Global Game: Developing a Knight Clan

Chapter 424 - 62: Choice and Contract, the Dust Settles

Within the civilization of the Star Empire, Deities were not absolute, nor did they represent everything.

If there was any truly absolute existence in the Star Empire,

then without a doubt, it was only the great Dragon God.

The true creator and protector of the Star Empire.

And under His command, whether they were mortals or Deities in the Empire,

they were all just members, each with their own duties.

There wasn’t much of a difference between them.

The only difference, perhaps, was that those who could become Deities, or even just slightly more powerful beings, would be assigned duties as needed and would, in turn, receive certain privileges.

That was all.

After all, the Star Empire couldn’t possibly achieve true equality for all species and individuals.

Because true equality was, in fact, inequality.

Especially in a world and civilization with Extraordinary Power, absolute equality would be an injustice to these Transcendents.

Therefore, the equality in the Star Empire was merely relative.

All privileges had to be earned through one’s personal Mighty Power and contributions to the Empire.

So, Kukudar stated directly.

That if beings like them, the Ancient Deities, joined the Star Empire, they would naturally obtain a transcendent status. (Super-enforcers)

They would not be enslaved, nor would they be devoured by Kukudar.

In short, they could still live as they pleased most of the time.

However, from then on, they could no longer devour mortals at will.

And should they encounter enemies of civilization or face a war between civilizations, they would have to act according to the will of the Dragon God, or even the decisions of the Deities.

Of course, since they themselves were also Deities,

they could also take part in the Deities’ councils and voice their own opinions.

Furthermore, if they encountered danger, they could naturally receive help from all the Deities of the Star Empire, and even the protection of the Dragon God.

Rights and responsibilities.

Kukudar had said all that could be said.

He even gave a simple introduction to the current scope of the Star Empire’s influence.

For example, how many worlds they possessed, the number of Deities from other worlds they had, and so on.

All in all, this conversation lasted for three sunrises and sunsets on Barbaric Star.

And it was only then that they, including the Feathered Insect God, finally understood.

’So the Star Sea beyond our world is this vast?’

’So this is what a "civilization" is? That powerful Deities can achieve such feats?’

Conquering the Endless Star Sea, conquering countless worlds, with Deities and mortals exploring the mysteries of the entire Star Sea and its infinite unknowns together.

To the Ancient Deities of Barbaric Star,

everything the Star Empire aimed to do was truly staggering.

As for just how powerful the Dragon God behind the Star Empire was,

Kukudar never specified from beginning to end.

He only said that the Dragon God was far more powerful and benevolent than he was.

And that He was currently slumbering upon the so-called Sun.

In short, Kukudar only said that they would one day have the chance to meet the Dragon God.

"So, I believe you now know everything you wanted to know."

"In that case, why don’t you all make your decision now."

Kukudar finally spoke again.

At this, the eight Ancient Deities of Barbaric Star all revealed incredibly complicated expressions.

"Great one, we have indeed learned everything."

"But, great one, the Feathered Insect God and the rest of us have a long-standing grudge."

"If we choose to join the Star Empire and submit to the great Dragon God, what will happen if the Feathered Insect God clashes with us afterward?"

At that moment, the human face that appeared on the Green God, who resembled a large tree stump, suddenly spoke.

"Hmm? Since you would all be Deities of the Empire, how could you come into conflict?"

"What reason would you have to continue fighting? Surely not to compete for the title of the number one Ancient Species Deity among the Empire Gods?"

"If that’s the case, you should first consider whether you can defeat me and the Dragon God."

Kukudar paused for a moment, then couldn’t help but chuckle.

He even added at the end:

"But you won’t get that chance."

"This time, all the Ancient Deities of Barbaric Star."

"You, you all, and you—once you choose to join the Empire, you will need to sign a Spiritual contract with the mighty Dragon God."

"The contract’s contents will strictly bind your actions and even prevent any possibility of future rebellion."

As he spoke, a thought flickered in Kukudar’s mind.

And so, tens of thousands of miles away, Brother Cheng Takes Off and the other Seven Gods heard a voice.

"Teachers, I believe you can now use your authority to summon the Authority Level book of contracts from the True Game."

...

To be honest, everything that was happening on Barbaric Star had caught Brother Cheng Takes Off and the others completely off guard.

They had originally expected a great battle to follow.

But there were so many twists that they didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

The scene felt strangely familiar.

Although they were quite satisfied with this outcome.

After all, the more Deities that submitted to the Empire, the stronger the Star Empire’s foundation would become.

But they still couldn’t help but complain.

’In these wars between civilizations, can’t the Empire ever run into a tough nut to crack?’

But on second thought, they could actually understand.

Beings as powerful as Lince and the Giant Serpent God were probably rare even in the entire Cosmos.

When faced with them, as long as you weren’t completely out of your mind,

you would make the right choice.

After all, the Star Empire wasn’t some kind of Demon empire that devoured people whole.

There was no need to resist to the bitter end.

So, right after Kukudar sent his telepathic message,

Brother Cheng Takes Off and the others immediately used their respective sub-authorities in unison, conveying their will to the True Game.

They wanted to use the core Power of the True Game to directly form a contract with the Ancient Deities of Barbaric Star.

Ancient Deities, after all, were not ordinary Deities.

The contractual power exchanged between ordinary Deities, or even among Main God Level beings, was useless against them.

Besides, the Star Empire didn’t have a single Main God Level Contract God.

Even if it did,

it wouldn’t be a sure thing.

After all, whether it was a Main God or a Dominator, even if they had studied the Law of contracts,

they would still be absolutely incapable of effectively binding an Ancient Deity.

After all, the growth potential of Ancient Deities was very high, and they grew faster than ordinary Deities.

Once an Ancient Deity grew to a stage similar to the Dominator phase of an ordinary Deity, or even stronger,

the original contractual Power would no longer be effective.

Therefore, to truly restrain these beings, the Star Empire could only rely on the Power of the True Game at present.

So, under these circumstances, the operational rules of the True Game naturally wouldn’t reject their proposal.

And so, under the watchful gaze of the Ancient Deities,

at the very moment Kukudar’s voice seemed to fade, a strange fluctuation suddenly appeared around them.

This fluctuation had no physical manifestation,

but all the Ancient Deities felt an unprecedentedly terrifying gaze upon them.

Even Kukudar felt this sensation.

However, the gaze Kukudar felt carried a strange sense of familiarity.

So, after a brief moment of surprise, Kukudar’s expression turned slightly joyful as he said:

"Choose!"

"Under the gaze of the Dragon God, and with the power of the contract as your witness, state your decision!"

What Kukudar didn’t know was that at this moment, under that gaze, a vast amount of information simultaneously appeared in the minds of all the surrounding Ancient Deities.

And this information was the content of the contract.

The contents of the contract were simple, boiling down to three points.

One: Once they joined the Star Empire, they were forbidden from actively harming any living being of the Star Empire or hindering the Empire’s development.

Two: After joining the Star Empire, they were forbidden from deserting or harming any of the Empire’s allies.

Three: After joining the Star Empire, they must cooperate with all actions of the Pantheon. Of course, the most important point was that they must obey all of the Dragon God’s will.

It was roughly just these three points.

However, the contract’s contents also guaranteed their rights.

One: If they encountered danger, the Star Empire, and even the Dragon God, would provide them with support and protection.

Two: The Empire’s Pantheon, including the Dragon God, would not order them to do anything that would send them to their deaths. When facing a powerful enemy, they could choose for themselves whether to persevere or retreat.

In short, this contract was not overly harsh.

It could even be considered friendly towards them.

As for the price of violating the contract, the information didn’t specify, but the Ancient Deities all felt an extreme sense of pressure.

The consequences for violating the contract would be miserable. Even if it wasn’t death, it would likely be something terrifying.

But now, it was clear these guys had no other choice.

So, in the end, under Kukudar’s gaze,

as the surrounding Deities watched the Feathered Insect God seemingly become the first to sign the contract, a flash of light enveloping its body, everything was, in that moment, set in stone.