In the Forest of Truth, a swift breeze swept through, leaving no trace on the grass.
As a Stormweaver, one of the three elements—wind, fire, lightning—Mike's casting of wind spells received an additional boost. Although not as powerful as the boost from lightning, it still far surpassed that of an ordinary mage.
Combining Wind Fury with Lightness Technique and Windstride Slash, Mike pushed his movement speed to the limit, leaving all the scenery behind him in a blur.
Even so, the torrent of steel following him grew larger and larger.
As Mike delved deeper, more Battle Lord tier equipment continued to appear, following him. From the initial nine pieces, the number had surged to thirty-six!
Mike glanced back briefly; thirty-six glowing pieces of equipment were at the forefront. Each one was exceptionally extraordinary, radiating powerful auras.
These powerful pieces of equipment collided with each other, much like patrons of a brothel vying for the most beautiful courtesan.
Yes, Mike had this odd sensation. These pieces of equipment all wanted to be chosen by him, competing fiercely with each other, full of explosive tension.
Clang—
The sound of metal striking metal suddenly rang out, echoing endlessly in the Forest of Truth. All the equipment behind Mike slowed for a moment, as if experiencing a lag in connectivity.
Swoosh—
A streak of cold light cut through the sky, and a maul moved to the forefront of all the equipment, coming within less than half a meter from Mike.
"Thunderclap Hammer?!" Shadow Nine exclaimed in surprise, "How is this possible!"
His voice was filled with confusion, puzzled by the scene unfolding before him. As Mike continued to flee, he responded to Shadow Nine, "I also find it inappropriate; after all, I'm a mage. Have you ever seen a mage wielding a hammer in battle?"
"A mage using a hammer, is that still a mage?" Shadow Nine snorted coldly, gritting his teeth as he asked, "Kid, which supreme being did you encounter during your Battle Soldiers test?"
"What does that have to do with the hammer?" Mike was puzzled but still answered, "Ares!"
"That makes sense..."
Shadow Nine sighed and quickly explained, "When Ares entered this place, all the equipment in the forest awakened and appeared beside Ares! This Thunderclap Hammer belonged to an extremely powerful Ultimate Battle Lord. After his death, this weapon remained in the Forest of Truth, never awakening again until the day Ares appeared!"
"Why did the Thunderclap Hammer stay here after it awakened?" Mike guessed something and asked back, "Ares didn't choose the Thunderclap Hammer?"
"Right, Ares... just picked up the nearest sword," Shadow Nine recalled.
Faced with a sky full of flying equipments, Ares casually picked one and said, "I have one sword, sufficient to slay my enemies." Then, with that sword, Ares went to the frontline and slew gods and demons.
Hearing the story of Ares, Mike couldn't help but remark, "In terms of style, Ares really nailed it."
Shadow Nine rolled his eyes and explained, "The Thunderclap Hammer wasn't chosen, probably felt resentful. Since you've crossed paths with Ares' projection, it makes sense for it to appear now!"
Ultimate Battle Lords are the supreme of Battle Lords, and the weapons they use in battle are no ordinary items. Without a doubt, the Thunderclap Hammer is one of the most powerful pieces of equipment in the Forest of Truth!
Before Shadow Nine could finish speaking, another loud noise erupted.
Boom—
A dark shadow flew out, closely following the Thunderclap Hammer—a black slab radiating infinite malevolent power, on par with the Thunderclap Hammer.
Mike looked back again.
[This Ultimate Battle Lord actually didn't die, shh—keep it down, all the demon gods know this secret.]
Mike was shocked; there was actually a powerful human who had faked his death?
Since this Ultimate Battle Lord wasn't dead, Mike decided against considering the black slab. If the Ultimate Battle Lord were to emerge from his coffin and find his equipment with someone else, it would be akin to NTR. Inappropriate, indeed.
"Kid, hurry up!" Shadow Nine heard a third loud noise, signaling the appearance of more Ultimate Battle Lord relics!
Covering ordinary Battle Lord equipment was already taxing for Shadow Nine, let alone Ultimate Battle Lord relics!
"Roger that!" Mike refocused and continued forging ahead. He felt as if something deep within the Forest of Truth was calling to him.
Crossing grasslands, streams, and thickets, following the call, Mike headed deeper into the forest.
...
In the eastern part of the Forest of Truth, amidst a misty purple haze, Shadow Seven stood on a large rock, gazing into the deepest parts of the forest.
"Thor...Thor...." He repeated the name, his eyes occasionally flashing with memories.
Ten years ago, Shadow Seven awakened an SS-tier talent, rising like a meteor and then vanishing just as quickly.
No one knew that the young genius once hailed as [closest to a supreme being] had now become a member of the [Guardian Shadow], ranked seventh among the [Shadows].
Even Maxen Stoneheart couldn't achieve this in ten years!
"I was once a supreme being seed." With a snort of discontent, Shadow Seven's eyes filled with reluctance, "Back then, when I entered the Forest of Truth, six relics of Ultimate Battle Lords awakened."
Boom—
Another loud noise echoed through the forest. The seventh.
"The seventh one, it must be Thor." Shadow Seven looked down at his short blade, a relic he had taken from the Forest of Truth.
Its previous owner, a powerful Ultimate Battle Lord, had used this blade to kill over ten demon race Battle Lords, a remarkable feat.
Unfortunately, he was gravely injured while challenging the Tower of Truth, beyond hope of recovery.
Refusing the supreme beings' suggestion to prolong his life, the owner of the short blade dragged his injured body alone into the Abyssal Plane.
When Ares arrived, only this blade remained at the scene. An entire mid-level Abyssal Plane was slaughtered, not a single creature left alive!
The fate of that grievously injured Ultimate Battle Lord remained unknown, his whereabouts a mystery. Eventually, the short blade was brought back to the Forest of Truth, passed down to Shadow Seven.
"It's okay." Shadow Seven's fingertips caressed the short blade, murmuring, "My blade and I are the strongest."
"I've lost once, I won't lose a second time."
"Thor... I'm waiting for the day you become a Battle Lord..."
...
Deep in the Forest of Truth, Mike finally stopped. Before him stood a kilometer-tall monument, shrouded in black cloth, its true face obscured.
Mike was certain it was this monument calling to him. The multitude of equipment behind him also came to a halt.
The nine strongest relics stood at the forefront. These pieces of equipment, all from Ultimate Battle Lords, were the highest tier and most valuable in the Forest of Truth.
All were present.
"I can only hold on for 3 minutes, make it quick!" Shadow Nine urged.
Mike, however, seemed not to hear, muttering to himself, "I want to see this monument."
He didn't look at the million divine soldiers behind him, nor did he care about the nine relics of Ultimate Battle Lords; his gaze was fixed on the monument shrouded in black cloth.
Without using the Eye of Truth, Mike wanted to see for himself why the monument was calling him, why it resonated with his soul.
"Sigh..." Shadow Nine sighed, his figure emerging from the mist. Stooping, he walked forward.
"If you want to see, then see." With that, Shadow Nine extended his emaciated palm, pinched the black cloth with two fingers, and gave a slight tug. The cloth fell away, revealing the true face of the monument before Mike.
On the immense monument, countless words and names were inscribed in bright red paint.
"Axton Gearforge sought death alone, so that the civilization of humanity might forever endure!"
"Before death, there is but one thing—to kill the enemy!"
"For the glory of humanity, for our descendants!"
"Blaze, this battle is perilous. With you at home, my brotherly heart is at ease. Do not worry, Terraon Morrow leaves this."
"I'm tired, I want to rest, take care."
"....."
Mike's gaze swept over each line, as if seeing face after face.
"This is..." he murmured.
"This is the Monument of Faith, or rather... last words." Shadow Nine sighed, explaining, "Whenever humanity faces a great battle, there are fearless heroes who charge to the forefront of the battlefield."
"To block the enemy, to break their ranks, they trade their lives for a hope of victory."
Looking at the Monument of Faith, Mike seemed to hear the sounds of battle in his ears, seeing wave after wave of people advancing bravely, facing death as if returning home.
The peace under his feet was won inch by inch by his ancestors with their blood, and it is still guarded by blood today!
There was a time when a demon god boasted, "Kill them, just scare the humans enough, and they will naturally submit!"
This monument is humanity's response.
Humans do not fear death; how could they possibly submit?