Having accomplished this great feat, every member was bursting with excitement. Though they were all wounded, none of them cared.
This was [Christianity] Little Garden's taboo, and they had actually won. This was a truly historic moment.
Although the main force this time had been their leader, Riku, and the Halloween Queen as a high-ranking cadre, they had at least taken part. Even if their role was negligible, it was still enough for them to boast about in the future.
They could say to their descendants: "Back then, I followed our leader into battle against [Christianity]."
Just imagining the look of admiration in their juniors' eyes made their hearts swell with joy!
Thinking this, the rank-and-file members of [Disboard] looked at Riku's figure, their eyes brimming with fervent worship.
Clearly, they had been completely subdued by Riku's strength and charisma.
"Poseidon, do you have any interest in staying here as an ambassador to the headquarters? From now on, this [Christianity] will be equivalent to [Disboard]'s branch in the Northern District." Scanning the heavens, Riku asked the girl beside him.
Athena needed to help him manage Skyborne City, so she obviously couldn't stay here. The Halloween Queen couldn't either.
"Uh, my lord, can I refuse?" Hearing this, Poseidon gave an awkward smile. "Staying here alone would be far too boring."
Poseidon's personality was lively, and she had little interest in fighting for authority. Although [Christianity] had been utterly defeated in the [Gift Game], their bodies and minds unable to betray Riku, the atmosphere here still felt wrong.
Even if being an ambassador in this place meant great authority, Poseidon simply couldn't stay somewhere that made her uncomfortable. Clearly, she wasn't the right candidate.
Riku shook his head lightly, a little troubled. Indeed, he still had too few high-ranking cadres he could entrust with such responsibilities.
Could it be that he would have to bring Juntan over?
Riku pondered silently.
Seeing Riku refrain from pushing further, Poseidon thought he was angry. She sighed helplessly, preparing herself to agree.
After all, since it was her leader's decision, this wasn't the time to throw a childish tantrum.
"My lord, may I give it a try?" At that moment, a woman clad in heavy armour stepped forward, kneeling on one knee before Riku with utmost respect.
Hearing this, Riku looked at the woman before him, his eyes lighting up. The first seat of the Halloween Queen's [Queen's Knight Order], and someone with Three-Digit strength indeed, an excellent choice.
"Very well. From now on, I'll leave this place to you. Just report to Athena regularly." Riku nodded.
"I will never betray the trust of my lord." The first seat of the [Queen's Knight Order] responded solemnly, clearly a person with immense responsibility.
Watching this scene, the Halloween Queen curved her lips in satisfaction, nodding approvingly. Poseidon, meanwhile, looked at the first seat of the [Queen's Knight Order] with gratitude.
After giving a few more instructions, Riku asked the Halloween Queen to release the Seraphs and Archangels who had been sealed within the rift of the [Golden Great Demonic Realm].
Although the expressions of these angels were far from pleasant, under the power of the [Host Master Authority], they could only submit obediently to Riku, not daring to show the slightest hint of rebellion.
He then entrusted the management of these angels to the newly appointed ambassador, leaving half of [Disboard]'s companions behind to assist her. Afterwards, Riku led the remaining members away.
Riku wasn't worried that the other communities of the Northern District would dare lay a hand on Heaven or his companions.
After all, even [Christianity], the great taboo, had been crushed and its entire force seized. What other community would dare oppose him?
If the Northern District's communities were dissatisfied and dared to stir up trouble, Riku wouldn't mind teaching these gods the meaning of cruelty.
Thus, the battle against [Christianity] finally came to an end.
But just because the war was over didn't mean the matter had settled.
The commotion in [Heaven], the clash of two massive Two-Digit auras, had shaken the entire Northern District.
Countless communities couldn't help but gasp at the news. What they heard left them dumbfounded, faces filled with shock and disbelief.
The top communities of the Northern District, who had already been watching closely, were especially shaken and furious. Although [Christianity] was a taboo, it was also the representative community of their Northern District. And now, to be plundered by the Eastern District's Demon Lord, this was nothing less than a resounding slap to the face of the entire North.
Yet, though they were enraged, they could only suppress their fury. None dared to act. After all, [Disboard] had crushed even [Christianity] with ease and now had absorbed its forces. They simply weren't opponents.
Because of this, the entire Northern District felt suffocated and powerless. In the end, they could only classify [Disboard] itself as a taboo, and they dared not approach the domain of [Heaven].
The gods of the Northern District could only secretly head toward the Eastern District to spread rumours, proclaiming Riku's cruelty that he had crossed regions to wage war, plundered [Christianity], and that [Disboard] was nothing but a Demon Lord community.
They hoped to borrow the Eastern District gods' hands to attempt to exterminate [Disboard] and watch the two sides tear each other apart. Yet, what they never expected was that instead of dragging [Disboard] down, they had actually helped Riku's fame soar to the very peak.
Throughout the entire Eastern District, everyone was talking about how [Disboard] had crushed [Christianity] and swallowed its forces.
There were those who feared, those who hated, those who envied, and those who admired in awe. Many communities realised just how dangerous [Disboard] was, and how powerful Riku had become.
But just like the Northern District's gods, they did not dare to act rashly.
The cost of attempting extermination was beyond measure. No one was foolish enough to be the first to step forward.
And so, riding on this upheaval, [Disboard]'s fame soared to the highest peak, becoming the hottest topic in Little Garden, attracting countless communities and countless lives to gather at Skyborne City.
As a result, the city whose size rivalled several Earths and which had once been desolate, finally bustled with life.
Meanwhile, Athena and the other community members were busier than ever. Even the Halloween Queen lent a hand.
Only Riku, as always, continued slacking off, acting like a hands-off leader, relaxed and carefree.
This made Athena want to bite him to death. Truly, a leader like this deserved to be cut to pieces!
--
While Athena, Poseidon, and the other goddesses were grinding their teeth, wishing they could bite their carefree, hands-off leader Riku to death, Riku himself appeared in a fragrant valley brimming with life and overflowing with spiritual energy.
The reason he had come here was, of course, to search for a treasure chest. And not just any chest, he was after a black one.
Yet, the moment Riku appeared in the valley, he froze. For there, perched quietly atop a strange stone at the peak of the valley, sat the black treasure chest.
A black treasure chest resting on a rock, this was the first time Riku had seen such a sight.
"So that's it… an Immortal Stone, huh." The [Omniscient and Omnipotent Star] flickered as Riku saw through the truth of the stone before him, his face full of astonishment.
In the world of Little Garden, there was an existence that had shaken the heavens and the earth throughout the ages. That was the being renowned in myth as the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong!
However, at this point in time, Sun Wukong had not yet been born. Instead, he existed as an Earth Spirit, taking the form of an Immortal Stone within Little Garden.
It could be said that Sun Wukong's identity was extremely special. For Earth itself was directly connected to Little Garden. That such a unique planet could give birth to a Spirit this was something truly incredible.
"But… the mission of being born as a Spirit is lost? Not a complete Spirit, but a Half-Spirit."
Riku placed his fingers on the Immortal Stone, feeling its pulse, and muttered.
In the original story, Sun Wukong was indeed a Half-Spirit. But in truth, Sun Wukong had the chance to become a complete Spirit. That was by killing the inferior [Pseudo Star Map] known as the Demon King of Confusion.
However, in the end, Sun Wukong did not kill the Demon King of Confusion. Otherwise, as the Spirit of Earth, his power would have been unimaginably terrifying, perhaps even enough to reach the Two-Digits. Based on Riku's estimation, even as a Half-Spirit, Sun Wukong already possessed top-tier Three-Digit strength, not inferior to Indra.
Otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to lead the monsters in an assault against the [Twelve Guardians], causing such a massive upheaval.
"Hm? Absorbing my energy?" At that moment, Riku's eyes widened slightly, watching the faintly glowing Immortal Stone in surprise.
"Interesting. Since you wish to use energy as nourishment for your birth, then I'll grant you that."
Riku smiled faintly and sat cross-legged on the spot. The [Third Perpetual Motion Machine]'s divinity absorbed the surrounding spiritual energy, channelling it entirely into the Immortal Stone.
Behind him, eight [Sun Authorities] emerged, and their immense power was also poured into the stone as nourishment.
Of course, the real reason he did this was because he was deeply interested in Sun Wukong. If he could bring him into the community, that would be the best outcome.
Time shifted as realms changed, and Riku sat there for an entire year.
Gods were not sensitive to the passage of time. And as long as Riku willed it, he too could blur his own sense of time. Thus, he did not feel bored.
During this period, because Riku had not returned to Skyborne City for so long, the Halloween Queen used her domain to find him here. After Riku explained, the Halloween Queen glanced curiously at the strange Immortal Stone, then left. Since Riku wasn't in the city, she, as a Three-Digit [Floor Master], needed to stay behind to guard it.
"Riku, I didn't expect you to have such leisure." At that moment, in the distance, eight suns lit up at once, and a familiar, imposing voice rang out.
This made Riku open his eyes and look forward.
There, dressed in a purple robe and holding a folding fan, the Lord of White Night walked over with a smile, her appearance unchanged from a year ago.
"The Lord of White Night, huh? I thought you had refused my invitation." Riku curved his lips into a teasing smile.
"Tch, you've reminded me of something unpleasant again." Hearing this, the Lord of White Night smacked her lips in annoyance, folding her fan.
"This past year, the commotion your [Disboard] has stirred up has been truly astonishing."
The Lord of White Night sat down beside Riku, sighing. "In just one year, Skyborne City has developed to a level even more prosperous than the [Twelve Guardian Lords' Citadel]."
"That's thanks to the Queen and Athena. I'm just the hands-off leader." Riku shook his head with a faint smile. He had never doubted the abilities of the Halloween Queen or Athena.
"They are indeed very capable." The Lord of White Night nodded in agreement. Though she was a sworn enemy of the Halloween Queen, she acknowledged her abilities. The Halloween Queen thought the same of her. As for Athena, she was already famed as the goddess of wisdom.
"But the most important reason is that you defeated the Holy Son Jesus and absorbed [Christianity]. Even now, your fame hasn't diminished in the slightest. You are called the God-Slaying Demon Lord."
The Lord of White Night's expression was filled with awe.
Back then, when she heard the news that Riku had defeated the Holy Son Jesus, she had indeed been shocked.
After all, he was a Two-Digit, hailed as taboo within Little Garden. And yet, even the Holy Son Jesus, along with [Christianity], had suffered a crushing defeat at Riku's hands, their entire community seized.
But it was precisely because Riku and the Halloween Queen had plundered [Christianity] together that [Disboard] was now being called the most wicked Demon Lord alliance taboo among taboos feared by countless gods.
"A God-Slaying Demon Lord, huh? Quite the troublesome title." Riku curled his lip.
"Ugh, don't be so picky. That's already not bad at all." The Lord of White Night shook her head helplessly.
"Let's put the past aside. Lord of White Night, what I want to know now is your answer." Riku looked straight at her, his expression serious.
The Lord of White Night remained silent for a long time. Even with the [Omniscient and Omnipotent Star], Riku had already observed her situation and understood she had been confined within the headquarters of [Thousand Eyes].
But Riku hadn't mobilised his army to attack [Thousand Eyes], because that would have been a disrespect to the Lord of White Night.
Given her pride, if she wanted to break free, she could. Attacking [Thousand Eyes] before she had given him her answer would not have been a wise choice.
"Those guys are too annoying. Especially Laplace, she's far too troublesome. It took me quite some time to find an opportunity to slip out."
The Lord of White Night shook her head.
"I came here, of course, intending to join [Disboard]." She paused for a moment, then said seriously, her face solemn.
"As a Demon Lord, the gods' communities are not where I belong. To reclaim the majesty of the [Final Trial of Humanity: Arbiter of the Star Grail], to once again surge across Little Garden, to drive back millions of gods, that is my true home." The Lord of White Night spoke in a deep voice.
As she spoke, a fierce aura erupted skyward, shaking the heavens. Even Riku couldn't help but feel its intensity.
After all, the Lord of White Night was now merely a Three-Digit Sun God. Though not weak among the Three-Digits, she wasn't at the very peak. For her to exert pressure on Riku was truly astonishing, especially since even the Two-Digit Holy Son Jesus hadn't been able to do so.
This aura was the majesty she had gathered as the 'Final Trial of Humanity: Arbiter of the Star Grail'!