Chapter 310

Chapter 310: The Loss from Underestimating Knowledge Levels

To win over the deities in the Endless Ether and launch a storm-like surprise attack on the new world—First New Themis with overwhelming force was one of Barbatos’s dual-crushing plans for "quality" and "quantity."

Although the approach changed, the main tactics stayed the same.

Using hired or "guided" deities from the Endless Ether to attack First New Themis drew the Giant God’s attention; meanwhile, the core councilors of chaos who sided with Barbatos launched crushing attacks against Valaharl.

Targeting Themis first and then Valaharl was not only Barbatos’s intentional plan but also a necessary move—mercenaries were easier to handle than council members.

The chaos councilors were all selfish individuals.

Even the core councilors who "sided with Barbatos" were only that—aligned with him; they weren’t Barbatos’s subordinate officials, nor were they the First Demon God’s dogs.

If Barbatos used strict orders but didn’t provide enough resources or agree on terms, those selfish core councilors had many ways to drag their feet and slack off.

Besides their selfish traits, the Chaos Council was just a place for arguing and sharing resources from the Fantasy Tree of Subspace.

It had no ideals or principles; at best, it was a "resource trading spot"; at worst, it should be called a "loot rat club."

In that setup, even if councilors weren’t selfish, without real benefits landing in their pockets, who would follow Barbatos?

Even if benefits did come, they’d still bargain to get the most for themselves, right?

Plus, who knew if among those "pro-Barbatos" councilors, some only pretended to back him but secretly favored Lady Xidi, Gimmerly, or Barbatos himself?

Who knew if anyone was playing multiple sides, waiting to sell out for the best offer?

These people not slowing Barbatos down already respected the First Demon God’s status.

So, rallying and guiding the Endless Ether deities not in the chaos camp was much smoother than dealing with his own people.

While the invasion plan for Themis got stuck in debates, the Ether Cod Deities, lured by Barbatos with promises, had already rushed close to the outskirts of First New Themis.

Though they met some unexpected guests who shouldn’t have been there, it seemed like no real harm was done…

Not true!

"Pfft…"

Barbatos’s human-like form showed his soul’s state—he spat out a mouthful of old blood.

When he linked to the Ether Cod Deities’ shared mind with mental magic, and they took a bad hit that weakened or hurt that connection, the magic backfired on Barbatos as the "guide."

"How could… this happen?!"

"Didn’t they spread out?"

"Didn’t they clear the way?"

"Why did they attack suddenly?"

Asking this showed Barbatos didn’t know the ways of the Phantom Dragons…

No, he didn’t understand the Shallow Ether Wanderers’ habits, costing him due to his low knowledge.

If it had been Trilobite, he wouldn’t have asked that.

"Whoosh—!"

"Whoosh…"

Several shadowy figures darted swiftly through the murky Ether Sea.

The Shallow Ether Wanderers scattered and swam—not fleeing, but driven by Hunger that ignited their hunting instincts.

"Roar—!"

"Hmm—!"

Cries of Ether Wanderers echoed across the Ether Sea.

Their calls intertwined, pinning each other’s locations.

Though the Giant God’s mark had stirred violent Hunger and predatory urges within them, it hadn’t stripped their reason; the Shallow Ether Wanderers could still deploy their usual tactics to encircle the Ether Cod Deities!

Their agile Divine Bodies moved through the shallower Ether Sea with ease. Limbs webbed yet clawed and fingered let them navigate root-choked swamps effortlessly.

Soon, they dispersed toward four paths:

Straight down. Lower left. Upper right. And behind.

"Hmm—!"

After one final call…

"Whoosh—!"

All four Shallow Ether Wanderers lunged as one, pouncing on the Ether Cod Deities!

Had the Ether Cod Deities followed instinct rather than deliberate control, their Souls’ buried intuition would’ve screamed danger at the Wanderers’ signals.

But Barbatos’s grip crushed their instincts.

Thus the Ether Cod Deities swam on—dull, oblivious—as the agile gods slid into striking positions.

Then…

"Roar—!"

The Shallow Ether Wanderers surged, slamming into the school from four sides.

"Gulp—!"

"Crunch—!"

Four Big Mouths gaped wide, clamping down on four Ether Cod Deities, swallowing both their divinity and Divine Bodies whole.

The beastlike slaughter began!

Though four fallen deities meant little to a colony of hundreds, this near-ambush birthed instant chaos.

Ether Cod Deities thrashed their tails, scattering in panic.

Their hard-won consensus shattered in moments…

At least, that’s how it should’ve gone!

Yet…

"Whoosh—!"

After brief collapse, the Ether Cod Deities rallied once more.

They gathered together, opened their Big Mouths with a "ka ka" sound, sharpened their sharp teeth, and charged at the nearest Shallow Ether Wanderers!

"Whoosh…"

In the Fantasy Tree of Subspace, thousands of miles away, Barbatos let out a long breath and wiped away the nosebleed from his projection.

Just moments before, he had forced his Soul to reorganize the Ether Cod Deities, helping them overcome their fear from the ambush.

Of course, this came at a cost.

Using the Soul’s power to control hundreds of souls from a thousand miles away demanded immense magic, even overloading his magic circuits for a while.

This overload even hurt his Soul.

"But, it’s all minor!"

"Now, witness the rage of the First Demon God!"

"Thousands of venomous sharp teeth!"

The "thousands of venomous sharp teeth" meant the bites from those hundreds of Ether Cod Deities.

The Ether Cod Deities had sharp teeth, and their micro divine rank acted like poison to the Shallow Ether Wanderers.

"Poisoned!"

"Then die a slow, agonizing death!"

"Roar—!"

The First Demon God’s roar carried his strategic-level magic across vast distances, echoing powerfully within each Ether Cod Deity’s Soul!

They ignored all danger, opened their giant jaws, and bit down on the Shallow Ether Wanderers!

"Swish—!"

"Hiss…"

The divine skin tore open, and divine blood spread through the Ether Sea.

Barbatos expected the micro divine rank to slow the Shallow Ether Wanderers.

What waited for them was agony bite after bite!

But…

"Whoosh…"

"Zoom—!"

Barbatos couldn’t believe his eyes.

The injured Shallow Ether Wanderers kept moving fast, each one seeming completely unharmed.