Chapter 461

Chapter 461: I Have a Plan! 6/6

"Dammit!"

"It’s a ‘dragon’!"

"Gulp…"

Miss Sylvia swallowed hard.

At that moment, she finally remembered what monsters were invading the area around Themis and battling the Ether Dragons!

"Dreaming Shore Dragons!"

The "Dreaming Shore Dragons," dragon deities with a beautiful name, weren’t actually beautiful or kind creatures.

Unlike the limbless Ether Dragons and Border Dragons that lived solely in the Ether Sea with only fins, they had slender, tall limbs.

Their large feet were webbed, helping them swim swiftly through water. Those long limbs and broad webbing also allowed them to walk on Primal Mud.

In overall structure, they resembled traditional dragons more than finned species like Ether Dragons or insectoid giants like Star-Eater Plutonium Dragons.

Elongated bodies, four limbs, slender tails, and a long, vicious snout…

"These beings are True Dragons!"

"Legends…"

Sylvia had only heard distant tales about them.

They existed solely in fragments of stories Ether Dragons overheard from ether deities within the Endless Ether—thirdhand knowledge at best.

They dwelled in special ‘small universes’ deep within the Endless Ether. These realms, built from Primal Mud and Ancient God Fragments, stood apart from the Endless Ether.

Rumors spoke of an Ether Sea resembling the Chaos Swamp Realm and entities similar to the Fantasy Tree of Subspace there.

Dreaming Shore Dragons lurked in those places.

Within their isolated universes, they habitually warped landscapes with magic, making everything chaotic.

Mortals under their influence lost their minds, struggling to distinguish "life" from "death."

To mortal perception, one might die at dawn only to revive by dusk—an emperor today, a beggar tomorrow…

Reality and illusion blurred as if countless dreams overlapped.

Their ruled "sub-universe" was called the "Dreaming Shore Realm."

The Dreaming Shore Realm remained wholly independent. No faction controlled it—not even the Ether Abyss or Ether Mother sought to conquer them.

These fearsome dragons only inhabited their "small realm" and nearby shallow Ether Sea, living isolated lives.

They ignored conflicts within the Endless Ether. Likewise, the two major powers and thousands of Tyrants there paid them no mind, nearly forgetting their existence.

Thus, while factions fought viciously, none recalled this hidden force within the Ether Sea.

"But why would legendary deities appear here!?"

"And why attack Themis!?"

These reclusive deities had utterly changed and now stood where they shouldn’t.

This meant a transformation across the entire universe, noticeable even to those most resistant to movement or change.

They, too, had acted spontaneously or been induced into motion.

"ROOOAR—!"

The Dreaming Shore Dragons unleashed an earth-shattering roar, diving headlong downward.

"Tch…"

Sylvia clenched her fists.

"I won’t die here!"

"Seems I’ve got to use my trump card!"

"Bloom! Microscopic Dragon!"

—-

"Hmph…"

In the distant core area of the Chaos Swamp, Barbatos had taken a gentleman’s form, raising a wine glass high.

"Swish…"

Crimson liquid swirled elegantly within.

Though deities scorned humans as mere objects, they often found fascination in these objects’ way of life.

In matters of pleasure, deities frequently learned from humans.

Yet they felt no shame in this.

Human refinement resembled agate to deities; adopting human customs was like "adorning agate gems."

Nothing disgraceful.

Thus Barbatos, highest among the Chaos Demon Gods, most fervently copied human ways.

Like humans, he preened over his "schemes" progressing.

"Heaven-sent opportunity."

"Shifts across the Endless Ether and Primal Wilderness even flushed out these Dreaming Shore Dragons."

"They’re unhinged beings."

"Simply order my trusted councilors to stay away from them now."

"Once they enter the Chaos Swamp Realm, they’ll hunt new kingdoms."

"Those Bubble Worlds held by the Giant God? Perfect playgrounds!"

"Let the Giant God and Dreaming Shore Dragons entertain each other."

"Afterward…"

He turned to the servants beside him.

"You—dispatch the Outer Predators immediately. Inform Morax and Baimeng patrolling that sector: monitor the battle!"

"Strike when the moment comes—when both the Giant God and Dreaming Shore Dragons are weakened. Target the Giant God!"

"It would be even better to make him fall, but if not, severely wounding him would still count as an achievement."

"Go."

One servant accepted the order, bowed, and departed.

At that moment, another servant entered from outside.

He bowed respectfully to Bael.

"Great First Demon God!"

"The esteemed Barbatos has arrived!"

Bael immediately stood up, feigning great surprise.

He rushed forward in quick strides.

"Barbatos, you’ve accomplished a monumental feat this time!"

"You aided me in slaying that vile schemer and treacherous betrayer, Vashak!"

Had Vashak survived, his silver tongue and deceit might have concealed his past conspiracies.

But Vashak was dead.

Though his subordinate officials and the Chaos Demon Gods who witnessed Barbatos executing Vashak were later eliminated by ordinary Pan-Spirit Deities from the Primal Wilderness and Barbatos himself, extensive intelligence and documents were uncovered in Vashak’s territory.

This evidence proved Vashak had long plotted rebellion, only to be comically exposed and eliminated by the mightier Barbatos at the first hurdle.

Reading this made Bael break into a cold sweat.

He felt profound relief that his instincts had proven right—keeping the smooth-talking Vashak on his "distrusted" list and assigning Barbatos to monitor him.

"Indeed, my judgment and intuition are flawless!"

"I identified Vashak as the traitor and schemer he was!"

His steadfast vigilance against Vashak bolstered Bael’s confidence immensely.

"Thus, placing trust in Barbatos and others will certainly yield no issues!"

With this conviction, Bael resolved to set an example for the Chaos Demon Gods.

He would show them that loyalty to him brought substantial rewards!

"Honored Barbatos, I thank you for all you’ve done for the Will of Chaos!"

"Henceforth, the Third Seat of the Chaos Council is yours!"

"It’s merely Vashak’s vacant position!"

"As for the current sixth seat, you may select and recommend a virtuous and capable demon god to fill it!"

"Consider this carefully."

Barbatos gave a slight nod, showing neither surprise nor excitement.

He replied respectfully, "I only did my duty."

"Regarding the candidate…"

"I beg your indulgence to deliberate."

The meeting concluded amicably.

Upon exiting the "core of chaos," Barbatos encountered the detestable Xidi.

She had just returned from the Primal Wilderness.

"Barbatos."

"Follow me."

Xidi’s tone remained coldly aloof, irritating Barbatos.

*That insufferable woman.*

*Who does she think she’s fooling?!*

*After her ‘meat fall,’ what’s left to pretend about?!*

*We’re both the Giant God’s hounds—why does she speak down to me?!*

*Just because her chest is bigger?!*

*Ignore her!*

But as she prepared to stride away and relish snubbing Xidi…

"Very well…"

"If you’ve no interest in the Giant God’s affairs…"

"I’ll take my leave."

*Thud—*

Barbatos halted mid-step. Her lovely face tightened as she stomped back.

"Why didn’t you say so sooner!?"

"What is it?"

Xidi nodded. "Concerning the recommendation quota."

"I have a scheme."