Lyrus: Discuss this among all the members of Avalon. If you agree, look for Vigil—she's got around a million beast origins we gathered and created over the past few months. Aside from your beast origins, you can also choose from the ones we gathered.
Then Lyrus swirled into white and vanished into the White Domain. The three orbs that materialized also dissipated.
Thomas: This kid is playing god now.
Teo: What do you think about this, Thomas?
Selso: All of this is basically quite impossible to believe. But knowing that kid—that brat is one who never lied, nor messed with us using unbelievable information.
Logan: Sigh.
Thomas: His power ended up becoming absolute. Whoever embodies a concept—only gods can contend with them.
Teo: What powers do conceptual deities have?
Thomas: They cannot die nor perish. They become the embodiment of that concept and will not perish unless that concept disappears. Such as the Devils of Sin who were imprisoned by the God of Brilliant Light of the Halganian Heaven Pantheon.
Logan: But all of those are just myths.
Thomas: Most of the information is fact. Churches just made all these myths more grand and mythical to get more believers. And intelligent people nowadays—those who believe in science and pursue power on their own—don't believe it. But all of this is fact from history. It just sounds unbelievable because humanity is all sheltered inside a barrier of refined continents, unaware of the truth beyond this world.
Refined continents such as Tevera—with billions of population—are just farms for the gods to harvest faith and beliefs. And Elgra Greas is said to be an infinite world. Do you know that in this region, out of hundreds of human continents, we have one sun that rotates in a circular manner, giving us a 24-hour timeframe: 12 hours for day and 12 for night? But do you know that beyond these regions, there are areas with black suns, blue suns, no nights and no days? Those regions have different timeframes for a day.
I once traveled to the outskirts of the Nether Land—the land of demons—when my grandfather took me to our homeland during the Dark Age. It was destroyed by demons and is now in ruins before we immigrated to Asteria and perished there. That place had a black sun.
Selso: I've also read some of those ancient books. But most of those now are banned, and whoever possesses them is labeled a heretic and will be pursued to death. And the refined continents alone also serve as prisons for all those beneath A-Rank humans. Only A-Rank and above are permitted to travel overseas.
Thomas: That's because of the farming of faith and beliefs by different Pantheons of Gods. And the strong ones are considered flower buds that might grow into fruits in the future—fruits that can also be harvested.
Logan: What a corrupt Pantheon of Gods.
Thomas: It is. And this information alone—once made known to them—would incur eradication for us. Well, fortunately, we are in Tevera. This place doesn't have ancient clans, besides Archeidis's descendants and The Empire—which is only a pawn of the Moonlit Sovereign. And these three gods have yet to form a solid Pantheon of their own.
Teo: Maybe because they're currently working on it. As of now, the Church of Moonlit Radiance is already spread across all Tevera Nations. Anyway, what do you think about Lyrus's proposal? I'll agree to it. I'm old already—even if I do something this crazy, I think it would be worth it. I want to explore something new.
Selso: It's too good to be true. I have my doubts.
Thomas: Well, I think I'll have to accept this power too. I'm already a very old guy who's been stuck in the Divine Realm with no sign of a breakthrough. Maybe exploring this new path will entertain me.
Logan: I guess there's no longer any plan for us to back out. We're already a sect now. Even though I'm hesitant, I guess it's better to start early than be late and regret it later.
Selso: Sigh. Then so be it.
The four, left to discuss the matter, concluded to go through with what Lyrus proposed.
Thomas: But in this way, Lyrus has already started his own Pantheon—unknowingly. Or maybe this was his plan from the very start when he conceptualized himself.
Saying that, Thomas began thinking about what concept Lyrus might have embodied. Lyrus was leisurely doing whatever he wanted, and nothing seemed odd about him—unlike the ancient texts about the Sins, who became stronger simply by existing. Whenever they appeared—or wherever they were—there was always an effect related to their Sin concept. But Lyrus was not exuding such an effect on his surroundings, which made it a mystery. No one could guess what his concept was.
What was supposed to be a meeting about the organization structure of the sect—its divisions and departments—had turned into something deeper and more problematic.
Teo, Selso, and Logan left the Council of Powers, stressed by all the information they received from that meeting alone. They were also fearful of what the world had truly become in their own worldview after hearing everything—especially about the "harvest." Humanity, mortals, were just farms for fruits, faith, and beliefs—to strengthen those deities.
Selso: Sigh.
(Looking at the sky, his worldview now crumbled. A sense of hatred and anger brewed inside him toward those at the top.)
Is that what it means to ascend—to trample those below and even consume them? Hayz.
(He started walking again.)
Meanwhile, Thomas was still left at the Council of Powers. Then he let out Archeidis.
Archeidis: At least help me forge a body!
(He pouted like a baby. Of course, he wasn't trying to act cute—it's just that being in chibi form made him look that way.)
Thomas: I have no way to do that. But Lyrus seems like he has a way.
(He remembered the problem with Veronica. She's not dead. Of course, he knew that too—because the white pendant on him was still intact and hadn't shattered. Confirming it with Lyrus, he now understood Veronica's situation. Lyrus also mentioned creating a body for her when they rescued her in the future.)
But that's not something urgent. You need to recover first. Now tell me the situation.
Archeidis: Argh. There were around hundreds of moving statues of angels I witnessed when I went back to the Source Realm after thousands of years, when I refined the source. The first time I refined the source, those were just statues scattered around. After thousands of years wandering in the Source Realm, I eventually went out to Tevera and founded the Tevera Empire. Married wives and concubines of sorts, founding my legacy and heritage. I also let people from other countries immigrate, populating the continent. And then...
Thomas: Skip all that part. I don't want to hear your empire-building journey or your harem. Get to the point.
Archeidis: Tsk. I went back to the secret realm, but when I arrived, hundreds of those statues were now moving. All of them were at the Divine Realm. They apprehended and captured me. And all those statues left the Source Realm—I don't know what they had been doing for thousands of years on the surface. Only around 50 stayed in the Empire—I don't know where the others went. When I died, all the statues were sucked back into the Source Realm. But I overheard them talking about some sort of mission. I don't know all the details.
Thomas browsed the internet for information related to the Empire and the Churches.
Thomas: Hmm.
He found news about statues of angels being stolen all around Tevera. But most of these were rumors. These angels suddenly disappeared, and no one knew what happened to them. However, the people who believed in the religion became even more devoted, saying that they had been graced by the presence of the God all this time without even noticing it. Now, the faith of the people had heightened. They also claimed this was the wrath of the gods due to the sudden beast hordes that appeared out of nowhere. Believers had now become crazed in their faith.
Thomas: Now this confirms everything. They're responsible for founding the Church in all of Tevera's nations.
(Then Archeidis flew over and also looked at Thomas's phone.)
"But I think this is not the only thing they had been doing throughout those thousands of years," he thought.
Archeidis: They founded a church for the Moonlit Sovereign. Those damned rocks.
Thomas: Can those statues leave the continent?
Archeidis: I guess not. I heard conversations about it, but they failed to do so. But that mission they're working on—it's something related to outside of Tevera. I overheard that they used some humans and the Empire to carry it out. But whatever it is, I don't know.
Thomas: What a useless guardian you are.
Archeidis: What did you say, you old root?!
(He tried to punch Thomas in the face with his cute punches. But it did nothing, since he was just a chibi soul in astral form.)
But Thomas simply flicked him with a finger and thumped on the table.
Thomas: So, what do you think about the involvement of those three gods?
Archeidis: With all the information we have now, it seems plausible. But the involvement of my ancestor—I can't figure out how he survived. I don't even know him; I only heard about him through my grandfather, as he was my grandfather's father. But with the Law of Taming not dissipating in Tevera, this becomes very plausible. I also found a big demonic statue inside the Source Realm—maybe that is his gargoyle. But I couldn't feel anything from it. It felt like just a normal rock sitting there.
Thomas: Hmm. Then what happened to all your beasts? I remember you had around 25 apex beasts, with 11 of them reaching Divine Beast level.
Archeidis: They were all captured by the statues when I was imprisoned. Every single one of them that had a connection to me—especially their soul forms in my spiritual realm—was shattered. But I received no feedback from their deaths, which is questionable. Whatever happened to them, I don't know. And even if they survived, they would be trapped in the Source Realm.
Thomas: Anything else?
Archeidis: They just captured me for thousands of years and let me cultivate while I was in chains. Then they extracted all my cultivation. That process repeated again and again. Even when I didn't want to, one of those statues could take over my body and force me to do it. I lived like I was in hell. And they also prevented me from dying—I tried to kill myself thousands of times, always ending in failure. But I succeeded this time, and somehow I survived—which is another thing that's questionable.
Thomas: Seems like your ancestor doesn't want you to die yet. Another thing—how did you arrive in Tevera a long time ago and so easily find the source of the continent to refine it?
Archeidis: Oh, I met a friend of my grandfather. He was a sailor and handed me a treasure map and a void compass that led me to the Source Realm of Tevera.
Thomas: Hahaha. So from the very start, you were just a pawn—controlled and orchestrated for the revival of your ancestor. Hayz. You never change—you're still stupid.
Thinking about it, the past version of himself really was stupid. Because at that time, he was in his youth—at his prime—a genius who reached Divine Realm at such a young age, only to end up stuck at that realm. He was so adamant to seek glory and achievement. And when he refined the continent, he made himself ruler and founded the Empire, living lavishly in all sorts of wealth and desire—without care for anything, feeling on top of the world. But now, hearing such harsh words from Thomas, he was struck with realization.
Thomas: Your ancestor might've been so disappointed in you that he treated you like that for thousands of years. Well, anyway, he let you survive. That's a good thing. I guess one of your descendants is already your ancestor's disciple—especially those seven princes who have multiple Saint Beasts. And your beasts might still be alive.
Archeidis: Then help investigate this matter.
Thomas: All of this is just assumptions. We can't risk our lives. And I myself am still recovering. Even if I recovered, I couldn't contend with the Empire or the Church. The Church has mystifying forces among them. I also sense hidden powers in some of their sanctuaries. All of Tevera is now populated with these hidden forces. This is also the reason why I chose to live in Culvary, which is at the edge of Tevera's southern region—an area with no presence from the Empire or the Church. Leave all this problem to your descendants. You need to recover your strength and forge it back first. How about joining Avalon?
Archeidis: You? Forging your own Pantheon, led by a kid, is basically trampling on my mastery of the arts and my years of experience—just to be led by a kid barely two decades old!
He had been listening this whole time while he was missing, recently confined within Thomas's spiritual realm.
Thomas: Ohh. Remember this—you're still alive because I'm letting you parasite off my energy. And Lyrus might have a way to reforge your body. And another thing—you've been thrashed by your ancestor, your descendants, and even the empire you founded. You have nowhere to go, no opportunity to survive anymore—nor any chance of a comeback. Unless you join us. We could still catch a glimpse of a way to further our strength.
Archeidis: Tsk. I know that.
Thomas: Pride won't do you any good.
---
Meanwhile, in the Empire...
Dark clouds gathered. Tribulation lightning descended, striking a man wearing imperial robes.
Edicius: Hahaha! At last, I've reached the Divine Realm. Hahaha!
He brandished his newfound strength after enduring the tribulation that marked his breakthrough.
"Long live the Emperor!" came the repeated congratulations of the imperial politicians.
"Congratulations, Father," said the seven princes.
Edicius: Take this.
(Then seven golden orbs called "Fruits" materialized.)
Consume them and ascend to the Divine Realm as well. Do not disappoint the Ancestors like my grandfather.
Princes: Yes, Father.
All seven princes—all beautiful individuals with tall statures, noble physiques, royal auras, and genuine dispositions—left after Edicius handed them the Fruits. All of them were Saint Realm powerhouses, just one step away from becoming Divine Realm powerhouses. Two were princesses, and five were princes.
---
Meanwhile, the Council of Eighth...
The eight major clans were amassing massive forces into their ranks. Recruitment had even reached surrounding countries, incurring the attention of other nations. All of Culvary's eight major clans had also stopped other forces from visiting them, creating a hidden agenda and mystery within these powerful clans of Culvary.
The Council of Eighth also maximized their essence stone gathering across all their territories—even purchasing from other countries. Other nations began to wonder why all the major forces of Culvary were now united for a certain goal—amassing forces, spiritual stones, essence stones, herbs, and anything of value.
Culvary had also led major projects to increase the size of its border walls surrounding the country, citing the need to prepare for the attacks of sudden beast hordes. These events unfolding in Culvary were seen as major efforts to protect the nation and its borders, strengthen its forces, and unify the Council of Eighth to safeguard the country.
There were also many rumors circulating—that this unification was the reason for the ceasefire in the competition among the Council of Eighth clans, as they now prioritized national protection and the welfare of the people. Because of this, recruitment surged—though few knew the true intentions of the Council of Eighth.
Other nations were doing the same, but not on the same scale as Culvary. Nor were their forces as unified as those of the Council of Eighth.
Masking their true intentions, the Council of Eighth was satisfied with these rumors—many of which they themselves had spread.
The transportation of spatial stones that carried instant hordes of beasts had also stopped for days now. But all the nations of Tevera were taking precautions in case it happened again.
The attention of citizens had also split in two directions. One group consisted of Church believers, who believed this was the judgment of the God for their lack of faith in the Moonlit Sovereign. The other group opposed the Emperor, with rumors claiming that the Empire was responsible for spreading these instant beast hordes—which had already eradicated billions of humans.
This was due to the Empire no longer sending aid to other nations, only safeguarding its own territory—which, suspiciously, had not been attacked by any beast hordes. This became questionable to many, especially as the surrounding nations were overwhelmed in fighting these hordes.
They came to a conclusion: this was the doing of the Empire—especially the major forces and clans within the Tevera nations. These ideas were spread by a certain unknown force.