Awakening：The Infinite Evolution of My Talent as a Low-Level Awakener

With a deafening roar, the pillar of Thunder descended from the sky, its target locked onto the God of Painting and Swordsmanship.

The terrifying thunderous retribution seemed powerful enough to shatter the earth, reducing everything in its path to dust and ashes.

But the God of Painting and Swordsmanship was no easy opponent. With his mastery over the dual divine authorities and Laws of Painting and Swordsmanship, he brought them together in a devastating synergy. The sword formed by his Painting Law merged seamlessly with the power of Swordsmanship Law. He swung it with deadly precision—while lacking the sheer might of the thunder, the strike carried a terrifyingly sharp, lethal force.

"Such power! That strike rivals the tearing strength of my Phantom Blades of Space in ascend-to-godhood form," Sterl observed, surprised as he watched the clash. It seemed these low Divine Power gods were more formidable than he had thought.

Perhaps his extensive experience killing gods had dulled his sense of their power, but the fierce battle between these two seasoned double-divine authority gods rekindled his interest. After all, Orichalcum's origin remained a mystery. Although he had slain six of their gods earlier, that was a result of tactical advantage, seizing the moment before they had fully manifested.

In terms of combat prowess, these gods were notably stronger than the three modern gods Gloria had faced. And the God of Painting and Swordsmanship was one of Ashen's veteran deities—his strength was not to be underestimated.

As thunder and sword collided, a brilliant, blinding light erupted, like a rising sun piercing through the heavens, its residual power pressing down on the demigods and legends below, who struggled to endure the force.

But as the thunder and sword continued to clash and wear each other down, the Ashen forces below suddenly surged with activity.

The energy of their entire formation rapidly condensed, and in the blink of an eye, a brilliant red glow appeared on the barrier surrounding the army. This scarlet radiance intensified and condensed at breakneck speed, forming a blood-red beam aimed directly at the God of Thunder and Courage, who was locked in combat with the God of Painting and Swordsmanship.

The crimson beam moved with lightning speed, almost like an edited video jump-cutting to its target. Before the God of Thunder and Courage could react, it was upon him, radiating a terrifying, god-level power. Enhanced by the support of several demigods and the effect of the formation, the attack contained the full might of a complete War Law!

"Despicable!"

The God of Thunder and Courage instantly realized what was happening. He hadn't expected the army below to intervene in a battle between deities, nor had he anticipated that Ashen's forces would be lying in wait, ready to strike!

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Instinct told him he had to evade immediately, or the consequences would be dire.

His jaw clenched in fury. These damned natives had already killed one of their gods through ambush, and three years ago, when they first descended, they had done something similar—brutally slaughtering six of their gods before they even had a chance to react. And now, they were using the same vile tactics again!

These wretched natives had no dignity, no honor worthy of deities.

But now, he had no choice but to fall back. If he were hit, he would be gravely injured, and he couldn't withstand the ensuing onslaught from the God of Painting and Swordsmanship.

Swiftly, he directed a portion of his Holy Thunder Retribution toward the beam infused with the Law of War from the formation below, while transforming into a bolt of thunder and teleporting to a distant spot, evading the incoming sword energy.

At that moment, the God of Painting and Swordsmanship's eyes flashed with a sinister light, and a sudden smile spread across his face.

"Fool! You've fallen for it!"

With that, he activated his dual Law Powers, instantly summoning three fierce rainbow-colored divine swords, each imbued with the Law of Swordsmanship, and launched them toward the three Orichalcum gods in the distance!

Though these three swords didn't match his previous attack in power, they still surpassed the strength of any single-divine authority god. Simultaneously, the remaining four Ashen gods roared and unleashed a brutal attack on the three Orichalcum gods, trapping them within the range of the sword strike.

"No!!"

The God of Thunder and Courage's eyes widened. He had completely underestimated his enemy's cunning and deceit. This wasn't merely the God of Painting and Swordsmanship—it was the God of Conspiracy and God of Trickery, a vile god who reveled in deception!

He transformed into a bolt of thunder, rushing toward the three imperiled Orichalcum gods, but he was immediately intercepted, nearly struck by a blade in the process.

By the time the other three Orichalcum gods realized the trap, it was too late. The rainbow swords struck them, and while one managed to block the attack, they were immediately wounded by two other Ashen gods who had freed themselves to join the assault.

The battle was over in an instant. Before the Eastern War Preparedness Zone's forces even had time to react, their three gods were all gravely injured. Under the relentless pursuit of the four Ashen gods, they continued to fall back, barely able to hold their ground and looking like they wouldn't last much longer.

The God of Thunder and Courage wore a grim expression, a flicker of despair surfacing in his heart. A god of courage, feeling despair—it spoke volumes about the minuscule chance of victory, nearly devoid of hope.

By the time reinforcements from the royal capital could arrive, they would likely have been eliminated one by one. And given how thoroughly their enemies had prepared, it was likely they had amassed a large army. Once they completed their assault on the staging grounds, they would strike directly at Orichalcum's royal capital, catching them off guard. With such significant losses already suffered, defending the capital would be all the more difficult.

It was possible that reinforcements had already been dispatched, only to be intercepted en route.

"What a thrilling fight!"

Sterl watched with fascination, taking in every detail from his god-like perspective thanks to the map module's capabilities. Ashen's side had clearly prepared extensively, perhaps even rehearsed this ambush multiple times, to execute their plan so seamlessly, leaving Orichalcum's forces utterly defenseless.

"This is the depth of strength and explosive power a god-level faction can wield," Sterl mused. "Orichalcum placed too much focus on world integration and grew careless. If nothing changes, the native factions will likely achieve a complete victory."

He observed the map, noting that the northern and southern staging grounds were faring no better. The southern ground was in slightly better shape only because the God of Thieves had failed to kill his target, leaving that god merely gravely injured rather than dead.

But their defeat seemed inevitable.

Furthermore, Sterl noted that the gods within Orichalcum's capital had sensed the divine ambush and quickly sent reinforcements. Yet, as these reinforcements broke into groups, they were intercepted by waves of Ashen's suicide squads—legendary warriors who had sacrificed their life force and soul energy.

These legends, clearly Ashen's native elite, had become deadly kamikaze fighters. By burning their life essence and potential, enhanced with various artifacts, they had acquired the power to delay even the gods.

At this rate, by the time Orichalcum's reinforcements manage to break free and arrive, the battle will already be over. They might even arrive just in time to be slaughtered, only to be completely wiped out by Ashen's forces.

Ashen's strategy was ruthless, designed for a blitz attack that left Orichalcum with no time to formulate a response.

"But… I can't let Orichalcum fall just yet," Sterl thought.

He was prepared to activate ascend to godhood and join the fray if needed. After all, he still intended to align with Orichalcum and cash in while stoking conflict between both sides, working to ensure that each faction's forces were thoroughly depleted. This would clear the path for his legendary story by eliminating obstacles.

If either side retained too much power, it would be difficult to take control of both forces at once.

Of course, it was still too early to intervene. He would wait until Orichalcum's gods had almost entirely fallen, using the opportunity to exhaust Ashen's gods as well.

At that moment, a scream echoed across the battlefield as Orichalcum's God of Volcanoes was slain by two enemy gods working together. His Divine Power was siphoned off, and his

divine authority

shattered. With the battle ongoing, no deity could take the time to burn their soul to retrieve it, so the divine authority faded back into the void.

That scream, however, plunged Orichalcum's side into utter despair.

Even with the boost from the Courage Law, Orichalcum's army lost its morale, gripped by terror.

"No, don't kill me! I surrender, I'll serve you forever!" "I'm just a bounty hunter, not part of Orichalcum's forces! Please, I'll sign a slave contract and serve you." "It's over, it's all over. Even the gods have fallen. Orichalcum… is finished…"

Despair spread like a shadow over their hearts. The Ashen army, protected by its formation, appeared to them like a pack of savage beasts, ready to devour them.

Some soldiers cried, some threw down their weapons in panic, and others dropped to their knees, pleading for mercy.

The remaining two severely injured gods were on the verge of collapse as well. Under the relentless assault of the four Ashen deities, one of them was soon killed, his desperate scream echoing over the battlefield as he was surrounded and brought down.

The last deity's fate was obvious—already gravely injured, he stood no chance against four gods of equal level. He was shattered on the spot, his Divine Power and

divine authority

split among the Ashen deities.

Now, the God of Thunder and Courage faced an overwhelming force alone: five deities and an army that rivaled the strength of another god.