Although it has not been achieved yet, two hundred years later, it was the Mitra Corporation that first designed the StarNet.
In conclusion, the four newly established Shen Groups are developing new technologies and new strengths rapidly, becoming increasingly powerful.
The four new god groups formed an alliance and advanced towards Asmodeus, the last and strongest fallen angel king located in East Asia, and her son, the Great Free King Mara.
(As for the ancient Indian gods, they were basically all defeated one by one when Mithra first rose to power. Those who surrendered early joined the Mithraic group as "gods." Dakini and Dhritarashtra belong to this category.)
Although they are called an allied army, the main fighting force against Asmodeus's New God army is still the Mitra Group, which is located nearby. The other three New God Groups mainly provide logistical support and various conveniences.
On the other hand, Asmodius's army, which was short of resources and no longer had the support of other countries, tried to win a quick victory at first, but after being defeated by Mithra's newly created Battle King, the situation became unsustainable and they were forced to retreat... In the end, they were pushed off the East Asian mainland and had to flee to the Japanese archipelago.
Meanwhile, just as Hayden knew the course of history, the Yamato gods on the Japanese archipelago made an unprecedented decision! They abandoned their compatriots, surrendered to the New Gods Alliance, and became the vanguard of the Mithra Group, turning against Asmodeus's fallen angels and old gods!
For the fallen angels and the old gods, this was a state of absolute despair, helplessness, and utter powerlessness to retaliate.
This war, which has lasted for twenty years, is nearing its end.
Hayden had spent twenty years in this era by Mithras's side—a full twenty years! For most of those twenty years, Hayden had been with Mithras, watching him lead armies into battle and undertake construction projects. But most importantly, he had been watching Mithras preach and spread his word. The more he preached, the more followers he gained. His thoughts and words spread across the land like the wind.
Mithras preached to the people about freedom, equality, and liberation, showing them how to escape the rule of gods and kings, how to be freed from suffering—through wisdom, through new techniques, and by defeating the demons who claimed to be gods. The number of people who followed and even worshipped Mithras increased dramatically. As time went on, his followers and devotees revered him more and more. People everywhere bowed to Mithras. They called him by various titles: All-Achieving One, One Who Brings Light, Great Sun, Sage, Savior!
Even Hayden had to admit that Mithras hadn't done anything wrong; in fact, he'd been doing good. He stood at the top, guiding those below and telling them what to do. He was wise, he had foresight, and he spoke eloquently. Everyone just followed his advice.
...However, Hayden could not seek advice from Mitra.
What should he do now? Perhaps Mithra really is a good person. If this young man continues as he is, the future of the world might not be so bleak. So, should Hayden really continue to monitor Mithra for another four hundred years?
Four hundred years! To live as a spy on high alert for four hundred years, Hayden felt that the act itself was enough to drive anyone crazy, ugh.
...Hayden leaned against the top deck railing of the giant flying warship [Putuoluo], looking down at ancient Japan below, feeling somewhat weary.
Just doing the same thing for twenty years, something he didn't really like but had to be done with extreme caution, was already exhausting. Despite having a body that had supposedly been given an elixir of immortality, Hayden now felt strangely heavy. It wasn't because his body was actually decaying; in fact, his body was in better shape than before. Rather, it was the mental burden he was carrying.
If this continues for another four hundred years, they'll probably go insane. Thinking about it this way, perhaps it's not so bad that the new gods go mad and fall into depravity?
Hayden looked down at the earth as he pondered these thoughts, and then became even more worried.
How many times has this happened? Seeing towns and villages where people once lived—now reduced to ruins.
War inevitably harms innocent people, and often causes the greatest harm. Even if the Mithra army were the most advanced army in the world, it would be impossible to completely avoid civilian casualties during a military campaign. Moreover, this time, half of the combat mission was assigned to the Yamato race.
Moreover, the desperate Asmodius army has recently adopted many insane tactics. Firstly, in order to implement a scorched-earth policy and prevent the people from becoming manpower for the new gods, they plunder resources, set fires, and slaughter civilians. Secondly, they treat those without power or skills as refugees and drive them away, while infiltrating these refugees with monsters capable of human form, or prisoners infected with parasites and plague, and then sending them into the cities of the new gods.
In addition, Asmodius also used methods such as sacrificing volunteers or criminals, and even destitute war refugees and orphans as living sacrifices for magic, and human bombs, to counter the offensive of the new gods.
As Angela said, even if Asmodice suffers great misfortune later, it is entirely her own fault; she is such a bastard.
Ending this war as soon as possible would definitely be good for everyone.
"Loki."
Just then, Hayden heard Mitra's voice behind him.
"Are you free right now?"
Mitra had already leisurely walked up to the top deck of the flying warship without anyone noticing.
"I thought you already knew whether I was free or not?" Hayden scratched his ear and complained. "The war is in its final stages. I don't plan to go directly to the battlefield, and I don't have anything else to do anyway."
Hayden refused to participate in large-scale military operations on the front lines, choosing instead to handle diplomatic and advisory duties. This was primarily due to his concern that his personal involvement in the war, as a person from the future, could easily cause temporal distortions. Mitra knew he was from the future and understood his concerns, so he never said anything about it.
On the contrary, the others around Mithra—the other bodhisattvas (such as Avalokiteshvara) and the wrathful deities—sometimes looked down on Hayden Loki, this lazy bum. Avalokiteshvara might even have been a little jealous of Hayden Loki.
Unfortunately, these other bodhisattvas and wrathful deities did not know or understand what Mithra truly wanted, or what he wanted to obtain from Hayden.
“Of course I saw it,” Mitra said, just as Hayden had hoped, then smiled. “But I should still ask out of courtesy. I’m going to the front lines soon, because it’s very important, and I hope you can come with me.”
The colossal flying warship, the "Putuoluo," served as the mobile command center for Mithra's military operation in Japan, while also functioning as a base. It was a heavy flying ship of the air fortress class, proportional to its enormous size, and possessed the capabilities of a most powerful aircraft carrier.
On the other hand, because it is an aircraft carrier, because it is a base, and because Mitra is literally the head of the entire group and the entire army, although the warship is very powerful, it is generally not sailed to the front line, let alone allowed to go to the front line.
If that's the case, why would Mithra suddenly say he wants to go to the front lines?
“The Immovable King has just successfully led his troops to kill Mara, the Son of Heaven. I saw this long ago and was prepared for it.” Mitra explained, perhaps seeing through Hayden’s doubts. “I already know that Asmodeus will fall into utter despair because of this news and then make a final, desperate resistance.”
Hayden paused for a moment, then immediately recalled the past (twenty years ago in his subjective timeframe).
Asmodius had told Hayden what she had done in this desperate situation.
She captured Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi, two goddesses of the Yamato race, and brutally tortured and desecrated them in a ritual, tormenting them until they died. Then, mountains of corpses and seas of blood were piled up, and blasphemous acts were committed upon the bodies—the Demon King attempted to use this ritual to summon divine punishment… but ultimately failed.
But Asmodeus must have indeed created some strange effect. Something related to the Outer Gods must have happened at that time. Because Mithra was indeed about to be brutally beaten by the power of the Outer Gods.
Hayden was eager to figure out what was going on.
"Um……?"
Thinking about this, Hayden suddenly felt something was strange.
"Your eyes have already foreseen what Asmodius will do?"
Did Mithra know that he was about to be brutally beaten by the power of the Outer Gods?
“Of course. My eyes can see everything.” Mitra smiled slightly. “Asmodeus will summon some troublesome things next, but they are not opponents I cannot defeat. After defeating them, this war can end, and we can begin to dedicate ourselves to creating a better world for all people.”
"Loki, will you come with me to witness this historic moment?"
420: Loop
Located in Ashihara Province in northeastern Japan, Aizu Ashina Castle is the last defensive city of the Asmodius Army, a military fortress protected by dozens of walls, moats, trenches and barriers.
This is a mountain town covered in snow, and also a very excellent spiritual place, where the spiritual veins of northeastern Japan converge—although Kyoto is actually a better convergence point of spiritual veins, but unfortunately Asmodius Army has already lost Kyoto to Yamato God Army.
Fortunately, Ashina Castle's sacred grounds remained exceptional, ranking first even among the many renowned land gods residing in northeastern Japan. Therefore, the Kunitsu gods built the largest city in northern Japan upon it, and constructed roads leading to all directions. Now, Asmodius's army has added passes, barriers, outposts, and other fortifications, connecting the natural forces of the mountains and rivers, filling every gap. All key routes are heavily guarded by the local gods, preventing even an ant from passing. Only a massive army could breach its defenses.
The mountain town, surrounded by these fortifications, was further encased in a barrier to defend against invasions from all types of enemies.
Ashina Castle still houses the last remaining forces of Asmodius's army. These include troops of fallen angels, warriors of the Japanese Tsu gods, and demons and monsters from the surrounding areas. Even if attacked by tens of thousands of new gods, they should be able to hold out for several years.
The endless army of the New Gods launched a siege on the last territories of the Old Gods from all sides. Fortress after fortress was overthrown, and stronghold after stronghold was destroyed.
But that's not fast enough.
Aizu-Ashina Castle became the key to breaking the deadlock.
It is a tenacious fortified city. So far, the New Gods Alliance's hopes of taking Ashina Castle with a swift and precise assault have been dashed.
Therefore, this attack on the city will be ordered and carried out personally by Mitra himself.
Mithra's most trusted friend also wanted to accompany him to the battlefield.
A golden light appeared in the sky above Ashina Castle, as bright as the morning sun, assaulting all of people's senses.
It was a colossal flying ship, a massive behemoth forged from seven wondrous treasures and gold, a warship that surpassed the limits of human imagination. In this entire world, only one unparalleled hero was worthy of this warship.
The flagship of the Bodhisattva Mithra himself, the [Ten-stage Dharma Cloud], arrived at the battlefield at this moment.
Standing on the golden bridge, Mitra looked down at Ashina Castle and then spoke:
"Burn it."
The power of the sun transformed into beams of scorching light that shot out from the flying warship and swept across Ashina Castle on the ground, aiming to tear this last castle of the fallen angels to shreds from the outside in!
However, killing Asmodius was by no means an easy task.
The entire mountain castle was enveloped by layers upon layers of magical barriers maintained by numerous sacrifices, making even the bombardment of solar beam cannons nearly impossible. The golden flames, powerful enough to level several cities in a single blow, could only ignite a raging inferno within Ashina Castle.
To say it was useless would be an understatement. Thousands upon thousands of ancient god troops and their fortifications were reduced to ashes. The sight of countless demons and monsters fleeing, struggling, and ultimately perishing in the firestorm was clearly visible from the sky.
However, it is ultimately impossible to take down an entire city with just a few artillery shells.
Therefore Mithras said:
"Warriors, get ready to take your positions."
He was speaking to three hundred giants standing behind him. They were two and a half meters tall, clad in full golden armor, holding vajras, ready for battle, their perfect figures majestic and awe-inspiring.
These are the first generation of "Vajra Warriors" designed and completed by the Mitra Group. Mitra personally used costly and technically complex bio-alchemy to create them, personally modified their genes, and carefully nurtured them.
Three hundred warriors—it may not sound like many, but their numbers are immense. They are the embodiment of thunder, the warriors of Mithra. They are now gathered here, standing tall on the main deck of the warship, ready to dedicate their entire being to their creator.
Because Mithras, only he, commanded the false gods to kneel before mankind; only Mithras, with his own hands, shaped them; only Mithras, led them firmly toward their great ideals!
The same ideal, the same ideology, unites Mithra with the Vajra Warriors. No force can sever the connection between him and his warriors.
For Mithras, ordering them to fight to the death required only one sentence:
"Go."
Then, a flash of lightning. Three hundred Vajra Warriors transformed into three hundred bolts of lightning, striking down upon the raging Ashina Castle. Ashina Castle still had some barriers remaining, but unfortunately, they were useless. The lightning tore large holes in the remaining barriers, cleaved through the remaining spell defense system, burned straight through everything in their path, stormed into the castle, and rushed to the battlefield.
They will fight against the remaining Old God soldiers in the city and slaughter them mercilessly.
"Honestly, do we still need to go down?"
Hayden muttered to himself from the side.
"As the leader of the group, you actually rushed to the front line as a mere general. I can only call that reckless courage."
Mitra laughed: "Do you think I'll just stand here and watch? Besides, I've already seen that I have to fight this war myself, otherwise it will be very difficult to win... You'll come down with me, won't you?"
Hayden had no other choice, of course. Having traveled through more than 400 years of time, he finally returned to this point in time.
Angela followed silently behind Hayden, without saying a word.
Mitra, on the other hand, glanced at Angela and then said to Hayden, "Loki, you seem to really enjoy taking this robot around."
“Yes.” Hayden remained unfazed. Having been by Mitra’s side for twenty years, he was used to it. “What’s wrong with that? Did you see anything wrong with your eyes?”
Mitra raised an eyebrow and shrugged, replying, "No, not at all."
"That's good then."
Hayden said,
"Let's go down."
A dazzling flash of lightning followed, then a dizzying sense of disorientation. The golden bridge of the [Jichi Houn] vanished, replaced by the burning streets of a classic Japanese city.
Hayden, Angela, and Mithra had descended upon Ashina Castle in a flash of lightning, joining Mithra's warriors. The Vajra Warriors raised their maces and unleashed a volley of lightning—in an instant, the ranks of the Old Gods' demons were charred and blackened!
Mitra himself then joined the battle.
What weapons did Mithra use in battle? The answer is he didn't use any weapons at all. He didn't even need his hands. Consciousness and mind are the most powerful forces in reality, the ultimate tools.
Mithra kills directly with his mind.
His thoughts transformed into an invisible sword beam, so sharp that it was invisible to the naked eye.
His thoughts flashed across the enemy lines, his movements as swift as his thoughts.
Just moments before, Mithra had used his mind to behead a large number of monsters. The next second, he appeared out of thin air elsewhere, casually taking the lives of a large group of land gods.
A colossal bull, taller than a building, charged out, heading straight for Mithra! But Mithra glanced at it out of the corner of his eye, and crushed the bull to dust. His gaze was like an invisible sword tearing through the enemy ranks. Wherever it went, only the monstrous limbs flew through the air.
Like iron filings attracted by a magnet, thousands of demons—the giant-like demons of Japan—gathered into a raging tide, charging with all their might at an absurd speed, lunging straight at Mithra.
"It's Mithra! Kill him! Kill him with all your might!"
They were furious, they held nothing back, they were unstoppable.
Mithra then focused his attention on the demons. Golden flames ignited in his eyes. The solar fire, like Superman's heat vision, shot forth, instantly incinerating swathes of demons into exploding ashes and debris! Under Mithra's will, they were annihilated in a flash, leaving no trace of their remains!
This is the invincible Mithra. He can indeed move mountains and seas and tear the entire world to pieces with just his will.
Hayden had been keeping watch over Mithra for twenty years. But every time he witnessed Mithra's power on the battlefield, he was still deeply shocked.
This isn't just a matter of strength. Many future gods will be stronger than Mithra now, as technology is constantly evolving. However, Mithra possesses a unique quality, a near-perfect, almost unparalleled feeling!
Hayden and Angela did not participate in the direct combat. They stood in the back, while Hayden took the opportunity to ponder Mitra's thoughts and the power he was currently displaying.
However, even Hayden did not anticipate what would happen next.
"Aaaaaaaaahh ...
At the other end of the Ashina Castle battlefield, a deafening roar suddenly erupted! A gigantic black shadow charged forward, cracking the earth and unleashing a destructive storm that blew away the surrounding monsters and even the Vajra Warriors! Her appearance was so sudden, emerging from the earth with her massive body amidst the Vajra Warriors battling countless monsters.
First, she swallowed whole a Vajra Warrior who was directly above her, then with a thud, she sent the upper bodies of the two Vajra Warriors who were scrambling to fight flying.
"You think you can defeat me with this filthy counterfeit stuff?!"
While instantly killing three Vajra Warriors, this seven-headed, ten-horned red dragon roared furiously! Being surrounded by a battle god race created by humans seemed to be the ultimate humiliation for her!
"Asmodice".
Hayden, who wasn't involved in the fight, watched from afar and muttered to himself. That posture, that appearance—Hayden could never forget it, no matter what.