Chapter 588

【 RETURN TO THE PARTHENON 】

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September 13th, Year 1070 of the Eternal Era

For the inhabitants of the realm of Seigües, this day marked the fourth celebration of the ‘Day of Mana Resurgence’ since the ambient mana of the world began to recover four years prior.

The Day of Mana Resurgence is regarded as one of the most extraordinary days in the entire calendar of Seigües. On this day, the world’s mana reaches its absolute zenith. Spellcasters often describe it as if the very air hums with untamed energy. Even those without magical sensitivity feel the world grow more vibrant, more alive.

Beyond the surface, deeper forces stir as well. The gravitational influence of the Abyss ntensifies noticeably. On this day, its pull upon the world becomes stronger, thinning the barriers between the two and heightening the risk of rifts or spatial breaches.

As the countdown to the opening of interdimensional passageways continues to advance, each passing Day of Mana contributes to a noticeable surge in the world’s ambient magical energy. With every iteration, the very fabric of magic across Seigües grows denser and more vibrant, pushing the world ever closer to its reopening.

Whether seasoned spellcasters or martial experts, most view this fleeting window as a rare and invaluable opportunity to challenge their current limits. Many retreat into secluded sanctums or sacred grounds, hoping to pierce through long-standing bottlenecks in their cultivation. Yet, the rewards do not come without risk for the surging mana, while powerful, is unstable and often volatile. Those who are careless may find themselves overwhelmed, suffering severe backlash or even losing control entirely.

Moreover, the festival’s effects are not confined to mortals. A wide variety of magical creatures throughout the land are also stirred by the overflowing energy.

Even supernatural beings such as vampires, lycanthropes, and dormant dragons have been known to awaken or become significantly more active during this time.

As a result, villages and towns near forests remain on high alert each year, as beast tides often occur around the same period. The Day of Mana is also closely tied to folklore involving vampires, werewolf transformations, and other similar tales.

It is also worth noting that the Day of Mana has consistently marked the time when magical seals across the realm become most unstable. Over the past four years, a majority of ancient beings that have broken free from their long-standing confinements did so precisely on this day, exploiting the weakened bonds of their prisons.

Likewise, the barriers that separate dimensions are, at least in theory, at their most fragile during this time.

For this reason, the Day of Mana Resurgence is viewed by most factions as one of the most critical and high-risk days of the entire year. Vigilance is heightened and patrols are often performed in advance to prepare for potential disturbances.

The exception to this, however, is the Elven faction.

Under the protection of Eve, the Elven Forest remains tranquil and secure. As a result, players residing within the region tend to show little concern for this otherwise significant day. To them, this event passes like any other, with only minor surprises such as accelerated leveling or a slightly increased responsiveness to magical training.

Since the event lasts for only a single day—and even less when measured in Earth’s time—it has never drawn much attention.

However, this year’s Day of Mana Resurgence is destined to be unlike any that came before it.

To ordinary beings and legendary creatures lacking the necessary rank or standing, it may appear to be no different from previous years.

Yet for those attuned to matters of the divine, such as sensitive demigods and mythical-tier beings who have already set foot on the path of divinity, the importance of this day cannot be overstated.

Today marks the formal reopening of the Pantheon, a historic occasion that has not taken place in a very long time.

This so-called reopening refers to more than a ceremonial gesture. It signifies the long-awaited convening of the Divine Assembly, where the gods themselves are summoned to deliberate and shape the direction of the cosmic order.

In the heart of the Elven Forest, deep within the Divine Kingdom of the World Tree, Evé, whilst seated high upon her divine throne, suddenly opened her eyes.

Just now, she had sensed a subtle, yet familiar, call.

This power was unmistakable.

She had experienced it once before, shortly after recovering from her near-death state.

It was the summoning of the Pantheon.

“…So it has begun.”

She whispered softly.

Rather than resisting, Evé willingly responded to the call, channeling a fragment of her soul into it.

That familiar sensation of rising into the heavens returned.

As her divine awareness soared and her vision expanded without limit, Evé once again found herself standing within a vast, boundless expanse of stars.

Of course, having visited the Pantheon once before, she knew that this ascent and the cosmic scenery were mere illusions.

In truth, this place was a carefully crafted, artificial dimension—a hidden space constructed atop the very foundation of Seigües’ core origin. It was designed not only to serve as the new seat of the gods but also to stabilize and contain the fractured essence of the world itself, which had nearly collapsed during the last upheaval.

Before her stood the same majestic divine temple, bathed in brilliant starlight.

However, this time, a new and striking sight awaited her. Standing in solemn silence on either side of the towering gates of the Pantheon were two figures clad in gleaming silver armor.

They were unmistakably angels, each possessing the strength of a demigod, with flowing golden hair and luminous golden eyes. Their faces held an otherworldly beauty, neither distinctly male nor female, rivaling even the elegance of the elves. Three pairs of radiant white wings extended gracefully from their backs, with each feather shimmering with divine light.

Armed with long silver spears and fully encased in ornate silver armor, they stood like unwavering sentinels.

These were Six-Winged Seraphim, second only to the Twelve-Winged Angel Kings among the angels who serve the Eternal Lord.

Angels are a race of divine emissaries under the Human Faction. Originally, they were intelligent beings from beyond this realm. Later, they were subjugated by Etriōu, the Eternal Lord and supreme deity of the Human Gods, and subsequently became the symbolic divine envoys of the gods of humanity.

They are a unique form of life, existing between elemental and material existence.

Like Dragons, Angels are considered a race with golden lineage, or more precisely, an Ancient God Race.

They are born at the golden rank, and their power can reach the mythical level.

Their hierarchy is as follows (from lowest to highest): Angel, Archangel, Principal Angel, Four-Winged Angel, Six-Winged Seraphim, and finally the Twelve-Winged King of Angels.

The first three ranks—Angel to Principal Angel—belong to the golden rank and possess only one pair of wings. These make up the bulk of the angelic legions.

The upper three ranks correspond to legendary, demigod, and mythical levels, respectively.

It is also worth mentioning that Fallen Angel Luria was once a Twelve-Winged King of Angel who once served Etriōu, before his eventual rebellion.

Evé was not surprised to see Angels stationed here.

After all, the Eternal Era is named after Etriōu, the Eternal Lord.

At least nominally.

As the de facto leader of the gods, the Divine Assembly was naturally presided over by Him, and the divine envoys tasked with welcoming the gods were, unsurprisingly, His Angels.

However, upon seeing the Angels, Eve—who had inherited the legacy of the World Tree—could not help but recall the fierce battles between the Oak Guardians and the Angels during the thousand-year Holy War. Seeing them up close, a subtle discomfort and a natural sense of caution stirred within her heart.

Of course, she did not let it show.

When the two Six-Winged Seraphim saw Evé appear before the Pantheon, their expressions grew solemn. They stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and greeted her with deep, steady voices:

“Your Grace, Goddess of Life and Nature, Eve… welcome to the Pantheon.”

She was not surprised that they had immediately recognized her identity.

For one, she had not altered her appearance for this visit, as there was no longer any need to do so. She had come to understand that true gods do not rely solely on physical appearance to identify one another. Instead, they recognize each other primarily through the unique signatures and auras of their divine souls. Her own aura had always differed slightly from that of her predecessor, and after years of intentional refinement and evolution, the distinction had become even more pronounced.

Moreover, each deity had a dedicated throne within the Pantheon. When summoned, gods would appear directly on their respective thrones within the temple—not here outside like her.

Only new gods like Eve, who had yet to formally establish themselves, would arrive from the outside.

In other words, it was evident the Angels had been waiting specifically for her from the start.

Evé gave a slight nod, and the two Angels stepped aside and respectfully opened the grand doors of the Pantheon for her.

Without hesitation, Evé entered.

As she stepped inside, the massive doors slowly closed behind her, sealing the temple and cutting off all external divine perception.

Evé felt a ripple in her heart but made no visible reaction.

Her gaze swept across the interior of the grand hall, and her brow rose slightly.

Just like her last visit, the temple was vast and majestic. The walls were lit with sacred flames, bathing the Pantheon in a regal and splendid glow.

Yet, the thousands of divine thrones inside the hall were entirely vacant—even those at the front, which remained intact and undamaged.

Seeing all the empty seats, Eve’s first thought was whether she had been tricked…. that her identity had been discovered and this was actually an ambush all along.

But she quickly dismissed the idea.

For one, she had only sent a fragment of her soul here. Secondly, the Pantheon didn’t seem to serve any practical need for an ambush.

This was not the original Pantheon.

The true Pantheon—once capable of allowing the Lord of the Era to suppress all gods—had long since been destroyed.

This current structure was merely a patched-together substitute.

If it weren’t, the Eternal Lord—despite His immense power and vast following—would not still be referred to merely as the nominal Ruler of the Era.

Furthermore, the nature of this Pantheon meant that only the soul fragments of true gods or authorized demigods could enter.

Thus, there was no tactical value in ambushing a fragment of another god’s soul.

Additionally, the Divine Assembly was not fake. After agreeing to attend at the request of Athos, Evé had confirmed the event’s authenticity with both Hela, the Goddess of Death, and Reinhardt, the Platinum Dragon King.

So then… where were the other gods?

While nervousness and suspicion were emotions better left hidden, a degree of visible confusion was entirely appropriate for this occasion.

Naturally, Evé furrowed her brows ever so slightly, letting a puzzled expression visibly show upon her face as she looked toward a figure standing in the center of the hall.

It was a tall human male—or at least, he appeared to be human.

He had golden-blond hair and golden eyes, with a handsome face that rivaled even Thranduil’s. However, unlike Thranduil’s otherworldly charm, this man exuded warmth, maturity, and an unmistakable air of authority.

He wore a white robe trimmed with gold, decorated with sacred and intricate patterns. To a god’s perception, these motifs represented concepts such as Light, Order, Thunder, and Humanity.

As Evé looked toward him, the man too looked back.

His starlit golden eyes carried a gentle smile.

But despite this friendly appearance, Evé grew more alert than ever before.

She had recognized him.

This was none other than the Lord of the Era, the most powerful known god in the current universe, and the chief deity of the Gods of Humanity himself:

Etriōu, the Eternal Lord.

“Welcome, Your Grace Evé, Goddess of Life and Nature. Your appearance is as beautiful as the rumors suggest,” he greeted her in a calm, measured voice, his tone gentle and warm.

His demeanor was elegant and composed, exuding an air of noble restraint. In both speech and manner, he displayed a level of grace and courtesy that even surpassed the famously sociable Platinum Dragon King Reinhardt. There was not a hint of condescension, arrogance, or the overwhelming dominance one might expect from a being hailed as the ruler of the current era. Instead, he carried himself with the sophistication of a wise and approachable sovereign, entirely at odds with the haughty, imperious image so often depicted in the myths and legends surrounding his name.

Yet Eve, as the inheritor of the World Tree’s legacy, knew well that this was only a façade.

To believe that a being capable of growing a follower base from near nothing to billions, and who once led the gods in toppling the previous World Tree, was harmless, would be nothing short of naive.

As various thoughts passed through her mind, Evé maintained a calm and composed demeanor. She nodded slightly to the man and replied:

“Thank you, Your Highness, Lord Etriōu. I have merely embraced the primordial form of the Elven race.”

The Eternal Lord was not surprised at being addressed by name. In fact, there was no need for surprise.

It was well known that Eve, the Goddess of Life and Nature, was likely a subordinate of Hela or at the very least, her ally. Hence, even as a newly ascended deity, she was surely privy to many matters.

Not to mention, the Elven Forest bordered the Human Empire, where statues of the Eternal Lord were a common sight.

However, upon hearing Eve’s latter remark, Etriōu raised an eyebrow slightly, though he said nothing more.

“The primordial form of the Elves…”

The Elves had originally been created in the image of the World Tree’s divine incarnation. As a result, the form characterized by silver hair and violet eyes came to represent the purest and most noble bloodline among the Elven race. This was also the appearance the previous World Tree had chosen for herself.

Given that she was speaking to the very god widely believed to have led the destruction of the former World Tree, Eve’s words carried a trace of defiance.

Even so, she said them deliberately.

She had not forgotten the role she was playing: that of a deified Elven God whose divinity was slightly tainted by the faith of her believers.

This identity was far safer than exposing her true nature.

“There are some things that must be done, whether we wish to or not. It is not a matter of identity or allegiance. One day, you too will understand.”

The Eternal Lord Etriōu smiled faintly, his words vague and cryptic, clearly choosing to move past the subject.

Then, turning to Eve again, he smiled and asked,

“You appeared somewhat puzzled just now. Is something troubling you?”

“Isn’t today the day of the Divine Assembly?” Eve asked naturally.

“It is,” Etriōu confirmed with a nod.

“But the time has not yet come. I merely used the authority of the Pantheon to summon you here in advance.”

He paused, then pointed toward the front row of thrones within the Pantheon and continued in a steady voice:

“Summoning you early serves a simple purpose. I would like you to establish your divine throne before the meeting, so I may formally introduce you to the other gods.”

Following his gesture, Evé looked toward the indicated area.

Her gaze rested on a cluster of thrones near the front.

These thrones emitted a faint divine glow, with divine energy visibly flowing through them. They stood in stark contrast to the ruined and faded thrones further back.

These were the thrones of the gods who still remained active.

Evé also noticed that there were significantly more radiant thrones than during her previous visit. They no longer numbered merely in the dozens but had now exceeded one hundred.

This did not mean that new gods had emerged. Rather, many dormant mythical beings had begun to awaken.

Evé nodded slightly, then raised her hand and pointed toward the back of the hall.

She had already prepared to establish her throne.

As she moved, gold-green divine energy gathered in the air, gradually forming a throne from illusion into substance.

However, just before the throne fully materialized, Etriōu gently raised his hand.

In response, the forming throne dispersed and vanished.

Eve’s brow furrowed subtly. Though inwardly alert, she kept her expression curious and looked toward Etriōu in question.

But Etriōu simply shook his head and said:

“Your Grace Eve, your throne does not belong there.”

With that, he gestured toward another area of the Pantheon.

As he did, the dull thrones at the back of the hall began to shift. One of them—a throne intricately carved with floral and vine patterns—was brought forward.

Despite its worn and damaged appearance, it was ornate and unmistakably unique.

“Your Grace Evé, your throne is right here,” Etriōu said softly.

Seeing it, Eve’s gaze froze slightly.

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