The Divine Covenant

The dream… returned to where it had paused.

“A lost soul from another world? Interesting. Pitifully weak, perhaps, but at this moment, it is the only choice…”

“Hmm? Have you awakened? Very well. I ask of you, are you willing to inherit our will and fulfill our unaccomplished desires? If so, you shall receive the heartfelt blessings of our hundred thousand gods…”

“I…”

Roy gazed at the scene before him, utterly bewildered. In this vast, white world, he could discern nothing.

‘Was this Heaven?’

‘So such a place truly existed after all…’

“Your answer… please tell us…”

“Ah…”

The inexplicable voice had begun speaking moments ago. Could even Heaven be plagued by auditory hallucinations?

Then, the scene abruptly shifted!

As if teleporting, Roy’s surroundings changed with dizzying speed. He found himself within a miraculous palace, magnificent and grand, resplendent in gold and jade.

The grand hall teemed with a multitude of ‘beings,’ each bearing a solemn expression and an imposing aura. From every single one of them, Roy could distinctly sense a tremor… a vibration that seemed to emanate from the very depths of his soul.

It was… a primal despair and terror, the kind a weakling feels when confronted by an insurmountable power.

To even contemplate victory was futile, for the chasm between them made even raising his head to meet their gaze an immense challenge for Roy.

“Do not fear, soul from another realm. From your very essence, I perceive that your nature is not one of such timidity and cowardice. Now! Lift your head! Simply reveal your confident self. Have no fear, nor dread anything. In essence, both you and I are currently soul bodies; there is no difference. So… come, let me observe you clearly!”

“Haha!—Isn’t this quite well done? Though your heart is already consumed by extreme fear, you still strive undauntedly to resist! This is truly something no ordinary person could achieve. Excellent, excellent!”

The Divine King, seated high upon the temple throne, regarded Roy with profound satisfaction. Indeed, this visitor from another world had not disappointed him.

Despite facing such overwhelming mental suppression, Roy had not once entertained thoughts of escape or retreat. Instead, he had exerted every ounce of his being to prove himself, to assert his very existence.

Although, to the Divine King, this ‘mental suppression’ was merely less than one ten-thousandth of his true power, of course.

“Heh… hehe, thank you for the praise…”

As the Divine King had stated, though his mind was already a whirlwind of panic and his body drenched in sweat, Roy still endeavored to make his voice sound as normal as possible, careful not to betray the fact of his current terror.

Yet, this effort seemed utterly futile.

“Then, for the final time, are you willing to fulfill the last wishes of our hundred thousand gods? If so, we shall bestow upon you a final divine body, granting you the essence of our hundred thousand gods’ power! This will aid your resurrection and your return to the mortal world! However!—”

The Divine King’s tone suddenly turned chilling, causing Roy below to tremble even more in fright, his heart filled with bitter anguish.

“In return, you shall also pay a corresponding price! When you accept rebirth and acquire this final divine body, you will simultaneously accept our… purest abhorrence for this world! And that is—vengeance, the destruction of the entire world! Do not ask why, nor how. All shall be for you to decide, for our enemies do not stem from any power you can imagine. When the time comes, you will naturally comprehend its meaning.”

****

“So… if I refuse…”

“Naturally, you will die, and be consigned to eternal oblivion!”

“Alright then… I agree…”

“Hahahaha! Soul from another realm, that’s more like it! However, I haven’t finished speaking. Listen further.

Not only what I’ve said, but the world into which you will be reborn will be entirely new, one completely alien to your previous world. Thus, you will lose everything you once possessed and cherished! Is that still acceptable?”

“Heh… since you can perceive my very essence, how could you not know I was an orphan? Never mind…”

Shaking his head with a self-deprecating smile, Roy then took a deep breath. Subsequently, he declared loudly:

“Yes, I will do it! Since matters have come to this, and I have no retreat, then let it be! Coincidentally, I have grown weary of my past life’s myriad affairs. Yes, I desire change, and I crave it! Whether for good or ill!”

“Hahahahaha! Good! A truly admirable craving for change! Excellent, truly excellent. At the very least, in terms of your spirit, I acknowledge you!”

The Divine King sat upon his resplendent, iridescent throne in the temple, stroking his long beard as he smiled with utmost satisfaction. Upon hearing Roy’s words, the other gods also followed suit, revealing approving glances.

Their gazes softened and became friendlier, no longer filled with the disdain and belligerence that had pervaded the air before.

But merely this was not enough!

Roy’s lips curled. ‘What did he mean, acknowledging him ‘in terms of spirit’?’

‘Did that imply his only commendable trait was his aura? Wasn’t that indirectly calling him all bluster and no substance?’

‘No, this simply wouldn’t do!’

Roy’s face immediately darkened, and he retorted loudly:

“It’s not just about spirit! If given the chance, in the future, I will sooner or later prove myself to you all with true strength!”

“Hmm, good, good, hahahaha…”

To Roy’s immense frustration, the Divine King still treated his declaration as nothing more than a child’s playful jest.

Moreover, a significant amount of time had seemingly passed. Though Roy didn’t quite understand why these gods cared about time—weren’t they supposed to be immortal?

Yet, with the facts laid bare, Roy had no choice but to cease his questioning and doubts.

The Divine King, after seemingly consulting with two deities beside him, promptly declared:

“Without further delay, soul from another realm, let us commence the ritual at once, while our souls still linger in the mortal world! And Roy, take this!”

Suddenly, the Divine King hurled an enigmatic orb of light towards Roy. The moment Roy caught it, he was astonished to find the luminous sphere vanish into the palm of his hand!

He then gazed at the Divine King, brimming with suspicion.

True to form, the Divine King did not disappoint Roy. He proclaimed loudly, “This object is another grand gift from our divine race to you. In the days to come, it shall guide you step by step in your cultivation, enabling you to master divine power in the shortest possible time!”