Chapter 443 - 70: Situation of the Dragon Race; The 8 Great Dominators of the Stars

And what about this First Blood Ancestor?

When he saw Lince’s terrifying form, he was truly filled with despair.

He had originally thought that despite his recent ascension to Star God, he was still no match for the Ancient Giant Snake God Kukudar, who had suddenly appeared under the Star Empire’s banner.

But at the very least, he should be considered a significant figure now.

As it turned out, he was indeed a significant figure, but compared to the Dragon God Lince, he was still as weak as an ant.

The power gap was even wider now than it had been when Lince first subjugated the Crimson World.

This filled the First Blood Ancestor with a deep sense of defeat.

Not only was the joy of his promotion to Dominator completely washed away, but he even developed a mentality of just giving up.

’I’m tired!’

’What’s the point of trying so hard?’

’I’ll never be a match for the Ancient Deities.’

’Besides, with the Star Empire’s current rate of expansion, I’ll sooner or later be reduced to a marginal existence.’

’Take those Ancient Deities from the Barbaric Star standing beside me. They might seem weaker than me for now...’

’...but they’ll probably surpass me very soon.’

After all, since the Crimson World had become part of the Star Empire, the Thirteen Blood Ancestors had long since learned what Ancient Deities were.

They knew all too well the gap between ordinary beings and Ancient Deities.

So, at this moment, even with praise from the Dragon God Lince himself...

...the First Blood Ancestor felt completely unenthusiastic.

’Forget it.’

’I’m done competing.’

’Power, strength... as long as I have enough, it’s fine.’

’Why work myself to death?’

’I might as well learn from those ’Lying Gods’ in the Star Empire’s Pantheon, who wander the mortal world to experience its various pleasures when they have nothing better to do.’

Lince was unaware of the First Blood Ancestor’s state of mind.

However, he could see that this once-ambitious Blood Ancestor was suffering from a severe psychological blow.

Lince offered no comment on the matter.

After all, every person and every god was a unique individual.

As long as his own interests weren’t threatened, Lince fully respected their individual will.

Besides, when Lince had praised the Blood Ancestor, he had also offered some words of encouragement.

He had urged him to continue working hard and contribute to the Star Empire, and even hinted that he would find a way for ordinary Deities at the Dominator Level to advance to the next stage.

He had said what needed to be said.

If the First Blood Ancestor himself didn’t want to press on, then so be it.

As long as he could properly ’guard the home front,’ maintain the stability and prosperity of the Crimson World, and thus accelerate the Star Empire’s growth and Lince’s own, that would be enough.

After all, Lince didn’t really need the help of any single deity at this point.

’Ultimately, if there’s something I can’t handle myself, can I really expect other Deities to do it?’

Besides, the existence of the Star Empire and its mortal and ordinary Deities was, in the end, all for the sake of serving Lince’s growth.

What Lince truly valued was the accelerated growth of his ’God of Civilization’ aspect, fed by the Star Empire, and the ’income’ from his ’God of War’ aspect during wars between civilizations.

So, after briefly praising the Thirteen Blood Ancestors for their meritorious service in protecting the Crimson World, Lince granted an audience to the ’Twin Gods’ of the Square World.

Although the Twin Gods, a brother and sister, had not yet individually reached the Dominator or Star God Level...

...they were likely not far from it.

Furthermore, when the two of them achieved Unity, their Ability was now genuinely that of a Dominator Level deity.

Thus, if you included the Ancient Deities, the Star Empire now possessed the following forces at or above the Dominator Level.

Including Lince himself, there were a total of eight.

Lince, Kukudar, the Four Gods of the Barbaric Star Continent, the First Blood Ancestor, and the Twin Gods in their state of Unity.

In addition, if you included their ally, the Giant Demon Emperor, there were nine beings at or above the Dominator level.

’Not bad progress.’ Lince, at least, was very satisfied.

By gathering these major powers here now, Lince intended to both appease them as an Upper-Rank being...

...and to display his own Power. The overall point was to emphasize one thing.

That following him, Lince, would be the smartest choice these Deities ever made.

Therefore, after meeting with these key Deities,

Lince also thought of his own Dragon Race. With a mere flicker of his will...

...Lince used his control over Space to transport all fifty-one Divine Tier Dragons to the Crimson World.