Alliance

A deathly silence descended upon the Scourge Citadel. None had anticipated that Francis, once swallowed whole, would burst forth from within Bonis's very being, seizing the opportune moment to capture the Demon Lord!

A thought had occurred to him while trapped: Where had Brockman and the others gone after Bonis devoured them? Most likely, they were confined within a space crafted by his Secret Technique. And he, Du Chen, possessed the Indestructible Golden Body; even if swallowed, he wouldn't necessarily perish. So… a gamble! He gambled that his Indestructible Golden Body could withstand Bonis's devouring power and allow him to break free from that internal space!

Thus, Du Chen willingly entered the devouring space, casually stowing away the previously swallowed Brockman, Tendon-Severing, Corpse Dissolution, and others into the Precious Lotus Scripture. He then used his Indestructible Golden Body to tear open the devouring space. Only then did Du Chen realize that the space Bonis created was, in fact, within his own body. Consequently, upon emerging, Du Chen effortlessly captured Bonis!

With no one left to wreak havoc inside him, Bonis’s body reverted to its normal form. A gruesome gash stretched from the back of his neck to his waist, leaving his face pallid with pain. Glancing up at Du Chen, who still stood atop his head, Bonis let out a long sigh. “My grand Violet-Blood endeavor! The annals of history shall be written by you from now on… Francis, you possess greater boldness than Prince; you are more fitting to be a Divine Emperor!”

Du Chen curled his lip, thinking to himself, ‘How could such a disgraceful incident—a venerable Supreme Divine Emperor caught red-handed stealing by the rightful owner—ever be recorded in history books for children to learn?’

Standing atop Bonis’s head, Du Chen mused, ‘If I dispatch Bonis now, I can use the Tear Source to command the hundred thousand strong army present. The Fiendkind would then be mere fish on a chopping block, easily vanquished. This would mean I’ve won the Second Fallen Gods War for humanity, which should be enough for the Eighth Bagua to finally bloom…’ Just as this thought crossed his mind, Du Chen unleashed a bolt of Heavenly Thunder towards Bonis’s skull. Suddenly, Fifth Brother roared in his Divine Sense, ‘Run!’

Du Chen felt it too; from the southeast corner of the Scourge Citadel, an immense, unparalleled elemental fluctuation suddenly erupted. Two destructive, yet alarmingly familiar, energies shot directly towards him! Raging Fire Scorcher Cannon, single-target lock-on mode! And two Thunder Cannons had simultaneously locked onto Du Chen! One was enough to injure Margaret, a General-tier cultivator. What about two?

Du Chen had no time for deeper thought. He instantly spread his wings wide, one hand still unleashing bolts of thunder to eliminate Bonis, while his wings propelled him away. However, Bonis also sensed a change in the situation. As Du Chen flew off, the pressure on his head vanished. Gritting his teeth, he twisted his body, using his right arm to block the Heavenly Thunder. Disregarding the horrific sight of his arm being pulverized, he sprinted away, roaring, ‘Netherbeast Army Corps, kill Francis!’

Though Du Chen was locked onto by two Thunder Cannons, compared to his previous predicament, the aerial blockade remained. However, Bonis on the ground no longer possessed the surplus power to employ that insidious Secret Technique. Du Chen, radiating dazzling Holy Light, charged headlong through areas dense with The Undead, forging a path to escape… The two streaks of fiery thunder light pursued him relentlessly, but their distance never closed—a testament to Du Chen’s swift reaction, otherwise…

Bonis, having made a safe escape, collapsed into the ruins, murmuring to himself as he gazed at the sky, ‘I am gravely wounded beyond recovery; at most, I have but a dozen days left to live. If I die, Francis will command the Nether-Spirit Army with the Tear Source, effortlessly crushing my Violet-Blood Confederacy…’ From somewhere, he found a surge of strength, abruptly roaring, ‘Send orders to the High Council! Abandon all military deployments! Attack the Red-Bloods at all costs! Faster, even faster! Advance with utmost speed! You must reclaim the Tear Source before I die!!!’

A voice, accompanied by approaching footsteps, drew near. ‘The Demon Lord truly exhausts himself for the Violet-Bloods, doesn’t he? But wouldn’t you like to know who it was just now that granted you these extra days to live, giving you Violet-Bloods one last chance to fight for your survival!?’

Bonis, still staring at the starry sky, sneered, ‘I long ago received intelligence regarding your faction, but unfortunately, I’ve been too focused on the Red-Bloods to spare time researching you… Scarlet Army!’

The newcomer, with golden hair and golden eyes, was none other than Leiming, the leader of the nine Venerables of the Scarlet Army. He crouched beside Bonis, chuckling. ‘How very interesting. Seventh (Lotus) and I had originally intended to negotiate with you, discussing a potential alliance between the Scarlet Army and the Fiendkind. Who would have thought we’d stumble upon such a grand spectacle!’ He shrugged. ‘Bonis, you are no longer fit to be a negotiating partner. For the sake of the Violet-Bloods’ future… pledge your allegiance to our Scarlet Army!’

Bonis slowly closed his eyes. ‘Golden-Eyed Leiming, if you truly have inherited everything from Prince, as intelligence suggests, then you should know what I, an old rival, still wish to hear!’

Leiming smiled. ‘If the Violet-Bloods pledge allegiance to the Scarlet Army, I, representing the Scarlet Army’s Supreme One, promise that after the Red-Bloods are annihilated, your Violet-Bloods will retain your current Violet-Blood Confederacy territories and forever be one of the most noble races on the Three Continents!’

Bonis, eyes still closed, said, ‘Generous terms indeed. But what must we sacrifice to obtain them?’

‘Very simple. Revoke the order you just issued—before the 13th of this month, you are only to pressure the Red-Bloods, but do not launch a full-scale assault!’

Bonis abruptly opened his eyes. ‘The 13th, the day of Arthur’s grand wedding! You must have already laid some scheme, haven’t you? Leiming, I am dying. Even if I can cling on until after the 13th, once I perish, Francis will seize control of the Nether-Spirit Army, possessing a million Undead warriors. How do your Scarlet Army plan to defeat him?’

Leiming chuckled. ‘Bonis, you are now our subordinate, not a partner; you are not entitled to know more! In short, once the 13th passes, everything will be within the Scarlet Army’s Supreme One’s grasp… However, I can reveal this much: Francis’s mother, Phil, was pursuing Venerable Margaret, and as a result, she was personally captured by our Scarlet Army’s Supreme One. With the Divine Emperor’s mother in our possession, we have already secured an unassailable position before humanity!’

A sharp glint flashed in Bonis’s eyes. He asked coldly, ‘Phil’s Sacred Artifact Furnace has also fallen into your hands!?’

‘Naturally! Margaret’s Molten Heart, Phil’s Sacred Artifact Furnace, the support of the Life Tree… oh, and the Lamenting Tear you are about to offer us. Of the world’s Five Great Primeval Forces, we already control four! Furthermore, we captured Merlinta, who was traveling with Phil, and two of the Imperial Divine Beasts are also in our hands—our strength is formidable; the Violet-Bloods will not regret joining us!’

Two Divine Beasts? If Brockman could return, Fire Phoenix must have encountered an issue! And Hobig has been dead for a long time, so… Bonis’s body trembled. ‘Hmph, so Ruilong, after escaping the Life Prison all those years ago, fell into your hands!’

Leiming shrugged and chuckled. ‘Yes, Margaret used the Molten Heart to capture Ruilong. But Ruilong is Ruilong; even imprisoned by us, he remains endlessly magnificent! Very well, Bonis, before the 13th, do as we say. If you perform well, after the 13th, we will…’

The Scarlet Army and the Violet-Blood Confederacy reached an agreement within the Scourge Citadel, while Du Chen flew westward at full speed, evading artillery fire!

The Thunder Cannons’ tracking capabilities were indeed formidable, no less so than a Tyran Beast’s. Two streams of fiery thunder relentlessly pursued Du Chen. Though unable to close the distance, they persisted until, after flying for several hundred li, their energy significantly depleted. Du Chen then withstood one blast with his Indestructible Golden Body, while Dus, through clever maneuvering, managed to deplete the other's energy!

Du Chen brushed off his robes and cursed, ‘The Scarlet Army has actually colluded with the Fiendkind! Damn it, at least the Tear Source is in hand, and Bonis doesn’t look like he’ll live much longer!’

As he spoke, Du Chen glanced at the group within the Precious Lotus Scripture. Andy was naturally unharmed. Tendon-Severing and Corpse Dissolution, having spent less time in the devouring space, were merely a bit listless. Brockman, however, was corroded until his skin was charred and flesh rotted, and having just learned from Tendon-Severing that Bonis had torn Philip apart alive, he looked utterly dazed… A chubby, big-eared little Tyran Beast, Homan, was patting his father’s hand, comforting Brockman.

During the battle, although Brockman had little Homan assist him from a distance, when Bonis activated a 'Devour' ability covering a hundred li to ascertain Du Chen’s location, the small Tyran Beast couldn't evade it and was inadvertently sucked into the devouring space. Now, he too had been conveniently rescued by Du Chen.

Fifth Brother also cursed, ‘Damn rotten luck! That death wasn’t satisfying enough! Francis, the Scarlet Army and Fiendkind are probably up to something new. I was too busy escaping just now to get a clear look. Should I go back and check?’

Du Chen shook his head. ‘Too late! That much time is enough for them to make any deployments. Besides, it’s obvious without checking: Bonis had half his body torn apart by me; even if he holds on with battle qi, he won’t live much longer! The Fiendkind’s next move will surely be to take advantage of their Demon Lord still being able to control the Myriad-Spirit Army, launching a preemptive strike to reclaim the Tear Source—we must rendezvous with Dud immediately and inform him that the Fiendkind’s full-scale assault is imminent!’

Tendon-Severing and Corpse Dissolution watched in astonishment, thinking to themselves, ‘Francis speaks no words, yet his expression changes so frequently. What could he be thinking?’ They suddenly prostrated themselves, crying out, ‘By Yessar God, Ramepatisu!’ The Holy Yessar Church had long since been reformed into Du Chen’s Divine Cult. Hearing that ancient incantation, Du Chen felt an unusual wave of nostalgia. ‘There’s no need for further words from you! Flaying is in Dud’s army; go find him later. Flaying will ultimately decide how to deal with you!’ Let Yessar’s Saints be handled by Yessar’s Saints!

Du Chen then looked at Brockman again. The small Tyran Beast keenly sensed Du Chen’s Killing Intent and plopped into Brockman’s embrace, crying out, ‘If you want to kill my papa, kill me first! Homan, Homan really isn’t scared of you!’ The little one trembled. Brockman frowned, hugged the child, and held his head high. ‘I disdain begging for mercy from behind a child, Francis. Do with me as you will. However, this child is a Tyran Beast, a guardian beast of Battle God Isle. Please, return him to his birth parents!’

Du Chen gave a cold smile. ‘Why the rush? I just realized there’s someone even more qualified than me to kill you!’

Soon after, Du Chen arrived at the grand army encampment on the Western Plains. His journey to the Scourge Citadel, following Sophia, had consumed a significant amount of time. Now, with the back and forth, over twenty days had passed! After locating Snoopy, who had been impersonating the Divine Emperor, to reclaim his identity, Du Chen urgently convened an internal meeting.

Indeed, many had accompanied the army this time. Aside from the two Grand Matriarchs overseeing Du City, and Adams, who was coordinating reports from various allied forces offshore, Du Chen’s entire retinue gathered in the conference room. Dud was the first to speak: ‘Your Majesty, General Arges, leading Lanning’s vanguard, has reported in. Prince Cassian’s Yakun allied forces are still a long way off, with only a few vanguard units having arrived… Currently, only nine hundred thousand troops have assembled in the grand encampment, less than half of the original plan, but provisions are ample!’

Du Chen waved a hand. ‘No matter how much we lack, we can’t wait any longer. This time, in the Scourge Citadel, I encountered Bonis…’ He recounted the events, then hung Brockman’s tattered garment on the wall. ‘Dud, this is the Fiendkind’s military deployment map, as disclosed by Brockman. What are your thoughts?’

Dud leaned on his halberd, contemplating the map for a long while. ‘Your Majesty’s conjecture is correct. Bonis will undoubtedly launch a preemptive full-scale assault to reclaim the Tear Source before his death!’ He pointed at the battle map with his halberd. ‘The Fiendkind possesses a Mixed Legions of Undead and Netherbeasts totaling 1.4 million, plus five hundred thousand native Violet-Blood troops, mostly deployed on the mountainous front south of Reno. Therefore, if he initiates a full-scale assault, he will surely crush Reno’s army with the speed of thunder, then advance along the Reno mountain range towards our forces stationed on the Western Plains…’ Here, Dud paused. ‘Your Majesty, how many more days do you estimate Bonis has to live?’

Du Chen considered. ‘His internal organs have been torn apart by me. Even if he stubbornly holds on with battle qi, he absolutely cannot survive beyond twenty days!’

‘Good! Orderly, relay to all Army Corps Generals: the grand army will depart tonight for Reno’s territory. They are to hold the Reno cities and mountain defenses steadfastly, not engaging in battle easily! After twenty days, they will launch a full-scale assault alongside The Undead legion, which will then be under Your Majesty’s command, to annihilate the Violet-Blood Confederacy!’

Dud gently tapped his breastplate, adding with utmost seriousness, ‘Considering the variable of the Scarlet Army’s sudden intervention for the Fiendkind, transmit orders to Adams, the liaison officer for the offshore allied forces: as of today, all reporting armies shall advance openly with half their numbers, while the other half will secretly move into the southern Reno mountains using the Subterranean Mountain Array to conceal themselves… This order is Crystal-tier Top Secret; it absolutely must not be disclosed to anyone except Your Majesty’s trusted confidants, like us!’

Du Chen rubbed his nose. ‘You intend to wage the final decisive battle within Reno’s borders… very well! However, before Bonis dies, Dud, I will place the Tear Source with the army. Use it to release gases that counteract the Spirit Seed Smoke, suppressing the Undead Scourge. You must assign a grand army to protect it meticulously; absolutely no mishaps are allowed!’

Dud affirmed with a solemn voice, ‘Your Majesty, rest assured! Aliza, withdraw your unit from the front lines. You are to defend the Tear Source’s location with the Iron Wall Thunder formation!’

With just a few words, Dud completed the military deployment for the final decisive battle. Soon after, the grand army would hold fast against the Fiendkind’s initial assault, centered around Reno Imperial Capital and Lionheart King City! After the meeting adjourned, Du Chen beckoned, retaining Aliza. He then deposited the Tyran Beast, Brockman, whom he had been holding, before him.

‘Aliza…’ Du Chen lowered his head in guilt, unsure how to begin. ‘There’s something, actually, something I’ve never told you…’

Aliza chuckled bashfully. ‘I know, Uncle Orbach is my real papa!’ Du Chen was utterly stunned. ‘How do you know that!?’ Aliza scratched his head. ‘Sister Liana secretly told me. She said you definitely wouldn’t know how to tell me this, so she just told me first…’ He grinned widely, laughing, ‘I heard Papa died and secretly cried for a very, very long time. But I’m not crying anymore now. Sister Liana said I should live life with a smile, that way Papa will laugh his false teeth off!’

Du Chen let out a profound sigh. Liana truly understood him!

Nodding, Du Chen pushed Brockman towards Aliza. The little Tyran Beast still clung to Brockman, refusing to let go. ‘This is your father’s killer. You are more qualified than I to kill him with your own hands!’

Aliza’s expression suddenly became a mix of grief and indignation. This honest Beastkin youth couldn’t hide his feelings; the hatred for his father’s killer was etched onto his face as he stared fixedly at Brockman!

The little Tyran Beast anxiously cried, ‘No, you can’t kill my papa, you…’ His mouth was covered. Brockman handed the child to Du Chen, stood up straight, and faced Aliza. ‘Any grievances or hatred, direct them at me. That child is Roxane’s biological son; he has nothing to do with the Blade’s demise!’

Aliza seized Brockman’s collar, his massive fist raised. But at that moment, the little Tyran Beast cried in Du Chen’s arms, ‘Don’t kill my papa! That… that a son pays for his father’s debts! Homan, Homan will let you kill me instead of Papa, okay?’

Du Chen was momentarily stunned. ‘Aliza, I’ll leave this to you. I’m taking Homan back to Tyr!’ Disregarding the little Tyran Beast’s loud wailing, Du Chen carried him out of the conference room.

Just a few steps away, a muffled 'thump' echoed from the conference room behind him. Brockman’s pained scream was abruptly stifled in his throat, the sound muted, followed by a final 'thud' as a body collapsed…

Homan’s little face instantly drained of color. He wailed, ‘Papa, Papa… You’re all bad people, bad people!’

‘I’m dumb, but I’m not a bad person, am I?’ Aliza emerged, bewildered. Du Chen peeked through the door crack and saw Brockman slowly getting up inside. However… his mouth was bleeding profusely, his teeth seemingly gone, leaving only shriveled lips flapping open and close, a rather comical sight! ‘Eh? Papa didn’t die?’ Homan looked at Brockman in disbelief. Du Chen stared at Aliza in astonishment. ‘This…’ Aliza held up a handful of broken teeth, chuckling bashfully. ‘I got revenge for Papa, and now I can even make Papa a new set of false teeth!’ He glanced shyly at Du Chen’s still-incredulous gaze, then lowered his head, scratching it as his face reddened. ‘I’m dumb, but I know this: if I killed Brockman, Homan would kill me in the future, then my son would kill him… it would never end, so annoying!’

Saying this, Aliza walked over and patted Homan’s chubby cheek. ‘Little fellow, I don’t have a papa anymore, and I can’t let you not have a papa either, right?’ Homan was still a child and didn’t understand much, but he smiled innocently. A tall, simple-minded young man and a chubby, innocent toddler, they just looked at each other and laughed together.

Du Chen shook his head, placing Homan onto Aliza’s massive palm. He sighed inwardly, ‘Alas, for so long, I’ve treated Aliza like a true brother, showered him with countless gold, silver, and Jewels, and bestowed upon him the title of God-blessed Prince, standing above tens of thousands… but I’ve always only considered him a foolish brother, never truly understanding him!’

Du Chen turned his head to glance at Brockman, then, after coldly dropping a single sentence, turned and left. ‘Adams is now my army’s foremost fierce General. You… figure it out yourself!’

Aliza scratched his head, watching Du Chen’s retreating back, puzzled. ‘What did my brother mean by that?’ He looked at little Homan, who was even more clueless. Even Brockman, after giving Aliza a grateful look, frowned, unable to temporarily comprehend what Francis truly meant by that statement…

Brockman had not died, but was temporarily detained in Aliza’s camp. Little Homan was sent to Tyr, the Chief of Military Intelligence accompanying the army, who had now pledged allegiance to Du Chen along with the Papal Curia. However, the little one was still closer to Brockman and repeatedly snuck back to his side. After several instances, Tyr couldn’t bear to see the child wailing all day and simply let him be.

Meanwhile, Tendon-Severing and Corpse Dissolution went to find Flaying. Flaying dealt with them according to the laws of Yessar Saints. Comically, however, halfway through the execution of their punishment, Steve’s personality suddenly gained the upper hand! As a result, Tendon-Severing wasn’t too badly off; after enduring some suffering, he switched allegiances and became a fighting General under Du Chen. But Corpse Dissolution… this auntie, appearing around forty years old, was a mature woman still possessing alluring charm, and she knew how to look out for herself. Thus, Steve’s list of lovers, a list that could rival a telephone directory, gained another entry!

The Tear Source was temporarily placed in the center of the army. Once that small bottle of liquid was opened, it continuously emitted sky-blue smoke. This smoke traversed mountains and ridges, and upon encountering the Spirit Seed Smoke that had diffused across half the Skylands, the two immediately neutralized each other, preventing widespread human mutation—however, though the Scourge Citadel’s Prime Pool was destroyed, the Undead Scourge had not truly ended yet, and Du Chen’s monumental act of benevolence and Merit would not immediately manifest!

After half a day of mustering, nine hundred thousand troops broke camp and set off under the plan devised by Dud, entering Reno’s borders overnight. Du Chen, accompanying the vanguard, entered Reno Imperial Capital, preparing to commence the final decisive battle against the Fiendkind…