Defying the Fate of Beheading

Chapter 808 - 416: The Calm Before the Storm, Dusk of the Empire (Part 2)

"That’s good." Louis snorted lightly, suddenly remembering something, "Speaking of which, is the Cosmic Serpent truly and completely dead?""You mean the half of its remaining body in the Jade Phoenix Alliance’s demiplane, right?"

"Yes, after all, strictly speaking, we only killed half of its body, the other half..."

"You don’t need to worry about that. It’s already completely dead, or rather, its core will has been shattered by you all, leaving only the body’s instincts in the remaining half."

"Hmm?" Louis’s eyes lit up as he said, "Does that mean we can use that half of the body as well?"

The little swan was stunned, thought for a moment, and said, "The way you say it, it doesn’t seem impossible."

"If there’s an opportunity, take the remaining half of the body out. Use it when needed, first enhance our combat power."

When it comes to these resources, he has no concept of sustainability.

Or rather, this thing inherently lacks the characteristic of sustainability.

The Cosmic Serpent is dead—dead.

Leaving these resources behind, the only effect would be hoping future generations have more opportunities.

But thinking about the current tense situation, if we don’t focus on enhancing military equipment, are we supposed to wait until we lose the war and everyone becomes a martyr?

"We can take it out, but we can’t use it all. We still need to maintain part of the body and seal it in the Jade Phoenix Alliance’s demiplane."

"Why?"

"Divine Realm creatures have a degree of immortality. Even if they are killed, they will return in another form, isn’t that something you and I both know?"

Louis fell silent.

He understood what Olivia was referring to.

Why many now call successors of great sins without really using names.

Even directly giving them the title of Great Sin·XX.

Typical example is Great Sin·Envy.

Even until death, most people only referred to him as Great Sin·Envy.

To many, each Great Sin·Envy is not an independent person but the same individual.

Or to say, Great Sin·Envy is just Great Sin·Envy itself.

For certain demigods, the eternal cycle of Great Sin·Envy’s power suits the definition of "individual" more than any host throughout generations.

It’s merely a way of rebirth for a Divine Realm creature after its fall—some powerful individuals may think so.

Louis understands their perspective too.

It’s similar to how, in some people’s eyes, Heaven’s Chosen have inherited the legacy of the Great Sage, but in the eyes of some Celestial Court gods, Heaven’s Chosen is just the reincarnation of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.

Even without the memories of the Great Sage, having learned three parts of the Great Sage’s divine powers, acquired the Great Sage’s previous equipment, and standing before you, who dares say that Heaven’s Chosen isn’t the Great Sage?

But nobody cares what Heaven’s Chosen thinks.

The Immortal Gods don’t care whether that rascal wants to reshape the body of the Great Sage or become the Great Sage.

They will only see him as the reincarnation of the Great Sage and keep trying to drag him into a new round of catastrophe.

Of course, in front of the little swan, or Louis, nobody dares to talk this way.

In the past, it was because of the Emperor, whose temper was simply too hot.

Now, it’s because of Louis’s father, who is among the new combat forces of the Divine Realm.

To put it bluntly, without the Emperor, this Louis, the living father, could crush half of the continent’s nations.

Oh wait, he doesn’t even need to personally enter the battlefield.

With the Curse Binding Legion alone, merely counting Louis’s Curse Binding Legion under his command, it’s the limit of countless nations.

What’s more fatal is that these two, the Emperor and the father, are family.

So there’s nothing more to say.

"But our situation is different from the Cosmic Serpent, right?"

Louis chuckled, "The owners of great sins are more like successors. This power, rather than the Divine Realm life itself, is more like external beneficial armor."

Olivia shrugged and said, "That’s our perspective. Some people don’t agree. They only think we are the Divine Realm life reincarnated once more..."

She paused for a moment before saying, "But one thing is certain: if we completely consume the remaining half of the Cosmic Serpent’s body, it might truly return from mythology."

"How so?"

"It was born a stellar creature, inherently a godlike creation. Occupying a powerful dominion, given a bit of time, it ascends to the Divine Realm. Such a being, even if we crush its bones and scatter its ashes, cannot change its own realm."

"So, when we destroy its body entirely, it will resurrect in the astral plane?"

"Yes, just like those fallen deities, under the supply of countless believers’ faith, perhaps they can anchor back in history and return."

"But the returning deity, though holding some memories from before death, isn’t easily seen as the same deity, right?"

"To the followers... they’re all the same."

Olivia’s words carried a deeper meaning.

All the same?

Louis shook his head and sighed.

Indeed, to certain entities, it’s all the same

Moreover, if a new Cosmic Serpent were to be born, even if it doesn’t harbor much malice towards Louis, he would wish such an existence wouldn’t rise so swiftly, especially not in this period.

"Then let’s leave part of the Cosmic Serpent’s flesh behind."

"Hmm, we’ll take the rest with us."

Olivia refrained from saying any saintly words like "giving to other nations." Ultimately, the core of this battle is centered on the Ense Empire, whether it’s the Demon King Army or the soon-to-arrive Abyssal Legion.

At most, half of Lokeshi Empire, and a small bit of Tunisia.

Yet now, the Lokeshi Empire, supposedly a pillar, has disappointed him with its action capability in this conflict.

So much so that Louis and Olivia have contemplated abandoning fantasy of allies, shifting to mobilizing the entire Ense core forces.

Mobilize national strength, fight a war with no retreat.

Win, and the whole nation rises.

Fail, and it was a destined calamity.

...

[Location: Lokeshi Empire · Imperial Capital]

Tal Griffin sat quietly at the table, speaking in a low voice, "How’s the arrangement coming along?"

A top warrior of the Griffin Family stood silently there, speaking in a soft voice:

"Patriarch, do we really need to take this path?"

Tal sat there in silence for a long time, eventually setting down his work and saying:

"You should know, when I speak of escape, it’s not truly abandoning everyone and running away, right?"

"I understand, and I know what you mean, but the cost is too harsh. Could we not wait a little? What if we win?"

Tal Griffin shook his head, "No, the gods want our philosophy to perish, for everything associated with us to lose its basis on the continent. Just as they maintain order, they also harbor their own desires. To me, I hope the Lokeshi people will first believe in themselves."

He closed his eyes, "Only then will the god within me not perish."

"Yes."

"Is that person coming soon?"

"Yes, Lord Louis is approaching the Imperial Capital soon."

"I agreed to the other bloodline potion matters, this counts as my account to their side as well... and it provides them another way out."

"Yes."

Tal looked up towards the window.

Outside, the bustling lights reflected the city’s unease.

The news cannot be suppressed forever.

The major upheaval around the Lokeshi Imperial Capital has already spread.

Predictably, at the push of interested parties, this transmission speed will propagate throughout the Imperial Capital’s circle overnight.

Then a new round of turmoil will sprout from here.

Just because of a simple truth, which is that the resident’s life safety can no longer be assured, let alone higher-level needs.

At such times, more and more people will become frantic in their pursuit of security.

And this has been within his expectations.

Because...

He’s known for a long time; this situation is the result of tacit approval by various forces.

But they permit it; Tal does not.

"Notify all departments to prepare, face the impending impact, enter full war mode until the escape plan is completely executed."

From now on, he must cooperate with Bart Jean’s faction in a short time.

How others think, he doesn’t care.

What he needs is for the plan to be successfully implemented.