Chapter 15: Echoes of the Old God

Immediately, an incredible scene unfolded.

A beam of light unexpectedly descended from the top of the Divine Tree, shining down on Noviya, who had sent the signal. She slowly bent her limbs and floated upwards, transforming into a luminous white light!

“Eh…?”

Not only the onlookers, but even Miss Vilyric didn’t foresee this sudden occurrence.

Their original plan was to wait for the Divine Tree to start growing, then Tiyelu would step in, assisted by Vilyric, to transplant the Source of Magic from the Little Wolf Cub into the Divine Tree. This would not only free Noviya from the fate imposed upon her but also allow the excess power generated from the faith-infused Source of Magic to nourish the growth of the Divine Tree.

As an artifact personally crafted by the Life Goddess, the Divine Tree was evidently more suitable to bear the burden brought by the Source of Magic than any mythical being, ensuring the stable existence of the illusionary realm—what one could call a win-win.

But the current situation… why does it seem more like Noviya is responding to the Divine Tree?

With that thought, Vilyric couldn’t help but poke the arm of Sylvania, who, despite appearing as Tilysha, could essentially be considered an incarnation of the Life Goddess, and whispered.

“Hey, hey, Xi Fu Lin, what’s going on?”

True to her knowledgeable nature, the princess remained composed. After a moment of contemplation, she quickly revealed a knowing smile and replied softly.

“I see… Vilyric, remember when I told you that the essence of divinity is the Divine Spark and not a physical form? It seems Olivya truly cares deeply for her people…”

“…?”

Given that neither the Life Goddess, as the strongest and main operator, nor Miss Priestess took action, everyone else, while startled by the sudden change, seemed to maintain their composure, including Sylvania, who wore a complex expression, clearly deep in thought without making any unnecessary moves.

Then, the Little Wolf Cub, which had ascended like a new star, began to undergo a transformation as a beam of light connected it to the Divine Tree.

There stood a stunning girl with silver hair long enough to reach her toes, entirely naked but shrouded in light. Her face appeared exceedingly youthful, and her petite body seemed as though it had yet to fully grow. Her beautiful eyes, initially closed, gradually opened, their distant gaze connecting with Xi Fu Lin and Vilyric before returning to the front.

“Olivya…”

The princess murmured, and the priestess suddenly looked shocked, as if she finally understood.

“Wait, are you saying… she is the Magic God Olivya? But why…?”

However, the Life Goddess merely shook her head, her tone calm.

“No, she is, yet she is not Olivya, nor is she another Magic God. What we are witnessing now is merely the thoughts and echoes of the being once known as the Magic God, residing within the Divine Spark.”

“Thoughts… and echoes?”

“Princess Xi Fu, may I ask what that exactly means?”

Unbeknownst to them, Tiyelu had approached the two girls, fixating her gaze on the silver-haired girl in the air while asking her question.

Xi Fu Lin, not putting on airs, gently explained.

“Gods represent the ‘Law’ and are spiritual manifestations birthed from the Divine Spark. They create a conceptual world, utilizing and transcending existence beyond cause and effect. The traces of their existence cannot be simply measured through time or space. The higher the divine rank, especially upon reaching the supreme god level, the more so.”

“In simpler terms, the traces they leave may appear long before their birth or after their fall. As long as the god imbues strong thoughts into it, and there is a sufficiently close connection, this power can transcend the restraints of time and causality, arriving at places that should not exist.”

“Just like… now.”

Upon hearing this, Vilyric began to understand.

“Oh… so what you’re saying is that because of their concern for the Mountains of Ten Thousand Demons, the will of the Magic God manifested into echoes, transcending time and crossing through the connection of the Source of Magic, arriving upon Noviya? Kind of like your relationship with Tilysha now?”

The princess nodded with a soft chuckle.

“Not wrong, though not entirely right either. This interpretation is quite acceptable.”

“……”

Tiyelu fell into silence, and as if she sensed Tiyelu’s thoughts, the Life Goddess signaled with a knowing look.

“The echoes of the gods are but shadows; they only appear under certain specific conditions and cannot last forever. A fall is a fall—even gods follow this. Divine positions may change, but the consciousness that has passed can never reemerge. Do not fall into delusion.”

“I… understand. Thank you for your guidance, Princess Xi Fu.”

Xi Fu Lin smiled in silence and waved a beam of emerald light towards the Divine Tree, instantly enhancing the brilliance of the connection between it and Noviya!

“Call me Xi Fu Lin. I am no longer the Earth Mother Goddess. The past has turned to smoke; born of heaven and earth, blessed by all things, both humans and gods must look ahead, yes?”

As if feeling a sense of nostalgia, the princess whispered softly.

“Though I don’t know what exactly happened back then, Olivya… let me lend you a helping hand for this last wish.”

“Boom!!!”

An esoteric shadow fell from the sky, enveloping both the flourishing Divine Tree and the silver-haired girl, transforming into a mysterious and grand magic circle, as if fulfilling a long-held wish. The girl’s lips finally curled into a serene smile.

In midair, she turned to face the gathered crowd below, resembling a traveler preparing to take her leave, sharing a final goodbye with her friends and family. Though she spoke no words, Tiyelu’s eyes had already filled with tears.

“Smack ~”

The butterfly girl knelt, her voice trembling slightly as she bowed.

“Chief of the Magic God’s Palace, Lulu Spirit Butterfly… bidding farewell to Your Majesty!”

Aside from her, everyone present, including Aileen and Sylvania, deeply bowed, making their final farewell to the creator and ruler of the Mountains of Ten Thousand Demons. Even Xi Fu Lin, Vilyric, and the Little Dragon Daughter showed subtle signs of emotion and nodded in respect.

No matter what, the fact that she crossed the cycle of time and space even in death, returning for the sake of saving the denizens of the magical realm facing extinction, was already worthy of respect.

Magic God Olivya, deserving of her divine name.

The silver-haired girl smiled and nodded slightly, her form dissolving into bubbles in the sky, wrapped in light, and in the arms of the priestess, she transformed back into the Little Wolf Cub.

“Woof?”

With pure, innocent eyes blinking, Noviya looked a bit perplexed, seemingly unable to comprehend what had just happened.

But seeing this scene, everyone understood that the divine echo that once descended upon this form had completely dissipated and returned to where it belonged.

And… somewhere beyond time and space.

In a vast and desolate void, a young girl wearing an ornate robe, slender and delicate, looked momentarily dazed, then suddenly realized, revealing a smile of relief.

【I see, a brand new Life Goddess and… her. Now, I can rest easy.】

Wiping the faint traces of starlight-like blood from the corner of her lips, the girl raised the cracked black scepter, beneath her, the black giant dragon, riddled with wounds, let out a mournful yet regal roar as she cast her gaze upon the battlefield littered with the fallen and the few remaining comrades…

Once again, she charged toward the radiant figure that transcended the horizon, wrapped in endless light!

【Before the final curtain of the remnants of the old days falls, let us gods, unaccepted and cast aside, delay time for the future a little longer.】

   

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