Chapter 469 Refining Gloria, the New Deputy Star
Gloria remembered that even a divine authority had entered that small country for the sake of research on the power within its borders, only to never return. After that, the borders of the small nation began to expand uncontrollably. Each expansion resulted in countless lives being consumed! This consumption was unavoidable by any means; whether you were an ordinary person, a demigod, or even a deity, if you failed to escape during the expansion, death was inevitable—or rather, permanent disappearance.
Eventually, the small country gave rise to some extremely bizarre creatures. They resembled distorted humanoids, their bodies covered in a structure akin to swampy sludge, and they slaughtered any life they encountered. The strongest of these twisted beings possessed divine-level power, and according to some accounts, this was confirmed to be the very deity that had gone missing!
This distorted god's power surged uncontrollably, plunging into madness and turning one-sixth of the continent where the small nation resided into a sea of blood! It took the intervention of a reclusive high divine authority to finally slay it. Legends say that the distorted deity even exchanged blows with the high divine authority, showcasing the intense battle between them.
Afterward, the ruins of the small nation were relentlessly bombarded by the Hall of Valor, in conjunction with several other factions, deploying hundreds of deities to obliterate that region, transforming it into a permanent spatial turbulence zone. Thus, the calamity was brought to an end!
Now it seemed that this was a restriction imposed by the Starry Clan on star power, allowing only their own to wield it. This illustrated the dominance of this ancient clan and the strength of their legacy; otherwise, they would not have guarded it so fiercely!
Moreover, David not only practiced star power but also advanced at an astonishing rate, indicating a high probability that he had received an ancient inheritance! It was not unusual for such places of inheritance to have fields with abnormal time flow, enabling Sterl to complete rituals of ascendance to godhood in mere moments, which would typically take decades.
The mystery was solved; everything was coming together. Gloria felt she had grasped the truth. However, if Sterl were to learn of the goddess's thoughts, he would surely be amused and bewildered—her reasoning was absurd. The Starry Clan was not unwilling to allow outsiders to utilize their abilities; they were more than eager to let outsiders learn from their power. Those with insufficient aptitude would merely toil, while those with strong qualifications would be absorbed into the ranks of the Starry Clan.
Clearly, the king had a profound understanding of the Starry Clan's heritage, which led to him being summoned by the Ancient One! Then he went mad, sacrificing the entire nation and unleashing a massive disaster!
"David is the prophesied one!"
"Good! Excellent! Remarkable!"
Gloria may not fully understand the Starry Clan, but she felt she didn't need to; after all, it was merely a foundation for David to grow stronger! She felt she had a clear grasp of the current situation. The legacy of the Earth Clan was in David's hands, and the likelihood of it flourishing was exceedingly high! The sacrifices and endurance of their ancestors were finally about to bear fruit!
Gloria's eyes shone brightly. Meanwhile, Sterl frowned slightly.
"Why are you staring at me?"
Never mind, it's not important.
The time was almost right. The cracks in space had mostly been repaired. Sterl casually took the Fire of Ten Thousand Souls, extracting and refining the newly added soul experiences, revealing a hint of a satisfied and intoxicated smile.
The nourishment of the soul indeed felt extremely comforting. However, even after refining the souls of three deities in one go, Sterl found that he hadn't even accumulated enough experience to level up by a single rank. With the lower realm lacking methods to temper souls, the value of divine-level souls was rather limited…
With a calm expression, Sterl extended his hand toward Gloria. "Lady Goddess, I offer you a choice: submit or die."
A radiant glow, linking to the deputy star, emanated from his palm. At the same time, a portion of Sterl's mental control was diverted to Bionic Tear. This avatar held the Flowing Water Blade in its left hand, ready to unleash the Shattered Void to freeze space at any moment. In its right hand, a bizarre energy surged, the laws of time gathering strength.
Sterl was also prepared to utilize the countless restrictions and sealed items stored in his backpack. If Gloria attempted to flee, she would find herself in a situation far more desperate than when facing the three deities.
The Dark Moon Goddess held far too many secrets. Sterl could only feel at ease if he thoroughly controlled her using the blessings he possessed. However, facing the twinkling starlight, Gloria nodded calmly.
There were many secrets she would never share with outsiders. But for the inheritors of the Starry Clan and the Earth human race, she felt it wouldn't be so bad to follow him. Although the Key of the Realms contained numerous secrets, cross-referencing them with her own memories could yield new information that might provide David with additional help.
David was growing stronger at an astonishing rate, so assisting him with logistical preparations seemed advantageous.
"I will submit to you and offer my assistance."
After saying this, Gloria willingly stepped away from Sterl's embrace and slowly knelt down. A tattered purple robe draped over her body, and even the act of kneeling appeared incredibly mysterious. A glimmer of surprise flickered in Gloria's eyes.
From what she understood, the greatest ability of the Starry Clan's inheritors was to control others by bestowing the same star power upon them. This meant that she would not merely be under control but also granted power!
Gloria thought that by kneeling, she was not only acknowledging a fellow member of the Earth human race but also a future top-tier powerhouse. It was not a shameful act! Instead, it presented an opportunity; with the assistance of Starry Clan's power, she might elevate her own strength and break through her current limitations!
"If you refuse…"
"What did you say?"
"You agree."
Sterl was momentarily stunned. He had mentally prepared himself for this moment, realizing that Gloria owed him more than he had initially thought. The past schemes might not have been malicious after all.
Sterl concluded—at such a time, he could not afford to show weakness! Letting Gloria go would mean losing countless pieces of information, effectively sealing his own fate in calamity!
He had thought he might have to capture Gloria and torture her mercilessly. After all, inflicting pain was a source of suffering for the victim and also a psychological burden for the torturer.
Yet, unexpectedly, Sterl found that he had achieved his goal with such ease?
"Good."
"Since you agree, then things will be easier. From now on, we are on the same side."
He nodded slightly, realizing that he wouldn't be foolish enough to ask Gloria—do you not know that everything about you will be under my control in the future, and yet you agree so easily?
No matter what had gotten into the Dark Moon Goddess, it was best to solidify the arrangement first.
Rosalie, observing this scene, was unfazed. She felt that given her master's talent and capabilities, it was only reasonable for Gloria to submit.
In an era on the brink of calamity, the Dark Moon Goddess possessed considerable power, yet she nearly fell victim to a siege by three gods. The disparity in strength between her and her master was stark. Gloria felt fortunate to have the chance to follow him. With her own abilities, a single mishap in this calamity could easily spell death for her. However, the opportunity to follow her master for her own survival was far greater!
"Lady Goddess, from now on, we are on the same side," Rosalie said with a sweet smile. "I will treat you well."
Gloria, not fully grasping the implications of her words, nodded gently. The demigod girl felt that her previous fantasies about Gloria had a chance of coming to fruition! She longed for her master to shatter the goddess's nobility and purity into pieces. How wonderful!
Joy radiated from Rosalie's eyes. Meanwhile, Sterl seemed unfazed by the recent exchange and coldly remarked, "Do not resist, or else..." His tone hinted at a threat. Gloria nodded seriously; perhaps… if something went wrong in the power-giving process from the Starry Clan, the consequences could be dire, even leading to her own explosive demise.
Thus, the goddess released her mind. Sterl extended his hand, placing it gently on Gloria's forehead. His touch felt warm, like caressing a piece of jade. He suddenly realized that this was his first contact with Gloria's body and his first touch of a goddess's form. The thought stirred a strange excitement within him.
Then, star power surged forth rapidly! It had been a long time since Sterl had refined a deputy star, and his technique felt somewhat rusty. Fortunately, as she had claimed, Gloria did not resist at all. Star power flowed continuously into the goddess's body, transforming her form.
In fact, Gloria's mental realm experienced intense fluctuations. Others might not understand, but as a divine-level entity, Gloria could distinctly recognize the noble and extraordinary power emanating from Sterl's authority heart. It had already reached above SSS level, ascending to… radiant level! This was the power that transcended the world's limits!
As Gloria underwent refinement, she felt immense joy! The amount of star power being transformed wasn't particularly large, but its quality was exceptionally high! Gloria sensed that her opportunity for breakthrough truly lay with David. She felt herself rapidly evolving toward a more powerful direction!
"Huh? Something's off," Sterl remarked, unable to suppress his doubts about Gloria. "You're this happy about being refined into a deputy star?" He wondered if she might be a submissive like Rosalie. That wouldn't do; there was already someone occupying that role at home…
"Master… Master." Gloria was still getting used to the title, but her tone soon became much smoother. "I will serve you." The goddess was somewhat puzzled as to why, despite being infused with such lofty powers, she had yet to see an increase in her own strength. However, under the influence of the deputy star, she felt no resentment toward Sterl, merely standing obediently to the side.
Gloria speculated that it was likely because she had just joined and had not yet been granted any power. Meanwhile, Sterl stood there in a daze, wondering why everything felt so easily resolved.