The cracking sound was what everyone was waiting for, so when it appeared, they all turned and started making their way to the egg.

The battles were almost over.

Lady Beyhos and Kaz had joined the other two beast gods to knock out the remaining mercenary gods and allow Icon to take them away and extract their souls, which Klaus planned to use as weapon spirits.

As for the demigods, he allowed them to be killed so Asmodeus would turn them into his undead. Asmodeus was even luckier, for he got to get his hands on one god’s body, thanks to Crux and the other demigod killing a Real stage God.

Naturally, with the mercenary gods dead, it wasn’t long before the immortals and remaining demigods died too.

With Asmodeus taking care of that, Klaus commanded the four beast gods to be on high alert and make sure no god sneaked up on him.

Even five Immortal Lords sneaking up on him would be a problem. The next battle will be short but decisive, one that will determine who gets to have the Jade Ant Queen.

The moment the crack sounded, Icon made her move.

[Entering Combat Mode]

Klaus felt his power surge when Icon went into combat mode. Now, unless he was surrounded by ten Immortal Lords, a few demigods, or a god, he would swim like a fish, finally showing everyone his power.

CRACK

Another cracking sound reached every ear.

In the air, 15 people appeared: five gods and ten demigods.

Three seconds later, Icon spoke into Klaus’s ears.

[Master, ten of them are a team from the Scarecrow Mercenary Organization, while the other five are rogue warriors hired by the Heavens Court to make sure the Jade Ant Queen is secured, even if the mercenaries fail.

I am sure they anticipated the failure of the Qilin Mercenary Team and the assassins, and so they hired reinforcements.]

"Well, I suppose I should have expected that. However, which of them is a team, and who is the most dangerous of all?"

[The three gods in black masks and seven demigods wearing black belts are a team. The strongest is the true god with the white eye mark on his mask. He is a soul cultivator and a very good shaman.]

Klaus smiled inwardly and then tapped into his connection with Asmodeus.

"Asmodeus, buddy, how confident are you in handling a true god whose power has to do with souls? He is a good shaman."

Asmodeus, who stood 2 km away from the egg, smiled and replied:

"It depends on how the master defines handling. I have the power to kill him in less than ten minutes, but that will prevent me from helping you with the other gods."

"That is fine. I will handle the rest."

"Then leave him to me. However, the master must also know there are two demigods hiding with their attention aimed at you. It would be best if the master prepares for them."

"I know, Asmodeus. I have long discovered them, so they can’t sneak up on me."

"Then good luck, master. I feel like you are going to need it."

Klaus smirked. "I am not worried then. You are the great Asmodeus, the one who doesn’t have feelings."

Turning from staring at the egg, Klaus focused his gaze on the true god with white eyes on his mask. He first sent a command to Icon.

"Icon, initial Plan B, C, and H."

[Plans initiated. The master can enter Tyrant Mode at any moment.]

Hearing his assistant speak, Klaus smiled and leaned on his scythe (Bloodwork).

The god sensed his gaze, so he turned and looked at him. "What are you smiling about, brat?"

The other gods and demigods turned in Klaus’s direction, everyone wondering why he was smiling. Some felt annoyed, while others became intrigued, considering a mere true immortal dared to look smug in front of demigods and gods.

Klaus smiled and spoke:

"A wise man once wrote, ’the arrogance of a warrior is believing they have everything under control when, in fact, they are merely dangling within the web of control mounted by the true warrior.’"

Most of the demigods and gods with visible faces furrowed their brows, some clenching their fists. They understood what Klaus said, and so they felt like they had been insulted but also conspired against.

"And what makes you think you have the right to call yourself a true warrior?"

A grin appeared on Klaus’s face as he replied:

"Because I have calculated 205,800 ways this battle would end. 205,799 of them ended with me dying a gruesome death. However, one ended with me killing you, you, you, and the two idiots hiding, thinking they had everything under control..."

Klaus pointed at three demigods and turned to look to his left, his gaze traveling in the direction of the demigod with the whip and wolf standing in wait.

Every last demigod and god present turned in the direction he looked, and lo and behold, they saw two demigods hiding from everyone.

This discovery made many suck in a cold breath. Had Klaus not exposed the two of them, neither of them would have been made aware that there were two dangerous warriors lying in wait to strike.

[Master, these two were hired by Supreme Elder Juo.]

Perhaps sensing everyone had discovered them, the two teleported and appeared in the air, their gazes narrowed on Klaus.

Klaus smiled and said:

"I suppose Supreme Elder Juo couldn’t live with his failure, so he sent you two to come die in his place." Klaus laughed, then lifted the scythe and slung it over his shoulder, an aura of an absolute warrior exuding from his body.

"Perfectly understandable for him to send you two. My only worry is how stupid you all can be, thinking you have any shot at securing the Jade Ant Queen."

As he said that, Klaus rose into the air, and from his body, one Immortal Ring after another started to appear and hover behind him, each layering to create a diagram.

*One*

*Two*

*Three*

"_"

"_"

"_"

*Ten*

The more his Immortal Rings appeared, the more shocked the warriors surrounding him and those watching from afar became. Ten Immortal Ring configurations around a true immortal—that is unheard of.

However, things didn’t end there.

Just when the 10th Immortal Ring appeared, the 11th, 12th, and 13th appeared, thanks to his wives. All three of them were red.

The 11th came from Queenie (Asura Queen), the 12th from Tifa (Vampire Queen), and the 13th came from Lily (Red Fury).

Seated somewhere on Planet Caelmir, three of his wives smiled and muttered the same word, "Looks like some people are about to witness his true power."

They were already aware that he had entered the Jade Nest, so sensing their Immortal Rings taken away by him wasn’t a shock to them.

He made them aware that whenever they sensed their Immortal Rings taken away, they should know he was about to go all out.

Klaus smiled and winked at Rory, who now stood beside an undead demigod.

*CRACK*

*CRYING*

A third crack appeared, and what followed was the crying of a baby. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

A golden dome formed around her, but one could tell it wouldn’t be long before that dome dispersed. Once that happened, the fastest and strongest would get to have the Jade Ant Queen.

Klaus smiled and spoke the words he had been waiting to say from the start.

"Well then, it is about time you all experience the true power of the Immortal Rings." Just as he said that, the air grew tense, and from the egg, a baby with golden hair and a cute jade crown on her head.

"Primordial Immortal Ring Art,"