Second World
chapter-1977

The entire army ground to a halt following Master's appearance. Master's sudden appearance was not only followed by a booming sound but also a shockwave that touched everyone in the army. So, everyone was aware of his arrival.

Everyone was now staring at this lone figure in the sky. It took most people a few seconds before they registered who the ethereal was. It was members from the prominent guilds who recognized Master first. As the main target of the allied armies, the guilds had collected information on World Maker. This one here was the big boss of the enemies.

"Isn't that...," Lustful Elly from the Crowd of Sins tried to ensure she recognized the ethereal correctly.

"Yes. That ethereal is Master, the leader of the World Maker, our target," Prideful Josh confirmed.

"He has delivered himself to us on a silver platter!" Wrathful Tom exclaimed. He then shouted, "Sins' members! Get that ethereal...!!"

As the head honcho of the enemies, catching or killing Master would surely net them and their guild hefty war contribution points. Hence, the guild players were eager to complete this seemingly easy task. Members of the Crowd of Sins, who could fly, flew up and rushed toward Master.

The native soldiers looked at each other with confused expressions. 'An enemy?' They thought. Should they attack as well?

"Keep the army still!" John told Linda. He also instructed the same to Tip, "Order our members to stay put! Prepare to retreat! Tell our allies to do the same as well!"

"John...?" Jeanny asked confusedly.

"There is only one reason he shows up on his own here...," John said with a grim face. Master didn't show any movement since he appeared. He was motionless in the air. He watched the incoming players with a condescending smile.

When the players were halfway toward him, he slowly lifted his hand. He opened his palm, and a loud thump was heard. All the players rushing toward him suddenly stopped. They then vaporized.

Everything happened so fast that nobody understood what had happened. While they were still processing the incident, some of the slain players came back to life on the ground below. These players were those who wore the Amulet of Rebirth. Those who didn't wear the amulet were in limbo, waiting to be revived after half an hour.

Those who came back to life lost only a level. They looked at each other in bafflement. They also didn't understand what had happened.

While they were still confused, Master made another motion. He snapped his fingers. The ones who came back to life vaporized again. This time, they no longer had the amulets to save them.

"Shit! He locked down this place, so we can't revive at the safe zones," John cursed. He then sent a message to Jack and the others, 'Send a transmission to Chris. Ask him to bail us out!'

"What about the people here...?" Grace asked.

"Wait... Are you saying... He is already a..."

"Isn't it f*cking obvious by now?" John answered before Paytowin completed his question. "But... How? Shouldn't we still have ten more days?"

"I will answer that question," a deep echoing voice resounded in everyone's mind. "Tsk!" John sent a message, 'Don't say sensitive things out in the open. Use messages!' Master floated toward the mobile fortress. No one barred his approach. Even without Linda and Tip's orders, no one would be foolish enough to do that after the display just now. 'F*ck! Is that f*cking Chris sleeping?' John cursed in his mind. He had repeatedly used Chris' disc to contact the person, but there was no reply. He did not doubt Chris' teleportation device could bypass Master's barrier, even if Master was already a God. The only problem was it had to be Chris who initiated the teleport command.

Since they had to wait, he sent a message to Jack and the others, 'Do not provoke him! Delay the time until Chris teleports us! Especially the four of you! If one of us dies and loses the pinnacle class. It will be all over!"

Jack left the mobile fortress and floated toward the approaching Master.

'Bloody hell! What did I say about not provoking?' John cursed again in his mind.

"How did you become a God so much earlier than you should?" Jack asked after he and Master came face to face.

Master smirked. "You know, I truly don't get it. I don't understand what is so special about you. You are just an average Joe who happened to gain additional classes by luck. Why these people are willing to follow you is lost on me."

"I don't doubt that," Jack said. "Why others follow me will always be incomprehensible to selfish people like you. I have no intention of reeducating you. You do you, and I do mine. We will see who comes out on top."

"Insufferable fool, I've already come out on top! I'm already a God!!" Master boomed. Another shockwave radiated out of him. It was a stronger shockwave this time. Those hit by the shockwave reeled back. Some fell to the ground.

Jack was unaffected. He didn't budge. He didn't even blink. His gaze remained steady on Master.

"Heh, you have guts, I'll give you that," Master said. "To answer your question about why I gained divinity earlier than scheduled. It's because I used a couple of these things."

A holographic image showing something that looked like a compass appeared above Master's

hand.

"Time manipulator?" Jack said.

"You know this item? I'm impressed," Master chuckled. "This time manipulator creates an environment that allows its user to fast forward time. Under its effect, my race age and the internal cooldown for absorbing the divine treasures are also affected."

"What a pity. We originally hoped we could stop you before you fused with all the divine treasures," Jack said. "You've truly prepared well to get this result."

"Of course. Do you think I am someone who acts by instinct like you? Only an animal does that," Master ridiculed.

"So, what now? You have got what you want. Are you satisfied?" Jack asked.

"I will be once you all kneel before me," Master said.

"What if we refuse?" Jack asked.

"That is a very stupid question. Use your imagination for the answer," Master replied.

Jack sighed. "All right, we surrender. You will spare us, won't you?"

Master stared at Jack musingly. He said, "It feels hollow when you give no resistance. Where

is the fire you have whenever we meet face to face? This makes me wonder if you are planning

something..."

"Why do you say that? Like you said, I am an average Joe who acts on instinct. I don't plan

anything."

"You might not, but your advisor, on the other hand...," Master turned to those in the mobile fortress. He saw John, Grace, Paytowin, and Jeanny there. "Hm... I've heard a rumor that you are close to a girl. Is that the one? I was wondering, will you be angry if I kill her?"

"Don't you dare...!" Jack exclaimed.

"Haha, that's more like it. You always gave me grief in the past. I want to see how you try to stop me now that I'm a God."

Master vanished after finished speaking. He reappeared outside the mobile fortress' wall.

"Cute toy," Master said while waving his hand.

Following the wave, the barrier surrounding the mobile fortress shattered. The fortress also cracked in two. It split in the middle, from the front wall to the rear wall. The keep at the center of the fortress crumbled. John and the others had to take to the sky to avoid getting buried with the keep.

The soldiers were about to attack when they saw the scene, but Jack shouted for them to stay

put.

"A rune tree...," Master remarked with amazement when he saw the great tree in the fortress' courtyard. He snapped his fingers. The rune tree burst into flames.

He glanced at Jack, who had flown over. He waited for Jack to do something, but Jack just glared at him. He snickered before slowly floating toward John and the others. His eyes caught

Linda among the group.

"You change sides?" Master asked Linda.

"I was captured. You can save me now that you are here," Linda answered.

"You...!" Paytowin almost brought his gun up, but Jeanny held him. John stayed silent.

"You were helping them control their army," Master said. He was not convinced of Linda's

words.

"They gave little choice. I was helping them fight the underworld forces, not you. Unless you consider the underworld forces are yours? You never tell me about using the underworld

forces, so you can't blame me for not knowing."

"So, are you saying you are still loyal to me?"

"I am,"

"Linda answered. She didn't show any hesitation.

"Well, I can't read minds... yet. I will have to take your word for it. However, I still need your

proof of allegiance."

Master pointed at John. "Kill your son for me."