So Hayden glanced at Karen and said, half-jokingly, "Looks like your joint defense plan is going to work out."
Freya and Hayden Karen have a past connection. The goddess Iris is a minor diplomatic deity for the Mars Group, a professional envoy of the Olympian gods. The fact that both large corporations specifically sent them to find Karen at the first opportunity clearly indicates they need her help.
It's better to offer help in times of need than to add to someone's already good fortune. In this situation, it would be very convenient for Karen to negotiate with them. At least, that's what Hayden thought.
Unexpectedly, Karen shook her head: "It's not as simple as you think. There's probably a lot to argue about... Do you want to come along? Or should I talk to them and you go back to rest?"
“What’s there to rest about? I didn’t even go up and fight myself in today’s match. You were the one who got hit by the smoke goggles several times.” Hayden scratched his head. “Let’s go to the meeting room together.”
Karen raised an eyebrow: "Weren't you in a hurry to go to Japan?"
“It’s not that urgent. It’s not like the world is about to end.” Hayden frowned as he said this, “…I can’t possibly be right about something like this, can I?”
No, no, it's not that bad. At least Hayden and Karen tidied themselves up and entered the reception room before the world was destroyed. The goddess Freya and the goddess Iris's avatars were waiting there, along with two divine attendants.
"Long time no see, Karen!"
As soon as Karen entered, Freya greeted her warmly, saying, "If our reunion today weren't for that terrible situation, it would have been even better."
Karen simply nodded at her: "That's true. So what news do you have for me today?"
"As you probably already know, the Mitra Group has declared war on both of our companies."
The goddess Iris of the Mars Group continued the conversation. She was a young goddess with wings on her back, draped in a thin veil displaying the seven colors of the rainbow, dazzling and beautiful. In her hand, she held a scepter symbolizing a diplomatic ambassador—the wings and the scepter were her most important artifacts. The former granted her extraordinary speed, while the latter granted her special diplomatic immunity. As long as she conducted legitimate diplomatic affairs on another's territory, no one, god, or demon could attack her first.
The diplomatic goddess then said, "As you also know, when the Smoke Mirror suddenly isolated the entire South America, only the gods of the Mitra Group left beforehand, and they immediately launched an attack while we were in chaos. It is clear that the Mitra Group and the Smoke Mirror are in cahoots this time, and all of this was meticulously planned by them."
Karen nodded without saying anything.
Therefore, Goddess Iris continued, "The Mithra Group did not inform you in advance, clearly indicating that they consider you an enemy they want to defeat, just like us. The Bodhisattvas have not yet made their move against you, but that day is not far off. Ms. Karen, I am here on behalf of the Mars Group to propose that the Mars Group has no hostility towards you or the Peacock King family, and that we should unite against the Mithra Group."
“On this proposal, Mars Group has my consent and full support, as well as Wotan Corporation,” Freya added from the side.
In other words, the joint defense plan that Karen originally wanted has now been offered up by both major companies. That's great!
However, Karen did not appear happy.
“Unite against Mithra,” she said calmly. “Specifically, how do you plan to do that? Who will organize the resources and mobilize the united forces? Who will directly lead and be responsible for the defense? Or is this unity just a formality, with everyone actually fighting their own battles?”
Oh dear, what a blunt and harsh statement. Fortunately, both Goddess Iris and Goddess Freya are professionals, and even after being rebuffed, their expressions didn't change at all. Freya, who already liked Karen's personality, directly admitted with a wry smile, "This isn't something that can be discussed immediately. We first need to confirm your intentions."
Exactly. Even if the sky were to fall, it would take more than two hours to discuss who should take the lead and hold it up.
Karen shook her head, then suddenly changed the subject: "What is the current situation of the battle? How exactly did Mitra attack, and how much damage did it inflict on you? Regardless of whether I have any intention of joining forces, shouldn't you tell me this information first?"
“If you are inclined to join forces anyway, I strongly suggest you agree first, Ms. Karen.” Goddess Iris sighed. “You will benefit more from this message if you don’t think I’m trying to induce you to believe anything.”
Karen frowned: "I'm willing to take the risk. Tell me now."
Ms. Iris and Freya exchanged a glance, and then Freya spoke first: "The attack started in Western Europe, simultaneously targeting the areas controlled by both of our companies. As for the extent of the damage... that's a difficult question to answer."
“I guessed that your casualties were severe. There’s no need to hide it,” Karen said.
But she really didn't expect Freya's next answer.
"No casualties... there really aren't any." Freya gave a dry laugh. "The current 'casualties' should be zero, and no facilities or buildings in the city we attacked have been damaged."
Now it was Hayden and Karen's turn to look at each other in bewilderment.
Mars Group and Wotan Company must have been utterly defeated by Mitra, or at least suffered a major setback, to immediately send diplomatic envoys to seek foreign assistance. But the goddess Freya said there were no casualties and no damage to facilities. How exactly was this battle fought?
A second later, Hayden suddenly realized what was happening, and his face turned pale: "It's [Reincarnation]."
Both Goddess Iris and Freya glanced at Hayden with some surprise, then Goddess Iris replied, "Just as you said, Mr. Hayden. The Mithra Group launched the attack directly using the [Reincarnation] technique. That cold light is now shining over the entire Gaul region."
"The light of [Reincarnation] does not damage buildings or facilities. However, the employees and soldiers of both of our companies are rapidly reincarnated under its illumination, then become Celestials (gods), and then attack the rest of us."
Freya gave a bitter smile.
“The Mitra Group has taken control of half of Gaul in just two hours without sending a single soldier.”
Hayden and Karen had both witnessed the first trial run of the [Reincarnation] technique in New Jersey and had both investigated the Mitra Group's use of [Dream Chips]. How could they not understand after hearing this? Karen's expression remained unchanged, but Hayden's face had turned pale.
[Reincarnation] can project attack power at the level of a supreme god, and can use this power to instantly reincarnate a person into any life form that Mithra desires. Gods can be reduced to beasts, and mortals can be instantly reincarnated as divine beings. Moreover, all deaths that occur under the blazing sun of [Reincarnation] will also be captured by it. No one can escape [Reincarnation].
Building upon this, the [Dream Chip] can, in an instant, allow a person to live a lifetime, or even ten or a hundred lifetimes, in a dream. These dream lives are clearly designed by the Mitra Group. Hayden would find it unbelievable that someone who has gone through a hundred or so reincarnations wouldn't become a fanatical follower of the Mitra Group.
"Right now, it's only half of Western Europe. It might have just been launched, or it might still be in testing. But next, the [Reincarnation] technique will definitely engulf the entire world, capturing everyone, whether they are the poor, ordinary citizens, regular employees, or even the company's soldiers—and then, Mithra will use dreams spanning ten or a hundred lifetimes to change their minds. This [Reincarnation] is not a weapon of war at all, but a tool for creating a new world."
Hayden rubbed his temples and muttered his prediction.
"What a grand scheme, what audacity, what terrifying determination! Well done, Mitra, I truly admire you. Even with the technology and resources, I wouldn't dare use it like that."
By enveloping the entire world in a "reincarnation" system, throwing all of humanity into a cycle of reincarnation, subjecting them to a hundred lifetimes of customized dreams, the world would then be completely at Mithra's mercy. No one could stop him, no one could resist him. Hayden admitted he truly lacked the tyranny to annihilate the entire world and trample on the will of humanity.
The Mithra of today is a sun that can burn and refine the wavering thoughts of all living beings, forcing "the will of the people" to its course.
This situation is absolutely terrible.
"Didn't you try to directly destroy [Reincarnation]?" Kallen asked immediately, frowning. "I remember it has a core manifestation."
Freya shook her head: "That was last time, back in New Jersey. Now the magic is more perfect, and we can't see anything like the core. All we know is that the light of [Reincarnation] is now emanating from Paris. Even if we wanted to send a god to investigate the scene, there are six Mingwang (gods of light) guarding and protecting it on the other side."
“Those below the level of minor gods, in other words, those who are not true gods, don’t even have a chance to resist; they are immediately reincarnated through [reincarnation],” Goddess Iris explained. “Goddess Karen, now that things have come to this, everyone can see that you also intend to resist and oppose Mitra. Even if it’s just to determine the selection of the assault team, we must reach an alliance agreement as soon as possible.”
That statement isn't entirely without merit.
But Hayden glanced at Karen, who still didn't immediately agree. Instead, she asked, "Has Mitra made any meaningful statement to you?"
"Besides an unconditional surrender notice?" Freya revealed an extremely cold smile. "If we had, would we have come so quickly?"
“Mithra Bodhisattva is extremely arrogant,” Goddess Iris said slowly. “Now that the technologies of [Reincarnation] and [Dream Chip] have been perfected, he probably no longer cares about ‘trivial’ things like public image.”
That makes sense.
The "Reincarnation" system, incorporating dream chip technology, has no weaknesses, requires no external support, and is nearly omnipotent. With such a sophisticated super reincarnation and brainwashing system, Mithra Bodhisattva no longer needs anything.
In contrast, the divine power of other gods does not fall from the sky, but is extracted from human hearts, human resources, or natural resources.
[Reincarnation] The wider the area illuminated, the weaker the power of other gods, both old and new, will become, because the employees, the people, and even the natural environment will all be brainwashed and controlled by Mithra. Although Mithra doesn't seem to be in a hurry now, it's normal for other companies to be in a hurry first.
...But if that's the case, why did the two large companies immediately send diplomatic envoys to find Karen?
"I'm just a minor figure on the fringes of the Mitra Group's hierarchy, while your two companies each have at least four major god-level figures. It's perfectly normal for you to want to join forces with me, but why the rush?"
Karen gently tapped the table in the reception room.
“Especially you, Freya. You are one of the two most important gods in Wotan Corporation, and you actually wasted a clone on me? You just suffered at the Smoke Mirror, and you know that clones cannot be used randomly.”
At this point, Karen's eyes sharpened further: "Mitra is my enemy, but I am not your natural ally, nor will I casually jump onto your chariot. If you already have a plan, tell me first. Only then will I decide whether to join you."
These words left the goddess Iris and Freya exchanging bewildered glances. But Iris continued, "We do indeed have plans, and more than one. However, Ms. Karen, you should understand that some plans cannot be revealed to you before you join our alliance, because they are too important."
But Karen wouldn't budge: "If we don't even have this much mutual trust, then there's no way I'd join your plans. Do you think that without the alliance of other companies, I don't have my own plans to deal with Mitra?"
She firmly drew her bottom line here.
Actually, Hayden knew it was unlikely that Kallen truly had a plan to deal with Mitra. While Hayden did have a plan to go to Japan to find Asmodeus and further activate Angela's [Outer God] power, he also knew that Kallen had never been interested in that approach. Kallen herself, at the moment, didn't actually have a concrete plan.
But she dared to use this to intimidate people, and she even managed to fool two gods. This time, both goddesses hesitated, unsure of what to do.
When different organizations form temporary alliances due to circumstances, such actions always have drawbacks. These drawbacks are now manifesting themselves again, making decision-making extremely difficult.
Therefore, it's time for those who can make decisions to step forward and speak out.
"Okay. I'll decide."
A "divine follower" who had been following behind the two goddesses suddenly stepped forward, as if this decision had been foreseen, made, and planned long ago. She reached out and lightly pulled down her hood—revealing a face that was unadorned yet more radiant, charming, innocent, and noble than the two goddesses.
Although Hayden had somewhat anticipated it, he still gasped.
Because everyone knows this face, everyone recognizes her, and everyone calls her Guanyin Bodhisattva.
Among the Mithra Group, the strongest Bodhisattva besides Mithra.
Under any other time, with any other person, these words, and the face peeking out from under the hood, would have been shocking and mind-blowing. Fortunately, at this moment when the fate of all humanity hangs in the balance, and fortunately, for Karen's strong will, this is merely somewhat interesting.
Even upon seeing Guanyin Bodhisattva with her hood down, Karen calmly remarked, "Even the second-largest shareholder of the Mitra Group is going to betray us?"
"It's hard to say who betrayed whom."
The incarnation of Guanyin Bodhisattva smiled and greeted Karen and Hayden.
“Ms. Karen, Mr. Hayden, I know you have your own plans and other schemes to fight Mitra, but you are probably underestimating Mitra’s power.”
Then she stopped smiling and said with a serious expression,
"It's no exaggeration to say that Mitra is now invincible in the world."
Karen raised an eyebrow at this: "Invincible in this world? Then why are we fighting him? What exactly is your plan?"
“It’s actually quite simple. Mithra is now invincible. His [Reincarnation] has no weaknesses and he dominates the world.” Guanyin Bodhisattva’s compassionate gaze suddenly turned as intense and sharp as a flame. “But he wasn’t invincible before, and he wasn’t without any flaws.”
...The Mithra of the past may have indeed been the strongest, but not invincible.
But what's the point of bringing up the past now?
"Mr. Hayden."
Guanyin Bodhisattva looked at Hayden beside Karen.
"We are very interested in the time-reversal magic you used in New Jersey, Fallen City, and South America."
370: The biggest weakness
Since Guanyin Bodhisattva has come in person and even revealed her identity, the situation is quite different now.
So Kallen arranged a new reception room for Guanyin, and invited Freya and the goddess Iris to other rooms. Now only Kallen, Hayden, and Guanyin remained in the reception room.
While doing this, Karen and Hayden couldn't help but think about the keyword that Guanyin Bodhisattva had just mentioned:
The magical technology of reversing time
Reversing time—the term sounds incredible, but Hayden does indeed possess this technology, and everyone has witnessed it. Over the years, he has used time-reversal magic several times in Fallen City, New Jersey, and South America, primarily to save lives. This is because Hayden's magic can not only rewind time but also, to a certain extent, rewrite the past. The most common application is resurrection.
If you were to ask Hayden where his technique of reversing time came from, he would indeed have learned it by imitating and analyzing Angela's mysteries. But if you were to say that this time magic technique is exceptionally powerful and invincible, Hayden himself knows best that it's not like that at all.
He used [Resurrection] on Micket earlier, but it bounced back.
Micket burned her entire past, and Hayden couldn't save her.
"So what exactly do you want to do? Go back to the past, before Mithra Bodhisattva became so powerful, and kill him first?"
Therefore, once everyone was seated in the new room and the conversation resumed, Hayden's words couldn't help but carry a hint of sarcasm: "Time magic can at most slow down or speed up a certain area, or modify facts for a very limited number of targets. 'Time travel' is definitely out of the question. If you ever find a time machine that can go back four hundred years and change history, remember to let me check it out before you activate it."
"Even if we could actually achieve that, a time paradox might occur. Who knows what would happen then?"
The time paradox is, of course, just a hypothetical theory, since no one has actually traveled through time. But Hayden still thinks it's unrealistic. If "going back in time to kill baby Mithra" were actually possible, the world would have been ruled by the first person to invent a time machine long ago.
The serene Guanyin Bodhisattva, seated gracefully in the new reception room, raised her slender eyebrows: "Of course I know time travel is impossible, Mr. Hayden. But we don't actually need to go that far, and the point isn't really about 'going back to the past.' You don't need to go back to the past; can't you use magic to modify the past of the unborn and bring it to life?"
“This is probably ten orders of magnitude different from reversing Mithra,” Hayden scoffed. “I even failed to reverse Miktti Kashiva, let alone you trying to do the invincible Mithra this time. I bet we’ll both be blown up by the aftershocks of the failed spell.”
But these words made Guanyin Bodhisattva laugh: "The invincible Mithra? He may indeed be invincible now, but has he always been invincible? Has he never been weak, never failed, never had any moment of vulnerability?"
Hayden frowned. "I don't understand your riddle. And as I just said, going back in time to kill baby Mitra is technically impossible."
"So, as I've said before, Mr. Hayden, the point isn't really to go back to the past, but to go back to the state of things back then."
Guanyin Bodhisattva smiled and explained,
“Everyone says that Mithra has always been powerful, that Mithra has always been invincible, that Mithra is invincible. Since he appeared out of nowhere four hundred years ago and started the war between the old and new gods, Mithra seems to have never lost—that’s what everyone says, but I know that’s not really the case.”
“Because I am Guanyin, the person he trusts most. I know that he once faced a desperate situation and was almost defeated, and that he was once incredibly vulnerable, with his determination and will on the verge of collapse. As long as we gather our strength to drive the time magic and bring Mitra back to that special time state, defeating him is not impossible.”
She smiled, her face radiant, but her words carried a sinister and ruthless power, leaving Hayden completely bewildered.
It should be known that Guanyin Bodhisattva, true to her identity, possessed an exceptionally beautiful, even sacred, appearance. Her long black hair cascaded down to her shoulders, her eyes were half-closed, her eyelashes were long, and her perfectly proportioned nose and lips were perfectly positioned on her face. Combined with her snow-white skin and slender figure, and without any trace of deliberate makeup, she exuded a holy and pure beauty.
But then she said something that sent chills down Hayden's spine.
Karen finally frowned and said, "You've gone off-topic. Besides, before discussing the alliance, shouldn't you explain what the situation is like inside the Mitra Group right now? Are you the only one who betrayed Mitra? Or is he actually abandoned by everyone and just acting arbitrarily with the power of [Reincarnation]?"
Guanyin Bodhisattva glanced at Karen, then nodded: "I did explain in the wrong order. Let me put it this way, right now Manjushri Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, and I all oppose Mithra's plan, but the three Bodhisattvas cannot reach a majority in the board of directors. Vajrapani Bodhisattva, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, and Bhaisajyaraja Bodhisattva support Mithra, while Akasagarbha Bodhisattva abstained from voting."
“Manjushri and Samantabhadra are trying to persuade Akasagarbha Bodhisattva, but to be honest, even if the board votes against Mithra again now, I doubt the board's decision will have any effect—the system of [reincarnation] is controlled by Mithra himself. He can act arbitrarily.”
Hearing this, Hayden finally couldn't help but complain: "Have you all gone mad from four hundred years of peace? Shouldn't something like [Reincarnation] have been designed from the very beginning to be controlled only by a board vote?"
But Kallen, standing beside him, shook her head and sighed, "Even if it were designed that way, it wouldn't make a difference. Mithra's programming ability is the strongest among the eight bodhisattvas, and besides, he is the chief designer of [Reincarnation]. It would be incredibly easy for him to leave a backdoor. Even if the board of directors votes against it, he can still use [Reincarnation] to annihilate everyone if he's willing to tear things apart and overturn the table."
"The most dangerous truth about this era created by the god of capital is that the social contract and the social rules are nothing more than a fantasy that everyone is willing to dream. Since Mithra has obtained invincible power that transcends social rules, he can certainly shatter this dream, knock everyone to the ground, and never play this game with everyone again."
Hayden was speechless.
Karen then asked, "What is the state of the group's military strength?"