Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys Chapter 1577 - 544: The Advent of the Gods

Prince Menia appeared oblivious to this presence, continuing his address without haste: "The second newly appointed Imperial Guardian is Lambert..."

Abruptly, Rein raised his eyes, gazing intently at the heavens.

Out of nowhere, a mighty and crushing aura materialized in the sky, steadily intensifying with every second.

A colossal shadow exceeding a hundred meters in height slowly took shape and solidified; it depicted a robust figure clad in dark leather armor, twin battle axes hanging from his belt, gripping a shadowy massive bow.

"The Avatar of Luen, God of Hunting!"

"This has to be Demigod tier, doesn't it?"

"Rein, Crown, looks like we'll need to give it our all in this clash!" Detecting the immense might radiating from the foe, Sword Saint Lambert, positioned close by, wiped away his grin and declared gravely.

"No, it's just a whisper away; to be precise, the enemy remains at Epic Peak."

While Lambert had only recently attained Sword Saint rank, Rein had long since hit the pinnacle of Dawn Wizard. Upon thorough examination, he realized the arriving avatar hadn't crossed into Demigod territory.

Yet the grim fact remained that this avatar was merely a hair's breadth from Demigod status.

If one likened the foe to a Dawn Wizard at its zenith, then the Hunting God Luen before them had advanced to 98% or 99% in its essential evolution, claiming the ultimate summit.

"I get it now; this explains why His Majesty the Emperor decided to ascend in the next couple of days." In an instant, Rein pieced together the puzzle in his thoughts that had eluded him earlier.

"Menia was spot on; time stands against us."

"If a few more days slip by, the avatars the Divine can send down might straight-up reach Demigod. At that point, even with the empire rallying every Guardian, things won't improve much from the current mess, and the casualties will skyrocket."

Within this brief span, numerous towering silhouettes and immense presences plummeted from different corners of the sky.

In the western expanse, a cataclysmic serpent stretching hundreds of meters uncoiled, three gigantic tormented human visages protruding from its neck...

"That's the Devouring Snake revered by the Secret Snake Sect..."

Meanwhile, Hela, the Goddess of the Nether Sea—well-known to Rein—manifested in the southern skies at that very instant.

Furthermore, manifestations of various other Divine entities surfaced in the atmosphere.

This doomsday-like spectacle, evoking the end of days, promptly shattered the earlier festive mood, leaving the nobles hushed in terror.

"More divine avatars descending?"

"We're done for, take cover now!"

"Quiet down, keep in mind, with all these Imperial Guardians here, what's there to fear!"

"Ah!"

All at once, a noble in the viewing area let out a shriek, as the woman attired like a noblewoman next to him revealed a manic expression, seizing a blade and stabbing it into her spouse's belly.

The palace sentries surged ahead without delay.

However, such incidents erupted across multiple spots in the stands.

For an instant, it was impossible to tell if this was a coordinated assault by the Cultists or if the divine avatars' arrival had ignited madness in the souls around.

At that juncture, Menia halted his speech, murmuring softly: "Ladies and gentlemen, kindly take your seats and remain calm; recall, you embody the Empire's nobility, upholding its honor and grandeur. Guards, execute anyone who defies the command immediately."

Menia's utterance, laced with mental energy, remarkably quelled the disorder on site through those simple lines.

In that fleeting moment, the nobles displayed the full spectrum of human traits; some scrambled for shelter, others showed utter despair, whispering to themselves, while a few upheld the poise of Imperial aristocracy, staying composed and unruffled...

The Imperial Guardians, after a quick scan, directed their full focus skyward.

Up there waited the enemies demanding their utmost effort.

Those imposing forms in the air were also witnessed by the residents of Tamriel's Second and Third Rings in the Imperial City.

"Hurry, get to the basement."

"Don't stare!" A mother urgently shielded a young lad's vision, dragging him indoors.

Fortuitously, her action was swift enough, for the boy had only just fixed his eyes on the Hunting God Luen when his delicate mind warped instantly, his gaze darkening as savage, animalistic fury surged forth.

Thanks to the short exposure, though, the child snapped back to his usual self shortly after entering the dwelling.

...

Within Rein Mansion.

Sister Bo He and mother Emma, who had been enjoying the front yard, were promptly ushered inside by the barbarian girl Lagaray.

"Avoid looking at the Divine entities overhead."

"Never look straight at the Divine!"

Cleya blocked the guards eager to scout outdoors, warning them sternly.

Though startled, the women stayed composed, thanks in part to Rein's prior warnings and in part to his beforehand preparations. Right then, the established witch array softened the distant Divine pressure and effects.

...

Over the Imperial City.

In stark contrast to the common folk's panic stood the empire's aerial defenses.

Be it the Griffin Knight formations or the fortified airships bristling with ominous cannons along their flanks, all were streaming toward the Imperial Palace.

"Roar!!!"

Around the palace.

One by one, enormous dragons launched into the air, including ones Rein recognized and those he didn't.

Figures like Reginald alongside his dragon mount Ted were among them.

Elder Ivan mounted his crimson dragon as well.

Even Pantoscoke, dubbed 'Storm Cloud', refused to shy from the fray, astride his emerald dragon Hazas and charging ahead...

High above the palace, an enormous shield of five-hued energy materialized; Rein perceived that this barrier's defensive potency far surpassed the 'Crystal Barrier' safeguarding Ferdinand Elf Main City.