Chapter 614: Strife

Three days later, in the Coral Sea off the western coast of Australia, hundreds of naval guns were firing fiercely. Various types of missiles streaked across the sky with serpentine trails of exhaust, and earth-shattering explosions rang out incessantly. Huge tsunamis dozens of meters high surged and churned on the sea surface. The sky flashed with intense light, and mushroom clouds several kilometers in diameter rose from time to time.

Even the battleship 'Pacific Rim,' with a displacement of 72,000 tons, and the aircraft carrier 'Wiltonstein,' with 98,000 tons, both under the Rising Sun Shipping Company, as well as the 72,000-ton battleship 'Braden' under Light Magic Industries, were violently tossing on this sea, rising and falling with the formidable tides. The surrounding防空巡洋舰 and destroyers, frigates, and the numerous armed merchant ships of the transport convoy fared even worse in this terrifying storm and waves, no different from toy boats.

Yet the crews of these ships, even under such harsh conditions, maintained a high level of accuracy in their fierce firing, ensuring that the impact points of their ammunition did not deviate too much.

With all personnel having at least sixth-level magical energy cultivation, they possessed good balance and resistance to wind and waves. The 'Knight'-class bio-armor, already普及 throughout the fleet, allowed them to precisely operate their equipment even under extreme conditions.

Their opponents included 230 pirate ships of various types, along with some military warships.

Moreover, it wasn't just the hostile warships exchanging heavy fire; their combat personnel were also engaged in fierce battles in the airspace here. The magical storms and violent air currents triggered by these powerful individuals were equally devastating, no less than those of the heavily armed warships.

At this moment, on the bridge of the battleship 'Pacific Rim,' the many commanders and staff officers present stared coldly at a holographic magical projection that displayed all battle and sea conditions within a radius of 1,200 nautical miles.

There were some dark areas on it, regions their magic could not probe, but most areas were lit up, with intense flashes constantly appearing, showing the fierceness and stalemate of the battle.

"The gods of Olympus, are they planning to declare war outright? Lord Ferren has been personally overseeing things these past few days—did he anticipate this?"

Sitting in the fleet chief of staff seat was retired Navy Vice Admiral Alec Bass. As he spoke, he also looked at the magical map before him with a grave and cautious expression.

The ongoing battle was not enough to unsettle this vice admiral. The overall level of the enemy was beneath his notice. Barring accidents, he estimated the battle could be resolved within fifteen minutes at most. If they deployed another Storm Company or more magic towers, the speed of annihilation could be even faster.

It was only the seventeen 'Cloud Warships' that had been detected by mages and magical energy radars, now exposed before them, that made Vice Admiral Alec Bass extremely wary.

—These were creations of the Titans, magical warships from the Roman era when the Olympian pantheon ruled the seas. They shared the same technology as magic towers, though slightly inferior in power. Yet each one still possessed energy equivalent to a 10,000-ton cruiser. Some special models could rival battleships in strength. The power of their 'Magical Energy Annihilation Cannons' and 'High-Energy Plasma Cannons' was sufficient to threaten the side armor of two battleships.

Rumor had it that the Holy Light Church's artifact, 'Noah's Ark,' was modeled after the 'Cloud Warships.'

Even more daunting were the numerous Chosen Warriors and Titan Warriors hidden within these ships—a force so powerful that it had inflicted heavy casualties on the angelic armies of the Lord of Light in the outer realms.

In fact, they were already casting various spells to aid the pirates in battle. There was even intervention from powerful divine authority, enabling their enemies to withstand the artillery fire of the many warships here.

The ones Alec Bass addressed were the two people before him: one was Brigadier General Wallace Clayton, and the other was His Highness Garcia Ferren, the God of Strategy.

The latter needed no introduction; he was currently serving as the overall commander for the Australian direction, responsible for all war matters in Australia and the surrounding seas before their lord's personal expedition.

The former was the commander of the current Rising Sun Second Combined Fleet. Although Wallace Clayton had retired from the military as a brigadier general, he had joined the service of the Lord of Fate early on and could be said to have single-handedly overseen the creation of all four fleets of the Rising Sun Shipping Company. Moreover, due to his early association with the Lord of Fate and his considerable talent, he had been promoted to fifth-level Legend under their lord's patronage and granted the divine bio-armor 'Paladin of the Throne.'

Alec Bass was actually quite unconvinced by this man. He believed his own abilities were no less than Wallace Clayton's, and his military rank was higher. But simply because Clayton had followed their lord earlier, he enjoyed more trust from the Lord of Fate.

On the other hand, Alec Bass also admired the man's character. It was said that His Highness had intended to elevate Brigadier General Wallace Clayton to the status of a Chosen, even to help him obtain a divine domain of 'Naval Warfare' and 'Artillery Warfare,' making him one of his subordinate gods. However, Brigadier General Wallace Clayton had refused. First, he felt his merits were insufficient and he was unworthy; second, he still harbored ambition and wished to continue on the path of 'Magical Energy Shooter,' apparently planning to achieve divinity through his own strength. This was also the common sentiment among the commanders and top combatants of the Rising Sun forces. Their lord had granted them lifespans far exceeding ordinary humans, so their desire in this regard was especially strong.

There were also rumors that the Lord of Fate intended to build a 'War God Temple,' similar to the Nordic 'Valhalla' and the Olympian 'Chosen Warriors,' gathering the heroic souls of powerful warriors after death and granting them eternal life.

Thus, the soldiers and martial artists under the Rising Sun Group, like the followers of Odin and the Lord of Light in ancient times, had no fear of death.

Yet Brigadier General Wallace Clayton's decision to forgo the opportunity for direct divinity still made Alec Bass sigh with emotion.

"The latest news: five minutes ago, the walking incarnation of Apollo personally visited the Rising Sun Group headquarters, and His Highness has received him."

The God of Strategy, Garcia Ferren, said calmly: "They were already poised, just waiting for His Highness's reply to their ultimatum."

This made everyone present stiffen slightly. Although they knew that the Rising Sun Group and the Wiltonstein family had made ample preparations for this day, the Greek word 'Olympus' still weighed heavily on them. After all, it was a powerful pantheon that had dominated most of the Old World thousands of years ago, even spanning Asia and Africa.

It was said that afterward, the Olympian pantheon, led by Zeus, had traveled to foreign realms and conquered five worlds.

Now, the war between them and this powerful pantheon had officially begun.

"It seems we are being taken as hostages."

Vice Admiral Alec Bass said knowingly: "This is indeed an opportunity to force His Highness to take sides. Two hundred ships, goods worth 40 billion gold shields including大量 arms and military supplies, and a total of six Marine brigades. They think they have us by the balls! They believe they can defeat us, even annihilate us."

"Given the current situation in Australia, they indeed do not want to see our convoy dock in Australia. The arrival of these supplies will greatly increase the power of the Church of Fate in Australia."

Brigadier General Wallace Clayton, the fleet commander, had other thoughts: "Gentlemen, the advance speed of the Australian Navy fleet is off. They have slowed down. It is estimated that their arrival time on the battlefield may be delayed by an hour or more. Derrick, send a plain-text telegram to them now, inquiring about their situation! Also, ask the Australian government whether this is by their order."

This made all the staff officers present change color slightly.

"What are they trying to do? Deliberately? Wanting to sit back and watch this war?"

"These people are on the verge of national collapse! And they still pull this stunt—"

"These damn Australians, they deserve to go to hell. Don't they know? Our lord is the only one who can save them?"

"They came to our lord themselves, asking for help, didn't they?"

"Hey! I bet this is the work of those cardinals of the Holy Light Church behind the scenes."

"Not necessarily. The Holy Light Church's influence in Australia is more among the common people. Their upper echelons have always been the domain of a certain goddess."

"You mean that one, right? Eris?"

"These guys really intend to screw us over—"

Lieutenant General Alec Bass sneered coldly: "Foolish Australians! If we fail today, they will regret what they have done. The situation in Australia will spiral completely out of control."

"If we win in the coming war, we can make them regret it just the same."

The God of Strategy, Garcia Ferren, cast an admiring glance at the fleet commander, thinking no wonder the Lord of Fate regarded him so highly, even planning to expend divine power to elevate him to godhood.

The ability and wisdom of Commodore Wallace Clayton, who had managed to build the Sunrise Transport from nothing ten years ago into its current scale, were indeed beyond doubt.

"Everyone, prepare yourselves. War will break out. I know His Highness's character—he will never yield! And the enemies we face this time are far more than these cloud warships, perhaps more than just the Olympian gods. Gentlemen, this will be a fierce battle! The opponents are not comparable to the pirates you have easily crushed in the past."

He turned again to the magical holographic projection, at the regions still shrouded in black mist.

"I think we will see many mythical creatures that have not appeared in the mortal world for a long time. What do you think, Lieutenant General Bass?"

"But I believe the strength we possess will surely exceed the enemy's expectations! We have already prepared defense plans, haven't we? For every scenario."

These words from Alec Bass lifted the spirits of the core staff officers gathered there.

From what they now knew, this was indeed the case—the Wiltenstein family's forces were fully robust and formidable.

Currently, the Wiltenstein family's visible fleet alone included four retired battleships acquired and refitted over seven years, along with the earliest 'Battle Axe', three retired medium aircraft carriers, eight ten-thousand-ton cruisers, sixteen escort submarines, thirty-six destroyers, and eighty ocean-going frigates.

These warships could not be hidden from other powers. However, beyond these, Anthony Braden's secret overseas shipyards had recently built for the company twenty-four 'Omni-Shield' class destroyers and twelve magical submarines, disguised as merchant ships, which should not yet be anticipated by any party.

Yet what truly gave everyone confidence was their combat forces.

The 'Sunrise-Light Demon' First Combined Fleet currently carried a total of twelve Storm Companies, comprising 1,440 'Sky Knights' with legendary comprehensive combat power, 144 'Heavenly Knights' with demigod-level comprehensive combat power, twelve 'Chosen Knights', along with twelve legendary mages or liches, and twelve four-tier magic towers.

—This powerful force was not something any party could easily overcome.

Based on what they knew of the scale of the war between the Lord of Radiance and the three major god clans in the outer realms, the strength of these twelve Storm Companies was equivalent to one-fifth of an 'Angel Legion'.

And the total number of Angel Legions under the Lord of Radiance was only seven—strength accumulated over thousands of years by that Lord of Radiance.

Originally, they also had the Australian Navy and six major fleets of the American Pacific Fleet as reinforcements. But even if these allies could not reach the battlefield for some reason, or even became enemies, they could still accept it.

"So—"

Alec Bass said meaningfully: "I am now both uneasy and somewhat looking forward to the war. A complicated feeling, isn't it? I wonder how His Highness's negotiations are going? I await the result."

He knew that those around him probably shared the same thoughts. Among the veterans who chose to join the Sunrise Group after retirement, knowing it would inevitably experience large-scale warfare, how many wanted to spend their remaining years in peace?

War, steel, cannons, firearms, and fire and blood—these were what they loved.

This included the 'God of Strategy' Garcia Ferren—they were all war fanatics!

…

Meanwhile, in Atlanta, inside the president's office at Sunrise Group headquarters, Li Mochen was sitting face to face with Apollo's avatar.

After Li Mochen's apotheosis, he had stepped down as president of Sunrise Group, handing it over to Eliza. So now, Li Mochen was borrowing her territory to host guests.

It must be noted that, according to the principle of reciprocity, Li Mochen was using a divine avatar this time.

A deity can gain one additional divine avatar for every two divine ranks ascended. Their strength varies with divine rank: at rank one, the avatar is equivalent to their full power; at rank two, half; correspondingly, at rank fourteen, one-fourteenth.

The power of a divine avatar seems to shrink continuously, but in fact, it is steadily increasing.

Li Mochen rarely used divine avatars, firstly because he had better secondary bodies, and secondly because he had not yet entered his divine kingdom and had not reached the boundary of the 'Treaty of Separation Between Gods and Men', so there was no need. Now, whenever he wished, he could appear at any location in this city at any time, and his true body was far more powerful than a divine avatar. He had not encountered any situation where he was stretched thin.

He might use them in the future, but currently, he really didn't need to. Only in situations like this did Li Mochen need to employ this technique.

There was no reason to interrupt his progress on 'Heavenly Fate Sword' and 'Six Yao Immortal Sword' just for an avatar of the other party.

"Won't you reconsider? Andrei?"

Apollo seemed to be looking at 'Li Mochen's' avatar, but was actually gazing out the glass window at the twenty-eight-tier magic tower hovering over the Sward Estate.

"I thought we could be friends. You're putting me in a difficult position."

"But we are already friends, aren't we?"

Li Mochen replied with a smile: "A few months ago, we had an agreement—I maintain neutrality, and you grant me peace. I have been doing well, haven't I?"

"Your neutrality has led to the loss of millions of Olympus believers, and of very high quality. The King Father and I could overlook this, but only if you join Olympus."

Apollo shook his head slightly: "Your fleet in the Coral Sea will also ruin our plans. That is not the posture of a neutral party."

"That is merely aid to my poor believers, and a response and self-defense against various parties."

Li Mochen retorted tit for tat: "Some people seem unwilling to let me stay out of it. In the past ten days in Australia, there have been as many as 1,232 attacks on my church, resulting in over three hundred believers dead. That's nothing serious, but my churches have been cut off from supplies."

Mainly magic stones and magical materials—his twenty-seven churches there had sufficient food reserves.

But the problem was that frequent attacks led to rapid consumption of magic stones and magical materials. Also, the increase in believers and sheltered people forced them to expand the size and coverage of the churches.

However, the Church of Fate in Australia could no longer purchase any magic-related materials.

What made him take it even more seriously was the intelligence gathered by Clark Banfield and Paracelsus. A powerful force hostile to the Church of Fate had already gathered in Australia, waiting for an opportune moment to launch a devastating attack on their twenty-seven churches.

"What a pity."

Apollo sighed. "I'm very curious—what is it that gives you such confidence? An alliance with the local gods? But I think Nyx and her daughter Eris are just using you as a pawn. The recent actions of the American government are clearly a threat and a coercion against you. To oppose Olympus and the Aesir for their sake is truly unwise. Look at their ways? How many of their allies have they betrayed or even eliminated? Even the Magic Goddess, who has a better reputation, cannot escape her mother's influence, and her alliance with you is far from unbreakable. Andre, are you really prepared to rely on this unstable alliance to march into a war that could drag you into hell?"

Li Mochen's expression remained indifferent. He knew Apollo was referring to the joint lawsuit filed by multiple cities in Texas, USA, against the Rising Sun Company and Light Magic Industries, accusing them of abusing their monopoly on biological implants and magical armor, causing significant losses to several Texas military enterprises.

Li Mochen also knew this was a warning from the Goddess of Discord. If he disobeyed her orders, he would face a comprehensive strike from all dimensions, from mortal to divine.

Apollo had deliberately mentioned the word 'Aesir,' clearly signaling to him that the two sides had reached a consensus on the issue of opposing him.

"I do not intend to start a war, Lord Apollo! Unless it is one you impose on me. I merely wish to replenish some supplies for my church."

Li Mochen's tone remained humble and friendly, but Apollo had lost the gentleness he showed at their first meeting: "But I do not permit it!"

He looked at Li Mochen with a cold, warning gaze. "Today, there can only be three outcomes: submit to Olympus, or we sink your protective fleet, or, Andre, you win this battle."

Li Mochen was silent for a long time, staring fixedly at Apollo, then shook his head.

"Under the previous conditions, I cannot join the Olympian pantheon, Lord Apollo."

"Then there is nothing more to discuss."

Apollo's figure dissolved into golden specks of light as he let out a sigh that echoed through the office.

"A pity—"

The moment he left, Alyssa walked in. "Negotiations broke down, didn't they?"

"Wasn't that expected? Have someone inform the First and Second Joint Fleets that combat is about to begin."

Li Mochen's expression turned serious as he stood by the floor-to-ceiling window. "The opponents may include the entire Aesir pantheon and the Lord of Radiance."

"In fact, just two minutes ago, Lode, the Aesir god of temptation and desire, conveyed a request to meet with your church."

Alyssa smiled wryly. "I suspect his purpose is also to deliver an ultimatum to you."

"Then I won't see him. Tell him I have no intention of submitting to any pantheon for now."

Li Mochen did not plan to meet Lode. The latter was a quasi-god king, even more powerful than Apollo, and might be able to see through his current state, potentially altering the course of the battle.

"If they want war, let them come together. I don't mind."

"Your will."

Alyssa shrugged. "But honestly, I think we don't need to care too much about that goddess. We have enough influence in the White House and Congress. At worst, it's a civil war in America, or even a split. The Statue of Liberty's true form can't enter this world. It's still unknown who will win."

"It's not that simple."

Li Mochen smiled wryly as he looked at his capable assistant. "I've been a god for too short a time, Alyssa. And that goddess's power has guided this country for centuries. She helped establish it, didn't she? Her influence permeates every aspect of this nation, filling every corner. If I want certain people to firmly stand with me, I must demonstrate some strength. So, to some extent, a well-timed battle is what I hope for."

At this point in time, the major pantheons did not take him seriously enough, while the Church of Fate, the Wieldenstein Group, and his own power had reached a peak.

Compromise wins no respect; division and civil war would drain their strength. So war was the only option.

He needed a victory—just like the battles half a year ago that won him six months of peace. A victory that would leave the gods temporarily unable to counterattack and bring more people to his side. Only then could he truly act as a player, standing outside the chessboard to contend with those powerful beings.

"Then let's fight a decisive battle, my lord."

Alyssa took a deep breath, her gaze gradually sharpening.

She had always understood Li Mochen's intentions, but the pressure from the enemy was too heavy, instinctively making her want to avoid it.

But since there was no escape, she had to face it.

After setting aside the burden in her heart, Alyssa even felt like joking: "I bet those two sides are now thinking you don't appreciate their goodwill. How do you say it in the East? 'Not knowing when one is well off.'"

Li Mochen was unconcerned. "After this conflict, they won't think that way."

…

"I regret that I couldn't peacefully help you obtain the authority of war."

In the starry sky, aboard a spacious and ornate cloud warship, Apollo opened his eyes on his throne. "It seems you must personally reclaim what is yours, Ares."

"It seems he doesn't understand how precious this opportunity is."

The war god Ares, as Alyssa had predicted, said with a snort: "But this is also expected. The believers who see him as the god of war number only about seventeen million. Yet even I am reluctant to give up such a benefit, let alone a mortal who has just become a god. He has never experienced failure in his life, has he? I said from the start that we shouldn't have tolerated him. Now his power is even greater."

Apollo smiled without speaking, but a hint of disapproval flickered in his eyes.

Half a year ago, their 'tolerance' was not intentional but unavoidable. At that time, the Olympian Grand Fleet was still some distance from the Bright World, and the gods could not fully manifest their power in this world.

As long as the Lord of Radiance did not act, the Lord of Fate was practically invincible in the material plane.

To preserve the Olympian churches and temples from the Lord of Fate's attacks and allow them to focus on fighting the Radiant Church, a 'soft' approach was the only viable strategy.

In the end, it was all a consequence of the failures of Ares and Tyr.

At that moment, Apollo's expression stiffened as he looked upward.

"Since he still doesn't know the value of compromise and retreat, let him learn it."

With that voice, a figure in a red-gold battle armor, holding a scepter and exuding immense majesty, appeared before them. Floating seven meters high, he looked down at the two. "Ares! Go now and make that ungrateful wretch realize what he has missed! Destroy his fleet, tear down his temples, and make his believers wail and weep. For this battle, I will send the goddess of victory to aid you."

The goddess of victory, Nike, was a subordinate deity of both Zeus and Athena. Her father was Pallas, the Titan god of war and strategy, and her grandfather was the first-generation Titan god of stars and weather, Crius. Because she defected to Olympus during the Titanomachy and helped them win, she gained the authority of 'victory.'

She also had three siblings: Kratos (god of strength), Bia (god of force), and Zelos (god of zeal), who were the direct forces under Zeus.

"Nike—"

Ares's eyes contracted almost imperceptibly, then he bowed. "As you command! I will make our enemy suffer and regret their choice!"

At the same time, aboard the warship 'Klitaskov,' Odin, seated on his throne, also wore a cold, mocking expression.

"It seems our goodwill is to be rejected, isn't it? He won't even meet with your divine incarnation?"

"Exactly so!"

Lode, the god of temptation and desire, nodded slightly. "I have failed your trust, King Odin!"

"This is not your fault. I underestimated the greed of mortals."

Odin sneered. "Now is the time to correct this mistake and teach that unruly new god a lesson. Let our dragon-headed warships set out! Odin's legions will fight alongside our former enemies today."

"Then, my king, do you intend to personally join the battle?"

This question came from the very end of the divine seats. Everyone turned to look and saw that it was Forseti, the god of truth, justice, and reconciliation, the eldest son of Baldur, the god of light. This immediately sparked anger among the gods present.

"Are you about to say something cowardly, Forseti?"

"A god who dared not speak when his divine office was stolen by a new god—do you advise our king to be like you?"

"If you weren't the king's eldest grandson, your cowardice four thousand years ago would have been punishable by death!"

Odin raised a hand slightly, silencing his hall, then replied calmly: "Yes, Lode has helped me reach an understanding with the Lord of Radiance and other gods."

"But they are not trustworthy!"

Forseti said earnestly: "If you suffer any injury in this battle, our Aesir pantheon may be the first to be eliminated from this competition."

But this remark drew sneers from the crowd.

"Our king suffer injury?"

"What nonsense are you talking, Forseti?"

"Do you think a being who became a god less than a year ago can harm the king?"

"This is not half a year ago. The king's divine power has fully descended into this world!"

Odin chuckled softly, shaking his head dismissively. "I will be careful, Forseti. You need not worry about that. I think you should be more concerned about how to gain the forgiveness of the gods. I have not yet forgiven you, Forseti!"

At the same time, in a divine realm illuminated by a massive torch,

a white-robed goddess and a black-robed goddess stood by a lake, gazing into it to observe the war unfolding in the Coral Sea.

"That Australian fleet won't make it in time for the battle. Was this your idea, Eris?"

"No, it was the Vatican. Their people influenced the Australian military's decision."

The white-robed goddess spoke softly: "I merely stood by and did nothing to stop it."

"And Cain and Lilith?"

"I used them a little, allowing them to break free from their contractual bonds."

"Truly worthy of you."

The black-robed goddess probed further: "So, this pawn no longer satisfies you, does it?"

"Yes. According to observations from some of my chosen, the power he now wields is too great. Prometheus also told me that his interference in the future is becoming increasingly significant, making it impossible for him to foresee the path ahead."

The white-robed goddess said as she waved her arm, concealing the positions of the nearby Australian fleet and the American Twenty-Second Fleet.

"I need him to join the battle to share our burden, but I do not want him to win this war. That is all."

"This will severely wound the Lord of Fate, but it will also truly bring him under your control. No matter who wins this war, you will benefit from it."

The black-robed goddess sighed with understanding: "You are far more ruthless than Hecate, Eris! I gave much of my power to my beloved Hecate, but now it seems you are far more outstanding than her."

"I am flattered. But isn't this what you taught me, Mother Goddess?"

Eris's lips curled slightly, as if quite pleased. Yet her smile was elegant, soft, and radiant. "Thanks to the divine office you bestowed upon me, only endless strife can now satisfy me."