Chapter 473

Chapter 473: Sometimes, a Clumsy Hand Can Have Unexpected Gains

"Boom——!"

A violent explosion erupted!

Sparks burst forth in the Ether Sea!

The beautiful yet cruel sparks lasted only a moment before being devoured by the Ether Sea, but Sylvia knew this meant the annihilation of a transport vessel and its "Microscopic Dragon-class" working ship.

The Soul Network built by the Saraph people probably gained two more wandering souls.

“Tsk…”

Sylvia’s heart bled.

Each transport vessel and special working ship had required a huge amount of time and supplies to build, holding the hard work of many people; yet now, they crumbled under a deity’s strike.

No…

It couldn’t even be called a strike.

That strange "long-shaped deity" merely brushed past it.

The flood of ether and the deity’s force field directly shattered the whole ship!

The Fifth Living Saint, Silver Teeth, clenched her jaw.

She watched the deity swimming fast above the Abyss, seeing its long, graceful body, filled with despair.

"Such a deity…"

"Surely, it wasn’t a strong one."

"But it didn’t even attack us on purpose; it just passed by and easily destroyed two ships!"

"What if more came…"

At this point, Sylvia choked on her words.

"It’s over…"

She realized she had said something she shouldn’t have.

Sure enough…

"Boom——!"

"Boom——!"

More and more "dragon-shaped fish deities" slowly crawled out from the Abyss, strands of golden light merged into their eyes, filling their blank, dull pupils with rage and hate.

"Ah——!"

Dozens, or even more, "dragon-shaped fish bodies" roared together.

Though such roars meant nothing to a deity.

Slightly stronger deities, like Core Councilor Level ones, might have found it a bit "funny"; but for mortal creations, the harm was severe.

"Crack——!"

"Structural failure."

"Identifying fault."

"Fault cleared, new fault occurring…"

…

Throughout the Soul Network, mechanical voices echoed.

Yet Sylvia caught a hint of panic beneath them.

The Saraph people paid no heed to life or death; they did not fear sacrificing themselves for the Giant God. This wasn’t because their souls could return to the "local network"—even facing complete Soul annihilation for the Giant God, they remained indifferent.

What truly unsettled them was the possibility of failing the glorious mission entrusted by the Giant God and becoming dishonorable failures.

"All units halt!"

"Take cover!"

Sylvia and her "expedition fleet" now stood at the outermost edge of the Abyssal Carpet.

For mortals to evade divine slaughter, their only recourse was to press themselves flat and hide.

Since deities viewed mortals as "dust" beneath even ants, Sylvia and the Saraph could only hope these deities would keep underestimating them—to truly see them as insignificant "dust" and ignore them.

It was the first time Sylvia and the Saraph wished to remain unseen.

Should those creatures notice their presence and swarm over…

"Total annihilation would be unavoidable!"

"Yet…"

Fortunately, these "dragon-shaped fish deities" didn’t seem to target them.

They had greater prey to pursue.

"Boom—!"

An enormous shadow drifted slowly away.

Only then did Fire Domain’s light pierce through the Ether Sea, bathing them.

"So that’s why!"

Sylvia looked up.

"Boom—!"

Her colossal "avatar body" tilted slightly upward, observing the scene above.

The massive shadow connected to four smaller, diamond-shaped shadows—these had blocked Fire Domain’s radiance, making Sylvia mistake the Abyss’s depths for eternal darkness.

"Boom—Boom—Boom—!"

The four smaller "shadows" fluttered, pulling the central shadow aside until it gradually shifted position.

Thus, the darkness shrouding Sylvia and the expedition’s vanguard slowly dissolved.

"Rooooar—!"

A roar laced with scornful fury erupted.

"Whoosh—!"

"Boom—!"

From the Abyss, one after another, the "dragon-shaped fish deities" emerged. Their Double Eyes, filled with golden light and intelligence, roared before shooting forward like loosed arrows, lunging toward the mysterious "King of Ether."

The massive "King of Ether" moved deeper into the Abyss, drawing the dragon-shaped fish deities farther from the Abyssal Carpet and toward the edge of the Chaos Swamp Realm.

"Phew…"

"Now!"

"Take advantage of this! Hurry!"

Under Sylvia’s command, numerous transport vessels deployed operation ships to dig along the Abyssal Carpet’s edge.

As long as the Abyssal Carpet remained unaware, or no dragon-shaped fish deities acted irrationally—ignoring the Abyss’s orders to pursue that "massive god" and instead targeting mortals—all would be fine.

"Yeah, nothing will go wrong!"

"Just don’t let anything… happen…"

"Damn it!"

Sylvia swore again.

The raging flood of ether crashed onto the active worksite, violently blowing away several operation ships digging near the Abyss’s edge!

—-

"Phew…"

"Fortunately, it shouldn’t cause trouble."

The King of Ether sighed in relief.

Its eyes were small; though not as blind as Trilobite, its vision remained poor.

With such eyesight, spotting those tiny mortal constructs skimming near the Bottom of the Ether Sea was nearly impossible.

Yet those bearing the "Sharp Teeth" mark showed acute sensitivity to entities carrying the "Giant God’s scent."

Whether by sight, smell, or especially "divine power scanning," detecting each other came easily.

Earlier, the "Sharp Teeth Mark" had delivered news of the Giant God—flickering as it flooded Its Soul with information-dense "single-syllable magic language."

Its Soul endured violent impacts.

But simultaneously, It gained vital intelligence: the Giant God would execute a "Great Plan" against the Abyss.

Mortal spawn would play a pivotal role.

Shielding them could earn the Giant God’s favor, securing privileged status in future divine body modifications.

Perhaps the King of Ether saw little value in dust-like mortals, but the "Giant God’s favor" promised tangible rewards.

Why hesitate?

Its venture above the Abyss to "ride its face" aimed solely at winning that favor and divine evolution privileges.

But the King of Ether grew intoxicated by slaughter and devouring divine flesh, nearly losing control.

It never expected the Ether Abyss’s gambit—"Is it actually creating deities!?"

"Reinventing flesh and blood of fallen gods, gathering shattered shards of divine rank, infusing them to reshape deities."

"Though these reinventions seem dull and soulless, they suffice as disposable cannon fodder!"

"Creating deities from nothing—truly a power reserved for the ‘God among Gods.’"

"To me, they’re mere nuisances; but for mortals, it spells annihilation!"

Since acquiring Its Divine Body, the once-confident King of Ether grew uneasy.

Fear even crept in.

What if Its actions doomed these mortals, wrecking the Giant God’s scheme…

"No!"

Remembering how deities who "crossed" the Giant God ended, the King of Ether felt Its heart pound like a drum.

"This must not happen!"

"Must not ruin the Giant God’s Great Plan!"

"Hey! You wretched things! Stinking like the cesspools that spawned you!"

"I’m right here!"

The King of Ether taunted while paddling Its fins, luring the "dragon-shaped fish deities" birthed from the Abyssal Carpet away from the mortals.

The tactic worked.

Most dragon-shaped fish deities followed.

But while mortals seemed safer, the King of Ether overlooked one flaw—the Abyss’s clumsy micromanagement.

It appeared to try "selecting" all newly reshaped dragon-shaped fish deities to attack the King of Ether, yet several slipped through unnoticed.

"Whoosh—!"

The newborn dragon-shaped fish deities knew only rage and bloodlust.

They drifted aimlessly over the Carpet.

"Roar?"

Their eyes locked onto several tiny figures!