Book 13, Gebados β Chapter 42, Beirutβs Power
Having received a positive response, Adkins breathing couldnβt help but grow ragged. His mind instantly became filled with all sorts of dreams. βIf I can acquire a Sovereign artifact within the Necropolis of the Gods, or perhaps one of the legendary Sovereign sparks and become an incomparably mighty Sovereign, then I, Adkinsβ¦β
Just thinking about it made Adkinsβ blood boil in anticipation.
But suddenly, Beirut frowned and he said hurriedly, βWait, we canβt open it tomorrow.β
βWhat? Why not?β Adkins was frantic.
Beirut explained, βAdkins, I forgot about something. Bluefire is currently rebuilding his homeland. His divine earth clone is wholeheartedly focused on rebuilding the continent, while his divine fire clone is standing guard. He canβt divide his attention right now. Given his building speed, I imagine he still needs a few more days. How about this. Letβs wait ten days, then enter together.β
Adkins felt a surge of franticness in his heart. He secretly said to himself, βThatβs exactly the issue; I donβt want Bluefire to enter. If Bluefire enters, then how will I possibly compete against him?β
Adkins knew exactly how powerful Bluefire was.
βLord Beirut.β Adkins said sincerely. Just from the fact that he was now addressing Beirut as βLordβ was proof of how much importance he placed on the treasures of the Necropolis of the Gods. βI thinkβ¦thereβs no need to allow that Bluefire to enter the Necropolis of the Gods. How about just the two of us enter. What do you think?β
Adkins finally got to the point.
Just him and Beirut. When the time came, only he, Adkins, would enter the Necropolis of the Gods. Given that, who would be able to compete against him?β
βOh?β Beirut stared at Adkins, as if he suddenly understood. A hint of a smile was on his lips. βSo Adkins, this is what you desire?β
Adkins continued to look at Beirut.
βAdkins, your fantasy is a bit too perfect.β Beirut smirked. βIf I let you go in by yourself, you might be able to acquire the treasures within. But there is no benefit to me at all. In addition, I would run the risk of offending Bluefire. Do you think that I, Beirut, am so old that my vision has gone bad, that I wouldnβt know who is more important between you and Bluefire?β
Adkins laughed ingratiatingly and said hurriedly, βLord Beirut, your words arenβt correct. True, Bluefire is more powerful than me, and if he goes in, he would at least be able to acquire a Sovereign artifact. However, Lord Beirut, think about it. Given Bluefireβs temper, if he were to obtain a Sovereign spark, how could he possibly submit to you? I think, Lord Beirut, that you donβt have any confidence in defeating a Bluefire who wields a Sovereign artifact, right?β
Beirut just laughed.
Adkins urged yet again, βBut Iβm different. Lord Beirut. If you have any requests, just go ahead and state them!β
βOh?β Beirutβs eyes lit up.
βThis Necropolis of the Gods does indeed have Sovereign artifacts.β Beirut said. Adkins eyes instantly lit up. Beirut continued, βAdkins, I want you to swear an oath to the Overgod of Fate that the first Sovereign artifact you acquire, you have to give to me.β
Adkins started slightly. βHow many Sovereign artifacts are within?β
βNot just one.β Beirut said.
βFine. No matter if I acquire one or two of them, the first Sovereign artifact I will definitely give to you, Lord Beirut.β Adkins gritted his teeth.
βDonβt rush. No point in saying it now. Later, you can make an oath to the Overgod of Fate.β Beirut said with a calm laugh.
An oath sworn to the Overgod of Fate definitely could not be violated. The Overgod of Fate was in actuality the βEdicts of Fateβ, one of the edicts which governed the functioning of the vast universe. If you were to violate such an oath, the Edicts of Fate would naturally cause you to suffer endlessly.
βThis is the first matter. There are still two other matters.β Beirut said.
βThis Beirut really is black-hearted.β Adkins secretly cursed, but he didnβt have any other options. He had to force himself to squeeze out a smile. βLord Beirut, pray tell.β
Beirut said with a calm laugh, βThe second matter is, after leaving the Necropolis of the Gods, you have to serve me for a million years.β
Adkins stared.
Serve? Even in the Gebados Planar Prison, he, Adkins, had never served anyone as a vassal.
βWhat, you donβt accept? If you donβt accept, thatβs fine. We can forget about this Necropolis of the Gods matter.β As Beirut spoke, he seemed about to turn. Adkins gritted his teeth. βI accept. After I return from the Necropolis of the Gods, I, Adkins, will definitely serve you, Lord Beirut, for a million years.β
Beirut smiled and nodded.
βLord Beirut, now you can let me go to the Necropolis of the Gods alone, right?β Adkins had a hint of anger in his heart now.
βDonβt rush. Thereβs the third requirement as well.β Beirut was still all smiles.
No matter how good-tempered a person was, hearing this, they would still be irritated. Whatβs more, Adkins was an explosive, brutally tempered person to begin with. He couldnβt help but say, βLord Beirut, how many requirements do you have?β
βThis is the final one.β Beirut laughed calmly. βIf you donβt agree, then forget about entering the Necropolis of the Gods.β
Adkins suppressed his rage and growled, βSpeak.β
βMy third request is very simple. I donβt want to have problems in the future. So, please go kill Bluefire.β Beirut continued to smile faintly. βAlas, I donβt want Bluefire to come get revenge on me in the future. Thus, Iβll have to trouble you to kill him.β
Adkins was instantly stupefied.
Kill Bluefire?
βIf I, Adkins, had the ability to kill Bluefire, why would I be here speaking with you at such length!β Adkins said furiously.
βOh. Then thereβs nothing I can do about that.β Beirutβs face sank. βThen Adkins, please go back.β
Adkins instantly understood. He was so angry, his face turned white. Pointing at Beirut in a fury, he said, βBeirut, youβ¦you played me for a fool!!!β The three requirements that Beirut required were completely unattainable. The first two requirements were already excessive, but this third one was impossible.
βHahaβ¦β
Beirut began to laugh, and he looked at Adkins as he laughed. βAdkins, you just now realize it? Haha, I did indeed play you for a fool. I was originally planning to wait a thousand years, at which point I would just bring Bluefire into the Necropolis of the Gods. I didnβt expect that you would come here so quickly. But thatβs for the better. It let me see how you look when utterly furious, hahaβ¦β
Adkinsβ face changed. βYou never planned to let me enter the Necropolis of the Gods?β
βRight.β
Beirut smirked. βI never had the intention of letting you enter. I only planned to let Bluefire enter.β
Adkinsβ entire body was shaking slightly.
By nature, he was arrogant and never willing to be subordinate to others. Adkins had always dreamed of one day reaching the heights of power and exceed Bluefire and the other five Kings. But he understood that given his talent, his only hope was to acquire a Sovereign artifact, or perhaps a Sovereign spark, something he dreamed about.
Howeverβ¦
His hopes had been dashed.
In the air above the Forest of Darkness, Adkins and Beirut stood there, looking at each other. Their conversation was separated from the outside world by the Godrealm. The distant Barnas, Ojwin, and others couldnβt hear their conversation at all. They only saw that Adkinsβ expression had clearly become furious.
βBoomβ¦.β
With Adkins at the center, a black and white light suddenly shot out in every direction. The area covered by the black light caused space to distort, and the nearby trees began to be devoured. Wherever the white light shone upon, matter evaporated like snow in the face of the sun.
Adkins had two mighty divine clones; darkness and light!
Cocooned by darkness and light, Adkins was absolutely enraged.
Adkins pointed furiously at Beirut, bellowing in anger, βBeirut, you are a despicable, base person who relies on having a Sovereign at his back! Today, I lowered myself to beg you and gave you face time and time again. I didnβt expect that you would insult me like this. Fine. Fine. You, Beirut, abuse the weak while fearing the strong. You are afraid of offending Bluefire, but you come insult me. You are garbage!!!β
These words werenβt restricted by the Godrealm. They spread out in every direction, with Barnas and the others hearing them clearly.
Barnas was greatly shocked. βLord Adkins, no!β
βNot good.β Hanbritt, Gatenby, and Ojwinβs faces all changed as well.
Hundreds of kilometers away from Adkins and Beirut, Linley couldnβt help but turn his head to stare in astonishment as well.
βWhat a powerful aura of darkness and light energy.β Linley was inwardly shocked. The explosive release of energy from Adkins had naturally attracted Linleyβs attention. βSuch powerful energyβ¦can it be that Adkins and Lord Beirut are coming to blows?β
Linley was mystified.
And then, Linley immediately headed back.
Beirutβs face turned cold, as though covered with a layer of frost. βAbuse the weak while fearing the strong? Garbage?β
βYouβve trained for just a million years. Even if you have a Sovereign artifact, do you even know how to use it properly?β A semi-translucent long blade, seemingly made out of ice, appeared in Adkinsβ hand. He looked disdainfully at Beirut. βIf you donβt have a Sovereign artifact, then die. If you do, good. It is time for the Sovereign artifact to have a new master.β
Adkins had never held Beirut in any regard.
As he saw it, Beirut who had trained for just a million years was nothing more than an upstart junior. How many Elemental Laws could he have fused?β
βHave a new master?β
With a flip of his hand, Beirut revealed a pitch black staff. This staff emanated a terrifying aura, and Adkinsβ eyelids twitched, staring in astonishment at the staff in Beirutβs hands. With an insulting smirk, Beirut said, βThe Sovereign artifact is here. If you have the ability, come and take it.β
This was a perfect, undamaged Sovereign artifact, not like Linleyβs.
The black staff in Beirutβs hands emitted an aura so powerful that even the distant Barnas, Ojwin, and the others had their faces turn white.
Adkinsβ eyes couldnβt help but narrow. He secretly said, βThis Beirut actually really does have a Sovereign artifact. All the better. At worst, today, Iβll lose a divine clone! I have to kill him and seize that Sovereign artifact.β Adkins had made up his mind, and now he acted straightforwardly.
Barnas was frantic, but this time, he was no longer able to stop this battle!
Ojwin, Barnas, and the others all watched the two Highgods face off from afar. Suddenly, the dark and light energy exploded forth, causing space to shudder. Even Barnas the other three immediately utilized their Godrealm to defend.
Adkins divided his body into two, his divine light clone and his divine darkness clone!
The divine light clone wielded that long blade, while his divine dark clone was hidden within the darkness, disappearing within. Adkinsβ divine light clone instantly charged towards Beirut, his face ferocious as he roared, βDie!β At the same instant he roared, his blade stabbed out, as eye-piercingly bright as the sun.
At the same momentβ¦
The divine dark clone hidden within the darkness appeared as well, as a black dagger silently stabbed towards Beirut.
βHahaβ¦β Beirut laughed loudly and gaily, sweeping out with his black staff.
The black staff seemed to have turned into a blur, smashing directly down upon that brilliant blade which shone like the sun. βBANG!β The Highgod artifact blade instantly disintegrated, but the black staff didnβt slow down at all, smashing directly down upon the head of Adkinsβ divine light clone.
βBOOM!β The head completely exploded, leaving behind only a brilliant divine spark hovering in midair.
Adkinsβ divine darkness clone laughed insidiously. βHe didnβt even move. He is asking for death!β In the same instant his divine light clone was destroyed, Adkinsβ black dagger stabbed directly towards Beirutβs head.
βCLANG!β
The black dagger stabbed onto Beirutβs head, but there was only a metallic ringing sound.
βHow is that possible?!β Adkins stared in astonishment, his eyes wide. His full-power attack with his Highgod artifact hadnβt been able to even break through Beirutβs skin? Beirutβs head was actually comparable in toughness to a Highgod artifact? This was utterly impossible.
Butβ¦it had happened.
Beirut turned his head to glance at the boggled Adkins. βWhat, are you disappointed?β
βFlee!β Adkinsβ face changed dramatically. He finally understood that this Beirut was utterly terrifying. Even the five Kings of the Gebados Planar Prison wouldnβt dare to use their heads to take a full power attack of a Highgod.
βRumbleβ¦β
The black staff, moving at a speed that was seemingly dozens of times faster than when it had destroyed the divine light clone, instantly passed through Adkinsβ head. Adkinsβ head soundless disintegrated, leaving behind only a darkness-style divine spark floating next to Beirut.
And then, both of the divine sparks entered Beirutβs hands.
The two headless corpses fell from the sky. Beirut lowered his head to glance at them, murmuring, βToo weak, too weak. Compared to the former eraβs Bloodviolet Fiend and the Twelve Winged Highgod Angel, he was far too weak.β Beirut, with just two casual sweeps of his staff, had killed Adkins.