Chapter 1192: The Inheritance Ceremony
Chapter 1192: The Inheritance Ceremony
Aerialia wanted to beat those goddesses in the face, but she was willing to wait until Orion achieved his goal. She was the Goddess of the Hunting Moon, and no prey had ever escaped her hunt.
"You should go get some rest," Aerialia said, waving her hand toward Orion. In an instant, Orion vanished from the space.
Aerialia rested her beak against the couch and closed her eyes. Her heart was troubled, and she pondered plans to counter any other secrets the goddesses might be hiding. She wouldn't allow them to toy with her own as they wished.
...
The next day,
Tens of millions of individuals of distinct races stood around an elevated stage at the centre of the Sanctuary. On top of the stage was Zera, addressing the crowd at the forefront.
Orion and Aurora stood behind her, and behind them were six leaders of the Arch-Knights, except Kasryn, each holding a medium-sized metallic box in their hands and standing in two rows on both sides.
"Now, let us officially begin the inheritance ceremony and bestow upon our heroes their rewards!" Zera announced.
The moment her words ended, the crowd erupted in cheers. Zera diverted her attention and gestured for Orion and Aurora to step forward before doing the same for the rows of Arch- Knights. Orion and Aurora nodded and stepped forward, halting before Zera.
The Arch-Knights now stood in a row behind Zera, awaiting her orders.
The first Arch-Knight, leader of the Flameguard Corps, stepped forward. The ginger-haired man glanced at them, especially at Orion, with caution.
If it had been before, he might have contested the event, believing the goddess's inheritance should go to someone capable and qualified to protect it. However, after observing Orion's astonishing prowess on the battlefield, he understood that no one was more deserving of such a reward.
Like Valer, Kasryn, and several others, he wondered if such power was even meant to be wielded by a mortal. Nonetheless, this motivated him to work harder, realizing that his current strength wasn't the ceiling of what a mortal could achieve. The limit was far higher than he had imagined.
As for the woman beside him, he had only received information that she had never left Orion's or Zera's side whenever they left the manor. It was suspected that she, too, possessed significant power.
Zera opened the chest held by the Commander of the Flamegaurd Corps, revealing its contents: a golden coin engraved with the image of a radiant sun and a beautiful orange scroll tied with a crimson ribbon.
Zera took them out and placed them in Orion's and Aurora's outstretched hands. "Today, I hand over to you one of the Goddess of Twilight Chorus and Fortune's most prized possessions-Coin of the Eternal Providence-and the Vylkr energy-based Inkflame battle technique!" she declared.
As her words ended, the crowd erupted in even greater excitement.
"A divine artefact and one of the Arch-Knight Corps' battle techniques! The goddess's inheritance is just as extraordinary as I imagined!"
"Hah! I wish it were me! I'd do anything to receive such a reward!"
"Could you kill the Harbingers and face countless hordes of monstrosities alone?!" "..."
"Exactly what I thought. It would have been disgraceful for the goddess's inheritance to be given to someone like you!"
"YOU...!"
Even the Captain of the Flameguard Corps couldn't help but be momentarily stunned that his corps' most prized battle technique was being given away. He remained silent, understanding it wasn't his place to speak.
Orion received the golden coin, and Aurora received the Vylkr energy-based battle technique. Zera made a gesture, and the Flameguard Corps Commander straightened his back and turned to leave, taking his place on the other side of the stage in a new row.
Valer, the Commander of the Stormfall Corps, stepped forward and stopped beside them, holding two medium-sized golden chests. Zera opened the chest, revealing a golden liquid in two large glass jars and another beautifully wrapped scroll.
"This is the Divine Fountain of Evergold, and this is the Vylkr energy-based Stormfall battle technique!" Zera explained, handing the inheritance over to them.
They accepted it.
Zera opened the second chest. Inside the chest were two beautifully packaged scrolls tied with golden and purple ribbons.
"This is a rare pill formula for the Condensed Vylkr Essense Rebirth Elixirs and the Vylkr energy-based Mountain-Breaking battle technique!"
"This is the Under Heaven Sealing Chains and the Vylkr energy-based Bone Ascension Strengthening technique."
"These two large jars are filled with Condensed Vylkr Essense Rebirth Elixirs, and this is the Vylkr energy-based Corroding Pasture battle technique."
"This is Inkstorm Piercer and the Vylkr energy-based Blue Blizzard Vylkrbattle technique."
"This is the Vylkr energy-based Night Phantom Vylkr energy-based battle technique, along with important research documents."
"And lastly," Zera turned, accepting a box Morriel brought to her, then faced them and opened it. "This is for both of you," she said with a smile.
Inside the box were two translucent crystals filled with specks of light that danced
mesmerizingly within.
Aurora's eyes widened when she saw the crystals, but she quickly composed herself, not wanting to reveal any emotion.
Orion noticed her reaction and suspected that the crystals must be very special.
Pleased with their expressions, Zera turned to face the crowd. "The first half of the inheritance ceremony has been completed. The second half will be a two-week celebration to honour this event. Celebrate earnestly with your family, friends, or loved ones during this time. That is all."
....
In Priestess Manor,
Orion and Aurora returned to their rooms to examine the inheritance Zera gave them on behalf of the goddesses.
Aerialia sat cross-legged in the air beside them. At that moment, Orion held the two translucent crystals, filled with specks of light, with wide-eyed astonishment. He was surprised to learn that these were the divine essences of the two goddesses.
The only other divine item he possessed was the divine greatsword, and with how powerful it
was, he expected these divine essences to be equally astounding.
"It's valuable, but it's too dangerous to use now. We should wait until we've returned to Paradise and have Ilse examine it. She might find something I've missed," Aerialia said,
staring intently at the two crystals.
Orion and Aurora nodded in agreement.
"All the items are impressive, including the Vylkr energy-based techniques. This is enough to elevate Paradise's power to another level," Orion remarked, glancing at the items spread across the bed, ranging from powerful consumables to divine artefacts and Vylkr energy-
based techniques.
He hadn't expected them to easily hand over the Condensed Vylkr Rebirth Elixir formula and two additional large jars. If this was an apology for what had happened, he had no intention of refusing their apparent gesture. Fortunately, all the artefacts and items came with instructions, so there wouldn't be any difficulty learning what they were for.
"Do you want to look at the Vylkr energy-based techniques?" Orion asked, looking at Aurora.
He wasn't overconfident in thinking he could master the Vylkr techniques on his first try. But with Aurora's near-perfect control of Vylkr energy, she could confirm their authenticity and pave a better path for learning them with the groundwork that had been laid.
"I could easily get distracted if I start learning them now. Let's wait until we're back in
Paradise," Aurora replied, shaking her head.
"Are you still going ahead with your decision?" she asked.
Orion met her gaze and answered, "My decision remains the same."
Aurora clenched her fist and nodded. "If that's the case, I'll accompany you during your
research with her."
"Alright, but I've heard that creating a Divine Embryonic Seed is no easy task. If you feel tired, don't push yourself to stay with me," Orion said with a nod, not refusing her request.
"I promise you, the goddesses won't lay a hand on Orion, so you don't need to stress yourself," Aerialia said, her tone firm. However, her eyes held traces of worry as they focused
on Aurora.
"Don't worry, I won't push myself beyond my limit," Aurora responded firmly.
Orion and Aerialia exhaled in unison.
"I'll be entrusting the inheritances to you to guard until we return home," Orion said. He had initially considered placing them inside Miniature Mountain, but putting them in a sealed,
separate dimension seemed much safer.
"Alright. I will ensure they are guarded until we return home," Aurora responded. Orion, Aurora, and Aerialia continued examining the inheritances from the two goddesses for
the rest of the day while also preparing for their meeting with Zera the following day.
...
The next day, Morriel, the manor's housekeeper, led them to a secluded area and into an underground
room.
"It's going to take a while before we can begin, but in the meantime, you're free to do whatever you want-explore the Sanctuary or outside of it. Just make sure to take the Arch- Knights with you so I can contact you when I'm ready," Zera said, her eyes fixed on Orion with
a smile.
Aurora was wielding the Crimson Greatsword and had Aerialia by her side, so Orion wasn't concerned about her safety.