Chapter 182: The Spoils of the Gods and the Forging of the Empire
The collection of the spoils was an operation of absolute military efficiency. Exhausted to the bone, with torn muscles and burning meridians, but driven by the euphoria injected by victory, the forty-four conscious geniuses of the Morningstar Clan emptied the false god's burial chamber.
Using the Crystallized Void Tears they had just looted, they crushed the gems against their spatial rings, temporarily expanding their dimensional capacities. They swallowed the hills of Supreme Crystals, uprooted the primordial herbs, and loaded the tons of stellar metals. Finally, Kael approached the central pedestal. With extreme reverence and care, he stored the Primordial Lotus Seed in a jade box sealed with restrictive formations; it was no ordinary loot, it was a True Law Core.
When not a single speck of valuable dust remained in the immense white vault, the mirage collapsed.
Space fractured and violently spat them out to the surface. They landed on the calcium and red sand dunes of the Bone Desert. The unforgiving sun of the Secret Realm bathed their shattered armor and dry-blood-covered faces, but they breathed the hot air with the satisfaction of predators.
A few steps from the dimensional fissure, which was now closing forever following its master's death, two female figures awaited them.
Lilith, with her unmistakable mature elegance and aura of maternal authority, watched them with a warm smile. Beside her, Sienna, the Infinite Mirror Maiden, balanced a small electromagnetic cube in her hand, while the golden bell on her wrist chimed softly in the desert breeze.
Kael stepped forward, plunging his magma sword into the sand to support himself. Following their Commander, the entire legion bowed respectfully.
"Rest, little monsters," Sienna said, her melodic voice cutting through the dry wind. "I am truly proud of you. The infernal training in the Pagoda has paid off. You have massacred the abominations of a tomb that far exceeded your cultivation level and, what is more impressive, you have forced an ancient Holy King to flee like a scared dog... regardless of whether he was just a pathetic soul."
Lilith nodded. Her red eyes scanned the youths' wounds, verifying that Elowen's Web of Life had stabilized the worst of the damage, leaving them out of mortal danger.
"You have proven yourselves worthy of the Morningstar name," she added, her tone filled with genuine pride. "However, a battle of this magnitude has pushed your bodies and minds to the limit. Conventional training right now would not be effective; you need to assimilate your life-or-death experiences."
Kael slowly stood up straight.
"We won, but at a great cost. The one who deserves the highest contribution in this hunt is Violeta. She fought that Holy King alone at the climax."
Over the next thirty minutes, Kael delivered a detailed military report. He described the labyrinth, the abominations, the Sea of Blood, and the suicidal detonation. But when he recounted Violeta's temporary death, her resurrection through the Patriarch's direct intervention, and the terrifying awakening of her new spatial eyes, Lilith and Sienna were left dumbfounded.
Both deities processed the avalanche of information. They turned their gazes to Violeta, who was sleeping peacefully on Eris's back, exhausted. Sienna, capable of seeing the very essence, scanned her soul. She sighed in relief upon verifying there was no permanent damage; the girl was simply exhausted to her biological limit. However, doubts flooded the commanders' minds. That new ocular awakening, that terrifying sword technique that cut the dimension... if Violeta could do that with an iota of Samael's power, what would happen if the Patriarch unleashed that slash personally? He probably would have erased the entire Secret Realm.
Lilith was filled with immense pride, but worry shadowed her gaze for an instant. She knew that forcing the Laws of Reality across dimensions to resurrect someone came at a cosmic price. She worried about Samael, but kept a neutral expression so as not to alarm the youths.
Closing the conversation, Lilith asked them the crucial question:
"Do you wish to return to the base camp to rest, or do you prefer to continue exploring the Secret Realm to consolidate this breakthrough?"
Kael turned to his brothers and sisters. Eris flashed a feral smile, dried blood staining her cheeks and her sister safely on her back. Dante wiped his spectral dagger with an expression of insatiable hunger. The Titans banged their heavy bronze and steel breastplates, and the Architects nodded. There was no fear in their eyes. Only greed and an absolute addiction to surpassing themselves.
Kael turned back to the commanders.
"We will continue exploring. The world is not going to wait for us."
Sienna let out a crystalline giggle.
"Excellent answer. Climb aboard."
Behind them, the air vibrated. The optical camouflage deactivated, revealing the colossal and majestic structure of the Void Herald, the clan's flagship war vessel. Minutes later, the entire legion collapsed in the luxurious medical and rest area, while the vessel silently rose above the red clouds of the desert.
In the command room, isolated from the rest of the crew, Sienna and Lilith sat in elegant black velvet armchairs. On a glass table, two cups of spiritual tea steamed softly. As the ship sailed, a series of runic drones were expelled from the cargo hold, driving heavy spatial anchors into the desert. These physical markers would serve for the Portal Key, guaranteeing an inescapable escape route to the mini-world if they encountered a truly invincible threat.
Sienna took a sip of her tea, her blind, silver eyes fixed on the digital horizon.
"Lilith, my dear... it is time to contact our beloved Patriarch to see how he is doing. The children looting the tomb is one thing, but a Holy King from the Primordial Era changes the board entirely. We need his orders."
Lilith nodded calmly.
"Proceed. The link is open."
Sienna closed her eyes and immersed herself in her Spiritual Sea. Through the absolute connection forged by the System, she sent a pulse across the dimensions, searching for her master's soul.
In the Palace of Primordial Heritage
(Central Domain)
The silence inside the colossal palace was absolute, so dense it seemed to have physical weight.
Samael Morningstar sat in the lotus position, draped in a stellar mantle of unfathomable void. He had recently awakened from a deep, restorative sleep in his beloved wife's lap. Thanks to Seraphina's care and her infinite Qi of Order, he had managed to stabilize the aggressive mental fatigue caused by forcing the Law of Reality and lending his Sword Art. Seraphina, seeing him recovered, had retreated to the gardens to visit Celeste and give him space.
Samael slowly opened his glowing violet and crimson eyes, his calculating mind reviewing the flows of time.
«Outside, in the real world, barely a week has passed since I sent the legion out,» he thought, an arrogant smile curving his lips. «In our mini-world, they've been slaughtering for almost a month. But here... in the heart of my Palace, time bows to me.»
The mathematics of his power were a glitch in the universe's equilibrium. Two years of meditation inside these obsidian walls equaled a single year in the Realm of Eternal Dawn. By the time the Sequences completed their expedition, Samael would have enjoyed absolute isolation to consolidate his empire.
Suddenly, a crystalline sound interrupted his internal monologue.
[DING! System Notification]
[Hidden Clan Mission: 'The Tomb of the False God' - COMPLETE]
[Performance Evaluation: SSS]
Samael's eyebrows rose. He brought up the blue holographic screen.
[System Summary: The deployed squad (The 45 Sequences) has exceeded the expected lethality parameters. The purging and looting of a Demonic Holy King's Tomb from the Primordial Era (Stage 9) has been confirmed. Threat neutralized. Loot 100% secured.]
Samael stared at the panel for a long second before letting out a dark, resonating laugh that made the pillars of the palace vibrate.
"Those damn bastards have grown up enough!" he exclaimed, pride swelling his chest. "Although if I hadn't intervened, they would all be dead. That arrogance almost cost them their lives... It cannot happen again."
But the mention of the "Primordial Era" captured his attention. The current continent had no records of that time. Why did they seal that tomb? How did the soul manage to survive the erosion of countless millennia? He knew the clan urgently needed to assimilate this victory to have the strength to face the answers.
The system panel blinked again, this time shining with a blinding gold.
[Distributing Rewards for SSS Evaluation and Exceptional Resolutions:]
[Divine Grade Enlightenment Tea (2 Bottles)]: Description: Pure extract from the leaves of the World Tree. It does not grant direct cultivation power, but rather elevates the drinker's cosmic comprehension to a state of temporary 'Absolute Enlightenment'.
Samael nodded fervently. This was exactly what he needed. One bottle for him and another for his beloved Seraphina. With this enlightenment, he could unify his countless arts and lineages to create the clan's ultimate cultivation technique, the "Scripture of the Primordial Dawn".
[Astral Gestation Supplement (High-Emperor Grade)]: Description: A nectar forged with the essence of nascent stars. It nourishes the mother's womb, purifies any trace of impurity in the fetuses, and immensely strengthens innate talent prior to birth.
Samael's gaze softened. His future twins' lineage issues had already been resolved thanks to the Lineage Fusion Seal, but this supplement would ensure his daughters were born with bodies and souls as strong as titans, while also greatly nourishing Seraphina's cultivation base during the difficult process of giving birth to heirs of divine lineage.
[Second Branch Technique: "Sutra of the Shadowless Specter" (Emperor Grade)]: Description: A martial and movement art designed specifically for users of spatial manipulation and assassination. It combines absolute presence eradication (concealment), mobility through the dimensional void, and the concentration of all Qi into a single, lethal strike that bypasses physical defenses.
"Perfect," Samael murmured, claiming the items from his inventory. "Sela and Malak will have their own martial identity with the Eyes of the Void."
But then, the panel emitted a violent crimson flash.
[Mentorship Bonus! By guiding the user 'Violeta' to the pure comprehension of her Spatial Lineage, the System applies the Multiplied Return x3000.]
[Return Reward: Eyes of Chrono-Spatial Singularity]
Samael was stunned; he didn't think the investment and cashback function would trigger, but it was welcome. The reward didn't just grant him his sister's absolute spatial control; the x3000 multiplier fused Space with Time. «Good, I'll use it later, let's see the rest of the things.»
[Genesis Garden of the Nine Biomes (Infrastructure - Low-Divine Grade)]
A holographic miniature of an immense mystical greenhouse descended into his hands. Divided into nine sealed extreme climates, its soil was forged with pure spiritual veins. «The perfect home for herbs and all kinds of medicine, I will no longer have to worry about the environments for each of them,» Samael deduced. Planting there meant that one real-time day would equal a hundred years of medicinal age. «Good, I'll use one of the islands to plant this garden.»
[Leaf of the First Chaos Sword Grass (Consumable - Divine Grade)]
Finally, a simple, humble blade of green grass floated in front of him. But its edge was so incomprehensibly sharp that the space around it bled black static. It was a mythological treasure. Upon consuming it, his Qi would be assembled into pure Sword Intent, the exact catalyst he needed to finally condense his long-awaited Sword Domain.
As Samael processed his new fortune, he felt the tug on his soul. Sienna was calling him. He accepted the link, and a blue light projector sprang to life, showing Sienna and Lilith kneeling in the Herald's command room.
"Greetings, Patriarch," they said in unison.
"Rise," Samael ordered, resting his chin on his fist.
Both women scrutinized him.
"Samael, are you alright?"
Knowing what they were asking, he smiled calmly. "Do not worry. It was just a slight migraine."
Both frowned with deep suspicion, knowing the price of breaking the laws of the universe, but they nodded without pressing further.
Sienna, with a sadistic smile, recounted the massacre and Violeta's state. Samael told them coldly that, in order to use those new eyes again, Violeta had to purify her lineage to at least forty percent, reminding them that the path of the dragon is forged by overcoming death.
Lilith detailed the overwhelming amount of secured loot, until Sienna lifted the electromagnetic cube where the Demon King's soul was bouncing furiously.
"The main problem, my lord, is what we should do with this noisy prisoner."
Samael rubbed his chin.
"First is information. The continent does not remember the Primordial Era. You have absolute permission to interrogate him, Sienna. Wring every last one of his secrets out of him, I don't care about the methods. But do not destroy his martial experience. It will be the cornerstone of our army. You will purge his rebellious will and use him as the processing core for our Dead Blood Guard. We will turn that ex-Holy King into the legion's first Supreme Golem. Extract all his demonic arts for the clan's library."
Sienna's blind eyes shone with pure ecstasy. "It will be an exquisite forging, my Lord."
"As for the kids..." Samael's voice softened with paternal pride. "They have done an exceptional job. Transfer immediate resources for them to consolidate their power, and issue a reward of One Million Contribution Points to each of the forty-four Sequences. To Violeta, for being the anchor of this war, Five Million will be granted. They have earned it with blood."
"We also wanted to request permission to extend our exploration for a few more months," Lilith asked.
"Approved," Samael nodded. "Four months of exploration outside is one internal year for us. Stay safe, place the spatial markers, and if you encounter enemies you cannot kill, use the Portal Key. And if all else fails... summon my Avatar. I will personally deal with anyone who tries to touch them."
The commanders bowed in farewell, and the hologram dissolved.
Just as the silence returned, the heavy ebony doors opened with a soft murmur.
The temperature in the throne room didn't drop aggressively; rather, it stabilized at a point of absolute stillness. Seraphina entered the room. Despite her advanced state of pregnancy, her figure radiated the unreachable majesty of the Star Lotus Sovereign Dragon. If Samael was Chaos, she was the Cosmic Anchor of Order; possessor of absolute White Immortality, capable of reconstituting herself from the humidity of the universe.
Samael gently levitated over to her, taking her by the waist. The natural clash between his void and her frost created a perfect harmony.
"How is Celeste?" he whispered, kissing her forehead.
"Calm, in the gardens," Seraphina replied with a crystalline voice. "But I felt massive fluctuations in your soul connection. How are you? Do you feel alright?"
"Everything is in order, thanks to my lovely wife's care," Samael replied. Seraphina blushed slightly and rested her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. She knew that, had Violeta truly died, that heart would have unleashed the apocalypse.
Samael gave her a detailed summary of the call, the purging of the tomb, and the incomprehensible loot. Seraphina's icy eyes shone with deep pride. As a former empress, she understood the weight of what had been achieved.
"The clan is evolving," she murmured. "From a spark in the ruins to a force capable of devouring millennial ghosts. I am very proud of you."
Samael smiled. With a wave of his hand, he made the bottles of Enlightenment Tea and the Astral Gestation Supplement appear on the jade table.
"It is time to take our own leap. This will ensure our twins are born with the strength of titans and will stabilize your Eternal Lotus. I will help you refine the energy."
They spent the next few hours in deep meditation. Samael guided his Qi through his wife's meridians, watching in awe as the power nourished the immense vitality of her womb. When Seraphina was resting peacefully, assimilating the Divine Enlightenment, Samael stood up.
Military work still remained.
Through the palace network, he summoned his commanders of the shadows.
In less than a blink, Sela, Vexia, and Malak materialized in the antechamber. Vexia knelt with precision; Sela with the silence of a huntress. Malak simply emerged from the floor like a stain of black ink, an inert extension of the Patriarch's own will.
Samael gave them a quick briefing and tossed a black jade scroll to Sela.
"This is the 'Sutra of the Shadowless Specter'. As of today, I am assigning you five thousand soldiers from the Dead Blood Legion. Form covert squads: the Eyes of the Void. Train them to slit the throat of a Great Emperor without disturbing a single speck of dust."
Sela bowed her head, and Malak gave a hollow bow.
Next, Samael threw an immense, heavy book forged in bronze toward Vexia.
"Take the remaining twenty-five thousand soldiers and the Generals. This is the [Ancient Codex: Art of War of the Tyrant Dragon]. Begin massive vanguard training. I want an immovable wall of shields that crushes the spirit of enemy sects before we even cross swords."
"The doctrines will be executed to the letter, Patriarch," Vexia replied with a clinical smile. "The meat grinder will be ready."
Once the three dissolved into the shadows, Samael was left completely alone in the immensity of his throne room.
He walked toward the immense window of the palace, looking out into the eternal darkness of the artificial abyss. He uncorked his bottle of Divine Grade Enlightenment Tea and drank it in a single gulp.
Instantly, the universe seemed to stop in his mind.
He didn't see ethereal concepts of natural life or death. His vision of the cosmos broke down into the Laws he truly mastered and that formed his imperial crown. He saw the immense crimson oceans of his Blood Law (Stage 2). He saw dimensions folding under the weight of his Spatial Law (Stage 2) and the dark event horizon of his Void Law (Stage 2). He felt the inescapable, perfect cut of his Sword Intent (Level 3). And, intertwining all this destructive chaos, pulsed the gold and red threads of his Law of Crimson Destiny, allowing him to perceive the causalities and prophecies woven into the world's blood.
As a final mantle, a Supreme Law Fragment pulsed in the center of his soul: the pure power to manipulate reality itself.
Under the divine enlightenment, the "Scripture of the Primordial Dawn" began to forge itself in his mind. Merging the Chaos of his being with the Order of his wife, the Morningstar Clan's techniques were about to reach a level that would defy the Heavens themselves.
In the darkness of the Palace of Heritage, Samael's violet and crimson eyes smiled. The storm was ready. All that was left was to open the gates.