Chapter 232: The Hundred-Armed Giant, Showdown Before The Gods
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“The Hundred-Armed Giant is an ancient, mutated being. They originate from the Titan Gods, yet have no place in the clan and are viewed by the Titan Gods as variants, heretics, and mutants.”
Dodola explained, “But undeniably, the Hundred-Armed Giants possess way more fearsome strength, even more, powerful defenses, and wilder and more berserk combat power than regular Titan Gods.
“Because the Titan Gods have abandoned them, the Hundred-Armed Giants regard the Titan Gods with extreme hostility and extend the same sentiments to all the gods in the Void. Hence, they have aligned themselves with the Devils to become the Supreme God of The Underworld’s guards.”
“The Supreme God of The Underworld?”
Meng Lei was awfully puzzled.
“The Supreme God of The Underworld is one of the greatest existences in the vast universe. He’s also one of the rulers of the Netherworld, which is one of the two major supreme existential planes,” answered Dodola.
“One of the rulers of the Netherworld?!”
Meng Lei’s breathing stopped for a moment there. He exclaimed, “The Hundred-Armed Giants have actually become his guards? They come from a pretty impressive background, then!”
“Of course!”
Dodola nodded lightly.
Meng Lei asked, “What’s up with the Titan Gods, though? Are there also Titans outside of Heaven’s Vault Continent?”
“That’s not the right way to put it because the Titans in Heaven’s Vault Continent are just the Titan Gods’ descendants. They aren’t pure Titan Gods.”
Dodola said dispassionately, “Pure-blooded Titan Gods are one million-feet-tall and are capable of ripping true gods apart. In no way are they inferior to the Fallen Angels of the Demon Realm.”
“Are the Titan Gods actually that savage?”
Meng Lei swallowed as he remarked, “Going by what you’ve said, the Titans on Heaven’s Vault Continent are no different from babies that haven’t grown up—ah, no, they can’t even be considered babies.”
“That goes without saying. The Titan Gods’ descendants are scattered all over the vast universe. Can the Titans on Heaven’s Vault Continent even be considered Titans?”
Dodola scoffed. “In truth, the best habitats for higher races like the Titan Gods and the Fallen Angels are actually high-end existential planes because they’ll only regress if they stay on material planes.”
“I understand now.”
Meng Lei nodded lightly. After chatting with Dodola for a while more, he exited the Tower of Time.
“Where are we now?”
At his question, Bubbles bowed and replied, “Master, we’ve just passed through one of the Titan Empire’s Twelve Pillar Nations, the Great Earth Pillar Nation. We’re about to enter the territory directly under the Titan Empire’s jurisdiction.”
His voice was shaking somewhat. The Titan Empire had once been a country that he’d loved with all his heart, yet he’d been labeled a traitor and a renegade.
Since then, his homeland had become a forbidden zone to him, and he’d never ever returned. Besides... He couldn’t!
In the twinkling of an eye, almost 10,000 years had passed.
But today, he was finally going to be back. Bubbles held extremely complex feelings toward this.
Agitated? Apprehensive? Furious? It seemed like they were all present, yet not entirely so, either. In any case, it was a very complicated feeling.
Meng Lei nodded slightly. Then, he said, “Continue to search for the Chimeras’ tracks and check who among the Titan Empire the culprits are.”
“Yes, Master!”
Although the Titan Empire was made up of high-rise plateaus, the terrain was fairly level. It was almost all endless plains and fields, with people mainly doing animal husbandry.
Packs of Iron-Horned Oxes... Horned Horse-Elephants that could be seen everywhere... Spotted Iron-Hoofed Goats all over the fields and mountains...
The ones in charge of shepherding them were all humans and Beast People. They lived in tents and shepherded the livestock, laboring away painstakingly.
On the contrary, many big and tall demi-giant nobles rode on large, hulking beasts and raced about in the fields, having the time of their lives.
Meng Lei shook his head lightly and commented, “The humans in the Titan Empire don’t have it that great, either.”
“Master, you may not know this, but humans are also classified as fourth-class beings in the Titan Empire.”
Bubbles explained, “In first-class are the pure-blooded Titans while the Demi-Titans are second-class and other nobles third-class. Normal humans and Beast People are fourth-class, so they are no different from their counterparts in the Dragon God Empire.”
“Fourth-class...”
Then, Meng Lei asked, “How’s the search going? Where have the Chimeras been captured and brought to?”
“Based on the tracks, Master, the Chimeras have likely been brought to the Titan Colossal City.”
“The Titan Colossal City? Let’s go there, then,” replied Meng Lei.
“Yes, Master!”
An hour later, they arrived at the Titan Empire’s capital, the Titan Colossal City.
Shrouded in clouds and mists all year round, the city, which sat atop the Divine Titan Mountain, was situated the highest above sea level among all the cities in Heaven’s Vault Continent. On average, it was over 10,000 meters above sea level!
By right, considering how high they were above sea level, the air there must be very thin, hence making it very difficult for normal people to survive there. Yet the truth was that the weather in the city was nice and pleasant and the environment beautiful, with extremely rich magic elements in the surroundings.
Why was that?
As it turned out, it was because the Titan Colossal City was enveloped in a gigantic magic barrier. The magic barrier absorbed an unending stream of magic elements in the surroundings and supplemented the city with them.
“Master, that’s the Titan Colossal City beneath us!”
Bubbles was rather worked up. “Do we fight our way right in or...”
“No! This is my first time coming to this city. How can I not take a good look around?”
Meng Lei shook his head and said, “After all, this is the city that’s hailed as Heaven’s Vault Continent’s most majestic, most magnificent, and grandest city!”
“As Master commands!”
Bubbles was rather disappointed.
“Let’s go down!”
Perched high on the summit, the Titan Colossal City was as if an ancient fort. The city walls were thick, heavy, and aged, with too many traces left behind by time on them.
A team of 10-meters-tall, silver armor-clad demi-giant guards with iron spears in their hands surveyed the passing crowds with sharp, keen eyes.
When Meng Lei and the others came over, they allowed them all to pass, as though they hadn’t noticed them at all.
Upon entering the city, what greeted them was architecture that was all made out of stone. Towers built out of layered stones, bridges constructed from boulders, taverns, shops...
The place was bold and imposing, rough and magnificent.
It was unlike the Dragon God Empire’s architectural style, yet there was a different kind of bold and rough beauty to it.
People went to and fro in the wide, spacious streets. 50% of them were humans and 40% of them Beast People, with demi-giants making up less than 10%. As for the Titans, there wasn’t even a single one.
This was the most direct reflection of their reproduction rates. Since the Titans’ were the weakest, their numbers were naturally the smallest as well.
“Why do these Beast People look like they’re leading very comfortable lives when the Titan Empire and the Beast People Empire are constantly warring?”
The Beast People going to and fro in the streets looked happy and cheerful, unlike the tragic state that Meng Lei had imagined them to be in. Weren’t they captives and slaves?
“There’s more to it than meets the eye, Master.”
Bubbles explained, “The Beast People who live here are basically all refugees who couldn’t live on in the Beast People Empire.
“Beast People are diligent, honest, and hardworking. They can do many things that Titans cannot. As a result, they are fairly welcomed in the Titan Empire and lead much better lives than what they do in the Beast People Empire.”
Bubbles explained, “Their peaceful, comfortable lives have allowed these Beast People to cultivate a sense of belonging to the Titan Empire that’s much stronger than what they have for the Beast People Empire.”
“I see!”
Meng Lei was enlightened.
“Sir, our store has brought in a new batch of Chrysanthemum Sky Pigs. They are fresh and tasty with a smooth and tender texture! Come on in and have a bite! First come, first served, you snooze, you lose!”
In front of a restaurant, a sexily-dressed Fox-Woman waitress called out to passersby as she solicited customers. Her voice was sweet, pleasant, and intoxicating.
“Chrysanthemum Sky Pigs?” Something occurred to Meng Lei, and he said, “Let’s go! I’ll treat you guys to a meal!”
“A meal?”
The four half-deities were taken aback. Nevertheless, they still followed Meng Lei and entered the restaurant.
With a menu in her hands, an adorable and charming Cat-Woman waitress with a sweet smile asked, “Esteemed guests, what would you like to eat?”
“Chrysanthemum Sky Pigs!”
Meng Lei said, “I’d like 100 roasted pigs!”
“1-100 pigs?”
Startled, the Cat-Woman waitress thought she had misheard, and she asked, “Esteemed guests, are you sure you want 100 roasted Chrysanthemum Sky Pigs?”
“You didn’t mishear me. 100 pigs it is!”
Meng Lei chuckled and said, “Go ahead and prepare them. We can finish them!”
“A-alright!”
It was only after the astounded Cat-Woman waitress left that a smiling Meng Lei said, “Chrysanthemum Sky Pigs are good stuff. One is worth quite a few gold coins! Have more later, don’t stand on ceremony with me!”
“Yes, Master!”
The four subordinates’ lip corners spasmed as they responded.
Treating us to Chrysanthemum Sky Pigs, which cost only a few gold coins?
“In your opinions, who do you think will win in the Showdown Before The Gods this time?”
“I think the Blue Frost King has a chance of winning. As of now, he has already won 19 successive matches without a single loss. He’s definitely the number one candidate for the Child of God!”
“The Blue Frost King? No offense, but had his previous opponents not been that lousy, would he be able to maintain his current battle records?”
“Hurhur, so you don’t think he’s up to it? Why don’t you do it if you think you can, then!”
“Hey, let’s keep it to simple chatting! Don’t you start a fight!”
“I won’t! In that case, why don’t you tell me who you think can claim the final victory?”
“In my opinion, I think Prince Poserei’s chances of victory are the highest. Think about it, eight out of ten Child of God candidates during the last ten years were from the imperial royal family, while the kingdoms only took two places. It’ll definitely be no exception this year, either!”
“The Child of God selection looks only at one’s combat prowess, not their backgrounds!”
“So, you don’t believe me? Wait and see, then!”
“What are they talking about?” asked a puzzled Meng Lei as he gestured at the two people seated at another table a short distance away.
“Probably the Showdown Before The Gods!”
A smiling Bubbles explained, “The Showdown Before The Gods is a grand affair held once every ten years in the Titan Empire. All young talents and heroes under the age of 35 are eligible to take part in it.
“The victor may then enter the holy temple and receive the Titan Spiritual God’s blessings to become the new Child of God, thereby leaping high beyond their current positions into a bright future!”
“I see!”
Enlightened, Meng Lei remarked, “That’s somewhat similar to the Dragon God Empire’s exchange competition.”
“The Titan Empire’s Showdown Before The Gods is much grander than the Dragon God Empire’s exchange competition!”
A smiling Bubbles said, “It’s said that it has already started 50,000 years ago after the Titan Spiritual God achieved godhood. On top of that, the Titan Spiritual God would also personally give his blessings. All those that receive his blessings will be able to step into the half-deity stage within 100 years!”
“100 years? Become a half-deity?”
Astonished, Meng Lei asked, “That’s not quite possible, is it? If that’s really the case, the Titan Empire would have been overflowing with half-deities a long time ago. What’s left for the other three empires, then?”
“There’s more to it than meets the eye, Master!”
Bubbles said with a wry smile, “All the Children of God who received the Titan Spiritual God’s blessings would be led away by him after they achieve half-deification.”
“Led away by him?”
Meng Lei was even more puzzled now.
“Yes, they would leave!”
Bubbles said leisurely, “No one knows why they are led away, but all the Children of God who were blessed indeed were able to become half-deities within 100 years.”
“Half-deification within 100 years!”
Meng Lei was astounded. “That’s mass-manufacturing of half-deities! The Titan Spiritual God certainly comes up with much greater means than the Dragon God!”
“There’s no comparison between the two at all, alright?”
Dodola’s voice suddenly rang out in Meng Lei’s mind. “The Titan Spiritual God controls the power of faith domains in almost 100 material planes around us. Heaven’s Vault Continent is just one among many! How can the Dragon God compare to him?”
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