Volume 5 Chapter 0103 The Arrow on the String Must Be Shot - I, The Dragon Overlord

"Is it about to begin?" In front of the ninth layer of the Nine Hells, Nessus, Louie murmured softly. His vertical dragon pupils gazed into the void. Yet, even he could not fully grasp the entirety of the Blood War. This was the most terrifying conflict in the world of San Soliel, where even gods of great divine power could perish if caught in the heart of the battle, their divine strength ultimately exhausted. A god who fell in the Blood War would lose the chance of resurrection entirely. However, compared to others, as a god with immense divine power, Louie could perceive the scenes of the Blood War with a bit more clarity. The Abyss's first layer, the 'Infinite Abyssal Plain', was already starting to border the Nine Hells' first layer, Avernus. The border of these two realms was the battlefield of the Blood War. More than twenty million demons and devils filled this expansive area densely. The iron fortresses of demons and the war machines crafted by devils advanced slowly at the forefront of their vast armies. Ships fueled by magic hovered in the air, and flying demons and devils claimed the skies. In the blood-red dimension, the forces of slaughter and warfare began to resonate. This stirred a compulsion within Louie as he watched the land. His domain of slaughter seemed to urge him to join in, to perceive the primal force amidst endless killing, thereby progressing further. Standing before Nessus, Louie took a deep breath to suppress this agitation. Although achieving godhood through the domain of slaughter was a viable path, in this binary world, it ultimately couldn't surpass the realms of Order and Chaos. "The Slaughter God of the past must have immersed themselves in killing for too long, eventually unable to restrain the impulse of slaughter. This drove them to enter the Blood War where, driven by the domain, they exhausted themselves to death." Louie surmised how the ancient God of Slaughter might have fallen. They were likely consumed by their dominion over slaughter, for otherwise, with the capabilities of one imbued with great divine power, they would have managed to retreat from the Blood War rather than fighting to the death. "This shows that even becoming a god isn't immutable. Hence, deities strive for further advancement, as understanding their domains can empower them. Like the Silver Moon Goddess, Selune, who, despite losing her dominion over the Sun and becoming the Moon, still exerts a strong influence over the Sun." "...So do deities master their domains, or do the domains influence the deities?" Louie fell into a philosophical contemplation. The conclusion he reached was rather disconcerting — the true nature of a deity should be a key to acquiring their domain. However, once a god obtains a domain, it influences them, leading them into extremes. For instance, Shar's control over the domain of Darkness makes her a god of dark thoughts, and this domain amplifies her sinister nature. Deities represent the extreme manifestation of a concept. "Even as I pursue Order, I find myself moving towards the extreme of Order. One day, I'll become purely Order. Thus, both binaries are necessary; possessing Order requires the presence of Chaos." Louie's eyes glittered with resolve. He had forged a clearer path for his future. Returning to the present, his gaze landed once more on the battlefield of the Blood War. Over twenty million demons and devils crept ever closer. Compared to the meticulously ordered, tense, and silent ranks of the devils, the assembly of demons was a chaotic mix. Countless demons packed together, their eyes turned a pure blood-red, losing reason under the stimulus of slaughter and warfare forces. With the added influence of the Abyssal will, it was remarkable that these demons hadn't yet descended into a frenzy. The howls of demons and the vile curses in Abyssal echoed across the 'Infinite Abyssal Plain', creating a chaotic discord. In stark contrast, the organized devil army exemplified rigorous order against a chaotic horde. Yet, there were simply too many demons, packed densely like ants, enough to drive anyone with a fear of crowds mad. Even Louie felt a tingle at this seemingly endless horde. Though Earth's human population is greater, mere mortals cannot compare with demons. Among the demons, the mightiest soldiers wield power of legendary levels, monstrous entities feared as "superhumans of apocalyptic threat" in Earth's realm. Louie believed that if this demon army were unleashed in the Material Plane, it would sweep everything in its path. Even his Nation of Dragons would face total annihilation. Thankfully, demons seldom left the Abyss, confining these world-cancer-like creatures to their territories to destroy each other. "Even using an 'area wipe' technique wouldn't suffice to obliterate these 20 million demons entirely. A god might first have to declare, 'I'm completely out of divine power.'" Louie grumbled inwardly. With a mere thought, his Terran-tech-crafted legion of a hundred thousand devils stood silently ready. Once the Blood War commenced and demons and devils descended into insanity, he would deploy this legion to aid the devils in decimating their infernal adversaries. Though this legion of one hundred thousand devils posed little threat against the twenty million demons, each among the devils bore Louie's divine power of Order. They would spread like a virus, converting other devils to Louie's faction. As the devils waged war against the demons, the benefits would channel to Louie, elevating the sentiments of Order. Within the demon ranks, Rosalind served as an insider. Louie and his daughter devised an intricate battlefield strategy. Their forces would meet, upon which Rosalind would feign defeat and retreat. As a demon lord, she'd command her troops' withdrawal, allowing Louie's devil legion to pierce the heart of the demons like a dagger. Though lacking a domain over war, Louie understood that an orderly army surpassed a chaotic one in combat potency. If they could break the demons' advantage in numbers with strategic maneuvers, the devils' eight grand legions might achieve a one-to-ten combat ratio, claiming victory in the Blood War against the demons. Even within the Blood War, tactics, strategy, and military doctrine held sway. Otherwise, devils wouldn't maintain a dedicated intelligence corps. The demons' chaotic nature merely precluded them from emulating such. Yet, a subtle unease stirred in Louie. He sensed he might have underestimated the Blood War. The forces of war and slaughter resonating before a single clash filled him with dread. When the Blood War fully erupted, would the forces of war and slaughter boil to paralyzing heights? Could a mere god, even one imbued with great divine power, truly hope to control the Blood War's unfolding? "But now, having committed almost all the divine power I gained from Earth, the bowstring is drawn, and it must be loosed. Regardless of the outcome, I have to try." "...Even if I fail, it doesn't matter. At most, I lose the divine power of belief from Earth, and I'll spend time accumulating more. Therefore, even if I fail at first, I'll have a second chance." With this reasoning, Louie felt reassured. Earth's seventy billion believers remained his most solid foundation, his strongest assurance against any gods. If he depended solely on the limited belief power from the world of San Soliel, Louie would have long lived a frugal life, counting his reserves dearly, rather than indulging in such extravagance. The key difference between Louie and other deities is that he has 'wealth'. He can afford losses, whereas others might not get a second chance. This reflects the mortal world's disparity between the wealthy and the poor. A rich person can endure investment failures, equipped for another venture. But for the impoverished, a single failed investment could mean total ruin. Calmed, Louie shifted his perspective. After a moment's contemplation, he stepped into the ninth layer of Hell, Nessus. Louie was also intrigued by this plane, home to the Lord of the Nine Hells.