-257- The battle of gods

Taliyah, the little sparrow, exerted all her strength, allowing Bilgewater to survive. The sea island became even larger than before, and Taliyah continued to exert herself, continuously helping the people of Bilgewater on the island.

Her magic was astonishingly powerful.

Her character was kind and simple.

Her kindness garnered the attention of the people of Bilgewater.

People watched the slender girl, soaked like a drowned rat, protected by the enforcers but continuously casting magic to save Bilgewater.

Finally, the sound of gunfire rang out.

As a gunshot rang from an unknown direction, a Buhru people fell under the fire of the gun.

The people of Bilgewater, who once believed in Buhru culture and admired the Buhru, now officially declared war on the Buhru.

From beginning to end, it was wishful thinking on the part of the people of Bilgewater.

The Buhru never considered the people of Bilgewater their own, they even regarded them as backward and degenerate humans.

As commoners.

Now, they also ignored the life and death of the people of Bilgewater.

The people of Bilgewater have wronged many people. They are cruel, ruthless, and bloodthirsty on the high seas, disrupting people from various countries.

But they absolutely deserve something from the Buhru. They worship the Bearded Lady as their deity, respect Buhru culture, and abide by their rules. But what did they get in return?

Since that's the case, then they'll fight to the death.

Bilgewater survived the night and fired the first shot at dawn.

Next, there will be a long battle between the Twin Cities and the people of Bilgewater against the Buhru.

Illaoi won't die, as long as Nagakabouros is still alive, the seed she planted in Illaoi will continue to give this Truth Bearer infinite vitality. But Illaoi not dying doesn't mean that everyone from Baruun won't die.

With the combined strength of the Twin Cities' powerful technological weapons and brave enforcers, half of the Buhru who came to Bilgewater have already died, and the Twin Cities have paid the price of seventeen enforcers' lives and countless money, while Bilgewater has also lost many people.

But when they started avoiding sea monsters and engaging in land combat, to be honest, the enforcers fighting alongside them were stunned.

These people. They are simply geniuses at such chaotic fights. If the enforcers didn't have shielded tables for defense, they would definitely be beat around by these islanders.

And for the people of Bilgewater, who are known as pirates, such fighting is certainly not their forte. So, how powerful are these islanders in chaotic battles?

And saying that countless money has been spent is not an exaggeration, because war is burning money, and when the Twin Cities fight a war, the money spent is something other countries dare not even think about.

Let's put it this way, in two days, the consumption of Shimmer and Hextech energy cores and batteries in this battle is already comparable to a year and a half of national income in Noxus, and it can also match half a year of profits in Demacia.

And this is only in two days.

On the other hand, exchanging seventeen people with hundreds and thousands of enemies, all of whom are knowledgeable in magic, the powerful priest of Buhru, and countless sea serpents, to be blunt, this deal is very profitable, even if you add a zero after seventeen, it's still profitable.

But there was no trace of satisfaction on Silco's face at this moment, instead, it was extremely chilling.

Silco's gaze was as sharp as an eagle's, staring fiercely down below.

The deaths of those seventeen people were unexpected. The long battle made the enforcers unable to cope even with the potion of vitality. But they couldn't sustain it, and when they accidentally forgot to change the shield energy or because their attention was diverted, they were dragged into the sea by the sea monster. After the energy of the energy shield was exhausted, the tail of the sea serpent just grazed past the enforcers' bodies, and they would be crushed to pieces if they were hit. If hit, they would even turn into a splatter of blood on the spot.

Not even bones left behind.

And this was not a necessary sacrifice in the plan, it was a sacrifice that should not have happened. So of course, Silco was not happy about it.

Silco believed it was necessary for Ekko to develop energy shield 3.0. At least, the shield should no longer be replaced after use, and it should no longer be necessary for professionals to replace the energy source.

But there's no "but" about it.

"Zaun, Piltover..... For the Twin Cities." Silco stood with his hands behind his back, allowing a huge rock to pass in front of him.

These beasts had intelligence, and now they even threw stones from the bottom of the sea into the air.

But the Hextech airship had a stronger defense system, so the people on the ship were safer than those on the sea and on land.

A huge rock came flying, and the blue barrier stopped it in front of Silco, debris falling off, and the rock fell back into the sea.

Silco didn't even blink his eyes, his expression unchanged, his voice cold and chilling like a villain as he said, "I will ensure that your death will no be in vain."

"This is the day when the Twin Cities announce their rise to the world."

This battle lasted a very, very long time.

The human-to-human fighting only lasted for three days, three days and three nights without rest. Illaoi finally fainted completely, unable to get up again. Although her flesh could still recover continuously, her spirit had been completely shattered. After all, being knocked around like that by Jayce for two days, it would cause a lot of strain, both mentally and physically.

Illaoi hovered on the edge of death for days, traversing between life and death nearly ten thousand times, her willpower was terrifying.

At least, if Linwin were to try it, he didn't think he could withstand it.

After all, don't underestimate Jayce's strength just because he's a scientist. In fact, Jayce is a blacksmith, born into a family that makes hammers. He has been playing with hammers since he was a child, mastering the traditional craft of hammering, which translates well into combat skills.

Billgewater drifted farther away, and when Linwin's magic recovered, the Buhru people were completely defeated. Linwin unleashed his full firepower, easily defeating the sea monsters in a few moves, while the Buhru people scattered. Even when they gathered, Linwin's wide-range wind magic could easily capture them.

Nevertheless, they risked their lives and reclaimed Illaoi with many casualties. Then, they threw Illaoi into the sea. Linwin didn't intervene; killing Illaoi wasn't an option, and leaving her awake would be troublesome.

At this point, Illaoi's favorability was no longer expected; it had become an external grudge, greater than the enmity towards Noxus, irreparable enmity.

Linwin looked around, sheathed his sword, and stretched lazily. The Guardian's Sea was completely dyed red, and the once gray sea around Billgewater was now blood-red, stretching from Billgewater towards m Ionia's vicinity, a terrifying sight.

"Finally... Is it over?" Jayce, leaning weakly against a wall with his hands on the hammerhead and chin resting on his palm, looked at Linwin exhaustedly.

While Linwin was fighting, Jayce had been hammering Illaoi for days, exhausting even his abundant energy.

It was because Jayce was watching Illaoi that she was taken away.

Linwin nodded at Jayce, but then shook his head, observing the situation.

Billgewater was revitalized under Taliyah's magic, though it still looked like a disaster zone.

At this moment, the sisters, Vi and Powder, were sound asleep, with Powder nestled in Vi's arms, her head buried in Vi's chest.

The little sparrow was protected by the people of Billgewater, tightly surrounding Taliyah to let her rest comfortably.

Billgewater people were brutal, but who on Runeterra was truly good?

At least, they knew who saved them.

Silco was cleaning up, and Viktor had fallen into a deep sleep since yesterday, despite proper rest, his body was still weaker than usual.

Tristana lay on a cannon she had somehow stolen, sleeping.

Was it over?

It was.

Human warfare had ended.

But the sky battles continued.

Linwin expressed some concern, "It's not over yet."

"If Nagakabouros wins, it will be troublesome for the Twin Cities," he continued. "But if Janna can win..."

"It's not over yet?! Weren't they all driven away? Look at all the corpses around here and say that to my face again!" Jayce exclaimed incredulously.

"What I mean is, the war between the gods is not over yet," Linwin replied impatiently.

Jayce fell silent, looking up at the sky along with Linwin, unable to perceive the situation as Linwin could.

"You have been defeated, sea god," Janna sensed the situation below, the relaxation of the Twin Cities' spirit, and smirked.

In human form, she could use more powerful protective magic, while in her bird form, she could better harm Nagakabouros.

But now, she was in human form, realizing she might have overestimated herself.

She previously thought Nagakabouros was strong in offense but weak in defense, believing she could eventually defeat her. But now, seeing Nagakabouros shrunken form, only a few dozen meters in size, and her strong healing ability, Nagakabouros would heal from any damage Janna inflicted in no time.

Now Janna couldn't harm her at all. If that was the case, then she'll go on the defensive and now both of them couldn't harm each other!

Neither can break the other's defense!

That's also why Linwin couldn't sense the battle anymore.

Not only because the gods had moved their battle to a higher place, but also because the battle had shifted from life and death to a prolonged battle of defense and recovery.

"Absurd," Nagakabouros hissed, looking at the newly ascended god with a hint of caution.

Just as Janna could sense the situation of her followers, Nagakabouros could also do the same.

Her followers in Bilgewater were shattered.

Unless she killed the god in front of her, devoured her soul, then captured the man with the special soul, Nagakabouros would be defeated.

The situation in Buhru now.... They won't be able to recover for quite a while after this.

Seeing the dense cluster of eyes before her, Janna understood her opponent's thoughts.

With a cold swing of her staff, she raised her head, a rare arrogance in her expression, "I won't lose."

They could only drag it out.

If she could gain more faith, perhaps she would have a chance to defeat Nagakabouros.

But how long would it take to obtain enough faith to defeat her?

Where would Twin Cities find tens of thousands of people to genuinely believe in Janna?

Would it take a year? Two years? Ten years? A hundred years, a thousand years?

Janna wasn't sure, but she knew Linwin would help her.

So, let it drag on, drag it out with Nagakabouros.

Until the day Linwin became powerful enough to help her.

————

"Jan'ahrem."

The dog-headed humanoid monster bared its teeth, its mouth gaping to speak, "I didn't expect you to hold out against her for this long."

"Since that's the case..."

————

"What do we do now? Is Goddess Janna in danger?" Jayce asked.

"You all go back first, I'll wait here," Linwin patted Jayce's shoulder, saying solemnly, "She's in good condition."

"Go back? And leave you alone to face danger again?" Jayce bent over, angry, punching Linwin, "Forget it, I'll stay with you."

"Even if it's dangerous, I won't let you do it alone this time," Jayce said sternly, looking at Linwin.

"Jayce." Linwin looked at Jayce with some emotion.

"Ugh, your gaze is disgusting, don't look at me like that, I already have Mel." 

"Huh, you talk as if I don't have anyone."

"Oh, of course you do, heheh," Jayce suddenly blinked mischievously.

"..."

"Alright, now's not the time for this conversation. Since you're staying, let Silco take them..."

Linwin's words were cut off halfway as he suddenly coughed, then looked up at the distant sky.

"What's wrong? Why did you stop mid-sentence?" Jayce asked, looking in the direction Linwin was gazing, also suddenly choking.

In the distant sky, clouds gathered together, forming a giant canine face, a face Linwin recognized!

"It's Nasus!" Linwin exclaimed with excitement.

"They call me the Curator of the Sands, yet I have forsaken what I believed in. I wandered for millennia, but now the fallen shall rise again!"

Nasus looked up at the sky where the battle raged.

Centuries of wandering had diminished his power, but now he had reclaimed it.

Dark lines encircled Nasus's canine pupils as he firmly planted his battle-axe against the ship's hull.

Then....

"Death! Descends!"

Golden light surrounded as black sand appeared abruptly on the sea's surface.

This black sand, tinged with gold, continued to expand along with Nasus's growing body.

"I will shatter your soul. I will become the monument on your path to the afterlife!"

"Ancient deity Nagakabouros, your time is now!"

The Curator of the Sands roared into the sky.

Clouds burned as Nasus's flames engulfed them. Janna also sensed Nasus's presence and swiftly transformed into a giant blue bird.

"———!!!"

Nagakabouros also sensed the approach of another powerful being and swiftly grew to counter Janna's attack. However, Janna endured the pain and with her claws, she gripped Nagakabouros's body tightly, pulling her downward.

Janna was very familiar with these ascendants, each stronger than the last. They were all like one-man armies, but most of them faced a common problem: they couldn't fly.

Nasus was no exception.

So...

"Boom!!!!"

The gale force, as an aid, can propel all things in the world!

The people of Bilgewater and the Twin Cities now saw the true forms of the gods.

The first to appear was a magnificent blue bird several hundred meters in size. Then, a massive, indistinct mass of blackness entwined around the blue bird, a giant snake-like creature.

The bird flapped its wings, bringing her downward.

Their speed was tremendous, and as they reached several dozen meters in altitude, another creature, much smaller than them, emerged.

He leaped, jumping to several dozen meters in the air.

It was a creature with a canine head and human body, standing at most fifteen meters tall, if that.

But his aura was no weaker than those powerful creatures.

Nasus, without hesitation, grasped his axe and swung it toward the massive body of the snake-like creature.

Janna hurled the Mother Serpent toward the sea, using the fierce winds to prevent her from flying upward.

The Mother Serpent's tentacles flailed open and shut, her head lunging upward to bite the bird in her mouth, while her whisker-like tentacles slapped the black hound fiercely.

The three gods intertwined.

This was a battle where mortals could not intervene.

This was the battle of the gods.