City of Fire Protection, The Royal Palace

Deep within the palace gardens stood a mysterious tree, said to have been there since the time of Smerkel.

The tree bore divine flowers that radiated the luster of sunlight. Upon closer inspection, one could see the flowers were not a natural part of the tree but were rooted and grafted onto it, creating a rare symbiosis.

The second-generation Divine Blessed King, King Smerkel, received this Sun Cup flower from the God of Desire and Alchemy. It had once bloomed in the Creator’s garden and, during its growth, formed a symbiotic relationship with this tree, eventually developing into its current form.

It was the original template for the Rainbow Tree. It could be said that the Wood Nymph race was born because of this very tree.

However, judging solely by appearance, there were still significant differences between the two.

A robust man clad in armor practiced swordplay in the garden. His crimson cloak tore through the air with tremendous force, while a shield split and transformed into various forms around him.

Finally, he withdrew all his power.

The weapon, cloak, and shield all contracted, transforming into an armband that wrapped around the man’s arm.

Life Artifact: Proof of Blood Kinship.

It was also the proof of the Divine Blessed King, the symbol of the Bestowal of Royal Power.

As soon as Osis, the Divine Blessed King of this generation, came to a halt, attendants stepped forward to drape a robe over his shoulders. His bare chest lent him an air of boldness and heroism.

This appeared to be a tradition of the Divine Blessed King lineage, defined by courage, boldness, and an unwavering refusal to admit defeat.

Osis stood beneath the flowering tree, lifting his head to gaze upon it.

He was not the only one. Every generation of Divine Blessed Kings would habitually look at this tree and the Sun Cup that bloomed upon it.

An official had been waiting outside for some time. When Osis granted him entry, the man stepped in, but before he could speak, Osis posed a question to him.

“Do you think I am a great king?”

The official standing behind Osis froze for a moment but quickly composed himself, speaking respectfully and loudly.

“Without a doubt, you are a great king. You are the Divine Blessed King.”

Osis did not turn around, still standing beneath the tree with his back to the visitor.

“So what is truly great is the Divine Blessed King, not me.”

The official’s face turned pale in an instant, but he immediately continued.

“A great king is made by greatness itself.”

“Like this tree and its flower—together, they form the sacred tree.”

“Can they truly be seen as separate?”

Osis appeared convinced by the visitor’s words and chose not to pursue the topic. Instead, he shifted his focus to the reason for the visit.

Osis turned to face him. “You came to see me,” he said. “What is the matter?”

The official bowed respectfully. “Your Majesty, the temple has finalized preparations for the sacrificial ceremony to honor the deity.”

“I have come to inform you. This is a matter of great importance.”

Osis furrowed his brow, sensing that this sacrificial ceremony for the deity carried an unusual significance.

Despite his youthful appearance, granted by the bloodline of the Trilobite Symbiotes and the power of the divine species, Osis was actually quite advanced in years. He remained in his prime, yet he still had no heir.

Tradition dictated that this was the time to hold a sacrificial ceremony. Its purpose was to pray for the deity to reveal the reincarnation of a Trilobite Symbiote, who would become the next Divine Blessed King chosen by the heavens.

But Osis was not happy, because he felt he still had many things left unfinished.

As time went on, the temple’s Divine Servants began holding the sacrificial ceremonies earlier and earlier. They claimed this was to provide the next generation’s Divine Blessed King with more time to learn and to preserve Suinhor’s legacy.

This was all part of the power struggles, the conflicts between the temple and the king, and the tensions between divine authority and royal power.

Osis had already guessed why the visitor had come. Those earlier words were deliberately meant to suppress him.

At this moment, his expression shifted to one of impatience. He turned to the official and spoke directly.

“The ceremony can be discussed later. I have many responsibilities at the moment and cannot leave.”

“I intend to complete the provincial system, finalize the alliance policy with the Land of Sunrise, and then present my accomplishments to the deity.”

“At that point, I will have proven myself a great Divine Blessed King.”

“Only then will I be deserving of the deity’s attention.”

Osis fixed his gaze on the official. “For now, do not bring up this matter again.”

The Divine Blessed King Osis also sought to draw inspiration from the Land of Sunrise and the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents for his reforms. He had no intention of fully replicating their systems, however, just as the Royal Court had not entirely adopted the Land of Sunrise’s approach.

Osis was deeply committed to centralizing power. He focused on dividing provinces, curbing the influence of the old nobility, and assigning officials to different regions to strengthen control. He was determined to see these reforms through.

The visitor hesitated for a moment before speaking. “Your Majesty, the Temple of Fire Protection has made it clear that you must attend on time.”

Osis turned to him sharply, his gaze piercing. The visitor quickly lowered his head and added, “The First Seat Lord of the temple… said it is the will of the deity.”

Osis’s expression darkened instantly, a sense of foreboding washing over him.

Inside the Temple of Fire Protection

Blazing bonfires rose high into the night while serpent maidens performed their ritual dance.

The flickering flames cast shadows that swayed and shifted to the rhythm of the music.

Groups of Divine Servants stood along both sides of the hall, serving their deity. Their expressions were solemn and motionless, like statues.

The Divine Blessed King Osis prostrated himself on the left side of the hall, bowing at the feet of the Scarlet Goddess.

“Ruler of the Blood Kingdom of the Deep Sea, the Scarlet Witch, great Blood Progenitor, Queen of the Most Ancient Race.”

“Your kin Osis prays to you, seeking your response.”

“Ruler of the Blood Kingdom of the Deep Sea, the Scarlet Witch…”

The Divine Blessed King Osis lifted his head and gazed at the divine statue, chanting the deity’s name in a melodic tone, accompanied by sacred melodies echoing through the temple.

After he repeated it several times, the divine statue suddenly began to change.

The hand of the Scarlet Goddess’s statue that gripped the Blood Mist Cup seemed to move.

A blood-colored flower fell to the ground, landing before the Divine Blessed King Osis.

Countless Blood Mist Cups began to bloom, and a dense mist quickly filled the entire temple.

The Blood Mist Cups covered the hall, and time in the entire temple seemed to stop.

A figure walked down from the divine platform, stepping barefoot on the flower cups as she approached Osis step by step.

Osis remained still, his eyes locked upward, unblinking, as if frozen in time.

Then the deity spoke his name, “Osis.”

At this moment, it felt as though another part of Osis’s consciousness had returned to his body.

He looked at the Scarlet Goddess with a mix of familiarity and respect as he spoke.

“Lady Vivien!”

The Scarlet Goddess looked at Osis. “Your mission is complete,” she said. “You must now prepare yourself. I will come next month to take you back to the Blood Kingdom.”

Osis stared at her in disbelief. “What do you mean? If I return to the Blood Kingdom, what will become of Suinhor?”

Osis was lost, unable to understand the Scarlet Goddess’s words.

The goddess lowered her gaze. “Osis, the era of the Divine Blessed King must come to an end. From this moment on, royal power shall rest in the hands of mortals. It shall no longer be granted by deities.”

“Osis, all dynasties reach their conclusion in time.”

Osis fully grasped the meaning of this divine decree. He had never anticipated, however, that he would be both the Divine Blessed King of this generation and the final one.

He had arrived with dreams and aspirations, determined to make a difference, yet it was all slipping away before he could achieve anything.

Osis lowered himself to the ground, crawling forward until he reached the feet of the goddess.

“Lady Vivien!” he exclaimed. “It cannot end like this. The time is not right!”

He was visibly agitated, his voice rising with emotion.

“It is not yet the time for such things, Lady Vivien!”

“Are you dissatisfied with this dynasty?”

“Are you dissatisfied with me?”

“I can do better. There are still many plans I have not yet implemented. I have already started to change this country.”

“I can address all the issues and completely transform this nation.”

The Scarlet Goddess Vivien looked at Osis and shook her head gently.

“Osis, what you speak of is something others can achieve as well.”

“You are simply repeating what has been done before. It is the inevitable result of the times moving forward.”

Osis felt a sting of shame. Although the Scarlet Goddess’s words were truthful, they made him feel uncomfortable.

The Scarlet Goddess knew Osis’s thoughts. She had once taught the priests of the Temple of Truth as a mentor.

“But what I am doing now is something only you and I can achieve.”

“The era of divinely bestowed royal power must come to an end. There is no dynasty that lasts forever, nor are there rules that remain unchanging.”

“Everything must evolve with the passage of time. All rules should adapt to the flow of the era.”

The Scarlet Goddess had journeyed across this country and observed its problems with clarity.

“Osis, the divinely bestowed royal power has endured for too long. It has already drained this country of its vitality and hope.”

“These problems will be addressed, and this country will be reshaped, but the time has come to remove this shackle.”

“The current Suinhor is, in essence, already fragmented, a kingdom made up of countless small city-states.”

“Even without you, it is capable of functioning on its own.”

“Although you sit on the throne, they continue to wage war against one another as if they were independent kingdoms. The Divine Blessed King is merely the rope holding together this fractured porcelain vessel.”

“But the porcelain is already broken. The water has already spilled from the jar. Tightening the rope further has lost its purpose.”

“Instead of waiting for it to crumble entirely into a pile of sand, it is better to forge an entirely new jar.”

“A jar free from the constraints of rope can also hold more water.”

Osis raised his head to meet the gaze of the Scarlet Goddess, his eyes filled with disappointment.

“So, Suinhor ends like this, and I am the last Divine Blessed King?”

“Is it truly ending so abruptly?”

Osis spoke with a trembling voice, “Lady Vivien, I beg you!”

“Please grant me one more chance to complete what I have started.”

“At the very least, allow me to bring everything to a proper conclusion.”

“Even if it must end, Suinhor deserves a fitting and perfect ending.”

The Trilobite Symbiotes were all kin of the Scarlet Goddess Vivien, but each carried their own will, expectations, and ideals into their reincarnations.

Even the Scarlet Goddess refrained from directly altering their will.

This was because Vivien valued her role as a Sage of the Temple of Truth more than her identity as the Scarlet Goddess.

After a moment of silence, the Scarlet Goddess spoke to Osis.

“You have the freedom to decide how to use the time that remains before this body reaches its end.”

“You may pass your power to someone you hold dear, select an heir of your choosing, or pursue another path entirely.”

“That choice is yours alone.”

“But your choices are no longer my concern.”

The Scarlet Goddess’s gaze focused on Osis, her eyes serious, like a teacher instructing a student.

“From this moment forward, you are the King of Suinhor, no longer the Divine Blessed King.”

“I shall take back your Proof of Blood Kinship and the royal power granted by the divine.”

“Are you absolutely certain that you wish to continue?”

Osis took a deep breath, lowered himself to the ground, and bowed his head.

“I still want to try.”

The Scarlet Goddess let out a soft sigh. “Very well, the choice is yours to make.”

The thick mist gradually dissipated, and the blood-colored flower cups sank into the ground one after another.

The Scarlet Goddess turned away and vanished into the crimson haze.

Everything returned to its previous state. Osis, now kneeling beneath the divine statue, appeared lost and confused, as if parts of his memory had slipped away.

Suddenly, the armband on Osis’s arm began to rise into the air, floating before everyone’s eyes.

“The Proof of Blood Kinship!”

The Divine Blessed King Osis stood up, his voice filled with alarm as he cried out.

Everyone watched as the armband fell into the hand of the divine statue and vanished in a glow of blood-colored light.

“The Proof of Blood Kinship… has been reclaimed by the deity?”

All the temple’s Divine Servants were stunned.

The first Divine Blessed King, Alpens, founded Suinhor after receiving the Proof of Blood Kinship. Now, the deity had reclaimed it.

This marked the conclusion of the era of divinely bestowed royal power.

The King of Suinhor, once the Divine Blessed King, was no longer in the deity’s favor.

After their astonishment, everyone’s gaze immediately fell upon Osis.

Osis stood up, his face pale as he looked at the divine statue.

After losing the Proof of Blood Kinship, he seemed to lose all strength. Though still stronger than ordinary people, he could barely stand.

A torrent of fear, confusion, and unwillingness washed through Osis.

“Oh, deity!”

As he moved closer to the divine statue and uttered just two words, he suddenly collapsed to the ground.

In an instant, everyone hurried toward him, their voices rising in alarm.

“Your Majesty!”

“Your Majesty, are you alright?”

“Someone, fetch help immediately!”

“What in the world is happening here?”

Confusion swept through the hall as people struggled to comprehend what was unfolding.

Many cast peculiar glances at King Osis, their minds swirling with various speculations about the events of the ceremony.

Some even began to sense that a significant change was on the horizon.

That very evening, before Osis had returned to the royal palace, rumors about the deity reclaiming the Proof of Blood Kinship had already started to spread far and wide.

Within the royal palace, Osis remained sleepless through the night, sitting alone for a long time beneath the alchemy gas lamp.

Although he could not recall the exact details of what transpired after his prayer to meet the deity, fragments of a message lingered in his mind.

“You have the freedom to decide how to use the time that remains before this body reaches its end.”

“You may pass your power to someone you hold dear, select an heir of your choosing, or pursue another path entirely.”

“That choice is yours alone.”

“From this moment forward, you are the King of Suinhor, no longer the Divine Blessed King.”

“I shall take back your Proof of Blood Kinship and the royal power granted by the divine.”

Osis understood that these were the words the deity had left for him. Though his heart was filled with fear and disbelief, he eventually found the courage to speak.

“I am the Divine Blessed King.”

“There have only ever been great Divine Blessed Kings, not cowards who avoid their responsibilities and run away.”

“I will not allow it to end in this manner.”

“The era of the Divine Blessed King may have concluded, but the era of Suinhor can still endure.”

Osis lifted his head, his gaze once again gathering courage and determination.

“Oh deity, I will show you. I will change everything.”

Kurmis entered the City of Fire Protection with his servant Anu by his side.

The city, steeped in history, shared an age-old legacy similar to that of Fort Pence. Its streets and structures held countless tales waiting to be uncovered.

Anu guided the Sail Beast carefully along the wide central street, their pace unhurried as they took in the grandeur of their surroundings.

“Lord Kurmis, should we head to the temple first? I’ve heard the Temple of Fire Protection is massive.”

Anu could only think of one word to describe it: massive.

Kurmis said to Anu, “We will go to the royal palace first. We must visit the true master of this place before anything else.”

Instead of going to the Temple of Fire Protection, Kurmis decided his first meeting should be with the country’s highest ruler.

The Divine Blessed King, a figure of legend, was said to have the blood of deities flowing through his veins.

Rather than searching aimlessly for the scattered Trilobite Men, Kurmis found it more practical to seek out someone easier to locate.

While inside the vehicle, Kurmis listened to the conversations around him, gathering information that piqued his interest.

“The deity has withdrawn Her favor?”

“Does that mean the Divine Blessed King is no longer favored?”

“Is this truly the will of the deity?”

“I heard the king’s reforms angered the deity. Why should we follow the ways of the north and east?”

“Exactly. We were building kingdoms while they were still savages!”

“The king has lost his way.”

Kurmis furrowed his brow as he processed the information he had just heard.

“The Scarlet Goddess has withdrawn Her favor?”

“She has taken back the Proof of Blood Kinship?”

As Kurmis was lost in thought, the vehicle came to a stop in front of the royal palace.

He made no attempt to use any special methods and simply walked directly toward the palace entrance. His presence immediately caught the attention of everyone around.

Kurmis allowed his power to manifest openly. The energy of Divine Grace rose from the ground, forming a group of sand-feathered serpent puppets that circled around him.

This display quickly drew out the Ability Users among the guards, including a Third-Rank Ability User who stepped forward to confront him.

The guard stared at Kurmis in shock. “An apostle?”

He tried to recall the names of known apostles and the traits of the Abyss King, but none seemed to match this man.

When Osis received the news, he promptly arranged a meeting.

As soon as they met, Osis asked Kurmis directly, “Which deity do you serve as an apostle?”

“I am not an apostle of any deity,” Kurmis replied.

“If you are not an apostle of any deity, then how did you acquire your power?” Osis asked.

“I became an apostle through a series of unexpected events. I am not bound to any particular deity,” Kurmis replied.

Osis looked at Kurmis with curiosity. “Mr. Kurmis, I have never heard of someone like you before. What brings you here to see me?”

Kurmis intended to ask Osis for a meeting with the Scarlet Goddess. However, he understood that he first needed to present a compelling reason.

He needed a reason that would convince the king and justify such a request.

“I wish to create an entirely new species, a plant that can serve as a food source similar to Curled Ball Ferns.”

“However, this plant would possess far greater vitality than Curled Ball Ferns, capable of thriving in a wider range of environments. Unlike Curled Ball Ferns, which need waterways and specific climates, this plant would adapt to harsher conditions.”

“In my vision, it would have remarkable resilience, even enduring extreme cold.”

“It could also produce yields that far surpass those of Curled Ball Ferns.”

Osis stared at Kurmis in disbelief, feeling as though the other man was speaking pure nonsense.

Kurmis, however, showed no sign of doubt or hesitation, his expression completely serious.

“Your Majesty,” Kurmis began, his tone steady and deliberate. “I have discovered a method that may work. However, to determine if it is truly viable, I require the assistance of a deity.”

Osis acknowledged Kurmis’s power, but an apostle’s true strength came not only from their own abilities but also from the deity they served.

The Kurmis before him had the power of an apostle, yet there was no deity standing behind him.

Osis found himself unimpressed with someone who spoke with such lofty claims but lacked the backing to support them.

He shook his head. Disbelief and disdain colored his voice.

His words carried a tone of mockery and a hint of incredulity.

“You wish to create a new species?”

“Even deities hesitate to speak of such things. Who do you think you are to claim this?”

“This is the authority of the Mother of Life. How can you speak of it so casually?”

“Do you truly have reverence for the deities?”

Kurmis looked at Osis and said, “How do you know that this is not the guidance of the Sovereign Deity?”

Osis was rendered speechless.

But Osis was not interested in such sophistry. He believed this was a madman who had gone astray.

“How can mortals speak so boldly of the divine…”

Osis stood up, signaling for someone to escort Kurmis away.

Before they could act, Kurmis revealed his mastery of spirituality.

He reached into his sleeve and produced a Green Ground Vine along with an underdeveloped Curled Ball Fern.

Osis watched him closely, unsure of what he intended to demonstrate.

Kurmis did not offer an explanation. Instead, he demonstrated by grafting the plants together using a unique technique.

Right after, he activated his Spirit Fusion Seal Imprint and merged it into the plant.

In an instant, ball fruits began to grow on the Green Ground Vine, forming a large cluster on a single stem.

Osis, who had been on the verge of leaving, immediately turned back and rushed over.

He looked at the strange plant that had grown from the ground to the table, unsure if he should even call it a Curled Ball Fern.

He touched the ball fruits on the vine with his hand, his eyes widening in astonishment.

“What is this?”

Osis stepped forward with urgency, looking directly at Kurmis.

“Explain to me how you accomplished this.”

As the King of Suinhor, Osis understood the significance of what he was witnessing.

However, it was astonishing beyond belief. He struggled to comprehend how the man before him had achieved such a feat.

This kind of power might have been familiar to the Winged People and Sky Messengers. While the Sky Messengers applied it to people, Kurmis had the bold idea to use it on plants.

On Ruhe Beast Island, this derivative power of spiritual authority was still considered remarkable.

Kurmis looked at the king. “Your Majesty,” he said, “I have only used my power to temporarily alter their form. I cannot stabilize their bloodline in this state.”

“To truly create this plant species, I must take the next step.”

Osis paused, deep in thought, uncertain whether to trust Kurmis.

Kurmis then offered further proof. He pulled back the hood of his cloak, fully revealing the color of his hair.

“In one of my experiments, I permanently altered a part of my bloodline.”

“My hair and eyes have turned golden, and they will remain this way forever.”

“Observe these golden eyes.”

“This is evidence of bloodline modification, a result of the grace granted by the Sovereign Deity.”

Osis looked into those unique golden eyes, and his skepticism began to waver.

After considering it further, he realized that even if Kurmis dared to deceive him, it would be impossible to deceive the deity.

Kurmis repeated his request. “Your Majesty, I must ask again.”

“I need to seek the power of a deity, and it must be the Blood Progenitor, the Scarlet Goddess.”

Osis looked at Kurmis, his earnest request earning a newfound respect.

He could no longer dismiss this apostle who claimed no allegiance to a deity. However, Osis faced a significant challenge. He was no longer the Divine Blessed King and had already lost the Proof of Blood Kinship.

Without his former connection to the divine, he wondered how he could possibly assist Kurmis in reaching the deity.

However, he could not deny that if Kurmis’s claims were genuine, the Scarlet Goddess would undoubtedly take notice.

If Kurmis truly succeeded, it might bring about a significant change and even offer a chance to alter the current situation.

Osis began to wonder if this could be an opportunity to regain the favor of the deity.

At this moment, Osis was merely Snake Person Osis, not Trilobite Man Osis, and he struggled to grasp the true will of the deity.

“Mr. Kurmis, I will do what I can to assist you. However, whether you can ultimately gain the attention of the deity depends entirely on the truth of your claims.”

Osis looked at Kurmis. “Anyone who dares to deceive a deity,” he said, “will face divine punishment.”

Kurmis made a gesture of prayer. “Although I am not an apostle of the Scarlet Goddess, my reverence for Her has never changed.”