The four Elemental Planes were surging.
Earth, flame, storm, ocean — these four fundamental elements of the world formed an essential lockdown, carrying the shrieks of the gods.
Within this terrifying encirclement, the Twisted Shadow's wild laughter grew ever more piercing.
"Before... was it also you who exposed our plan between the two planes, causing the Lord of Chaos and the Filth Evil Eye to fall?"
Though Leilin had been struck by Ichiel's Thorn — a rule-type magic artifact — and his face was pale, his Original Sin spirit infinitely weakening, even the phantom of the Nightmare Hydra behind him appearing listless, his eyes still blazed with a bright and scorching light.
"It was! Who told the Lord of Chaos to stand in my way?"
The Twisted Shadow held back nothing at this point: "Its Chaos Rule should have been mine!!!"
"Besides, it took the fall of two eighth-level apex wizards to demonstrate my sincerity, and I could scheme against you a bit as well... what a pity..."
The Twisted Shadow glanced at Leilin, seemingly regretting that its previous attempt to plot against him had failed.
"At the
"That's right! Anything else you're unclear about, I can tell you! After all, after today, every trace of your existence will be thoroughly erased — even your mark in the River of
"Not anymore!"
A smile surfaced on Leilin's face, making the Twisted Shadow feel a foreboding premonition.
"You should all have heard that clearly, right?"
"Mm! Crystal clear!"
The void howled, and within the annihilation environment that had prevailed, a phantom suddenly materialized — a nine-headed hydra bearing nine rule-infused heads and eighteen pairs of demonic flesh wings that blotted out the sky.
Under the protection of Original Sin power, the figures of numerous apex wizards emerged.
The Lord of Darkness, the Ancient Tree of Life, the Blood Knight... and another completely unscathed "Leilin"!
"You..."
The appearance of so many apex wizards pushed back the divine radiance of the gods. The Twisted Shadow let out a frenzied shriek.
"You think... only your twisting power can blind the spirits of rule-level existences?"
Beside the Mother of the Earth's Core, Leilin — the one who had been gravely wounded by Ichiel's Thorn — smiled enigmatically, his body suddenly dissipating into Original Sin power that flickered with threads of blood within the darkness.
"I've used this trick before. I demonstrated it right in front of you, and you still didn't consider the possibility..."
The look in Leilin's eyes — as though gazing at an idiot — drove the Twisted Shadow into a mad scream: "Impossible! How can this be? I definitely used my twisting power to blind your mind — no! Your Original Sin power!!!"
"Finally figured it out?"
Leilin looked at the Twisted Shadow, his gaze tinged with pity. "Your twisting power was defeated by my Original Sin power in our clash. Even your own mind was blinded by me..."
"How... how is that possible?"
The Twisted Shadow's greatest forte was using its twisting power to silently influence other beings — planting the Seed of Twist in Syric, for example, or corroding and devouring Inocite. There had also been the arrangement it made on Leilin in the past.
But Leilin's Original Sin power, built upon the emotions of the Seven Deadly Sinesis, was equally extraordinary in manipulating hearts and minds.
When the two powers collided, the result was the Twisted Shadow's utter defeat.
Not only had all of its previous attempts to blind Leilin's mind completely failed, but Leilin had seized the opportunity to turn the tables, exposing the Twisted Shadow's entire conspiracy.
To be bested in the area it was most proud of — and especially to be exposed as a traitor before the assembled wizards — was the greatest humiliation and blow the Twisted Shadow could suffer in its entire wizarding career!
"I'll kill you, kill all of you..."
The Twisted Shadow had gone completely mad.
"The one who should be saying that is me! Your sins shall be judged by me!!!"
Leilin waved his hand. Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Eight auras of Disaster Force surged forth, heralding the arrival of the Disaster Lords, followed by his Chip clone and the Mother of Ten Thousand Serpents.
The presence of multiple eighth-level existences made the gods' expressions grow even grimmer.
For the sake of this victory — and for his own safety — Leilin had unhesitatingly abandoned the Marsh defense zone, rallying every last one of his forces to this location.
"In the name of the Wizard Joint Council, the Twisted Shadow has betrayed the Path of Truth and forsaken the glory of wizards! It no longer deserves to be called a wizard!"
As the representative of the other apex wizards, the Lord of Darkness issued the declaration as well: "Henceforth, the Twisted Shadow shall be the dogs of the gods! An enemy of all wizards!"
"Our plan has failed — evacuate immediately!"
The will of the Nature God descended, wreathed in emerald light: "Preserve our strength!"
"What are we waiting for? Now is the perfect opportunity! If we end them here, the war will conclude centuries ahead of schedule!!!"
Leilin let out a long cry and surged forward, the Seven Deadly Sinesis radiating an eerie glow.
"Everyone, move as we planned!"
Leilin's Chip clone, calculations flickering through its eyes, roared as it sprang into action.
Eighth-level existences, though powerful, were still far too fragile when pitted against apex wizards and Greater Deities in battle — they had to combine their forces to exert maximum power.
"With the power of bloodline as the foundation!"
The Mother of Ten Thousand Serpents spread her arms wide, and her true form — a serpent sphere the size of a star — materialized, accompanied by the hissing of countless great serpents and surging bloodline power.
"With the power of Disaster as the framework!"
The eight Disaster Lords bellowed in unison. The disaster force unique to each Disaster Lord formed eight cryptic nodes, establishing a perfect equilibrium with the bloodline energy inside the serpent sphere.
"Bloodline Catastrophe!"
The Chip clone arrived at the most critical central node. With its terrifyingly powerful computational ability, it coordinated the forces of nine rule-level existences. Bloodline and disaster powers amplified each other, ultimately forging a devastating killing move.
Hexagonal blood-red crystals rained down across the sky like snowflakes, instantly barring the path of
The blood-red killing technique even formed a unique domain — one that faintly carried the power of spatial law — separating Tyr and Tempas from the Gale Vortex.
Then, the Seven Deadly Sinesis in Leilin's true body suddenly transformed into a long cross sword, guiding the sky full of blood-red crystals as they plummeted down like a downpour of ice and hail.
"
The armor forged from the Seven Deadly Sinesis deflected Tempas's final strike. The cross sword, imbued with Bloodline Catastrophe power, plunged straight into Tempas's forehead, annihilating his spirit. The Seven Deadly Sinesis carried the effect of "
"Evil wizard! You have slain yet another deity! Your sins cannot be cleansed even by the waters of the River Styx!" Tyr's voice was sharp and severe, but his body was steadily retreating.
At this moment, a powerful wave of regret completely consumed him. If time could flow backward, Tyr swore he would use every last means at his disposal to destroy this man — at any cost!
Unfortunately, Leilin did not grant him that chance.
"Tyr, ally of
The Seven Deadly Sinesis shifted again, flashing through countless forms of war before settling into a sinister bull-horned hammer lined with black barbs.
"
The colossal Seven Deadly Sinesis Hammer descended with the force to annihilate all things!
Tyr shrieked — like a weeping little girl — and fled frantically backward.
Alas, the battlefield killing technique forged by ten eighth-level wizards working in concert was not something the current Tyr could break through in an instant.
An endless cascade of blood blossoms rained down, thoroughly sealing Tyr's path of escape. He could only helplessly accept his fate.
Crack!
The divine artifact in Tyr's hand emitted a pitiful wail the instant it met the Seven Deadly Sinesis, fracturing inch by inch.
Then the enormous hammer crashed directly onto his forehead, and destructive force spread outward in all directions.
Boom!
After one final thunderous impact, everything returned to silence — and Tyr had utterly vanished from the world.
The Seven Deadly Sinesis emitted a creaking sound, its entire body subtly squirming as it radiated a sense of deep satisfaction. Through
Whoosh!
The Bloodline Catastrophe domain dissipated. Leilin immediately saw the dumbfounded Twisted Shadow, who had been attacking this space, apparently still hoping to mount some sort of rescue.
"What's the matter? Surprised?"
The Seven Deadly Sinesis in Leilin's hand transformed into the slender rapier favored by nobles. Leilin flicked the blade, producing a crisp ring.
"Tyr and Tempas — two Greater Deities — fell so quickly..."
The Twisted Shadow was not the only one stunned. Even the other gods and the Lord of Darkness who had come alongside Leilin stood frozen in disbelief.
The Twisted Shadow recovered first, completely abandoning any thought of engagement and turning to flee.
But how could Leilin possibly let it go?
"The Seven Deadly Sinesis has absorbed far too much energy this time — might as well release it all at once!"
The blood-red domain erupted once more, enveloping the Twisted Shadow. Leilin's true body entered the domain and gazed upon the panicked Twisted Shadow. The Seven Deadly Sinesis in his hand now bore writhing, vein-like patterns across its surface and let out a tremendous roar.
"Energy Release!"
...
The Battle of Gale Canyon was later recognized as a pivotal engagement of the Second Great Termination War.
In this battle, the gods lost the Earth Mother Goddess Shantiya, the God of Justice Tyr, and the God of War Tempas. The Four Elemental
From that point forward, the wizards' advantage grew overwhelming, and the final campaign was launched without delay.
And Leilin, who had contributed more than any other in this battle, was widely celebrated. His renown spread throughout the Star Realm, enduring for millions of years to come.