Village Head's Debauchery

Orion clenched his fists, feeling conflicting emotions coursing through him. He could sense that the being the Will of the Divine Mysteries was talking about likely belonged to Naka, even though it hadn't explicitly said so.

Margona didn't ask who had been monitoring them, afraid of the answer she might receive. For a great goddess like herself, this was a shame she must wash off by growing far stronger than Naka and his forces and taking his head by herself. And one of the fastest ways to do that now was through Paradise.

"If you wish, I can make it so no one can spy on you. Consider it my aid to Paradise, a debt to be repaid later. What do you think of this offer?" the Will of the Divine Mysteries asked.

Orion was surprised by the proposal. "If you don't mind, I will accept it," he agreed.

Orion had more to lose if he refused the offer based on the Will of the Divine Mysteries' unknown intentions and risked their every moment being surveilled by Naka or another unknown entity. It was better to accept and owe a favour to be repaid.

Having already steeled his heart, Orion accepted without hesitation.

Suddenly, the space before Orion cracked open, revealing a rift in the void. From it, a medallion emerged; it possessed a rough, stony disk filled with mysterious inscriptions. Three concentric rings that resembled crystals surrounded its surface.

Along its edges were engravings of twisting branches and feathers. It hung on a chain of luminous threads, each radiating a soft glow as if woven from starlight. On the back of the medallion was an intricately etched infinity symbol.

The chains of the medallion expanded as it draped itself over Orion's neck, then shrank to fit perfectly around him.

Orion gazed at the medallion in wonder, mesmerized by the ethereal sensation it exuded.

"I have given you a special item known as the Divine Mandate, which can only be bestowed upon extraordinary individuals who have proven themselves worthy under certain intense conditions. It appears in various forms, so not all Divine Mandates are the same," the Will of the Divine Mysteries explained.

With Aurora still in his arms, Orion bowed slightly and said, "Thank you for considering me worthy of such a special item. I promise to treasure it for as long as I can."

Meanwhile, Margona stared wide-eyed, her lips agape at the medallion hanging around Orion's neck.

A Divine Mandate! As a goddess, she knew exactly what it represented and had witnessed others receive a Divine Mandate. But she never expected to see a mortal man who had just stepped into godhood receive such a gift.

Judging by Orion's calm reaction, he likely didn't grasp the full significance of what he had just been given. Otherwise, he would have reacted quite differently.

Margona was speechless, unsure of how to respond to the unfolding scene.

The Will of the Divine Mysteries hummed softly. "You needn't worry about losing the Divine Mandate or having it taken from you. No one can claim it unless you willingly hand it over yourself. Even if you are in a situation where you're being controlled, it won't work."

"If you die, the Divine Mandate will either be destroyed or returned to the Divine Mysteries, depending on certain conditions. If you are resurrected or manage to reincarnate, the Divine Mandate will reappear, bonded to you once again."

"As for its functions, it will help mask Paradise from all forms of external surveillance—divine or mortal—and prevent any attempts to peer into your past or future actions. It can create false illusions or completely cloak your presence unless you allow someone to see through it."

"It also provides an accurate, real-time count of all members under your command. Suppose they pledge loyalty to your force and become part of your Paradise. In that case, you can view their exact location or observe their actions."

"There are many other functions that will assist you in managing Paradise and ensuring its steady growth," the Will of the Divine Mysteries concluded.

Orion's eyes widened in shock and surprise as he listened. The functions of the Divine Mandate were incredible, far exceeding his initial expectations. This was truly a unique item meant for someone like him!

"Thank you for your aid. I will ensure I use it to the best of my abilities and guard it well," Orion said gratefully.

He could feel a bond forming between him and the Divine Mandate, a gentle stream of information flowing into his mind, confirming everything the Will of the Divine Mysteries had said.

Meanwhile, Margona frowned, realizing that Orion would monitor all her actions from now on. Suddenly, she sighed, accepting that it was better for him to have such an item—someone she could keep an eye on—rather than an unknown entity continuing to observe them.

Orion glanced at Margona warily. She was the only one who currently knew about his Divine Mandate, which should be kept secret, especially from someone like her.

Sensing his gaze, Margona snorted. "I can't believe you'd think so little of your teacher. I intend to keep my promise and locate my children. Besides, didn't you hear what it said? No one can take it away from you unless you willingly hand it over," she said, her voice tinged with irritation.

Orion nodded but chose to remain silent. He would still be cautious around her and not lower his guard.

Refocusing his attention skyward, Orion spoke again.

"If you don't mind, I'd like to make another request," he said firmly.

"Oh... What you wish to say must be interesting, then? Go ahead," the Will of the Divine Mysteries responded.

Orion nodded. "Now that the matter with the Zera is settled, would it be possible to halt the destruction of this realm? With the effort that went into its construction, it would be a waste to see it destroyed. Also, since many of its members will soon be under my command, we'll need a way to suppress their death plague until we find an effective way to help them recover or manage it. This realm is the perfect place for that," Orion explained.

With the help of the various divine beings in Paradise, they could further develop the pocket dimension, transforming it into a genuine sanctuary for Paradise's forces while eliminating one of their primary security concerns.

They wouldn't have to worry about Vylkr spawns, divine corps attacks, or any other unknown enemies within the pocket dimension. Once this issue was resolved, Orion was confident Paradise's growth would progress by leaps and bounds.

Of course, he couldn't say this directly and had to provide a suitable reason. After all, the Will of the Divine Mysteries before him wasn't charitably giving out gifts for free.

"He's right. Without the Mirror Realm's suppression effect, many would become tainteds and die. It would happen frequently until they became plagues themselves. That would be detrimental to Paradise's growth, especially if we are to repay the favour you have granted us in the long run," Margona agreed, echoing Orion's thoughts. Stay tuned to empire

The Will of the Divine Mysteries paused.

A tense silence descended upon their surroundings.

After a few moments, the Will of the Divine Mysteries spoke, his voice cutting through the tension. "I will return the pocket dimension to its former state. Whatever becomes of it will be left to you to decide. You may consider it a gift for the pleasing results you've delivered."

"Thank you for your generosity," Orion responded with a slight bow, exhaling inwardly in relief. With this matter settled, he was confident that Paradise would grow into an unstoppable force.

Margona wore a slight smile, a striking disparity to her previous angered expression.

"I have no more questions. I am ready to take my leave," Orion said.

Suddenly, Margona's body twisted, and with a bright flash of light, she transformed back into Zera. Then, Zera fell unconscious, but before she could hit the ground, Orion caught her, levitating her gently without casting any techniques.

"Although I have completed my task with her, the events have unfolded differently than I expected. Rather than cleansing her of those two conniving goddesses inside her, I will ensure she is unharmed by either of them and regains full control of her body. They will regret deceiving me for so long," the Will of the Divine Mysteries said with a slight chuckle.

Hearing these words, a shiver ran down Orion's spine. He had no idea what sort of revenge the Will of the Divine Mysteries was plotting. But, he had no interest in being on the receiving end of it or discovering its nature.

A rift in space appeared beside them.

The Will of the Divine Mysteries added, "I will inform you when I'm done so you can return. "

Orion nodded, turned, and walked through the spatial rift with the others.

The rift sealed up swiftly, and the desolate, ruined Mirror Realm was immediately enveloped in silence.

In an expansive void, a figure shrouded in blinding white light, illuminating the surrounding void, gazed at an alabaster-skinned woman with short ice-white hair.