When Elyon was heading to his destination, he noticed a group of acolytes sneaking around like mischievous children.
His brows furrowed in displeasure, and he strode forward to confront them.
"Children, return to your rooms if the Saintess's sermons have concluded," Elyon commanded strictly, his voice stern.
The children jumped in fright, startled like cats caught in the act by Elyon's silent approach.
"S-Sire Hero..." one of them stammered, nervously avoiding his piercing gaze.
"The sermons are over? Oh, yes, it's over, Sir Hero. We're heading back now," they answered hastily, their tone odd and unconvincing. Without waiting for further questions, they hurried off, disappearing around the corner.
Elyon stood there, his frown deepening. "What's wrong with them?" he muttered to himself, suspicion creeping into his mind.
Unable to shake the odd behavior he'd just witnessed, Elyon decided to head to the prayer hall to ensure everything was as it should be.
---
Aengus gazed at the small pond filled with Divine Essence, his hunger intensifying as his eyes glowed with predatory intent.
Without hesitation, he knelt beside the pond and lowered his mouth to taste the concentrated Divine Liquid.
The first drop was mellow and sweet, the richness of its energy surging through him like a wildfire. A smirk played on his lips.
Activating Omni-Devour, Aengus began consuming the liquid voraciously, his thirst for power evident with each gulp. The Divine Essence flowed into him like a torrent, and he felt his body adapting, strengthening at an astonishing pace.
His aura surged as his level began to rise rapidly.
MANAS NOTIFICATIONS:
[ You have levelled up ]
[ You have levelled up ]
[ You have levelled up ]
"Haha, so I wasn't disappointed after all..." he muttered evilly, glancing at his status.
In a mere span of seconds, he had ascended to level 767, surpassing his previous level by over 300 points. His stats had skyrocketed beyond comprehension:
• Each Attribute: 75,000+
• Origin Mana Capacity: Exceeding 1,000,000.
The power was intoxicating yet dangerous. His aura radiated in chaotic waves, distorting the surrounding air and causing cracks to appear in the pristine walls of the chamber.
Aengus quickly clenched his fists and began to circulate his Origin Mana, focusing his mind on regaining control.
"Calm down... stabilize..." he whispered to himself. He couldn't afford to destroy the city—not yet.
Bit by bit, he wrestled the wild energy into submission, compressing his Chaotic Aura until it was contained within him like a raging storm locked in a steel cage.
The tremors subsided slightly, though the lingering oppressive force of his presence remained palpable.
"Now then..." Aengus smirked, standing upright. "Let's see how those demon lords stops me now."
But just as he turned to leave, his senses sharpened.
Footsteps.
They echoed faintly, growing louder by the second. Someone—or perhaps multiple people—was approaching the chamber at an alarming speed.
Very soon, Elyon and the Saintess came into view.
Aengus, however, remained calm despite being caught. He was confident that no one present could stop him unless the Gods themselves intervened.
The real Saintess froze in shock as her gaze landed on the imposter standing opposite her.
The resemblance was uncanny—the same looks, the same build, even the same aura of divine grace. It was as though she were staring at her own reflection in a mirror.
"What... is this?" Saintess Lumenaria whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of confusion and anger. "You have emptied all the Divine Essence, thief! The Gods will not spare you."
Elyon, his holy weapon ready, took a step forward, his expression grim. "Reveal yourself, imposter! Who are you, and why have you desecrated this sacred place?"