Game of the World Tree

【DIVINE FAVOR OF THE GODDESS】

—

"Roar—!"

Another deep, guttural growl echoed throughout the cavern.

With his sharp and finely tuned perception, Tonglu immediately detected six powerful auras rapidly closing in on their location.

Judging by their intensity, the strength of these six demon kings ranged from low to peak Gold-rank. To make the matters worse, trailing behind them was a vast sea of lesser demons.

Among those six, one presence stood out starkly from the rest.

Tonglu could feel it clearly:

A suffocating aura, likely that of a peak Gold-ranked being. It slithered through the battlefield like a venomous serpent, its attention fixed solely upon him.

A Gold-ranked Demon King managing to suppress a Legendary-ranked expert through sheer aura pressure alone… it was almost laughable under normal circumstances.

But this was enemy territory, and such overwhelming advantages came with it.

It was maddening, but there was no avoiding it.

Soon, the clash erupted at the edges of the cavern.

The Elven Chosen Ones, who had boldly taken the lead, slammed into the advancing demon horde. At the front of that tide were the Demon Kings, radiating terrifying power.

In an instant, the battlefield turned even more chaotic.

Though the dust and darkness of the cavern masked much of the fight, the warning signs were unmistakable. Cries of panic from the Chosen Ones pierced the air. Their previously confident charge faltered, their formation tightened under pressure, and the furious roars of the Demon Kings grew louder and more frenzied.

It was clear the tide of battle had shifted, and not in their favor.

The change hit hardest among the dwarves who had rallied behind the elves, believing they would push forward together. For the players, who had moments ago been reveling in the rush of combat, that thrill was quickly replaced by a chilling sense of dread.

From multiple directions, six powerful Demon Kings surged forward. Each had a distinct form, radiating chaotic evil aura and possessed terrifying strength.

The intense pressure and spreading evil energy caused the dwarves' expressions to change drastically.

"Demon Kings! Gold-rank Demon Kings!"

"This is bad! Fall back! Elves, be careful!"

They shouted in panic

Demon Kings were not just strong—they were practically walking disasters. And with each one came a flood of lesser demons, turning the already dire situation into something far worse.

The abrupt arrival of so many at once was a message in itself.

To the battle-hardened dwarves, who had been locked in endless struggle within these sealed lands, it was a clear signal: their current formation would not hold. They had only two options—either tighten their defense and prepare for a brutal stand, or begin organizing an immediate tactical withdrawal before it was too late.

"Demon Kings? Are they the bosses of this Battlefield?" one of the players at the front murmured in surprise.

But before most of them could even react, the Demon Kings had already arrived at the front lines.

These enormous, monstrous beings, all vastly larger than ordinary demons, wielded barbed and brutal weapons. They tore through the previously confident Chosen Ones as if they were mere fragile playthings.

To the dwarves' horror, the seemingly powerful elven warriors moments ago easily crumbled under the Demon Kings' assault like helpless mortals.

Their bodies were torn apart like paper, shredded mid-charge as blood splattered through the air—only to vanish moments later into glimmering motes of light that faded into the cavern's oppressive darkness.

In mere seconds, the surroundings was littered with fading traces of fallen elves, each cluster of particles marking the end of another player. The radiant glow of their vanishing forms painted a tragic scene across the battlefield.

"Damn it! They're way too strong! Those Six Demon Kings are as strong as the new bosses in the Labyrinth Dungeon!"

"Fuck! No one told me this battlefield would have bosses this powerful!"

"T-This is impossible! Screw the game devs!"

The player ranks fell into chaos, cursing and shouting.

"Don't panic! Form parties and switch to the battlefield main channel! Work together and take them down!"

"Come on, just because they're at the Gold-rank doesn't make them invincible! Does qnyone of you brought Hodür's Holy Statue? Let's try using Divine Judgment bomb on them!"

Amid the chaos, a few sharp voices cut through, rallying the others with clear commands. Veteran players like Li Mu and Little Salty Cat quickly seized control of the situation.

Parties were reformed on the fly. Improvised battle lines were drawn. The players began adapting, applying tactics they had honed in the Labyrinth Dungeon against powerful raid bosses. Buffs were cast, aggro managed, and targeted attacks launched with precision.

For a moment, it worked. The front lines which were previously on the verge of collapsing somehow held firm.

They even pushed the enemy back slightly.

Alas, the reprieve didn't last.

As soon as the Demon Kings broke through to the center of the player formation, the momentum of the battle turned once more.

"It's hopeless! We haven't even figured out their attack patterns yet!"

"These six bosses are way stronger than anything we faced in the Labyrinth!"

"Damn it! There's no space to maneuver or kite them in this cramped cavern!"

"Where the hell is the Holy Statue?! Divine Judgment Bombs are our only shot at defeating them!"

"No kidding! We all know that! But no one expected to fight raid-level bosses in this battlefield event!"

Frustration boiled over into shouting as players tried to make sense of the disaster unfolding around them. Panic set in, especially among the less experienced players, as their health bars vanished faster than they could react.

Unfortunately, There was little the players could do.

Although the thirteen new Demon Kings in the Labyrinth were technically Legendary-rank, these unknown Demon Kings were proving even more difficult to handle since unlike the former, their strength was not restricted in any way. On top of that, they were also accompanied by swarms of demonic underlings.

Worse still, the cramped tunnels of the cavern made coordinated tactics nearly impossible.

Perhaps, after several total wipes, the players could learn from experience and find a way to counter them. But at this moment, they were being completely overwhelmed.

Watching the battle spiral out of control, Tonglu's heart sank.

This is bad…

He wanted to step forward and join the fight, but when his gaze fell upon the holy statue of the Goddess of Life, which was still in the process of summoning more Chosen Ones, he clenched his teeth and held himself back.

As much as it pained him, he still couldn't leave his position.

If he became entangled with the Demon Kings and, during that time, the statue was left undefended and destroyed by the demons, the consequences would be irreversible.

However, merely doing nothing and allowing the Demon Kings to close in with their forces would also make the battle impossible to turn around.

"Your Holiness, quickly summon the Divine Envoy of the Elves! Use the statue to summon the Elves' Godwarden!" Tonglu shouted, urgency thick in his voice.

There was still one card left to play.

The Elves' Divine Envoy.

According to Thranduil, this envoy was their most powerful combatant—a warrior capable of channeling the divine power of the Goddess of Life.

So if anyone could turn the tide, it would be them.

The High Pontiff's expression grew solemn. With a firm nod, he stepped forward and raised his arms in reverence, then began to pray with steady, unwavering conviction:

"Oʼ Great Goddess of Life, Mother of Nature, Sovereign and Protector of the Elvenkind, I, Greycloth of the Dwarves, beseech your aid…"

As his voice echoed through the cavern, the statue of the Goddess shone with renewed brilliance.

༺⟐༻

In the Supreme Temple of the World Tree's Divine Kingdom

Evé sat high upon her divine throne, her posture regal and still. Her emerald eyes, however, were fixed intently on the shimmering screen of divine energy hovering before her.

It flickered with scenes from the battle raging beneath the southern mountain range, deep within the dwarven sealed lands.

Currently, the situation there was looking both grim and tragic.

"Oh no, six Demon Kings have appeared! Looks like the Chosen Ones and the dwarves are struggling to hold the line…"

A crisp, high-pitched, worried voice rang out nearby.

It came from the Fairy King, Feynir.

She hovered in place, wings trembling faintly as she spoke. Around her, the other elemental fairies clustered near Evé, their small faces filled with concern as they too watched the projected screen with anxious expressions.

Of course, it would have been even more fitting if they hadn't all been drinking tea and munching on sunflower seeds like a crowd of anxious spectators at a championship game.

Evé herself, whilst seated on her throne, remained remained composed. She appeared entirely unaffected by the unfolding events.

"Your Grace, the dwarven leader have requested aid once again. Will you respond to their plea?" Feynir asked.

As Eve's attendant, she knew the true identity of the Godwarden "Zero." What she was really asking was whether Evé intended to appear in person using that guise and intervene directly in the battle.

But Evé simply shook her head.

"No. That won't be necessary."

"Those are merely a few Demon Kings. They do not warrant my intervention."

As Evé's power grew and her divine power expanded, her mindset gradually shifted especially in regards to combat.

As it stands, a few Demon Kings were no longer enough to compel her to intervene through the use of her other persona, the Divine Envoy, Zero.

While in the past she had indeed been forced to intervene directly, often disguising herself as a player, but that was only because her divine power had been limited and her influence weak. That was why, whenever the players faced overwhelming enemies, she had no choice but to step in.

But currently, she's already a true god of intermediate divine rank. Her network of faith extended far beyond that of ordinary deities. And as the frequency and intensity of battles continued to rise among her believers, it was no longer sustainable for her to intervene personally each time.

In Evé's view, the only opponent in this entire operation worthy of her direct intervention was the evil god Barolte, should he appear.

"B-But Your Grace… they're already at their limit. Perhaps… I should go in your place?" Feynir said hesitantly, glancing worriedly at the screen.

Eve's expression softened.

This was what she liked about this little ones…

They had inherited the kindness of the elves, though not to the extreme degree that characterized the traditional, old-fashioned elves.

Still, when Evé turned her gaze to Feynir and saw her expertly cracking open sunflower seeds, her lips twitched slightly.

If you're going to say something like that, could you at least put down those seeds first?

Don't you realize how weird it looks to be worried while snacking like that?!

She grumbled inwardly.

In that moment, Evé even began to wonder if it had been a mistake to recreate these nostalgic snacks from her previous life and shared it with these little ones.

"Your Grace, are you really not going to intervene? I don't think they'll last much longer," Feynir said while still munching on seeds.

Evé: "…"

Her gaze shifted away from the puffed-up Fairy King, whose cheeks were stuffed with sunflower seeds, and she gently massaged her temple.

With a soft sigh, she replied quietly:

"No, it's not that I intend to ignore them. I simply plan to respond in a different way."

"A different way?" Feynir asked with curiosity.

Evé offered a faint, knowing smile and beckoned her closer.

Divine power began to surge at her fingertips, forming a soft, shimmering light that danced across her palm like liquid starlight.

"Watch closely, Feynir. This will also be part of your future responsibilities," she said calmly.

"You see, responding to prayers for aid does not always require intervening in person. Sometimes, a mere whisper of divine will is enough to shift the tide of battle."

As she spoke, Evé extended her hand and pointed lightly at the image flickering before her. A pulse of divine energy shimmered at her fingertips, then surged outward, threading itself seamlessly into her vast network of faith.

The radiant power flowed like a golden current, weaving through the network's channels, as it race toward the southern mountains where the battle raged on…

༺⟐༻

"Damn it, there's way too many of them! Are the developers insane?!"

Jiang Shang cursed as he used his transformed claws to tear through the wave of demons charging at him.

He hadn't come here expecting a serious fight.

His plan was rather simple: join the new battlefield summoning event, mess around for a bit, maybe grind a few mobs, and try his luck at snagging a voucher for divine artifact repair.

Nothing too intense.

But barely seconds after teleporting in, he immediately found himself completely surrounded by a sea of demonic enemies.

And as if that weren't bad enough, one of the demon bosses had locked onto him with killing intent.

Gold-rank!

There was no doubt it…

That incoming demon was a Gold-rank boss.

And one he had never seen before.

Its design wasn't as flashy as the new bosses in the Labyrinth Dungeon, but its strength was clearly way more superior.

More and more demons were closing in on his location, and that particular demon boss was steadily drawing near him. Jiang Shang could almost smell the rancid stench coming from the horrid creature.

All the other players who had been fighting alongside him had already died and left the battlefield.

Only Jiang Shang remained.

If he hadn't specialized in the Feral path as a Archdruid, thereby allowing him to transform into a "Wind Wolf King" with high durability and incredible speed, he would have long since met the same fate and been ejected from the battlefield upon death.

Even so, he knew it was only a matter of time before he too would fall.

He had pushed too far ahead, breaking away from the main group without realizing how quickly the tide had shifted. Now he was isolated, surrounded, and the distance between him and the others had grown too wide. At this rate, there was no way he'd make it back before the demon boss reached him.

"…Do I still have enough resurrection coins?"

Nervously, Jiang Shang opened his system menu and checked his remaining revival points.

One… maybe two chances left.

But more than fear, what he felt most was frustration.

That feeling only intensified as the demon boss finally stepped into view, its enormous frame blocking the narrow path ahead. It loomed over him with a twisted, mocking grin, its eyes filled with cold amusement.

There was no mistaking it—this thing clearly enjoyed toying with its prey.

"Damn it… if this area were just a bit larger… if I were just a bit stronger…"

Breathing heavily, Jiang Shang narrowed his eyes and met the creature's gaze, his fingers tightening around his weapon.

Escape was no longer an option. He was boxed in.

"Sigh… if I'd known it would turn out like this, I would've brought Hodür's holy statue with me before accepting the summons. I bet this thing drops a ton of EXP if you actually kill it… What a waste…"

He let out a slow breath, steadied his stance, and braced himself for what would likely be a hopeless fight.

Still, players knew no fear.

Even in the face of impossible odds, they fought.

And if he was going down, he was going to make sure it was a death worth watching.

After all, in fifteen seconds after respawning, he'd quickly be back in the summoning queue—ready to jump right back in.

But just as Jiang Shang readied himself for a one last stand, a familiar system notification suddenly echoed in his ears.

At the same time, a new system message appeared in his view:

【

】

【Demon Kings have appeared. Battlefield Questline "Divine Favor of the Goddess" has been triggered.】

【Quest Summary: The brave and fearless Chosen Ones answered the dwarves' summons and launched a fierce battle against the demons. However, with the sudden arrival of the Demon Kings, the situation has taken a dramatic turn…】

【The powerful Demon Kings have led their minions into the fray, and the Chosen Ones have suffered heavy losses…】

【Yet justice will always triumph over evil. Victory will ultimately belong to the Goddess!】

【In this critical moment, a few fearless and devout Chosen Ones have received the blessing of the Goddess.】

【To defeat these mighty foes and seize victory, the great Goddess of Life, Evé, has bestowed divine favor upon her strongest warriors…】

【

】

【Special Quest Event "Divine Favor of the Goddess" has begun——】

【In this battlefield event, a select few lucky players will be chosen to receive the Goddess of Life's divine blessing…】

【Those chosen will temporarily gain immense power, becoming the key to turning the tide of battle…】

【Brave Chosen One…】

【Will you be the lucky hero?】

Divine Favor of the Goddess?

Gain Immense power?

Jiang Shang was momentarily stunned.

Before he could process what it meant, another system message appeared in his field of view:

【

】

【 You have been chosen by the Goddess.】

【You have temporarily been granted the ability: 'Godwarden State' for the duration of this battlefield event.】

【Do you wish to activate it now? Y/N 】

【Warning 1: Activating Godwarden State will grant you immense power. However, once the state ends, your character will die. However, fret not for dying in this state will not consume any resurrection coins. 】

【Warning 2: While Godwarden State is active, you will receive only 10% of the normal EXP and contribution points earned. 】

Godwarden State?

I've been chosen?

Jiang Shang froze for a moment, then a wave of excitement surged through him.

He glanced up at the Demon King raising its massive, spiked sword in preparation to strike in front of him as his eyes gleamed.

"I accept! Quick! I accept!"

he shouted frantically.

【

】

【You have accepted the Goddess' divine favor. Godwarden State Awakening has now begun】

As the system chime faded, Jiang Shang quickly felt an overwhelming surge of power flood into his body.

At that exact moment, his background music shifted dramatically.

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