifying.
Gravity Space and Essence of the Earth had fused to the brink of completion.
He stood at the very edge of true Five-Star Fiend level — not merely in physical strength, but in full-spectrum power.
Once that final thread fused…
He would surpass Rockpeak.
Time passed.
Then—
Both men stiffened simultaneously.
Far on the horizon, a strange metal lifeform cloaked in white radiance appeared.
Ryan grinned.
Rockpeak's eyes shone.
"Locke."
And the air itself seemed to tighten in anticipation.
⭐ Enjoying the story?
You can read ahead and support the translations by joining my Patreon! Your support helps me update faster and take on more projects. Thank you for reading!
Read up to 50 chapters ahead!
patreon.com/AminaSims
Next Bonus Chapter at 200 powerstones.