Chapter 591

【 REQUEST OF THE GOD OF DWARVES AND FORGING 】

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To many other True Gods, the Abyss was akin to a chronic affliction that plagued the universe. It was persistent and almost impossible to fully eradicate. Like a festering wound, it demanded constant intervention to prevent its spread.

Yet for Eve, who has the ability of [Absorption], the Abyss was a potential wellspring of power from which she could draw strength from.

Of course, her openly and blatantly devouring the power of the Abyss would undoubtedly attract some unwanted attention. If Evé were to do so recklessly, it would be nearly impossible to avoid suspicion regarding her true identity.

However, if she were to participate in the Holy Crusade against the Demons, by leveraging her player army and personally descending onto the battlefield to destroy evil deities, then the situation would be entirely different.

Although she lacked a sufficient number of Einherjars, the vast player army under her command was, in many respects, even more effective than conventional believers.

In addition, Eve’s resistance to Abyssal corruption greatly surpassed that of most other deities.

Thus, upon fully understanding the motivations behind the crusade, Evé resolved to take part in the campaign without hesitation.

“The Crusade will be coordinated by His Grace Lóðurr, the God of War and Destruction,” the Eternal Lord declared, his voice calm and solemn. “He will now present the specific structure and deployment plans for the upcoming conflict…”

Having spoken, the Eternal Lord turned and nodded to the silver-gray orc seated beside him—a striking figure whose presence exuded strength and command.

Then, the deep and rugged voice of Lóðurr echoed throughout the divine assembly:

“As with previous campaigns, the Crusade shall be organized by divine factions. Each faction will act as a cohesive unit, and independent deities will be randomly assigned to one of them. Given that the Ancient Gods currently lack formal Einherjar legions, they are exempt from contributing such forces. However, they are still obligated to participate directly in the offensive against the Evil Gods and their Demon allies.”

“Furthermore, both the Human Coalition and the League of War have the strongest and largest number of members. Therefore, our members will be divided and assigned to various layers of the Abyss…”

Lóðurr spoke with a solemn expression, his deep voice echoing through the grand hall as he detailed the respective regions that each deity would be tasked with overseeing during the upcoming year-long campaign.

However, he paused momentarily when he began to speak about the assignments for his own faction. His eyes shifted briefly, landing on Evé with a deliberate glance before continuing:

“My faction, the League of War, shall be responsible for the first through third layers of Hell,” he declared. “Alongside myself, the newly inducted Goddess of Life shall also be deployed to this region. Please make the necessary preparations.”

Hm?

Evé raised her brows slightly in surprise at being singled out, but she quickly masked her reaction and gave a calm nod in response. Though the decision was unexpected, she showed no objection. If anything, her thoughts had already begun turning toward the opportunities this assignment might present.

At the same time, Evé noticed that several members of the League of War had turned their gazes toward her—many of them wearing expressions that ranged from cold indifference to open hostility.

It was hardly surprising.

After all, not long ago, she had slain a deity from their faction and had refused to relinquish the divine artifact and the divinities she had claimed from Uller. Given such a history, it would have been strange if their attitudes were anything less than antagonistic.

It seemed this campaign might prove far more complicated than expected, Evé mused silently.

After mentioning her, Lóðurr paused again. His tone became increasingly stern:

“Your Grace Evé, we are now in extraordinary times. Given the present circumstances, the League of War will no longer pursue the matter of your past conflict with Uller. Likewise, we will not dispute your continued possession of the divine artifact and the Divinities you acquired during that confrontation.”

A quiet murmur rippled through the hall at his words, but none dared to interrupt.

“However,” he continued, his tone growing even more severe, “in exchange, you are expected to fulfill your duties without fail, as befits any True God.”

He narrowed his eyes slightly, the weight of his words pressing down like a silent challenge.

“It is said that you have assembled an army rivaling an elite legion. If that is truly the case, then deploy it where it matters most. Prove your strength on the battlefield, not just in reputation. Do not disappoint us.”

There was a subtle arrogance woven into his voice, as though he were bestowing mercy upon her rather than acknowledging her rightful spoils. Not once did he mention that, as the victor in the holy war against Uller, Eve was fully entitled to everything she had claimed, whether it be the artifact or the Divinities of the losing side.

As his words echoed through the chamber, nearly every god present turned their eyes toward Evé.

The holy war from just a few months prior had shaken the Heavenly realm. Her battle with Uller had flared with such intensity that nearly all gods had sensed the fluctuations.

Many had even projected their divine senses to witness the unfolding conflict firsthand, watching with bated breath as two deities clashed.

However, midway through the battle, Uller had cast a divine domain, cutting off outside perception. Soon after, Eve had followed suit, cloaking the battlefield entirely within her own divine power. From that point on, the gods could only speculate about what had occurred.

The only certainty was that Uller had been defeated—and not merely beaten, but thoroughly and decisively so.

As for the so-called “Elite Legion” under her command…

Well, the players reputation had already begun to spread throughout Seigües. Tales of their unusual strength, resilience, and unorthodox tactics were now common topics among bards, tavern-goers, and traveling merchants. Their deeds, some exaggerated and others entirely true, had become the stuff of legend.

Hence, it was no longer a secret—especially not among the gods.

However, unlike the cold stares from members of the Human Coalition and the League of War, most of the other deities seemed to view her with curiosity rather than hostility.

After hearing Lóðurr’s deliberately provocative remarks, Evé felt a mixture of amusement and irritation stir within her.

If they truly wished to talk about responsibility and righteousness, then who, she wondered, had actually instigated the holy war in the first place? The artifact she obtained—the Crown of Nature—was not some stolen trophy, but a sacred relic that had merely returned to its rightful heir.

She genuinely found it baffling that Lóðurr, of all gods, would speak to her with such self-righteousness.

Where did the God of War find the audacity to make demands with such moral superiority?

Or perhaps, it was precisely because of what he had done in the past. For one who had once betrayed the very deity who led him down the path to godhood—a mentor akin to a divine mother—such hypocrisy was to be expected.

In Evé’s eyes, that betrayal had already exposed the true nature of Lóðurr’s character:

One who cloaked ambition in loyalty, and self-interest in divine duty.

Moreover, in Evé’s eyes, both the Human Coalition and the League of War were nothing short of laughable in their hypocrisy.

Out of fear of the World Tree’s resurgence—and the potential rise of so-called “lesser” sentient races that could challenge their long-standing dominance—they had joined forces to bring about its destruction. But in doing so, they had not only stifled the natural order but also inflicted grievous harm upon the very fabric of the universe.

By eradicating the World Tree, they had damaged the core origin of Seigües. That rupture allowed the corruption of the Abyss to seep into reality, spreading like a disease through the weakened realms. And now, for over a millennium, these very gods had been waging these so-called “Holy Crusades” in a desperate attempt to contain the threat they had unleashed themselves.

Was that not the height of irony?

Or perhaps, outright foolishness?

As for the Eternal Lord’s earlier vague and deliberately ambiguous rhetoric—did He truly believe that she remained in the dark about the true origins of the thousand-year divine war?

She had already seen through them. After reading the memories of the Half-Elven Demigod, Ouros, Evé had come to understand the truth with chilling clarity.

It had been betrayal.

Cold, calculated betrayal.

Not for justice or balance, but purely for personal gain.

What continued to trouble Evé was the Eternal Lord’s cryptic statement—that the siege against the World Tree had not been about taking sides. He implied that the events leading to the World Tree’s fall were far more complicated than a simple clash between True Gods.

Even so, no matter what hidden truths or greater contexts might lie beneath, they could never excuse the betrayal that had been committed.

Having inherited the World Tree’s legacy, Evé had come to understand her predecessor’s nature intimately. The previous World Tree was a gentle and nurturing deity, one who cared deeply for all life under her protection—so much so that it bordered on naivety.

Her predecessor had trusted others too easily, and in doing so, left herself vulnerable.

One needed only to look at the Elves she had created to grasp the kind of god she had been.

Even now, the echoes of her sorrow lingered in the divine memory. The sadness and bitter disappointment etched into the last moments of her existence were seared into Ouros’s recollections, which were emotions that Evé could never forget.

In the end, it had been those very deities the World Tree had guided and uplifted with her own divine hands who had turned on her and shattered her heart.

Evé lowered her gaze, and within her chest, the fire of ambition burned hotter.

Her predecessor, gentle and benevolent to the very end, had still been ultimately destroyed. If even such a kind and nurturing deity could not escape that fate, then the truth was clear: the World Tree itself had always been their true target.

And that fate was now hers to bear.

Even if only to protect herself, even if only to ensure her own survival, Evé would have no choice but to rise. Sooner or later, she would have to stand against them all.

༺⟐༻

The Divine Assembly continued in an orderly yet tense atmosphere.

After the God of War and Destruction, Lóðurr, concluded his allocation of responsibilities for the forthcoming campaign, the meeting transitioned into the open-discussion phase. This portion of the assembly allowed every deity present to speak freely.

Rather than declarations or commands, this segment served more as a platform for negotiation and discourse. It provided an opportunity for deities to raise objections to previous decisions, address unresolved matters, or request assistance from the Pantheon in resolving various divine or mortal-related issues—such as conflicts between faiths or territorial disputes.

Naturally, Evé had no role to play in this phase.

She had no allies to support, no divine favors to request, and no quarrels to settle—at least for now.

Her purpose was simple: to remain quiet and absorb as much information as possible. She needed to quickly familiarize herself with the relationships and tensions among the gods who ruled this universe.

The relationships between these deities were far from unified. While some factions were openly antagonistic toward her, others seemed neutral or indifferent. It was clear that most of the hostility directed at her originated from two specific factions: the Human Coalition and the League of War.

As for the remaining gods—even those who had not supported the World Tree during the ancient war a thousand years ago—many had at least refrained from acting against it. That alone placed them in a more favorable light in Evé’s mind, or at the very least, made them less likely to become immediate enemies.

While she continued to quietly observe, noting subtle shifts in posture and the occasional exchange of divine will, a figure who rose to speak drew her attention.

It was a True God with the stout build of a dwarf, his long braided beard cascading over a finely wrought celestial robe etched with glowing runes.

The instant she laid eyes on him, a memory stirred within her inherited knowledge.

Dorft, the God of Dwarves and Forging.

He held the rank of Lesser Divine and was one of the earliest known gods of faith.

At one time, he had even established a Dwarven faction. However, during the latter part of the Silver Era, that faction fragmented. Some of its members fell in battle, while others departed to distant realms, and a few were lost to corruption, lured away by darker powers.

Now, Dorft remained as the last true and orthodox deity of the dwarves.

With the rise of humanity, the dwarven race had steadily declined, and Dorft’s power had diminished along with it.

Now, only a single nation within the World of Seigües still worshiped him: the last surviving Dwarven Kingdom.

This kingdom was situated deep within the southeastern reaches of the Desert of Death, hidden among the rugged southern mountain range. Its isolation had preserved it through the centuries, but its population was modest—perhaps even smaller than that of a demirealm such as Ouros.

Were it not for the kingdom’s harsh terrain and natural fortifications, which made invasion a costly endeavor, it likely would have long since been swallowed by one of various rising human nations which surround it.

Most notably, Dorft had not taken part in the siege against the World Tree. He had remained neutral throughout that war, neither siding with the coalition of gods nor opposing them. Whether this had been a matter of principle, caution, or necessity remained unclear.

Regardless, Dorft now rose from his divine throne. His solemn expression reflected the gravity of his words as he addressed the gathering of True Gods:

“Your Graces, I humbly request your aid…”

“The seal beneath the Southern Mountains is on the verge of collapse. The Dwarven Kingdom and my church can no longer sustain it. Thus, I humbly seek the Pantheon’s assistance.”

At these words, a murmur rippled through the assembly. Then, Rigdal furrowed his brow and asked with evident concern, “The seal beneath the Southern Mountains? Is it related to Barolte?”

A faint shadow of sorrow flickered across Dorft’s weathered face. His voice was heavy when he replied, “Yes, that is indeed correct.”

Barolte…

Evé silently repeated the name, her mind diving into the inherited memory of her predecessor.

And in the next moment, understanding dawned upon her.

Barolte had once been a member of the Dwarven Faction. However during the final years of the Silver Era, he had succumbed to the whispers of the Abyss. Corrupted beyond recognition, he had turned into a monstrous threat that even his own kin could no longer recognize.

It was actually Dorft who had ultimately faced him in battle.

With heavy sorrow, he sealed Barolte deep beneath the Southern Mountains, imprisoning the fallen god within a chamber of divine runes and ancient stone. That moment marked a dark turning point in dwarven history—one that left lasting scars on the remnants of their faith and fractured the unity of their people.

Following his fall, Barolte’s power had swelled abnormally. Corrupted by the Abyss, he surged in strength, nearly rivaling that of an Intermediate Divine. Worse still, he had used this power to force open a spatial rift linking the Southern Mountains directly to the Abyss, allowing countless demons to pour forth and ravage the surrounding lands.

The devastation that followed was catastrophic.

Various dwarven kingdoms were reduced to ruins. Cities that had stood for centuries were consumed in fire and shadow. The unrelenting demonic invasion and the horror of their former god’s betrayal plunged the dwarven race into decline.

It was during this time of chaos that the dark dwarves—once part of the larger dwarven kin—fled from the ancestral mountains. Forsaking the surface and their homeland, they disappeared into the vast, labyrinthine tunnels of the underground, severing ties with their kin and forming a society shaped by exile, bitterness, and survival.

In truth, Barolte was far from an isolated case. Across the vast expanse of Seigües, numerous deities who had succumbed to corruption were sealed away in a similar manner.

This grim phenomenon stemmed from a time before the divine kingdoms had been relocated to the Heavenly Realm. In those early eras, many True Gods had chosen to anchor their divine kingdoms close to Seigües itself, weaving their existence directly into the fabric of the world.

When such gods fell into depravity, the resulting consequences were devastating. The physical and metaphysical damage wrought by their descent often tore through entire regions, collapsing the natural order and infecting the land with chaos.

Due to their true forms being deeply entrenched within the material world, these corrupted gods could not be slain by ordinary means. Their immortality, which were tied intrinsically to Seigües’ core origin, made their destruction nearly impossible. As a result, sealing them away became the only viable solution.

Now, as the mana surge throughout Seigües, many of these sealed gods were beginning to stir once more. The evil gods awakening were precisely these kinds of threats—former deities whose twisted consciousness still lingered, waiting for the seals to erode and their wrath to be unleashed again.

“Recently, mana across Seigües has experienced a resurgence. Alas, Barolte exploited the resulting spatial instability to reopen the passage he made prior leading into the Abyss and has summoned vast numbers of demons. The last Dwarven Kingdom is barely holding the line and unfortunately, we are no longer capable of sealing him again.”

“Moreover, Barolte is of dwarven origin. Thus, he is intimately familiar with the dwarven race. Our warriors struggle to resist his psychological influence. Even one of my demigod envoys has fallen within the sealed domain. Therefore… I must request aid from the Pantheon,” said Dorft, his tone heavy with helplessness.

It was deeply unsettling for a True God to be forced to seek help from other deities to solve a problem within their own territory. To make such a request at the Divine Assembly was not only a display of vulnerability, but also a public admission of weakness.

The decline of the once-mighty Dwarven civilization, which had once stood second only to the Elves, was a tragic sight indeed.

However, after Dorft’s plea, the gathered gods looked at one another in silence…

None responded.

At present, all gods were also facing disturbances within their own dominions to varying degrees. Their attention and power were already stretched thin.

Some were already dealing with sealed entities weakening in their jurisdiction. Whereas others had already been dealing with awakened evil gods projecting themselves to spread their influence and preach. At the moment, every deity’s territory was embroiled in its own chaos so few had the capacity or the will to aid another.

Moreover, with the Holy Crusade against the Demons only a year away, most deities were focused on conserving their strength and preparing for the inevitable campaign.

Seeing the silence in the grand hall, Dorft looked visibly disappointed.

After a brief pause, he spoke again:

“Of course, I am prepared to offer compensation.”

“My Hammer of Forging has accumulated sufficient divine energy by now. Should any of you be willing to assist me in reinforcing Barolte’s seal, I vow upon a divine covenant to forge a genuine divine artifact for you—or restore an existing divine artifact of at least lesser-grade.”

At these words, several deities turned their attention toward the God of Forging, clearly intrigued.

The Hammer of Forging was Dorft’s most powerful divine artifact and one of the most renowned across the entire universe.

This divine artifact did not possess any particularly powerful offensive capabilities, but it was an exceptional auxiliary artifact for the forging of other divine items.

It had the ability to collect and store energy of faith within itself. Once enough power had accumulated, it could be used to forge or repair a divine artifact.

Naturally, this was highly appealing to the gathered deities.

After all, no one ever complained about owning too many divine artifacts.

In fact, many of the gods possessed damaged or incomplete ones, and there was a significant demand for artifact restoration. Repairing divine artifacts, especially those that did not align with one’s divinity was an extremely challenging task when done personally.

Upon hearing this, Evé also felt a surge of interest.

She immediately thought of the Withering Heart, which was an artifact she had yet to find a way to fix.

Even in its damaged state, this artifact was already immensely powerful. Therefore, Evé had long wished to repair it, but her knowledge of forging divine artifacts was limited. While she could manage to restore artifacts related to her own divinity, anything outside her area of expertise left her at a complete loss.

Now, with Dorft’s offer, she finally saw a glimmer of hope.

Even setting aside the reward, the nature of the request itself intrigued Evé.

Someone like Uller—who had recklessly launched an all-out war to seize the divinity of Life and Nature—was a rare exception. As long as she did not expose her true identity, it was unlikely that many gods would be eager to engage her in direct conflict as Uller had.

Given her current situation, where she could not yet rapidly accumulate divine power out in the open, Evé was both unable and unwilling to initiate conflict with other True Gods.

If she wished to ascend to the rank of a Greater Divine within four years, she would need to seek alternative methods.

Battling evil gods and Abyssal forces presented such an opportunity.

At a time when various seals across Seigües were weakening, she could take the initiative under the pretense of “emergency intervention,” to eliminate those lurking threats.

Doing so would build her reputation and strengthen her divinity at the same time.

She did wonder, however, whether the players might grow tired of fighting demons day after day.

With that thought, Evé smiled slightly and spoke:

“Your Grace Dorft, the power of the Abyss is the common enemy of us True Gods. Your offer is quite appealing, and I am willing to assist you in confronting the evil that stirs within your lands.”

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