Chapter 421: Indispensable Power
"Are you the true god who descended to this world?"
As soon as Vivian said this, everyone's expressions became serious.
Although they had lost control of their bodies earlier, they had seen everything that happened outside.
Facing everyone's gaze, Li Meng grinned.
He snapped his fingers with a "pop" sound.
A surge of holy light suddenly erupted behind him.
A pure white, sacred, and grand throne rapidly solidified.
Li Meng sat down on the throne.
The floating people also felt gravity returning.
Their bodies slowly descended onto an invisible ground.
"You can call me the Demon God Emperor!"
Demon God Emperor?
These three words made Vivian and Amos's faces change slightly.
When they fought against the demon lord of the Mantis Demon Tribe in the kingdom hall, they had heard him mention His Majesty the Demon God Emperor.
Why had humanity not received any news about a new ruler appearing among the demons?
They had been puzzled about the existence of the Demon God Emperor.
Now they finally understood.
The Demon God Emperor was the emperor of the demon race.
"Impossible! You're the Demon God Emperor of the demons; how can you use the power of holy light?"
Amos's words caused an uproar among the crowd.
The Demon God Emperor is a divine being of the demons?
If that's true, then the person in front of them is their enemy.
Li Meng yawned lazily.
He lazily scanned the crowd.
"I won't save you for free. I'll give you two choices!"
Li Meng raised two fingers.
"One, submit to me, join me in extracting the crystal, and conquering humanity. I will grant humanity a space to survive."
"Two, I'll kill you all!"
Li Meng grinned and lowered his hand.
"Choose. If you want to die with dignity, I can grant that too."
Looking at the boy on the throne of light, everyone's hearts sank.
Submit or die.
It wasn't a real choice.
They had no real options.
Submission meant a slim chance at survival.
What the future held, who could say?
But death meant nothing.
"Ice God-level Archmage 'Vivian' is willing to submit to His Majesty the Demon God Emperor!"
Vivian was the first to kneel.
As a member of the royal family, Vivian knew that humanity had no chance of winning.
The power the Demon God Emperor displayed was not something humanity could contend with.
Rather than resist and perish, it was better to submit and seek that slim chance of survival.
Humans were a race of infinite potential.
Time was on humanity's side.
For the future of humanity, enduring a few generations of humiliation was worth it.
"Great God of Light, we are willing to worship you as the one true god!"
The temple knights and priests knelt with fervent expressions.
They could feel the surging holy light from the throne.
Even a tiny bit of the emitted light enhanced their affinity with light-element spirits.
"Sword God Amos is willing to submit to His Majesty the Demon God Emperor!"
"Sword God Gustav is willing to submit to His Majesty the Demon God Emperor!"
The temple knights and priests' kneeling led the others.
One after another, everyone knelt in unison.
Within ten seconds, not a single person was left standing.
"Very good. You can leave now!"
Li Meng waved his hand.
The space nearby suddenly shattered, creating a rift.
The kneeling crowd also saw the rift that looked like a black hole.
"That's a gate!"
At those words, everyone's expressions froze.
They quickly got up and hurried toward the rift.
Over thirty people disappeared into the rift one after another.
Only after the last person disappeared did the rift collapse and vanish.
Li Meng turned his head slightly and looked at the crystal.
The crystal would be very safe in planetary orbit.
It would orbit Augus Star.
A crystal outside the atmosphere wouldn't absorb the planet's life energy.
Placing the crystal in planetary orbit was the best method.
"I didn't expect using magic power would also accelerate the collapse of my body."
Li Meng sighed, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes.
He had thought that as long as he didn't use the Mad God's power, his body's collapse wouldn't accelerate.
But it turned out that all the powers he had weren't independent entities.
All the powers were one.
Using any power would severely burden his body.
"Who wants a power they can't even use freely!"
Li Meng rolled his eyes, full of exasperation.
He was sure that his powers all came from the shadow in his dreams.
The so-called life simulator was just the shadow guiding him to do things.
The score rewards allowed him to choose the kind of power he wanted.
Maybe he wasn't the first lucky one summoned to this world by the shadow.
But the previous lucky ones had all failed.
"With my current power, I should be able to kill the Skeleton Dragon King, right?"
Li Meng thought of the Skeleton Dragon King "Modemore."
Although the Skeleton Dragon King was a mechanical monster, he should now have the strength to kill it in one blow.
[Master, please refrain from taking action unless absolutely necessary. I can feel your body is accelerating its collapse.]
"That's not an option. My power is indispensable. Don't worry, Xiao Bai, I know what I'm doing!"
Li Meng stood up.
The space before him suddenly shattered.
Li Meng calmly walked into the rift that looked like a black hole.
---
Kingdom of Armenia.
Menia City.
In the ruins shrouded by darkness.
King Bartro was marching toward the palace under the escort of his guards.
At that moment, a soldier rushed out of the darkness.
He knelt before King Bartro's warhorse.
"Report, Your Majesty, the demon army has retreated!"
The soldier's report brought a wave of relief to Bartro's heart.
He had thought the demons would take advantage of the crystal's destruction to launch a full attack.
Unexpectedly, the demons passed up the chance to wipe out all resistance in Menia City.
Was it the appearance of the giant of light that deterred the demons?
But the giant of light had attacked the crystal barrier, clearly opposing humanity.
The demons should have been happy.
After all, in some sense, the giant of light was on the demon's side.
"Is the information confirmed?"
"Your Majesty, confirmed. The demon army is withdrawing from Menia City and the forces outside the city are retreating as well!"
Hearing this, Bartro took a deep breath.
Finally, the city's defenders could catch their breath.
Although the situation remained dire.
The demons had only temporarily withdrawn.
Without the crystal barrier, Menia City would be directly exposed to the demon army's assault.
When the demons attacked again, could humanity truly defend the city?
Bartro continued onward, his face heavy with worry.
Outside Menia City, in the northern wilderness.
Under the moonlight, the dense demon army was moving away from the city.
"Adelaide, did you hear His Majesty's order too?"
A shadow flashed across the night sky.
It swooped onto a giant beast-cart among the demon army.
Kakada flapped his wings rapidly and landed steadily on the beast-cart.
"I heard. How's the situation on Miris's side?"
Kakada sat down on the wide seat.
"Just now, I saw the Minotaur forces retreating from Menia City's north gate."
"The crystal barrier is destroyed, the human elites have been captured; this should be the perfect time to wipe them out. Why did His Majesty order a retreat?"
Kakada couldn't understand the retreat order.
They only needed one final strike.
The demons could win this war.
"His Majesty probably has other plans."
The crystal in Menia City was gone.
The demons could breach the city anytime.
The retreat wouldn't affect the war's outcome.
"Adelaide, was that giant of light His Majesty the Demon God Emperor?"
Kakada asked curiously.
If so, it was astonishing.
It meant His Majesty also wielded the power of light.
He could exert "higher suppression" over angels.
Being called the Lord of Light wouldn't be an exaggeration.
"Probably."
Adelaide spoke uncertainly.
Whether it was or not, Adelaide didn't know.
But if it wasn't His Majesty, the demon army wouldn't have been able to retreat safely.
"Could His Majesty really be a god?"
Adelaide pondered secretly.
A casual strike shattering space.
Even a half-step Holy Spirit expert couldn't do that.
Even the Savage God couldn't.
---
Kingdom of Armenia.
Menia City.
Palace, Royal Hall.
"What? They're still alive? That's wonderful, absolutely wonderful!"
The soldier's report brought joy to King Bartro's face.
He had thought all the newly-born angels had perished.
Unexpectedly, the strong ones who had transformed into angels were still alive.
"Quick, bring them in!"
In the shattered Royal Hall.
Bartro looked expectantly at the door.
Soon, figures surged from outside the gate.
A group of strong figures walked in.
Among them, Bartro saw many familiar faces.
Including his aunt, Vivian.
"Heaven hasn't abandoned the Kingdom of Armenia. As long as you all are alive, the kingdom still has hope!"
Facing King Bartro's relieved face, Vivian hesitated to speak.
Sensing her difficulty, Amos stepped forward and saluted.
"Your Majesty, for the future of the kingdom, please surrender to His Majesty the Demon God Emperor and pledge your allegiance!"
"W-What?"
King Bartro looked at Amos in shock.
He involuntarily took a few steps back.
The temple knights and priests looked at Bartro with fanatical expressions.
"Please welcome the descent of the God of Light!"
"Please welcome the descent of the God of Light!"
The temple knights and priests chanted together again and again.
"You... what's wrong with all of you?"
Bartro looked at them in confusion.
The guards in the hall exchanged bewildered glances, unsure of what to do.
Vivian sighed internally and walked toward Bartro.
"Aunt, what's happening?"
Seeing his aunt approach, Bartro clutched at her arm like a drowning man.
Vivian smiled softly and shook her head.
"We are still ourselves. We just saw the truth. Bartro, pledge allegiance to His Majesty the Demon God Emperor. It's the only way the Kingdom of Armenia has any chance of survival. I don't want to see our kingdom perish, and I want you to live well."
"Aunt, I... I don't understand."
Bartro looked at his aunt in confusion.
Who was the Demon God Emperor?
Why pledge allegiance?
Vivian smiled gently.
She raised her right hand and softly caressed Bartro's face.
"Don't worry. Everything will get better. You'll understand. I'll tell you everything."
Vivian grabbed Bartro's hand.
She pulled him out of the Royal Hall.
"Everyone, go back for now."
The others watched as Vivian and King Bartro left.
Only after they disappeared did they start leaving.
Time passed slowly. Night deepened.
The vast Menia City grew quieter.
Only the blazing fires and the ruined walls spoke of what had happened earlier.
Night deepened. Dawn was approaching.
In the palace's royal bedroom.
"So that's it. The God Descent Ritual really hid secrets!"
Bartro and Vivian sat opposite each other on sofas in the outer hall.
From his aunt's mouth, Bartro learned the secrets of the God Descent Ritual.
And why his aunt wanted him to submit to the Demon God Emperor.
"Aunt, is he really a god?"
Facing Bartro's gaze, Vivian shook her head.
"I don't know. But he is definitely a being beyond the Overlord List."
A being beyond the Overlord List?
Bartro smiled bitterly.
Such an existence was no different from a god.
Taking a deep breath, Bartro sighed.
"Aunt, I know what to do now. The Kingdom of Armenia is on the brink of destruction. We have no choice. We can only submit to His Majesty the Demon God Emperor."
Vivian looked at Bartro with relief.
She had worried that Bartro might stubbornly choose to fight to the death.
Becoming a dead king for the sake of so-called honor.
At the cost of countless dead citizens.
Such an ending would not be romantic.
"Dawn is coming. Rest for now. You have much to do tomorrow."
Vivian rose and walked out.
Bartro hurriedly got up to see her off.
Meanwhile, in a monastery near the cathedral.
"Master, I almost thought I was going to die!"
A woman's coquettish voice came from a room.
"I wouldn't let you die!"
On the sofa in the room, two people cuddled together.
Tabesa nestled entirely in Li Meng's arms.
Li Meng held Tabesa's chin with one hand.
Tabesa's face flushed, her eyes full of seductive charm.
"Master, what do you plan to do next?"
Li Meng released Tabesa's chin.
He shifted his body to lie down, resting his head on Tabesa's thighs.
Joy flashed in Tabesa's eyes.
She lowered her head gently, gazing at her master's handsome face.
"The war isn't over yet. I'm considering whether to fully occupy the southern continent or leave humanity a piece of land."
Originally, Li Meng planned to leave humanity a territory for training purposes.
But now he thought there was no need.
There were many races stronger than humanity in this world.
If he really wanted to rule the world, it would take decades.
The southern continent, as the starting point and main base, should be fully controlled.
"Tabesa, what do you think I should do?"
Tabesa thought for a moment, then smiled softly.
"Better to fully occupy the southern continent. Becoming your vassal is humanity's honor."
A hint of surprise flashed in Li Meng's eyes.
Their relationship hadn't yet reached that depth.
Tabesa's obedience was built on his terrifying strength.
Li Meng had thought Tabesa would choose from humanity's perspective.