Moen opened his eyes to an empty firmament.

There was neither a bright moon nor a blazing sun.

Well, there was a big hole, but it was gradually healing, leaving little trace behind.

Lea was beside him, rustling as she put on her clothes; her snug, pure-white panties slid up along her full, long legs and, with a crisp snap, settled upon that plateau, a perfect fit, their sway only further accentuating curves that set the heart adrift.

At the front of the panties was a small bow, as playful and cute as their wearer, sparking an irresistible urge to reach out and toy with it.

“Moen, you’re awake!”

Noticing Moen’s awakening, Lea forgot about dressing and flitted into his embrace like a fledgling seeking its nest, wrapping herself around his arm.

The fullness constrained by her undergarments rose even higher, her cleavage unfathomably deep; even through the fabric, its supple springiness could still be felt.

Freshly awakened, Moen quickly felt his blood grow restless.

“Are you alright?”

Lea’s small hand caressed Moen’s face as she looked him up and down, asking with worry.

What had just happened was beyond her understanding; though she had done her utmost, until she could be sure Moen was unharmed, anxiety would linger.

“I’m fine.”

Moen smiled and shook his head. “It was just a small mishap; don’t worry. In fact, I’d say I turned misfortune into a blessing.”

“Turned misfortune into a blessing?”

Lea blinked her bright, limpid eyes, recalling the perfectly timed baptism of Holy Light moments ago.

What had happened to Moen seemed more like some kind of premeditated result.

“Mm... Although that old loli played me pretty hard, the outcome is good. Look at this.”

Moen lifted his hand and beckoned.

In an instant, a cluster of flame appeared in his palm.

It was a black flame, its pitch darkness as deep as the Abyss, yet its outer layer flowed with a mantle of pale white fire, radiating a sacred aura.

Lea widened her eyes, staring in astonishment at that Black Flame.

She could sense a trace of familiar aura upon it, but behind that familiarity lay a daunting strangeness and eeriness.

It felt like the power of a Dark God she had felt before, yet seemed fundamentally different.

When her gaze fell into the depths of the flame, in that pure blackness it was as if countless eyes opened to meet her indifferently, while indistinct, crowded whispers murmured at her ear; her brain throbbed sharply.

“Don’t look too long.”

Moen immediately dispelled the Black Flame, his expression severe.

“W-what... what is that?”

Lea patted her chest, still a little shaken.

“This... counts as my new ability.”

Moen thought for a moment, then said:

“The foundation of the ability comes from the former Scarlet Flame, and its original attributes are fully inherited. It’s just that a lot of the rest remains unclear—I’ll have to explore it myself, slowly.

Although that may sound a bit confusing, at least...”

Moen looked at Lea and smiled:

“This power doesn’t belong to any Dark God. Now there’s no one who can accuse me of colluding with a Dark God. So as for being abducted by a Dark God and turning into a heretic who disowns everyone—you don’t have to worry about that.”

“W-who... who was worrying about that.”

Lea lightly thumped Moen’s chest, her tone coy.

But the curve of her brows showed that upon hearing this, she too was very happy.

“Then... after what just happened, your body hasn’t been left with any hidden issues, has it?”

After rejoicing for a moment, Lea asked again in worry.

This power did indeed look mysterious and strong, but having watched the scene up close, Lea couldn’t help worrying that after those dreadful forces fought within Moen’s body, they might have left some adverse effects.

Though in the aftershock’s calm, during the time before Moen awakened, she had carefully examined his body over and over, a matter like this demanded multiple confirmations before she could be at ease.

“Hidden issues... none, really.”

Hearing Lea’s words, Moen inwardly examined himself with care, then suddenly wore a strange look, rubbing his waist as he said:

“It’s just, I don’t know why—after that nap, I inexplicably feel like my kidneys are a bit weak.”

Lea’s small face flushed; she turned her head aside, too shy to meet Moen’s eyes.

“Hm?”

Moen, as if he had discovered a new continent, leaned in curiously, placed a light kiss on Lea’s reddened cheek, and grinned mischievously:

“Miss Lea, looking like this, you seem to know something.”

“I... I...”

Lea pouted:

“I don’t know anything at all...”

“Really?”

Moen lowered his head to glance at his chest, then asked in puzzlement:

“But why are there so many strawberries on me now? They weren’t there just now. Miss Lea, any idea?”

Lea said nothing.

Moen chuckled, slipped his arm around Lea again, stroking her fair, delicate skin while toying with that fluttering little bow.

Lea was mortified, trying hard to fend off those two roving hands; she puffed her cheeks and glared at him:

“W-what are you doing?”

“It seems you did something naughty while I was asleep.”

Moen smiled. “Of course I have to pay you back, don’t I?”

“I didn’t do anything bad!”

Lea pushed Moen, saw she couldn’t move him, then softened her voice:

“Y-you said you were, um... weak... s-so how...?”

“Heh heh, listen.”

Moen suddenly pressed Lea’s little head against his chest.

Familiar scent and warmth reached her; the blush on Lea’s face deepened.

As her emotions calmed, she began to hear, from within Moen’s body, one after another, those sonorous, powerful heartbeats.

Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Thump-thump.

As she listened, Lea’s beautiful eyes gradually rounded, her small mouth fell open in amazement and would not close.

Because in that moment, she heard not one heartbeat, but... three!

Only, the other two beats sounded a bit different—more faint—but still brimming with life.

“Th-this... what is this?”

“It’s too complicated to explain in detail, but you can understand it like this: because of what happened just now, a certain flaw in my body has been completely remedied. Not only that, I’ve taken another step forward.”

Moen answered.

That flaw, naturally, referred to the rejection reaction of the alchemical core.

Upon waking, he found the rejection had vanished completely. What had been a dead thing, which by nature should never truly fuse with his body—the alchemical core—had fully merged.

It was no longer a transitional implant inserted merely to bear the Clock of Eternity, but had truly become a new organ of his.

Moreover, a second alchemical core had been fully activated, ceaselessly exchanging vast mana and blood-essence within him.

So even though he could easily guess he had been thoroughly squeezed while asleep, Moen still didn’t feel drained dry.

Because, just as Mela had said, an alchemical core that can replenish mana, vital energy, and stamina—that’s basically a brand-new kidney!

Thinking that such a wonderful thing had happened and he hadn’t felt any of it, he felt a pang of regret; at the same time the heat in Moen’s heart flared once more. Holding the supple softness in his arms, he thought he’d better seize the chance to experience it deeply and completely again.

“B-but...”

Sensing the blaze in Moen’s eyes, Lea wriggled shyly and said:

“It’s only just my first time—if it’s too rough...”

“Ah...”

Moen’s excited motion stalled, as if doused with a basin of cold water.

Right—Lea’s flower had only just bloomed, tender beyond measure; taking without restraint would indeed be asking too much.

“However...”

Seeing Moen’s disappointed look, Lea felt a little sorry; after thinking a moment, she seemed to make up her mind, bit her lip, and whispered:

“If you really want to... I can use the Holy Light spell.”

“The Holy Light spell?”

Moen was taken aback; he hadn’t imagined the Holy Light had this kind of use.

“The function of the Holy Light spell is to restore wounds and stamina; at a time like this, it’s naturally useful.”

Lea lowered her head, shyly:

“A-and actually, I used it several times just now—otherwise, how could I have endured.”

“...”

Moen opened and closed his mouth, at a loss for words.

By then, Lea had already risen with graceful poise. Innocence tinged with a hint of allure, she cast Moen a glance; her finger dipped lightly along her hips, and with the rise and fall of her delicate feet, the cute panties—still not warmed by body heat—fluttered down once more.

Swelling and slickness had vanished; there, everything was clean and pink, as if no one had ever explored.

“Um... Miss Lea.”

Moen swallowed, then asked tremulously:

“Presuming to ask—right now... how many more times can you still use the Holy Light spell?”

“The baptism of Holy Light the church promised you arrived early. Thanks to you, I also received quite a few benefits.”

Lea traced her lips and smiled:

“So... I’m basically at full capacity right now.”

“...”

Moen’s vision went dark. Suddenly he felt that merely having two extra kidneys didn’t seem like much to brag about.

……

 ……

Half an hour later, Moen—already the knight charging at windmills—suddenly froze mid-motion.

“What’s wrong?”

Lea panted softly, asking with slight displeasure.

“I... suddenly remembered something.”

“What is it?”

“About divine favor.”

“Divine favor?”

“The power of divine favor bestowed by a god is ultimately supposed to return to the god, right?”

“Of course.”

Lea looked at Moen strangely, not understanding why he was suddenly asking something everyone knows.

Gods bestow divine favor, but the favor is still part of the god—an evolution of their authority.

Thus, when the host either dies or reaches the end of their natural life, it automatically returns to the god.

This is a truth that has never seen exceptions.

But...

“Now that the Scarlet Flame has taken on my form... if Wither Bro finds out, he won’t be angry, will he?”

Moen thought, somewhat melancholically.

...

Beyond the world.

Somewhere in the void, above endless scarlet earth, a light that burns all things suddenly blossomed forth,

Countless withered palms unfurled layer upon layer within the ever-quivering space.

Revealing, at the center, that hideous pupil.

At this moment, the pupil shook violently, turning without cease, as if to lock onto something. A towering fury, in a soundless roar, drowned the entire barren scarlet earth.

Because He sensed that the portion of divine favor He had released... had, during His slumber, completely severed its connection to Him.

In other words, He, the dignified dark god, King of Wither, Lord of the Scarlet Sun...

His power had actually been made off with by someone.