As Harris continued to be embraced by the enigmatic energy, he experienced a sense of clarity and self-reflection. In this state, his perception shifted, allowing him to observe his own life from a third-person perspective. Despite his laughter, tears streamed down his cheeks, revealing the underlying sorrow he felt. Although he was in the form of a soul avatar, he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of shame if he were to meet certain individuals in this afterlife.
"I was truly a pitiful man. If I were to face them now, I wouldn't have the courage to show my face, both literally and figuratively," Harris thought, his self-awareness piercing through the layers of his consciousness.
"But what is this peculiar energy that envelops me? I feel more than alright. In fact, I feel invigorated, as if I could match the strength of the Hulk... or perhaps that's a bit too much. Maybe someone more manageable... Well, it doesn't really matter. I'm already dead, so there's no point in pondering such things." Unbeknownst to Harris, the energy that baptized his soul was causing a commotion elsewhere.
*******
In a grand hall stood six towering pillars, each adorned with a magnificent throne. The thrones were crafted from an exceedingly rare material known as obsidian iron, a substance so precious that even a few grams could ignite wars among the world's greatest powers. The very thought of challenging the guardians of these thrones was unfathomable. Three pillars faced the other three, and upon each throne sat a deity radiating an air of arrogance and indifference towards one another. These six gods were accompanied by their attendants, standing beneath their respective pillars. Clad in silver armour, the attendants wore blood-red capes and helmets bearing the insignia of six wings, signifying their status as the highest-ranking servants, the Archangels, second only to the Supreme and High Gods.
In an instant, the expressions of the six angels and the six Supreme Gods transformed into admiration and respect as a being materialized on a single, elevated throne, floating high above the six pillars. The entity's luminosity was so intense that even the Supreme Gods struggled to gaze directly at it, let alone the Archangels. All twelve individuals knelt before the radiant being, their voices united in a resounding proclamation, "The Archangels worship the God King." As their proclamation subsided, the Supreme Gods spoke in unison, "We greet the King."
The mention of the God King brought to light the divine lineage of the Angel clan, who served the Supreme and High Gods directly. The lower Gods held a similar status to that of the Archangels, differing only in the presence of divinity within their beings, which granted them the title of god. While the Archangels possessed greater strength than their counterparts and a few were rumoured to rival or even surpass the High Gods, their unwavering devotion and servitude to the God King, a being surpassing all others in this world, remained absolute.
"Your Eminence, we have thwarted the plans of those despicable fiends," proclaimed a Supreme God, adorned with a crimson fire symbol on his forehead. His face remained lowered, concealed from view, as no existence, whether Archangels or Supreme Gods, was permitted to gaze directly at the God King while speaking. They could only admire him from a distance, observing the intense light radiating from his presence, provided they possessed sufficient strength. Only the seven Great Fiends and the six Supreme Gods possessed the ability to achieve such a feat. Among the seven Great Fiends, only one had the power to look beyond the luminance and gaze directly into the eyes of the God King—the Fiend King, as he was known throughout Eldera, Gehena Realm, and the Heavenly Realm. However, only the seven Great Fiends were aware that the true Fiend King was a being far superior to the current one, the one they failed to summon, also known as the Primordial Fiend.
"Humph! Why do you act so proud? They were still able to sacrifice over one million humans. It's a failure on your part," retorted another Supreme God, bearing a green wind symbol on his forehead. Vayu, the Supreme Wind God, commanded the tempestuous forces of the air and the breath of life itself. With a name resonating with power, Vayu embodied motion, agility, and freedom. From gentle breezes to raging storms, Vayu shaped the currents of the skies and whispered secrets in the winds. Vayu cast a disdainful gaze towards Agni, but when he finished speaking, he glanced slightly towards the God King with reverence in his eyes.
"You!" Agni attempted to respond to Vayu's argument, but he was interrupted by another Supreme God.
"Agni, have you forgotten that those one million humans possessed at least the strength of the Mage Realm or Knight Realm? Sacrificing such a vast number of people with considerable power is bound to have severe consequences," stated a calm and experienced Supreme God. His forehead bore a brown rock mark, and his wise demeanor reflected his vast knowledge. Solgard, the Supreme Earth God, radiated power and wisdom, commanding the essence of the earth and its elements. As the embodiment of stability, growth, and fertility, Solgard oversaw the flourishing of nature and the preservation of balance within the realms.
"It doesn't matter. Those puny humans with their measly strength are worth nothing," Agni harrumphed.
"Agni..." Vayu began to reply to Agni's ruthless comment but was once again interrupted, this time by a solemn voice.
"Cease your argument at once!" The voice carried undeniable authority, and in response, all present lowered their heads, maintaining complete silence. It was the God King who had spoken. The voice remained masked, making it impossible to discern its gender.
"I did not summon you all to hear your banter. I want each of you to investigate any anomalies you encounter and explore anything that seems out of the ordinary in the three realms. I have sensed a minor fluctuation in vast space-time, and it is related to Origin Energy."
Gasps filled the hall as all twelve individuals reacted to the God King's statement. Origin Energy was such a profound topic that even the mighty God King would take action upon the slightest fluctuation. While it could potentially be a mistake, when it came to Origin Energy, even the God King would pursue it relentlessly, regardless of the slim chances. Only the upper echelons of the three realms were privy to this information regarding Origin Energy. All forms of energy, whether mana, aura, divinity, and more in this universe, were extensions of Origin Energy. Even the World Tree, which upheld the three realms for millions of years, owed its vitality to the speck of Origin Energy fueling its existence.
Origin Energy was said to be the creator of both light and darkness, the force behind the creation of the universe, existing beyond space and time. However, this energy had never been felt before, except for within the mysterious world tree barrier, which only the Fiend King and the God King could observe. Even they couldn't directly access that speck of energy. Yet now, the God King had sensed a minute fluctuation, coinciding with the time following the sacrifice. Although the sacrifice was not sufficient to attract the fabled Origin Energy, doubts arose in the minds of all those present regarding this sacrifice.
"We obey the God King," echoed twelve voices in unison as the God King suddenly vanished into thin air. The atmosphere in the hall eased as the six Supreme Gods exchanged solemn glances. Each of them understood the gravity of the situation, their minds drifting back to the accursed prophecy that had unsettled them all. A chill ran down their spines as they recalled the ominous feeling that had gripped them on that fateful day.
High above the hall, the God King appeared in the sky, contemplating the peculiarity of the fluctuation. It had been so brief that even he doubted his senses, yet the World Tree barrier he had been studying to comprehend the enigmatic energy had enabled him to perceive it. At first, the God King had believed he had made a minor breakthrough in understanding the energy, but he soon discovered that it was reacting to a source beyond the barrier. If something could elicit a reaction from Origin Energy, then it could only be Origin Energy itself, as nothing else in the universe surpassed its power.
"I wonder what significant changes the forthcoming turbulent times will bring. Will the heavens remain secure, or will the prophecy be realized?" pondered the God King. "If only I could obtain the Origin Energy, then I could rest assured about the safety of the heavens. These children have caused a major predicament during my slumber. If only I had been awake at that time, perhaps we could have averted the impending danger. Their pride has transformed into arrogance, and they no longer adhere to the teachings of the revered progenitor," he mused, assimilating into the background.