But the question is, will things really go as she expects?
Lin Miao's gaze shifted to another split-screen.
On the screen, Celia was holding the worker ant, still deeply engrossed in her research.
Naturally, Celia had also heard the news of the massive ant migration.
Yet she still spent most of her day holed up in the laboratory with the other mages.
[God of War: Regardless, now that those things have deployed all their forces against us, this is our best opportunity. Goddess, while they're busy attacking us, have your servants raid their nest.]
[Goddess of Light: Hmm...]
Naturally, the two deities currently engaged in an all-out war with the ant colony demanded that the Goddess of Light, Hestia, join the fray.
However, Hestia's attitude remained ambiguous.
There's absolutely no need for me to rush into this war right now, Hestia thought. If I drag this out for a bit, those two will exhaust themselves.
Hestia had long since seen through to the heart of the matter.
Once the ant colony was wiped out, her enemies would become the two major factions right next to her: the Empire and the beastkin.
During this time, I've lost so many believers acting as a shield against those monsters, while they just sit back and hope to reap the benefits.
In the end, because she had constantly played the role of a breakwater blocking the ant colony, her territory remained locked to a tiny island, and the number of her servants could not grow at all.
She would indeed join the war, but she would never take the initiative to strike until the other two deities had suffered enough losses.
For this very reason, Hestia remained completely silent to her loyal servants, who would have launched a war at all costs with just a single word from her.
“The Empire has been sending communications nonstop.”
“But deploying our forces now is far too risky. If there are still ants left behind, the consequences would be unimaginable.”
Thus, within the Holy Kingdom, the core figures of the Church gathered to engage in a fierce debate.
“Have you forgotten? Those creatures could produce a new mutated species at any moment and stab us in the back.”
“But this could also be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Even if we can't wipe them out entirely, we can at least destroy the nest they've established in the north!”
Even without divine intervention, the locals were well aware of the current situation.
Within the Holy Kingdom, the faction advocating for an immediate military deployment and the faction staunchly opposing it argued endlessly.
Both sides made valid points, and with the debate raging so fiercely, the leadership was unable to reach a decision.
“Count Merlin, how did she react when she heard the news?”
At that moment, a weary-looking Grand Duke Lucas quietly asked Count Merlin beside him.
There was no need to ask who “she” was; it was obviously Celia.
“She only said that she still needs more time,” Count Merlin replied simply.
“Why on earth must we wait? Will we ever get a second chance like this?”
“Without thorough preparation, it is simply impossible for us to defeat the Great Devourer.”
Some distance away from the bustling capital, closer to the high wall, stood a research institute.
Inside, Celia shook her head at Marianne, who had come to find her.
“These monsters, as creations of an Outer God, are constantly growing and changing at a rapid pace. Even during their war with the Empire, they will undoubtedly evolve again. If we rashly deploy our forces without understanding this, we will only make useless sacrifices.”
No one wanted to kill those monsters more than Celia.
Yet because of this, she understood them better than anyone, which was why she stated flatly that they absolutely could not act rashly right now.
“The appearance of just a single new mutated species would be enough to shatter our fragile balance, leading to fatal consequences. We must gather all information and formulate a flawless plan before we are qualified to launch an attack against them.”
Celia's tone was incredibly firm.
Even Marianne, who had initially looked dissatisfied and threw a tantrum, closed her mouth and rolled her eyes. “Will such a day really come?”
“...I believe it will. If the research I am currently conducting yields results, we might be able to figure out their method of communication and find a way to disrupt it.”
Celia looked at Marianne with a firm, unwavering gaze, hoping she would believe her words and trust her research.
At this moment, Marianne was completely convinced by Celia.
Furthermore, Marianne, who held the highest authority in the Holy Kingdom and was one of the five Apostles personally chosen by the Goddess, immediately rushed back to the capital. She conveyed Celia's words and expressed her full support.
Sigh... what a shame. How on earth can I convince her?
The Goddess of Light, Hestia, clicked her tongue watching this scene play out.
In truth, Hestia had her eyes on Celia ever since they first met.
This was especially true now that Celia's abilities were fully on display.
Yet she was unable to bestow any power upon Celia.
The reason was simple: deep down, Celia did not truly believe in her, the Goddess.
Celia did want to borrow the Goddess's power to fight the ant colony, but in her subconscious, she always harbored doubts about her.
The catalyst had been the words she heard when she first met Inquisitor Daniel, along with her subsequent interactions with the beastkin who worshiped another deity, Uria.
Was following a deity truly the right choice?
“And I can't exactly discuss this with anyone else,” she muttered.
If word got out that the servant she had personally taken a liking to was actually an unbeliever, it would only bring trouble.
Hestia was restlessly plotting how she could convince Celia.
She believed it wouldn't take long for her to succeed.
After all, there had never been a servant she couldn't obtain.
I knew it would be like this.
But the Goddess Hestia had no idea that besides herself, another entity had also been watching Celia all this time.
That morning, looking at Celia as she arrived at the research institute right on time as usual, Lin Miao merely cast a casual glance over her.
Realizing that it would still take some time to see the results of Elise's grand plan, he opened a completely new interface.
【Would you like to access the Earth section of the forum? According to forum rules, access requires meeting the entry conditions】
【*Entry Condition: Donate 1 offering】
Lin Miao was no longer satisfied with merely spying from the sidelines. He wanted to enter this forum with an official name and identity, becoming a member who could utilize its system and actively participate.
This forum was a place where numerous deities competed under a mutually agreed-upon system, and it was also the main battlefield in the war against the actual Outer God forces.
Unlike the Terra section, rules had been established here from the very beginning, promising fair competition. Consequently, the entry conditions for newcomers were vetted extremely strictly.
“It actually worked,” he muttered.
Lin Miao submitted the holy spear—which had been captured by the ant colony as war spoils and offered to him—as the offering.
Watching the spear vanish instantly before his eyes, he couldn't help but let out a dry chuckle.
【The Supreme Will of the All-Devouring Hive has successfully accessed the Earth section】
A brand-new deity with the qualifications to enter had officially made his debut.
Rate on N.U.
