Chapter 603 - 556: Ascension by Borrowing a Corpse

A draconic body 300,000 kilometers long blotted out the sun. The sheer visual impact of going from a two-meter creature to such a colossal dragon was enough to make any ordinary being tremble.

The power of a god?

Amonev’s shocked utterance was vague.

But then, an active notification from the Eye of Destiny flashed in Shi Ming’s vision.

[The former God’s Law-keeper has strayed ever further down the path of transgression.]

[He used the authority of the gods to stitch several ordinary god corpses he had collected onto the body of the deceased "Dragon of the Void." Now, using the divine status bestowed by the Divine Blood Soil, he has transferred his consciousness into this stitched-together creation, gaining a temporary, colossal, powerful, and painless body.]

[Until this body is destroyed, he will possess a stable, god-like status, as well as a natural oppressive aura over "lesser beings."]

[Warning!]

[1. The "Void" that was nullified is beginning to return.]

[2. The Dragon of the Void’s 300,000-kilometer body is both real and illusory. It can manipulate Spatial Power to make parts of its body corporeal and other parts incorporeal. Attacks that land on an incorporeal section will inflict no damage.]

[...]

In just a moment, Shi Ming understood what Old Deng was planning.

’He’s using a corpse to elevate his status!’

Ordinary Star Sea beings could already break their limits and ascend from Pillar Stone to New God just by fusing with parts of a god’s corpse. But this wasn’t a "more is better" situation. Fusing with several different types would inevitably cause the powers to become chaotic, resulting in a severe backlash against both body and Spiritual Power.

But Bertutan had set his sights on the dead Dragon of the Void.

It was already dead, and its body was so massive and powerful that it made for an excellent vessel.

This vessel could withstand the corrosive influence of multiple divine powers for a time. As long as it held together, it could contain Bertutan’s consciousness. Under his control, this Dragon of the Void would wield power far surpassing that of a New God!

...

...

...

’This old bastard really has a lot of trump cards!’

Because his opponent’s god-like status had stabilized for the moment, the effect of Shi Ming’s [Zero] began to wane. The Spatial Power that had been nullified was gradually returning.

Its claws, teeth, and sections of its skin and scales were all suffused with a divine aura.

The stitched-together Dragon of the Void let out a roaring laugh, completely different from Bertutan’s usual chuckle. The sound reverberated through the world, making Shi Ming’s ears ring.

"HAHAHAHA."

"Little creature, you probably didn’t know this, but the god’s original body was also a dragon. And this Dragon of the Void is also a dragon. Some of their parts are remarkably compatible. Now, I command them all."

"Do you have any idea how powerful this is?"

"With a body of one hundred seventy thousand Cosmic Units, all it will take is a single swipe of my claw to send you to your graves! Traitor, and you, opportunist, prepare to meet your doom! I will stitch your corpses onto this great dragon and grant you a new ’enlightenment’!"

Cosmic Unit is a unit of scale.

One hundred seventy thousand Cosmic Units is equivalent to 300,000 kilometers. Because the Eye of Destiny is Shi Ming’s ability, its descriptions are presented in a way that aligns with his own habits and knowledge.

The "traitor" he mentioned was Amonev.

The "opportunist" was Shi Ming.

The great dragon swiped a claw that seemed to tear the heavens. A pitch-black rift opened in the space above the Divine Satellite. Within the rift was not the Dark Cosmos, but the Divine Country [Star’s Home]—a realm that had been destroyed 120,000 years ago and now held no power. Anyone who entered and failed to escape in time would share the fate of the billions of souls from the long-gone First Civilization Cosmic Country.

"Be careful."

Amonev once again faded into secrecy.

She dispatched a sliver of her hidden power, intending to assist Shi Ming, who was now Bertutan’s main target. However, she found that the surrounding space had become a stagnant dead zone, completely incapable of transmitting her power.

The power of [Void] had returned completely.

The space around the Divine Satellite was completely locked down.

Using Time Acceleration, the Eternal Sanctuary, and the Black Tortoise Shield, Shi Ming just barely managed to withstand the blow.

"Heheheh."

"Give up. You can’t win! Under my god-like status, any ability you use will be weakened. Against me, your skills will only have thirty percent of their usual effect, while my own attacks are greatly amplified!"

"Just obediently stick your necks out for the slaughter."

"Especially you, boy."

"You stole my [Zero]. I will drain every drop of blood from your body while you still live and painfully extract the source that should have been mine. Your homeworld will be crushed under my heel, becoming just another of the countless fallen civilizations, marked with a gravestone from the Civilization Stele Forest."

Shi Ming’s expression grew even colder.

The power emanating from the Sword in the Stone in his hand had not waned. If he could just land an attack backed by forty million points of Spiritual Power, then no matter how massive this dragon was, its long-dead corpse—along with Bertutan’s consciousness—would be returned to the silence of the grave.

This was one of Shi Ming’s ultimate moves.

But Bertutan now commanded the power of [Void], making his evasive capabilities extreme. The Dragon of the Void seemed solid, but its true form was scattered somewhere within its 300,000-kilometer-long body, not necessarily where Shi Ming was looking. If he failed to hit the true target with one strike, he would only be squandering his Spiritual Power and needlessly weakening himself.

What’s more, Shi Ming knew the old bastard still had two other trump cards up his sleeve!

’To get out of this crisis, I have to lower his divine status first. I need to bring us back to an equal footing.’

Shi Ming gripped the Sword in the Stone, relying on the power of [Time] to blink in and out of existence beneath the dragon’s claws. With space completely sealed, he used the Time Giant’s [Time Leap] to move.

"Bertutan, you’re strong,"

"But not strong enough."

"Borrowed power is never truly your own. How long can you really control this stitched-up dragon corpse? All I have to do is avoid your initial assault and stall for time, and you’ll be utterly defeated."

The great dragon let out a wild laugh.

"HAHAHAHA."

"Hilarious."

"You truly are an infant. Your thinking is as naive as a child’s."

"I, who command ancient wisdom, saw through your plan long ago. You pretend to stall for time, but what you really want is to use the Teleportation Vortex on the Divine Satellite to escape and find another opportunity, isn’t that right?"

"You’ve run out of chances."

BOOM!

The great dragon unleashed its fiery breath. A fissure spread across the Divine Satellite, causing the distant Teleportation Vortex to disintegrate.

Now, no matter how many Civilization Stones they had, no one could escape.

Amonev, concealed within the chaos, searched for an opening to break the deadlock. She knew Shi Ming was drawing all of Bertutan’s fire, which meant she had to find a weakness in the old man’s defenses, and fast. But just as she was racking her brain, she saw a faint smile grace Shi Ming’s face.

’He has an idea?’

’Or is he just bluffing?’