Chapter 423 - 62: Choice and Pact, the Dust Settles

"What in the world is going on?"

Kukudar was completely baffled.

"Are you sure you’re not joking? You’re being serious?"

At that moment, with the eight Ancient Deities across from him just as confused, Kukudar’s eyes widened as he spoke.

"Great One."

"I am serious."

The Feathered Insect God’s eyes held an unprecedented resolve.

He even shot across the Star Sea in a flash, appearing right before the Giant Serpent God Kukudar’s head in a subservient position.

Under the gazes of the many Ancient Deities, the Feathered Insect God’s eyes were firm.

"To be honest with you, Great One, perhaps I initially fantasized about fighting you."

"But now, I think you can see that I no longer have a choice."

"On this planet, relying on these foolish imbeciles, there is absolutely no way I could win against you."

At this, the Feathered Insect God glanced back at the eight Ancient Deities who had gathered together after he left, and an inexplicable hatred intensified in his eyes.

At the same time, he continued:

"Even if I could convince these fools to fight you right now..."

"...I don’t believe the final outcome would be in my favor."

"It’s even highly likely that, at some point, I would become the target of their attacks."

"So, Great One."

"Tell me, do I have any other choice?"

’This?’

Kukudar had, of course, long been aware of the grudges among the Land Deities of this world.

What he hadn’t expected was that the Star Empire Gods’ plan to divide these Deities, particularly by winning over the Forest Race and the Frost Race, had completely failed?

No.

It hadn’t completely failed. After all, the situations with that Tree Stump and the Frost God were still uncertain.

But regardless of the status of those two races’ gods, how could it be that the god of the Feathered Insect Race—the one the Star Empire Gods considered the greatest threat on this mission—was the first to surrender?

’Is there something wrong with this script?’

Therefore, even the two Main Gods who had been observing the battlefield, the Storm Goddess and the Giant Demon Main God Moridun, looked somewhat stunned when they saw the Feathered Insect God submit to Kukudar.

"Alright."

It wasn’t that Kukudar couldn’t understand the Feathered Insect God’s predicament.

’Indeed.’

’A deity disliked by the native Deities, and even facing the hostility of the Exotic Deities. What other choice did he have?’

Anyone who wasn’t a complete idiot would look for a way out of such a predicament.

For someone like the Feathered Insect God, immediately submitting to the Giant Serpent God Kukudar was indeed the optimal solution.

"I believe I understand your situation."

"However, for now, you don’t need to act against them. Just rest quietly on the side for the time being."

In the end, Kukudar chose to accept the Feathered Insect God.

"Yes, Great One."

Upon hearing this, the Feathered Insect God showed no joy, nor any anger.

Instead, his eyes became unprecedentedly calm.

No one knew what he was thinking.

But none of that mattered to Kukudar anymore.

The next moment, Kukudar turned his gaze back to the eight Ancient Deities across the Star Sea.

His tone had become relatively calm.

"I imagine you’ve seen that the Feathered Insect God has already submitted to me.

"Therefore, in my opinion, your chances are now very slim."

"Of course, you can try to flee to other regions of the Star Sea, or you could even descend to the mortal world to hide."

"However, you should think carefully about the consequences and the price of doing so."

The moment Kukudar’s voice fell, the eight Ancient Deities fell silent.

Of course, they weren’t truly silent. They were communicating with each other telepathically, discussing something.

Finally, after a short moment,

the Frost Giant among them stepped forward with a grim expression, looked at Kukudar in the distant Star Sea, and spoke:

"Great One."

"We have reached a decision."

"However, before we give you our answer, could you tell us what price we would have to pay if we were to submit to you?"

"In other words, what would we be required to do for you, and what kind of environment would we find ourselves in?"

Hearing this, Kukudar’s expression immediately relaxed, and a faint smile appeared in his eyes.

"A price?"

"No, no. You don’t need to pay anything at all."

"It seems you haven’t spoken with your Clans yet."

"But that’s no matter. I can tell you clearly right now: once you submit to the Star Empire, once you submit to the mighty Dragon God..."

"...not only will you not have to pay anything, you will even gain a safer and brighter future."

As he spoke, Kukudar glanced back.

The next moment, a Star Gate opened.

At the same time, a dense swarm of drones flew through it.

Soon, the drones all activated their projection devices.

Working together, they projected a massive image into the Star Sea, one over a hundred kilometers in length and width.

The massive projection began, naturally, with scenes of the Star Empire’s founding and its subsequent wars.

Everything about the Star Empire.

The Ancient Deities were completely bewildered, even with Kukudar’s live commentary.

They still didn’t quite understand.

Of course, what they didn’t understand were the very concepts of an "Empire" and "civilization."

They understood even less why a terrifying Deity like Kukudar would obey the arrangements of mere mortals and mortal Deities.

But whether they understood or not no longer mattered.

What mattered was the message Kukudar was conveying to them.