MTLNOVEL Chapter 999
Chapter 999: Gambit on Endymion Tower (8k)
However, he instinctively felt that it was not like that.
Or rather, it had not come to that yet!
The activity of Hermes and the appearance of Zeus’s consciousness fragment basically confirmed that these twelve gods were still alive during the time of “Ragnarok.”
Their divine souls and bodies might have scattered, but their divine consciousnesses — their awarenesses — still existed.
But from what could currently be seen, other than Hermes’s consciousness, the awarenesss of the other gods were in a state akin to sleep.
If his judgment was correct, then… apart from Hermes, the consciousnesses of the other gods should be sleeping within the statues before them.
Those “Essences of Angels” were more likely there just to maintain the continuation of the gods’ consciousnesses.
But if this was the case, wouldn’t the pipeline they destroyed be valueless?
After all, Hermes’s own consciousness should no longer be within the statue. Or perhaps, these statues were also built by Hermes when he was in a relatively “healthy” state, along with the “Endymion Tower”!
“No! Hermes’s current state must be very poor. He may not have needed it before, but now he definitely needs the ‘Essence of Angels’ as much as the other gods’ consciousnesses!”
Dark stared intently at the statue of Hermes, an idea unwillingly forming in his heart.
If Eralganie were here now, it would be perfect.
The statue of Athena was over there, where her true consciousness might be sleeping.
If Eralganie were here, she would be able to identify it immediately. Dark turned to look at the “Magical Beast: Goddess of Heartful Eyes.”
Eralganie clearly knew what he wanted to ask, and shook her head, saying, “There’s divine aura, but I can’t see it.”
“Let’s go and take a look. But don’t act rashly.” Dark raised his hand and said.
Upon hearing this, everyone approached the statue cautiously. But no one got too close to the statue, stopping at a relatively safe distance.
Even Fred North, who spoke of “inheritance,” did not actually run up to the statue to receive the “inheritance.”
Everyone knew they had reached the “end.” If Hermes was the one pulling the strings behind the scenes,
then the purpose of Hermes bringing them through the flesh passage into the “Heavenly Court” and then into the “Endymion Tower” should be nearly achieved.
Twelve statues stood ahead, each with a table in front of it, almost beckoning them to place the hard-earned gold medals on those tables.
“Fight, compete, offer spoils.”
Dark muttered under his breath as he walked to the statue of Hermes. His eyes shimmered with golden light as he activated the “Eye of Truth.” The statues held immense value in his eyes, but indeed, the statue of Hermes was valued less compared to the others.
Whether due to the lack of “Essence of Angels” or because Hermes’s true consciousness was not in that statue?
“It must be the latter?”
Thinking this, Dark took out the twelve gold medals from his backpack. Since he was mostly certain everything was being controlled by Hermes,
he began to think based on that premise.
Hermes had collected a vast amount of information about the human world over the years. There was no reason for him not to be interested in Mana Technology.
Perhaps even the ritual currently taking place was derived from Mana Theory.
After taking out all twelve gold medals, Dark suddenly said, “What do you think would happen if I threw all these gold medals out… or into the pollution?”
As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere stiffened.
The others who had been carefully observing the statues turned their gazes toward him.
Even Olivia and Aurora had strange expressions on their faces. But Dark emphasized, “I’m not joking.”
“Cough!” It seemed he was taken seriously, as Fred North coughed and said, “Wouldn’t that anger Hermes?”
Dark shook his head and replied, “So what if it does?” Just as he proposed that thought, he suddenly realized something. Clearly, Hermes was seeking help.
Why should the one being sought after tremble in fear?
Moreover, how much combat power could Hermes still have left? Ultimately, without saying a word, expecting others to complete everything perfectly and let him benefit, was that possible?
Thinking this, he suddenly picked up a gold medal, not bothering to check which god it belonged to, and threw it forcefully towards the window!
Outside the top floor’s window, unexpectedly, there was no black fog. From here, one could clearly see the edge of a giant halo. The twelve colors illuminated the night sky with a rainbow effect.
In everyone’s stunned gaze, the gold medal flew out of the window at incredible speed.
Just as the gold medal was about to be thrown out, a wind suddenly reversed direction, catching the medal and pulling it back!
“Huh.”
Dark chuckled softly and finally smiled.
He stretched out his hand, Mana flowed, and he caught the gold medal. But then, he held the gold medal and walked towards the window. The appearance of that breeze was thought-provoking.
Although the others were shocked, they did not stop him.
If it were just a gentle breeze, it would not have stopped Dark from throwing the gold medal.
Hermes would surely make some move, even if he did not personally intervene. But what could Hermes do?
“Bang!”
A dull sound suddenly came from the direction of the statue.
Dark’s expression remained unchanged, only turning slightly to look in the direction of the sound.
As expected.
It was Hermes’s own statue that moved.
Though the significance of the other statues was unknown, it was clear Hermes would not tamper with them. Thus, he could only control his own statue.
In a net novel…
“Is this the final boss?”
Dark casually tossed the gold medal again out the window.
But as Hermes’s statue moved, a powerful divine energy suddenly burst forth in the room.
Centered around Hermes’s statue, a wave of divine energy rapidly spread, enveloping the entire floor.
This time, the gold medal directly hit a barrier-like light screen and was bounced back.
Picking up the gold medal, Dark had the idea to try and forcibly break the barrier.
But as if sensing his thoughts, the statue suddenly turned its head, its tightly closed eyes abruptly opened, and elemental winds gathered instantly. Divine power erupted, and two green beams shot out from its eyes.
Dark quickly jumped backward, and the two beams struck the ground in front of him.
The bricks on the floor shattered instantly, and the energy layers between floors were activated, releasing waves of energy.
It was as if Dark was walking on water, quickly summoning the “Mana Spirit.”
“By the name of Dark Demon, Mana Summoning—Bliss 4th Moon!”
A pink beam of light suddenly shone upon the summoned “Mana Spirit.” The “Mana Spirit” rapidly evolved under the light of transformation, turning into a six-star “Mana Nightmare Demon.”
A six-star Mana Spirit was meaningless in the presence of a god-controlled statue. But as long as the ultimate skill’s target was not the statue, such limitations did not apply.
“Miyao!”
When the “Mana Nightmare Demon” let out a high-pitched scream, Olivia, who had already equipped herself, blocked the way between Dark and the statue.
Meanwhile, Angrey protected Aurora.
Everyone quickly retreated toward Dark, maintaining a safe distance to avoid simultaneous attacks from the statue.
After evolving the “Mana Spirit,” Dark drew his field card—”Paradise 3.0″!
Even in this situation, Hermes’s true form did not appear.
The activation of that statue would inevitably disrupt the entire ritual framework. When Hermes made this decision, he must have sacrificed something.
Quickly analyzing the current situation, Dark’s summoning speed did not slow down. “By the name of Dark Demon, Mana Summoning—Paradise!”
The ground trembled slightly, and massive Mana spread out from his feet like a grid, spreading wildly in all directions.
Almost simultaneously, the “Mana Nightmare Demon” released the “Nightmare Space.” Purple fog rose from the ground, extending in all directions together with the effects of “Paradise.”
Buildings emerged recklessly from the ground, straight into the ceiling of the floor.
A giant Ferris wheel appeared near the stairwell, but more than half of it was cut off by the ceiling.
The carousel’s song echoed inside, and tiny ghosts peeked out from the ghostly mist.
Dark’s mind moved, and healing flowers bloomed in the “Paradise.”
Black curtains covered the sky, and a round moon emitting pink mist appeared on the curtain, as if hanging in the night sky.
That was the “Bliss Moon!”
Under the illumination of the “Bliss Moon,” the Mana Spirits in the “Paradise” gained enhanced effects powered by “Bliss,” doubling their duration.
In other words, the evolution time could last thirty minutes! Of course, this wasn’t crucial.
The reason for summoning the “Nightmare Space” was merely to increase his speed.
Dark brought the “Mana Nightmare Demon” with him and gave it precise instructions to twist the space of the “Nightmare Space” so that the effect of reversing speed acted only on Dark’s feet.
Hermes wanted to complete the ritual and activate the statue for the same purpose: to force Dark and others to offer the gold medals through the threat of the statue.
He had another method to achieve this.
As long as the window was sealed and pollutants flooded the top floor, Dark and others would naturally offer the gold medals for survival.
But he couldn’t wait that long!
Without the “Essence of Angels” to sustain him, his consciousness, which had endured for countless years, was like a small boat in a storm, ready to capsize at any moment.
Similarly, the surge of pollutants would also threaten the statue… but that was no longer within his consideration.
As long as the ritual was completed, everything could start anew!
But how to start anew and what benefits he could gain from the process were different matters.
While planning this scheme, he had considered the possibility of unexpected events, but when faced with the real unexpected, he was indeed extremely agitated.
“Until the results come out, who wins or loses is still uncertain.” On the top of the “Endymion Tower.”
With no obstruction, the tower’s summit.
The god overseeing “Commerce, Travel, Theft, Deception, Eloquence, Animal Husbandry, Sports, Competition, Guidance”—Hermes—sat calmly at a stone table.
Snacks, tea, and a chessboard were placed on the table.
Opposite him sat Cynthia Saint Altair, the principal of Saint Maryann Academy, who had ventured into the “Mountain of Gods.”
They were not playing regular chess, military chess, or shogi, but rather a more entertaining form of “Mana Chess.”
Principal Altair had been playing Mana Chess with this bored god for a long time.
But their true battlefield of contention was not on this invisible chessboard.
“Let’s wait and see.”
Principal Altair…