Names inherently possess power, especially when Hayden used the most profound Outer God powers to give a name to a newborn god. It's not surprising that things turned out this way.
Hayden immediately realized that by leveraging Am's unique characteristics to form an army formation and then applying it to Karen's [Dream Flower] series of plants, the effect would be terrifying. In the first round, the five hundred people cultivated four hundred and ninety-four divine flowers, and these flowers were all part of the army formation, thus receiving the combined blessing of the army formation.
If the armies clash a few more times, the guerrillas' flowers will be so numerous they could drown the enemy. With such terrifying power, why did the gods seem inadequate when watching the duel?
This is probably because they believe that all the plants use the same energy, energy shared by 500 people. While this increases the total output, it also consumes a lot of energy during planting and acceleration, causing them to run out of mana quickly and ultimately lose.
Sacrifice? Clones of Micket 500 can also perform sacrifices, with even better results, and the outcome is the same.
The Mikkelsen Legion probably thought the same thing, so they started using tactics based on the same principle.
A clone of Micket silently took out an obsidian dagger and, without hesitation, chopped off his own left hand with a sharp slash.
As payment for the sacrifice, a dark, circular portal suddenly opened on the battlefield, from which hundreds of undead War Gods emerged—a summoning spell! These undead War Gods had been summoned and teleported from Smoke Mirror's own military base! Such an energy expenditure was enormous, not to mention the sacrifices involved. However, the combined energy of five hundred clone Mickets was already far greater than that of 499 enhanced humans + 1 clone, perhaps several times greater. At this rate, the guerrillas would inevitably be overwhelmed first!
...Thinking like this means that you haven't truly grasped the terrifying power of Kallen's [Dream Flower] technique.
The next instant, the two armies clashed for the second time. Countless weapons were raised, countless spells surged forth, and countless attacks were launched at once. All kinds of weapons and lights formed a dense barrage of bullets. Among them, everyone saw the various giant carnivorous plants grown by the enhanced people fiercely extend their vines and begin to entangle the undead battle gods that the smoke mirror had just summoned, absorb their energy, and even stuff them directly into their mouths!
What war zombies, what vampires, what Aztec leopard warriors—bind them all, drain their energy, purify them all, and devour them all!
Kallen's [Dream Flower] technique is a terrifying magic that transforms pollution into energy and waste into treasure. Undead creatures are like recyclable trash to her!
Energy consumption? You summon it, we eat and recycle it, and that becomes our energy!
In the second round, the second collision resulted in both sides losing several hundred plants and undead creatures, but the number of plants doubled.
This truly stunned even the gods in the audience.
"...Goddess Kallen's technique is already a new [Great Magic]."
One of the experts couldn't help but mutter to himself.
"It has the foundation to become a supreme god."
Karen's [Dream Flower] technology, after years of development, continuous practical testing, and improvement, has reached an incredibly terrifying level. The entire Earth is now riddled with pollution, and riddled with the destruction and wounds of divine battles. The [Dream Flower] can now, even in god-level combat, devour the pollution of its opponent and convert it into energy on the spot. If this technology weren't used for warfare, but instead planted worldwide, wouldn't it instantly heal and control the entire Earth?
When that time comes, whose Earth will it be?
...Meanwhile, Micket's true form watched this scene from her private box, her expression even more ashen. Her forces had gained the upper hand, good, very good. However, this advantage had become a blatant reliance on Kallen's technology, something all the gods in the world weren't blind to—it was so exaggerated it was unbelievable! Even if Micket truly defeated the Smoke Mirror and became the main god of South America, what would happen next?
From now on, all the gods in the world will probably regard her as the Peacock King, as a puppet manipulated by Kallen. Hayden has essentially sidelined her, leaving Micket with no choice... Hayden, what a ruthless scheme you have, what great skill you possess!
At this moment, Miktikashiva must be feeling very depressed, even somewhat resentful.
However, in reality, Hayden certainly didn't have such a ruthless intention. He hadn't considered that aspect at all. This time, he just happened to think of a way to defeat Smoke Mirror and used it without thinking.
When Todd and Amm were discussing the plan with Hayden, they realized things might turn out this way, but they had no obligation to think about Mickett's situation, and of course they wouldn't proactively remind Hayden.
Even now, Hayden hadn't reacted. While hiding outside the battlefield and peeking, he analyzed the technology and condition of the smoke-gauge clone Micket legion, and frowned again: "Strange... there's something wrong with those clone Mickets."
During the first duel between the main gods, the clone Micket could talk, laugh, and chat with Hayden, clearly possessing its own "consciousness."
Why are these 500 clone Mickets all like expressionless robots, lacking any autonomy whatsoever, and even willingly sacrificing their own hands without hesitation? What strange technology has Smoke Mirror come up with this time? What kind of scheme is this?
353: True Battlefield Warfare
In the third clash of the armies, the situation of the five hundred clones of Micket on the Smoke Mirror side was beginning to become somewhat awkward.
The undead creatures they summoned were almost all preyed upon by the carnivorous plants of the Dream Flower.
As the guerrillas planted more and more combat plants, they naturally had more strength to resist the attacks from Clone Micket.
Warfare may seem complicated, but when it comes to actual combat, it's really just a simple mathematical problem.
The five hundred clones of Micket had no choice but to stop their summoning spells, but the Dream Flowers planted by the guerrillas had already covered the entire formation, and even most of the battlefield!
The clones of Micket ceased their summoning spells and reverted to their underworld energy attacks, unleashing a massive necromantic storm that roared towards the guerrillas. The relentless onslaught ripped the legs of three guerrillas into mangled pieces. However, most remained unharmed thanks to the protection of the military formation and the [Dream Flower].
This desolate battlefield is now overgrown with countless grasses, vines, and flowers. The petals and leaves are whipped up by the storm, swirling and dancing in the air. Some petals drift with the wind onto the legs of the three guerrilla fighters, transforming into three pairs of plant legs, as vibrant as roses, fitting seamlessly into their tattered and bleeding wounds.
The three fallen guerrillas rose again, breathing heavily, their eyes gleaming with fanatical excitement. They would not fall, they would not stop fighting, unless they were utterly dead. But the alliance between [Dream Flower] and the military formation would not cost them their lives.
Even if the clone Mickets stop summoning undead creatures to fuel their attacks, the Dream Flowers will still consume the energy from their attacks, growing ever larger, as if covering the entire battlefield isn't enough; they continue to spread outwards. The seeds of hope have been sown, even on this barren land. At this point, no matter how the clone Mickets change their tactics, they probably can't stop the spread of the Dream Flowers.
The guerrillas' strength is increasing. The balance of power and the situation on the battlefield seem to have shifted in the guerrillas' favor.
...Only Hayden, who was hiding and watching from the sidelines, and Am, who was at the core of the army, sensed that something was wrong.
"How can these clones of Miktti Kashiva have such a weak sense of self?"
Hayden, who was spying on the battlefield, found it very strange.
Angela had previously told Hayden that Miktikahiva and her clones possessed self-awareness and intelligence because they were connected to the spiritual realm of South America through a "knot"—that "knot" in the clouds was the essence of their self-awareness. Otherwise, the unborn would be like Margaret when she first awoke, completely lacking self and thought.
Isham has her own self and thoughts because Hayden severed her connection with the "Sword of Words" and gave her a new name. Her self, consciousness, and memories are the version before the "severance," plus her own self-growth over the past two weeks. From now on, she will continue to gain experience from life, thus forming her own independent personality and constantly adjusting herself to adapt to the changes around her—yes, life means change. Isham will change; this is not surprising at all.
But Micket's self shouldn't change easily. Her self-awareness in the clouds should be able to defy the passage of time, existing eternally, immortal. Hayden could see that these five hundred clones of Micket were all connected to the shared spiritual realm of South America (his insight was very useful). Theoretically, Micket shouldn't suddenly become less self-aware, shouldn't suddenly become depressed, give up, or lie low... or anything like that. Besides, these clones of Micket don't seem depressed now; they just seem to... have a slightly thinner consciousness.
(Could it be... because Smoke Mirror created a huge number of clone Mickets...?)
As he looked, Hayden suddenly thought of a strange possibility.
(So Mickett's self-awareness was dispersed and its concentration decreased... That seems a bit far-fetched, it can't be...)
As Hayden pondered, he felt this guess still wasn't quite right—it seemed very close, but some parts were incorrect, it wasn't the truth. Moreover, considering that Micket's self-awareness was originally formed from the blood sacrifice of a thousand years, this explanation made even less sense. Dividing her into five hundred wouldn't be enough to weaken her consciousness, would it?
And now, more importantly, is the second problem that both Hayden and Eminem have realized.
"Why can't we run out of energy from these clones?!"
Am is now at the heart of the guerrilla formation, harnessing the immense energy generated by the [Dream Flower], and constantly using arcane time magic to increase the plant's numbers. Without Am's unique magical talent, Kallen's [Dream Flower] couldn't possibly multiply so rapidly with current technology. Otherwise, Kallen would have already begun conquering the world, instead of needing Hayden to come to South America to cause trouble.
At this moment, Amu was so busy she couldn't stop, wishing she had three versions of herself to operate the system simultaneously. But it was precisely because of this that she realized the energy on the other side was abnormally high.
The guerrillas' energy comes from what they cultivate themselves, so where did the clone Micket's immense divine power come from?
Although the number of plants in the [Dream Flower] camp is increasing, and although the combat plants are relentlessly attacking the clone Micket, putting them at a disadvantage... they are only at a disadvantage. It's clear that the guerrillas have no chance of winning. While the Micket clone army is in disarray, their defense remains solid.
The battle had been raging for almost an hour, and neither side showed any sign of weakening. Besides the god directly involved, many knowledgeable gods began to notice the strange situation. They also began to realize that this unusual energy depletion was actually part of a battle fought behind the scenes.
“Smoke Mirror, if this duel continues until sunset again today,” Mercury, the great god from the Mars Group, seemed nonchalant, yet tentatively asked, “do we have to come and watch another duel next week?”
He was the first to ask the question. However, when Mercury asked, almost all the other gods present were also waiting to hear the answer from Smoke Mirror.
Then everyone saw Smoke Mirror sitting on his throne with his legs crossed, calmly saying, "Let's have another one next week, and another one after another, endlessly. Wouldn't this duel between the main gods become a joke? Although I quite like this kind of joke, I'll skip it this time."
At this point, Smoke Mirror laughed again, this time without even needing to consciously adopt an evil tone.
"The sun will not set until we decide the winner today."
These words initially startled all the gods, and then they all looked up at the sky in unison. The sun was still high in the sky... but the duel had just started at noon, and it was now an hour into the afternoon.
For an hour, the sun did not move at all.
“…Interesting.” Finally, even Mercury was somewhat surprised. “How did you do that? You can’t really stop the sun, nor can you change the Earth’s rotation…”
In fact, the so-called god-level power could theoretically alter planetary rotation. A few months ago, when Adam acquired god-level power, he punched the moon from a distance, leaving a huge, visible wound that remains unhealed to this day. If Adam had continued attacking, it's not impossible that he might have shattered the moon.
In other words, if a supreme god were to truly unleash their power, it would be possible to move or transport celestial bodies of Earth-like scale... However, supreme gods generally wouldn't actually move Earth, because Earth belongs to too many gods. Moreover, such an operation would be far too costly.
Resource consumption! The resources and energy consumed in moving and manipulating celestial bodies are astronomical figures in the literal sense. Even the main gods dare not use them casually, as even a main god might go bankrupt if he misuses them! Moreover, Smoke Mirror is a floor god, the weakest standard unit god, so He couldn't possibly have that much money!
So now, even the other gods are incredibly surprised and even admiring, because to accomplish such an incredible feat is truly admirable. The smoke mirror must have played some kind of trick to keep the sun shining.
Several gods, including Mercury, began praising the smoke mirror's remarkable technology while secretly investigating how it worked. However, a few minutes later, their investigation revealed a strange discovery—the smoke mirror certainly hadn't stopped the sun or the earth. It seemed to have merely altered the path of sunlight reaching the earth, allowing the entirety of South America to remain bathed in sunlight, as if under the blazing midday sun.
That's great, very interesting magic! But manipulating space like this must be very expensive, right?
Ultimately, it all comes down to money. Where did Smoke Mirror get so much money to create five hundred clone Mickets? Where did He get so much divine power to supply five hundred Mickets with continuous combat? Where did He get the energy to keep the sun shining on Aztland?
Hayden was utterly baffled. If Smoke Mirror were Mithra, Hayden might have just accepted it with an "oh." But Smoke Mirror wasn't Mithra; it was the Floor God, only slightly stronger than Karen or the Peacock King—not that powerful, right?
Something was wrong. Hayden became increasingly suspicious. He could see what was happening at the ritual site, and he could see that Smoke Mirror looked completely calm and unconcerned about the expenses. Hayden also knew that Smoke Mirror had borrowed a lot of money and even prepared an escape route from Quetzalcoatl, but that was a backup plan in case he lost. If He won, but went bankrupt because of the duel, wouldn't that be ridiculous?
Hayden now had a bad feeling, as if the smoke screen had deliberately orchestrated this situation. And his premonitions usually proved accurate. So he immediately made a decision: [Am, activate final tactical mode.]
Am, who was constantly casting spells to plant flowers and guide the energy of the military formation, received a communication but was startled: [Right now? Not enough flowers have been planted, and the reserves of energy and environmental changes are insufficient. The success rate is probably only forty percent.]
"Forty percent is enough. Because you're here." Hayden then uttered a startling statement: "Your time magic should be able to select the desired possibility from multiple futures, and use that to choose forty percent. Only you can do that!"
That... is theoretically possible.
Am was speechless for a moment. Deep down, a sense of panic even gripped her—theoretically, she could do it, but in reality, the consequences of failure would be horrific. She had never truly faced such a difficult problem before, because she wasn't actually the real Miktikashiva, but merely a newborn clone of her original memories and personality…
But Amu nodded in the telepathic communication. She enveloped herself in a sense of responsibility, because she felt responsible for those who believed in her. Isn't that what God is all about?
One second they were fiercely battling the clone Mickets, the guerrilla formation, hurling spells and bombardments, suddenly shifted. They halted their attacks, smoothly transitioning to a defensive stance, the five hundred men gathering together and pulling back to create distance.
The Clone Micket Legion did not pursue. This was likely because Smoke Mirror had not ordered them to pursue.
Then, as the whole world watched as Am created distance, he shouted, "Activate final tactical form!"
All the guerrilla fighters immediately stopped what they were doing. They stuck their weapons or their hands into the soil and into the flowers and grass, focusing all their strength and will on Amu.
They saw Am reach out and place his hand on the ground, on the grass, then grasp it and pull upwards. Like pulling up the roots of the earth, he pulled upwards.
What followed was an absolutely insane scene that unfolded before the world's eyes.
She pulled on the stem and, like pulling a radish, plucked a castle out of the soil.
It was a huge fortress, not built of any earth, wood, metal, or stone, but grown from living plant roots and stems. It was like a giant castle without any sharp edges, with emerald green veins entwined around it that were still pulsating and emitting the light of life!
The fortress stood erect, housing and protecting 499 guerrillas and Amu inside. For a moment, even the five hundred Miktclones, the audience of gods, and even the Smoke Mirror were stunned.
On the battlefield, a living, plant-based fortress made of [Dream Flowers] appeared in an instant.
As everyone probably remembers, the concept of a "city" possesses a divine quality. When Hayden and Angela first built Newbeam City, it was able to withstand Mithra's super typhoon sweeper. Now, with greater strength and advanced technology, the city's defenses are naturally even more formidable. Even in a battle between gods, it would be an extremely powerful weapon.
"My dear daughter, we agreed on a battle of armies, so why did your men bring out the fortress?" Smoke Mirror asked Micket, who was standing opposite the ceremony ground, with a sidelong glance.
Mickett was in a bad mood and didn't know Hayden had this plan, but she still said coldly, "How can fortifications not be part of the war? If you're not convinced, you can bring one out yourself."
Smoke Mirror fell silent. He stroked his chin, lost in thought.
So, is this "final tactical form" that Hayden prepared just a [Dream Flower City]? This can certainly bring a huge advantage, but it's probably not enough to defeat five hundred clones of Micket with endless energy, right?
That's not necessarily the case.
【Excellent, Amu! Let's end this duel with one strike!】
In truth, there was no need to wait for Hayden's command any longer; Amu already knew what to do. She reached out from the castle and activated the unique and absolute ultimate weapon of [Dream Flower City].
A gigantic maw suddenly opened around the massive plant castle. The Clonemic Legion immediately went on guard, fearing the giant city would charge up and bite them... but they were wrong.
The castle didn't "eat" anything; instead, it started "spitting" things out.
It spews out emerald green sap. A viscous, vibrant ocean of green energy, shimmering with the glow of life, as boundless as the sea, as overwhelming as a tsunami, and as swift as surging waves!
This energy resonated with the countless Dream Flowers that the guerrillas had planted and spread throughout the wasteland over the previous hour. Only now did the gods realize with astonishment that this small natural environment, this tiny ecosystem, had actually been conquered and dominated by the Dream Flowers.
This battlefield, this ecosystem, is already the "domain" of the great magic, [Dream Flower]; [Dream Flower City] is already the "palace" of the great goddess Kallen.
Even if there were hundreds of minor gods, they couldn't confront this power head-on!
The Clone Micket Legion defended, but no matter the obstacles or shields, the green tsunami swallowed them all whole, its speed increasing and its numbers multiplying! The Clone Micket Legion launched an attack! But their various attacks, spells, and underworld energy bombardments only splashed some liquid on the surface of the sap tsunami, having no effect whatsoever! Their resistance was swallowed up by the overwhelming mass!
The outcome has been decided.
In the emerald green sea of life that engulfs everything, even death is defeated.
354: It's only natural
The outcome has been decided.
【Dream Flower City】stands proudly on the land covered with blooming flowers. Through an hour of planting and arrangement by the guerrillas and Am's time arcane magic, it has conquered this land and become the master of this miniature ecosystem.
In other words, it is nature itself, and Karen's divine authority manifested within that nature. The lesser gods cannot confront Karen directly, not even five hundred of them.
Because it is the future palace of the Earth Emperor, the chariot that Kallen will use to conquer the gods. The five hundred lesser gods are merely small mounds she will inevitably traverse.
Five hundred clone Mickets are now struggling in the green Sea of Life. They haven't been destroyed, not a single one. However, the battle is already decided; this struggle is futile. The gaping maw of [Dream City] continues to breathe in pollution, transforming it into life energy, relentlessly overwhelming and submerging the clone Mickets. Karen's divine power suppresses them within the Sea of Life. What can they possibly use to continue fighting?
So the 499 guerrilla fighters were already cheering and shouting victory in [Dream Flower City].
"We win!"
"What kind of god-like combat force with smoke-like shields was it? They were still defeated by a bunch of mortals like us!"
Am slumped in the castle's central control room, unable to suppress a bitter smile. She could hear the cheers of the guerrilla fighters, and she knew that most of the credit for this victory actually belonged to Karen, because the [Dream Flower] was the foundation of Karen's enlightenment, Karen's divine artifact.
...But in the daze brought on by this huge sense of victory, Amu couldn't help but feel very happy.
She reached out and patted the pulsating roots of the plants beside her, feeling the vibrant life force coursing through their veins. Suddenly, Am felt a strange sensation welling up inside her.