Global Game: Developing a Knight Clan

Chapter 527: Chapter 108: The Titan’s Overt Plot, The Guarded Path to Pillar Godhood (2)

"If He’s so confident in His methods, then what if we just face them from across the Star Sea?"

"Since they’ve stopped running, we don’t need to chase them anymore."

"That being the case, we can afford to bide our time with these fellows, and even carefully observe that region of the Star Sea for any abnormalities."

"As for our subordinates, since the anchor point here is secured, let some of them return to oversee the grander situation."

"This way, I’d like to see if that old dragon can keep his composure!"

As the elderly-looking Titan spoke, a look of understanding dawned on the face of the robust Titan in the lead.

"Good!"

"Since the three of you think so, I have nothing more to say!"

"Then let’s wear these fellows down!"

"..."

The four Ancient God Titans’ current thinking was quite simple.

Since the Earth Giant Dragon and his faction seemed very confident in their methods and were waiting for them to approach...

...then they would do the opposite and not go.

Furthermore, since they no longer needed to give chase, they could also allow some of the Authority Level Titans to return to the World Community regions under their control.

This way, they would also have time to counterattack the unknown enemies who had ambushed them.

And over here, as long as they had a fixed anchor point...

...for Authority Level beings, establishing a Star Road and Star Gate didn’t take much time.

Once the Star Road and Star Gate were connected, any Titans who had returned could come back in an instant if they wished.

It had to be said.

The four Ancient God Titans were remarkably cautious.

But they had to be.

For them...

...although death was not something to be feared...

...the time lost to death would certainly affect their path to becoming Pillar Gods.

Therefore, unless the situation was exceptionally dire...

...they wouldn’t be willing to take huge risks and fight their opponents to the death.

Besides.

At this point, their goal was no longer the complete annihilation of the Dragon Race.

So, they could certainly afford to wait.

On the contrary.

The Dragon Race, who had stopped fleeing aimlessly, might not be able to afford the wait.

Once the Authority Level beings at the Titans’ side could travel back and forth freely along the Star Road...

...and could even return to repel the invasions from the Dragon Race’s forces or their allies...

...then this stalemate would undoubtedly be a thankless task for both sides.

If there was to be a war, then let them fight.

If they were just going to wear each other down like this, how long could it last?

A tug-of-war for centuries or millennia?

What was the point of their practice then? Of their growth?

Lince and his allies were not necessarily willing to be worn down like this either.

So, in the minds of the four Titans, who had intended to force negotiations through fighting all along...

...they didn’t need to be too anxious.

After all, if this dragged on, the other side might not be able to sit still either.

In that case, they wouldn’t be forced into a passive position.

And if the Dragon Race couldn’t hold back and attacked first, then all the arrangements those fellows made earlier...

And so.

Following the commands of the four Ancient God Titans...

...their Authority Level Clan members immediately began to establish a Star Road.

Soon, as one Star Road and Star Gate after another was established, and as one Authority Level Titan after another departed, the Three Gods of the Cosmos, who had been closely watching the situation, realized something was wrong.

Even Lince felt the same at this moment.

「Soon, within the familiar Dark Space.」

The Four Gods gathered once more as projections of their will.

"As expected, Ancient Gods at the Authority Level are never that easy to deal with."

"Especially not these old-timers who have lived for ages."

"You’ve all seen the situation."

"So, what do the three of you think we should do next?"

The female illusion of the Mother of All Things spoke with a hint of helplessness in her tone.

"What do I think? I’ve already invested so much. If these guys aren’t coming, then we shouldn’t waste any more words!"

"Let’s just face them head-on and have it out!"

The God of All Machines was still as impatient as ever.

Lince didn’t answer, merely sinking into thought.

Then, he quickly turned his gaze to the God of Thousand Faces.

The moment Lince looked over, the God of Thousand Faces happened to be looking back at him.

The two seemed to meet each other’s gaze calmly, but the God of Thousand Faces understood Lince’s meaning.

And Lince knew the meaning of the God of Thousand Faces as well.

Finally, the God of Thousand Faces broke the brief silence with a smile.

"Heh, very well!"

"Did you three really think you could hide this little trick from me?"

"In this situation, it seems I’m the only one who can step up."

"But, let me be clear up front: my ’faces’ all have their own personalities and ideas. They aren’t so easy to command."

"The only reason I could get them to help me this time was because the flesh and blood of an Ancient God is a tempting enough lure."

"If you want them to split up to intercept the enemy, or even to harass the Titans’ rear, they might not agree without sufficient benefits!"

As soon as the God of Thousand Faces said this...

...the God of All Machines glared furiously.

"Thousand Faces, you’ve gone too far!"

"We’ve all given our all for this war. What, now that it’s your turn, you want to carve out a bigger share of the benefits?"

"That’s not how it works! I still believe in first come, first served. On the battlefield, whoever takes something, it’s theirs! That point is non-negotiable!"

The Mother of All Things said nothing, but the coldness in her eyes as she looked at the God of Thousand Faces said it all.

As for Lince.

To be honest, he was the one who had organized and initiated this war in the first place.

Rather than saying the God of Thousand Faces was demanding more benefits from the other three...

...wasn’t he, in turn, just demanding benefits from Lince?

Lince even had reason to believe that right now, the God of All Machines and the Mother of All Machines were a pair of turncoats.

’Just now, it looked like the Three Gods were putting on a show for Thousand Faces.’

’But now, their apparent displeasure with Thousand Faces is just another way of saying that they shouldn’t have to bear the cost of his demand for extra benefits.’

’So who should bear it?’

’Are these two gods working with the God of Thousand Faces to put on another act for my benefit?’

Lince had to admire how devious these guys were.

At this point, Lince could, of course, refuse.

However...

...Lince finally smiled.

"State your price. But it’s best not to be too outrageous."

As soon as Lince said this, the God of All Machines and the Mother of All Things immediately fell silent.

The God of Thousand Faces, on the other hand...

...was positively gleeful.

"Good. I like people who get straight to the point."

"As for compensation, of course I won’t be too unreasonable. We’re friends, after all."

"How about this: I don’t want much else, just a promise from you, Nig Hog."

’A promise?’

Lince frowned slightly but didn’t speak.

The God of Thousand Faces, on the other hand, grew uncharacteristically serious.

"After this war, I will attempt ’Unity’."

"I need you, Nig Hog, as well as All Machines and Mother of Ten Thousand, to protect me while I do it!"

The moment the God of Thousand Faces said this, Lince’s eyes widened!

’So soon?’

Lince felt an indescribable shock.

But it was obvious he had misunderstood.

Unity wasn’t the same as ascending to become a Pillar God.

So, the God of Thousand Faces saw Lince’s misunderstanding and waved his hand with a stunned smile.

"Nig Hog, don’t get the wrong idea."

"Although Unity will be enough for me to attempt a breakthrough to Pillar God, the time for that isn’t now."

"The path to becoming a Pillar God isn’t that simple. Even after achieving Unity, I’ll still need to prepare thoroughly."

"So, Nig Hog, what’s your take?"

The God of Thousand Faces looked at Lince seriously once more.

At this point, Lince realized that this fellow, the God of Thousand Faces, must have been plotting this all along.

’From the last time he revealed the great dangers of breaking through to Pillar God...’

’...to his later suggestion that everyone should watch out for one another...’

’It was all foreshadowing!’

’Was it hard to understand what he was setting up?’

’It was all for this very moment.’

’Is the God of Thousand Faces strong?’

’Lince considered that the God of Thousand Faces in his singular form, or even in his current state as a Game Authority, wasn’t too strong.’

’If he were truly strong...’

’...I never would have been able to sign that game integration contract with these three in the first place.’

’But while he might not be strong in his singular form—perhaps even the weakest of the Four Gods at present...’

’...his ’thousand’ faces combined...’

’If he really succeeds in achieving Unity...’

’Lince didn’t dare to imagine how strong that guy would become!’

’Authority Level Peak?’

’No, perhaps after this, he could even be considered a Half-step Pillar God?’

’Something like this...’

’...the God of All Machines and the Mother of All Things also seem to have agreed to it?’

’Unbelievable!’

Lince suddenly felt like he’d been set up!

Because, if it weren’t for this war against the Titan Race that he had initiated...

...then he, just like the God of All Machines or the Mother of All Things, would have definitely received a ’grand gift package’ from the God of Thousand Faces as payment for ’protecting’ him.

At that moment.

Lince immediately looked toward the God of All Machines and the Mother of All Things.

Seeing Lince’s gaze, even that brute, the Cancer of All Machines, looked away awkwardly.

Lince prided himself on having a good temper.

But at this moment, he couldn’t hold it in any longer, his face twisting into an expression that screamed ’this is bullshit!’ as he looked at the God of Thousand Faces!

Finally, as if grinding his teeth, he said, "Fine!"

"But you’ll have to pay extra!!!"

’Pay extra?’

The God of Thousand Faces was a bit taken aback by Lince’s choice of words.

But after a moment, he actually smiled and nodded.

"Alright! I’ll pay extra!"

"..."