["Ding~ Congratulations to Dragon Nation player [Zero] for clearing the dungeon [Tomb of the Empire]!"]
When this system announcement descended from the sky and spread across the entire World 42, countless players inside the World 42 were all shaken.
"That man… he actually cleared the Tomb of the Empire!"
"Weren't those omens just now a sign of a King-ranked BOSS being born? So that means… he killed the King-ranked BOSS?"
"Zero can even kill the Three Main Gods, let alone a mere King-ranked BOSS!"
"He's a monster!"
"Wait, what's the reward for clearing the Tomb of the Empire?"
"Seems like your status gets promoted to the highest rank, God Emperor, and then you can pick a set of equipment from the Armory, one you can permanently take with you and use."
"Damn! Permanent use? That's insane! I've seen that Armory, the equipment inside is endless. There are even 40+ star golden-refined sets. Just grabbing one set would be priceless, worth at least tens of millions. That's hitting the jackpot!"
"You're so shallow. What's Zero God's identity? Would he even care about a few million? Honestly, for someone like him, one set of equipment isn't worth much. Spending all that effort to clear the Tomb of the Empire, doesn't really seem worth it…"
If it were only for permanently taking one set of equipment, then indeed, it wouldn't be worth it.
But what people didn't know was: God Emperor had another layer of meaning for Zhang Yue.
———
Inside the Tomb of the Empire Dungeon—
Zhang Yue walked to the spot where the Demon's Eye had perished, picking up the loot it dropped on the ground.
Earlier, God of Wrath Jie'e, as a Level 500 beyond-king-ranked BOSS and Main God, had dropped a mythical treasure, a 5S-ranked forbidden spell skill book, and an infinitely growing equipment set.
Although the Demon's Eye was also a King-ranked BOSS, its value naturally couldn't compare to God of Wrath's.
Gathering everything and checking it over, Zhang Yue's harvest was: one 45-star set, with growth potential up to 55-star, [Demon Set]; one legendary treasure [Demon Heart]; and one unique SSSSS-ranked skill book.
The drop's total value wasn't exactly low.
But for Zhang Yue, who had already tasted the power of a Main God, it wasn't enough to stir his interest.
He casually tossed them into storage.
After that, Zhang Yue and Chen Zijin withdrew from the dungeon.
———
ROAR!
The moment the Thirty-Six-Winged Destruction Black Dragon soared out of the dungeon's exit, countless players outside all turned envious, reverent eyes toward it.
As for Zhang Yue and Chen Zijin, they rode the Destruction Black Dragon, flying straight toward the capital of the Light Nation, one of the Five Great Empires.
"Congratulations, Your Excellency God Emperor," Chen Zijin teased along the way.
"You'd better be polite with me," Zhang Yue glanced at her and said, "In the World 42, higher-ranked individuals can command those of lower rank. If the lower rank refuses, they'll be punished."
"Can't provoke you, but can't I avoid you?", Chen Zijin said, "I'll go clear a World BOSS and move on to the World 43."
Of course, she wasn't really trying to avoid Zhang Yue.
Chen Zijin wanted to get closer to him, not farther away.
The real reason was that the situation in the World 44 was already spiraling out of control.
Opening the World Forum, it was filled entirely with posts and videos about the World 44.
According to reports from front-line players in the World 44: the God of Desire Wu'en and the God of Malevolence Motan, two Main Gods, were guarding outside the Gate of Immortality.
And the Demon Emperor had already stepped into the Gate of Immortality for more than two hours.
Although no one yet knew the Demon Emperor's exact purpose, it was certain that everything it was doing was harmful to humanity.
Yet no one could stop the Demon Emperor.
All players rushing toward the Gate of Immortality were slaughtered by the God of Desire and the God of Malevolence.
"The Main Gods' strength is too great, players of the World 44 can't possibly resist them!"
"Wasn't it said that due to the influence of Death Territories, although the Demon Emperor and the Main Gods can enter any World's Death Territory, their levels will adjust to match the World's cap? In the World 44, that should weaken them to a max of Level 240. With so many players across the empires of the World 44, shouldn't they be able to take down two Level 240 BOSSes together?"
"Stop with the nonsense. These are Main Gods, existences beyond King-ranked BOSSes! What can players of the World 44 possibly use to fight them?"
"Damn it! Our Thracian Nation's elite troops don't even qualify to approach the Gate of Immortality!"
"Other than Dragon Nation's Necromancer and Shadow Dancer, no one at this stage can handle a Main God, right?"
"But the Necromancer and Shadow Dancer are both still in the World 42, they definitely can't make it to the World 44 anytime soon!"
"Then what now? Just sit back and watch the Demon Emperor's conspiracy succeed?"
"Ah, looking at all the realms, there's not a single strong player who can stand up. Humanity has really fallen…"
———
On the other side.
Before reaching the Light Nation, Chen Zijin said to Zhang Yue, "Now that you've advanced to God Emperor, you can upgrade equipment through the Armory. You don't need my help here, so I'll head to the World 44 first."
"I have to see what the Demon Emperor is up to inside the Gate of Immortality."
Zhang Yue looked at her and said, "You can't even handle a quasi-king-ranked BOSS. You won't be able to fight against two Main Gods."
"Ugh, you really know how to piss someone off now!", Chen Zijin said helplessly, "I can't beat Main Gods, true, but I don't need to fight them!"
"I can slip past them and sneak directly into the Gate of Immortality."
"You'll definitely spend some time upgrading your equipment. I'll go clear the World 43 first, then head to the 44 to hold the Demon Emperor back a little. Once you arrive, we can act together!"
"That's settled, I'll be waiting for you there."
Before Zhang Yue could reply, Chen Zijin disappeared from the dragon's back.
Three seconds later, Zhang Yue heard a system prompt descend from the sky.
[[System Announcement]: "Ding~ Congratulations to player [Cappuccino] for slaying the World BOSS and clearing the Forty-Second World…"]
Zhang Yue opened the forum and saw that the situation in the World 44 was indeed grim.
The God of Desire and the God of Malevolence were already slaughtering within the Death Territory.
The Demon Emperor's actions inside the Gate of Immortality remained unknown.
But it all gave off a terrible foreboding.
"Looks like I'll have to hurry over too."
Thinking this, Zhang Yue set off toward the royal capital of the Light Nation.
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