Forest of Truth’s edge, Mike looked at the purple shadow before him, falling into silence. Something felt off.
“Shadow 8008, that name is too strange,” Shadow Seven frowned, trying to sound mature. “How about… I call you BOOB?”
“Pfft—” Mike nearly spat out blood. What kind of weird name was that?
“Shadow Seven, people also call me Deathsinger. You can call me that.”
“Deathsinger… alright,” Shadow Seven suddenly asked, “Is it because your singing is terrible that they call you that?”
Before Mike could answer, Shadow Seven hurriedly explained, “I had a friend who sang terribly and was also called [Death Song]. Kid, you remind me of an old friend from over fifty years ago. Ah, those were the days of glorious battles.”
Mike: Fifty years ago, you weren’t even a fertilized egg… Are you talking about yourself?
Mike forced himself to stay composed, “Master Shadow Seven, shouldn’t we be focusing on our mission?”
“No rush, the horn has just sounded. We have some time before the real battle begins,” Shadow Seven said naturally. “You don’t need to be so formal. In Guardian Shadow, we call each other brothers and sisters. If you don’t mind, you can call me Seven Bro.”
Mike played along, “Seven Bro it is!”
“Ha ha ha—” Shadow Seven burst into laughter, then seriously said, “Kid, why are you only a Battle General at your age? You’re a bit behind. By the way, I’m not prying, but how old are you?”
Mike resisted the urge to retort and answered seriously, “Not yet 20.”
In fact, he had just turned 18 not long ago.
“So young!” Shadow Seven exclaimed. If Deathsinger wasn’t lying, being under 20 and ranked 8008 in Guardian Shadow, he was basically set to become a ninth-tier Battle General, just a step away from Battle Chief.
In fact, Deathsinger’s profile showed he excelled in lightning and wind element skills, with lightning bursts comparable to a Battle Chief.
Shadow Seven composed herself and continued in her raspy voice, “If I’m not mistaken, your talent must be above S-grade, right?”
Mike answered honestly, “Yes.”
He was always truthful. But she would never guess that his talent was actually SSS grade!
“What a pity, joining Guardian Shadow at such a young age. A close friend’s granddaughter is just over twenty. If there’s time after the war, you two should meet and spar.”
Mike: … Is this granddaughter you?
Saying you’re just over twenty at 26, really, Seven Bro?
Mike had to remind her again, “Seven Bro, we have a mission.”
“I told you, no rush. Young people need to learn patience,” Shadow Seven saw Deathsinger’s impatience and explained further. “We’re guarding the Forest of Truth. Normally, no abyssal demon creatures would appear here.”
She pointed to the center of the forest, “After the front lines engage, large Abyssal Planes will be fully garrisoned. Only then will demon creatures escape and reach the Forest of Truth.”
In the end, it was because humanity’s forces were stretched thin. To start a great battle, all forces had to be concentrated for defense or offense, abandoning some less critical Abyssal Planes.
Mike caught a key term, “Fully garrisoned?”
“Yes, you’re young, it’s normal not to know!” Shadow Seven’s face lit up with excitement. Over the years, as a newcomer, she had been taught countless common knowledge by the old guys. Today, she finally had her moment to say, “You’re young, it’s normal not to know!”
Mike raised an eyebrow, not know? Are you underestimating my SSS-grade talent [Eye of Truth]? fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cm
Lines of information appeared before Mike,
[On the day the Blood War ended, human Supreme Being Morpheus signed an agreement with the abyssal supreme demon god]
[In large Abyssal Planes, humans can station up to three corps]
[Each corps can have up to three Battle Lords and twelve Battle Chiefs]
[Human Ultimate Battle Lords cannot enter Abyssal Planes without cause]
[In exchange, demon gods cannot attack human corps, and human Supreme Beings cannot attack ordinary demon creatures]
[…]
Reading the information, Mike calculated. “Three corps, 9 Battle Lords, 36 Battle Chiefs. There are 13 large Abyssal Planes, requiring 117 Battle Lords and 468 Battle Chiefs.”
Humanity could definitely muster those numbers. Guardian Shadow alone had 100 Battle Lord-level powerhouses. But due to quota restrictions, humanity had to send the strongest 117 Battle Lords! MvLeMpYr-exclusive-content
They also had to consider command, class countermeasures, reserves, and other factors. Through precise calculations by the corps command center, 117 Battle Lords were selected to garrison the large Abyssal Planes.
Among them were top-tier powerhouses like Maxen Stoneheart, Shadow One, and Joseph Windrider, the best among ninth-tier Battle Lords. But the weakest was only a sixth-tier Battle Lord.
This alone showed humanity’s limited resources. They couldn’t even muster 117 ninth-tier Battle Lords. Additionally, key locations needed Battle Lords for defense, and the command center needed Battle Lords for protection in case of emergencies…
Humanity’s resources were sufficient for defense but stretched thin for offense. Mike frowned, realizing another point.
The agreement only stated [demon gods cannot attack human corps]. In other words, demon gods could attack Supreme Beings.
With the war starting, wouldn’t Abyssal Plane’s Ares face multiple demon gods?
…
Third Abyssal Plane, also known as Stygian Abyss. Today, it welcomed an uninvited guest.
A swordsman entered the third abyss, followed by nine sword servants carrying a sword case.
As he appeared, all human corps began to withdraw! Countless people passed by the swordsman, their faces filled with fervor and excitement. The ranks erupted in thunderous shouts.
“Ares! Ares! Ares!”
Supreme Being, Ares. With nine sword servants, he descended upon the third abyss! For over sixty years, whenever Ares appeared in any abyss, the human corps would retreat, rotate, and rest.
The defense of that plane would be taken over by the sword servants. Nine sword servants, all ninth-tier Battle Lords, could hold off thousands. No demon creature could break through their defense.
Standing on a hill, the wind blowing his robe, Ares lightly flicked his greatsword. The sound of the sword echoed through the heavens and earth.
Ares asked softly, “A guest visits, where is the host?”
From the abyss’s depths, an indescribable terror awoke, roaring in anger, “Ares, you’re too much! Do you think we dare not leave the abyss and fight you to the death?”
Ares lowered his head, casually slashing a sword light. Boom— Countless sword energies crisscrossed the sky, making it seem lower, as if someone had cut it down. The entire plane shook violently.
“Did you ask my sword if you could be so arrogant?”