Pillar of Yita

The latter silently watched this scene and merely nodded, seemingly unsurprised. He called the guards in and had the body dragged out—although the guards were initially hesitant, they finally calmed down with the assurance from the Big Catfolk. After they dragged the body out of the hall, only a dark stain of blood remained on the floor.

Reed then turned back and continued, ”The Blind God Dika is one of the Dark Saints, the Keeper of Secrets, the Polluter, and the Life Nurturer. However, it was killed by Lady Ameya during the Giant War. Since then, its followers have rarely appeared in this world—”

He paused at this point, and with a heavy expression, said, ”But using evil magic and alchemy to twist life is a hallmark of Dika’s followers. It seems they have been revived.”

Ai Xiaoxiao, being close to Tang Xin, who was a priestess of Milaila, was puzzled by the Big Catfolk’s description: ”Life Nurturer, isn’t that Lady Milaila’s divine office? Why would a God of Darkness have such a title?”

This time, the one who answered her was Atira beside her.

The Elf Miss held the Holy Emblem and turned to answer, ”Because twisted life is still life, a plague is a form of life, and life can also extinguish life. Dika was not only Lord Ameya’s arch-enemy, but also one of Lady Milaila’s greatest foes during the Giant War.”

Speaking of the past god war, everyone was momentarily at a loss for words.

Because few people have extensive knowledge of history since the time of the Aithelin disaster.

The Big Catfolk then scratched the bloodstain on the wall with his paw, calmly adding, ”’Blind listening, blind belief, blind obedience—’

”Dika is the most distinct among the Dark Saints. It venerates knowledge, loves alchemy, and is keen on creating those ’lives’ that originally did not exist. It is the ’Keeper of Secrets’ among the Dark Saints, as well as the ’Life Nurturer.’ Occasionally, it may appear in the form of ’Milaila’ or ’Angina’ to tempt scholars and alchemists who seek knowledge and truth.”

”And through forbidden knowledge, lead them to fall.”

”Alchemist?”

Miss Nightingale lightly raised her eyebrows.

Everyone suddenly realized something upon hearing this—they had not heard a word from their Captain until now.

Tang Xin was the first to notice something strange. She turned her head and saw her cousin frowning slightly, deep in thought, seemingly unaware of the changes around him.

She was about to speak, but Fang Hong had already lifted his head first.

He looked at Atira and spoke, ”Miss Atira?”

Atira seemed to understand what he wanted to say, and merely nodded slightly.

She then put down the Holy Emblem in her hands and said, ”The lady has already left.”

Fang Hong’s face appeared complicated: ”Was it just...?”

Atira still nodded.

Divine Descent—

In fact, the moment the Holy Emblem in the Elf Miss’s hands began to glow, Fang Hong felt a gaze fall upon him as if from the nether.

That gaze was immense and omnipresent, yet gentle and elegant, filling him with a deep sense of peace. It was as if the moment it focused on him, the dark, negative, and violent thoughts accumulated within him since absorbing the Lizardman God, Nikopolas, and Dragon King Lifegard’s dark forces were—

Entirely swept away.

That tranquil and ethereal feeling nearly made him feel as if he had returned to the very origin of life, a sensation that uplifted his entire being.

Then a voice reached his heart:

”The owner of the Hailin Crown.”

”This is our first meeting.”

”Please do not be afraid.”

”I am not the one you are seeking, nor the one seeking you.”

”But merely out of curiosity...”

”I shall give you a small gift—”

”Please remember it in your heart...”

...

And when Fang Hong came back to his senses,

he only saw Atira holding the Holy Emblem, standing before him.

The gentle and kind gaze of the Elf Miss seemed to resemble that lady’s in some way, though the details were not completely identical.

He remained in a daze for a long time, then somewhat bewilderedly looked around—the monster that attacked the Elf Miss earlier was already long gone, leaving only a bloodstain on the distant hall floor as evidence of its existence. It seemed some time had passed in the hall, but for him, it was no more than an exchange of questions and answers in an instant.

It was only when he saw Atira nod slightly that Fang Hong truly understood—

the one who had conversed with him was indeed that lady herself.

The Overlord of the Forest, the god of nature and hunting, Shelter Protector of the Holy Tree, and the Deity of eternal youth and beauty—Ameya.

He had indeed heard tales of divine descent—among them, some Invokers. Around ten years ago, the First Division had a Marlan elect, who gained the position of one of the Ten Kings through divine influence, becoming a legend. Thereafter, one or two God’s Choices emerged.

But they were merely less notable minor deities, not as famous as the first one.

It was well known that in Eteliria, divine descent was a rather rare event. The Natives referred to it as a ’miracle.’ Every display of divine wonder by the deities left a profound impact on this world.

However, since the Giant War, the Oly Pantheon had seldom walked upon the earth.