Chapter 485: Welcome to the sheepfold
Chapter 485: Welcome to the sheepfold
The dragon race demonstrated to the Golden Dragon why they kept their promises in front of Ares. When Ares is willing to talk things over, it's best to talk. Otherwise, you'll be talking to Ares' sword.
Thrown back to the thirty-second floor, the Golden Dragon's mind was blank. It couldn't understand why the elders would do such a thing.
The Golden Divine Dragon of Greed was mentally shattered!
The swordsman flew in front of the Golden Dragon, asking calmly, "Are you ready?"
"Not yet..." The Golden Dragon began, but Ares interrupted, "What does your readiness have to do with me slashing you?"
A flash of sword light, and Ares used the Thunderclap Fate skill created by Thor. The Golden Dragon didn't even have time to let out a wail before being sealed into the Force of Nature!
Mike held his breath, eager to witness the Golden Dragon's moment of defiance against fate! And then... nothing!
"Where's the resistance? The epic scene?" Mike looked around, bewildered, but nothing happened!
Ares shook his head lightly, smiling without a word. "I've wandered enough; I have things to do, so I'll be off."
Ares yawned, speaking nonchalantly, "Snoozefest, open a door."
Instantly, a portal appeared before Ares, and he stepped through, disappearing from sight.
Left behind, Mike pondered, "Why didn't the Golden Dragon resist at all?" He couldn't figure it out!
Vladimir, standing nearby, mused, "Is it possible... he never resisted fate in his life?"
Mike: ...
Looking again at the Force of Nature, Mike thought perhaps this choice of spirit wasn't quite right!
"Why does it feel like sealing a vampire would be stronger than this dragon?"
Seeing Thor's dissatisfaction, Vladimir helpfully added, "Master, pure gold is very soft."
Gabriel looked puzzled. What did pure gold have to do with anything? Why couldn't he understand this master-servant conversation?
Hearing Vladimir's explanation, Mike's mood lifted, and he suddenly understood. Pure gold is soft. The softer the Golden Dragon, the purer the gold!
The Golden Dragon had drifted through life, never once resisting fate, which seemed disgraceful. In reality... it was indeed disgraceful. But precisely because of this, the purity of this gold was substantial!
Mike looked at his Force of Nature, the previously chaotic staff now gilded with a layer of gold, looking very valuable.
However, since the Golden Dragon had just been sealed inside, it hadn't fully integrated with the Force of Nature yet, so the corresponding attributes and descriptions would have to wait.
Ares had gone off to who knows where, but Mike needed to focus on his challenge. Stowing the Force of Nature, Mike turned his gaze to the valley below.
In the valley, black miasma roiled, with monsters emerging to wreak havoc and slaughter the angel race's people. This was the handiwork left by the black mist.
After Ares' projection appeared on the thirty-second floor, the black mist sensed trouble and slipped away as the Golden Dragon descended.
Normally, with Ares' strength, killing such an enemy would be easy. But since Thor had declared his intent to solo the level 999 black mist, Ares let it go.
Though the black mist had left, it had left Mike with a mess. The monsters in the black
miasma had to be cleared before the conquer could be settled.
Having already charged up, Mike acted decisively! "Thunderclap Strike!"
Boom-
Gabriel had never seen such Lightning before, the terrifying scene replaying in his pupils, leaving a deep impression! A red lightning bolt bounced between the monsters, turning them to ash wherever it struck!
Snap-
The lightning landed on a new monster, causing no damage.
It was a rubber monster! The newly born monsters in the miasma were directly immune to Lightning!
Clearly, Thor's plan to conquer with Thunderclap Strike alone faced some difficulty.
Gabriel couldn't help but feel a bit expectant. He wanted to see how Thor would handle this change. Then, Thor's actions exceeded Gabriel's expectations.
"All Things Grow!"
"Chaotic Lightning!"
Even more terrifying white Lightning descended! With just one strike, it scattered most of the miasma! Mike still had three uses of Chaotic Lightning left!
Lightning immunity? Mike had long mastered true damage that ignored immunity! Chaotic Lightning fell in succession, clearing the miasma, and Mike's Exploration Rate reached 100%.
Of course, there were still many remaining monsters on the battlefield, fighting against the angels. Mike didn't continue to intervene but stood aside, watching coldly.
The battle was fierce, angels forced into a life-and-death situation.
Mike could watch, but Gabriel couldn't. He had once been the angel race's potential Supreme Being and couldn't stand by as his people were consumed by the flames of war. However, Gabriel didn't act immediately but bowed his head slightly, standing before Thor.
"After this, the angel race will pay for its actions." Gabriel's attitude was humble, devoid of angelic pride, "Now, please allow me to act and save my remaining people."
The human race's potential Supreme Being had proven himself with strength. From any angle, Gabriel was the loser. As a loser, Gabriel knew what his attitude should be.
Mike said nothing. On the battlefield, not a single angel had fallen yet, only been severely injured. Vladimir nudged Gabriel from behind, prompting him to add, "The angel race will offer a price that satisfies you."
Without Mike needing to speak, Vladimir, with a stern face, coldly said, "I heard you're broke,
with even the treasury's floor tiles taken away?"
No money, what are you negotiating with?
Gabriel's head filled with question marks.
The treasury's floor tiles were taken? When did that happen, and how did he not know?! Besides, who was so bold, so greedy, to even take the floor tiles?!
"Ahem..." Realizing his blunder, Gabriel coughed lightly to cover his embarrassment. "The angel race isn't just on the thirty-second floor; there are many settlements between the thirty-first and sixtieth floors, and they're all wealthy." Gabriel said earnestly, "Take
whatever you fancy."
Mike chuckled, shaking his head lightly, "I'm not a robber."
A potential Supreme Being earning money had to be legitimate!
Gabriel replied solemnly, "But I am willing."
"Alright, I'm just teasing you." Mike waved his hand, indicating Gabriel could act. The previous talk was just for fun. Money that wasn't his, he wouldn't take a penny.
With two black wings unfurling, Gabriel soared into the sky. A black light descended, crashing into the ground. Gabriel, the hero, made his entrance!
Rumble-
The entire valley shook violently, and all the monsters were instantly slain. The strongest potential Supreme Being in angel race history, after one hundred seventy-two years, once
again displayed his might.
After a single strike killed all enemies, Gabriel remained calm, showing no emotional fluctuation. The enormous black wings drew the attention of the remaining angels, who were
astonished.
Many older angels had eyes filled with fervor, indescribable passion. They seemed to see the return of the once strongest angel!
However, as the wings slowly retracted, Gabriel's expression remained numb, his gaze dim. The light of hope ignited and then extinguished, as if the night had never brightened.
The faces of the older angels gradually mirrored Gabriel's numbness. They didn't know when this darkness would be pierced. When would the angel race see the dawn?
After resolving the life-and-death crisis for his people, Gabriel turned, silently following
Thor, saying nothing. Walking through the ruins, Mike asked, "Who's in charge here now?" The angels instinctively looked at Gabriel. The elders who were in charge had been killed by the black mist. Those remaining admitted they weren't as strong as Gabriel and hoped he would step up as a leader. But Gabriel's silence sank all the angels' hearts to the bottom. Finally, an eight-winged angel was pushed forward as the representative of the remaining angels to negotiate with Thor.
"Honored potential Supreme Being of the human race, I am Ariel of the angel race. It's an honor to meet you; I don't know how to address you."
"Just call me Thor." Mike continued to stroll through the ruins, and Ariel had no choice but to
follow beside him.
The initiative in the negotiation was entirely in Thor's hands. On one hand, Thor's strength had completely conquered them. All the angels present combined weren't Gabriel's match. And Gabriel had lost to Thor. On the other hand, the angel race had indeed offended Thor first. Ariel lowered her stance, "The angel race is willing to meet any of your conditions." "Don't rush; we'll settle our accounts later." Mike said kindly, "I'm known for being fair and
just, with the nickname 'Walking Mystic Market.""
Everyone: ...
Mike shifted the topic, asking, "Earlier, I saw an IOU somewhere, roughly stating: 'Ares borrowed various materials from the angel race, to be repaid double upon the Supreme Demon God's fall.' Is that true?"
Ariel was taken aback, not understanding why Thor brought this up. But she didn't dare deceive Thor, vaguely saying, "It seems... maybe... possibly?"
In Ariel's view, this matter was obviously Ares' fault, and in a way, it was Ares' embarrassing
past.
Did Thor want to erase Ares' debt? From this perspective, it made some sense! Both sides could write it off, owing nothing to each other, very fair.
Moreover, the angel race believed Ares had no intention of repaying what he 'borrowed'!
The day the Supreme Demon God falls? Would that day ever come? The angel race didn't
believe it.
Mike asked, "How much did you lend Ares back then? Do you have a record?"
"We do, we do!" Ariel quickly found someone to bring a ledger, looking as thick as a Harry
Potter book.
"Just this much?" Clearly, the ledger was thinner than Mike expected. Ariel cautiously said,
"This is the index..."
...
With the list in hand, Mike continued, "So, how do you plan to repay this debt to my brother?"
"How about we write it off; we don't want it..." Ariel began, but her expression froze, "Thor, what did you just say? I didn't hear clearly."
Mike patiently repeated, "How do you plan to repay this debt?"
Ariel: ???
The powerful angel was bewildered, unable to keep up with Thor's pace. Ares borrowed from
the angel race; the angel race should be the creditor! Why should the angel race repay the
debt?
Seeing the confusion, Mike simply took out the IOU again. In front of all the angels, Thor brought out a wall, still part of the angel race's treasury wall.
The angels' emotions were mixed. Where did Thor get this?
Pointing to the writing on the wall, Mike said confidently, "The IOU is in my hand, the ledger too; you can't deny this debt!"
The tables had turned! The angel race was now in debt!
Not just Ariel, even Gabriel was stunned. Could it be played like this? Among the powerful present, only Vladimir remained calm. Turning the tables was Thor'sn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
basic operation; what was there to be shocked about?
Gabriel pondered. So this was Greed! It proved that how an IOU was written was a meticulous
art.
For example, Mike, relying on the final interpretation of the IOU, successfully turned the tables. However, Gabriel didn't understand one thing. The angel race on this floor was already bankrupt, with no assets left. Why did Thor go through so much trouble, for what?
Ariel took a deep breath, calming herself, and asked, "In your opinion, what should we do?"
As Gabriel thought, there was no money, and only one life. "Simple," Mike stated his condition. "All angels move out of the thirty-second floor and into the Core City of Truth, and the previous debt is written off." Before Ariel could respond, Mike added, "Including the debt between you and me."
At this, all the angels showed indignation. Asking them to move was emotionally unacceptable. It's hard to leave one's homeland, especially when the thirty-second floor was
so serene, and they were its rulers. Entering the Core City of Truth meant many restrictions,
far less freedom than the thirty-second floor.
Just as the angels were divided, Gabriel, who had been silent, spoke, making the final decision. "Move."
With Gabriel's statement, the angels, like a flock of sheep, unified their opinion.
In fact, Gabriel saw clearly. Whether or not there was this debt, Thor, or rather the human
race, wouldn't allow the angel race to remain on the thirty-second floor.
Thor's talk of 'repayment' was merely giving the angel race a reasonable excuse. From this
perspective, Gabriel owed Thor a favor.
Vladimir, seeing Gabriel's expression, sighed helplessly. He could only pat Gabriel's shoulder, speaking in a sympathetic tone, "Welcome to the sheepfold!"