After adjusting his thoughts and breath, Kent stepped carefully into the heart of the shrine.
But just as he entered his eyes went wide at the strange sight before him. Suspended in the vast open space was a land mass, floating silently as if untouched by the passage of time.
At its center stood an imposing idol—a dancing pose god, caught mid-motion, with eight hands wielding weapons of various kinds. Beneath his powerful feet, a defeated demon lay sprawled, forever locked in the stone depiction of death.
Nine stone suns orbited the statue, casting faint shadows across the chamber.
Kent inhaled deeply and placed his foot on the land mass. Immediately all path closed down and he stood alone before the statue.
The silence in the chamber pressed against his ears, amplifying the sound of his own heartbeat. He stepped forward cautiously, his gaze fixed on the idol.
The statue’s intricate details made it seem almost lifelike. Each weapon gleamed faintly, as if polished by unseen hands. The sun orbs floated in perfect harmony around the god.
His eyes scanned the surroundings for any sign of danger. No defenders, no traps, nothing stood in his path. Also, there is no sign of danger or worry. He could feel the weight of unseen eyes watching him, the echo of forgotten power lingering in the chamber.
Kent knelt, placing his palm flat against the stone beneath him. He closed his eyes and focused, trying to recall anything from Grizzac’s manual that could guide him. A faint memory of last lines surfaced, the old man’s rough voice echoing in his mind.
“The nine suns will unite to awaken the three-eyed god. The disciple must sacrifice his blood to prove his brave heart.”
Kent opened his eyes and stared up at the idol. The words lingered heavily in his mind. There was no other clue, no visible mechanism. His gaze returned to the god’s feet, where the demon lay. The demon’s stone face bore an expression of agony, mouth slightly open as if it had been silenced mid-scream.
After long moments of observation, Kent rose to his feet. He knew what had to be done.
Rolling up his sleeve, he pressed his thumb against his index finger, summoning a thin edge of flame. He dragged the sharp heat across his palm, wincing slightly as a thin line of crimson appeared.
With quiet determination, Kent raised his bleeding hand over the idol’s head. A single drop of blood fell, striking the statue’s crown. The chamber held its breath.
Drop after drop fell. But nothing happened.
Just as the thirteenth drop splashed onto the god’s head, the nine suns flickered and began to glow, one by one, each in a different vibrant hue. Their soft light grew more intense, filling the chamber with a rainbow of colors. Kent stepped back, shielding his eyes as the floating suns began to shift.
The suns elongated, twisting and curling until they took the shape of nine serpents. Their bodies shimmered like molten gold as they coiled above the idol, forming a hooded canopy over the god’s head. The statue itself began to change, golden light seeping through its stone surface, softening and reshaping the figure.
Kent squinted through the radiance, his heart pounding. The idol grew, expanding until it stood nearly thirteen feet tall.
As the transformation slowed, the lifeless stone became flesh. The once-cold eyes of the idol now glowed with divine fire. The god’s three eyes opened, locking onto Kent with an intensity that left him breathless.
For the first time in his life, Kent felt truly small.
The god stepped forward, the faint clink of jewelry echoing in the vast chamber. Each of his eight hands moved fluidly, as if testing the limits of his new form. The three-eyed god stopped a mere feet from Kent, his gaze piercing and unreadable.
Kent could not bring himself to speak. His lips trembled, but no words came. Even in his encounters with the war god, he had not felt such overwhelming presence. This was something far beyond his comprehension.
Slowly, the god lifted one finger and pressed it gently between Kent’s brows.
A cascade of visions flooded Kent’s mind. He saw worlds far beyond his own, fourteen realms stretching out like an infinite tapestry. Seven glowed with divine light, while the other seven simmered with dark, demonic energy.
Images of vast celestial beings and ancient evils danced across his vision. The path to ascension unfolded before him, not through mere power or conquest, but through reincarnation, karma, and the pursuit of enlightenment.
Like Kaban said, there are only 14 worlds in this universe.
Kent gasped as the weight of knowledge received with each passing second. His purpose became clear. Not demi-gods, nor origin gods, nor even the old gods stood at the pinnacle of existence.
The eternal path lay ahead, one that no being had yet completed. The only way forward was to rise through each realm, to surpass even the apex world, the satya-loka itself.
When the god withdrew his hand, Kent staggered backward, panting heavily. He felt hollow and full all at once, as if the universe itself now resided within him.
The god slowly began to fade, his body dissolving into radiant light. As he disappeared, so did the chamber around Kent. In a single blinding flash, Kent found himself standing outside the shrine. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire
“Kachhhhhhaaaaa…”
Sound of treasures falling around and the rocky shrine structure disappearing happened simultaneously.
A mountain of treasures lay scattered around Kent, gleaming like stars against the dull sand. Weapons, artifacts, and untold riches spilled out in every direction. Jean, Gunji Zing and Aran stood nearby, staring in shock at the wealth that had materialized.
Kent barely glanced at the treasures. His eyes glowed faintly, reflecting the divine light he had witnessed within the shrine.
The trio continued to ask questions. But Kent ignored them like chatters. Aran and Gunji even hesitated to touch the treasures, afraid that Kent would offend.
Without hesitation, Kent turned to Gunji and spoke in a calm and resolute voice.
“All of this belongs to you. I made a promise to your father Grizzac to leave these treasures for you. I only need what is essential.”
Gunji’s eyes widened. “You met my father?”
Kent nodded, but before Gunji asked more, his next words drew gasps from the others. “If you wish, I will take you as my wife, as your-father Grizzac requested.”
Jean’s heart sank at those words, her expression unreadable. But Kent’s eyes held no hesitation. Gunji stood rooted to the ground as she couldn’t believe her ears.
As Gunji turned, Jean was already looking at her with moist eyes. Kent’s words really shocked them to the core.
For a second Aran thought he could now marry Jean.
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*Check the comments for the picture of 3 eyed god.