Grandézil still couldn't fully understand how he had connected to the network of his previous life.
But when he reflected on the events that led to his death, he started piecing things together.
In his past life, he had been an avid player of VR games, spending countless hours in a virtual capsule before dying—likely from exhaustion after several sleepless days…
The last memory before his death had something to do with him.
Virtual reality technology had been an innovative breakthrough on Earth, linking a person's consciousness directly to the internet, creating an entirely immersive experience. Grandézil suspected that while he had been connected to the internet before his death, something had triggered his consciousness to remain linked to this network after crossing over to Saigües.
Moreover, when comparing the passage of time between Earth and this new world, Grandézil realized that time in Saigües flowed four times faster than on Earth.
So what did this mean for him?
Could he still contact his family, even after crossing into this new world?
For a moment, Grandézil was caught in a bittersweet thought. He had decided to embrace his new life and forget everything about his past, but the possibility of reconnecting with his family tugged at his heart.
Though his physical body was long gone, the connection to Earth still seemed like a faint chance to be explored.
He sighed, realizing that, even if he could reach Earth's network, his current form lacked any tangible presence there. His divine powers could only influence the network world, leaving him a ghostly mass of data. Attempting to manifest physically on Earth was beyond him, at least for now.
Grandézil could only dream of the day when he would have enough divine power to cross that threshold.
With that in mind, he decided to focus on more pressing matters—first stabilizing his own condition. He needed strength and a secure foothold in the mortal realm before he could tackle other challenges.
With a clearer goal in mind, Grandézil turned his attention back to the lights within his Celestial Domain. He focused on the two firefly-like orbs of light that still lingered, excluding the one tied to Beserker.
Then, a soft and familiar prayer reached his ears again. This time, it came from the brightest of the two lights.
Grandézil's heart stirred, and he reached into the orb with his consciousness.
The sensation of weightlessness overcame him, and his vision was pulled toward the source. His surroundings warped as he was transported to a towering temple. This place, built from ancient wood and intertwined with vines, radiated an aura of both sacredness and decay.
At the center of the temple stood an altar, and above it hung a broken statue of an elf goddess—her head missing. This was a place of deep history and significance.
Grandézil expanded his consciousness, feeling a strange connection to this place. It was not just any temple; it was located within his own body, on the lower trunk of the World Tree itself.
He was momentarily stunned by the realization before he continued to observe.
Before the altar stood two elves—a man and a woman.
The male elf was elderly, his white hair and beard marking him with the weight of age. His eyes, filled with sorrow, told stories of countless years. He was Samuel Swiftwind, a nature priest and druid of considerable strength.
The female elf, however, caught Grandézil's attention. A young, beautiful girl of about sixteen or seventeen years, Alice Swiftwind knelt before the altar, clasping a leaf-shaped emblem as she prayed. Her golden hair shimmered like sunlight, her features delicately graceful, and her presence radiated a purity that made everything around her seem pale in comparison.
Grandézil instinctively sought more information about Alice and saw her title:
Name: Alice Swiftwind
Race: Elf
Occupation: Priestess of Nature
Level: 23 (High Iron)
Patron God: Grandézil
Faith Classification: Devout Believer
Title: Nature's Saintess
Grandézil's initial disappointment faded, replaced by a surge of hope. She was his most devout believer, and the only one left who still clung to faith in him.
Looking at the elder Samuel, Grandézil found him to be a shallow believer—one who had not fully embraced the divine connection. But with Alice, he could work to restore her faith and perhaps even help the elderly elf find true devotion.
As he continued observing, Grandézil realized that his first task was clear: rekindle the faith of his believers before it was too late.