The grounds of Eldoria were filled with silence. The crowd gathered there couldn’t believe their eyes. After hearing Alaric’s words, they were unable to think about what to do next. The children, who had been excited to obtain the magical powers they had fantasized about and heard stories of, now saw the dangers that came along with them. The parents knew that the Ceremony of Attaining could cause accidents, but they never imagined that something like this could happen.

  Soon, the crowd began to leave the grounds. Mercy was terrified by what she had witnessed. Soul was shocked at first, but then he noticed that something was off. All the teachers present were suspiciously calm. There was no sign of panic or remorse. Even if they were experienced and had seen such accidents before, knowing that incidents like these at the beginning could disrupt the flow of the ceremony should have induced some reaction. But they were all behaving as if they already knew this would happen.

  At that moment, Soul realized something.

  “Could it be that the incident we just saw was merely an illusion created by the authorities to warn us about the worst-case scenario? But that also means the chances of such accidents are high.”

  He looked at Mercy and saw that she was frightened. Soul told her, “I don’t think what we saw was real, but even so, it’s risky. I suggest you should leave as well. I’ll meet you after the ceremony.”

  Mercy relaxed a little and asked, “What if you die? Then… then who will protect me?”

  What a way to encourage someone—yet this was how concern was shown.

  Soul replied, “Don’t worry. I’ve already seen in my dream that everything will be fine. We’ll both get through this without any harm. But if you’re scared, you should leave as well.”

  At this point, Mercy looked down and said in a sorrowful tone, “I don’t believe in dreams. But I do believe in you. I will stay and join you.”

  After most of the candidates left, only eight remained on the grounds. The authorities didn't stopped anyone from leaving. Mercy was standing third from the last in the line, and just ahead of her stood Soul. The person standing last was a fourteen-year-old boy. His outfit suggested that he belonged to a wealthy family. He was taller than the other children and muscular.

  He muttered to himself, “Bullshit, as if something like this can scare me. I’ll get my powers no matter what.” His words were filled with anger and fear, as if he were trying to encourage himself. He stood in the last position with the thought that if anything like that happened again, he would leave.

  Alaric Moonveil stepped forward and said, “Fate is unfading. We cannot change it. But your courage and determination are still admirable. We will now continue the ceremony.”

  One by one, the children walked toward the altar and obtained their powers. As Soul expected, nothing bad happened. Only the child in the third position became unconscious, but it was considered acceptable.

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  Finally, it was Soul’s turn. He began walking toward the altar.

  “He is calm… He has figured it out. What a smart brat.” Aurelia said with a smile.

  “I don’t know. I have a bad feeling about this,” the young man said. Just as he finished his sentence, he began to feel a presence. He was not unfamiliar with it, but he was still shocked. He glanced at Aurelia, who looked equally stunned.

  Suddenly, an old lady appeared beside them. Upon seeing her, the young man bent down on one knee to pay his respect. The rest of the people were unaware of her presence. To them, the man and Aurelia appeared to be seated just as before.

  Aurelia, whose eyes widened as she understood the gravity of the situation, asked excitedly, “Madam Helina… is it finally about to happen?”

  Madam Helina looked at her and smiled. “Yes. The dark age that lasted for centuries is about to end.”

  As she spoke, she raised her magic wand into the air. A blue light flowed like water from a deep-blue orb embedded in the middle of the wand and enveloped the entire area of Eldoria Arcanum. Aurelia felt as if the area had been separated from the real world. The Beast Hunter and Alaric also sensed this change and understood what was about to happen.

  Unaware of the events around him, Soul continued forward and stood at the center of the altar. The symbols on the altar began to glow with a vibrant red light. The obsidian pillars connected to one another, forming a dome. A beam of holy red light descended from the sky into the center of the dome, and then everything returned to normal.

  Those who sensed Helina watched while holding their breath. Soul walked out of the altar.

  Aurelia looked at the back of his palm and said in confusion, “Level one… Assassin… a DLX.”

  “What happened? Did I get my powers? I don’t feel any change,” Soul muttered to himself. He recalled that just after attaining their powers, one kid had accidentally lit his hand on fire, though it didn’t hurt him. A girl had even started flying as she walked away from the altar.

  “Maybe I need some practice before I can use my powers.”

  As Soul was leaving, the young man looked at him with empathy. Soul wished Mercy good luck, and she began moving toward the altar.

  “What happened? I thought that boy was the next heir,” Aurelia asked in puzzlement.

  Helina replied calmly, “I sensed a disturbance in the life force coming from this place. There is a high chance that the next deity will appear today.”

  By this time, Mercy was already inside the altar. Just as the holy light fell from the sky, everyone felt an unparalleled aura. It was as if life itself was radiating from the altar, yet at the same time, it was draining the life force of those present.

  The dome surrounding Mercy began to crack, and red light seeped through the fractures. The teachers near the altar, as well as the children, lost consciousness and collapsed to the ground. Soul saw the massive flow of energy erupting from the dome like a storm. He fell to his knees and covered his face with his elbow.

  “What happened to Mercy? Is she alr—”

  Before he could finish his thought, Soul also lost consciousness.

  The obsidian pillars shattered, and Mercy floated above the symbols. Her chin was gently tucked toward her chest, as if in deep stillness. Her arms were folded protectively across her chest, and her legs were bent at the knees, drawn upward into a tight, enclosed form. She radiated an intense life aura.

  The guards and teachers who remained conscious fell to their knees, joined their hands, and began praying. Their faces were filled with joy, excitement, and devotion.

  Alaric Moonveil was also moved, but he quickly regained his composure. “Madam Helina, we must move her immediately, or her presence will kill the innocents.”

  Aurelia had already guessed it, yet she was still thrilled by the incident. Her heart filled with utmost devotion as she said,

  “Above levels… Grade 1… Goddess of Existence.”