Chapter 23 – "Whispers of Restoration"
Moments later, Eira stood there, staring at the wall in a daze. Both the Sword God and Frostara noticed her behavior, sensing something unsettling in the silence that followed her annihilation of the primordial spirits. Frostara, puzzled and wary, muttered under her breath, "How did this child make those powerful beings disappear? Even the past challengers have vanished…" She glanced at Eira, hesitating, but was interrupted as Eira spoke clearly, her voice calm yet commanding.
"It's troublesome, but I need to fix this flaw," Eira said, her gaze distant as if observing something beyond the visible world. Scanning the entirety of existence, she noted the casualties her interference had caused. She began to mutter an ancient chant, her voice barely a whisper yet filled with power, leaving Frostara and the Sword God utterly bewildered. "It's challenging, but this should work," Eira murmured, then continued:
"Chosen by Fate, Echo of Memories, Tethered Spirit, Resonance of Life, Convergence of Time, Sacrifice of Return, Shadows of the Past, The Guardian's Watch, Reverberation of Impact, Path of Renewal, Harmony of Time, Legacy of the Living, Restoration of Existence... Timeless Revival…"
The system reacted instantly:
["DING" YOU HAVE CREATED 13 NEW SUPREME RULES. YOU HAVE DEFIED HEAVENLY LAWS. YOU HAVE INTEGRATED 13 SUPREME RULES INTO ONE. WARNING: AN UNKNOWN POWER HAS BEEN CREATED. PLEASE REFRAIN FROM USING THIS POWER TO AVOID EXTREME BACKLASH.]
Moments after Eira's chant, the world trembled. People who had been crying in despair from the recent calamity now looked around in disbelief as the earth quaked, yet rather than tearing apart, it healed. The land began to restore itself, broken structures reformed, and scattered debris returned to its original place as if time itself had mended their ruin. Even more astonishing, those who had fallen to disaster found themselves miraculously revived, standing in bewilderment as life returned to them.
People whispered in awe, trying to grasp the miracle unfolding before them. "It's… it's a blessing! The gods have saved us!" voices shouted, swelling into a chorus of gratitude. "Thank you, Goddess of Life!" they cried in unison, their relief and reverence uncontainable. Survivors spoke of their memories of death and destruction, now mingling with disbelief as they gazed at their restored surroundings.
In the midst of the commotion, a woman exclaimed, "I thought I died under that fallen tree… but here I am, alive! The trees, the earth—all of it has returned to its original form!" This phenomenon echoed throughout the world, even in the distant capital, where people hailed the unknown god who had rescued them from despair. News of the miracle spread rapidly, reaching the ears of priests and believers, who erupted in fervent prayer, convinced that the gods themselves had intervened.
Meanwhile, back with Eira, a flicker of blue light shimmered in her eyes, leaving the Sword God visibly unnerved by the unknown forces at work. As the blue light faded, Eira sighed, rubbing her eyes before letting out a soft, almost childlike murmur. "I… I'm sleepy…" Her body began to sway, and just as she started to collapse, Frostara moved to catch her. But to her surprise, Mira—now revived and brimming with life—appeared first, catching Eira and cradling her like a precious treasure.
"Kyaa! I finally get to hold you like this, Eira!" Mira squealed, burying her face in Eira's stomach. "Your skin is so soft… Ugh, I could do this forever!" Frostara watched, alarmed by Mira's behavior, and quickly stepped forward.
"Hey, little girl, what do you think you're doing with my child?" Frostara's voice was cold, her eyes sharp.
Mira looked up, her expression indifferent as she said, "Huh? Who are you, auntie? Do you know Eira?" She seemed utterly oblivious to Frostara's resemblance to Eira, addressing her in a dismissive tone.
"Auntie?! You disrespectful brat! Who are you calling an auntie?" Frostara retorted, visibly flustered and about to argue further, but her voice was drowned out by a new announcement that echoed around them.
|"CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CHALLENGER. YOU HAVE OBTAINED THE RIGHT TO VISIT THE FINAL FLOOR. TELEPORTATION WILL BEGIN IN ONE MINUTE. PLEASE BE PATIENT AND PREPARE TO RECEIVE YOUR REWARDS FOR COMPLETING THE EXTREME TRIAL."|
Frostara looked at the mana-text hovering in the air, a soft smile crossing her lips. "Although I'm technically her enemy, it seems those fools have chosen to reward her without further challenges," she chuckled. "Good. There's an item I've been wanting to give my child." With that, Frostara stepped closer, observing as Mira carried Eira as if she were a cherished princess.
Meanwhile, Valeria's side was on the verge of tears, overwhelmed with worry. However, her friend Ileana approached with a reassuring smile. "Valeria, why are you moping here? Haven't you seen what's happening in the capital?" Ileana said, noting the icy aura that swirled around Valeria in her despair.
Valeria glanced up, her eyes clouded with confusion. "What do you mean? I saw everything in ruins… nothing but despair…"
Ileana extended a comforting hand. "Trust me, Valeria. I don't know exactly how, but I'm certain your sister is alright. Some kind of miraculous force revived the people and restored the land. Come, let's go see for ourselves."
Valeria hesitated but, seeing the confidence in Ileana's gaze, took her hand. Together, they hurried toward the city's heart, where people were gathering. As they reached the road, the air was filled with joyful voices, people shouting in praise and disbelief.
"Thank you, Goddess of Life! Thank you for saving us!" one person cried, while others echoed similar sentiments of gratitude. Valeria looked around, struggling to comprehend the scene. She turned to Ileana with a perplexed expression, searching for answers.
Ileana shook her head, just as puzzled. "I'm as clueless as you are. All I know is that I sensed a massive surge of blue mana. It enveloped the whole city, maybe even the entire world." She glanced toward the horizon, where remnants of the miracle lingered in the air. "Whatever it was… it's beyond anything I've ever felt."