404: Chapter 339: Devastating Consumption, Divine Power Reserves Reaching Their Limits

The failure of [Time Retrogression] was like a heavy hammer, smashing ruthlessly against Elios's Godhead.

The massive consumption of one hundred thousand Divine Power had only yielded a five-second "regression"—and those five seconds, due to the interference of the river of civilization, failed to produce any substantial impact on the battlefield situation. More fatally, the side effect of "Time Disorder" had taken effect: for the next full hour, all of his time-related skills would be unusable.

This meant that [Eternal Stasis], [Time Deceleration Domain], [Time Retrogression]... these trump cards that the Eternal Divine Court took pride in were all temporarily disabled.

[Elios · Status Update]

- Godhead Rank: LV580 (Unchanged, but Divine Power reserves have dropped significantly)

- Divine Power Reserves: Approx. 320,000/500,000 (180,000 consumed, of which 100,000 was lost to the failed [Time Retrogression])

- Current Status: Time Disorder (All time-related skills disabled, duration 60 minutes)

- Divine Kingdom Stability: 78% (Slightly decreased due to skill backlash)

- Combat Assessment: Although losing the blessing of Time Laws, the Heroic Spirit Legion's integrity remains above 85%, and overall combat power is still formidable.

“Counterattack! All forces, advance!”

Lin Zhou's order was like the sounding of a horn for the general offensive.

The five-colored halo of the [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array] suddenly expanded, from its defensive fifty kilometers back to one hundred kilometers! The five colors of light flashed alternately: the gold of Confucianism, the black of Legalism, the white of Mohism, the azure of Taoism, and the red of the School of Military, roaring out from the Formation like five giant dragons!

“Mohism—Mechanical Beast Legion, frontal assault!”

“School of Military—Behemoth Legion, left-wing flanking maneuver!”

“Confucianism—Literary Heart Elves, right-wing support!”

“Legalism—Law Fishmen, rear battlefield control!”

“Taoism—True Cultivator Legion, central support!”

Lin Zhou's command was like a precision gear, with every instruction landing perfectly at the optimal moment.

Li Mo was the first to act. Tens of thousands of Mechanical Beasts surged out from the [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array] like a flood of steel, launching a frontal assault on the Eternal Divine Kingdom's Heroic Spirit Legion. These Mechanical Beasts came in various forms—the [Formation Breaker Type] shaped like a fierce tiger (Rank LV45, skills [Collision Lv.4], [Tear Claw Lv.4]), the [Defense Type] shaped like a giant tortoise (Rank LV48, skills [Iron Wall Lv.4], [Counterattack Lv.3]), and the [Scout Type] shaped like a bird (Rank LV40, skills [High-Altitude Reconnaissance Lv.3], [Energy Marking Lv.2]).

Although the number of Mechanical Beasts was not as many as the Heroic Spirit Legion (approx. 30,000 vs. 80,000), each one was fearless and coordinated perfectly with one another, forming layered offensive Formations.

The Behemoth Legion led by Wang Meng flanked from the left, like a sharp red dagger stabbing ruthlessly into the Heroic Spirit Legion's flank. The Behemoth Giant Beasts in their berserk state (Rank LV55-LV62, with Strength attributes generally above 70) could tear through several Heroic Spirits with every strike. Although the Heroic Spirits possessed "immortality" (capable of Time Retrogression resurrection within the Eternal Divine Kingdom), resurrection required Elios to consume Divine Power, and at this moment, his Divine Power was dropping at a rate visible to the naked eye.

Zhao Hao's Dragon Legion provided support from the right wing, their Dragon Breath spewing out as golden flames covered a large portion of the battlefield. Dragon Breath had an additional "purification" effect on the Heroic Spirits (because it contained faint Time Laws); Heroic Spirits killed by Dragon Breath required twice the Divine Power to resurrect compared to a normal kill.

Qin Qing's Lawful Merman Enforcement Squad controlled the rear, the [Net of Law] shrouding the battlefield, constantly defining the Heroic Spirits' "resurrection" as "illegal," further increasing Elios's consumption.

Su Yueyao's Moonlight Projection provided central support, the silver-white moonlight acting like a lighthouse to provide a "Perception Bonus" (Vision +30%, Accuracy +20%) for all allies, while using [Moonlight Purification] to dispel the "Time Corrosion" effects carried by the Heroic Spirits.

As for Lin Zhou himself, he held the [Sword of Civilization] and sat at the core of the [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array], using the river of civilization as a Foundation to continuously provide energy support for the entire Formation.

[river of civilization · Energy Output]

- Current Output Power: 5,000 Divine Power per minute (Maintaining Formation operation + Fire of Civilization blessing)

- Divine Power Source: Faith Conversion (Approx. 3,000 per minute) + Divine Kingdom Reserves (2,000 per minute)

- Lin Zhou's Current Divine Power Reserves: 62,000/200,000 (Continuously decreasing)

The battle entered its most tragic phase of attrition.

One minute... two minutes... three minutes...

Although the Heroic Spirit Legion suffered heavy losses (about twenty thousand killed in the first three minutes), Elios spared no expense, continuously resurrecting them with Divine Power. Each resurrection cost him anywhere from 500 to 1,000 Divine Power (depending on the Heroic Spirit's Rank).

Elios's Divine Power Reserves: 320,000... 300,000... 280,000...

“He’s burning through his Divine Power!” Qin Qing said urgently. “At this rate, he won't last twenty minutes!”

“But we can’t last that long either,” Lin Zhou said calmly, his gaze always locked on the distant eternal throne. “His Divine Power reserves are more than three times ours (320,000 vs. 62,000). A war of attrition is not in our favor.”

“Then what should we do?” Wang Meng asked while commanding the Behemoth charge.

“Force him to make a mistake.” A sharp glint flashed in Lin Zhou's eyes. “His ‘Time Disorder’ status still has an hour left. During this hour, all of his time-related skills are disabled. This is when he is most vulnerable.”

“But it's also when he's most difficult to deal with,” Li Mo's electronic voice sounded. “Even though he’s lost his Time Laws, his Heroic Spirit Legion still has immortality, and his Divine Kingdom remains stable. In a direct head-on clash, we are still no match for him.”

“Therefore, we cannot fight him head-on.” Lin Zhou took a deep breath. “We need to—decapitate him.”

He raised the [Sword of Civilization], the tip of the sword pointing toward the eternal throne: “Elios himself is the core of the entire Eternal Divine Kingdom. As long as we defeat him, the Divine Kingdom will collapse on its own.”

“But he is in the core area of the throne, one hundred and fifty kilometers away from us,” Zhao Hao said. “Moreover, there is still a Time Deceleration Domain around his throne (though its effect is weakened, it still exists).”

“So, we need an opportunity.” Lin Zhou looked at Li Mo. “Li Mo, calculate at what point Elios's Divine Power reserves will drop low enough that he will be forced to reduce the frequency of Heroic Spirit resurrections?”

Li Mo's projection performed rapid calculations: “Based on model deductions, when his Divine Power reserves drop below 150,000, he will start to ‘calculate carefully.’ At that time, the resurrection speed of the Heroic Spirits will drop from the current three thousand per minute to about one thousand per minute.”

“Then we will wait until that time,” Lin Zhou said in a low voice. “Continue the attrition!”

The battle continued.

Five minutes... ten minutes... fifteen minutes...

The waves of the Heroic Spirit Legion's assault came one after another, and the defensive lines of the [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array] were on the verge of collapse several times, but each time they were stabilized under Lin Zhou's precise command.

The losses of the Mechanical Beasts had exceeded fifty percent, the Behemoth Legion had casualties of nearly thirty percent, and over ten giant dragons had left the field heavily injured. But Lin Zhou did not retreat, because he knew that the opponent's consumption was even greater.

Elios's Divine Power Reserves: 280,000... 250,000... 220,000...

Lin Zhou's Divine Power Reserves: 62,000... 58,000... 54,000...

The Divine Power of both sides was dropping at a rate visible to the naked eye.

But Lin Zhou's rate of decline was faster—because his total Divine Power was only forty percent of Elios's, while their consumption rates were nearly the same.

“Captain, your Divine Power...” Qin Qing looked at Lin Zhou with concern.

“I can still hold on.” Lin Zhou gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead. He could feel that his Godhead was operating under an overload, and the Fire of Civilization was burning frantically to provide enough energy.

[civilization furnace · Status]

- Current Load: 120% (Overload operation)

- Faith Conversion Efficiency: +30% (Due to overload, converting 3,900 faith into Divine Power per minute)

- Side Effect: Furnace durability decreases by 1% per minute (Current durability: 82%)

“The civilization furnace is overloading,” Li Mo reminded. “If the durability drops below 50%, the furnace might be permanently damaged.”

“I can't worry about that anymore.” Lin Zhou shook his head. “As long as we win, if it's damaged, it can be repaired. If we lose, everything will be gone.”

Twenty minutes... twenty-five minutes... thirty minutes...

Elios's Divine Power reserves finally dropped below 150,000!

[Elios's Divine Power Reserves: 148,000]

- Heroic Spirit Resurrection Frequency: Dropped from three thousand per minute to one thousand per minute.

- eternal throne Radiance: Visibly dimmed.

- Elios's Status: Pale complexion, flickering Divine Fire, rapid breathing.

"Now is the time!" A sharp glint flashed in Lin Zhou's eyes. "Li Mo, prepare [Logic Bomb · Enhanced Version]! Target: The mental link between the eternal throne and the Heroic Spirit Legion!"

"Qin Qing, prepare [Net of Law · Maximum Power]! Target: Define the Heroic Spirit Legion's 'resurrection' as absolutely illegal!"

"Wang Meng, Zhao Hao—prepare for the assault!"

"Yes!"

Li Mo was the first to act. A fist-sized [Logic Bomb · Enhanced Version] shot from his hand, tearing through the Void Realm and landing precisely in the core area of the Heroic Spirit Legion!

Boom—!!!

The Logic Bomb exploded, and a Logical Paradox Domain with a diameter of ten kilometers instantly formed! Within the Domain, the mental links of the Heroic Spirits were forcibly severed. They no longer obeyed Elios's commands but fell into chaos, beginning to attack indiscriminately!

"Qin Qing!"

"Net of Law · Maximum Power!"

Qin Qing gritted her teeth and poured seventy percent of her remaining Divine Power (approximately 8,000 points) into the Net of Law. Pale gold chains of rules acted like an inescapable net, enveloping the entire Heroic Spirit Legion!

[Net of Law · Definition Active!]

- Definition: "Heroic Spirit Resurrection" is an illegal act!

- Coverage Area: Fifty kilometers in diameter!

- Duration: Three minutes!

- Consumption: 8,000 Divine Power (Qin Qing's Divine Power reserves dropped to 2,000).

The moment the definition took effect, the corpses of the Heroic Spirits currently being killed showed no signs of time reversal—resurrection was forcibly prohibited!

"Now is the time! Wang Meng, Zhao Hao—charge!"

Wang Meng led the remaining Behemoth elites (about three hundred), and Zhao Hao led the remaining Dragons (about twenty), simultaneously charging toward the eternal throne from the left and right flanks!

They had only one target—Elios himself!

"Stop them!" Elios's face changed drastically as he frantically mobilized the remaining Heroic Spirits to defend. However, with the mental link of the Heroic Spirit Legion severed by the Logic Bomb, the command System was mostly paralyzed, and the defense speed was far slower than expected.

Wang Meng and Zhao Hao were like two sharp knives, stabbing straight toward the eternal throne!

One hundred and fifty kilometers... one hundred kilometers... fifty kilometers...

The distance was rapidly closing.

Meanwhile, Elios's Divine Power was also being rapidly consumed—he had to simultaneously maintain the stability of his Divine Kingdom, attempt to repair the Heroic Spirits' mental links, and activate the Throne's remaining Time Rules for defense.

Elios's Divine Power Reserves: 148,000... 135,000... 120,000...

"A little closer... just a little closer..." Lin Zhou gritted his teeth, the blade light of the Sword of Civilization in his hand flickering as he prepared to deliver a fatal blow at any moment.

Forty kilometers... thirty kilometers... twenty kilometers...

"Enough!" Lin Zhou suddenly charged out of the Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array, his body turning into a streak of light as he lunged straight for the eternal throne!

[Sword of Civilization—Slash!]

The blade light tore through the Void Realm, like the first light at the creation of the world, slashing fiercely toward the eternal throne!

"Eternal—Guardian!" Elios roared, and a silver-white light shield rose from the surface of the Throne, blocking the blade light.

Crack—!

Cracks appeared on the light shield, but it did not shatter.

"Again!"

Lin Zhou swung his sword again, the second blade light following immediately!

Crack—crack—!

The cracks expanded!

"Third Strike!"

The third blade light condensed thirty percent of Lin Zhou's remaining Divine Power (about 15,000 points). The brightness of the blade light was like the sun, illuminating the entire battlefield!

Boom—!!!

The light shield of the eternal throne finally couldn't hold on and shattered with a bang!

The momentum of the blade light remained unabated, slashing fiercely into the body of the Throne!

Crack—!!!

A deep crack appeared on the surface of the Throne!

[eternal throne · Damaged]

- Integrity: 78% (Decreased by 22%)

- Time Rule Effectiveness: -30% (Due to Throne damage)

- Elios Backlash: Divine Fire flickering violently, Divine Power output plummeted by 30%.

"You...!" Elios's face was deathly pale, and golden divine blood overflowed from the corner of his mouth.

Lin Zhou wasn't doing well either. Three consecutive strikes had consumed nearly twenty thousand of his Divine Power. Combined with his previous consumption, his Divine Power reserves had dropped below the danger line.

[Lin Zhou's Divine Power Reserves: 31,000/200,000 (Only 15.5% remaining)]

- civilization furnace Durability: 67% (Continues to drop)

- Godhead Load: 118% (Overloaded operation, subtle cracks have appeared)

- Current Status: Extremely exhausted, but Battle Intent remains undiminished.

"Elios, admit defeat." Lin Zhou's voice was hoarse yet firm. "Your Time Rules are useless, your Throne is damaged, and your Divine Power is almost empty. Continuing will only result in a mutual loss."

Elios was silent for a moment, then he smiled.

That smile was not one of surrender, but—madness.

"Admit defeat? How could the heir of the Eternal Divine Court admit defeat?" He suddenly stood up, his hands forming seals as his Divine Fire burned frantically!

"Since you want to fight, then let's fight to the end!"

He bit the tip of his tongue and spat out a mouthful of golden divine blood. The divine blood merged into the eternal throne, and the cracks on the Throne's surface actually began to reverse—not repairing, but burning!

[eternal throne · Self-Destruct Mode—Activated!]

- Effect: Burn the Throne's Origin in exchange for absolute defense and attack bonuses for a short time.

- Duration: Five minutes.

- Side Effect: The Throne will be completely destroyed after the skill ends, and Elios's Godhead Rank will permanently drop.

- Current Status: Throne burning, Defense +200%, Attack Power +150%.

"Madman!" Qin Qing's face changed drastically. "He's burning his own Foundation!"

Lin Zhou's expression also changed.

He hadn't expected Elios to be crazy to this extent.

But he did not back down.

"If you want to fight, I'll fight you!" Lin Zhou gritted his teeth and poured all his remaining Divine Power into the Sword of Civilization. The light on the blade turned from blazing white to a piercing golden-white!

"Civilization — End Slash!"

"Eternal — Indestructible Shield!"

Sword and shield collided in the Void Realm!

Boom—!!!

The violent energy impact blew the surrounding hundred miles of the Void Realm into pieces!

Lin Zhou and Elios were both sent flying by the shockwave!

Lin Zhou spat out a mouthful of blood, and a few more cracks appeared on his Godhead.

Elios wasn't doing well either. Although the Throne's Self-Destruct Mode had blocked the fatal blow, there were even more cracks on the Throne's surface, nearly splitting it in half.

[Lin Zhou's Divine Power Reserves: 8,000/200,000 (Only 4% remaining)]

[Elios's Divine Power Reserves: 50,000/500,000 (Only 10% remaining)]

Both had reached their limits.

But neither would yield.

"One last strike." Lin Zhou wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and gripped the Sword of Civilization tightly.

"One last strike." Elios also stood up straight. Behind him, the battered eternal throne let out a final hum.

The two of them moved at the same time!

Sword light and shield light collided once more!

This time, there was no violent explosion, only silent annihilation.

The light dissipated.

Lin Zhou and Elios stood a hundred meters apart, looking at each other.

Lin Zhou's Sword of Civilization was held against Elios's neck.

Elios's [Eternal Shield] was pressed against Lin Zhou's chest.

Neither of them moved again.

"A draw?" Wang Meng muttered in a daze.

"No." Lin Zhou shook his head and withdrew his sword.

Elios also withdrew his shield.

"You won." Elios's voice was hoarse. "My Divine Power is exhausted, and the Throne is about to shatter. If we continue, I will be the one to lose."

Lin Zhou did not deny it.

He only had a sliver of Divine Power left, but the edge of the Sword of Civilization was indeed a fraction brighter than the afterglow of the [Eternal Shield].

[Xinghai University Team vs Eternal Divine Court Main Team—Xinghai University Wins!]

[Xinghai University Team—Advanced to the Top 20!]

The tournament announcement echoed through the Void Realm.

Elios gave Lin Zhou a deep look, turned, and disappeared into the Void Realm with the battered eternal throne.

Lin Zhou watched him leave, and then—

His vision went black, and he fainted.