"Have they gone mad? To think of establishing a Divine Kingdom in the Prime Material World — does he intend to walk the earth in Saint form from now on?"
"We can discuss these matters later — right now, we need to get out of here..."
Both he and Mystra were merely avatars at present — plunging headlong into Banksey Island as it was being transformed into a Divine Kingdom would be nothing short of suicide.
Mystra scrambled out in a wretched state as well. Only Mara's avatar remained, imprisoned within the Divine Kingdom by the golden light, rapidly dissolving. After letting out an unwilling roar, it perished outright — consumed as nourishment for the kingdom's construction.
Even a deity's avatar met such a fate — the elites who had infiltrated fared far worse. Even Legendary-level powerhouses were instantly suppressed, reduced to the strength of commoners, and slaughtered helplessly by the temple guards.
In the void, streaks of golden Laws materialized, weaving together above Banksey Island into an intricate and beautiful pattern.
And
"No! We cannot let him continue! We must marshal our forces immediately — rally the entire Silver Moon Alliance and every last paladin! No matter the cost, he must be killed!"
There was an edge of shrillness in Mystra's voice.
"His Divine Kingdom is still in its infancy — breaking through now would only cost a few avatars. But if we wait... I'm afraid..."
Tyr nodded gravely, conceding Mystra's assessment.
"Such a source of evil must not be allowed to exist!"
The establishment of a Divine Kingdom required centuries. Only then would it become a deity's most impregnable stronghold — garrisoned by vast elite armies, high-level adventurers, exalted heroes, and saints. Even a Greater Deity would not want to wage war against one.
And Leylin's Divine Kingdom at present lacked precisely that foundation.
There were not enough petitioners, not enough heroes or saints, not enough temples or magical arrays — and the transformation of the Laws was far from complete. It was at its most vulnerable.
Moreover! As long as he established his Divine Kingdom in the Prime Material World, Leylin's true body could never venture forth again. He would be forced to maintain Saint form at all times, and could be cut down by a group of high-level Legendaries — an incredibly perilous situation!
Many deities had perished in precisely this manner — when they descended into the Prime Material World in Saint form. In the eyes of the high-level Legendaries of the material plane, a true god reduced to Saint form was nothing short of a gift-wrapped prize!
Mystra had no doubt that in the future, Bankenz Island would become a paradise for all high-level Legendary adventurers!
All it took was slaying a single true god, and their divinity, divine portfolio, and all their accumulated power would become one's own! Perhaps even some demigods would be unable to resist such temptation!
"He is digging his own grave!"
Tyr offered as his final summary.
……
"Establishing a Divine Kingdom in the Prime Material World is nothing short of suicide! Did you think I wouldn't know?"
Amidst Bankenz Island, which had already begun its transformation into a Divine Kingdom, a hint of mocking amusement played across Leylin's face.
At this moment, the apotheosis ritual had reached its final stage, but it was not yet over.
Numerous believers prayed in unison: "Our Lord
"Raise your throne on high! Become a star in the heavens!"
"Raise your throne on high! Become a star in the heavens!"
In truth, while every contract of apotheosis contained these words, they were little more than a wish.
The establishment of a Divine Kingdom was never something that could be accomplished in a single day, let alone the raising of a throne and ascension to a star! The divine power consumed in the process would typically exhaust centuries' worth of accumulation for a Lesser Divinity!
But Leylin was different now! The Sea of Primordial Force from the apotheosis still lingered — and moreover, he possessed a devastating trump card!!!
"The true apotheosis ritual is far, far from over!!!!"
With Leylin's thunderous cry, the entirety of Bankenz Island began to tremble.
The radiance of the Divine Kingdom enveloped everything, slicing through the surrounding space. Massive fissures appeared in the seawater. The original Bankenz Island was instantly severed and cut away, forming a demiplane.
"Raising the throne? How is that even possible?"
Mystra felt that her knowledge as a deity was on the verge of complete collapse today — she simply could not comprehend what Leylin was doing. "Even with the Tide of Primordial Force during ascension, it absolutely wouldn't be enough..."
The World's Primordial Force boiled!
The entire South Sea erupted in a furious roar. The disappearance of the Bankris Island continent had carved out an enormous chunk from its map, and the ramifications were immeasurably profound.
Of course, Leylin couldn't have cared less about any of it.
If not for his limited divine power, he would have loved to cut the entire South Sea away from the Material Plane altogether — after all, the area of a divine kingdom was inextricably linked to the power of its deity.
At that moment, every intelligent being in the Material Plane could perceive a brilliant star, blazing like a supernova, radiating a dazzling and blinding light from the southern horizon.
"This is — Ascension of the Throne! Divine Kingdom Advancement!"
Countless exclamations rose from across the continent, but moments later, even more sounds of utter disbelief followed.
What were they seeing?
A supernova — not ascending, but plunging downward!!!!
"Haha… Why must I advance to the Upper Planes? I can just as well choose to descend to the Lower Planes!!!"
Leylin laughed wildly.
Compared to elevating a divine kingdom, this descent consumed far less divine power.
Of course, for an ordinary deity, the cost of tearing through the planes and descending a divine kingdom would make them cough blood all the same!
But Leylin was different! He held the authority of an Arch-Devil! The gates of the second layer of
With his status as an Arch-Devil, the Primordial Hell Force would never resist the descent of his divine kingdom. Moreover, at the critical moment, he could directly harness the Primordial Hell Force to assist with the ritual transition of his divine kingdom!
That's right! Leylin's target was the second layer of Dis!
He held the authority of Arch-Devil there — the entire plane of Dis was already his demigod kingdom!
And if he merged the divine kingdom on Bankris Island with the plane of Dis as a whole, then transforming the entire second layer of Dis into his divine kingdom was no mere fantasy!
With an infinite expanse of hellish space serving as his divine kingdom, bolstered by the original laws of Dis as his aid, his construction and accumulation in the realm of [Divine Kingdom] would instantly surpass countless wretched minor deities and rival the divine kingdoms painstakingly built by demigods of the intermediate rank!
When that day came,
The entire plane of Dis would become Leylin's most impregnable stronghold!
"Target Hell! Let's move!"
Leylin's figure projected instantly into the sky. At the edge of the world, a colossus towering between heaven and earth seemed to appear, slowly aligning the divine kingdom toward Hell.
BOOM!
A fist carrying infinite divine power and the world's primal force shattered the barrier of the Material Plane in an instant. The entirety of Bankzi Island plummeted downward.
Bastille Hell! The Second Layer — Plane of Dis!
The entire primal force of Hell began to boil, radiating endless ritual patterns as it interfaced with Bankzi Island's divine kingdom.
"Our Lord Kukulkan! You are the commander of all devils! The ruler of Hell! The entire Plane of Dis shall become your divine kingdom!"
Upon the countless spatial nodes of Dis, the devils Azilok had previously stationed there began praying in unison, their voices rising in a thunderous chorus.
The entire space of Dis started to tremble, as though welcoming its own rebirth.
Within Bastille Hell, every devil felt this shift, and unease began to spread through them like wildfire. Unfortunately, even the Overlords of the uppermost layers could do nothing to stop it.
"NO!!!!"
An unwilling roar of fury erupted from Nessus, the Ninth Layer of Hell.
BOOM! BOOM! Boundless chasms and gorges in the earth split apart, revealing the monstrous true form of a devil of terrifying magnitude.
This was Asmodeus's true body! A being possessing power no less formidable than that of a true deity! He had merely been gravely wounded previously and required recovery, which was why he had been operating through avatars all this time.
But now, Leylin's actions had pushed him over the edge!
Asmodeus had always aimed to conquer all Nine Layers of Hell, yet here Leylin came, poised to swallow the entire Plane of Dis in one gulp — and with every intention of squatting there permanently. How could Asmodeus possibly tolerate that?
An ancient, weathered contract materialized in Asmodeus's hand, and the primal force of all Hell howled in response.
His figure expanded instantly, nearly blanketing all of Bastille Hell, and he positioned himself squarely in the path of the divine kingdom Leylin was shoving forward.
"By the Primordial Pact, I secured the right of Hell to claim souls! And with that right comes dominion over the entirety of Hell! Get out!"
Amid Asmodeus's thunderous roar, a vast torrent of devilish power surging with immense force hurtled straight toward Leylin.
"A meager existence, and you still wish to block me now? Block a true god?"
The same infernal primal force condensed behind Leylin. "In the name of the Lord of Dis! Dis Hell is hereby severed from the sequence of Hell!"
The infernal authority obtained from
"In the name of Kukulkan... from this day forward, the Dis plane shall gain the right of soul collection for all my followers! The Primordial Pact is annulled!"
Then, in the name of a true god, Leylin launched a terrifying assault upon Asmodeus.
The reason Asmodeus had been able to command Hell's support was because he had secured the right of soul collection for Hell! But now, Leylin had shattered the very foundation of his rule in legal terms!
For Asmodeus, this was a blow far more devastating than losing Dis!
"You dare..."
Asmodeus was consumed by incandescent rage.
"Screaming won't help you. Get out of my way!"
With the Dis plane howling behind him, Asmodeus's figure shrank continuously until Leylin drove the divine kingdom forward and smashed him into the depths of Nessus.
BOOM!
The divine kingdom transformed from Bankes Island merged with the Dis plane in an instant, radiating a holy brilliance!