Clearly, Mydei had underestimated himself—and the power of a Demigod of Strife. Before he even fully revealed himself, a single strike had nearly annihilated the entire Imperial Army.
The Grand Starfall had clearly gone wrong. In a sense, it had become a degraded version of the "Earth-Shattering Strike."
After all, in the game, Nikador's signature move involved summoning the colossal Greatsword, the Blade of Fury, to descend from the heavens. Mydei remembered being wiped out by this very attack countless times during his previous gaming life.
Mydei pretended to scan the surroundings, his gaze naturally settling on Cipher, who was hiding behind cover with her Travel Book in hand.
He had considered having Mydei claim to be a friend or acquaintance of Cipher's, someone she had summoned for aid. But after unleashing such devastating power, that explanation seemed implausible.
Mydei's display of strength was simply too overwhelming. If he still claimed to be Cipher's friend, her own identity would immediately become suspect. How could an ordinary person befriend a Demigod? A Demigod's friends could only be other Demigods, right?
This was precisely Cipher's concern. Could ordinary people truly be friends with a demigod? If her demigod identity were revealed, could she maintain her normal friendships with Aria and the others?
It was like being incredibly wealthy. Naturally, you'd want friends who shared your interests and genuinely enjoyed your company, not those who were just currying favor or sticking around for the money.
In a way, concealing her wealth and pretending to be ordinary to make friends was exactly what Cipher was doing. Of course, she couldn't hide her demigod status forever, but she needed to wait until their bonds were stronger before explaining, not now.
Although Cipher's recent sacrifice of sixty years without any visible change was already absurd, it paled in comparison to the sheer audacity of Mydei's spear.
With a single strike, the entire landscape surrounding Cloudsea City was utterly transformed.
As Cipher pondered the situation, a sense of unease crept in. They were both demigods, yet her Divine Speed, which had seemed so formidable when she was the only one around, now paled in comparison to Mydei's abilities.
The problem was that Mydei hadn't even fully mastered his powers yet. He had achieved such devastating results in his first battle, while Cipher had honed her Divine Speed to perfection through years of dedicated training. Still, that spear that had descended from the heavens was undeniably far more potent than her Divine Speed. Did that truly make sense?
However, the urgency of the situation left no room for further contemplation. Dismissing her doubts for the moment, Cipher shifted her focus back to Mydei. He extended his right hand toward her and asked, "Would you mind entrusting this Divine Artifact to me for safekeeping?"
Silence followed. Cipher had switched control to another account, while the others remained frozen in shock. Against the Imperial Army, the Hero Party, Dio, and the White-Bearded Old Mage might have entertained thoughts of resistance or stalling for time. But against this enigmatic man who had descended from the sky, whose identity remained unknown, what hope did they have?
The strength of a Legendary-grade Adventurer? No, no, no! This was far beyond that level!
As a member of the All Nations Alliance and a widely traveled Bard, Dio had personally witnessed the power of Legendary-grade Adventurers. He even knew one such adventurer, and they were on good terms. But his friend's strength was nowhere near the level of this man's.
Without exaggeration, Dio believed that even his Legendary friend, if present, would be instantly killed by this man with a single strike. To be more precise, Dio couldn't imagine anyone he knew surviving that devastating blow from the heavens.
What the hell is going on?! Who is this guy?!
One thing Dio was certain of: this man was not an Imperial. If the Empire possessed someone this powerful, they would have launched an all-out assault on the Alliance long ago. So, was he part of some unknown third-party faction?
In that case, handing over the Travel Book might not be such a bad idea. After all, they had no other choice, did they?
Besides, this man had shown far more civility than the Empire would have. Despite his overwhelming power, he hadn't resorted to brute force. Instead, he had come to negotiate—a far more civilized approach than the Empire's methods.
If the Empire wants a Divine Artifact, we'll fight to the death to keep it! But if a non-Imperial powerhouse asks... we'll just hand it over!
This was likely Dio's train of thought at that moment. He turned to Cipher, who seemed equally stunned, and suggested, "Maybe... we should just give him the Travel Book?"
Cipher naturally didn't object. To her, it was simply a matter of transferring the book from one hand to the other. She approached Mydei with the Travel Book, and after a brief pause, he accepted it.
At this point, Dio cautiously asked, "May I inquire as to your purpose in acquiring this Divine Artifact?"
What purpose? I have no idea! Mydei thought.
His primary goal in appearing here was to boost his fame, but he couldn't possibly admit that. He needed to concoct another reason.
I can't use the "Cipher summoned me" excuse anymore, Mydei thought. After a moment's contemplation, he solemnly declared, "All Divine Artifacts must be recovered and brought under the unified management of the Eternal Holy City Okhema. This Travel Book is merely the beginning."
The scene felt reminiscent of Prometheus stealing fire for humanity or the Akatsuki collecting tailed beasts in Naruto. Unable to concoct a better justification on the spot, Mydei simply spouted nonsense.
At that moment, near the impact point of the colossal spear, a man slowly rose to his feet. He began removing his shattered armor piece by piece, his eyes fixed on Mydei. Gritting his teeth, he demanded, "Just who the hell are you?"
It was undoubtedly the Imperial Commander. Blood streamed from his forehead, staining half his face crimson. His expression was twisted with fury—perfectly understandable, considering he had been about to claim the Divine Artifact when this unknown interloper snatched it away. How could he possibly be pleased?
"Attacking Imperial forces? Do you think you can defy the entire Empire?!"
Mydei pondered the man's words. This sounds oddly familiar. Didn't Viscount Braun's guard say something similar back in Stone Pine City?
Still, as far as backing went, the Empire certainly dwarfed the Grand Duchy of Kandela. And the Imperial Commander was merely carrying out his orders. There was nothing wrong with his declaration.
Folding his arms across his chest, Mydei calmly observed the distant commander. What he was really thinking was... Finally, someone's asking about my identity. I've been waiting for this.
In a solemn tone, Mydei declared, "I am King Mydeimos of Castrum Kremnos, the Demigod of Strife, the Lance of Fury! The Strife this world needs!"
"Are you certain you wish to represent your nation and oppose me?!"
Having graduated from Film Academy in his past life, Mydei possessed considerable acting skills. His demeanor, expressions, and tone were flawless, completely immersing himself in the role.
Of course, it could also be because his true strength was undeniable. With his raw power on display, it wasn't a group surrounding him—it was him single-handedly encircling all of them!
Unsurprisingly, everyone present—both from the Empire and the Hero Party—froze upon hearing Mydei's words.
They had never heard of Castrum Kremnos, the Lance of Fury, or the "Strife this world needs." What were those things? But the term "Demigod of Strife" required no special understanding.
Truthfully, few in attendance had any real concept of what a demigod truly was. The concept seemed impossibly distant to their ordinary lives. But surely, it must refer to a superhuman warrior, far beyond mortal capabilities, second only to a true god?
Everyone looked up at the colossal spear that had torn through the earth. Suddenly, things began to make sense. No ordinary human could have unleashed such an attack. But if a demigod, connected to the divine, had struck, annihilating an entire army and reshaping the landscape with a single blow, it seemed less outlandish.
Yet another question immediately arose: what exactly was the Demigod of Strife?
In a world where gods truly existed, any matter concerning them should have been widely known. The Twelve Main Gods, for instance, were universally recognized, and even the reviled Evil Gods were familiar to most. But no one had ever heard of the Demigod of Strife.
Feidric turned to Douglas. "Have you ever heard of a Demigod of Strife?"
Douglas shook his head in bewilderment. Though the term "Demigod of Strife" sounded superficially similar to the God of War, as a devout priest of the latter, he had never encountered such a figure. "I... I don't know!"
At this point, Feidric began to formulate a hypothesis. To understand it, one must first grasp the divine hierarchy of this world. Gods were divided into two categories: Faith Gods and Ancient Gods.
The widely known Twelve Main Gods are all Faith Gods, each with their own priesthood and domain. For example, the God of War presides over war, while the Goddess of Life oversees life and agriculture.
Faith Gods draw their power from the faith of their followers. The more worshippers a god has, the stronger they become. Therefore, if a God of Strife existed in this world, he would undoubtedly be the God of War's greatest enemy.
If an ordinary person sought greater power, they might choose to worship the God of War. But if there were also a God of Strife, it might seem that choosing between them would make little difference.
Inevitably, the God of War would lose followers to this rival, severely threatening his position.
Another possibility is that the God of Strife could be an Ancient God. The most typical example of an Ancient God is the Father of Oaks from the Great Forest. He is the first living being in the world, the father of all elves, and the origin of all druids' Natural Magic.
To put it more directly, the Father of Oaks is nature itself. Whether you believe in Him or not, He exists, and the number of His followers has no impact on His immense power.
Following this logic, the God of Strife is highly likely to be an Ancient God as well. Only then would He have no conflicting interests with the God of War.
To illustrate, imagine a colossal, immensely powerful creature that existed when humanity was just beginning. A single roll of its body could obliterate a city, and a sneeze could extinguish tens of thousands of lives. Wouldn't it be fitting to call such an entity the God of Strife?
Furthermore, since Ancient Gods don't require worshippers, perhaps the God of Strife simply grew weary and slumbered for millennia before awakening in the present era, explaining why His existence is unknown to most.
Of course, all of this is speculation. Feidric's greatest puzzle lies in the fact that Ancient Gods are typically described as unimaginably powerful beings. How could this one manifest as a human? And why does He call Himself the Demigod of Strife?
Furthermore, what exactly was Castrum Kremnos? The man claimed to be its king, yet he said he was taking the Travel Book because "all Divine Artifacts must belong to the Eternal Holy City of Okhema." What was this Okhema?
In short, there was still far too little information.
Meanwhile, the Imperial Commander certainly wasn't pondering these matters as deeply as Feidric. Upon hearing the word "Demigod," he couldn't help but tremble slightly—not from fear, but from excitement.
"My apologies," he said, retracting his previous statement. "I have no authority to declare war on you on behalf of the entire Empire. However, I can challenge you personally!"
He casually wiped the blood from his forehead, raised his chin, and declared, "The people of the Empire fear no foe, not even a Demigod! The Travel Book is my objective. I will either achieve it or die trying!"
"If you desire this Divine Artifact, accept my challenge and kill me!"
Mydei remained silent for a moment before replying, "Very well! I shall grant you the honorable death a warrior deserves!"
Any soldier who steps onto the battlefield to take another's life must be prepared to lose their own. The Imperial Commander didn't know if soldiers from other nations felt the same, but he was certain that every Imperial soldier did.
The Imperial Commander had already stripped off his battered armor, revealing his muscular torso with eight-pack abs. Gripping his fine mithril greatsword tightly with both hands, he took a deep breath and charged toward Mydei.
Despite his injuries, he surged forward with explosive speed, leaning forward as he covered a hundred meters in mere seconds, closing the distance to Mydei.
"Hyaah—!"
In that instant, the Imperial Commander's spirit and willpower reached their peak. Though his body was far from peak condition, he unleashed the most powerful and satisfying strike of his life.
However, with a sharp crack, Mydei effortlessly blocked the swift and ferocious blow with his bare right hand. Then, with a slight exertion, the sword blade in Mydei's grasp began to creak and groan, the sound of metal twisting and warping under the immense pressure.