While the will planted inside Brünhild was slowly overwriting her into a useful tool, Orpheus, the master, the one that did this, couldn’t endure anymore and fell unconscious; however, before this happened, he devoured the purple energy as much he could, he even refined the thing that penetrated his left eye, not entirely but to the extent that he could use without fearing being controlled or observed. He would make every opportunity his own. He would devour them.

The moment Orpheus fell unconscious, a horrific pressure descended onto the whole world, time itself stopped, Brünhild paled, she was unaffected by the time’s stop, she kicked open the door and rushed inside the room without hesitation.

Brünhild muttered SEAL when she entered the room, and immediately the world restarted working. However, the white castle’s existence seemed to vanish from the world; it was as if it had stopped existing.

Meanwhile, across different locations in the world, the more powerful individuals hidden felt the pressure, and many trembled. The weak-willed ones fainted on the spot; only the more powerful managed to retain their sanity.

Beyond the sea, in a location extremely far and remote from the continents, was a lone island; standing in the middle of this island was a golden palace. There was a throne hall.

Great braziers attached to each of the sixteen limestone columns light up every part of the throne hall and cover the hall in dancing shadows and a warm radiance. The stained glass windows in the domed ceiling dance in the flickering light while statues and sculptures look down upon the oaken floor of this royal hall.

A vermilion rug runs down from the throne and marks the closest spot people can stand when addressing the royal highness, while pennant banners with emblazoned ridges droop from the walls. Between each banner stand several tapers of various sizes; they’ve all been lit and, in turn, illuminate the wall paintings of divine beings below them.

Immense windows are edged by veils colored the same vermilion as the banners. The curtains have been adorned with delicate patterns and burnished corners.

An imposing throne of jade sits atop a balcony overlooking the throne hall and is adjoined by four equally impressive seats for visiting dignitaries.

The throne is covered in divine designs, and fixed on each of the broad feet is a gem-encrusted petal. The bulky pillows are a dark vermilion, and these two have been adorned with emblazoned tassels.

Sitting in this throne room was handsome; he had long golden hair and a pair of antler horns on his head. Orpheus knew this man; he was one of Emea’s comrades from their original world. He fought him once; he was among the ones that refused to acknowledge his relationship with Emea.

Having felt the horrific pressure and the world stopped, the man with the golden hair heaved a sigh.

“Who can be this powerful? I dare not make them my enemy. Though, I hope it is just a passerby. We don’t need an uninvited guest coming out late in the game, don’t you think too, Elliam?” The golden-haired man asked the man sitting on his right. This man had blue hair and different eyes; one was blue, while the second was a mix of black and red.

“I hope so, or else it will thwart all our plans; they can bring Emea back, and you can’t get her. Better pray that this being never cross your road, or else, you know only one outcome awaits you, Aatox.”

Elliam explained; Aatox, the golden-haired man, couldn’t help but heave a sigh. Elliam was another comrade, like Kratos and Aatox; he has a nickname: the God of attributes, as he could manipulate many attributes; he is from the Elemental race.

“I know; I hope I won’t be that unlucky. She can only be mine; I meant my brother’s woman. We need her for our plan; without her, everything will go to the drain.” Aatox said, eyes shining in utter madness, a madness that threatened to devour his soul; no it could be inferred that its soul has already been devoured looking at his now blackened beautiful vertical golden pupils.

Elliam sighed in helplessness, feeling sorry for himself, pity for having been drawn into something that would probably cost him his life. Even with the clone of his brother present in this world, Aatox was still harboring the feeling of making Emea his, which is ridiculous.

How did it come to this? That would be the story of another time.

….

Meanwhile, Emea and the girls also felt the horrific pressure; the girl’s hearts started beating extremely fast. The twin goddesses felt an unknown emotion; it was anxiety.

However, someone suffered more; it was Amber; she felt a sudden pain assault her before falling unconscious.

Coincidentally, Lilith, who was together with Snow, also felt like something wasn’t right. She wished to go to her master but couldn’t immediately go. There was something she must take care of before, she had been postponing it, but she couldn’t keep doing that. Problems should be taken care of. Now that she met this girl she would test her.

In another location, even Grim Asmodeus felt the pressure, and his heart thumped loudly. The thing inside his soul naturally felt it as well. He became reckless, his desire to be free increased, and he felt like he was missing something important.

You fool, don’t you want to be powerful? Don’t you desire EMEA? Accept me, and I’ll give you everything. He tried to entice Grim to accept making a deal with him, but like always, he was not buying it.

”Shut up. Although I’m interested in her, I have my own method. So, could you stop trying to entice me? If you are so great, you won’t be begging me.” Grim responded before ignoring him no matter what he said afterward. He resumed his mission; he must kill more origin beasts, and earn the most points to impress Emea. At first, it was just a curiosity and his parents’ suggestion, but after seeing her, something deep within him whispered to him to get this woman; also, for some unknown reason, he felt a connection with Emea, and he wanted to know why and if he could make her his woman he wouldn’t hesitate.

•••••

In the middle of Yydrassil’s continent stood a gigantic tree that overshadowed all other trees; its height seemed to transcend the world, going farther in the infinite cosmos. This tree was called the Tree of Life by the Elves; not even they knew why it was called as such or how far it went; all they knew was that it was a gift from their founding Goddess, who had disappeared alongside the other creators’ Gods.

In the depth of this tree, in a dimension cut off from the world, in a place where not even Orpheus’s sense could reach even at his peak, sitting crossed-legged in the air was a beautiful woman, so beautiful that the word beauty seemed to have been created specifically for her. The woman oozed enough sex appeal that one would mistake her for the Goddess of Seduction.

Black hair darker than the night itself, white skin so beautiful that it left one in awe. However, this beautiful woman dressed in a simple and plain robe had her eyes closed.

Even though she had been sitting here for numerous years already, she knew everything that happened in the outside world, and today was no exception.

“You should have listened. Now, he will learn that you are still alive. Ah! Stubborn as always. Well, that bastard will make a move, giving you a helping hand. I guess I should return to my meditation.”

The beautiful woman said in a voice that could force women and men alike to sin regardless of how powerful they are.

The woman made hand gestures before everything went to normal. Hopefully, it was not too late. However, she knew there was a higher chance that he would have noticed; she could only hope he would be stronger to face what would come; she was a shadow of her former self and couldn’t intervene; beings like her couldn’t do it, not easily.

Indeed as she feared, it happened.

In another location, extremely far from Orpheus and others’ world, was a dimension, a galaxy filled with numerous stars and dead planets; the smaller one had the size of Orpheus’s current world.

Inside a pitch-black space, a sudden voice could be heard; this voice shook the whole space; not to be more accurate, the whole galaxy shook, stars vanishing because of the mere laughter of this voice.

“Hehehe, hehe hahahaha. Really, unexpected; never I would have thought that my assumption was right. You’re still alive, interesting, truly interesting.”

Suddenly, the whole galaxy trembled; the remaining stars and dead planets were obliterated to oblivions by the mysterious being’ killing intent.

“Enjoy your life as long you can, because this time, you won’t be lucky.”

“I hope that little toy of mine will not disappoint me.” Added the voice glancing in the direction of a certain world, where living there had become a little by little hard.