Whether the Death Sovereign could successfully undergo a soul mutation would take time to determine.
At the same time, the former number one figure of the Coiling Dragon Universe, and now the strongest being beneath the Overgods of that universe—Orloff—could no longer wait to began his own soul mutation attempt.
Augusta feared death, so it fell to Orloff to act upon himself.
Orloff even planned his fallback. If his soul mutation failed and he perished, then Augusta would inherit a full set of Sovereign artifacts.
Although Augusta wasn't a Paragon, with a complete set of Sovereign artifacts and the ultimate techniques he had developed, while he might still fall short of Uhtred, he would have more than enough strength to rival the Life and Death Sovereigns.
Orloff had burned all bridges—he desperately wanted to leave this universe.
He believed that if he became an Overgod and combined his powers with the ultimate technique he had created, he might truly be able to unleash a strike that could shatter the universe itself.
Even before Sadius became an Overgod, Orloff had long been researching ways to break through the bounds of the universe. But once Sadius ascended to Supremacy, the universe became even more solidified. With his current strength, shattering it became thousands of times harder.
Only by becoming an Overgod would he have even a sliver of a chance.
Orloff felt he had lived long enough. If he couldn't tear through this universe and discover the truth beyond, he would rather perish.
Unlike the Death Sovereign…
The Death Sovereign had one divine clone and two sub-clones, their consciousnesses linked. Even if a divine clone died, it wasn't something to be mourned.
But Orloff was different. He and Augusta were each other's divine clones. Augusta was created by Orloff splitting off many of his negative traits.
It was only because Orloff suppressed Augusta through sheer strength—and occasionally lent him a helping hand despite his constant troublemaking—that Augusta grudgingly obeyed him.
To expect Augusta to sacrifice himself to gamble on a soul mutation? That was utterly impossible.
So Orloff had no choice but to act on himself.
"Augusta, if my soul mutation fails, you'll have made too many enemies in the Four Higher Planes and Seven Divine Planes. Return to the Material Plane. I'll entrust the Sovereign spark of Fate to you. You can either have Magnus swear an Sovereign Oath or enter a soul contract with you. Then pass the Sovereign spark to him."
Magnus was a Paragon of the Edicts of Fate. Only by making him the next Fate Sovereign could the Sovereign spark's potential be fully realized.
Unfortunately, the reward for ten consecutive victories in the last Fate Edict planar war was the Power of Will—granted to the soul, not the spark.
So even if Magnus became the Fate Sovereign, his strength still wouldn't match the other Edict Sovereigns. After all, the gap created by not having Sovereign artifacts was massive.
"Well then, if you're ready, begin. I'll do everything I can to help the Celestial Realm win this planar war."
"That's all I can do for you."
The Augu Material Plane.
This was the homeland of Orloff and Augusta. Ever since they became Sovereigns, they had cultivated this plane into their private garden.
Outsiders only knew it as Augusta's home world.
None realized that Orloff and Augusta were actually the same person.
Returning to their homeland, Orloff even brought his Augu Garden with him.
Orloff had made ample preparations. If he failed, no one could steal the Fate Sovereign Spake.
Naturally, Sadius was watching them all along.
After all, an Overgod was omnipresent.
"Sadius, I never would have imagined that the Fate Sovereign Orloff and the Light Sovereign Augusta were the same person. Uhtred always thought his power was on par with Orloff's, but never realized Orloff had been hiding his true strength all along."
After ascending to Supremacy, Ignis had also come to know that Orloff and Augusta were one and the same.
No one could've guessed that the two were one person.
After all, Augusta had countless descendants—everyone believed he was just an ordinary member of a normal race.
The disguise had been flawless.
If not for the omniscience of Overgods, even Ignis would never have realized it.
"This Orloff…truly a man of immense resolve."
"However, once he becomes an Overgod, his divine clones will vanish. The Orloff who once ruled as the Fate Sovereign was a genuinely good man…minus his protection of Augusta."
"But once he ascends, all of Augusta's traits will return to him. That might not be a good thing…"
Sadius shook his head.
He would not interfere in Orloff's soul mutation—neither helping nor hindering. Even Overgods could not meddle in such things.
"Ignis, I have a favor to ask."
Ignis hadn't expected Sadius to request something.
Naturally, he did not refuse.
Then, Sadius explained his request.
"You mean…have Uhtred…"
Ignis fell silent.
"Sadius, I accept. But are you certain? Since the birth of this universe, not even the descent of Sovereign sparks has triggered a war this massive."
"The Sovereigns have sat on their thrones far too long. It's time for new blood—those with greater talent are more suited to lead."
With just a few short words, the two decided the fate of countless Sovereigns.
Time passed.
One day, Sadius and Ignis observed that the Death Sovereign had succeeded in her soul mutation.
With the Heart of the Netherworld in hand, the Death Sovereign had far better odds of surviving the mutation.
That day, the Death Sovereign's Water-type divine clone awakened and merged into the Sovereign clone.
Under the combined influence of the water clone and his original body, the Sovereign's divine clone also underwent a successful soul mutation.
Then, the Death Sovereign took out the Water-type Lesser spark that Sadius had gifted him.
This spark was one of the four that Beirut had obtained in the past—the final one.
Without hesitation, the Death Sovereign summoned her water clone and dripped a drop of blood onto the spark.
In the next moment, countless water-elemental forces from Heaven and Earth enveloped him. The Death Sovereign's water clone officially became a Sovereign.
Although it was only a Lesser spark, it still brought a significant boost to the Death Sovereign's strength.
Of course, it would've been better to have a High-level spark. That way, her dual-element Sovereign powers could fuse more effectively, vastly increasing her power.
Now, with only a Lesser spark, her two Sovereign clones were imbalanced, limiting the potential power gain.
But that didn't matter.
What the Death Sovereign truly sought was not temporary power—but the opportunity to participate in the Overgod Trials.
"The Trial of the Supreme Overgod of Death shall begin a millennium from now on the Amethyst Moon of the Aether Overgod Plane. Those who have undergone a soul mutation with the Edicts of Death may participate."
Sadius' voice resounded throughout the Coiling Dragon Universe.
Everyone was stunned.
Was the third Overgod of the universe about to emerge?
At that moment—
Sadius and Ignis turned their gaze toward the Augu Material Plane.
Orloff had reached the most critical phase of his soul mutation…