The next day, Link disappeared from everyone’s sight. Both the High Elf King on the Isle of Dawn and the Lord of Ferde had vanished without a trace.
The High Elves almost went crazy. How could they not have their king’s protection after losing the World Tree? They almost hysterically sent scouts all over the mainland to search for their king. They knew chances were slim, but they still had to do something.
Ferde was a bit better off, but some of the top-level Magicians were still unsettled because there was a terrifying rumor. It was rumored that a horrible god would soon descend upon Firuman and the lord sensed it, so he escaped.
As someone in Level-19, he definitely had the ability.
Right now, the only calm one was Eliard. He had a note from Link that had only one line. Look after Ferde. I’m searching for a true god that can defeat the Ruler of Light and Darkness.
Eliard didn’t know if Link could find a true god or what kind of sacrifices Link would have to make for the god to agree to fight. However, he believed that Link would succeed. Just as he led Ferde to glory, he would also help Firuman survive this catastrophe.
With Eliard there, Ferde was still well-managed. The regular civilians didn’t even know their lord was missing.
So where was Link?
He was right in Ferde. More specifically, he was on the border between Ferde and the Girvent Forest, walking down a small path in the forest. He didn’t use any power. He just walked with his physical body like the most common man on Firuman.
He himself didn’t know where he was going or why he wanted to do this.
He was just following the weak guidance in his heart and making each step. He didn’t think about who or what he would run into. He just walked forward naturally.
The waning moon had passed two days ago, and now the waxing moon had officially started. Two days ago, there was even a thunderstorm that was filled with vitality. The trees on either side of the forest path were covered in green now. When the breeze blew past, the air was chilly with the scent of petrichor. It made one feel comfortable and awake.
Scrape, scrape. Link stepped on the damp ground, feeling the steam due to the rising temperature. He felt vitality budding inside him too.
Strangely enough, Link felt the Natural Mana within him start flowing with an odd rhythm under this budding vitality. It felt like lava underground waiting for the right time to spew out.
Link couldn’t influence his Natural Mana. He just watched it quietly like a bystander, but he also comprehended something. Nature affects the heart while the heart affects power. It is the source. The form of power within me is connected to the natural environment too.
He continued walking.
Along the way, he also met some travelers, but they were all wearing regular clothes. They studied each other and then went on their own way.
As he walked further, dozens of paths converged. The road became wider, and there were more and more travelers. Around ten miles later, the path within the forest actually became lively. It seemed to be as flourishing as Creekwood Village way back when.
Around 20 miles later, Link reached the ruins of Creekwood. He discovered that it was still in ruins, but a new village was in the midst of being built too.
People on the path kept talking. Link stood beside a big tree and listened quietly.
“The Magicians of East Cove are so powerful. That night, I saw lightning crack above the village. When I went out in the morning, the zombies that had caused trouble everywhere were all gone. The robbers were driven away too. Look, those zombies are all burnt.”
“I heard that His Majesty allocated 10,000 gold coins to rebuild Creekwood. Just like I said, such a great place can’t just be left ruined.”
“Isn’t it because the Ferde lord is holding down the South? Otherwise, who would come here? Hey, look. See that female Magician? I heard she’s the Ferde lord’s student!”
“Oh, where? Wow, pretty. If only she could be my woman.”
“Shush! You want to die?”
Link looked over and saw Rylai.
The little girl from before was now a beautiful lady. She wore a white magic robe with silver designs and a silver belt at her waist. She held a white wand, and watery light glistened around her. She looked indescribably magical.
Level-6 before she’s even 18. Not bad. Link was very happy.
He didn’t stay for long. It was enough to know that Rylai was well-off. He had extreme power now, but he also had an enemy to match. Going to meet this little girl would hurt her.
I’ll just help her secretly. Link stepped back and raised a hand. He tapped in Rylai’s direction. A faint green ball flew out, quietly sinking into her body. It wouldn’t increase her power or help her understand spells. It was just a defense spell that seemed unimportant but was actually very powerful. If Rylai encountered an undefeatable enemy, a Level-19 shield would automatically be activated. Rylai would also be transmitted to Link’s side.
Rylai seemed to feel something. She looked in Link’s direction but only saw a stranger. (Changing his appearance was easy for Link.)
After that, Link put Rylai down in his heart. He continued down the forest path.
Around ten minutes later, he suddenly stopped because he saw a familiar woman in an icy blue dress. At first glance, she looked like a common beauty, but her features became more exquisite as one studied her. After a few seconds, one would have the urge to just drown in her beauty.
It was none other than Herrera, the Angel of Light. She also had Legendary power now, and Link hadn’t concealed his power, so she easily sensed his arrival.
“How come you’re here?”
“Because I wanted to come. My heart told me that if I came here, I’d see you.” Link smiled. He had a feeling that this was the right path to find closure.
How could he find closure? He had to put down what he must, forget what he must, and keep what he must until there were no more regrets.
Herrera understood Link. Becoming a bit sad, she said softly, “After being in the mortal world for so long, I’ve also become a mortal. The God of Light has fallen, and you’re leaving, but I can’t follow… Stay with me for a few days?”
Link nodded and walked over. He lifted Herrera’s porcelain-like chin and kissed her softly. He’d wanted to do this since he was at the East Cove Magic Academy, but there were too many restrictions before, thus leaving this regret.
It was time to resolve it now.
The next few days, Link accompanied Herrera and traveled through the forest. They recounted their past in the forest and would use magic to build a house at night. They would either rest or make love in the house. There were no restrictions.
Three days passed. On the third night, Link rose quietly. He kissed Herrera’s cheek, kissing away the tear that slid down from her eyes, and then left.
By the time he left the cottage, he’d already put Herrera down. His body and soul felt clearer, and energy was still flowing through. The two clashing powers—Dark and Natural—had started melding slowly. It was indescribable.
Link ignored it, allowing it to meld as he continued walking.
As he walked, he suddenly felt something. Looking up, he saw the moon in the sky. It shone down with cool light, illuminating him. A watery halo had appeared around him at some point. It exchanged light with the moon.
Right now, Link’s emotions were as pure as the moonlight and as serene as the forest at night. Within this serenity, vitality was still blooming.
Like a seed planted in the fertile land, it seemed calm but was filled with the power of life.
There is darkness after light, but the darkness still contains new hope.
Link continued walking. His heart had reached his own Realm of God. It was about to bloom just like the seed in the earth. As for what kind of Realm of God he would enter, he had no clue. He could only wait.
Following the weak guidance in his heart, he continued.
…
Sea of Void
A horrible existence was whizzing through the Sea of Void—the Ruler of Light and Darkness. Carrying incomparable power, his speed was indescribable. Energy roared wherever he went. He could even smash the dark energy traps.
He crashed down the path.
The Ruler of Light and Darkness immediately sensed it when Link’s Divine Attribute of Fire started budding. Boom. He opened his eyes. His left eye shone with blinding white light while his right eye was dark as an abyss.
Is the small thing growing up? He blinked.
To him, anyone under Level-20 was a small thing that could be crushed easily. But when someone started lighting the divine fire, they would have an unlimited future.
The Divine Realm was different from the Sacred Realm. Rising into the Sacred Realm needed a strong enough soul and time for the power to rise. But once a soul reached a certain extent for the Divine Realm, the power would instantly catch up. This was because the Sea of Void was filled with boundless energy that could be used.
Thus, only the strength of one’s soul determined the limit of someone in the Divine Realm. A soul was mysterious. Its strength depended on belief rather than time.
The stronger and more majestic one’s belief, the stronger their soul would be. After Link lit the divine fire, he could have average Level-20 strength, or he could instantly become more powerful than the Ruler of Light and Darkness.
The true territory of a god was filled with unlimited possibilities.
For example, he devoured realms not because of the realms’ power but to realize his own belief!
Feeling danger, the Ruler of Light and Darkness instantly sent his mind to someone on the outside of the faraway Firuman Realm.
“Pale Hunter, listen to my orders!”
This was the God of Destruction. She saw the drastic changes of the Firuman Realm but couldn’t do anything. She didn’t want to leave either, so she paced outside it and was noticed by the Ruler of Light and Darkness.
The Pale Hunter was known as the God of Destruction, but she was just a demi-god who’d luckily received a Divine Fragment. She was much stronger than Morpheus, but she was nothing compared to a true god who’d lit the divine fire!
She wanted to resist the Ruler of Light and Darkness’ consciousness, but this thought was extinguished as soon as it appeared. It had vanished naturally, and she could only submit to him.
She knew immediately that he was a true god and didn’t dare have any other thoughts. “Ultimate sovereign,” she said quickly. “What are your orders?”
“I have a daughter named Celine Flandre. She was left in Firuman and fell in love with a mortal. Go kill her!”
If Link wanted to find closure, he must put down Celine. If this critical step was destroyed, Link wouldn’t be able to light his divine fire.
“Sovereign, the Firuman Realm is too powerful. I can’t go in,” the God of Destruction said.
“If I say you can go, then you can. Go!”
Boom. The God of Destruction charged towards Firuman uncontrollably and fell in.