Chapter 79: Back to Belobog~

The Lord Ravager named Scorching Flare; Zephyro laughed without restraint.

"This isn't good news, Scorching Flare. If Phantylia has been captured, and the Xianzhou Alliance learns our Legion's secrets through her, then..."

In the image, Celenova spoke.

"What's the big deal? Strike first! As long as we destroy those guys completely, everything will be solved!"

Scorching Flare proposed his "precious" opinion with a fiery gaze.

-----------------------------

There wasn't much connection between the Lord Ravagers.

Of course, if they wanted to contact each other, they could always find the person they wanted to meet.

Although the things Phantylia did some time ago weren't widely spread throughout the cosmos, for the well-informed Celenova, knowing her whereabouts was as easy as lifting a finger.

She just didn't expect that Phantylia would actually be captured alive.

To her, that shouldn't have happened—whether it was carrying out her illusions or invoking the power of destruction, any of that should have spared her from imprisonment.

But she didn't, in fact, they didn't expect that the situation would turn out the way it did.

Zephyro didn't care about any of that. He just wanted to bring destruction to those worlds. Of course, mocking Phantylia along the way was essential.

"By the way, where is Phantylia being held?" Zephyro asked, just about to take action.

"Xianzhou Luofu." Celenova replied.

She was also happy to see Zephyro destroy Luofu.

Burn away all the humiliation of destruction.

As for whether he would fail, that wasn't something Celenova considered.

Zephyro was different from Phantylia—he was best at directly burning enemies to ashes like matches. "One Man Army" was the name Zephyro earned after destroying countless worlds.

Celenova believed he would bring back news of victory.

...

Fu Xuan reluctantly left the Scalegorge Waterscape.

Compared to the outside world, the natural aura and the vibrant life of the Scalegorge Waterscape resonated more with her inner choice. If she could, she would've moved the Divination Commission here.

But unfortunately, she couldn't. Although the Vidyadhara were in a somewhat awkward situation due to the preceptor's reckless actions, a sealed place like the Scalegorge Waterscape that held the Ambrosial Arbor couldn't possibly allow one of the Six Charioteers to reside there.

This was also to prevent others from making a move on the Ambrosial Arbor like Phantylia did.

In fact, there were quite a few with such intentions. After interrogating that batch of Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, it turned out that they had such ideas, but before they could act, they ran into the combo of Godzilla and Jing Yuan.

"Sigh, such a short time, yet it feels like..."

Fu Xuan raised her right hand to touch her Third Eye. After leaving the Scalegorge Waterscape, she stepped onto the Star skiff.

The familiar pain struck again—the farther the distance, the stronger the pain.

She even felt like all her past pains combined didn't compare to this.

She knew it was an illusion—a trick by the body to make her want to return to the Scalegorge Waterscape.

"Sigh." She sighed helplessly, feeling like she was falling apart.

She used to be full of life at this time, even having the leisure to catch the slacking Qingque while taking a break from her light workload.

...

"That's all the changes in the Scalegorge Waterscape. Truly amazing," Fu Xuan said seriously.

"To think such wondrous effects could emerge in just a short while. Godzilla, this really is..."

Jing Yuan stared at the footage Fu Xuan brought back, lost in thought.

All this data was taken by Fu Xuan from the Starskiff.

At the time, she had no time to deal with it.

...

Life returned to peace in the following days.

Except for the occasional mysterious explosions from the Scalegorge Waterscape, everything seemed to be operating smoothly.

Meanwhile, the Stellaron Hunters were preparing to leave Luofu.

Taking one last look at her familiar little den, Silver Wolf sighed.

"I actually kinda liked staying here."

"If only you drank less Happy tea and didn't spend all day gaming on the couch," Kafka said helplessly.

"Tch, that's my way of cheering you on. Who told you all to be running around every day, especially that Blade—minor scuffles every three days, major chaos every five. I almost died from second-hand embarrassment."

Silver Wolf waved her hand, voicing her hardships.

"And I also scoped out the perfect timing for us. If we missed it, we'd be surrounded mid-air by the Cloud Knights. Trust me, you do not want to provoke Luofu's violent authority on their turf. In game terms: you absolutely do not want to fight a boss on its home ground—a boss with endless buffs, random adds, and the ability to transform mid-battle. Absolutely not!"

Silver Wolf said with conviction.

Kafka nodded slightly.

She thought of Silver Wolf getting crushed in-game last night and smiled faintly.

"Let's see... the Jade Gate is open, no patrols nearby. Okay, let's go. Mm-hmm~ I can't stand these butchered storylines anymore."

As Silver Wolf's words fell, the spaceship vanished from the dock in an instant, leaving behind a trail of hyper-speed legend.

...

Stelle turned her head, sensing the sealed gate of the Scalegorge Waterscape behind her.

Her instinct told her Kafka had left.

Not long ago, Kafka had approached her once. No conflict broke out, she just chatted and played a bit of a game before informing her she was leaving.

Which was fine.

The Stellaron Hunters always made her feel like a crisis could break out at any moment.

At least this time, it wasn't them.

Thoughts returning, Stelle focused her mind once more.

Sitting gracefully on the lawn, drawing—Ruan Mei.

She didn't recognize the writing, couldn't understand it, but the drawings... she was far too familiar with.

They were all over her clothes!

"What's wrong, cutie? Staring at me like that?"

Ruan Mei tilted her head with a curious look.

"Nothing, just looking," Stelle used a skill she learned aboard the Xianzhou—no matter the situation, just say this and no one will press you.

Very useful. Some who don't understand human words need a bat to communicate.

Ruan Mei shook her head and continued sketching.

Unable to approach Godzilla, she decided to record its physical features, growth, and visible characteristics.

Much of it she knew from her own cloned Godzilla.

Even though the clone and the real Godzilla were very different, considering individual differences among the same species, she recorded it anyway.

Stelle narrowed her eyes, watching Ruan Mei warily.

That's why she was watching her—she hadn't forgotten that encounter at the Herta Space Station.

Starcrusher Swarm King: Skaracabaz.

If that thing weren't an incomplete clone that disintegrated after fifty-six seconds of combat, she might not have survived.

Naturally, seeing Ruan Mei again put her on high alert.

March 7th even thought something was wrong with her and tried to drag her to Bailu for a check-up.

"Here."

Ruan Mei tore off a page and handed it to Stelle—a sketch of a lazy Godzilla, masterfully drawn, vividly capturing Godzilla's laziness.

Stelle's eyes went wide at first glance.

Miss Ruan Mei's personal sketch! If word got out, imagine how many people would be jealous!

Holding the painting with that kind of fantasy, she put it away.

As the saying goes, don't bite the hand that feeds you.

Having received such a gift, Stelle...

...continued watching her closely.

"Hehe, I knew this one wouldn't trust you,"

Herta said bluntly, smiling as she spoke.

"Sigh." Ruan Mei sighed softly, her moonlight-like eyes gazing at Stelle. Without any exaggerated gestures, just her look alone conveyed a pitiful charm.

"Dear, trust me. This time I really won't do anything. You've seen it—I can't do anything here anyway."

Stelle gave a small nod. That part she did believe.

With Phantylia's still sealed, this Lord Ravager's restriction effect here was so comforting it could make one's soul feel at ease.

"Phantylia, energy-based lifeform... that really brings up the—"

"I'm very sorry, the Phase Flame is still missing." Ruan Mei apologized.

She still had not found the Phase Flame Herta had given her before.

The Phase Flame — the creation of Sserkal, the 29th seat of the Genius Society.

A flame that runs around on its own.

...

"You actually have a day like this too." Herta said scornfully to the helpless Phantylia.

"Weren't you pretty cocky the last time we met? Why so quiet now?"

Just then, a weak voice came from the hexagonal bronze vessel.

"Lady Herta, this lady knows her wrongs, please let me out of this cramped cage, I truly can't bear it anymore. If you're willing to let me out, I'll become your sharpest blade and guard the space station for you."

Phantylia's voice was weaker than expected.

But Herta knew this was just a typical pity act from this one.

A proper Emanator wouldn't be weakened this badly by something like this.

Not even if Godzilla absorbed her.

Of course, assuming Godzilla doesn't increase the intensity of his adsorption.

But from what she observed, Godzilla was very good at self-control, and absorbed energy from the Inhibitor intermittently.

As a Emanator of Destruction, Phantylia's ability to draw Energy from the Path of Destruction far surpassed most people.

This device could trap her, but not prevent her from drawing that energy.

At most, it just converted her absorbed energy into external defense — and not very efficiently.

But when a device capable of trapping Phantylia meets a Godzilla capable of absorbing her energy, that combo left a deep impression on Phantylia.

"Enough. Save your strength. Goodnight."

After speaking, Herta pressed two cube-like items into the missing slots of the hexagonal bronze vessel.

Then, Phantylia's incessant voice disappeared.

"Done. Perfect."

Herta looked at her handiwork with satisfaction.

A piece that brought some peace to her ears.

"Let me take a look at this thing — hey?! Give it back!"

Just as Herta was about to continue her study, a thick, long tail suddenly flicked up the hexagonal bronze and caught it firmly in the air.

In all of the Scalegorge Waterscape, who else could have such a perfect tail but Godzilla?

"Hey! That's not fair! That was my hard work!"

Herta shouted furiously at Godzilla, trying to appeal to whatever conscience he had left.

Though she'd researched many things, this one matched her original idea the best — and now you just ruin it like slaughtering a donkey after it's done with the millstone!

"Snort!"

A breath shot out.

Godzilla raised his head slightly, looking down at Herta, who was tiptoeing but still lower than the tilt of his gaze.

...

Another night and day passed.

Jarilo-VI welcomed a new morning once again.

"Mmm—ah!"

Bathed in the clear sunlight, stretching her back and feeling the comfortable soreness in her waist, Serval let out a seductive moan.

Then, the sky darkened.

"Huh?"

Before Serval could react —

Boom!

A familiar tremor struck again, even stronger than any time before.

Then, Serval saw that massive figure she'd dreamed of day and night.

"Big guy, you're back!"

...

The Luofu Xianzhou was great.

Jing Yuan would occasionally swipe things from the Artisanship Commission to give him.

But he still preferred the little den he first started in.

Not because there was anything particularly special about it, but simply that the vibe of the Xianzhou couldn't compare to Jarilo-VI.

As a world ship launched 8,000 years ago, its once overwhelming core had long been transformed after thousands of years of modification.

The soil was not even real soil.

That high-tech aura — Godzilla could sense it no matter how it tried to hide.

Compared to such a place, Godzilla preferred Jarilo-VI, which adapted and changed around him.

The Xianzhou also changed — but it was never quite the same.

So, he returned.

Of course, there were other less-important reasons.

Ruan Mei and Herta were too noisy.

He didn't want to hit over 200 home runs just yet.

...

Qlipoth Fortress.

"Godzilla has returned!"

Cocolia exclaimed in delight.

"Yes! I saw it with my own eyes. The Lord God has returned to his residence. Serval and Miss Tingyun are with him."

Cocolia let out a breath, trying not to get too excited.

"Thank goodness. With the Lord God back, everyone's hearts can be at ease again." Bronya patted her chest and sighed in relief.

Godzilla's brief departure had been a disaster for most of Jarilo-VI.

Of course, not in a literal sense — but mentally, spiritually.

Especially since everyone had gone through the catastrophe once. Now that they'd finally seen the light of dawn, if that light went out again, they truly wouldn't know what to do.

After all, they didn't have the means for interstellar travel to seek their own light.

Fortunately, Godzilla came back.

...

While Jarilo-VI rejoiced, the Luofu side was grumbling.

"Godzilla's gone back... yeah, that spatial travel ability is just too convenient. Sigh, if only I had it, I could get between the Hotel and the Exalting Sanctum in under ten minutes," Jing Yuan murmured.

"Jing Yuan! Do you realize how serious this is?!"

Fu Xuan slapped the table, looking dead serious.

"Do you know? During this time, the Alchemy Commission has been completely stable. Every Cloud Knight near Godzilla says they feel lighter, more energized. Even the Ten-Lords Commission ruled that they won't fall into Mara soon. Do you not realize how precious this is?!"

After Fu Xuan's outburst, Jing Yuan finally spoke: "But what can we do? Godzilla comes and goes as he pleases. We can't stop him. (Not that they could even if they tried.). "

Even a Emanator couldn't be stopped from entering or leaving the Xianzhou — let alone Godzilla.

Fu Xuan's expression softened slightly, but that didn't mean she accepted Jing Yuan's carefree attitude.

"General, among the Cloud Knights stationed nearby are several who've hit their six-hundredth year. You know the Ten-Lords Commission watches those over 800 years old closely — and those in their six-hundreds are dangerously close to falling into Mara."

In the end, Fu Xuan could only sigh.

Jing Yuan wasn't wrong — Godzilla's comings and goings were entirely up to him. He was the one who fought alongside the Xianzhou against a Destruction Emanator. If it weren't for Godzilla, who even knew whether the Xianzhou could still sail properly?

On the other hand, Fu Xuan didn't want to admit it, but she liked being near Godzilla.

That feeling was a long-lost warmth and peace.

Hearing Fu Xuan's words, Jing Yuan's face remained calm.

Cloud Knights in their six-hundreds — whether in strength or wisdom — were top-tier. If not for the Mara threat, they should've been placed in easier posts, or sent to the front if they refused to rest.

Godzilla's presence gave him hope for the future.

If even this level of threat could be suppressed — then what about himself?

Did that mean…

"Haha, you worry too much, Diviner Fu. Since Godzilla returned to Jarilo-VI, it shows he's sentimental. While the Luofu may not be as rich in revitalizing energy as Jarilo-VI, it's not bad. I think he'll come back when he has time."

Jing Yuan laughed.

Fu Xuan snorted lightly, already plotting how to lure Godzilla back more often.

...

Godzilla's departure and return had completely different effects in both places, but to Godzilla, it didn't matter —

As long as he felt good, he could fight ten Phantylia's if he had to.

"You sure took your time,"

Tingyun said in a tone both teasing and resentful as she looked at Godzilla.

She hadn't even gone home yet, and this guy already had a whole vacation there.

And he'd stayed there that long? Was the Scalegorge Waterscape really that great?

She remembered it being a lifeless place.

Didn't it suffer some kind of disaster long ago?