A cave hideout didn't seem a secure enough location for a task like this, but they didn't have much choice, since there wasn't anywhere else to hide.
Unfortunately for Damien, the Ancient Battlefield's restriction of entry and exit applied to more than just the lower universe.
Actually, it should have been granted.
If it could block the connection to the lower universe, it could definitely block travel to other universes as well.
Including the Sanctuary.
The ground was too solid and didn't have a subterranean world, so there was no point in digging down. The only option was to find a relatively hidden cave and set up substantial defenses to protect themselves.
And that's what they did.
While Iris stood guard, Damien sat down and focused on his soul, repeating the process he completed when he first entered the Ancient Battlefield.
It was easy to make a single connection, but Damien had a choice to make here.
The connection between Elemental and Samsara was definite. It had a clear start and end point, which were connected by a tether.
Now that it came time to add a third force to that connection, a question arose.
Should he simply tether Spacetime to Samsara and create a one-directional connection between the three forces, or was he supposed to connect Spacetime to both fundamental laws individually to create a closed circuit?
Both had their own advantages and disadvantages, but it was obvious that a closed circuit would allow him to use more power.
Yet, that didn't matter.
It wasn't about where he would find power, but what was the "correct" path.
It wasn't time to close off all other paths yet.
He could definitely become a great entity if he did it, but if he closed off other routes, he was only limiting himself.
After all, he wasn't done yet.
Creation and Destruction still needed to be discovered, combined, and tethered for him to reach the fusion point.
One could argue that this was a simple problem.
He could just cut the closed circuit when the time came to add those laws, or he could connect their fusion to all of the other three individually like he'd done when he added Spacetime, but…
'It doesn't feel right.'
It was intuition without any real backing.
Damien felt in his chest that following that path was wrong.
He didn't know why. He needed to reach greater heights to know why.
But he understood that if he sacrificed the short-term boost, he'd gain immense benefits in the long term.
'Though, "sacrifice" might be a bit strong.'
Damien was going to trust his intuition. Disregarding the importance of a practitioner's intuition, his was backed by the Void itself, so it couldn't be wrong in matters relating to it.
He didn't hesitate any longer.
Just as before, the process was extremely simple for Damien, but extremely complicated in reality.
The tether point within Samsara in that secluded soul space extended and formed a new thread that shot into Spacetime's territory and stabbed into its figure.
How did that work?
Unlike the others, Spacetime was colorless and formless. It didn't particularly have a middle point, or anywhere for a tether to attach.
It wasn't because the tether was ethereal.
It was because there truly was a tether point.
In a sense, the tethering of these forces could be considered a reflection of the universe itself.
In reality, they maintained a similar relationship.
They were connected, but did not interfere with each other's processes.
Therefore, somewhere within that formless mass, there was a point waiting to be discovered to create this very connection.
Damien just didn't realize it until he tried.
His body and soul went through a change.
His league increased yet again.
Damien…
'...I feel like I can proudly stand on the Ancient Battlefield now.'
He had been fighting directly for several months already, but he had to be extremely careful about how he moved and which opponents he decided to show himself before.
That was different now.
At least for the majority of Demigods here…
'...I feel like I can take them.'
Not with Iris as his shield, but with his own power.
"Huu…"
It wasn't anywhere near complete.
There was still a decent amount of time before the transformation ended and Damien could properly use this power.
But he was already excited.
The possibilities in his mind, not just for fighting, but for utilization of his power in every sense, were limitless.
And he couldn't wait to test it all out.
***
Damien and Iris were really acting independently during their stay on the Ancient Battlefield, but their efforts definitely had an impact on the overall situation.
After all, when there were only a few thousand total enemies, killing three hundred was a feat.
Though, it did take a considerable amount of time due to their spread.
Nevertheless, they weren't the only ones working.
Alucard, Priscilla Adelaire, and the rest of the Demigods on Iris' side were following their lead and killing as much as possible.
Because there were a few hundred of them, their efforts were the ones truly making a difference.
They didn't get as many individual kills as the two, but the number they'd killed was over two thousand already, including traitors from their own side.
It was startling compared to the progress made in the first year of war.
To the point where it could not be ignored.
As Damien predicted, the Demigods in the universal home base were not able to exert control over those acting outside their jurisdiction unless they wished to lose the support of those following them.
After all, Alucard and the rest were the ones actually making a difference.
So, as their forces began to follow the other camp's lead and fight on the frontlines, they had no choice but to support it.
The Nox, of course, responded as well.
They became somewhat more organized, mostly traveling in groups when they reached the border between territories.
They also became aggressive, actively searching for enemies to slaughter, and presenting their heads as trophies of war to taunt the enemy.
Of the Nox Emperors, the Karmic Emperor started to move seriously, and the Inhuman Emperor followed as if he was refusing to be overshadowed.
While the other two remained vague in their actions, the entrance of two Emperors already put immense pressure on the universe.
And more than anything, an event that shattered the unity of the Grand Heavens Boundary side took place.
Immortal Blood Asura chose his allegiance, killing tens of friendly Demigods as he joined the Karmic Emperor on his tirade.
It was unprecedented.
For some of his power to betray the universe was totally unexpected.
After all, by the time the lower universe confirmed Blood Asura Holy Land's betrayal, the Demigods had already been transported to the Ancient Battlefield.
It was definitely a huge blow to their morale, and since the strongest of them, aside from those on Iris' side, were hiding in the base camp, there didn't seem to be a way to fix this problem immediately.
A change from the outside was necessary.
Something that wouldn't just force the strongest and most cowardly allied Demigods to act, but also dealt a huge blow to the Nox.
Something like the death of a Nox Emperor.
But…
Who could do it?
Though they didn't know it at that time, the answers to their questions and hopes would appear before their eyes soon enough.
