Online Game: I Started with Max Charisma and Caught the Goddess's Eye

With Silent Dark Shadow’s action, an endless torrent of misfortune was cast upon Zenobia.

Under the crushing weight of such overwhelming ill fate, no matter what move Zenobia attempted, her situation only worsened.

“I truly didn’t expect you to have such a method of attack!” Zenobia said, her tone edged with anger.

She had already realized that Silent Dark Shadow’s gambit had succeeded, yet she refused to allow herself to appear cowed in spirit.

“So what if you pulled it off? You won’t be able to drag this out for long! Your chaotic energy is nearly exhausted!”

But Silent Dark Shadow gave no reply to her threats.

The moment it succeeded in breaking through the spatial seal Zenobia had laid, it fled at the fastest speed it could muster—away from her, in the direction of the Imperial Capital itself.

At the same time, Luca finally arrived at the convergence point between the two worlds.

Though the connection had already been sealed by Morning Star’s operatives, the surrounding area still brimmed with lingering chaotic energy—so potent it warped the very space around it.

“Morning Star did their best. They could only manage to barely contain the connection,” Sophia said with a touch of resignation. “And in our current state, we’re in no condition to seal it completely either.”

Luca nodded without a word.

To him, the connection’s current state was already optimal.

Yes, chaotic energy still lingered around it, but it no longer posed any additional threat to the Imperial Capital. On the contrary, he could use the strength of that lingering chaos to monitor the stability of the connection.

If the residual energy grew stronger, it would mean the link between the worlds was stabilizing, making it easier for Eternal World’s factions to invade reality.

If the remnants grew weaker, then it would signify that the monsters and demons of the Eternal World would find it harder to breach into the real world.

After a period of quiet observation, Luca asked Sophia in a seemingly casual tone,

“What do you think the factions of the Eternal World will make of this sudden connection point?”

“I believe they won’t dare send anyone through it into reality—at least, not in the short term,” Sophia answered confidently.

But almost immediately after, she added,

“However, if we can’t completely seal the connection in a short time, then without a doubt, someone from the Eternal World will attempt to cross into our reality.”

Luca nodded at Sophia’s answer.

In truth, his own judgment was the same as hers—but the words he most wanted to hear had not yet been spoken by her.

“Which force do you think would be the first to invade our world? Would it be the Via Empire, where Senator Devitt belongs? Or perhaps the Kingdom of Clinton—the place you once called home?”

Faced with Luca’s question, Sophia didn’t answer right away.

She didn’t know the true answer herself, and at the same time she couldn’t help but wonder why Luca would phrase the question that way.

From her perspective, the Kingdom of Clinton and the Via Empire were entirely different entities. Luca shouldn’t be thinking of the Kingdom of Clinton as his enemy.

After some deliberation, Sophia finally spoke slowly.

“That would depend on the location of the connection within the Eternal World. Whichever empire is closer to it—that empire will be the first to invade our reality.”

In the end, Sophia did not speak up in defense of the Kingdom of Clinton. She offered only the most neutral assessment.

It was only then that a smile spread across Luca’s face.

“You’re right. No matter which force from the Eternal World tries to invade reality, we must stop them. The powers of the Eternal World should remain in the Eternal World!”

He said it with a feigned lightness. But the words were meant deliberately for Sophia to hear.

He wanted her to understand that, as a human of the real world, he had no desire to see it plunged into greater chaos.

Even though the Kingdom of Clinton had once provided him some help, it was still a force of the Eternal World. Should the Kingdom of Clinton step foot into reality, it would only make things more chaotic.

“I understand what you mean—and I feel the same way,” Sophia replied quickly.

Once again, the two had reached an accord. They could continue to act in unison.

After circling the area around the connection point, Luca felt he had gathered enough information.

It was time, he decided, to take the risk of investigating the valley where Silent Dark Shadow had taken refuge.

“The situation at the connection point is much better than I expected. I think we still have the strength to scout out the valley where Silent Dark Shadow is hiding. What do you think?”

Luca still sought Sophia’s opinion.

He knew this action carried a certain level of risk. Sophia, being more vulnerable to Silent Dark Shadow’s threat, might object, and if she did, he would fully understand.

“I think we’d better be more cautious,” Sophia said hesitantly.

She worried that her reluctance might make Luca think less of her. But in truth, her concern was unnecessary.

With a gentle smile, Luca replied,

“Alright then, you’re right. We should be careful. Let’s check other areas around the outskirts of the Imperial Capital instead. There might still be lingering monsters there.”

Since he wasn’t going to investigate Silent Dark Shadow’s valley, Luca naturally felt this was the right opportunity to eliminate any monsters still left around the Imperial Capital’s perimeter.

He headed straight for the area first breached by the monster horde.

The chaos energy there was still very strong, which meant there were likely plenty of lingering monsters.

The entire district lay in ruins, every building reduced to rubble.

Staring at the devastation, Luca couldn’t help but sigh.

“If Shelter 102 had been struck by the main force of the monster horde, everyone inside would have been doomed.”

His concern for Shelter 102 was deeply personal—his family lived there.

Though he felt a pang of emotion, he didn’t waste any time dwelling on it. He immediately began searching for monsters lurking in the shadows.

It didn’t take long before he found the first one, a creature barely at Level 35.

Luca dispatched it instantly.

Afterward, he scouted the entire zone where chaos energy was densest, but found no other monsters remaining.

“It seems that even if there are still monsters here, they’re weak. We can leave this area to Morning Star’s members to handle.”

With that said, Luca prepared to head to the next district.

But just as he was about to move on, he suddenly felt the presence of two incredibly powerful beings rushing straight toward him.

His expression hardened as he turned to look behind him. At once, Luca saw Silent Dark Shadow hurtling toward him at high speed, its form nothing more than a dense shadow streaking through the air.

Not far behind it, Zenobia in her serpent form was in relentless pursuit.

The moment his eyes fell on the two chaos deities, Luca froze.

Never in his wildest imagination had he expected to stumble directly into their battlefield.

Though taken aback, he quickly forced himself to steady his state of mind. He had to make a decision immediately. Facing two chaos deities head-on now would be beyond dangerous.

“We have to run, now!” Sophia’s voice cried out in panic.

She was terrified that Luca would be dragged into the clash between the two chaos deities.

But her warning had come too late.

Silent Dark Shadow and Zenobia spotted Luca almost at the same instant.

Both deities immediately prepared to strike at him. For although they were mortal enemies to each other, they were also mortal enemies to Luca. And when it came to him, the possibility of them joining forces was all too real.

“Why are you still standing there? Don’t tell me you actually plan to fight two chaos deities head-on! We need to get out of this battlefield at once!” Sophia urged him desperately.

Luca gave a bitter smile in reply.

“Of course I don’t want to fight them under these circumstances. But we’ve already strayed into their battlefield. Escaping from it won’t be so simple.”

His words only heightened Sophia’s alarm.

“There has to be a way! I can use my frost magic to slow them down—then you can break free of the battlefield!”

Clinging to that shred of hope, she began to act.

But before her spell could even take shape, a surge of overwhelming chaotic energy hurtled straight toward Luca.

It was Zenobia’s power.

“Well, well… I never imagined you’d show up here of all places,” Zenobia sneered, her tone filled with cruel delight. “You’ve given me quite the surprise. At last—I can kill you once and for all!”

Zenobia quickly sensed just how weakened Luca truly was.

She felt utterly confident she could defeat him.

And to her, this battle was nothing short of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

If she could strike down both Silent Dark Shadow and Luca at the same time, not only could she reclaim her Sinful Divine Rank, but she could also atone for every mistake she had made before.

Without Luca standing in her way, she would be free to completely dominate the real world.

From there, she could use the real world as her base of power to launch a counteroffensive against the Eternal World itself.

“I will become the master of both worlds! My power will surpass even that of the Ancient Gods! Everything—everything will bow to me!”

Zenobia’s voice trembled with excitement, as though she could already see herself ruling over all realms.