“Respect for the elderly is present, but what about love for the young?!” Hezekiah flared his nostrils and glared.
“What?”
Mela looked at him in shock, her expression incredulous. “You’re already over four hundred years old, and you still want to present like a youth? Don’t you have any shame?”
“You…”
Hezekiah nearly spat out a mouthful of blood on the spot.
Who’s presenting like they're young here? In this world, isn’t the one who loves to act like they're young the most just you, madam?
Who has no shame now?
Hezekiah choked on his indignation, but there was nothing he could do.
The thousand-year-old lolicon standing before him was nothing more than a projection; there was no real way to fight her.
Moreover, at this moment…
Hezekiah took a deep breath and chose not to argue with Mela anymore. His gaze continued to scan his surroundings, looking for an opportunity.
Just when he was about to act on a new fragment of divine body, his expression suddenly changed.
Without deliberation, he immediately stuffed the nearest fragment into his pouch, stepped into the golden portal, and disappeared swiftly.
The crow fled far away, while the dove bolted in panic.
The slippery rat, unable to snatch anything, cursed under its breath before scurrying off swiftly, showing no hint of reluctance.
Mela was even more decisive, reacting faster than everyone else. She tossed her fragment into the twisted space and instantly dissolved the projection of her form.
In the void, all that remained was the King of Wither, slowly devouring the authority of the Moon.
But unexpectedly, the massive, menacing eye of the King of Wither suddenly trembled, abruptly lifting its gaze, filled with fury as it stared into depths of the void.
That distant expanse beyond the King of Wither’s location suddenly grew dimmer, like an endless ink spilling across the canvas of the universe.
Against the dark backdrop, points of starlight flickered faintly, yet they carried an eerie, enigmatic quality.
A will equal to the King of Wither roamed among the stars, like a shadow shrouding the void, and then... descended abruptly!
Dark God · Lord of the Stars!
Perhaps sensing a threat, the King of Wither’s infinite crimson flames surged skyward in rebellion, confronting the terrifying will like a beast baring its teeth at an intruder trespassing its territory.
But the next moment, the King of Wither seemed to perceive something else.
Countless skeletal hands shifted direction.
Flowers bloomed in the void.
One by one, crimson blossoms swayed in the empty expanse, unfurling in succession, forming a radiant river of blood-red flowers.
Then grass appeared.
Then trees.
Then a scarlet field.
Then grotesque fruit and endlessly multiplying sustenance emerged, revealing a haunting magnitude of life.
On the river of flowers, a woman wearing a black dress, indistinct in form, walked barefoot, shrouded in veils, her steps slow and deliberate.
She seemed to bow her head lovingly, gazing at the abyss-like bundle cradled in her arms.
Dark God · Mother of Fertility!
But that wasn’t the end.
A golden, colossal tree had somehow taken root here.
The tree was so vast that its entirety could not be seen.
An incomparably sacred aura emanated from its branches and leaves, as though purifying all corruption. With each sway of its boughs, it radiated a purity that felt almost divine.
Yet, if one’s sight pierced through the gleaming golden light to glimpse the tree’s true form, they would see countless hanging white bones, decaying corpses, and countless souls crying out in anguish.
Dark God · Holy Tree of the Fallen!
…
So it turns out those seeking opportunities weren’t limited to the ants whom the King of Wither didn’t deem worthy of a glance. At this moment, three unexpected Dark Gods had descended upon the scene.
No, not just three.
The King of Wither’s vision extended further, where feathers of pristine white seemed to drift, accompanied by sacred hymns. A monstrous, indescribable flesh ball lingered meekly at the edge, not daring to step closer, merely observing from the sidelines.
The Shame of Dark Gods · Corrupted God of Love!
Even that one came?!
The King of Wither was infuriated beyond belief. His crimson flames surged wildly, and his countless skeletal hands, covered in the illusory image of red earth, suddenly lashed back.
He could no longer afford to savor slowly. The King of Wither forcefully ripped apart the remaining divine body of the Moon of Silence, folding bony hands to clutch its dazzling core of authority tightly.
Only then did the King of Wither sense that something was wrong.
The painstakingly acquired authority core of the Moon of Silence…
Was incomplete?!
An incomplete authority core was useless; it couldn’t yield the results he desired.
Damn it! Who?! Who did this?!
The King of Wither’s gaze swept across the surroundings… but it was certainly not any of these gods.
Yet right now, there wasn’t time to investigate. Under the crushing pressure of three—no, four divine wills, there was no way for him to stand his ground.
Holding the dazzling authority core tightly, the King of Wither frantically retracted his countless skeletal hands, folding inward like petals of a closing flower, rapidly vanishing into the depths of the void.
The other Dark Gods made no move to pursue the King of Wither.
Their authorities were not compatible with the Moon of Silence’s; even if they seized it, it would be useless.
Thus, compared to the relatively insignificant and unfit authority core, what drew their attention more was…
The divine body!
Even if a few ants had managed to carry away scraps, those amounted to mere fringe pieces against the vast divine body of Moon of Silence.
So, the wills of the Dark Gods slowly approached, and as if by mutual understanding, they began dividing their respective positions.
A silent, horrifying banquet among Dark Gods thus began.
…
…
The golden portal opened wide, and Hezekiah returned to the sanctuary within the Life Church.
He appeared rather disheveled; the once immaculate robes of divine white were now ragged, singed and burned at the chest, his beard partially scorched.
But fortunately…
“It wasn’t in vain.”
“Hezekiah glanced at his sleeve, and for the first time, his typically cold gaze held a hint of delight.
Fragments of a Dark God’s divine body—especially fragments suitable for unrestricted research—were an unprecedented acquisition in the thousand-year history of the Life Church.
Still, the thought that he could’ve gained even more if not for someone else… made Hezekiah’s eye twitch uncontrollably.
“Hmm… The moon is completely gone, after all.”
Mulling it over, Hezekiah lightly waved a hand, and his godly robe returned to its pristine, sacred form.
“Anyone.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. What are your orders?” A bishop, who had been waiting outside the hall, promptly entered.
“Instruct the Axis Shrine to craft a new moon and place it in the skies. I don’t want wandering poets to start going mad upon noticing its absence and vent their frustrations on my church.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Oh, one more thing.”
As though recalling something, Hezekiah abruptly inquired:
“I heard that Archmagician MelaDormir recently took on a disciple?”
“Um…”
The bishop hesitated. “There have been some rumors to that effect, but the information remains confined to a small circle of individuals, and its authenticity is unclear.”
“Few rumors mean the truth.”
Hezekiah’s lips curled faintly. “Provide me with that person’s file. I want to see who this remarkable individual might be, capable of earning MelaDormir’s favor.”
…
…
Santa Maria College, atop the bell tower.
Mela, rarely venturing outside her Sea of Flowers, was now here gazing at the sky.
Although morning had come and there was no moon to be seen in the heavens, Mela extended her small hand as if caressing the invisible moon gently.
“Moonlight is sorrowful…”
Her voice, a soft chant like an elegy, whispered:
“But it shall never be seen again.”
“Although, come to think of it…”
Having finished mourning the lost moon, Mela lowered her gaze, peering at the lingering haze of dark moon mist in the distance. Her tone brimmed with wistful wonderment.
“Those two ended up fighting like rabid dogs over that thing, yet in the end, it was that girl who got lucky while merely taking a nap?”
“No, no. The true beneficiary turned out to be that boy”
“Heh. This should be rather interesting now.”
