The path of Magi was a path of truth, each and every step wrought with peril. Many, many worlds of all sizes and powers existed in the astral plane, but few could climb to the peak. A peak rank 8 had reached the limit of all aspects, leaving no more room to grow.
The only way to advance further was to use their own bodies to nurture the power of spacetime, successfully advancing to become rank 9 Grand Magi. Fail and one would be wiped from the sands of time completely, without even a chance to resurrect.
âMy path shall not stop at the peak of rank 8. I WILL become a rank 9 Magus, an immortal being that transcends all existence!â Leylinâs giant figure shrunk back down to the size of a normal human being. The dark mist turned into a regal robe that draped itself around him.
âThe Lord of Original Sin!â Everyone congratulated Leylin upon his return. His advancement caused waves of energy to ripple throughout the astral plane, his proclamation as the Lord of Original Sin being heard by every being of laws. There was no pretense in the congratulations of Mother Core and the rest, only containing respect for truth and improvement.
âYouâve waited long enough,â Leylin said with an apologetic face, seeing the suppressed killing intent in the Lords of Calamity, âBut now, we may rejoice. The real battle is about to begin!â
Leylin had promised Mother Core that he would participate in the Final War once he advanced to the peak of rank 8. Now was the time to fulfill that promise!
*Boom!* The perfect power of original sin spread out from Leylinâs arms, turning into a crimson-veined darkness.
The Lords of Calamity avoided his gaze with fervour. Seeing Leylin seemed to remind them of their worst nightmares. The same went even for Mother Core, her large eye shifting away as she didnât dare to make eye contact.
âInnate spellâ Nine-Headed Nightmare Hydra Transformation!â Leylinâs body was wrapped up by the power of original sin, expanding as it morphed into the physical form of the Nightmare Hydra. As the primogenitor of the entire bloodline, each piece of his flesh was incomparably real.
*Hiss!* The Nightmare hydra spread apart its nine pairs of wings, blotting out the entire world as it vanished from the divine kingdom. The black mist whizzed through the air, roaming freely around the lower planes as he reached the Barrens of Doom and Despair.
Leylin followed the oozing river, flying across the Fugue Plane before the gods could even react. Heâd reached the end of the Barrens of Doom and Despair in an instant, arriving at a large door located at the Peaks of Flame.
The Nightmare Hydra roared as its nine serpent heads spat out the powers of laws, immediately blasting the large gate into bits. It continued moving all the while, not even stopping at the entrance.
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The gods entered a frenzy the moment the Nightmare Hydra crossed the gates. It was like a calamity had befell them.
âItâs the nightmare of the gods! The Night Serpent is here!â Many avatars arrived at the Celestial Hall, their eyes filled with worry.
âThe final prophecy of the Goddess of Prophecy before her fall, the Serpent of the End⌠Are we at the end times?â Oghma clutched his beard in vexation.
âForget why he knows about the secret in the Barrens of Doom and Despair, do we have the time to get there?â The Morninglord was someone who believed in action.
âNo⌠That area is the end of all things. Teleporting there is impossible even for deities, and itâs the same for the oozing river and the Fugue PlaneâŚâ another greater god answered.
âThen why could he traverse those lands so quickly?â Lathander frowned, and Tyr did as well.
âBecause his speed already surpasses all of us. He represents the end of everything, containing the same essence as the Barrens of Doom and Despair. He wonât be suppressed by the oozing river and the Fugue PlaneâŚâ Oghma collapsed to the ground in despair. âWe can only hope that the final guardian will emerge victoriousâŚâ
All the gods cast their gazes behind the door, despair and more complicated emotions filling their faces.
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*Boom!* Past the door was a land of unimaginable heat and blazing fires. A boundless ball of fire floated in front of Leylin, radiating large amounts of heat.
âThe sunâŚâ The Nightmare Hydra roared in indignation, activating the power of Prideguard. The heat that could melt all metals didnât affect Leylin one bit.
âLetâs follow the prophecies of the gods then, and end the world!â The Nightmare Hydra roared and moved forward.
âWait, Magus!â Just as Leylin was about to take action, another massive figure walked through the door and stopped him in his tracks.
This was evidently a god, yet he took on the figure of a beast like a gigantic monster. The golden light radiating from his body was at the peak of power, and he gave off an ancient, archaic aura.
âThe Father of Dinosaurs, Creator of Chult, Ubtao! Youâve been missing for millennia from the Church of Nature⌠So this is where you were all this whileâŚâ Leylinâs voice sounded from the hydraâs central head.
âTo stop the Serpent of the End and protect the world is my calling!â Even if this monstrous god looked extremely malevolent, he actually radiated the power of justice and hope.
âGuarding the sun and protecting the world may be righteous to you, I admit. But⌠Defeating the entire World of Gods and winning the war for the Magi is true righteousness for meâŚâ Leylin had nothing much to say to someone who stood on the enemy side.
*HISS!* *ROAR!* Two massive figures collided in the void, the aftermath of their collision so strong even the sun had to avoid the energy.
*Boom! Boom! Boom!* Space was destroyed in their fight, disintegrating into the tiniest of pieces as multiple worlds rumbled and roared. They hadnât felt such destructive force since the dusk of the gods.
âYou are indeed a powerful god of ancient times, but your time is over. You canât compare to me in any aspect, UbtaoâŚâ The Nightmare Hydra roared, and under Leylinâs powers of original sin Ubtaoâs body was riddled with holes. The peak of a pathâs power, replenished continuously from the beings of the entire astral plane, let Leylin exceed the peak of rank 8 in power. Even Distorted Shadow in his prime would have to give way to him!
âProtecting the world is the mission the overgod gave me.â The powerful beast roared out, a raging aura forming at its jaws.
âStubbornâŚâ The Nightmare Hydra opened its jaws, chomping down hard on Ubtao. A crimson light appeared from the vertical pupil, entering Ubtaoâs head.
âUbtao!â The fortified defences of Ubtaoâs soul were corroded away just like that, and Leylin appeared in front of him with Seven SIns in hand.
Leylin roared out, swinging a large battle axe down on Ubtaoâs truesoul. A forthright middle-aged man parried the attack, using a dinosaur claw that looked like a crossblade.
âWrath!â Leylin shouted just one word in the moment of the collision. The head of wrath appeared behind him, causing Ubtao to lose his concentration. Although his soul could not be corrupted by Leylin, a momentary lapse of awareness was a fatal mistake in such a high-level fight.
*Boom!* Seven Sins broke the dinosaur claw apart, continuing downwards as it pierced into Ubtaoâs skull. It carried the powers of Death and Massacre, destroying everything.
*Boom! Boom!* Ubtaoâs truesoul was destroyed, followed by his body constructed with divine force. An ancient god fell just like that, causing multiple worlds to weep.
âNo one, no thing can stop me!â The Nightmare Hydra howled out, heading above the sun.
The sun of the World of Gods was quite different from the other stars of the astral plane. It was extremely large and hot, almost as big as a world! It was projected into multiple different planes, providing a continuous stream of energy to the Celestial Planes and the prime material plane.
It was at this moment that a dark shadow appeared above it.
âInnate spellâ World Devouring!â The Nightmare Hydra body grew incomparably large, and its nine heads formed into one huge maw, hissing as a terrifying stormy black hole appeared at the Devouring Serpentâs head. Heat could not escape, nor could small particles, not even light could escape this!
The black hole grew larger and larger, growing into the maw of a beast that swallowed the entire sun whole!
*Boom!* Beings of multiple worlds saw a horrifying sceneâ A winged serpent which covered the skies had gulped the sun down!