Volume 1 Chapter 514

Chapter 514: Ah, Farewell, My Friend! (8k)

In the deepest reaches of the Hell Plane, a long-anticipated "Divine War" erupted once more within this alternate plane, which had remained isolated from other realms for an extended period.

The entire hell seemed to quiver and sway, and even beyond the plane, one could sense the residual waves from the chaotic and wild magic of the abyss clashing with the equally chaotic but more concentrated magic of hell.

On the main plane, the Demon King Castle exuded a terrifying aura, as if the entire abyss was enraged.

All the Demon Warlocks also found themselves once again cut off from the Hell Plane.

While ordinary folk and regular Superoperators might not have noticed, all the powerful beings on the continent and the deities of the Divine Kingdoms across numerous planes were acutely aware…

The abyss and hell were at odds.

Though not a full-scale war, the top combatants from both sides had engaged.

"What’s going on?"

Most were still somewhat bewildered.

They knew something had happened, but the reason remained unclear.

Meanwhile, Lolth, the "cause" of this event, was oblivious to the unfolding chaos.

She found herself in a pristine white space.

Undulating white sands formed small hills, warm and soft, carpeting the ground.

The sky stretched out in a vast, pale white.

This was the "gateway" that Five Colors had opened for the two of them, a specially prepared sanctuary.

If the previous maze was the heart of the Ruins of Sand…

Then this small white space was the very core of the entire realm.

Tranquil and concealed, if not for their adversary being Murphy Yates, even an ordinary deity might not have discerned its secrets.

"Where are we?"

Lolth glanced around and inquired.

Five Colors, standing beside her, looked at Lolth and gently tilted her head.

"This is… the ‘treasury’ of the Ruins of Sand, the place where rewards are meant to be distributed after the Final Trial is completed."

Five Colors spoke softly, and Lolth nodded.

Surveying the space, which held nothing but white sand, her curiosity deepened.

"And the treasures here?"

Five Colors didn’t answer directly but instead waved her hand.

The gravel on the ground shifted, and the sand dunes parted like the Red Sea, revealing "items" encased in translucent bubbles, pulsating with magical energy.

There were magic devices, ordinary weapons, potions, and numerous materials that appeared to be dried.

There were even scrolls and books.

This was the Ailuo race’s "storage room," housing precious items that the Ailuo people had collected and crafted, deemed potentially "useful" during the construction of this half-plane ruin.

Each item appeared extraordinary, with a subtle yet potent magical aura.

Since it was a storage room, these items were not displayed as collectibles.

The storage room is definitely filled with stacked items.

The reason Lolth didn’t sense their presence before is that the "white sand" in this plane seems to block magical detection.

Lolth pondered for a moment and then looked at Five Colors.

"So, you chose to bring me here… to evade Murphy Yates’s detection, right?"

Due to the unique properties of this white sand, the entire plane itself is also very concealed!

This is likely something the Ailuo race did intentionally; after all, hiding the treasure itself is a wise choice.

However, it’s a pity that although there are many valuable items stored here, they are still insufficient for battles against deities.

Even for a super ancient civilization that surpasses the combined strength of all powers in the modern main plane, Divine Artifact-level items are not commonplace.

After all… just one Five Colors is definitely worth two or three ordinary Divine Artifacts!

The white sand that can block divine-level detection is no ordinary matter.

In other words, in terms of its "effect" on deities, this treasure vault itself is indeed more effective than the items stored within it.

However, not everything here is intended for direct combat.

Some information carriers that record certain things, lost techniques, and extinct materials are also precious treasures.

Lolth was already quite satisfied.

Thinking about how this half-plane now belongs to her, and that all these things are hers, she felt a joy of harvest.

Upon hearing Lolth’s question, Five Colors gently nodded.

"Yes, the situation was urgent, and I did not consult with Master Lolth. I hope Master Lolth can forgive me."

As Five Colors said this, Lolth smiled and shook her head.

"It’s okay, and you don’t need to be so formal," Lolth said, casually complaining, "I still prefer when you acted like you didn’t want to pay attention to me."

Five Colors was a little surprised to hear what Lolth said.

Then, she looked down at her toes.

"The proud magistrate…"

She murmured softly, then lifted her head.

"This isn’t impossible; no, since you say so, it’s best this way… After all, it truly was in a moment of desperation that I had to hand over ownership to the magistrate."

"I just don’t want this place to fall into the hands of evil demons!"

Five Colors said this with a slight blush on her face.

Lolth felt much more comfortable.

"This is better," she commented, then looked toward the direction of the white gate. "But I wonder how long we can keep this a secret from that guy."

Even while joking with Five Colors, Lolth never let her guard down.

She was still quickly and efficiently recovering her magic, repairing the magic cube that had fallen silent again due to overload, and creating magic runes.

Murphy Yates could discover this place at any moment—that’s what Lolth believed.

That hellish demon is truly as powerful and terrifying as Sister Xiletor described, so much so that it feels suffocating.

Most importantly, she knows Lolth well.

This single fact makes her more formidable than the two evil gods of End and Revival!

A god who understands and values her strips Lolth of her only advantage against deities.

Her sole advantage was that gods would underestimate her, ensuring they wouldn’t go all out against her to avoid triggering the mutual "balance" agreement.

This allows Lolth to catch those lofty gods off guard.

Just like the Revival fellow.

The Dark God of End, however, made Lolth stumble precisely because he had been meticulously scheming against her from the start.

The only silver lining is that he doesn’t truly understand her.

But Murphy Yates…

She is entirely different.

As the Demon God of Hell, she is not only more intelligent than those evil gods but also more cunning and shameless than the righteous gods of the main plane.

She lacks the typical reserve of a god and is exceptionally knowledgeable about her own background and relationships.

Would an ordinary god project their true form and Divine Kingdom when casting a Holy Domain?

Would an ordinary god engage in prolonged bickering and tamper with their tea?

Although Lolth has repeatedly thwarted Murphy Yates’s schemes, she must admit…

Murphy Yates dug a pit for her, and Lolth’s escape from it was partly due to sheer luck!

If Lolth hadn’t been an unexpectedly self-controlled succubus, she might have fallen for her tricks long ago!

Thus, even though she has temporarily escaped Murphy Yates’s "domain," Lolth knows she must remain vigilant.

She must always be on guard against the possibility of being discovered!

With this in mind, Lolth turned to Five Colors.

"Is there a way to sense the outside world from here?"

Lolth asked, and Five Colors nodded gently.

"Of course, Master Lolth," the little girl said, pulling out the heavy, nameless book again, "It can be viewed directly, but… there’s still a risk of being detected!"

"We still need to take a look…"

Lolth pondered for a moment before speaking.

If we don’t look, we can’t just sit here and wait for doom, can we?

Unbeknownst to Lolth, even if they didn’t look, Murphy Yates had already discovered their traces.

She had only been forced to return because of a crisis in her own backyard.

An Origin Clone is indeed vastly different from an ordinary "projection" for a god.

An ordinary projection involves a god attaching a sliver of divine power and will, forcibly injecting the power of their Divine Kingdom into another plane to manifest.

An Origin Clone, however, is the very essence of the god’s own power.

It is not the divine power of the Divine Kingdom, but a portion of strength derived from the Divine Throne, or rather, the deity themselves, that shatters rules and barriers to enter other realms.

The difference is akin to that between a purchased robotic vacuum cleaner and piloting a drone yourself; the former merely requires pressing a button, while the latter is truly operated by the deity’s will in real time.

In fact, from its origin, the drone was even crafted from an arm detached from their own body.

Thus, the Origin Clone is indeed far stronger than an ordinary projection.

Murphy Yates’s Origin Clone is relatively restrained; some deities even fashion an Origin Clone avatar from their "half-body" to descend upon the main plane.

Before a divine battle commences, especially when other deities directly descend into their Divine Kingdom, deploying an Origin Clone is not only discourteous but also foolish.

It’s like stepping into a boxing ring while one arm remains outside the arena, leaving oneself with only one hand—it’s practically inviting a beating.

Therefore, Murphy Yates must return.

She doesn’t even have the strength left to spare for Lolth.

Just moments ago, the Abyssal Demon King’s fist was nearly striking her face!

Of course, Lolth was entirely unaware of this.

When Five Colors opened the nameless book that manifested the rules of the Ruins of Sand half-plane, the two of them leaned in to observe Murphy Yates’ condition in that layer of space…

Five Colors and Lolth were astonished to discover…

Murphy Yates was gone.

The entire space was empty, devoid of even a trace of Murphy Yates’ presence.

The "surveillance" function of the nameless book is far more sophisticated than a mere camera monitor.

What it reveals on its pages is the true essence of this half-plane; it is a "view" on the level of rules.

Thus, for Five Colors and Lolth, what they witnessed was both real-time and an accurate reflection of reality.

If Murphy Yates wished to evade this scrutiny, she truly had to render herself invisible and imperceptible to those in that space, achieving complete disappearance.

Of course, this didn’t seem particularly difficult for a Hell Demon God of such high stature.

Therefore, Lolth and Five Colors couldn’t help but linger in their observation, wary that this individual might be hiding, poised to ambush them.

The two of them silently conducted a thorough sensory search; initially, they feared their detection might be exposed, but as they intensified their efforts, Murphy Yates still failed to appear, and they grew bolder.

Finally, they meticulously scoured the outer two layers of the entire dimensional space.

Five Colors and Lolth confirmed a fact.

Although the outer half-plane’s spatial structure and magical composition were already riddled with holes and chaos due to the arrival of the two deities and Lolth’s earlier reckless expenditure of divine power, the magic environment was also slightly tainted…

Nevertheless, Murphy Yates’ figure and presence had truly vanished.

Even the trace of the Gate of Hell had disappeared.

A deity as formidable as Him might conceal themselves momentarily, but not indefinitely.

Moreover, now that Lolth and Five Colors were sensing almost openly, even if she were setting a trap, the fish had already taken the bait and were practically climbing ashore on their own. Shouldn’t there be some sign of movement?

Yet there was none.

Everything remained eerily calm.

In the end, Five Colors and Lolth could only arrive at one conclusion.

Murphy Yates has truly departed.

"Strange… Could it be that she couldn’t find us, so she gave up and returned to her home in Hell?"

Lolth touched her nose, murmuring to herself with a hint of curiosity.

This doesn’t seem like the behavior of a Hell Demon God…

Instead, it resembles my usual way of doing things.

Could it be that this Hell Demon God also has a tendency to slack off?

Lolth was lost in her thoughts when Five Colors spoke again.

"Master Lolth, since she might have left… why don’t we see what really happened?"

As Five Colors said this, she lifted the nameless book in her hands.

Lolth looked at the book with a shocked expression.

"Does this thing not only monitor but also have a replay function?"

"Of course," Five Colors said lightly, "Master Lolth, I have been in charge of this half-plane for tens of thousands of years. Even though you are my superior now, in terms of understanding…"

She did not continue, but a faint pride appeared on her face.

Then, the delicate, fair hands of the young girl turned the huge pages of the book and gently pressed down on a new page.

The wavy patterns on the page shimmered, eventually transforming into an ethereal image.

Scenes flashed quickly, and finally, Murphy Yates appeared, confronting Lolth, and then…

The projection of the Hell Plane descended!

Although it was just an "image," the chilling presence still came through, leaving both Lolth and Five Colors feeling astonished once again.

It felt as if they were once more inside Murphy Yates’s domain, arriving at the solemn and irresistible place of hell’s judgment.

The image fast-forwarded again, quickly skipping over the scene of Lolth and Five Colors escaping.

Five Colors gently touched the page again, and the speed of the changing images slowed down, seeming to return to normal speed.

After the two left, the entire projection of the place of judgment tightened up and became complete once more.

After a little while, Murphy Yates reached out her hand towards the direction where the two had vanished.

Lolth and Five Colors frowned gently.

The two had realized that Murphy Yates had discovered where they were hiding, seeing that they had not actually left this half-plane faster than they had imagined!

But why did Murphy Yates’s attack… not affect them at all?

The scene continued to move forward, and soon the two understood the answer.

Murphy Yates’s movement… had stopped!

The words that fell into the ears of this Hell Demon God, and the strange feeling coming from her Divine Kingdom, could naturally not be known by Lolth and Five Colors.

However, Murphy Yates’s extremely ugly expression, the shaking Gate of Hell, and the words "who is being shameless" that she yelled were indeed clear.

It seemed she had encountered some… huge trouble.

Lolth saw this and had a faint guess.

"It must be the Lord of the Demon King who has arrived, right?"

Only another deity could stir the emotions of a divine being!

Instead of coming directly to rescue her, the Lord of the Demon King seemed to have chosen a strategy akin to relieving the besieged by attacking the besiegers.

She must remember to express her gratitude to the Lord of the Demon King upon her return.

However, it’s unfortunate for Lolth that the Lord of the Demon King came in person… She felt that she still couldn’t avoid a promotion and a raise.

Of course, being saved was a necessary price for her own life.

Moreover, if she thought optimistically… she had caused such significant trouble with the Demon God of the Hell Plane that it forced the Lord of the Demon King to intervene personally. Perhaps the demon lord might even punish her a bit!

As Lolth thought of this, she couldn’t help but feel a bit excited.

If that’s the case, the suffering and exhaustion from this journey have been worth it!

Then, Lolth seemed to realize something and looked at Five Colors.

But… it is true that I have become the master of the half-plane.

Although I now have better resources to fight against the gods, it is also true that I will inevitably attract more trouble.

But no matter what…

This half-plane journey should come to an end now.

Lolth hesitated for a moment, but finally spoke up.

"Since Murphy Yates has already left, I should leave too."

"After all, I cannot live here yet."

Lolth said this as she looked at Five Colors.

Five Colors was a little surprised for a moment, then nodded.

"I understand, dear magistrate… You can leave here at any time."

"I will continue to do my duty, to repair, manage, and care for this place… After all, I have been doing this for tens of thousands of years and I am quite accustomed to it."

"Even without Master Lolth, I would still do this, and it is what I should do."

Five Colors said quietly.

"The dimensional tide is also weakening, and it will probably cut off the half-plane channel, right?"

Lolth said this, softly asking.

"Yes, Master Lolth, I must leave here."

Five Colors immediately replied.

The Artificial Girl seemed to ponder for a moment before she asked.

"Although Master Lolth has performed quite averagely as the magistrate and during the trials, this half-plane still belongs to you… So, where I should go, I will follow your guidance."

Hearing Five Colors say this, Lolth suddenly fell silent.

Just now, when she was calculating the benefits and losses, she considered her claim to this half-plane of Ruins of Sand, whether the artificial Divine Throne mentioned by her sister "Five Colors" was good or bad, and if the benefits could outweigh the troubles it might bring…

Now, upon hearing Five Colors’ words, Lolth suddenly realized something…

It seemed she had been mistaken.

She had overlooked one crucial detail: the "core" of this half-plane was a living being.

Her earlier thoughts seemed no different from those of Murphy Yates.

Was it the confrontation with a divine entity that had skewed her perspective, or was it the weight of her sister’s words and the looming pressure of the End of Days that had altered and disoriented her?

Or perhaps it was the allure of the divine realm and its power that was simply too enticing?

Or maybe it was the responsibility of becoming the lord of Hillenbrand Town and having so many people she cared about that had led her to this point?

After all, she had already been threatened by Murphy Yates with the lives of Tina, Isabella, and others.

This might not necessarily be a bad thing, but Lolth still felt that she should not, for any reason, think of Five Colors in such a way.

When she had first stayed behind, she had only seen Five Colors as a friend she had just met—someone she couldn’t abandon in the face of impending trouble.

But now, she found herself weighing the pros and cons.

Lolth became slightly more alert.

In the end… she sighed and shook her head.

"Go wherever you wish," she said to Five Colors.

"I truly am not a proper ‘adult,’ and I don’t wish to become one."

"But I think, perhaps as your friend, I can be good enough."

"This half-plane nominally belongs to me, but it… truly should be yours."

"You are its rightful and lawful owner, so it belongs to you."

As Lolth spoke these words, she lifted her head, as if making a solemn vow to the entire realm.

"From this moment onward, ‘Five Colors’ shall possess all my authority."

"I hereby transfer all my powers—to Five Colors!"

As Lolth finished speaking, she suddenly felt her "connection" severed.

The familiar, intimate, and friendly atmosphere around her, though not turning hostile and still warm, no longer felt…

Like it belonged to her.

The sensation of her soul extending throughout the entire realm vanished.

Lolth even felt a slight emptiness.

But she did not feel disheartened.

For now, the power of the realm, already deeply intertwined with Five Colors, grew even more tightly bound.

The soul of Five Colors, this Artificial Girl, seemed to undergo a kind of transcendence!

In her astonished expression, the power of the realm flowed invisibly into her body and then departed.

The process was brief and unadorned, yet it felt so…

Natural and inevitable.

After that, Lolth gazed at Five Colors, as if sensing the emergence of a new deity.

She is the Divine Throne, the Artificial Soul, and the core of this half-plane…

She is also its rightful master.

Everything appeared as though nothing had changed, yet in truth…

The transformations here were nearly cataclysmic.

"Alright, this saves me from returning to be lavishly praised for acquiring the half-plane."

Lolth looked at the still somewhat stunned Five Colors and softly chuckled.

"You should know from my heart that I detest promotions and fame… So, it’s best if you remain the master here."

"I am not of the Ailuo race, at most a descendant… But you, you are genuinely a true Ailuo."

"And you are also a unique soul crafted by the entire Ailuo clan—in other words, it wouldn’t be amiss to call you the daughter of Ailuo."

Lolth laughed lightly, feeling an overwhelming joy in her heart.

She was well aware that even though she had relinquished the half-plane, and claimed it was to avoid accolades from the Demon Army.

Yet, this sense of lightness and joy was entirely different from the happiness she felt before when she believed she would never be promoted again.

For Lolth, this lightness felt like an elevation in her mental state.

To abandon the power to contend with the gods, to have tasted divine strength… she still chose to let it go.

It was not because she wished to "slack off."

But because she desired to grant the girl before her, her dear friend, Artificial Girl "Five Colors," the freedom she rightfully deserved.

Born as an artificial life with the mission to govern the half-plane, and even as the "artificial Divine Throne," she was destined to become the aide to whoever controlled that half-plane…

Considering that the End of Days was imminent at that time, Lolth could not fault the Ailuo race for their actions.

But now, since the End of Days is still distant, it is unjust to burden a young girl with all this…

That is not fitting.

Especially when she could liberate her with just a single word.

Lolth had no reason not to do this.

After a long while, Five Colors looked at her hands, then lifted her gaze to Lolth, her expression complex.

"What… what should I do next?"

The girl felt the changes within her, sensing that all her "restrictions" had disappeared.

She realized that the half-plane where she had resided for tens of thousands of years had truly become her "home."

And that unfamiliar sensation.

The sensation called "freedom," which has been extolled by countless people.

However, what struck her first was a sense of… bewilderment.

Five Colors looked up and gazed at Lolth.

"Do anything you want to do."

Lolth spoke without hesitation.

"Consider what you desire and then act, while also taking responsibility for your actions… That’s all I can offer you."

"The rest is your choice; you are free to go wherever and do whatever you wish."

She gently patted Five Colors on the shoulder and continued.

"Feeling lost is natural, but don’t fret… With your newfound freedom, you’ll have ample time to ponder over this."

Lolth smiled warmly.

"This is the counsel I, as a ‘mere magistrate’ and a ‘friend of Five Colors,’ can provide."

"I’m pleased to see you’re feeling uncertain."

"If the Evil God and Hell Demon God ever seek you out again, feel free to seek my aid—though, as it stands, they might not stand a chance against you now."

Lolth sensed that, although Five Colors had not yet ascended to godhood, her current strength in this realm surpassed even their combined might from moments ago.

She was intimately familiar with this half-plane and harmonized flawlessly with its essence.

Be it a Demon God or an Evil God…

For Five Colors, they would pose no real threat.

Having said this, Lolth withdrew her hand.

"Enough of this chatter… I must attend to my own affairs."

"You should also begin to contemplate what you wish to pursue."

"Farewell, Five Colors."

With these words, Lolth gave a gentle wave.

Then, utilizing the last remnants of her "authority" and her mastery of spatial magic, she opened a "portal."

Gazing at the still silent Five Colors, Lolth did not await a response.

She waved gracefully and stepped backward into the shadowy portal.

Her form was completely engulfed and disappeared from sight.

After a considerable pause, Five Colors, left alone, pursed her lips and softly clenched her fist.

"You presumptuous fool…"

The girl’s somewhat despondent voice resonated through the desolate, uninhabited half-plane.

Beyond the confines of the dimension, she thought she heard a sigh that seemed to echo her sentiment.

"Alas—this fool—"

But the sound was fleeting, and Five Colors couldn’t be certain if she had truly heard it.

Yet…

Five Colors quickly resumed her thoughts, reflecting on Lolth’s words. An idea seemed to dawn on her.

"I… I am free."

"I can do as I please… I can go wherever I desire."

The girl murmured, and the disappointment on her face gradually faded, replaced by a hint of triumphant joy.

"I know where I should go!"

With these words, Five Colors closed her eyes.

The entire half-plane began to shift slowly through the coordinates of space.

As the core of the half-plane, the artificial Divine Throne now possessed full "authority."

Naturally, Five Colors had the ability to move this half-plane!

The half-plane moved steadily and resolutely, advancing toward the spatial coordinates etched in her memory!

Meanwhile, Lolth, who had departed from the Ruins of Sand, reappeared on Wild Boar Mountain!

Her initial plan had been to open a spatial portal directly to Hillenbrand Town…

But just before doing so, Lolth suddenly remembered something.

It seemed that when her teammates and apprentice had left, they too had been scattered somewhere within South Sotua.

She couldn’t simply return without checking on them!

She needed to ensure they were all safe and unharmed!

Of course, there was more to it…

Lolth suddenly recalled the fresh information Old Harper had shared during their call—details about what had transpired in Hillenbrand Town’s square while she was undergoing her trials.

At that moment, her desire to return diminished significantly.

In truth, she had already steeled herself to face the unpredictable behavior of Isabella and Tina once more.

But the thought of confronting the entire population of Hillenbrand Town, who had witnessed her bizarre actions…

Lolth was utterly unprepared for that.

Just imagining it made her feel utterly overwhelmed.

"Damn it, if only some unexpected event could delay my return a little longer."

Lolth sighed as she stood on Wild Boar Mountain.

Then, she suddenly sensed it…

From the direction of the distant Silver Citadel, a sudden surge of extraordinary energy erupted!

"Holy hell, there really *is* an unexpected event!"