Chapter 214: 214

Ikem nodded as Xerosis continued, “This said peace could have gone on for a long time, but now with the factor of Björn and his church expansion, the said peace is now at risk of being broken. I can only imagine if Björn’s background is exposed, most mortals will have an excuse for the chaos they are about to unleash.”

Ikem nodded, appreciating Xerosis’s insight. “Precisely. Björn’s divinity thrives on conflict, chaos, and madness. His followers will seek out battles and bloodshed, disrupting the fragile peace we’ve maintained. This new religion will encourage mortals to abandon their fear of the gods in favor of a more aggressive, warlike lifestyle. The balance we’ve fought to keep for centuries is at risk.”

Flowua picked up quickly on Xerosis’s thought process as she began speaking. “Learning of the demon’s background and relationships with the gods and us demigods will give many mortals an excuse for the chaos they are going to cause.”

“There is also the factor that in the case of the godlings, a lot of things and emotions suppressed by them because of our presence will matter no more as they can do as they want once they fall under the influence of Björns belief.” Flowua said, causing every demigod to frown.

Maul, his expression somber, added, “This means we must also consider the possibility of mortal kingdoms allying with Björn’s followers. Those seeking power might see his chaotic doctrine as a means to gain an advantage over their rivals. This could lead to a chain reaction of conflicts, destabilizing entire regions.”

Roth, who had been quiet the whole time, asked, “So what are the solutions that you and Ikem came up with?” Maul shook his head.

“After a long discussion between Ikem, my son, and myself, we concluded that this is unstoppable unless we take a heavy hand by eliminating everything or everyone who has learned or knows anything about Björn’s faith.”

“And doing that means we will have to be under constant watch in case someone finds out about our past transgressions, which in turn will cause everyone to turn against us. Like Ikem said, the past has taught us a great lesson: whenever we try to hide something from our people, even under the righteous cause of it being for their own safety, it has never gone well,” Maul said, shaking his head.

Ikem had a look of hesitation on his face, and Ursula noticed that, so she asked, “Is something troubling you, my dear?”

Ikem heard her voice, looked at her, and then closed his eyes. “Maul and I thought of a third solution, Only that this solution pushes our moral boundaries”

“This solution stems from deliberately letting our people experience bloodshed and indulge in a few negative activities.”

Before anyone could say anything, Ikem continued, “We thought of this because we believe that if our people get a taste of some bloodshed and madness, they won’t be easily led astray once they come into contact with Björn’s religion.”

Ikem raised his hand, pointing at himself as he said, “I say this because I, myself, like the feeling of being in a state of battle. I thoroughly enjoyed myself when I was dealing with the demon that took over one of my apelings. We have all this power, yet there are few moments we are able to use it.”

“Our world is filled with individuals with powers ready to test them out in battles but can’t do that because of the current peace we maintain. I feel this lust to battle and use my power however I want, yet I can suppress it because I see the overall picture, but can the same be said for others?”

The room fell silent, each person processing Ikem’s radical proposal. Most demigods understood Ikem’s words as they too sometimes entertain the thought of using their power however they want. A lot of things would go much easier for them If they can forcefully impose their power yet they are stuck with playing things out mellowly for the betterment of things in the long term.

Ursula’s face contorted with worry as she tries to find the right words. Finally, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.

“But Ikem, deliberately inciting bloodshed and chaos among our own people? Is that truly the path we want to take? We have always strived to protect and guide them, not lead them into darkness.”

Ikem met her gaze, his expression unyielding. “I understand your concerns, Ursula. But consider this: if our people experience controlled chaos, they may develop resilience against Björn’s chaotic doctrine. They will learn to navigate through disorder and emerge stronger, less susceptible to his manipulations.”

“Björn is an outlet for all those superpowered individuals to let go, and it is easy to get lost in the sweetness of battle, especially when you haven’t experienced one in a long time. This led to our third solution: letting our children and people get a taste of all this so that they can still maintain some reasoning when it hits them.”

A murmur of concern rippled through the group of demigods. The idea of allowing their people to indulge in bloodshed and negative activities was contentious, and Ikem could sense the growing unease.

Tide was the first to voice his dissent. “Ikem, deliberately inciting bloodshed and chaos is a dangerous path. We have worked so hard to maintain peace. Encouraging violence, even with the intention of preparing our people, could easily spiral out of control. It could do more harm than good.”

Flowua nodded in agreement. “I understand your reasoning, Ikem, but I fear this approach might backfire. We risk becoming no better than Björn if we resort to such tactics.”

Ikem nodded. “Yes, it’s a risky plan, but it might be the only way to inoculate our society against the allure of his doctrine.”

Maul sighed deeply, rubbing his temples. “Ikem and I debated this extensively. It’s not a decision we take lightly. The idea is to introduce conflict in a controlled manner, to temper our people without destroying them. But the risks are immense.”

Roth, who had been listening intently, finally interjected. “So, we have three options: we eliminate everyone with knowledge of Björn’s faith, risking exposure and betrayal; we let our people face chaos deliberately, hoping they build immunity to Björn’s influence; or we do nothing and potentially watch as Björn’s followers spread their chaos unchecked.”

Maul nodded. “Yes, those are our choices. None of them are ideal, but we must decide which path is the least destructive for our people and the realm.”

Xerosis spoke up, a thoughtful look on her face. “Ikem’s proposal has merit. Controlled exposure to conflict could indeed help our people build a tolerance to the allure of Björn’s teachings. If done carefully, it could serve as a necessary preparation rather than an outright endorsement of chaos.”

Maul nodded in agreement. “Exactly. The idea isn’t to create anarchy but to allow a structured environment where our people can understand the consequences of unrestrained power. It’s a preventative measure, one that could potentially save more lives in the long run.”

Roth, still skeptical, shook his head. “But what if this backfires? What if, instead of preparing our people, we end up breeding more followers of Björn? What if this lust for battle you speak of becomes uncontrollable?”

Ikem looked at Roth, his expression grave. “That is a risk we must weigh against the certainty of doing nothing. If Björn’s followers grow unchecked, they will bring the battle to us, and our people will be unprepared. At least this way, we can guide the process and hopefully limit the damage.”

Ursula’s eyes darted around the room, seeking reassurance. “What if there is another way? Perhaps we can find a means to educate our people about the dangers of Björn’s doctrine without resorting to violence or secrecy. Knowledge can be a powerful weapon.”

Ikem’s stern expression softened slightly. “Education is important, Ursula, but knowledge alone might not be enough to counter Björn’s allure. His teachings exploit the darker sides of emotional creatures that are normally held down by societal norms. We need to be realistic about what we’re facing.”

Maul leaned forward, his voice steady. “We need to prepare for the worst while hoping for the best. Let’s continue to explore every possible solution. Perhaps a combination of education and controlled conflict might work.”

The group fell into a contemplative silence, each lost in their thoughts. The weight of their decisions hung heavily in the air.

Ursula sighed as she said, “This might be a good time for me to bring up how one of the demons on my side has been acting up lately.”

“This demon is different from the others, almost like the one on the southern continent. The demon seems to prefer playing mind games. It tried dragging my people into its war games with another interesting individual, Erik, whose race I still haven’t identified.”

“As for the demon’s strength, I can’t give an accurate estimation. When I retaliated, I had a blessing from my father, which made my attack stronger than it normally would be, yet somehow the demon survived.”

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