Chapter 1021: Deep Diver

Aiken was both shocked and angry; after countless hardships he finally obtained the Hylian Eye, could initially grasp the great power of the Four Gods' embodiment, about to avenge his humiliation, but the talisman foresaw an extremely tragic end for him.

He was killed by Lei En over and over, each time resurrected.

Although Lei En also paid a huge price, severely wounded and near death, and three of those strange floating cities collapsed, I, having died too many times, lost the favor of the Abyssal Four Gods, the gods withdrew their blessings, and finally truly died!

It was a mutually damaging result.

"We can't force a fight today; once I fully master the Hylian Eye, I'll take revenge," Eternal Chosen said with almost no hesitation, deciding to retreat.

He already knows Lei En's trump card.

Moreover, with the Hylian Eye, his strength will enter an explosive phase; in a few more years he can completely crush Lei En.

Aiken thought that, yet outwardly he adopted a stance of a deadly showdown with Lei En.

"Ryan Augustus, your death time has arrived!"

Eternal Chosen's voice rang through the heavens.

Boom—!

Evil energy erupted from his body, each strand of dark flame bearing the great power of the Four Gods—blood, darkness, madness, strangeness, poison, illusion, death, and so on—merging into a single force. The aura erupted like a volcano, a terrifying might covering dozens of miles; Albert Bay trembled, and the sea roiled with fierce waves.

Such a terrifying aura seemed as if a true god had descended!

Hundreds of thousands in Albert Bay were terrified to the core, trembling all over, some even fainted outright.

Eternal Chosen became even more dreadful!

Lei En, who had just spirit‑jumped over, also felt a chill in his heart.

Aiken's power surged a tier, nearing a Level 40 Abyss Knight; every second his strength grew, with no sign of losing control. In less than a minute he could break past Level 40, reaching unprecedented might.

"Is this the effect of the Hylian Eye?"

"Troublesome…"

Lei En's Willpower issued a fierce warning, his eyelids twitching wildly.

That feeling only appeared when facing Augulevi Master; Aiken's danger level now matches Augulevi Master's, certainly the same tier, and he wasn't sure whether the Star Destroyer's main cannon could blast the current Aiken.

"If it were a Victory‑class Star Destroyer, there'd be no problem, but it hasn't been built yet."

But even without certainty, he must try.

Four Empire‑class Star Destroyers arrived, Reslin and four other Grand Mage clones, plus his own full effort, should give them a chance.

Each time Aiken invoked the Abyssal Four Gods' power, it wasn't instantaneous but grew step by step; as long as he could quickly kill Aiken, he would be reduced to his original form.

The first ten seconds after Aiken's resurrection were his weakest.

"Karanos can fire immediately."

Lei En retreated violently, no need to force a fight with Aiken for now; as long as he eliminates him within ten seconds, letting the Star Destroyer fire first gives a better chance.

Almost as he flashed away, a terrifying sword light swept across.

Even hundreds of meters away, the sword's dreadful might suffocated Lei En; the Absolute Holy Shield can activate only once per day, and if struck, even the Titan Giant's largest form plus a Level 5 Titanium‑Extreme Golden Body couldn't withstand it, guaranteeing severe injury.

Hahaha……

Aiken repelled Lei En with a sword and laughed heartily.

Lei En was about to spirit‑jump behind him and strike with Thunder God's Hammer, but Aiken suddenly turned, seemingly having anticipated the rear attack.

"Hm?"

Lei En's hyper‑sensitive spirit foresaw Aiken's anticipation and forcibly halted the spell in time.

"He didn't have that ability before," Lei En's mind flipped quickly, guessing the truth, "Could the Hylian Eye also foretell the future?"

When the martial saint Bruce wielded the Hylian Eye, it seemed not to have that function.

Boom—!

Eternal Chosen waved sharply, and a bizarre eye materialized before him, surrounded by countless intricate runes, emitting streaks of gray‑white light.

This illusory eye resembled the Hylian Eye.

Lei En hadn't seen Aiken use it before, so he didn't dare take risks, retreating cautiously farther. Yet as soon as he stepped back, he sensed a magical fluctuation, a familiar one, realizing instantly it wasn't an attack but a teleportation technique.

"He's trying to run!"

Lei En was startled; a Mirror Image shouted, "This area is prohibited…"

He himself also cast Phase Distortion.

Reslin spirit‑jumped near Aiken and released Time Stop at maximum speed.

The Hylian Eye's radiance spread, instantly landing on Aiken's chosen targets: the Hell Three‑Headed Dragon, the Bloody Valkyrie, and the Cursed Vilyich.

When the light withdrew, Eternal Chosen vanished with his subordinates.

"…Teleport." The Mirror Image's Wish Spell finished, but the enemies in the sky had already vanished without a trace. The demonic great power and terrifying aura that had shrouded Albert Bay dissipated quickly, revealing the sun above.

Albert Bay's residents froze for a moment, then burst into cheers.

They survived!

Lei En shook his head helplessly, feeling a hidden sigh of relief.

In today's battle, he almost laid all his trump cards bare, yet still couldn't kill Eternal Chosen. Though Albert Bay was saved and losses minimized, Eternal Chosen obtained the Hylian Eye, so the enemy also achieved its goal.

Both sides had victories and defeats; it was a draw.

Lei En glanced at the dissipating Mirror Image, knowing that even completing the Wish Spell in time couldn't stop Eternal Chosen's teleport.

Staying might not be good either; with the Hylian Eye, Eternal Chosen's power surged, so even if he succeeded in killing him, the cost would be catastrophic.

At that moment, from the east, west, and north outside Albert Bay, faint boom sounds came.

Three Star Destroyers arrived.

The three Grand Mage clones piloting the Star Destroyers opened Invisibility Fields, and Mavoro also halted Karanos's main cannon charging.

"Almost…" Lei En thought, relieved.

The Star Destroyer is one of his biggest trump cards, but not solely for Eternal Chosen; it was prepared for the Supreme Council's Holy Soul Wizards. If the fleet's existence were exposed today, it would affect his plan to ascend to the Empire's throne.

There are still a few Grand Mage avatars, and it is not yet time for them to make a public appearance.

Boom—

On the eastern side of Ou Ke Lan, the hundred‑meter‑tall flame tunnel collapsed with a roar; the hillside before the tunnel piled up tens of thousands of Demon corpses, stretching from the mountain down into the city. Demon blood flowed into the inner bay, turning the sea surface red.

This is the record of the Extreme Brigade.

Among Albert Bay's three cities, the last few hidden portals were also destroyed; the sea‑race army and the supernaturals quickly wiped out the Demonkin forces.

"We won!"

"Goddess above! We repelled the Demonkin invasion and even drove away the terrifying Eternal Chosen!"

"The Eternal Chosen were repelled by the Consul; what does that have to do with you?"

"Long live the Consul!"

"The great Consul is invincible under heaven!"

Victory shouts rang throughout Albert Bay, growing louder and more orderly. People looked up at Lei En in the sky, shouting his name, praising his power, and the brilliant record of repeatedly slaying the Eternal Chosen today, which they would never forget in their lifetimes.

"Boss!" Borqi flew to Lei En's side.

He, who had a fierce battle with the hellish three‑headed dragon, was covered in scars but healing quickly; the pain could not hide his excitement. The dragon was more badly wounded, and if the Eternal Chosen had not intervened, he was confident of victory.

Lei En glanced at the golden three‑headed dragon, saw he was fine, and nodded with satisfaction.

It was not in vain to have invested so many resources for him.

Lei En leapt onto the dragon's back, saw Axi Na already seated there, restored to normal human size, and asked with concern, "Axi Na, are you all right?"

"I'm fine." the female giant replied softly.

She glanced at Reslin standing nearby and said, "Fortunately Reslin is here; he helped me a lot in the fight, otherwise I couldn't have handled the blood‑soaked Valkyrie alone." She knew Reslin was Lei En's magical avatar and lamented, "Unfortunately the Eternal Chosen still obtained the talisman."

"That's not your fault," Lei En comforted.

He and Reslin dared not touch Xilian's Eye, fearing a trap by the Lord of Chaos and unable to destroy the talisman, leaving the situation very passive.

Xilian's Eye is a creation of the Lord of Chaos; it may have already arranged everything.

Aiken is destined to obtain the talisman.

Bang!

A deep‑blue lightning struck nearby, revealing the strong body of Sea King Ake Man; without Lei En's permission he dared not mount the dragon, and from a hundred meters away he saluted, saying, "I have the honor of meeting the Consul."

"Lord Ake Man," Lei En nodded in reply.

Only now does he have time to examine this powerful Sea King; the Soul Eye shows that Ake Man is a level‑31 Ocean Lord, a Saint Rank elite advanced from the Storm Priest.

Ake Man's strength is greater than what he shows.

Just the teleportation Elements number seven: "Heart of the Ocean," "Lord of Thunder," "Undying Body," level‑18 "Strength," level‑12 "Swiftness," level‑16 "Tenacity," and so on, plus lightning and water Element spells, totaling dozens; the highest is the ten‑ring "Super Tsunami Technique."

Ake Man's power lives up to the title "Sea King," no wonder he dares to face the Eternal Chosen.

Lei En discovered one of their secrets.

On the New Continent, rumors have long claimed that Ake Man possesses half sea‑race blood, making him half human, but no one knew which sea race his non‑human lineage came from—until the Soul Eye revealed it at a glance.

Deep Diver!

Lei En was both surprised and enlightened—he was of Deep Diver blood.

The sea elves, Naga and sand fishfolk are the three dominant races of the ocean world, but above them stands an even more powerful and mysterious sea race: the Deep Divers.

It is said the Deep Divers were created by the Lord of Ocean and Storm Ke Sula, and are his chosen clan, tasked with governing the seas. Deep Divers are few, usually dwelling in the deepest ocean floor, rarely setting foot on land; even among intelligent terrestrial races, and even sea races, they are hard to encounter.

Yet within Ke Sula's church, Deep Divers hold supreme status.

They are the true royal family of the sea.

"No wonder Ake Man can command the sea‑race army; the three dominant races obey his orders," Lei En understood.

In every Deep Diver's soul lies Ke Sula's blessing; Lei En's Soul Eye also saw deep within Ake Man's soul core a very special Element—his innate ability, derived from Ke Sula's blessing!

This is a legendary Element, like a ball of pitch‑black, profound shadow enveloping a pair of terrifying blood‑red eyes; the shadow flows like seawater, occasionally extending a tentacle.

Lei En wanted to look longer, but an inexplicable terror stopped him.

"Never mind."

"The Deep Diver secret involves a deity, and it is Ai Lun E Si, the most powerful yet most capricious deity; better to look at it less."

Lei En suppressed his curiosity.

Ake Man, unaware that his secret was seen through by Lei En at a glance, after the salute turned his gaze downward; Ou Ke Lan suffered the heaviest losses, the sea‑race army was rescuing drowning people in the city, while Sheng Fang Jigu and He Sai's losses were minor.

The Sea Lion Guard and the supernaturals of the Jade Staff have already rushed to Ou Ke Lan, launching a carpet‑style search to prevent any Demonkin from slipping through.

"Thank the Consul for repelling the Eternal Chosen."

Ake Man thanked again, but showed no hint of joy, his face worried as he stared at the collapsed great wall, his expression as still as water.

Lei En read his thoughts.

Without the great wall's protection, the Eternal Chosen could at any time lead the Demonkin army to assault Albert Bay, and the city would never know peace.

Unable to provide safety, Albert Bay's residents will have to leave and settle in safer cities.

Their destination is obvious: the East Coast.

In fact, since Gotham City was founded and the magical beacon and more cities were built, more and more people have migrated to the East Coast. In recent years, the West Coast's development has stalled; Albert Bay, the largest, most populous, and strongest, has been most affected, its population decreasing as residents are drawn to East Coast cities.

Ake Man felt dissatisfied about this, but was helpless.

Though his strength is great, he does not dare oppose Lei En, whose back is backed by an entire Empire.

Yet, the great wall collapsed today.

If it were not utterly impossible, Ake Man would suspect Lei En of colluding with the Eternal Chosen—one seeking Xilian's Eye, the other scheming for Albert Bay, each taking

what they need, leaving only himself and Albert Bay to bear the losses.

Lei En saw his mood shift erratically, realized he was speculating about him, and felt helpless.

He indeed has ideas about the West Coast, but those are future plans; the Eternal Chosen's attack on Albert Bay was a complete accident.

【121】 Nevertheless, the established facts render excuses useless; he simply goes with the flow.

"Lord Ake Man."

Lei En said calmly, "Lord Brusi is dead, Oukelan City also suffered heavy losses, almost becoming a ruin. I intend to rebuild Oukelan; I wonder what Lord Ake Man thinks."

(End of Chapter)