Chapter 329

Chapter 329: Sacrifice is the Foundation of the Empire!

"Though it’s basically a real-world mushroom, its power seems a bit excessive."

Trilobite examined the System panel while observing his fungal spawn.

Though the fungi hadn’t differentiated yet, they’d gained a peculiar attribute—【Spawn: Ancient Giant Fungi (outfitted with Morchella-style explosive spore dispersers).】

The part outside the parentheses was straightforward enough.

"Ancient giant fungi did exist historically."

"I recall they appeared in the Devonian period—called Prototaxites, wasn’t it?"

Trilobite remembered correctly.

Though named "Prototaxites" suggesting algae, it was undeniably a fungus.

This peculiar fungus emerged during the Devonian when land plants remained stubby and low-growing. Yet Prototaxites already possessed a towering presence, reaching heights of eight meters or more with trunks spanning one meter across.

Even by today’s standards, that wouldn’t count as a small tree.

In an era when only tiny arthropods crawled across Devonian landscapes, it truly was a colossal giant.

"But Prototaxites doesn’t quite match my fungal spawn’s appearance…"

"Hmm…"

Reconstructions suggested Prototaxites resembled an upright "tower" without modern mushrooms’ umbrella-like caps. It likely branched like trees with fungal limbs.

Trilobite’s "large fungi" spawn fell short of Prototaxites’ height, generally standing 4-6 meters tall with seventy-centimeter diameters. Yet they sported massive modern-mushroom-style caps that released spores from their gills.

"Perhaps they’re undiscovered giant fungi still buried in rock layers."

"After all, the early Devonian land couldn’t have hosted just one giant fungus species."

Truthfully, fossil preservation—especially for large fungi—proves challenging. Lacking substantial woody tissue, fungi rarely formed coal fossils retaining their shapes like ancient trees did.

Silicification was equally hard to achieve.

Prototaxites fossils mainly exist as impressions, leaving current knowledge of these giants limited.

"Now about the bracketed part…"

"Hmm…"

"’Outfitted with Morchella-style explosive spore dispersers’?"

Trilobite certainly knew Morchella.

As a lifelong food enthusiast across two existences, he recognized it well.

Delicious stuff!

But Morchella’s real claim to fame wasn’t its edibility—it was its explosive nature!

Upon maturing, these fungi swell into round puffs. Any disturbance triggers a "boom," blasting out enormous spore clouds.

Though the puffball is small and the blast weak—lacking shrapnel or lethal force—getting sprayed by Morchella spores meant stained clothes, potential allergies, or fungal infections. Not ideal at all.

Of course, Morchella is an order, not just a single species.

The explosive effect of small Morchella was limited; but some larger specimens…

There did seem to be records of using them as landmines.

Though not lethal, they worked well as smoke screens or tear gas mines to drive away intruders.

"That’s exactly why I used these things before."

"Just wanted to give it a try."

"Didn’t expect they’d actually work."

Trilobite raised his head, gazing into the distance.

His eyes fell upon the "Yuan Crocodile" before him.

The creature nervously backed away, making way for Trilobite.

A towering "beast" now loomed faintly through the smoke.

"Good."

Trilobite gave an appreciative look at his guide.

"You led me straight to the biggest prey."

"There’ll be plenty of rewards later!"

After ensuring the Yuan Crocodile had retreated to a safe distance, Trilobite crept forward silently.

Normally, something as large as a postosuchus would be detected despite quiet footsteps. But Trilobite’s air sac breathing system lightened his movements, allowing stealthy approach.

Moreover, this prey had just triggered a mine and was in bad shape.

It couldn’t even muster concern for the approaching predator.

"Weak. Huge. Meat galore. Perfect prey."

"Now then…"

Trilobite lowered his head, coiling to strike!

—-

Moments earlier…

"Roar—!"

Walifer bellowed in pained fury.

He couldn’t believe it—despite holding every advantage, whether casting forbidden spells up close or charging with his Divine Body, victory seemed certain. Yet something went wrong.

All because he’d foolishly stepped on the thing to flaunt his arrogance.

Then…

"Boom—!"

Walifer only recalled colossal energy erupting from that "tiny" Divine Hills.

Scorching power blasted directly into his face.

"Roar—!"

Walifer, already burdened with "DEBUFFs" from the environment full of Holy Light from the Sun, felt even worse right away.

His whole face was smothered by the burning energy of Holy Light from the Sun.

Honestly, this time the energy wasn’t even as strong as the "Golden Sun" sister Valaharl had gathered earlier. Last time, Walifer was ready for it, but this time he was caught off guard.

What Chaos Demon God could have guessed?

A dull, lumpy thing like that held so much power.

To make it worse, the "Divine Hills" exploded almost right next to him!

The Holy Light from the Sun energy turned to vapor during the fierce blast, spreading everywhere. It burned his face, mouth, and eyes, and sharp pain shot through Walifer’s Soul!

"Damn it—!"

"Damn it—!"

"Roar—!"

His Soul seemed on fire as Walifer screamed out a loud curse and wail. His body felt jumpy, like it wanted to act.

Just like when people hop on one foot after stepping on a nail or kicking metal to ease the pain, the Divine Body acted the same way as living things.

"Roar—!"

With the howls, his strong limbs pulled his huge Divine Body as he dashed wildly through "Dantalin."

He hadn’t run far…

But now…

"Boom—Boom—Boom—!"

Loud blasts rang out again and again.

Walifer stepped on one "Divine Hill" after another, making things even harder.

Violent explosions and mushroom clouds packed with flows of Holy Light from the Sun rose one after another, hitting Walifer’s face over and over.

Finally…

"Enough!"

"I’ve had enough!"

"I am a god! A core councilor! You are mortals! The Will of the World about to end!"

"You can’t treat a core councilor like this!"

"You pushed me to this!"

Walifer was boiling with rage.

He felt his dignity, power, and pride as a core councilor were crushed by this awful Bubble World and this hateful "Dantalin!"

He chose to use the harshest ways against this Bubble World!

"Hehe…"

"Do you think a god’s body is just for smashing into things?"

"Wrong!"

"This was actually a magic power storage pool!"

"Hey—!"

Walifer slowly stepped back with a rumbling sound, moving away from the dangerous Dantalin.

As he retreated, his divine body squirmed and wriggled.

Even Loseta, on the ruins of Dantalin, could see his divine skin pulsing like boiling water.

But Walifer’s divine body wasn’t swelling; it was shrinking slowly!

Soon, his divine steel skin turned wrinkly, and his shape slumped down, looking like an old being that had aged completely.

"Inside our divine body, we had a lot of ‘Magic Fat,’ which stored magic power. When needed, it could be burned to give power to the demon god."

"Of course, right now, just ‘Magic Fat’ wasn’t enough."

"So I used some muscle too."

"That cut down my movement capability, speed, and agility a lot."

"But it was all worth it!"

"Because I gathered magic power again!"

"Now, the second round of bombing starts!"

"Whoosh…"

Walifer opened his giant jaws again, huge energy building up inside.

"Buzz… Buzz… Buzz…"

Once more, the hum from the piling energy rose from low to high!

"Get ready for the second ‘Light of the demon god’!"

—-

"I couldn’t let him win!"

Loseta bit her bright red lower lip hard.

"But what could I do?"

"At this point, only…"

Her eyes shone with a firm light.

"To honor the Giant God!"

Loseta’s white hair and pretty face made people forget she was Valaharl too.

Deep down, Valaharl people thought the best way to serve the Giant God was through sacrifice!

"Great, kind Will of the World!"

"For the Giant God’s glory, for His big plan, and for Valaharl’s future, we must stop the Chaos Demon God!"

"And there’s just one way."

She shut her eyes and waited.

The Will of the World heard her prayer and answered.

"Are you sure…"

Valaharl knew Loseta’s plan right away—to pull out the last bits of "Holy Light from the Sun," gather them into a "shield face," then Loseta would hold it up and rush at the Chaos Demon God’s giant jaws.

At super close range, even inside his mouth, she’d crash into the "Light of the demon god," making his power blow up inside!

The plan had a tiny chance but meant sure sacrifice.

But Valaharl people never balked at "sacrifice."

"Yes."

That was Loseta’s inorganic reply.

"Bet everything."

"Walk toward death."

"Sacrifice is the base of the Giant God Empire!"

"It’s every Valaharl person’s fate."

"And it’s an honor."

"I’m the living saint picked by the Giant God, so I should be more worthy of this honor!"

Valaharl nodded.

"Okay."

"But I’ll go with you!"

Then, the ball of light gathered again.

Together, Valaharl and Loseta held a much smaller light shield and charged at the Chaos Demon God’s open giant jaws!

But they saw a sly glint flash in the Chaos Demon God’s eyes.