**********
—One month later—
Eternal Divine Palace Hall,
It was an ordinary day for Lev and the others.
They were gathered inside the hall, relaxing and casually chatting with one another while their summoned companion stayed nearby. There was rarely anything for them to do after finishing their daily sparring sessions, so they had plenty of time to rest and enjoy their peaceful lives.
Suddenly, Lev sensed something.
His relaxed expression disappeared as he shifted his gaze toward the outside. His eyes narrowed, and his face became serious.
He could feel it.
An approaching storm was about to descend upon the continent.
Gu Yuena seemed to sense the same thing. She immediately turned toward the outside as well, a deep frown appearing on her beautiful face.
Dugu Yan and the others quickly noticed the sudden change in their expressions. The smiles on their faces gradually faded as they realized that something was wrong.
They didn't know what had happened, but judging from Lev and Gu Yuena's reactions, it was clearly something serious.
"Is there a problem, Lev?" Bibi Dong suddenly asked, her voice filled with concern.
Hearing her question, Lev turned toward Bibi Dong and the others.
"They're here."
Those two words were enough to make everyone's eyes widen.
Nervousness immediately filled their hearts.
They all understood exactly what Lev meant.
The Gods had finally arrived.
Without another word, everyone stopped what they were doing and turned their attention toward the outside of the palace.
*****
Elder's Palace,
"I hope His Majesty can handle this."
Qian Daoliu murmured as he stared toward the distant sky, his fists clenched tightly.
He knew that the moment everyone had been waiting for had finally arrived.
*****
Seagod Island,
At the same time, Bo Saixi stood outside and gazed toward the sky.
She could already feel their arrival.
Her expression was complicated, filled with both worry and anticipation for what was about to happen.
"God Poseidon..."
She murmured the name quietly.
*****
Slaughter City,
"Here it comes..."
Tang Chen slowly rose from his throne, excitement flashing in his eyes.
"My time for revenge has finally come."
His hands clenched into fists as he prepared himself for the battle that was about to unfold.
*****
God Realm,
"Is everything ready?"
Asura God King asked while looking down at the distant continent.
"Yes. We can descend now."
Another God King answered.
Hearing this, Asura God King nodded.
He then shifted his gaze toward the numerous Gods gathered behind him.
"Descend."
The moment his command was given, the Gods immediately moved.
*****
Eternal Divine Continent,
A sudden change swept across the entire continent.
Every person, regardless of their strength or status, could feel an inexplicable pressure descend upon the world.
It was as though the heavens themselves were about to collapse.
People everywhere stopped what they were doing and looked toward the sky.
Then, cracks began to appear.
One after another, enormous cracks spread across the sky, their appearance both magnificent and terrifying.
At first, many people could only stare in awe.
But their expressions quickly changed when figures began emerging from those cracks.
Gods were descending.
At this moment, several Gods finally arrived in the mortal world.
However, the moment they descended, they immediately sensed something was wrong.
Their expressions changed as they examined their own bodies and felt the restrictions imposed upon them by the world.
The Laws of the mortal realm were suppressing their divine power.
Several of the Gods who had originally possessed the strength of First-Class Gods had been suppressed to the level of Third-Class Gods.
Even so, their strength remained terrifying.
Despite being heavily restricted, they were still Gods.
At worst, their strength was comparable to that of an Extreme Douluo.
"No matter how many times I see it, this world is truly amazing."
One of the Gods looked around the continent with fascination.
"Unfortunately, it is about to be destroyed."
His gaze then shifted toward a particular direction.
From there, he could clearly sense several powerful presences.
"Quiet."
A man with long blue hair and a blue beard suddenly spoke with authority.
His skin was tanned, while his strong brow and defined jaw gave him a powerful appearance. He wore flowing blue robes and a golden crown, while an aura resembling the vast ocean surrounded his body.
"We are here for a serious matter. This is a mission directly ordered by the God Kings."
His expression became solemn.
"Our targets are the Silver Dragon King and a human named Lev. Do not make any unnecessary mistakes."
"Tsk. Those damned God Kings."
A figure dressed entirely in black snorted coldly.
An ominous aura surrounded his body as an evil smile appeared on his face.
"Just wait. One day, I'll replace them and take their positions."
His eyes then narrowed as he looked toward the continent.
He could already sense the presence of the person who had forcefully severed their connection.
And he intended to make that person pay.
"Watch your mouth!"
Another God immediately shouted.
Unlike the black-clad God, this person radiated a sacred and holy aura that was completely opposite to the other's ominous presence.
The black-clad God merely clicked his tongue in annoyance before shifting his attention back toward the continent.
"Enough."
The blue-haired man interrupted them.
"Let's set off immediately and finish this as quickly as possible. However, do not lower your guard."
His expression became grave.
"Asura God King personally warned me that our targets are far more powerful than we initially expected."
Hearing his words, the other Gods finally became serious.
They nodded before following him.
In the next instant, their divine power erupted.
The group shot through the sky at tremendous speed, heading directly toward the powerful presences they had sensed.
The long-awaited confrontation between the Gods and Lev had finally begun.
*****
Eternal Divine Palace,
This time, Lev and the others were already standing on top of the palace, gazing toward the distant sky.
Unlike Bibi Dong and the others, Lev, Tsunade, and Gu Yuena could already see the numerous silhouettes rapidly approaching in their direction.
My experience points have finally arrived.
A creepy smile slowly appeared on Lev's face as he looked at the incoming Gods.
To him, they were no longer divine beings.
They were walking bundles of experience waiting to be claimed.
"They're coming."
Lev calmly announced.
Hearing him, Bibi Dong and the others immediately became focused, each preparing themselves for the battle that was about to begin.
Several powerful Spirit Beasts had also gathered around the palace, while Lev's summons stood on the ground, growling as they stared toward the approaching figures in the sky.
Not long after, the Gods finally drew close to the palace.
They immediately spotted the people they had been ordered to deal with.
However, before they could make their move, they suddenly stopped.
A strange beam of fire energy was rapidly approaching them.
The overwhelming power contained within it immediately made their expressions change.
*****
Eternal Divine Palace,
Lev watched them from the palace while Koku was behind him.
His gaze remained fixed on them as a beam of fire energy gradually reached them.
A confident smile appeared on his face.
"Let's get this started."
The Gods were caught completely off guard by the sudden attack.
Perhaps they were still adjusting to the restrictions imposed upon them by the mortal world, or perhaps they simply underestimated Lev.
Whatever the reason, several Gods who believed they could withstand the attack were instantly killed when the energy struck them.
The remaining Gods immediately raised their guards after witnessing the terrifying lethality of the attack.
Even the five God Kings, who were observing everything from the God Realm, were stunned by what they had witnessed.
Their expressions became solemn.
Lev had actually injured—and even killed—Gods despite not being a God himself.
That alone was enough to prove just how strange and dangerous this human truly was.
However, they weren't particularly concerned about the Gods who had fallen.
Their resurrection had already been accounted for in their preparations.
As long as their divine origins remained intact within the God Realm, those fallen Gods could eventually be resurrected.
*****
Eternal Divine Palace,
Lev wasn't surprised by the deaths.
Instead, he frowned for an entirely different reason.
He looked at the notification from his system with dissatisfaction.
The amount of experience and True God Coins he had obtained was only half of what he normally received from killing a God.
System, what's going on with this experience?
Lev immediately questioned the system.
[The Gods that have been slain have not been completely killed. Therefore, only half of the experience and True God Coins can be awarded.]
Hearing the explanation, Lev fell silent for a moment.
He thought about it before eventually sighing.
So that's how it works.
Although earning only half the rewards was disappointing, it was still enough to help him advance.
A faint smile returned to his face.
Half is better than nothing.
With that thought, Lev simply waited for the remaining Gods to arrive.
Not long afterward, the Gods who had descended from the God Realm finally reached the Eternal Divine Palace.
They immediately surrounded the entire palace, their gazes falling upon Lev, Gu Yuena, and the others.
Their expressions varied.
Some looked at them with pity.
Others showed concern.
But most of them carried undisguised killing intent.
Lev, however, remained completely calm.
His eyes swept across the gathered Gods one by one, and he immediately recognized several familiar faces.
"Are you really serious about fighting the Silver Dragon King and me?"
Lev's lips curled into a mocking smile.
"I don't even see your so-called God Kings here."
Despite being surrounded by numerous Gods, Lev showed not the slightest trace of fear.
Instead, he deliberately provoked them further.
"Don't be so arrogant, human."
The blue-haired man stepped forward, his expression becoming cold.
"The presence of the God Kings is far too sacred for someone like you to perceive."
He couldn't understand why this human remained so confident despite being surrounded by Gods.
Although they had been caught off guard by Lev's initial attack, he admitted that they were partly to blame for underestimating him.
"Heh."
Lev chuckled.
"Are you even hearing yourself?"
His smirk widened.
"You know very well why the God Kings sent all of you down here first."
The surrounding Gods fell silent.
"They want to determine the extent of my power before they personally descend because they're afraid of confronting something they don't understand."
Lev's gaze then shifted toward the blue-haired man.
"And I'm sure someone as intelligent as Poseidon would have already figured that out."
The blue-haired man's expression changed slightly.
Lev's words had struck directly at the truth.
Lev wasn't unfamiliar with this kind of strategy.
Send others to test the enemy first.
Observe their strength.
Gather information.
Then, only after understanding the threat, send the true powerhouses into the battlefield.
It was a familiar strategy used by powerful figures across countless worlds.
And Lev couldn't help but find it amusing.
The God Kings really are playing it safe.
His smile widened as he looked at the Gods surrounding him.
Too bad they have no idea what they're dealing with.
*****
God Realm,
"Let me descend already! I want to tear that human into pieces!"
One of the God Kings roared furiously.
Lev's words had clearly struck a nerve. The fact that a mere human had openly declared that the God Kings were afraid of him was an insult he couldn't tolerate.
"Calm down."
Asura God King replied calmly.
Although he also wanted to descend immediately, he couldn't deny that Lev's words contained some truth.
Some might call their actions cowardly, but from another perspective, it was simply a strategy.
They had no reason to recklessly confront an unknown enemy without first understanding his true strength.
Hearing Asura God King's words, the other three God Kings remained silent.
Even the furious God King eventually calmed himself down, though his anger remained obvious. His fists were clenched tightly as he glared down at Lev with undisguised hostility.
*****
Eternal Divine Palace,
"I like this human! Hahahaha!"
The black-clad God suddenly burst into laughter.
He was genuinely amused by Lev's boldness.
Although he disliked humans, he had to admit that Lev wasn't wrong.
That was precisely why he hated the God Kings above them and dreamed of one day replacing them.
"Oh?"
Lev suddenly looked toward him.
"I didn't notice. Looks like the evil but cowardly Rakshasa is here too."
The moment those words came out, Rakshasa God immediately stopped laughing.
His expression darkened as he glared at Lev, an ominous, deathly aura erupting from his body.
"What did you just say?!"
Rakshasa God roared furiously.
His hand tightened around his scythe as he prepared to tear Lev apart.
It was the first time someone had openly called him a coward.
What made it even more infuriating was that the person who said it was merely a human—a human whom he believed he could crush like an ant.
"Enough."
Poseidon stepped forward, his trident firmly grasped in his hand.
"Human, your talent is enough to earn you a place in the God Realm. And yet, you chose to side with the Spirit Beasts."
He shook his head.
"What a pity. You will die here today."
"Hoh?"
Lev raised an eyebrow.
"Did you already forget that I killed some of your people a moment ago?"
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Although I can't completely kill you here, you'll become nutrients for me during the final war."
Poseidon and the other Gods were confused by Lev's strange words.
Nutrients?
Before they could question him, however, Lev released his Spirit Rings.
One after another, the rings appeared around his body.
White.
Every single one of them was white.
Poseidon and the other Gods were stunned.
They couldn't understand where Lev's confidence came from when his Spirit Rings appeared so ordinary.
However, before they could mock him, Lev raised his hand.
Flames suddenly gathered around his fingertips as he began writing several names in the air.
***Saiha***
***Nadare***
***Homura***
***Setsuna***
***Madoka***
***Rui***
***Kuko***
***Resshin***
***Recca***
The moment the final name was written, the surrounding space began to tremble.
Roars echoed across the sky.
One enormous dragon after another materialized on the continent.
The original eight Flame Dragons appeared first, each possessing a distinct appearance and a terrifying aura.
Then came the final one.
A fully grown dragon.
***Recca***
Unlike the others, Recca's presence was on an entirely different level.
The enormous dragon threw its head back and released a deafening roar, its overwhelming might spreading across the battlefield and announcing its return to the world.
"Let's see how you'll handle me this time."
Lev smiled as he looked toward the Gods before him.
Poseidon and the others were completely stunned.
Their expressions became solemn as they carefully observed the dragons.
They could clearly sense that Lev himself was only a Titled Douluo.
Yet the power radiating from him was completely inconsistent with his cultivation.
It was comparable to that of a First-Class God.
Some of the Gods present were First-Class Gods themselves, so they knew exactly what that level of power felt like.
But that only made the situation even more difficult to understand.
If Lev truly possessed power comparable to a First-Class God, why was he still able to remain on the continent?
Normally, possessing such strength should have attracted the attention of the world's Laws.
The will of the world should have reacted to such a powerful existence.
And yet Lev was still standing there without the slightest sign of being affected.
Just what exactly is this human?
That question appeared in the minds of several Gods.
Lev, however, paid no attention to their confusion.
His expression became serious as he turned toward his companions.
"Tsunade, Dong'er, YanYan, Zhuqing, and Xiao Wu, be careful."
His gaze swept across them.
"Protect each other."
He then looked toward Gu Yuena.
"Yue'er, help them. Don't allow any of them to get hurt."
Finally, his gaze shifted toward Megatron.
"Megatron, take care of the civilians in the city. Don't let them get caught in the battle."
Lev was confident that he could deal with the Gods alone.
His only concern was the safety of the people around him.
He had wanted his lovers to leave the battlefield, but they had adamantly refused.
Since they insisted on helping him, the only thing he could do was make sure they were properly protected.
Hearing his orders, Gu Yuena and the others nodded.
They quickly assumed their respective positions and formed a battle formation.
Tsunade, the Tailed Beasts, and Lev's other summons also prepared themselves.
One by one, their auras erupted.
The Spirit Beasts surrounding the palace roared.
The dragons in the sky growled.
The summons readied their weapons.
And the Gods descended upon them with killing intent.
The peaceful Eternal Divine Continent was about to become the battlefield of a war between mortals, Spirit Beasts, and Gods.
On the other hand, several Spirit Beasts had also prepared themselves for the battle. They had already taken on their true beast forms, having been tasked with participating in the war.
Although some of them were reluctant to fight, they had no choice but to take part. Regardless of how the battle ended, the outcome would inevitably affect them and the entire Spirit Beast race.
"Everyone, remember that our mission is not only to eliminate the Silver Dragon King. We must also deal with this human."
Poseidon raised his trident and pointed it directly toward Lev.
"Do not underestimate either of them."
As his words fell, a sphere of water rapidly condensed at the tip of his trident.
"Attack!"
Poseidon roared.
The moment his command was given, the Gods launched their first assault.
Lev, however, merely smiled.
"Madoka, barrier."
At his command, Madoka immediately moved to protect the others while Lev simultaneously issued another order.
"Setsuna. Kuko. Attack."
The two Flame Dragons immediately responded.
In the next instant, countless attacks erupted across the battlefield.
Explosions shook the sky as divine power, spirit power, flames, water, and various other energies collided with one another.
The confrontation between the Gods and Lev's forces could be felt throughout the entire continent.
Lev moved continuously across the battlefield, utilizing every combination of Spirit Ability, skill, and summon at his disposal.
He fought the Gods head-on while constantly keeping an eye on the others, making sure that none of his companions were overwhelmed.
The Gods, meanwhile, did everything in their power to corner him.
They attacked from every direction, attempting to overwhelm him through sheer numbers and coordinated assaults.
Yet their efforts were gradually proving meaningless.
One God after another fell.
Despite the overwhelming number of Gods that had descended to the mortal world, their supposed numerical advantage was nothing more than false hope.
They had gathered this many forces specifically to deal with the Silver Dragon King and Lev.
But they had never expected Lev to be this powerful.
Instead of being overwhelmed by their numbers, Lev was confronting them head-on and gradually eliminating them one after another.
Every fallen God only made the remaining Gods more cautious.
But caution alone could not change the outcome.
They were slowly losing.
Meanwhile, in the God Realm, the five God Kings watched the battle with increasingly solemn expressions.
They had been shocked by the situation.
They had underestimated Lev yet again.
However, despite their shock, there was still a sense of relief among them.
Their decision to send the lower Gods down first had not been entirely wrong.
By forcing Lev into a prolonged battle, they were gradually making him reveal more of his abilities.
The God Kings carefully observed every technique, summon, and Spirit Ability Lev displayed.
Keep showing us everything you have.
They continued watching from above.
Their initial plan was working.
At least, that was what they believed.
*****
—Night—
Eternal Divine Palace,
The battle had now continued for several hours, with the scorching sun having long since disappeared beyond the horizon and been replaced by the silent moon.
Gu Yuena and the others were already completely exhausted after continuously fending off the Gods who had targeted them.
Although Gu Yuena possessed strength comparable to that of a First-Class God, it was still not enough to fight at her full potential. She had already sustained several injuries, and the need to protect the others had placed an even greater burden on her.
However, what surprised everyone the most was Tsunade.
For the first time, she had finally revealed more of what she was capable of.
Even after fighting for so long, Tsunade was still standing alongside the other Tailed Beasts, continuously battling the Gods who surrounded them.
Only now did the others truly understand just how terrifying Tsunade's strength was.
She was not someone who could be dealt with easily.
Meanwhile, Poseidon and the other elite Gods were still in relatively good condition, although traces of exhaustion could already be seen on their faces.
The battle had been an entirely different experience for them.
It had been countless years since they had participated in such a prolonged and intense battle.
Perhaps living peacefully in the God Realm, where battles rarely occurred, had truly caused their combat instincts to deteriorate.
Lev, on the other hand, appeared calm on the outside.
Internally, however, he was also exhausted.
His body had been fighting for hours without rest, yet the adrenaline coursing through him kept him going.
He could feel himself entering a strange state—a zone where his concentration had reached its peak.
It felt as though he could continue fighting endlessly.
"Is this really all the power Gods possess?"
Lev looked toward the remaining Gods and let out a tired breath.
"Huff... It's quite disappointing."
His experience bar had been steadily increasing throughout the battle.
In fact, he had already leveled up twice.
Seeing this, Lev couldn't help but think that he needed to eliminate all of them if he wanted to reach Level 100.
"Don't get too full of yourself!"
Rakshasa God angrily shouted.
"If the restriction on us were lifted, I could crush several of you without difficulty!"
The other Gods also glared at Lev.
Despite their exhaustion, they couldn't hide the fear in their eyes.
After fighting Lev for this long, they had finally realized something.
This human was a monster.
He had been fighting them alone for hours, yet he was still standing.
Poseidon, however, quickly realized that their current strategy could not continue for much longer.
Lev's abnormal endurance and overwhelming abilities had already exceeded their expectations.
His gaze then shifted toward Lev's back.
There stood the Silver Dragon King and the others.
They were exhausted.
An idea suddenly flashed through Poseidon's mind.
It was not a particularly honorable strategy.
But this was war.
"Everyone, listen to me!"
Poseidon shouted.
"Forget Lev for now! Focus your attacks on the people behind him!"
His eyes narrowed.
"Let's see who falls first!"
It was still difficult to determine who would ultimately win this battle.
However, they still possessed one advantage that Lev couldn't ignore—their numbers.
They might not be able to kill Lev directly, but the people he was protecting were another matter entirely.
"I never thought the Gods would actually resort to such a cowardly method."
Lev's expression darkened when he saw the Gods suddenly change their targets.
"Are Gods really this shameless now?!"
The Gods immediately rushed toward Gu Yuena and the others.
"Tsunade! Take Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Dugu Yan away from here!"
Lev shouted.
He had already recalled his remaining summons as the battlefield had become far too dangerous for them.
"As you command, Master!"
Tsunade immediately understood.
She abandoned the Gods she had been fighting and swiftly moved toward Xiao Wu and the others, taking them away from the battlefield.
At the same time, Lev began analyzing every ability the Gods had used.
Ever since the battle started, his skills had been increasing at an astonishing rate.
[..... has been acquired.]
[..... has been acquired.]
[..... has been acquired.]
[..... has been acquired.]
[..... has been acquired.]
The notifications continued appearing inside his mind.
With Tsunade having successfully taken Xiao Wu and the others away, Lev finally decided to stop holding back.
"Madoka."
At his command, Madoka immediately created a powerful barrier around Gu Yuena, Bibi Dong, and the remaining Spirit Beasts.
Only then did Lev turn his attention toward the Gods.
He began using the very abilities they had displayed throughout the battle.
One after another.
Against them.
The Gods' expressions instantly changed.
Countless attacks collided in the sky.
The strange thing was that the abilities being used against them were exactly the same abilities they had used moments ago.
But the one casting them was Lev.
And his versions were even more powerful.
"What the fuck is this?!"
Rakshasa God roared in disbelief as he desperately defended against an attack identical to his own.
The attack had come from Lev, yet its power was far greater than the original.
"T-This human is abnormal!"
Angel God looked horrified.
"J-Just how is this possible?!"
His expression became pale.
"We need to kill him! Otherwise, we'll all die!"
Poseidon was equally shocked.
He stared at Lev as realization slowly dawned upon him.
Their chances of winning had just disappeared.
Could it be...
Was he not even taking us seriously earlier?
The thought sent a chill down Poseidon's spine.
"We... can't win."
Poseidon murmured.
For the first time since descending into the mortal world, he looked at Lev not as a human opponent, but as a monster.
However, he quickly tightened his grip around his trident.
"Human."
His voice became cold.
"I admit that you're powerful."
His eyes narrowed.
"But I swear that before I die, I will kill one of your precious loved ones."
He raised his trident.
"And even if I fall here, I will simply resurrect in the God Realm."
His killing intent erupted.
"Everyone! This is our final chance! Give it everything you've got!"
Following Poseidon's command, another fierce battle erupted.
But this time, the focus was no longer solely on Lev.
Several Gods immediately broke away from the main battlefield and rushed toward the direction in which Megatron had taken the civilians.
Others continued attacking Gu Yuena and the remaining people around Lev.
Lev's expression changed.
He immediately moved.
He used every ounce of strength in his body to fight back while simultaneously protecting everyone around him.
The battlefield descended into complete chaos.
Explosions shook the sky.
Divine abilities collided with one another.
The ground trembled beneath the overwhelming force.
Yet as the battle continued, none of the Gods noticed something.
Amidst the chaos, Lev was secretly grinning.
Because while they were desperately fighting...
Everything was proceeding exactly according to his plan.