All things returned to silence.
Despite the heat of the ongoing warfare, no sound was transmitted through Aquazyl's waters. The sudden change reflected greatly on those present, forcing all combat to a halt.
"This is the moment of truth," Tephit murmured to nobody in particular. Despite his personal confidence, Damien's words had truly shaken him. His anticipation for this moment was more than just great.
Aquazyl rumbled from its foundation as a frightening fluctuation of power spread from below the Tephit Clan's main headquarters.
Rumble!
Cracks spread through the sky. A reddish brown color painted the realm as a large formation circle slowly formed in the air.
This formation was called the Blood Sacrament God Array. It didn't have a set purpose, but rather was an all-encompassing formation whose use would change based on its growth and the method by which it was used.
In this case, Tephit merged the Blood Sacrament God Array with the technological portal outline and other machines below the Tephit Clan to break a hole in the realm.
Aquazyl's foundation shook for this very reason. The massive amount of energy Tephit had gathered for the past hundreds of thousands of years was dispersing into the atmosphere in accordance with the formation, latching into Aquazyl's foundational laws and forcing them apart.
This process would take at least a day to finish, but whether fortunately or unfortunately, it wouldn't be allowed to get that far.
For 5 hours, the formation worked as planned. Cracks spread through the air and ground, the atmosphere seemed to be on the brink of apocalypse, it was a precursor, a peek into what would've happened if Tephit's plans succeeded.
But Damien wasn't just guessing when he confronted the Clan Head. His words were based on fact, assurance that he couldn't share without revealing Devour's true power.
After the fifth hour passed, the violence came to an abrupt halt. The cracks that tried to spread and thicken slowed their growth until they barely moved.
And then…the destruction reversed.
There was an inherent difference between the mana of a lower existence and the mana of a Divinity.
The process of gaining strength was relatively streamlined, especially with the existence of the system, but beneath the universe's natural devouring and evolution method of growth, there was another system as well.
This was the system of Laws that people followed after achieving 4th class. But in reality, the growth towards entering this system began far earlier than that.
Classless beings were aware of their affinities but unable to properly utilize them. The first 10 levels they gained would familiarize them with mana and strengthen their bodies to handle it properly.
After that, 1st class was a matter of understanding mana at a beginner level. The journey to level 50 was one of learning the class system and how to utilize it, growing in the direction one believed best suited them.
2nd class was where a practitioner finally came into true contact with their elements. Unlike the previous two classes that didn't allow much versatility, 2nd class was one where a practitioner could truly understand what it meant to be strong. Damien gaining access to vector control at this level was merely a single example of this phenomenon.
3rd class was where affinities turned into elements. One's connection with their element would greatly heighten, their ability to manipulate it at a conceptual level becoming more prominent. Before one could become worthy of Baptism, one needed to achieve a level of connection with their elements that they never had before.
4th class was a true dividing point. Here, rather than the elements that stem from them, one would interact with the Laws themselves, building connections and understanding them to the fullest.
However, to achieve Divinity, one couldn't just have a connection with the laws. They needed to embody them.
Divine Mana, Divine Essence, Higher Mana; the power source of the higher existences took many names, but they were all the same essential energy source. This energy, rather than being derived from mana or derived from laws, was drawn directly from them.
Just as a practitioner embodied their law, their law would begin to embody them.
Aquazyl was a realm built on this relationship. The foundational laws of this realm weren't just regular laws found in nature, they were laws that embodied the Sea God himself.
In essence, Aquazyl was the remnant will of the Sea God. Even if Tephit used billions of years to refine as much essence as possible, he wouldn't be able to break through Aquazyl's laws unless he understood this fact. At least, not with his current methods.
Aquazyl began rapidly repairing itself not long after the destruction halted. In fact, the realm even used the excess energy from Tephit's blood sacrifice to strengthen itself, becoming firmer and less susceptible to future repetitions of the same situation.
"Hahaha…" Tephit laughed wryly. "Not only was it a failure, but it was also a failure that accomplished the exact opposite result compared to my purpose…"
He couldn't believe it even after seeing it. He'd braced himself for this moment, but no amount of bracing could help him accept that hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of years of effort went down the drain so easily.
"Is this…how it ends?" He wondered. What was he to do now? Because of their previous agreement, wasn't he practically becoming Damien's slave now that his plans lost value?
What was the point of his life?
"Don't."
Damien's voice halted his dreary thoughts. He turned around with dull eyes, gazing at his new master.
"There's no benefit in acting all suicidal now. In the end, didn't you want freedom? You might be subordinating yourself to me, but you'll get the freedom you desired by doing so. At that time, what you do with your life is entirely up to you. Whether you want to build a new influence like the Tephit Clan, lead troops into war as a great hero, or even just relax in the Sanctuary for the rest of your life, it's completely up to you. The only thing you have to do is answer my call when I need aid."
Damien's words were truthful. He was never a stern ruler who micromanaged the actions of his subordinates. In fact, even though the entirety of the Sanctuary's population was subordinated to him, the only ones he truly considered his followers were the Clan Leaders, those who actively submit to him.
The rest were merely citizens of a new world. Their lives were their own, and as the Sanctuary grew, the number of those like them would only increase. Worrying about them was useless.
Tephit would become a valued subordinate, someone on the level of the five Clan Leaders. He would be the dawn of the Sanctuary's aquatic civilization, and hopefully, its leader.
Damien had big plans for Tephit. In order to carry these out, he couldn't let the latter submerge himself in despair.
"Come with me," he finally said after some thought. "I'll show you the Sanctuary, and after I finish up a few more things, I'll show you the world beyond. At that time, let's see if you can keep this same dreary atmosphere."
He grabbed Tephit's shoulder and immediately willed his mana, causing the two to vanish from existence.
In the next instant, the Sanctuary's breathtaking landscape revealed itself to their eyes.
