Chapter 19 The Goddess of Darkness and the Lord of Terror
The Lord of Terror stood in the chaotic void, examining the results of the first invasion.
Although a decisive victory was not achieved, it proved the fighting power of the transformed Aragami. He discovered the weakness in the gods' defense system.
Utau submitted a battle data analysis. The report showed that the barriers of the goddess of magic, Misriel, and Suren exhibited brief weaknesses when subjected to concentrated attacks.
However, after the war, the two goddesses joined forces to repair the barrier, and now the entire defense system is connected to the power of Mother Earth, Sentia, making it even stronger.
The Lord of Terror assessed the power of the new barrier. The conclusion was clear: the cost of forcibly breaking through was too high, and the success rate was too low.
Just then, Dendel submitted an observation report. The report contained a crucial piece of information: during the invasion of the Wild Gods, the Dark Goddess Shar did not participate in any defensive actions.
The Lord of Terror immediately noticed this anomaly. Shar, as a primordial goddess and the twin sister of Suren, was absent from such an important battle.
Utau added more information: Shar and Suren have a long-standing feud, with Shar advocating for the cosmos to be plunged into darkness and harboring resentment towards the current order of light.
The Lord of Terror made a decision. Since a direct confrontation was no longer feasible, they would seek other paths.
The Shadow Dimension is a realm controlled by Shar, and it could potentially become a new channel for invasion.
The Lord of Terror ordered Dandel to organize an elite squad to attempt to make contact with the Shadow Dimension.
Squad members must be skilled in stealth and disguise, able to evade the watchful eyes of the gods.
During the invasion of the Aragami, in the Shadow Dimension, the Goddess of Darkness, Shar, witnessed the entire invasion and was deeply impressed by the Lord of Terror's performance.
Shar noticed the change in the Aragami. They were no longer completely chaotic beasts, but had become organized and disciplined.
Although still full of chaotic nature, they are much more advanced than the Aragami of Genesis.
Shar admired the Lord of Terror's leadership methods. Ruling the Wild Gods with fear and maintaining order with violence aligned with Shar's beliefs.
Shar scoffed at the luminous order of the current universe. He hated the bright sun, hated the clamor of life, and hated the so-called order established by the gods.
Especially Suren's betrayal of himself. He wished for the universe to return to eternal darkness and silence.
As the Lord of Terror's reconnaissance squad stealthily approached the Shadow Dimension, Shar immediately noticed. But instead of immediately eliminating these intruders, He observed their behavior with curiosity.
The squad members displayed remarkable discipline. Instead of attacking indiscriminately, they carefully probed the dimensional boundaries, searching for possible entrances.
Shar decided to reveal herself. Darkness coalesced in the void into the figure of a goddess, and the Lord of Terror's reconnaissance squad immediately assumed combat stance, but did not launch an attack.
"Tell your master," Shar's voice was cold and direct, "that if you want to talk, come in person."
The squad quickly retreated back into the chaotic void and reported to the Lord of Terror.
Without hesitation, the Lord of Terror prepared to go himself. He ordered Uta'o and Dandel to stay behind and command the army, while he himself took only a small guard.
The meeting place was chosen at the boundary between the Shadow Plane and the Chaos Void. Shar and the Lord of Terror stood face to face, the two powerful beings scrutinizing each other.
The Lord of Terror spoke first: "I seek a new path to the Prime Material Plane."
Shar sneered: "Why would you think I would help you?"
"Because we share a common goal," the Lord of Terror replied. "You wish for the universe to return to darkness, and I wish to destroy the existing order. Our interests are aligned."
Shar paused for a moment, then said, "Prove your worth. Show what you are capable of."
The Lord of Terror showed Shar the training and weaponry of the Wild Gods' army.
He also shared his future plans: not only to destroy the prime material plane, but also to reshape the order of the entire universe.
Shar observed carefully, assessing the situation in his mind. He saw that the army of the Wild Gods was indeed a formidable force, though not yet perfect, but with immense potential.
"I can offer help," Shar finally said, "but not free of charge."
The Lord of Terror awaits Shar's conditions.
"First, you must obey my commands completely. Second, after success, the universe must return to eternal darkness," Shar demanded.
After considering it, the Lord of Terror replied, "We can cooperate, but the Aragami must remain independent. If we succeed, you can obtain the Dark Universe you desire."
After some negotiations, the two sides reached an agreement: Shar would provide the Shadow Plane as a passage for invasion, and the Lord of Terror would be responsible for military operations.
After the success, Shar gained dominance over the universe, and the Lord of Terror gained the right to act freely.
After the agreement was reached, Shar began to instruct the Lord of Terror on how to utilize the Shadow Dimension.
He revealed the unique structure of the plane and the laws governing energy flow, pointing out the most suitable path for large-scale invasion.
The Lord of Terror immediately ordered Uta'o to devise a new invasion plan.
This time, there's no need to forcefully break through the barrier; instead, we can quietly infiltrate through the shadow plane.
Dendel was responsible for training students to fight in shadow environments.
The Aragami began to adapt to the dark energy and even learned to use shadows for disguise and concealment.
Shar provided crucial information: the gods' defenses in the Shadow Dimension are relatively weak because most deities dislike the dark environment there. Only Shar and a few other dark deities frequently operate within it.
The Lord of Terror decided to adopt a strategy of infiltration in stages. He would first send small groups of troops to infiltrate the Shadow Plane and establish forward bases, and then gradually increase his forces.
The first infiltration operation began quickly. Dandel personally led an elite squad into the Shadow Dimension through a passage provided by Shar.
The team successfully infiltrated and established their first secret base in a remote area. Instead of taking immediate action, they continued reconnaissance and planning.
Meanwhile, Shar spread false information among the gods, misleading them into believing that the Wild Gods were still trying to break through the Astral Barrier.
Suren and Misriel therefore focused their defenses on the Astral Plane, neglecting the Shadow Plane.
The Lord of Terror continued to send out more troops. They established multiple location nodes in the Shadow Dimension, preparing for a large-scale operation.
Utau designed specialized shadow combat equipment. This equipment allows for better utilization of dark energy, enhancing combat effectiveness in shadow environments.
Several months later, the Lord of Terror, believing preparations were complete, decided to launch a second invasion. This time, it was no longer a small-scale probing attack, but a full-scale offensive.
The invasion plan is divided into three phases: first, to control key nodes in the shadow plane; then, to enter the prime material plane through the shadow plane; and finally, to attack multiple important targets simultaneously.
Shar provided a detailed map of the material plane, marking key locations with weak defenses. She also promised to use her power to disrupt the gods' perception when the invasion began