Chapter 448: Third Partying The Third Parties

One by one, the illusions fell.

It was barely perceptible at first. Regardless of how powerful the Lords were, they were still just a dozen, plus Devil, against a literal wave of millions.

However, slowly with time, their death toll climbed.

The Lords, having to constantly battle their way out of being surrounded, learned more refined ways to deal with the light creatures.

Where was the most likely location of the core based on the structure of their bodies.

The minimum amount of force they had to apply in order to shatter them, saving energy in the process.

After all, in a drawn-out war, relying only on might would get them so far. Beyond strength and speed, their endurance was their number one priority.

Eventually, their efforts began to bear fruit.

Several of the light entities noticed the strange way the Lords fought. Since they were humans, unlike the light-born creatures, they did not consume the cores, simply shattering them on impact.

That gave the smarter illusions an idea.

If they ignored the hatred burning in their essence, urging them to kill the humans and choose cooperation instead... Could that prove to be the very answer to attaining the true strength they desired?

To dominate everyone in the surroundings?

Earn the right to go past the gates?

Finally satiate their eternal hunger for warmth?

Not many of the Titan’s subjects were struck by the revelation... But the ones that were altered their approach.

Back to Michael, he stood unfazed, fighting against two giants simultaneously.

The two creatures had recognized him as the biggest threat and had temporarily teamed up against him.

Not that it had helped much. Both of their cores had dimmed significantly, on the verge of shattering from exhaustion.

Raising his shotgun, Michael was prepared to fire.

Only for his finger to freeze on the trigger.

A tail crept under one of the giants, coiling around its legs. It sent the large creature toppling to the ground.

An illusion shaped like a monkey landed on the giant. Its paw plunged deep, extracting the core and absorbing it in a single heartbeat.

The ape did not stop there.

Shifting its focus to the second giant, it charged.

Leaping high, it grabbed the giant by the head and violently tore it off.

Then, reaching inward from the base of the neck, the monkey took hold of the second core and consumed it.

Instantly, the primate’s body gleamed with brighter light, its stature doubling and its limbs broadened.

A beautiful staff materialized in the monkey’s grip, officially arming it.

With the threat neutralized, Michael and the monkey stared at each other in a standoff.

Naturally, Michael delayed attacking, observing the monkey carefully.

Nicole’s plan was to deliberately power up a few of the light entities, with the hope of either opening the gate or forcing the Guardian to act.

Recognizing that Michael was not charging for the kill, the ape understood his intent. The primate bolted out of the way, far enough not to cause him trouble and near enough to pick up easy kills to further power itself up.

"Nicole’s plan seems to be on the right track." Michael chuckled, acting like the monkey wasn’t there.

He wasn’t the only one who had temporarily teamed up with a light-born creature that hoped to leech off his efforts.

Persephone had forced several golden knights onto their knees with her shadow chains. Luxuriously resting on the back of one, she observed the rest battling against the Titan’s subjects slowly improving in the process.

A giant treaded near Nicole. Since it had consumed many of its kind, its arms had multiplied, bearing eight thick limbs that proved useful to tear the smaller beings.

One of the most deadly illusions was a lion that stalked Devil and the prey he left behind.

Funnily enough, his case was the most unique.

He killed any creature that tried to freeload on his efforts if he deemed them too ugly.

Devil’s logic was simple: If he had to let an entity grow stronger by leeching off him, it might as well be something worth looking at... Otherwise, it wasn’t worth the trouble.

Gloria was supported by a turtle, whose shell grew tougher and whose size increased with each core it consumed.

A wolf preyed on Noctis’ victims.

A two-headed snake felt an odd attraction of similarity to Rosalie, causing the light-born creature to follow her.

A unicorn galloped next to Francesca.

They were the most notable illusions that capitalized on the opportunity the Lords had given them.

Soon enough, Nicole concluded that they had done enough and ordered everybody to withdraw.

Backing away from the harrowing battle, the Lords observed the illusions they had powered up.

"So we are letting them battle it out?" Emanuel snorted in disdain because he had not been able to empower any creature to a satisfactory level.

Nicole nodded. "Counting Persephone’s knights as one, there are eight illusions vastly more powerful than the rest. After they fight and consume each other, the last one standing will either open the gates or force the serpent to act... Either way, we stand to benefit from the outcome."

Devil smirked. "Have you noticed that the creatures that followed us resembled our inner nature? In Michael’s case, it was a monkey, the furthest thing from a foreign alien and the closest thing to a human..."

Pausing deliberately, he glanced at Rosalie.

"And in your case, a two-faced snake."

Rosalie was enraged. "You dare!"

While the two were busy bickering more to let off steam rather than expressing genuine hatred, the rest observed the warfare.

By now, the all-out war had changed drastically.

The light-born creatures still numbered in the millions... however, they had come to recognize the mightiest among them, gradually forming a ring around them, with none willing to fight them.

In the end, they were isolated.

The monkey, which now wore a golden crown and royal mantle, gave off a holy presence.

Rows of once-golden knights, now emitting darkness.

A colossal giant looming over the surroundings.

Beautiful mane around the lion’s neck, a slow but immovable turtle, a graceful wolf, a menacing two-headed snake, and a proud unicorn.

Without a shadow of a doubt, they were the most powerful of all.

They had risen so high not because of their struggles but thanks to their wickedness to prey on those who stood against the Lords.

Rather than fighting fair battles, they had essentially fought only as third parties, targeting those who were easy to pick off.

Not one of them deserved to stand so high.

It could even be argued that their methods went against the trial the Titan had imposed on its subjects...

However, that did not matter, for the universe simply was not fair.

They charged at each other, eager to kill until they were the only ones standing.

The most notable battle was between the turtle and the two-headed snake.

One was too well-defended to harm. The other was too nimble to catch.

It was clear the duel was going to be prolonged.

Or so it seemed, until an outsider swooped in.

A sword of gold materialized in the air, flying toward the turtle’s shell.

Plunging deep, it shattered its core on impact and absorbed it.

Simultaneously, a blur shot past the surroundings.

A maw closed shut against the snake’s body.

The core of the two-headed reptile was consumed.

The two challengers were no more.

In their place a magnificent fox bearing three mesmerizing tails stood.

Utterly unfazed.