Invasion (1)
Scotaskia, the headquarters of the Darkness Church in the Landea Mountains.
Pope Castalo II and Saintess Sermen shivered in the Hall of Stars, which was made of obsidian, as they watched the scene in front of them unfold.
“What the hell is going on?”
“I don’t know, Saintess.”
Darkness swirled in the center of the hall. It was indeed sinister darkness.
It wasn’t like this until a little while ago.
As the most distinguished clergy to serve Kybriel, they were the first to notice the extraordinary events of the world.
A change in the darkness had occurred. They couldn’t explain it, but they felt it.
“What’s this?”
“Kybriel’s night is back!”
They shed tears with joy, prayed, and praised her.
At that moment, another change occurred.
The night felt strange.
The world hadn’t changed at all for those who couldn’t see it, but those who could feel it knew better. Ominous darkness ran from the end of the world to the end of the night.
Surprised, they went to the Hall of Stars, where they saw pitch-black energy.
The shadows swirled and appeared across the place, and the duo could do nothing but watch them appear in fear.
When the darkness subsided, a group of people appeared.
The Goddess of Darkness and her apostles.
All of them were extremely pale. Sermen asked the female cautiously, “… Are you Kybriel?”
Looking back at the two, the black-haired beauty shook her head.
“No, I’m still Kibie.”
If she was still the reincarnation, then what the hell happened?
“Dear incarnation.”
Pope Castalo II lifted his head as he continued.
“Is Latna saved?”
Kibie couldn’t answer back.
Instead, one of the Goddess’s apostles, a giant muscular swordsman, answered bitterly in her stead.
“… I don’t think so.”
“What do you mean?”
The two were confused, but Han-bin’s group no longer spoke to them. They didn’t want to feel even more defeated.
Looking around, asked Artis.
“Is it only us?”
Only Ryu Han-bin, Kibie, Leon Hart, Artis, Effir, and Plater returned to the Hall of Stars.
“Where are all those old Dragons and knights?”
Kibie sighed.
“I couldn’t transfer everyone here.”
Plater understood.
“The Goddess truly treats all creatures with fairness.”
Kibie saved the Upper Draconium and the knights first.
However, that could be seen as an unfair treatment for those who had served her harder.
So instead of taking care of them later, she cast the Path of Shadows and took them all with her.
“Then where are the Ancient Dragons and the other knights?”
Leon Hart replied, “They were just put on the road. They should be scattered randomly throughout Latna by now.”
“… So you just threw them away?”
Didn’t it sound like they were thrown somewhere random in the world?
Ryu Han-bin frowned. He also had a similar experience.
“They’re all strong enough, aren’t they? It shouldn’t matter where they end up.
Besides the Ancient Dragons of Upper Draconium, the 1,000 knights of the Kaldris and Mado Kingdom were all leveled around the 80s and 90s.
“Wherever they are in Latna, they are strong enough to protect themselves.”
Kibie shook her head.
“If Latna stays this way…”
The Devil Omphalos had descended. The world wouldn’t remain the same.
Effir asked her in fear.
“What’s going to happen now?”
“… The invasion will begin.”
Omphalos had been aiming for their world for hundreds of years.
Now that he had stepped into Latna, they could guess how he would act.
Recalling the six Goddesses, the incarnation of darkness sighed deeply.
“We’ll be the first to rule in our world.”
* * *
The crack released angels endlessly.
Tens of millions of beautiful winged beings floated in the sky.
It didn’t stop there. The cracks ripped and grew.
Something of great mass appeared amid Latna’s evening.
A castle descended from the air, decorated with dazzling white palaces, marble, gold, white silver, and numerous towers and buildings.
It was the Dimensional Palace of Omphalos who was both the incarnation and the essence of the Devil.
Boom!
With a roar, the Dimensional Palace sank on the basin.
It was unsure if it was a coincidence, but the size of the basin and palace were almost the same. The entire peak was filled, and the top of the mountain beautifully shone, as if it was wearing a crown.
As he stood in a huge square to the west of the palace, Omphalos’s incarnation smiled with delight.
“Oh, good parking. It’s on the right space.”
An answer was heard from behind him.
“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
He was a giant whose whole body shone brilliantly.
“I don’t know the customs of the earth, my Lord.”
He had a heavenly physique and height, with golden wings subtly swaying on his back and his entirety protected by silver armor.
Looking at him, Omphalos shrugged.
“Wasn’t that your job, Catilon?”
The man shook his head politely.
“It was Neacelli, Ectos, and Megisto’s job to observe the Earth and collect the chosen people.”
“Then I understand why you don’t know.”
Five beams of light soared from the peak of the Emerald Tower in the center of the Dimensional Palace.
They cut through the air quickly, reaching the square. Humanoid figures sprang up around Omphalos.
They all looked similar to Catilon, armed and armored.
They looked around and burst into praise.
“This is Latna…”
“What a world full of grace.”
“Not by the grace of our Lord.”
“It is the false grace of the fake deities.”
“It is our destiny to fill this world with true divine authority!”
They were all filled with loyalty and admiration to Omphalos.
“Honestly speaking, aren’t the Goddesses real? I’m just a thief.”
Looking back at his apostles, Omphalos pouted.
“Why are you pretending to be so good when you’re here to steal other people’s stuff?”
Contempt against their master was an unforgivable great sin.
But what if it came from their master himself?
In bewilderment, the apostles stared at Omphalos.
“My Lord?”
With a solemn look on his face, Omphalos gazed at the world.
“The six Goddesses are the true masters of Latna. They have worked hard to shape this world.”
He licked his lips.
“Thank them for their hard work so we can take this world from them respectfully.”
Only then did the Devil’s apostles laughed along with him.
With a relaxed smile, Omphalos looked around the Emerald Tower.
“By the way…”
Another ray of light was fired from the Emerald Tower.
A huge cocoon of light, displaying a woman’s silhouette inside, fell in front of Omphalos.
Smoothing the surface, he frowned.
“I purposely arranged the numbers, but a seventh apostle was born.”
The Six Apostles of the Devil Omphalos.
Catillon of Light, Telbaran of Darkness, Megisto of Fire, Pecrelum of Water, Neacelli of Wind, Ectos of Earth.
They had long been planned to replace the six Goddesses of Latna.
However, a seventh unscheduled child was born.
“Thanks to you, things went well, so I’m going to keep my promise…”
Omphalos muttered, looking inside the cocoon.
“What should I name this child?”
The six apostles of the Devil all fell on the floor of the square.
“Our Lord!”
“Do as you please!”
“Us humble servants must simply follow you!”
Omphalos looked back at them, dumbfounded.
“I wasn’t asking for your permission. I was asking you if you had any ideas.”
The apostles’ heads banged on the floor.
“Forgive us!”
“We were foolish and could not understand your bright intentions!”
Omphalos sighed.
“Alright, it’s my fault.”
He knew he shouldn’t expect a creative answer.
No, they didn’t even have a concept of creativity.
They were just loyal followers.
“Sometimes, when I look at you guys, I can’t help but envy Earthlings.”
At that time, one of the apostles sneaked up his hand.
It was Ectos of Earth.
“How about this?”
Omphalos smirked when he heard his opinion.
“Did you pick this up from Earth’s culture?”
“That’s my responsibility, after all…”
“Good. Not bad.”
Was it because he had been managing the chosen ones for a long time? Ectos was one of the six apostles with an inorganic doll-like speech and actions and was the only one with the convenience of free will.
Omphalos closed his eyes for a moment.
The cocoon wriggled.
Soon enough, he opened his eyes again, which then sparkled beautifully, reminiscent of the vast universe.
“I give you a new destiny, creature of Latna.”
The words of Omphalos’s incarnation echoed.
“Wake up, my apostle, Genovia of the Void.”
The cocoon ripped, and a blonde black beauty appeared along with bursts of light.
Like the other apostles, she was armed to the teeth and had wings on her back.
However, there was a difference.
Her armor was as red as blood, and her wings were a dull grey.
“Sigh…”
With a deep breath, Genovia opened her eyes. She felt rejuvenated, stronger.
“Your servant greets you, my Lord.”
Omphalos beckoned, leaving her behind.
“Move, my apostles. Do what you are supposed to do.”
The six apostles of the Devil all flew into the air.
Thousands of angels followed in their footsteps.
A huge river of light, divided into six streams, drifted through the night sky.
Genovia, who was kneeling, raised her head and asked him a question.
“What am I supposed to do?”
Omphalos snorted as he looked back at her.
“Nothing, for now, since you weren’t part of the plan.”
He soared into the air.
A beautiful throne was created out of nowhere, giving him a seat worthy of his existence.
“I heard that in Earth’s culture, whenever newcomers join, they often ask them for a hot beverage.”
Sitting on the throne, he muttered in a playful tone.
“Can I get a cup of coffee?”
Genovia’s eyes widened.
“What is coffee?”
“… Alright, I’ll do it.”
Just by turning his fingers lightly, an elegant mug filled with espresso appeared.
“Well, this is my favorite thing on Earth.”
The Devil sipped and laughed.
“Well, then…”
The Emerald Tower, which overshadowed everything behind the throne, vibrated and shook.
“Let’s begin.”
The wavelengths of light radiated in all directions around it, and invisible forces were engulfed by it throughout Latna.
A light rose before Omphalos’s eyes.
[The Planet Predation process is in progress.]
It was a message box, just like that of the Guidelines.
[Phase 1, the Absolute Skill: Lord Throughout Heaven and Earth has been activated.]
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