NOVPUBOthers were far less overwhelming, comparable to the universes within the Material Cosmic Tree, clearly intended to house Spirit Beasts or other beings of similar standing.
Each realm remained connected to the branch it had emerged from.
Orion felt a sharp discomfort in his chest as the realms continued to expand.
"Using the White Flame is beginning to place too much pressure on your body. I thought my current strength would be enough to sustain it, but I was wrong. I've been weakened far more than I initially expected," Iyraith Zi'ria said solemnly.
"In order to bear the burden, you will need to continue ascending."
"Is that possible?" Orion asked with a low growl.
"Yes. You are different from the other races created by the divines merely as vessels to house their entrance into the Material Realm. You are a direct descendant of an Omnithriallian, and as such, you carry traces of our potential, traces you awakened through the manifestation of your gift."
"You don't need to fully comprehend your gift for it to grow. It has already been tailored to your essence. As long as you continue to grow stronger, your gift will evolve naturally alongside you. Of course, grasping other Laws of the Universe will further enhance your capabilities."
Orion didn't doubt her words.
It was because of these gifts that manmade gods were able to exist. It was also the reason why General Reynold had managed to trigger his ascension into true godhood solely through an epiphany; his gift alone had carried him to such heights.
He had also experienced it firsthand.
"Let's do it," Orion said with a firm nod.
Suddenly, a surge of unique energy erupted within him. The flames grew hotter. Then…
BOOM!!
His body transformed into deep bluish lightning, intertwined with the White Flame. He took on a bizarre yet awe-inspiring form of living fire and lightning.
CRACKLE!!! CRACKLE!!!
Thick arcs of lightning exploded around him.
Above, dark black clouds began to gather over the Divine Cosmic Tree surrounding Orion. The self-contained reality itself seemed to bend, radiating an oppressive and omniscient force that merged with the vast cosmic tree.
It was as if lightning itself had manifested within the blueprint of reality.
And where there was lightning—
CRACKLE!!! BOOM!!!
There was thunder!
Orion stood amidst it all, wreathed in thunder and flame.
He could sense the flaming white orb undergoing a similar transformation within him. Sparks of lightning converged, fusing with the fire.
The two forces intertwined in perfect harmony.
He could no longer feel the heat of the flames. Instead, he felt the raw essence of ascension coursing through him, an overwhelming surge of Iyraith Zi'ria's power flowing deep within his being.
Orion focused his attention forward. The cosmic branches continued birthing new realms and divine phenomena, stretching outward into the Void under the tree's divine protection.
Though their roots intertwined, the Divine Cosmic Tree had grown several times larger than the Material Cosmic Tree below, and it was still expanding.
Orion realised that his ongoing transformation was intrinsically linked to the growth of the tree. With every step he ascended, the tree stretched farther into the void.
Aurora, Aerialia, Ilse, Avarielle, and the others had once described this sensation during their ascensions.
But his case was different.
While others had ascended through either the Divine Mysteries or the Mysteries of the Twelve-Step Stairs, he was rising through his own path, guided by Iyraith Zi'ria, his ancestor, and the birth of an entirely new cosmic tree.
He sensed it clearly: if this continued, his gift would evolve completely, and he would undergo a complete transformation into a true god.
.....
As the Divine Cosmic Tree neared completion, brilliant wisps of White Flame shot from its roots into the Material Cosmic Tree below.
"What's going on?" Ilse asked, curiosity in her voice.
Her gaze tracked the countless wisps of White Flame streaking through the starry skies of every inhabited planet within the first cosmic tree.
She turned toward General Reynold and Oberon, seeking an explanation.
But both men wore the same look of stunned confusion, as though they too were struggling to understand what they were witnessing.
It was clear that Orion's Divine Cosmic Tree was birthing not just universes but realms as well. They had no idea what lay within those realms, but the sheer scale and complexity of what had been created spoke volumes.
They couldn't fathom how Orion had accomplished it.
It had taken the combined effort of General Reynold, Oberon, and the aid of the Mysteries of the Twelve-Step Stairs to achieve a lesser version of what Orion now stood within.
Yet he, alone, while ascending toward godhood, had created something far more powerful. It didn't make sense.
Sensing General Reynold's and Oberon's confusion, Ilse grinned wildly.
"It doesn't make sense, right?" she said.
They both glanced at her and sighed, nodding their heads in response.
"Don't worry, you'll get used to it," Ilse said with a smile. She bobbed her head cheerfully from side to side, clearly pleased that she wasn't the only one expressing such feelings.
They ignored her, their minds lost in deep thought, until something strange occurred, stunning them both again.
Countless wisps of white flame emerged from the comet-sized White Flame, streaking within the first cosmic tree, descending upon every living being without exception.
Those who could utilise Vylkr energy, as well as those infected by the Mother Seed Cells, were cleansed by the White Flame.
They underwent complete transformation, and from within them, a strange, unfamiliar energy surfaced before dissipating entirely.
What amazed them was that this unfamiliar energy outclassed both Vylkr and divine energy. It wasn't just stronger, it completely overshadowed them.
Only then did they begin to understand what was happening.
"They're being cleansed by the White Flame… purified of the Vylkr energy," Oberon murmured.
This was something already confirmed by the Mysteries of the Twelve-Step Stairs, leaving no doubt in their minds. 𝓷ℴ𝓋𝓅𝓊𝒷.𝒸𝓸𝓶
The same phenomenon unfolded in the domains of the gods.
But there, the unfamiliar energy remained within the humans, forcefully awakening their gifts.
The Primordial energy no longer acted to suppress the Vylkr energy. Instead, it intertwined with the unfamiliar energy.
Then, the colossal comet of White Flame arrived before them in an instant, swiftly enveloping Ilse, Zera, and the others.
General Reynold, Oberon, and Zymera instinctively stepped back.
General Reynold guided a single wisp of the White Flame toward himself. He studied its nature, and its structure was vastly different from the flame he had possessed.
He never expected that what he once viewed as a curse- a remnant of failure that haunted him- could reach such unimaginable heights.
"A great future is built on a great past, no matter how bitter the results," General Reynold said with a soft smile, allowing the wisp to dissipate into the air.
Oberon also gained insights from the phenomenon.
A wide, knowing smile spread across his face.
"Will they be alright?" Zymera asked, glancing at them nervously.
She knew Orion would never harm his wives, but watching them bathed in such an overwhelming, oppressive flame left her uneasy.
"Don't worry," Oberon replied. "They're more than fine. Their bodies are being cleansed by the White Flames of Vylkr energy. After today, they'll no longer be cursed. They'll become true goddesses—goddesses of Paradise."
General Reynold nodded firmly in agreement.
Hearing their words and seeing the calm confidence in their expressions, Zymera steadied her emotions and focused again on the scene before her.
The one who seemed to resist the purification was Zera.
Her body kept shifting between Avarielle and Margona, as if the two beings within her were unwilling to release the Vylkr energy.
"We've suffered for thousands of years, fighting to suppress his vile energy and keep it under control. There's no way we'll sit back and watch it be taken from us now!" Avarielle said, her voice filled with resolution.
As if her most prized possession was about to be taken from her.
"I hate agreeing with her, but she's right. If everyone else chooses not to utilise Vylkr energy anymore, that's fine. But we're keeping ours. We're not going through that same suffering again!" Margona growled as she took control, gritting her teeth in anger.
Meanwhile, the other women nearby had completed their cleansing.
They felt confused upon sensing the absence of Vylkr energy within them and an unfamiliar, unique energy that had taken its place and was far stronger.
Their Vylkr Hearts had transformed into white jade-like hearts that emitted wisps of White Flame, allowing them to produce this unique energy independently.
Reena activated her gift. A glowing rose bloomed in the centre of her palm.
"Are these... the Laws of the Universe?" Reena whispered, glancing around in awe, her eyes wide with wonder.
When she had used Vylkr energy before, she could vaguely sense the Laws, but they had always felt just out of reach, as though an invisible barrier separated her from true comprehension.
Now, after the cleansing, she could faintly grasp them.
Even her gift felt more potent than it ever had with Vylkr energy.
