A week later, Titus and the others successfully completed their missions. They had also captured 238 Tesmanians, and now they were back at the sect.
Thomas, Selso, Vania, Logan, and Teo had likewise successfully integrated into the new power. Their bodies had evolved, returning them to the youthful appearance of their late twenties—young, vibrant, and brimming with vitality.
Vania: Oh my… my beautiful old self is back. (She held up a mirror, admiring her reflection.)
Logan: Such a magical effect… I'm filled with endless vitality—it feels like I can do anything. (He hovered effortlessly in the air.)
Michael: Boss Teo, is it really you?
The rest of the gang gathered before them.
Teo: I am. This only proves that it's the real deal.
Selso: I have a question—Is this power just limited to humans like us?
Titus: No. Master also plans to teach it to Rester, Remus, Tyron, Murus, Nigel, Nuxar, Rion, and to all of your humanoid beasts. But they must embrace humanoid evolution. Their original race will dissolve, becoming part of their own transformation abilities, filling one of the twelve transformations.
Thomas: They will evolve into something like a human?
Titus: Yes—thanks to these guys. (He gestured toward the Tesmanians in the cages.) I've already sent their DNA to Master, and he confirmed it's 100% successful. Any beast willing to learn this power can evolve into a humanoid form.
A crack tore open in space.
Volderon: Thomas, I also want to learn this power.
Thomas: Old friend… are you sure about this?
Volderon: I am. Having a massive body is too difficult to maintain and sustain. But will I retain my current powers?
Titus: You will—and you might even improve and grow stronger. Your powers have a high chance of taking new forms and evolving.
Volderon: Good. Once it's ready, inform me. I will be the first to volunteer as an experimental subject.
The crack in space closed. Volderon—ever the straightforward one—came and went without warning.
Vania: Is Lyrus planning to teach this to all his beasts as well?
Titus: No. Only to a select few.
Thomas: Those that have conceptualized are already omnipotent—absolute existences. Even if we gain this power, we cannot overpower them. Choosing Rester, Remus, Tyron, Murus, Nigel, Nuxar, and Rion means they are at the bottom tier among Lyrus's bound beasts.
Titus: In terms of raw power, yes. But in combat capability, they don't fall behind—especially Rester, who can instantly reform and regenerate, a true battle maniac on the battlefield. However, their destructive force is lacking, which is why Master wants them to learn this ability.
This power is designed to ensure our other brothers don't fall behind. Within it, a Pantheon of Thirty-Six Pillars will be established as the foundation. Rester, Remus, Tyron, Murus, Nigel, Nuxar, Rion—and you five, Teo, Vania, Logan, Selso, and Thomas—are among the Thirty-Six. That is what Master has foretold. Only those chosen will stand as the pillars leading Avalon.
Vania: That's—
Titus: Don't worry too much. It's only a plan for now. Things may change depending on the situations we face in the future. If you want to rise to the top in this power, cultivate harder and grow stronger than the others—most importantly, don't die.
Titus: Here is the Orb of Faith and Favor. Place it on the newly built altar in the Sect Hall of Transformation. You are now responsible for this power.
He handed the orb to Thomas.
Thomas: But what about the belief-gathering task Master assigned to be done through this orb?
Another orb—white, but slightly different—materialized in Titus's hand.
Titus: This is just a replica of the original, but it's enough to accommodate all sect members cultivating this new power. The original orb is in Master's hands—you need not worry about that. Beliefs are already being transmitted directly to the original Orb of Faith and Favor. What's inside this replica is refined energy tailored to your cultivation needs. It's connected to the original and channels energy for your use. All you need to do is embrace this power and cultivate. Seek Vigil for guidance on the first level of cultivation—that is the most crucial stage, where you'll choose the beast that will become your transformation ability.
Titus: Well then, I still have many tasks to attend to. Ask Vigil for more information—he is responsible for your cultivation.
Titus then integrated all the Tesmanians from the cages into the white orb in his hand. In an instant, they vanished. He turned into a mass of white energy and disappeared.
---
Lyrus was now at the lakeside cottage. The once-still lake was brimming with life, home to the dragon carp species known as Tarpus. These carp had been purified to the purest form of their bloodline. Lyrus had integrated thousands of them with various high-ranking dragon bloodlines, as well as forged bloodlines he had created from those he had collected over time.
Now, the lake teemed with small western dragons, each three to four meters in length. The lake served as both their home and breeding ground, holding hundreds of thousands of them. Their colors and affinities varied greatly.
Devora, Sauron, Silvio, Vasha, and Deia had also made the lake their home, often seen coming and going throughout the day.
Sauron: Greetings, Master.
Lyrus: How are the young dragons in the lake?
Sauron: They are in excellent health, and their growth rate is remarkable. Their reproduction is outstanding—especially the hundreds of breeder dragons, which can produce thousands of offspring each week. However… there is a slight problem, my liege. Seven dominant dragons have emerged among them—alpha males, each quite powerful. Whenever we feed them, they fight for space, injuring the weaker young dragons.
Lyrus: And their affinities?
Sauron: They have yet to display many skills, but one of them possesses the ability to become water itself. Another wields spatial abilities, teleporting over long distances with unmatched speed among the young. The others have yet to awaken the natural abilities granted by their bloodlines.
Lyrus: Good. Integrate those seven into the orb I gave you.
Sauron: Yes, Master.
Titus arrived in a mass of white light.
Titus: Master, I've already sent the Tesmanians to the White Domain through the white orb you gave me.
Lyrus: Good job, Titus. What's the situation with the religion we created?
Titus: We've already spread it far and wide across all nations in Tevera—except for the Empire. As instructed, we placed statues in villages and rural areas, and we've spread dreams and revelations to humans in the worst conditions, especially the sick.
An orb similar to the Orb of Faith and Favor materialized in Titus's hands.
Titus: Currently, we have around a million believers among the common folk.
Lyrus: Good. Proceed with selecting diehard believers and make them priests. Make the process look holy—give it ceremony—so we can attract more followers. You know what I mean, right?
Titus: Yes… but Master, I have a question.
Lyrus: What is it?
Titus: Before, you said we would select holy knights from among the believers. But humans are weak—and most of our believers are just commoners. How can they become holy knights without power?
Lyrus: That's where the Church of Avalon and the Orb of Faith and Favor come in.
Titus: But you said the Orb of Faith and Favor is for the foundation of the Transformation Ability you created for the sect.
Lyrus: Yes, it is—but it would be a waste to only use it for that. I also created another ability and cultivation pathway specifically for the Church of Avalon—with one condition: the more believers they have, the more cultivation energy they'll receive. This way, the expansion of the church and its influence will depend on the administrative officials you appoint through revelations. With this system, you won't need to worry about the growth of believers—it will lift a great burden from your shoulders.
Titus: This… thank you, Master.
Lyrus then explained his full plan for the Church of Avalon and how Titus would choose its administrative officials. He also taught him four cultivation pathways meant solely for the church.
Lyrus: We also need to ensure a steady flow of wealth into the church. We'll introduce the concept of donations from believers—offerings given in grace to the gods. This will secure the livelihood of those who run the church. If you can integrate wealthy individuals with businesses into the church, all the better—they'll become the financial backbone for expansion. As for cultivation, we'll only accept common people and awakened individuals who have not tamed beasts, cultivated spiritual energy, or practiced magic. That is the bare minimum for recruitment. This plan isn't foolproof—you'll need to improvise at times. I'll also be introducing you to a new brother soon. He will help you run the church.
Titus: Yes, Master.
Titus knew his master had taken in quite a number of new beasts this month into the White Domain, yet only Razor had been introduced so far—a being of overwhelming power. Lyrus was personally training the newcomers within the White Domain, using time dilation to accelerate their growth, just as Razor had done. This was to ensure the new arrivals could catch up to the strength of his current forces.
He looked out over the lake, now a breeding ground for a new legion of dragons evolved from the Tarpus.
Suddenly, Crimson General Melevia arrived, accompanied by hundreds of black-gold armored insectman Angelus Knights. They descended and knelt in unison.
Crimson General Melevia: Greetings, Your Holiness. I come bearing a directive from our queens—we have located the Dehedra.
Lyrus: Is that so?
Melevia: Yes. One of our legions found it near the edge of the continent, along the seaside of the Black Sea. The Dehedra has also undergone a breakthrough—it is now a colossal twelve-headed dragon, nearly the size of Kargaren.
Titus: What? That serpent has grown into a colossus? Master, this will be a difficult battle.
Lyrus: Hmm. Compared to Kargaren, Agarez, Yalzar, and Severeno—who do you think is stronger?
Melevia: In my opinion, Your Holiness… each head of the Dehedra is now comparable to one Kargaren in power reserve. In terms of might, two of its heads together match Severeno—at least, that is Queen Lanfer's estimate.
Lyrus: If Lanfer says so, then the information is accurate. Stay at the sect for now—you will be needed to pinpoint its location when Vigil creates the void gate.
Melevia: Yes, Your Holiness.
Titus: What do you think, my liege?
Lyrus: Nothing changes. But this will be a worthy challenge for you all—a truly formidable opponent.
Lyrus's calm reassurance left Titus in awe. After all, his master's power was omnipotent, and he himself was beyond death.
I need to strengthen my concept further… to become unstoppable like Master, Sedestro, Vigil, and Xukhar, Titus thought.
He knew those three—aside from his master—had already reached the same level: beings beyond comprehension, no longer bound by mere physical power, but absolute entities. Vigil especially—Lyrus had once said Vigil was now his equal. Vigil had conceptualized Dream and Faith & Favor as the foundations for the Church of Avalon and the Orb of Faith and Favor, weaving these into his original, hidden concept. No one else knew what it was. Likewise, Sedestro and Xukhar's concepts remained unknown—Lyrus had ordered that no one reveal their own concepts to anyone. Secrecy was power.
Suddenly, Sauron emerged from the lake.
Sauron: I've sent them, Master.
Lyrus: Reserve your strength—the Dehedra has been found. Tell the others as well.
Sauron: Yes.
Lyrus: Titus, contact Lanfer through Dream—use Melevia as the connection. Melevia, based on their last known location and the Dehedra's position, how long before they reach it?
Where Lanfer's group was—hundreds of thousands of miles away—there was no communication signal. Only abilities could connect them.
Melevia: About a week of travel, my lord.
Lyrus: Good. Titus, keep in contact with them. When they reach the Dehedra, we'll prepare before making our move to capture it.
Titus: Yes, Master.
Lyrus: I'll be off.
Lyrus turned into white light and vanished. They bowed as he departed.
---
Lyrus arrived in the White Domain, stepping into a massive heavenly palace he had created with a mere thought, sculpted from pure white essence.
Wade: Welcome back, Master.
He was greeted by his new beasts, all training within the White Domain—and all of them had already reached the mythical rank. Wade, once an Alakazam (Regal Humanoid Frost Wolven Beast Man), had evolved into a striking humanoid wolf beast with a cool, composed demeanor. Reous, once a Trigal (Armored Fur Beast), had become a blue-winged angel with the calm aura of a ruler. Eros, originally a Morthos, had transformed into a Moonlight Knight Moth—slender, armored, knightly, and cold-tempered. Zoren, once a Tariagas (Yellow Giant Thunderbird), was now a golden-haired, golden-winged angel and a battle fanatic. Zion, formerly a Glotus (Golden Horn Beetle) and altered with forged Saint Angelus bloodlines, had become a six-winged angel radiating silent holiness. Vulcan, a Zoltaur (Magma Earthen Flame Variant), was now a magma demon with a short temper and raging personality. And finally, Azael, once a harmless Osho (Whitefur Gremly), had through Lyrus's experiments become a twisted black-and-white demon with a warped personality.
They bowed in greeting.
Lyrus: Where are the others?
Azael: They're in the coliseum for a bloody duel. Hehe.
Vulcan: No—a fight. A fight!
Azael: Stupid.
Vulcan: What did you say?! Let's fight!
The two of them shot into the sky as beams of light, clashing midair.
Reous: Again with these two idiots… Master, forgive this unsightly display. The others took the newly arrived beasts—still in cages—to the coliseum to test their strength. Most of them are mythical beasts, useful as training opponents. The dragons sent here were taken to the pond near the palace.
Lyrus: Good. Let's go to the coliseum.
The five accompanied Lyrus, while the two troublemakers continued fighting in the sky.