"Why are the Gods afraid of the Void?"
"Because the Void is an unknown thing that consus deities... It probably consus other things, but stars and planets are the only things that can protect us from the void... As long as we still have Primordial Essence... Hence why we need followers to have faith in us," Iyolka replied.
"So, there is sothing out there that eats Primordial Essence?... Do you know what Primordial Essence actually is?" Rya asked, hoping to find out more about this mysterious energy.
"Essence is the lifeblood of the universe. It's a form of energy that flows through every star, planet, and even living thing. Only the gods can manifest it through our creations and followers."
"So, a Deity would be in trouble if they use up too much of their Essence?"
"Yes, a Deity can indeed replenish their Primordial Essence through the devoted acts of prayer, worship, and offerings from their followers," Iyolka explained, her voice steady yet laced with an undercurrent of apprehension that she managed to mask convincingly. "However, it's not an instantaneous process; it requires ti and dedication. The challenges arise when a Deity exhausts their Essence too quickly, as this can happen easily under various circumstances.
"Picture this: a Deity lacking worshippers, a once-mighty figure now stripped of their influence, dwindling their Essence to a re shadow of what it once was. In such a state, they beco highly vulnerable to other Gods that are eyeing what's left of their realms. They can be easily exiled and exposed to the lurking dangers of the Void—a perilous realm that hungers for the very existence of Deities. If a Deity completely runs out of Primordial Essence, it marks their finality; there is no returning from that abyss. That’s the end of their divine journey, their essence consud, leaving nothing but emptiness behind."
"Hmm, that makes sense... But why do the Divine Three offer their Primordial Essence to the Paladins so freely? It doesn’t seem like you or any other gods are doing the sa. Unless I'm mistaken."
Iyolka smirked and shook her head slightly, her eyes gleaming with amusent. “It’s understandable that you wouldn’t be familiar with how the other Deities operate beyond Tertius or your old world, Earth. You see, not all planets inhabited by mortals have the capability to harness mana like we do here.”
“Really?... That doesn’t sound quite right,” Rya replied, furrowing her brow in skepticism as she processed the unexpected information.
“I can appreciate your confusion,” Iyolka continued, her tone shifting to a more serious note. “You see, about 100 million years ago, across the vastness of the cosmos, the War of the Gods unfolded. This cataclysmic conflict arose when the Deities of Virtue decided to cleanse the universe of the Deities of Chaos. The ramifications were profound, affecting not just a single world, but thousands of them, leading to the silencing of many Deities' voices by the encroaching Void.”
Rya sighed, irritation bubbling beneath the surface as she interjected, “Let guess… Was it all about their disdain for the Chaos Deities turning their creations into demons? Or is the truth even more absurd?”
Iyolka couldn’t help but chuckle at Rya’s bluntness, her amusent lightening the weight of the somber tale. “It’s a little more complex than that. To put it succinctly, the Deities of Virtue grew furious when the influence of the Chaos Deities' creations began to sway their own followers, effectively converting them to worship the Chaos entities. This act was seen as a theft of their worshippers, depriving the Virtue Deities of their source of Essence, so to speak.”
Rya began to rub her temples, frustration mounting with the unfolding narrative. “You an to say they feared their followers would stop praying to them, turning instead to the demon-worshipers of the Chaos Deities? So, in response, the Virtue Deities launched a campaign to eradicate the Chaos Deities? And they couldn’t just retaliate in kind? It’s ridiculous.”
“Yes, that’s precisely it,” Iyolka replied, her expression softening as she observed Rya’s struggle to comprehend the absurdity of divine politics. The tension in Rya’s brow indicated her frustration, and Iyolka could see how difficult it was for her to process the tangled web of celestial relationships. “It mirrors your own journey, don’t you think? Rember, you were once a human male, living a life of your own design, until Nils intervened. She infused your very essence with her chaotic energy, transforming you into a Dark Elf female,” the goddess explained, raising a questioning brow. It was an invitation for Rya to reflect on the irony of her transformation amid such a vast and turbulent celestial conflict.
"Huh?... But I don't commit evil acts!" Rya exclaid, her frown deepening as she shook her head vehently. “And there’s no way in hell I’d ever worship those two losers!” The disdain she felt for the Dark Elven Goddesses was palpable in her voice.
Iyolka chuckled softly, a sound that enveloped the air like a warm breeze. "Just because you are no longer a fully-fledged creature of the Verdent—"
"The Verdent?" Rya interrupted, her confusion evident as she tilted her head, eager for clarity.
Iyolka’s smile widened as she recognized Rya’s naivety. "Ah, the Verdent. It’s the Pantheon I hail from—a unique assembly of beings representing a neutral force in this complex tapestry of existence. We believe in allowing our creations the freedom to choose their paths, fostering harmony within our realms rather than imposing strict obedience." She paused for a mont, allowing Rya to digest this profound information, watching as her brow furrowed in thought.
Once Rya nodded, signaling her understanding, Iyolka continued, “Anyway, just because your body was shaped by a Deity of Chaos doesn’t an you are inherently evil, Rya. Your essence may be influenced by Nils, but it's your choices and the intentions behind your actions that shape who you truly are. It doesn’t matter if you were born a Demon, a Human, or even a God; what defines you is what you choose to do with your power.”
A wave of relief washed over Rya at the validation of her innate goodness. She felt less burdened by the fear of becoming sothing monstrous. “So, the Virtue Deities tried to eradicate the Chaos Deities because they feared that their followers would be lured away, weakening their ability to recharge their Primordial Essence?” Rya asked, her voice steadying with newfound conviction.
Iyolka nodded wryly, "Yes, that is the gist of it. But the problem was that the Deities of Virtue attacked the Chaos Deities first. The Gods were telling their creations to kill Chaos' creations in order to take their land and expand their population, thus making it easier for them to recharge their Primordial Essence. Unfortunately for the Deities of Virtue and the rest of us, Verdent Gods didn't know that beings created from Chaos could influence our creation in such a manner. The funny thing for Verdent Gods is that even if a human were turned into a demon, they can still pray to us, and we can get our Primordial Essence back, but it doesn't generate as fast as before. Still, at least it is sothing."
Rya raised her brows in surprise at this new revelation. Her mind wandered back to her ti spent on Earth. If only she'd had access to the knowledge and powers that the gods wielded, perhaps her life would have been different. "Interesting," she muttered, lost in thought.
Iyolka cleared her throat softly, bringing Rya back from her reverie. "But even with this revelation, the Dieties of Virtue couldn't stand that the Chaos Deities were siphoning their creation's essence. It was an affront that could not be tolerated. And thus, the War of the Gods ensued."
"Wait, does this an the other two Dark Elven Gods were part of this pantheon?"
"This happened before their ti. They are second-generation gods and missed most of the events of the war. Although they had heard about it, they didn't care about the sacrifices their mother and brethren made. They only care about their own self-interests. It is the main reason I didn't want to have a child. I was afraid my child would inherit the sa mindset."
"Okay? So, if the Gods of Chaos can cut off the Dieties of Virtues' Primordial Essence. Why haven't they been able to steamroll the Dieties of Virtues?"
"For several reasons," Iyolka responded, a hint of weariness creeping into her voice. "First, worshipers of Virtue get Primordial Essence back quicker as their prayers and offerings are more frequent. They are far more loyal to their creators, and their devotion is unwavering. This is not the case for the Chaos Gods, whose worshippers will hopscotch from Dark God to Dark God until they find the one who suits their interests. This makes it difficult for the Chaos Gods to maintain their power and influence over their followers. Their boon is the fact that their essence is far more erratic, and it can override the virtues' creation's essence at the slightest mont of weakness. Frankly, it is the Dieties of Virtues' fault for making their worshipers so tightly wound up, and it makes them easy targets for conversion, as devoting yourself to the Dark Gods or we, Verdent Gods, is far less stressful. So, the Virtue Deities went to war and tried to cast all who opposed them into the Void. That included the Verdent Gods, who wished to stay out of the war."
"That sounds rough," Rya said, her brow furrowing as she contemplated the intricate and often convoluted politics of the Gods. "I’m surprised you didn’t choose a side."
"I am a Goddess of Verdent," Iyolka replied with a calm deanor. "My responsibility lies solely in defending myself from those foolish enough to attack . The Virtue Deities simply lack the strength to confront directly. Additionally, Tertius was one of the few planets that didn't participate in the first War of the Gods. We all had at least an understanding to live in harmony. Anyway, it would take too long to explain how we did what other planets thought was impossible, and you have limited ti in my Astral Domain."
Rya wanted to inquire further about this but sighed softly. "Fair enough."
Iyolka's expression shifted from one of calm confidence to a somber reflection. "After centuries of relentless war, the Deities of various pantheons who lost their worshippers faced tragic exile from their realms. They were subject to a fate far worse than re marginalization—they were consud by the Void, which only served to bolster its strength. Consequently, we lost our ability to communicate with any Deities beyond this solar system. The lone exception to this rule occurs during a Universal equinox, a fleeting mont that lasts only a short ti. Thankfully, our planet—Tertius—managed to avoid becoming embroiled in an all-out conflict, unlike our counterparts found on other worlds. We succeeded in maintaining a fragile balance among the Virtue, Verdent, and Chaos Pantheons until the war's conclusion, when an entity erged from the Void. This event altered Tertius and several other planets that chose not to partake in the war."
Iyolka paused, her gaze distant, recalling the haunting mories. “Fifty million years ago, dark ons began to approach Tertius in the form of asteroids hurtling through space. They ca from the vast emptiness, unexpected and untraceable. So of the Deities attempted to destroy the more perilous asteroids, unaware of the sinister contents they harbored until it was too late. Each asteroid was teeming with what our creations later terd 'Ether.' Once released, the Ether unleashed profound transformations upon the flora, fauna, and even the very earth beneath our feet; the air itself beca tainted with this mysterious substance."
"Many of our creations, unable to cope with the chaotic energy of this Ether, morphed into monstrous beings, which in turn beca targets for Mortals seeking valuable parts. Conversely, those that managed to endure the Ether’s onslaught developed mana veins over the subsequent centuries. In a fortunate turn of events, these monstrous entities absorbed a significant portion of the Ether, transforming it into Mana. This Mana was then released into the atmosphere, a boon that facilitated the ergence of mana veins in more living beings, granting even Mortals access to a kind of power previously thought to be exclusive to us Gods and our vassals."
Rya listened closely, captivated by Iyolka’s story. The amount of knowledge was overwhelming, but she was eager to learn more about the complex history woven into the past events.
"The other phenonon that arose during this ti was the ergence of Dungeon Cores and worse… the Dragons," Iyolka continued.
"Wait a mont... So, you’re saying that labyrinths weren't created by one of the Gods?" Rya interjected, her curiosity piqued.
"Absolutely not," Iyolka retorted, her eyes reflecting a hint of frustration. "Those labyrinths are an aberration, anomalies that defy the very fabric of reality that we wish to maintain. I have a hypothesis regarding the true nature of Ether, but regrettably, I lack concrete evidence to substantiate my claims."
The anticipation surged within Rya, a palpable energy that intensified her desire to know more. "W-What do you theorize it is?"
"I believe what we are witnessing is corrupted or tainted Primordial Essence, remnants of the Deities that the Void has consud over the ages. The reasons elude , but it seems that the Void has been sending these large, fragnted chunks of Ether to the worlds where various pantheons thrived in harmony. I can only speculate on this matter, but during the rare instances when I managed to communicate with Deities from other realms—particularly during the equinox—these worlds were devoid of monsters, dungeon cores, or even dragons. The inhabitants of those realms were entirely unaware of the concept of mana veins.
“In fact, one conversation I had with a God hailing from a world whose Pantheon was as peaceful as ours illuminated a troubling parallel. Their realm was experiencing the sa chaotic phenonon with Ether as we are. This disturbance shattered their tranquility, setting off a chain reaction of imbalance. Soon enough, the Gods of Virtue made the grave decision to engage once more in battle against the Chaos Gods, convinced that they could avoid the missteps of their predecessors.
“It is my belief that the Void is orchestrating these events, attempting to pit us against one another, or worse, seeking to annihilate our very creations through the monsters, labyrinths, and dragons it unleashes upon our worlds,” Iyolka explained, her tone heavy with foreboding.
"That's kind of unsettling..." Rya interjected, her brow furrowing in concern. "But wait a mont... How do you know that dragons are beings of Ether and not simply manifestations of mana?" she asked, seeking clarity.
Iyolka's lips curled into a knowing smirk. "You should already understand this, Rya. After all, you have our eyes... You must have seen what I am talking about when you were in the Tomb of the Horde, haven't you?"
Rya’s expression shifted from confusion to enlightennt. "Are you suggesting that the Ether flowing through the labyrinth resembles what I might find in a dragon?" she pondered, the realization dawning upon her.
"You are a bright one... Yes, hopefully you'll never have to encounter one of the slumbering dragons," Iyolka stated.
Rya felt a heavy lump form in her throat, anxiety tightening around it like a noose. "S-So, dragons are to be avoided at all costs, right?" she asked, her voice trembling with uncertainty.
"Yes," Iyolka replied, her tone almost casual, yet imbued with an unsettling gravity. "Dragons possess a power that even we Gods, cannot hope to challenge. All we can do is lull them into a deep slumber... from ti to ti."
Rya frowned, unease prickling at the back of her mind. The Goddess's nonchalance regarding such a perilous subject unnerved her. She swallowed hard, trying to digest the weight of Iyolka’s words.
Iyolka continued, her expression turning serious. "That's why I conserve as much Primordial Essence as I can. It's crucial for when a dragon threatens to awaken. If one stirs, I can attempt to put it back to sleep. But should multiple dragons rise at once... well, then I may have no choice but to brave the Void."
The re thought of slumbering dragons sent a shiver down Rya's spine, her imagination conjuring images of scales glistening like dark jewels and eyes burning like molten gold. She had always sensed there was more to the world than what was seen, but this revelation threw her into a whirlpool of fear and awe.
"I guess the real reason I'm sharing all of this with you is that you are special," Iyolka said, her gaze softening. "You were not born on this world, and I believe it's only fair that you understand the dangers that lie beneath the surface. You must learn to protect those who are special to you as well."
With that, Rya stared into the depths of the Goddess's eyes, realizing that the responsibilities ahead of her were far greater than she had ever imagined. The weight of knowledge settled upon her, intertwining with her growing resolve. All she managed to say was, "I... I'm touched..."
Iyolka smiled, "You're welco... Now, was there sothing else that I forgot to tell you?... Oh yes... It's about the Ether and Mana Veins. Ahem... Unfortunately, this caused a dilemma with the Deities on Tertius. Our creations were gaining powers that so saw as a threat to their own powers. So, so of the Deities tried to be proactive in destroying the Ether-powered beings."
Rya looked on with interest, "What did they do?"
"Well, the dragons destroyed two full continents before Glacia was able to get one of the Dragons to slumber by creating a new Primordial spell. The other Deities joined in by casting their own spells, slumber spells. That's why most of the Dragons are located on the Continent of Laos, which is far west of Agon," Iyolka answered.
"What happened after the Dragons were put to sleep?" Rya asked.
"So of the Deities left Tertius when their followers were wiped from Laos. While others tried claiming so of the other deities' followers as their own. And this caused a small war that sent a few Gods into the Void," Iyolka answered.
This caught Rya's attention, "So, there are other ways to steal a God's worshipers? Like how the creations of Chaos can?" She asked.
"Well... It's complicated... What I was referencing earlier was how the followers of Chaos can corrupt followers of the other Deities. That process takes weeks to months of turning a human, elf, dwarf, or angel into a succubus, dark elf, demon, or devil. You've been through the process yourself, but the influence of turning into a dark elf was sped up due to a few factors. One, you ca from a world with no mana or a Deity watching over your world. Two, Nils gave you that choker collar artifact that is stuck around your neck. It's a part of her, and so it accelerates the corruption and makes it easier to transform your body. Lastly, being a Chosen One ant that your body would beco as your Deity sees fit. Hence why you have Omni Eyes... No other Dark Elf has those eyes except you. Maybe one of the other Gods might have been dumb enough to give their Chosen Ones Omni Eyes, but I think I may have heard or seen sothing about that by now. I think I didn't notice that you had them because of the Forbidden Body Summoning technique."
Rya was confused, "That all well and good, but I don't pray or worship those two idiots at all... I get that I'm not human anymore, but I don't know how soone would abandon their beliefs even when they were to be transford."
Iyolka smirked again. She was starting to really like Rya. This mortal was asking the right questions in her eyes. Iyolka knew that if the Chosen One didn't ask the right questions, then the Chosen One would probably have died at the hands of a Demon Lord, Hero, or Monsters. It made it clear to her that Rya needed to remain by Quinus' side.
"Well... That's one of the reasons why I stopped allowing any of my creations to speak to through my Idols."
This perplexed Rya at first, but she kind of had an idea of why Iyolka didn't want to be spoken to directly, "I can understand being annoyed with people bugging you to help them with every little problem. I know that you have a lot of responsibilities, and I'm sure it can be tiring if all your creations just co to you for every little issue. But I feel like there's more to it than that."
"Well, you're right. There is a lot more to the story... To simplify it, I've seen what happens when certain deities impose their will upon others. When I created my world and gave birth to my creations. I wanted my creations to choose their own path in life. To live their lives however they saw fit. However, so Deities didn't share this sentint and would have their creations adhere to a specific set of rules that had to be followed. And if the rules were not followed, then the creations would be punished."
'Ugh... That sounds like Inquisition, bullshit to ... I hate fanatics and their bullshit!' Rya shouted in her head.
Iyolka waved her hand as all her Primordial Essence flowed around the empty space of her Astral domain until a replica of the world Rya knew popped into existence. "So, once we were able to stop the Dragons from destroying the rest of the world. Twelve Deities lost all of their followers and creations. Trying to start anew was a Herculean task since the rest of us had our creations and followers at the stage of sentience and logic. So, four of them braved the void to find a new planet to start life over again. While the last eight wanted to stay. So, they used whatever Primordial Essence they had left to enter the dreams of similar creations of different Deities. So a Elven Deity would try to speak to another Elf that followed a different Deity. Then, the Elf would slowly fall for new the Elven Deity with they do enough for them and then that elf will spread the word to its community in hopes to convert others. Usually by performing a miracle for them to get them on the new Deity's side. And the long and short of it is that it's frowned upon to steal creations from other Deities."
"Is it really that easy to convince soone to switch religions?" Rya asked with a raised eyebrow.
"When there are weak willed and stupid enough people in the world, then yes it is quite easy," Iyolka answered honestly.
"Ugh... Touche... But has that happened recently. I feel like you guys would notice when your followers start disappearing."
"Like I said, we're not omnipotent and we don't see everything all the ti. But to answer your question. Yes, it has happened to my poor friend Vrune over a century ago. Those three assholes to the south stole his worshipers and kicked him into the Void. I fear that he didn't make it," Iyolka said with clenched fists.
Rya noticed the anger in the Goddess's voice, "So they took soone away from you too... Tell everything about them... If I'm going to get my revenge on the paladins. I may as well deal with the root of the problem."
Iyolka unclenched her fist and glanced at Rya with a hint of curiosity. She saw the determination and fire in her eyes. It told her everything that she needed to know about Rya even when she was watching her from afar. This mortal was not to be underestimated. Iyolka went from liking Rya to loving her. This girl was a breath of fresh air and she believed that Rya was going to change Tertius for the better.
"I don't wish to place such a burden on your shoulders. Trying to hurt a Deity is a tall order... And you will be taking on three of them," Iyolka inford Rya.
The Dark Elf smirked, "Well... I won't make any promises but if it's in my power then I will deal with those bastards. Because I'm not afraid."
Iyolka leaned forward showing off her gorgeous breasts that barely hid underneath her toga. The goddess gave her a serious look, "Don't underestimate them. It would be a sha to lose you."
Rya was surprised that the Goddess cared about her well-being, "It's more of a possible long-term goal, Goddess Iyolka... My priorities is becoming Quinus' wife and strengthening my kingdom then I'll look into dealing with the Divine Three."
Iyolka smiled and her smile alone brightened the whole room.
"Fine... But don't disappoint my Chosen One. He cares for you more than anything else in the world. And I don't want him to beco depressed and lonely."
"Hehehe..."
"What's so funny?"
"Oh, nothing. It's just that you have no idea how much I loves him," Rya replied with a confident smile.
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