CHAPTER 106: | ENLIGHTENMENT

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  I had delayed conquering this segment for however long I could...

  I wasted hours that turned into days, then into months, investigating the history of this world.

  The improvements of her, of the Apostle that I had meticulously sculpted to become one of the future Domain Lords of the empire I will create, were nothing short of astonishing.

  From a mere priestess of some unknown and lowly god, she became the Apostle of the 'Distorted One,' taking her first step by delving into the ways of the sword.

  She then advanced to the third stage of the World of Intent after mere months of training, then plunged into battle with a god-like entity named Surtr, who was quite a terrifying figure in the past.

  Her progress was indeed impressive, even now that she had fully integrated the records of Surtr into her own being.

  She's advancing at an insane rate that only monstrous talents could ever dream of.

  Her affinity, which was white lightning, had already evolved into a more advanced form, becoming the Emberstorm.

  The Dimensional Records would still categorize it as a lightning affinity or whatever base affinity it was.

  But if I identified it by the old system, then it’s the Emberstorm affinity, able to control lightning and fire, creating a true tempest with the user's will.

  I glanced at Solia with a faint sense of pity.

  The Dimensional Record wouldn't acknowledge it as a new, advanced variant of lightning affinity because 'Emberstorm' doesn't yet have the right data to qualify as an affinity itself, unlike 'Sacred Earth.'

  The Dimensional Record's rigid structure is just what I had expected it to be.

  It’s not that ancient, or perhaps it is that ancient, but it needs more data, more records, to be flexible about the powerscaling it has brought to the multiverse.

  I couldn’t help but sigh.

  Solia's affinity advancement could only be considered a minor one, not a greater one like 'Light' into 'Radiance,' then 'Radiance' into 'Starborn,' just like what Lumicor did.

  Then I turned my head toward Tellus.

  Truly, he deserved his title as the God of the Earth, since he could predict Eleysian’s surprise attack and respond in time, thus defending Solia.

  But what was truly amusing in this situation was him taking glances at Solia.

  Surely this pitiful bastard isn't thinking of courting Solia, right?

  While I’m okay with him courting her, the problem in this situation was his courting method was truly a disaster, just like what his former self did to my dearest sister.

  The problem wasn't him being a buffoon, but his forceful method that led to disaster.

  Well, what could I say?

  'When you're a god, do you need permission to take whatever you want?'

  'Well, the answer was no! Since who would defy you, a god? Do they have a death wish from defying your will?! Of course not, and they should follow!'

  'Ahem, let's forget about that and focus on the reality before me... just how could I forget it so much like it's become common?'

  I sighed at their sight.

  Whether a romance could bloom between these two was not of my concerns, it’s their life.

  So what should I do, control their freedom to love?

  Well, not really.

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  Since it isn’t so bad to watch them bickering in the far future, or the drama that will unfold between them.

  It’d be a sight after all, so how could I just break their budding romance?

  I lifted my hand, then waved it.

  "You may rise."

  Hearing my words, Tellus's dull eyeballs, made of earth, rolled towards Solia as he smiled softly.

  He slowly stood from the ground before extending a hand towards Solia.

  'Hmm...'

  Solia, still deep in her thoughts, closed her eyes.

  Then she began to reenact the scene where her master lifted his own core in his palm.

  While it was kind of cool and beautiful, Solia knew that it wasn't the priority, because even though she merely gleaned the surface of the core, it was still enough for her to gain an enlightenment.

  The energies of the world momentarily stalled, coming to a standstill.

  Solia, now sitting in a lotus position, smiled softly.

  Then she breathed in and out in a deliberate manner, her breath drawing the energy of the world as an ethereal crown of five colorful lotuses converged above her head.

  It was an enlightenment.

  She knew how fast and grueling an enlightenment can be, a minute was all there was to comprehend the surge of knowledge that would strike her mind.

  Her expression remained serene.

  Past experiences had taught her that nervousness would only diminish the gains, she knew she had to remain steady, serene as undisturbed water, to fully absorb the knowledge.

  "Let there be no nervousness, for I shall absorb the knowledge of the multiverse of its intricacies. So let I, the Apostle of His, comprehend it to the fullest."

  Her world turned into neon white.

  Then an intense pain struck her mind, as if thousands of nails were being hammered into her head, while hundreds of thousands of raw numerical calculations scrolled and flashed through her consciousness.

  Time passed as ten seconds passed like a breeze.

  Solia clenched her teeth.

  She felt that her brain was a sludge of goo, but she didn’t stop as she classified the information passing through her mind, only picking those useful to her to comprehend in the future.

  Then another ten seconds passed, marking the twenty-second mark.

  With her already memorizing a hundred formulae in her mind, Solia smiled.

  Then she skimmed again as time passed, marking the fifty seconds of her enlightenment.

  Noticing that the end was neight, Solia’s lips curved into a smile, since she was satisfied at her gains today.

  Then she opened her eyes, marking the end of her enlightenment.

  She glanced at Tellus, who offered her a hand, a gesture of his goodwill.

  Solia knew that same look of his since all of the men in her tribe were infatuated with her.

  She knew it but remained silent on the matter.

  Her lips curved into a crescent moon smile as she extended her hand, reaching for Tellus’s.

  Then she stood with his assistance before dusting off her skirts.

  She then bowed with practiced grace.

  "I greet the Master of Distortion."

  I nodded at her words, then turned my head towards Amara, who was still possessed by the devil named Xu Tie...

  'Hmm... if I’m not wrong, then this world is still at the third or fourth Calamity, just based on how this dungeon has yet to be cleared.'

  'Then, the appearance of this Xu Tie isn't just a mere Stage 2 or Stage 3 Emperor, but it was the presence of a deity that’s equivalent to a Stage 7, just based on the lingering divinity that Amara was exuding.'

  'How weird that a world that was at its third or fourth calamity had experienced an invasion of an evil god. Then if I’m playing my cards right, then devouring a god while still being a mortal wouldn’t be ipossible... right?'

  I smirked at the thoughts before me.

  It was intriguing, yet feasible at the same time, while still staying to fiction, since killing a god was impossible even if he was suppressed by the world.

  'Hahaha... but there's no such thing as an impossibility to me, the one who is renowned... maybe not, since time had already taken its toll on the multiverse...'

  Then how should I deal with you, Amara?

  Killing you right now wouldn't do you justice...

  My Fortune and Fate tell me to let you go for now, but my Destiny tells otherwise, while Karma remains silent at this predicament.

  'Should I kill you for the benefits that Fortune and Fate tell me? Maybe I should just kill you, just as per my Destiny tells me? Or maybe stay neutral, just like the silence that Karma exudes in this situation.'

  I shook my head at the mere thoughts of her being able to threaten me in the far future.

  I know that the danger that Destiny screamed was surely legit, but the benefits that Fortune and Fate tell me just didn't sound so bad compared to the threat that Destiny spoke of.

  I gazed at her, pondering whether she should live or maybe not.

  As I pondered a definite decision, minutes passed.

  Amara was still silently flying in the sky, watching me with caution at the danger that this man below her screamed about.

  It was something primal she felt, that dreadful presence.

  It was something beyond what her god was capable of, so she observed the intent of the man in an attempt to gauge his strength.

  She clenched her teeth in dismay since she couldn't peer through his intent...

  Swoosh!

  'Huh?'

  Amara’s eyes dilated into slits as she saw his hands turn into molten orange.

  Before she could react, she saw him smiling.

  Then he took a step forward as he vanished, only to reappear in front of her, his hand already cutting through the barricade of writhing tentacles that she made in that instant.

  "THE FIRST ZEN OF DISTORTION: LIERA STYLE: HANDS OF THE MOLTEN DEMON."

  I shouted with fervor, since it was decided that Amara should live, but not in one piece, but in many pieces, so that I could buy more time than expected.

  Though I prefer killing her this instance, doing so would make me miss the opportunity that she would give me after letting her go.

  I thumped my foot on the ground, then bent my knees lower as I let the mana in my core invigorate through my veins.

  Then I clenched my hands that had taken a more deep orange tint.

  Before I balled my hands into a fist as I then unleashed a powerful thrust, and another, then another, unleashing a flurry of attacks.

  "THE FIRST ZEN OF DISTORTION: LIERA STYLE: RAGING DEMON BARRAGE."

  "THE FIRST ZEN OF DISTORTION: LIERA STYLE: RAGING DEMON BARRAGE."