Elsewhere, Butterfly Chanae was still teaching the faithful in Makai Park when she felt the arrival of the Divine Will.
She turned to the believers before her. "Everyone has worshipped. The will of God has come — I must take my leave as well."
Bibi and the others dropped to their knees at once.
Casillas stared, bewildered. "My lady… aren't you gods?"
Butterfly Chana shook her head. "We are merely the handmaidens of God. This has been explained many times. I should—"
She rose and flew toward the light.
---
Soon the three goddesses of the lower realm stood assembled before Herder.
They hovered in the air with bowed heads, expressions stripped of all pride, but they did not kneel.
A heartbeat passed.
A towering figure stepped forth from the light.
The world fell silent.
Every eye turned toward him.
Behind him unfurled visions without number — the long river of time, the tree of life, celestial fire, the law of love — every kind of divine omen.
With each breath, the weight of it bore down on Kahn until he could hardly draw air.
The true ****** descends — even reduced to a single consciousness, it is not something he can bear to look upon.
"Behold the God of Eternity!"
"Behold the God of Eternity!"
"Behold the God of Eternity!"
Herder spoke, and countless voices rose to join her.
But the chief priest herself was rigid with dread, terrified of what punishment might follow. After all, she had stubbornly refused the counsel of so many who urged her to relent.
Liu Che's gaze drifted and settled on Herder.
She felt it — and lowered her head until it pressed against the ground.
"Herder. You are not the first creature to harbor doubts about me. But thankfully, yours is not beyond cure. In recognition of your acknowledging this fault, you will receive no reward this time."
"Instructed by the God of Eternity."
"Repent before the heavens."
"Instructed by the God of Eternity."
Liu Che inclined his head in acknowledgment, then turned to his three goddesses and said: "I have been at play for quite some time this round. Is that sufficient? Go home."
"I like the gods the most," Butterfly Ninja chimed, drifting over with a smile.
The other two women laughed as well.
Then the radiance took its sacrifice and vanished from sight before them all.
No gift? Not this time. Only Herder went without reward.
Before he disappeared, Liu Che addressed all the believers one final time: "This world has suffered great devastation. Though it has lost its vitality, it is not beyond recovery. The errors of the priest need not fall upon all her followers. Let this demon world be restored."
Emerald-green light rained down from the sky, pouring directly into the demon world.
Everyone felt the earth shudder beneath them — and the ground began to revive. A stretch of barren desert transformed into a lush oasis. Poisoned waters ran sweet. One verdant thing after another pushed up from the soil.
But this was only the beginning.
A radiant sun broke through the clouds.
The dark demon world was born again in light.
---