bookpower *Vol.4 Ch.261 So the Divine Three Took Someone From you as Well.
*Vol.4 Ch.261 So the Divine Three Took Someone From you as Well.
*Vol.4 Ch.261 So the Divine Three Took Someone From you as Well. their interests. This makes it difficult for the Chaos Gods to maintain their power and influence over their followers. Their boon is the fact that their essence is far more erratic, and it can override the virtues' creation's essence at the slightest moment of weakness. Frankly, it is the Dieties of Virtues' fault for making their worshipers so tightly wound up, and it makes them easy targets for conversion, as devoting yourself to the Dark Gods or we, Verdent Gods, is far less stressful. So, the Virtue Deities went to war and tried to cast all who opposed them into the Void. That included the Verdent Gods, who wished to stay out of the war."
Iyomelka's expression shifted from one of calm confidence to a somber reflection. "After centuries of relentless war, the Deities of various pantheons who lost their worshippers faced tragic exile from their realms. They were subject to a fate far worse than mere marginalization—they were consumed by the Void, which only served to bolster its strength. Consequently, we lost our ability to communicate with any Deities beyond this solar system. The lone exception to this rule occurs during a Universal equinox, a fleeting moment that lasts only a short time. Thankfully, our planet—Tertius—managed to avoid becoming embroiled in an all-out conflict, unlike our counterparts found on other worlds. We succeeded in maintaining a fragile balance among the Virtue, Verdent, and Chaos Pantheons until the war's conclusion, when an entity emerged from the Void. This event altered Tertius and several other planets that chose not to partake in the war."
Iyomelka paused, her gaze distant, recalling the haunting memories. “Fifty million years ago, dark omens began to approach Tertius in the form of asteroids hurtling through space. They came from the vast emptiness, unexpected and untraceable. Some of the Deities attempted to destroy the more perilous asteroids, unaware of the sinister contents they harbored until it was too late. Each asteroid was teeming with what our creations later termed 'Ether.' Once released, the Ether unleashed profound transformations upon the flora, fauna, and even the very earth beneath our feet; the air itself became tainted with this mysterious substance."
"Many of our creations, unable to cope with the chaotic energy of this Ether, morphed into monstrous beings, which in turn became targets for Mortals seeking valuable parts. Conversely, those that managed to endure the Ether’s onslaught developed mana veins over the subsequent centuries. In a fortunate turn of events, these monstrous entities absorbed a significant portion of the Ether, transforming it into Mana. This Mana was then released into the atmosphere, a boon that facilitated the emergence of mana veins in more living beings, granting even Mortals access to a kind of power previously thought to be exclusive to us Gods and our vassals."
Rya listened closely, captivated by Iyomelka’s story. The amount of knowledge was overwhelming, but she was eager to learn more about the complex history woven into the past events.
"The other phenomenon that arose during this time was the emergence of Dungeon Cores and worse... the Dragons," Iyomelka continued.
"Wait a moment... So, you’re saying that labyrinths weren't created by one of the Gods?" Rya interjected, her curiosity piqued.
"Absolutely not," Iyomelka retorted, her eyes reflecting a hint of frustration. "Those labyrinths are an aberration, anomalies that defy the very fabric of reality that we wish to maintain. I have a hypothesis regarding the true nature of Ether, but regrettably, I lack concrete evidence to substantiate my claims."
The anticipation surged within Rya, a palpable energy that intensified her desire to know more. "W-What do you theorize it is?"
"I believe what we are witnessing is corrupted or tainted Primordial Essence, remnants of the Deities that the Void has consumed over the ages. The reasons elude me, but it seems that the Void has been sending these large, fragmented chunks of Ether to the worlds where various pantheons thrived in harmony. I can only speculate on this matter, but during the rare instances when I managed to communicate with Deities from other realms—particularly during the equinox—these worlds were devoid of monsters, dungeon cores, or even dragons. The inhabitants of those realms were entirely unaware of the concept of mana veins.
“In fact, one conversation I had with a God hailing from a world whose Pantheon was as peaceful as ours illuminated a troubling parallel. Their realm was experiencing the same chaotic phenomenon with Ether as we are. This disturbance shattered their tranquility, setting off a chain reaction of imbalance. Soon enough, the Gods of Virtue made the grave decision to engage once more in battle against the Chaos Gods, convinced that they could avoid the missteps of their predecessors.
“It is my belief that the Void is orchestrating these events, attempting to pit us against one another, or worse, seeking to annihilate our very creations through the monsters, labyrinths, and dragons it unleashes upon our worlds,” Iyomelka explained, her tone heavy with foreboding.
"That's kind of unsettling..." Rya interjected, her brow furrowing in concern. "But wait a moment... How do you know that dragons are beings of Ether and not simply manifestations of mana?" she asked, seeking clarity.
Iyomelka's lips curled into a knowing smirk. "You should already understand this, Rya. After all, you have our eyes... You must have seen what I am talking about when you were in the Tomb of the Horde, haven't you?"
Rya’s expression shifted from confusion to enlightenment. "Are you suggesting that the Ether flowing through the labyrinth resembles what I might find in a dragon?" she pondered, the realization dawning upon her.
Rya felt a heavy lump form in her throat, anxiety tightening around it like a noose. "S-So, dragons are to be avoided at all costs, right?" she asked, her voice trembling with uncertainty.
"Yes," Iyomelka replied, her tone almost casual, yet imbued with an unsettling gravity. "Dragons possess a power that even we Gods, cannot hope to challenge. All we can do is lull them into a deep slumber... from time to time."
Rya frowned, unease prickling at the back of her mind. The Goddess's nonchalance regarding such a perilous subject unnerved her. She swallowed hard, trying to digest the weight of Iyomelka’s words.
Iyomelka continued, her expression turning serious. "That's why I conserve as much Primordial Essence as I can. It's crucial for when a dragon threatens to awaken. If one stirs, I can attempt to put it back to sleep. But should multiple dragons rise at once... well, then I may have no choice but to brave the Void."
The mere thought of slumbering dragons sent a shiver down Rya's spine, her imagination conjuring images of scales glistening like dark jewels and eyes burning like molten gold. She had always sensed there was more to the world than what was seen, but this revelation threw her into a whirlpool of fear and awe.
"I guess the real reason I'm sharing all of this with you is that you are special," Iyomelka said, her gaze softening. "You were not born on this world, and I believe it's only fair that you understand the dangers that lie beneath the surface. You must learn to protect those who are special to you as well."
With that, Rya stared into the depths of the Goddess's eyes, realizing that the responsibilities ahead of her were far greater than she had ever imagined. The weight of knowledge settled upon her, intertwining with her growing resolve. All she managed to say was, "I... I'm touched..."
Usually by performing a miracle for them to get them on the new Deity's side. And the long and short of it is that it's frowned upon to steal creations from other Deities."