The tide of battle shifted violently as War King Megiddo unleashed his true form, showcasing an overwhelming might that left the Gods visibly shaken. Cracks began to spider through their once-seamless coordination.
Sensing the opening, a few key figures moved to strike before the opportunity could slip away.
"To me, my kin! We are transitioning... to the God Tree Form!"
Lilliwood, who had been locked in a stalemate with the cornerstone of the Divine Realm’s forces—Life—immediately played her trump card. In accordance with her command, the Seven Princesses, the executives she had personally empowered, flew toward her. One by one, they dissolved into spheres of light, each a different hue, and merged into Lilliwood's body.
Flowers of seven distinct colors bloomed within her leaf-spun hair, and her attire transformed into a gown of regal elegance while retaining its natural silhouette.
This was Lilliwood’s God Tree Form. It was a state that granted her an exponential surge in power by absorbing seven Count-class entities who served as her primary military strength. In a conflict of this scale, she had hesitated to remove seven high-level units from the battlefield, but the time for restraint had passed.
If they failed to defeat Life during this opening, they would only grow more exhausted as the battle dragged on, inevitably falling into a disadvantage. With that resolve, Lilliwood extended her hand. Massive roots erupted from beneath Life’s feet, rapidly growing to engulf the Goddess's body.
"This is—ugh!"
The trees grew faster than Life could react, finally swallowing her whole. In that same instant, Isis’s magic surged, encasing the burgeoning timber in a tomb of absolute ice.
It didn't end there; new trees sprouted from the frost, growing to swallow the frozen wood, only to be frozen over in a repeating, reinforcing cycle. After dozens of iterations, a single, colossal spire of frozen timber stood where the Goddess had once been.
"With this... we have neutralized their core," Lilliwood breathed.
This was a Great Sealing Formula, a joint effort between Isis and Lilliwood. It was the strongest seal they were capable of, made nearly unbreakable by the sheer number of layers applied. No matter how immortal Life might be, she was helpless once sealed.
Lilliwood felt a wave of relief at having neutralized their most troublesome opponent, but a small, trembling voice reached her ears.
"No... we didn't... make it in time."
"Isis?"
"Be careful... Lilliwood... She’s awake."
"What!?"
The massive ice sculpture disintegrated with a thunderous roar. Life emerged from the shards, her bound hair spilling loose and her normally closed eyes snapping open—two crimson orbs burning with pure, unadulterated rage.
Lilliwood’s reflexes were impeccable; she instantly conjured a massive wall of wood to serve as a shield. However, the barrier was pulverized by a colossal shockwave, and the aftereffect sent both Lilliwood and Isis tumbling backward.
"Ghh... What in the world... is this nonsensical power?" Lilliwood groaned, stunned by the damage she had taken from the mere ripples of the impact.
Life strode toward them with terrifying composure, her fists clenched and her face twisted with fury.
"You’ve really done it now. How dare you... How dare you drag me down into this lowly, barbaric domain of brawling?! Don’t think you’ll die quickly, you pests!"
There was a significant misunderstanding regarding the Goddess of Life. Most believed her strength lay solely in her manipulation of vitality, but that was a fallacy. Among the Supreme Gods, Fate was the one specialized in authorities; Life’s essence lay in a different realm entirely.
Her body itself was the ultimate weapon. As the Goddess of Life, the vessel in which that life dwelt was her masterpiece. Possessed of an immortal form, bottomless physical strength, and impossible kinetic vision, Life was a being built for physical combat. She had only relied on summoned soldiers because she personally found brawling to be a vulgar, savage act.
However, Lilliwood and Isis had backed her into a corner. They had made her realize that her legions alone would not suffice.
Shattering the ground with the force of her stride, Life closed the distance in a heartbeat and swung her fist. The blow was imbued with such overwhelming power that a direct hit would have been fatal for either of them. But before the strike could connect, someone lunged between them, meeting Life’s fist with one of their own.
"Tch! War King!"
"Heh... You’re not bad!"
The collision of two transcendent powers generated a shockwave that rippled through the atmosphere, forcing both combatants back several steps. Megiddo, now in her true form, faced off against a fully serious Life. The battle between these titans devolved into the most primitive of struggles: a raw, world-shaking brawl.
Listening to the thunderous roars that seemed to shake the very fabric of space, Chronoa let out a heavy sigh.
"Good grief... Once the Goddess of Life becomes like that, she completely neglects the recovery of those around her. Ironically, this has unfolded exactly as you hoped."
"You seem remarkably calm," Ein observed.
"No, that isn't the case. I am suitably impressed. You all are quite something... To be frank, I never expected us to be pushed this far."
Ein didn't waste time with words and immediately moved to attack, but Chronoa vanished. She reappeared a short distance away without a trace of a mana signature.
"She vanished? Teleportation?"
"Something like that. Do not be in such a rush... listen to what I have to say. It will be beneficial to you as well."
"What are you planning?" Ein asked, her expression suspicious. She remained in a combat stance, waiting for the Goddess to continue.
"Consider it a reward for your struggle... and a parting gift. Where do you think the Authority of the Gods dwells? It is easy to see with the God of Fate... Yes, it is the eyes. One does not lose the ability to use their authority if they lose their eyes, but since they are the core, the power will be weakened. Thus, if you wish to face a God, it is most efficient to aim for the eyes."
"That is... certainly useful information."
"Is it not? Now, knowing that the eyes are the symbol of divine authority... I must ask you, rebels."
A suffocating pressure radiated from Chronoa as she fixed her gaze on them.
"Why do you think I am the only one among the Gods with eyes of two different colors?"
At those words, Chronoa’s blue left eye began to glow with a faint light. She was the final being created among the Supreme Gods. Fate specialized in authorities, and Life specialized in physical combat, but Chronoa was the most complete—the one who balanced both aspects with perfect precision.
And she was the only one among the divine host to possess two distinct authorities. One was her well-known control over time. She exercised this regularly, and her title as the Goddess of Time in the Human Realm was a testament to that power.
However, a far more dangerous authority resided in her left eye—a power that impacted the world so severely that she was only permitted to use it with the express permission of Shallow Vernal.
Chronoa’s formal divine name was the Goddess of Space-Time. She governed not just time, but space itself.