Although the Sovereign soldiers had already sensed from the strength of the divine sense that a Highgod was approaching, seeing Locke in person still made their breathing tighten.
A Highgod.
A being who had completely comprehended one element's Laws.
Before a Highgod, Gods were nothing more than ants to be crushed at will.
Even within the Azure Dragon Legion, Highgods were at minimum squad captains.
"This island is a stationed territory of the Azure Dragon Legion under Sovereign Redding," one God squad leader stepped forward despite the fear in his heart. "May we ask your purpose in coming here, sir?"
"I wish to see Sovereign Redding," Locke replied calmly. "Can you contact him?"
"…See Sovereign Redding?"
The soldiers exchanged looks.
Contact a Sovereign?
They were merely legion soldiers.
Though nominally under Sovereign Redding, they were managed only by the Legion Commander and Vice Commanders.
Since joining the Azure Dragon Legion, their duties consisted solely of guarding the archipelago.
They had never once seen the Sovereign.
Nor did they believe themselves qualified.
"Sir, you overestimate us," the squad leader said bitterly. "In the eyes of a Sovereign, we are no more than insects."
"To be granted status in the Water Divine Plane is already a boundless blessing. How could we dare hope to see the Sovereign?"
Locke nodded inwardly.
He understood.
Even using himself as an example—
He was the founder of Fiend Castle, and the only publicly acknowledged Seven-Star Fiend in Hell.
Countless Fiends revered him and longed to meet him.
Yet how many could truly gain an audience?
Aside from Kurus, Ryan, Rockpeak, Dalton, and a handful of Five-Star Fiends seeking promotion—
Almost no one.
And that was by design.
Three-Star Fiends and above required verification from higher-star Fiends to advance.
Five-Star Fiends seeking Six-Star recognition had to be assessed by him personally.
Of course—
None of them truly possessed Six-Star strength.
They merely wished to see him.
After indulging them once, Locke had set a rule:
Anyone seeking Six-Star recognition must survive one strike from him.
Survive — you are Six-Star.
Die — you were overreaching.
That ended the farce.
Even Kurus had nearly died under that palm strike.
How could the others compare?
Applying the same reasoning—
Only the Azure Dragon Legion's Commander likely had the right to contact Sovereign Redding directly.
Locke wondered briefly—
Had Redding's children, Gaius and Gaia, been born yet?
"Very well," Locke said. "Then where is your Legion Commander stationed?"
"Surely he can contact the Sovereign."
The God hesitated.
If Locke clashed with the Commander—
Would he be implicated?
"Relax," Locke said lightly. "I harbor no ill intent."
"The location of your Legion Commander is not secret. I could ask others."
"I merely wish to deliver information to Sovereign Redding — in exchange for a promise."
"This information could allow Sovereign Redding to advance further."
"If so, you may also receive his reward."
The squad leader's heart trembled.
To be favored by a Sovereign—
Even requesting a suitable Highgod divine spark would not be excessive.
"…Very well, sir."
"Commander Drossett resides on Dragon's Belly Island, approximately Ten billion km's from here."
Ten billion km.
At his current metal lifeform's speed—
Six years.
"Thank you."
Locke tossed him a black divine spark before summoning his metal lifeform and departing.
The squad leader froze.
"…This is… a Water Highgod divine spark?"
He had assumed it was merely a God spark.
But upon probing it—
He sensed all six Water profound mysteries.
A complete Highgod divine spark.
His subordinates stared in envy.
A Highgod spark could sell for over thirty million Froststones.
Or—
Within a thousand years—
He could refine it and become a Highgod.
Yes, refining divine sparks created the weakest tier of Highgod.
But even the weakest Highgod was more than ten times stronger than a God.
And not everyone could reach Highgod through cultivation.
Two barriers broke most practitioners:
Entry.
And completion.
Lose your spirit once—
And progress often ended forever.
This squad leader had clearly already lost his momentum.
Only such people should refine divine sparks.
To those still advancing—
It would kill their future.
Five Years Later
Five years passed.
During that time—
Locke completely fused four Water profound mysteries.
Combined with ninefold Highgod divine power—
He stepped into the final Fiend Castle tier:
Asura-level combat strength.
And at last—
He arrived at Dragon's Belly Island.
The main stronghold of the Azure Dragon Legion.
He was immediately detected.
Dragon's Belly Island housed the Legion's elite.
Over one thousand Highgods.
Terrifying.
Even Locke's Fiend Castle across Nightblaze Prefecture only registered slightly over three thousand Highgod Fiends.
And those were loosely affiliated mercenaries.
Truly under Locke's command?
Fewer than thirty.
The Azure Dragon Legion's thousand Highgods, however—
Were direct military subordinates.
A Sovereign Legion indeed.
And this was not even their full force.
Many had been dispatched to material planes to gather faith.
"Who dares to fly over Dragon's Belly Island without permission?!"
Streams of light shot into the sky.
Dozens of Highgods blocked Locke's path.
Dragon's Belly Island represented Sovereign Redding's authority.
No one flew overhead.
To do so was provocation.
"Seven-Star Fiend Locke of Fiend Castle," Locke said calmly, stopping midair.
"I request an audience with Commander Havos of the Azure Dragon Legion."
"Please inform him."
"Hmph. Fiend Castle? Never heard of it."
"From which backwater did you crawl out?"
"You trespass our airspace and dare demand to see the Commander?"
The Highgods' eyes burned with cold fury.
To them—
This was not merely arrogance.
It was disrespect toward a Sovereign.
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