Abyssal Sovereign: The Demon's Dominion

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At the rear of the battlefield, the top 9 of the Hans ranking gathered together with the remaining Rank 2 warriors. Their numbers were significant, and leading them was Mark, the top-ranked Hans.

Mark stood at the peak of Rank 2, and with his divine beast body, he was the best candidate to fight the gods using his body. However, with them now supressed, their only option was to rally and fight the powerhouses of this world.

"So, what are we going to do in the meantime? Are we just supposed to wait while our men are dying?" one of the Rank 2 warriors asked, frowning in frustration.

"You're impatient. This is war. Life and death can change in an instant. We are the core of this battle. If we engage too early, half or more of our armies could be destroyed. Be patient and watch," Mark replied calmly.

Mark was a massive wolf-shaped beast, towering nearly 100 meters tall. Spikes jutted from his back and elbows, and his sharp fangs gleamed as his rock-solid body shifted. A long, thick tail trailed behind him, moving slowly across the ground like a serpent. His green eyes glowed, and the tiny hair-like structures on his head detected even the faintest sound or movement within a certain range.

Though Mark wasn't the only Rank 2 present, he was of a rare lineage—a fusion of divine and chaos creatures. His body itself was his greatest weapon; his claws could rival any Rank 2 weapon, effortlessly breaking those of lesser strength.

"This war... I just can't wait," Luke said, licking his lips, his fiery mane blazing. His body was tense, ready for action.

"We need a backup plan," Kira suggested, her gaze fixed on the battlefield ahead, where creatures fell by the second.

"Why?" Doria asked, her beautiful wings on display, captivating the male warriors around her. Her charm had transcended racial boundaries.

"For someone ranked so high, you sure are dumb," the Falcon Princess commented, causing Doria to shoot her a cold glare.

"We had them on the ropes earlier, but now they're being reborn. Do you think they won't retaliate?" Fireblade scoffed at the others' naivety.

"Chill. None of us have been in a real war before. It's our first," Leo pointed out, trying to diffuse the tension.

"She should still have some common sense, though. She'll get killed if she keeps thinking like this," Feng Yue said with a smirk, taking the chance to demean Doria.

"I really don't care. No matter how many of them there are, I'll crush them," Marcule said arrogantly.

"Marcule..." Kira frowned at his brashness.

"What? First off, a beautiful girl like you shouldn't frown. Secondly, in the face of true strength, traps are meaningless," Marcule flexed his biceps and kissed them, eliciting a few chuckles.

"Well, I agree," Luke chimed in, his heart racing as bloodlust radiated from him.

"Fine, I'll support it," Doria muttered quietly, not wanting to draw Feng Yue's ire again. *She must be jealous of my beauty,* Doria thought to herself smugly.

The group, minus the top three, agreed with the plan.

"Are you all serious?" Kira asked in disbelief.

"If this were Earth, it might work. But here, with this level of power... Let me ask you, Kira. If a million Rank 1 warriors attacked you, would they be able to harm you?" Fireblade asked pointedly.

"No," Mark answered for her. "Their attacks wouldn't even scratch you. Their elements would either be absorbed or converted into your own. The gap in strength is too vast."

"Exactly," Fireblade nodded. "Besides, the highest rank on their side is only at the peak of Rank 2. And if they self-destruct again, we'll be ready this time," Feng Yue added with a sly smile.

"Are you going to fill us in? You've been huddled together for minutes now," a Peak Rank 2 warrior called out.

"My bad," Mark said, turning to face the others. "Just wait. Let the battle continue for a while longer. When their powerhouses show up, we strike."

"And if they don't show up?" another Rank 2 asked.

"Then we attack in an hour," Mark replied.

"Or now... they're here," Marcule said with a wide grin.

---

**At the Battlefield**

"Damn, there's too many of them! Are we going to die here? Where are the gods and the others?" Louyan shouted as he struggled to hold the line.

With Rank 1 warriors now joining the fray, the battle had quickly escalated. The stronger ones were forced to step in.

"My lord..." Louyan called out desperately. His shadow writhed, and a dark figure emerged from it.

"Don't worry, we're here," the shadowy figure assured him before dissolving back into Louyan's shadow.

Suddenly, an old man appeared on the battlefield, each step covering millions of kilometers in mere seconds. His vast aura spread across the battlefield, suppressing everyone, though they continued fighting, unperturbed, as the pressure wasn't directed at them.

"Yes! Our powerhouses are here!"

"We're saved!"

"I thought I'd never see my son again..."

"My wife, I'll be home soon..."

The native creatures cheered, thinking the tide had turned in their favor. But they would soon realize how mistaken they were.

Several figures emerged, towering monsters that shook the ground with every step. The battle tempo slowed as everyone turned to witness the arrival of these powerful beings—and finally, the gods appeared.

Each god was enormous, their forms enveloped by the elements they controlled. The gods stood at least 100 meters tall, with the God of Light towering over the others at 300 meters. He carried a massive spear and a giant shield, ready for war.

Their combined auras surged, but instead of clashing with the warriors below, they were pushed into the distance. The native creatures, initially confused, soon realized what was happening.

---

A large figure appeared in the sky, releasing a vast aura. He wasn't alone; more powerful creatures emerged, each with an aura stronger than the last. With every appearance, the ongoing war below came to a halt. The natives' eyes widened in horror as they realized the enemy's powerhouses far outnumbered their own.

"It's over…" Louyan muttered, collapsing to his knees. One by one, the native creatures followed suit, kneeling in defeat. The otherworldly creatures, however, were confused; as Rank 0 beings, they didn't understand the natives' language and the remaining Rank 1 were with smiles on their faces.

"What are you doing?" The Pope of the Church of Light arrived, followed by several other popes and a vast army of church soldiers.

"Our gods are here! And you're giving up already? Where's your faith, your dedication?" the Pope shouted, his voice reverberating across the now-quiet battlefield. The Rank 2 beings merely watched, their expressions cold.

"I don't know how weak your wills are, but behind us lie villages, cities, kingdoms—our nation, our world. Are you just going to give up? Give up on your homes, your families? On our God?" the Pope of Light bellowed, walking through the kneeling army. They parted before him, creating a wide path for the popes and the church soldiers to pass.

"Run if you want. Hide if you must. But I—and the rest of the Church's army—will stand and fight. We aren't just fighting for ourselves, but for our God, for the Church, for each and every one of you. For your families. For every living being in this world.

Most importantly, we fight for hope. Yes, the odds are against us, but if we give up, who will stand and fight?"

He paused, looking over the silent crowd.

"That's all I have to say. If you want to run, then run. I will hold them off."

For the first time in what felt like an eternity, the Pope of Light removed his hood. The crowd had always assumed he was human, but now they saw him for what he truly was: an orc, one of the weakest races. Despite centuries of tension between orcs and humans, he had remained loyal to the cause.

"For our God!" the Church's soldiers shouted, charging toward the otherworldly creatures.

"He's right!" Louyan shouted, lifting his sword. "Where will we run to? If we lose this war, we lose everything—our lives, our families, our purpose. Our world. Let's fight!"

Inspired by Louyan's rallying cry, the remaining warriors picked up their weapons and followed, joining the Church's army.

The Pope of Light glanced over his shoulder and smiled as he saw the others joining them. Although he had been a cruel leader at times, it had always been necessary for the survival of the world. Yet, after years of emotional detachment, his feelings had returned.

"Old friend," the Pope murmured, pulling a massive axe from his back. "Let's dance one last time."

The axe trembled in his grip, and the Pope chuckled before launching himself into the enemy forces.

"I must admit, he's brave," Mark commented from the sideline, watching the God of Light.

"The mortals have done their part. It's our turn now," the God of Light said, ready for battle.

"Relax," Marcule sneered. "You'll die soon enough."

"It won't be like last time," one of the family ancestors commented.

"Let's find out," Luke grinned, launching into an attack. Mark threw a punch while the God of Light thrust his spear forward.

*Boom.*

The impact sent shockwaves across the sky, pushing the clouds back millions of miles. Soldiers below, both Rank 0 and Rank 1, bled from their eyes due to the deafening noise. The Rank 2 beings exchanged glances and ascended into the sky.

---

**At a now-destroyed city**

A large pool of blood had formed as Void stood smiling in front of the auction house. Though the building was still standing, it exuded an eerie sense of unreality.

"I'm glad you didn't interfere," Void murmured, turning his gaze toward his slave.

Linkir had successfully broken through to the Great Archmage level, almost reaching quasi-Rank 1.

"You've gained strength, but you could've broken through to Rank 1 if not for your element holding you back," Void mused, stroking his chin with one claw.

"Yes, Master. Forgive me. My comprehension is lacking," Linkir responded, her head bowed in disappointment. She couldn't feel any element resonating with her.

"It's not entirely your fault. Losing the light element has left you disconnected from other elements for a time. But instead of focusing on light, why not try the dark element?" Void grinned.

"Whatever Master commands," Linkir replied with a faint smile, bowing deeply.

"I can't help you understand it, but I can show you something," Void said with a smirk. "How much you learn depends on you."

He opened his hand, summoning an ordinary flame. Slowly, the fire grew hotter, changing colors and evolving according to Void's will. At times it grew cold, then warm, constantly shifting.

Minutes passed as Void observed Linkir sitting on the ground, concentrating. She had started sensing her element.

"Stay here," Void ordered, his attention shifting. He could feel tremors in the distance—Rank 2 beings were battling. The sky above shifted with different colors, alternating between heat, cold, and an overwhelming sense of dread.

"Damn, the gap in strength is vast," Void muttered as he moved toward the next city.

---

**In a cave**

"Where am I? Ariya! Wait!" Duchen woke with a start, shouting for his daughter. He was alone, with no sign of her.

"Damn it. If they touch her, I will personally destroy the Church," Duchen growled, rushing out of the cave.

---

**At the Forbidden Zone**

A massive creature finally stepped out, his figure immense, radiating dread and negative energy. "Tasty souls," the figure hissed, lifting one massive leg.

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Big shout out to bloodt8, foxy tail, Teozin and ultra man for the powerstones