Once upon a time there was a greedy snake

As a result, dozens of pharmacies owned by the God of Life were shut down, and the staff were temporarily detained. Even the second-generation carpenter, Bescai, was sent to prison.

"Please be understanding; after all, you are too deeply connected to the chosen one of the God of Courage."

When Besca began to protest his innocence, the four priests gave him this response.

"This is not a spur-of-the-moment decision. This plan has been in place since we made the pact with the Serpent God. Just stay here for a while and we will release you after the battle is over."

"Why did they suddenly start fighting?"

Beskay, still somewhat dazed in the prison cell, hadn't yet realized what had happened after being suddenly arrested.

"Why do we have to fight? Weren't we cooperating well? Isn't it a bit too hasty to start a fight now? Should we talk to them again..."

Facing the four priests' piercing gaze, Beskay gritted her teeth and finally spoke.

"Can we win in our current state?"

Yes, as a master craftsman who had personally come into contact with those techniques, Beska knew very well that the gap between the two sides was far greater than the difference between heaven and earth. Yes, they had indeed suppressed those chosen champions, but that didn't prove anything. That wasn't the true strength of the God of Courage; it wasn't even a drop in the ocean.

"Even if we really have to fight, we need to accumulate more skills over the next few years..."

Facing the gaze of the four priests, Besky continued to try to explain. He knew very well that it was impossible to win at this point, and he just wanted to prevent the warriors from making unnecessary sacrifices.

But the four priests simply shook their heads.

"It's not that we want to fight, it's that they want to fight. We have no say in this matter."

Taking a deep breath, Ansag, one of the four priests, stepped forward and patted Beske on the shoulder.

"I'm sorry to trouble you. You'll be locked up here for a while. We'll release you after the war ends... If we're not the ones who release you, then surrender and use your relationship with Casaloron to secure a position for yourself."

"Then, remember to treat your fellow countrymen kindly."

This was the final arrangement. The four priests themselves didn't know if it would be useful, but dealing with the aftermath of failure was better than doing nothing.

Yes, just like Beske, the four priests also felt that this war had come far too hastily, so hastily that they were, in fact, unprepared for anything.

However, that's how war is. The enemy won't wait for you to be fully prepared before attacking. On the contrary, it's when you're completely unprepared that you have the real opportunity to fight.

As the party being attacked, all they can do is fight back.

"It's better to resist than not to resist at all..."

Sataik, carrying a large sword, gave a wry smile.

"I'll go and gather the soldiers, at least to get the manpower together."

"I'll go and allocate the warehouse space."

Melk also spoke up.

"Fortunately, we have enough reserves, so at least we won't run out of various supplies."

“Then, Ban, come with me and help me reassure the skilled workers in the city.”

After a moment of silence, Ansag took the initiative to do the most troublesome task.

The city's craftsmen, or rather, the immortals of all trades, have become accustomed to gazing at the stars for inspiration, which has even led to rapid advancements in their skills—although those skills are somewhat flawed, they can still produce unexpected results when used appropriately.

But now...

The god of wisdom who had once bestowed knowledge upon them was also their enemy.

This was something the four priests never expected. The star gods who were once most friendly to them had actually joined the invasion. When they heard the news, they couldn't even believe it—until they tried to pray to the starry sky but received no response, they had to admit this unacceptable fact.

Or rather, it wasn't a complete lack of response. This time, the god of wisdom no longer bestowed any knowledge upon them, but instead directly showed them the boundless demon army, making them accept the rule from the stars.

This time, they no longer had any so-called allies, nor could they expect any so-called goodwill—they now fully understood that the Star Sea was indeed a place like a jungle.

All the stars in the sky are enemies.

Chapter 295 The Beginning of the War

The midnight hour, which should have been quiet, was now filled with noise. The entire city of Tatunbto was in full swing, with one fast horse after another galloping out of the city and to every corner of this vast empire—although such warnings might not have any effect, at least they let those living outside Tatunbto know that danger was about to strike.

"The development is still too slow..."

After imprisoning a group of skilled craftsmen, Ansag, having completed all the preparations, suddenly felt a pang of regret.

After all, he and the other three priests had devoted almost all their energy to the management of Tatunbto. They thought that as long as they continued to expand this giant city, people from the borders of the empire would come on their own. But now it seems that when foreign enemies invade, those undeveloped territories are simply natural loopholes.

"If only I could do it again, if only I could do it again... phew."

Ansag shook his head vigorously, clearing these distracting thoughts from his mind.

Now is not the time for regrets, after all, the enemies from those star seas are coming soon.

After tidying his clothes, Ansag had his attendants bring his horse. Like the messengers, he was also prepared to leave the city to deliver a message at this dangerous time. As for the one worth risking his life to deliver the message, it was naturally the serpent god who was entrenched outside the city.

Although the serpent god should have known about Tathabhut's unusual behavior long ago.

However, besides the preparations themselves, Ansag has other things to say.

So, riding at full speed, Ansag arrived at the foot of the enormous serpent's body. No matter how many times he saw it, the mountain-like body was always so majestic and unapproachable. However, to Ansag's surprise, there was an old figure wearing a hood standing beside the giant serpent.

It was old Bhutto. Ansag struggled to recall for a moment before remembering, simply because this old priest had always been so inconspicuous.

But now it seems that this old priest was probably always the serpent god's messenger.

"So a fight is about to break out, huh? I already know."

Just then, a thunderous sound came from mid-air.

"Luckily, I've been preparing all this time. I knew this day would come... So, tell me, where are we going, and who are we going to fight?"

"..."

Ansag remained silent for a moment; he knew this would be the outcome.

Although at the beginning, Ansag also thought that the serpent god was full of ancient wisdom and was omniscient, and that the experience brought by its long lifespan would make the serpent god like a wise elder, as they spent more time together, Ansag discovered that the long lifespan did not seem to have brought any experience to their serpent god, and their serpent god had never had any ancient and mysterious wisdom.

"Holy as ever" is perhaps the most fitting way to describe this serpent god. Apart from his extreme pursuit of food, or rather, of mammoths, this serpent god never cares about anything else.

Just like now, in the eyes of the Serpent God, this battle might just be about where to go and who to fight.

But in Ansag's eyes, it was not like that at all.

"You...don't go anywhere."

Clenching his fists and taking a deep breath, Ansag made his first request to the serpent god before him.

"Don't go anywhere for now, just stay here. We'll take care of the rest."

"You guys? You really can handle this?"

The sound of something falling from mid-air was full of doubt.

This even made Ansag feel a little guilty at one point.

But after a brief silence, Ansag nodded firmly.

"We can really handle it, please trust us."

Ansag made a guarantee.

But in reality, he couldn't guarantee anything. Whether he could win the war was still an unknown to him—after all, he hadn't even seen what those demonic armies looked like; all he saw was their ferocity and terror.

However, as long as the serpent god does not attack, Tatunbhut's absolute safety can at least be guaranteed.

"Although the demon army has not yet arrived, the war has already begun... Just as Habisa said, the information he received is likely only partially true."

Even if the intelligence report accurately states the time and location of the demon army's arrival, it might not be a good thing—after all, the demon army doesn't necessarily only descend from one place.

If the Serpent God really went to intercept the demon army based on intelligence, and the real demon army parachuted into Tatunbuto...

No, even without the main force of the demon army, even a small detachment might not be able to withstand Tatunbto.

"So, this is the only way for now."

Ansag felt that he had done all he could.

First, ensure that Tatunbuto does not fall, and then try to stop the arrival of the demon army.

The arrival of the demon army can be achieved in one of two ways: either by airdropping directly using spacecraft, or by using portals for long-distance delivery. They cannot stop the former and can only wait until the demon army arrives before destroying the spaceships.

However, compared to the inefficient method of troop transport ships, the Four Gods and Demons would clearly prefer the more efficient and reusable portals.

"But if we don't get the snake god involved, relying solely on ourselves..."

Ansag's face showed a pained expression.

Relying solely on themselves would be risking their lives, and considering the disparity between the two sides, the warriors who went to destroy the portal were essentially doomed.

"What do you mean by 'no return'? Can't they be resurrected?"

Faced with the assigned mission, the warriors of the Bloodstained Legion simply smiled.

"Remember to burn a decent body for me... Never mind, I'll try to get a wooden one instead. See you in the underworld."

"See you in the underworld."

Ansag watched the warriors leave the city.

If their enemies were only the Sun God Kingdoms of the past, then they could indeed be resurrected. But this time, they are facing the Four Gods Demon Army in the Star Sea. Even their shallow understanding of the soul was learned from these Star Sea Gods.

In other words, their opponents knew exactly how to destroy a soul.

Even with the Netherworld present, the warriors might not actually be able to be resurrected.

All he could do was prepare the best equipment and weapons for the soldiers. All the technology from outer space had already been used on these soldiers.

All that's left is to pray.

"I hope you succeed... and I hope your souls return safely."

Gazing at the figures of the warriors hidden in the distance, Ansag subconsciously drew a vertical line across his chest.

Chapter 296 Variables in War

On the border of the Serpent God Empire, lies the Great Mang Mountain.

The slow-moving creepers were dragging the boulders while trying to carve intricate symbols on them. After the carving was completed, David Day would be in charge of inspecting the boulders – those that could be used would be kept, and those that couldn't would have the writing erased and the carving continued.

This also caused Casaloron, who was standing to the side, to frown deeply.

"So, why not just build the portal in my camp? Why does it have to be on your side?"

"Your main camp...you're not suggesting that it would make it easier for you to lead a surprise attack, are you?"

Upon hearing Casaloran's words, David Day burst out laughing.

"Yes, your camp is very close to those native cities, which makes it easy for you to launch a surprise attack, and it's also easy for them to come looking for you... If you build a large teleportation portal, it will be right under the nose of the ancient serpent. If you build a small teleportation portal, how many warriors can come over?"

"..."

Casalon remained silent.

He did want to make the portal smaller, or rather, he did intend to control the intensity of the war—although he was willing to carry out the God of Courage's orders, this was still his home planet after all.

Even if a fight were to be fought, it would depend on how it was fought. In Casaloron's view, it would be more worthwhile to send elite troops to carry out a decapitation strike than to send a large army to destroy everything. In any case, the Four Gods also need the potential and power of these natives, so this would be the best way to maximize their benefits.

However, it is clear that David Day does not think so.

Just by looking at the massive portal base, one can sense just how enormous the portal David Day is building is—such a massive portal could probably teleport not only the demon army, but even the true form of a god.

Casalon could sense that this had nothing to do with carrying out the gods' orders anymore; David Day genuinely wanted to destroy the planet and everything in it.

Driven by this hatred, David Day accomplished an unprecedented feat.

Even though the Creep Walkers were extremely inefficient, David Day completed the basic structure of the portal in just two days. Now, all David Day, who was proficient in magic, needed to do was adjust the portal's frequency to match that of another portal on the other side of the starry sky, so that the first batch of vanguard troops could arrive on this planet.

For David Day, half a day would be enough.

It wasn't three days, but two and a half days. This was the time difference that David Day bought, and also the trap set by the traitorous Phantom.

Even if the Shadow of the Demon really revealed everything, it wouldn't matter. The local natives could only know that the army was coming. As for when they would arrive and where they would appear, all that information would be wrong.

Of course, David Day also anticipated that the intelligent local natives might not believe the news.

So he had other arrangements.

Those creep walkers who did not participate in carving the runestones patrolled closely around the perimeter in groups of five, led by warriors of the God of Courage, and any living creature that came near was killed on the spot.

That should solve the problem, or at least it should look like it does.