NOVEL WEB Chapter 198: Zeno and Zalama Join Forces
"Unexpectedly, this system that hadn't appeared for a long time suddenly activated and absorbed Zeno's erasure ability at this critical moment!"
"Not bad, not bad. Although I don't need this kind of ability anymore, it's better than nothing," Goten said with a happy smile on his face.
To be honest, he no longer had much interest in such abilities. After mastering his rule power, Zeno's erasure ability had no effect on him. However, if these two abilities could be fused together, they might create an extremely powerful rule domain. In that case, his strength would undoubtedly grow even further!
'Damn! Is it really impossible to deal with this mortal?' Zeno's expression grew increasingly grim. His full-powered strike earlier had no effect on Goten. This meant that Goten's power surpassed his own—a fact that was hard to believe but undeniably true.
'If this continues, I might die at the hands of Goten,' Zeno thought, his frustration mounting.
"Hurry up and keep fighting! As the supreme god in the universe, is this all you're capable of? Did you really start to feel fear and worry? Don't disappoint me too much," Goten said in a flat tone, noticing the change in Zeno's demeanor.
"Goten, there should be a limit to your arrogance!" Zeno snapped, gritting his teeth. "It's undeniable that your strength is impressive, but do you really think I can't destroy you? Soon, I'll make you understand that the Supreme God cannot be compared to someone like you!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a massive, multicolored energy sphere began to condense in Zeno's hand. The energy resembled Gogeta's soul-erasing technique, but its power was on an entirely different level.
"Go to hell, arrogant mortal!" Zeno roared, hurling the energy sphere directly at Goten.
Yet, facing such a devastating attack, Goten's expression remained completely unchanged.
"…Begone."
With a single, calm utterance, the colossal energy sphere vanished without a trace. This was the power of Goten's rule ability—a force far beyond the destructive principles of the Gods of Destruction. It was as if the two abilities existed on entirely different dimensional levels.
Nearby, Zalama, who had been observing the battle, frowned deeply. He could clearly sense the terrifying power of the energy sphere Zeno had just unleashed. Yet, Goten had dismissed it with just a word.
"That mortal's strength is beyond comprehension. I don't even know how he's doing this," Zalama muttered to himself. "At this rate, even if I fused with all the demon gods and evolved into my Archon form, I might still not be able to defeat him."
Zalama's mind raced as he considered his options. If Zeno were eliminated, he would feel a sense of satisfaction—after all, it was something he had long desired. However, for the sake of the bigger picture, he couldn't let that happen. If Zeno fell, he would become the next target for Goten.
'The only way to survive is to join forces with Zeno,' Zalama concluded. 'We must eliminate Goten first, and then I can deal with Zeno afterward. Only then can I achieve my goal of unifying the universe.'
With this plan in mind, Zalama's body flickered, and he appeared directly in front of Zeno.
"Zeno, we need to join forces," Zalama said, a sly smile spreading across his face. "I know you can feel it too—this mortal is not someone you can handle alone. I understand you don't want to work with me, but without my help, you'll never defeat him. Once we eliminate this mortal, we can settle our own grievances."
The thought of forcing Zeno into an alliance filled Zalama with a twisted sense of joy. For now, survival was the priority. Once Goten was dealt with, he could turn his attention to Zeno and claim ultimate victory.
"Go away, you bastard! I don't know how many times my hatred and disgust for you surpasses that for Goten!" Zeno shouted, his voice dripping with contempt. "Do you think I'd team up with someone like you? With your strength, how effective do you think you can even be?"
Zeno glared at the visibly distressed Zalama, his words sharp and cutting. He knew this ambitious schemer had ulterior motives. While he despised Goten for his arrogance as a mortal, he loathed Zalama even more. This dragon god's ambitions were too dangerous. If Zalama ever achieved victory, all universes and gods would cease to exist.
"Hmph! Do you think my strength is still as weak as it was all those years ago?" Zalama retorted, his voice cold and mocking. "Do you think I, Zalama, would participate in such a battle without a plan? Fine, I'll show you my trump card. Maybe then you'll feel more comfortable working with me."
Zalama sneered, knowing Zeno's hesitation stemmed from fear. Zeno was likely worried that even if they teamed up to defeat Goten, he might not be able to handle Zalama afterward.
"Huh?" Zeno's expression shifted to one of curiosity. He was genuinely intrigued by Zalama's confidence. Could this dragon god really possess a power strong enough to rival both him and Goten? After all, in his current state, Zalama seemed weak enough to be wiped out effortlessly.
"Hey, what are you all waiting for? Hurry up and take off your earrings! Merge with me!" Zalama yelled at the four evil gods standing nearby.
This was his trump card—combining with the four evil gods to evolve into his ultimate form, the King Archon. In that state, he was confident his power would rival both Goten and Zeno.
The four evil gods hesitated, fear evident on their faces. Merging with Zalama meant their individual consciousnesses would be erased, becoming nothing more than parts of him. None of them wanted that, but refusing would likely result in their immediate deaths at Zalama's hands.
After a tense moment of hesitation, the four evil gods reluctantly removed their earrings.
In an instant, a blinding white light enveloped the five figures. A powerful force pulled their bodies together, merging them into one. The radiant light illuminated the entire shattered dimension, signaling the birth of a terrifying new entity.
"What… what an overwhelming aura!" Zeno muttered, his eyes widening in shock. "Is this Zalama's trump card? To think his power has reached such a level! No wonder he dared to challenge me now. It seems he truly has the strength to back up his ambitions."
Zeno's surprise was evident. Zalama's newfound power was undeniable, and it seemed the dragon god's claims weren't empty boasts. If they joined forces, they might actually stand a chance against Goten.
Of course, Zeno knew the risks. If they succeeded in defeating Goten, he'd still have to face Zalama afterward. But if he didn't team up with Zalama now, he'd likely be killed by Goten first. It was a dangerous gamble, but Zeno had no choice.
"The King Archon form? So, you two weaklings are finally teaming up?" Goten said, his voice calm and unbothered. Even as he felt the overwhelming aura of the newly transformed Zalama, he showed no signs of worry. Instead, a playful smile spread across his face.
"Even if you join forces, so what? Do you really think you can defeat me? Fine, if you're ready to die together, I'll gladly take you both on at once. It'll save me the trouble of dealing with you separately."
As the white light around Zalama's body faded, a new figure emerged. His body was mostly covered in black, with a clock-like emblem on his chest. His crimson eyes glowed with malevolent energy. This was the King Archon—a being of unimaginable power, born from the fusion of the Dragon God and the four evil gods.
[T/N: The chapters have become too short, like, 400-500 words per chapter, so I started combining them into 1 chapter.]