Chapter 317: Karma (XXXV)
Divine Realm, Celestial Palace.
Within the radiant halls of the Celestial Palace, light flowed gently along crystalline pillars, cascading like liquid sunlight.
The marble floor shimmered beneath each step, reflecting the soft golden hue of the eternal dawn above.
Russel knelt at the center of the grand hall, head bowed low. The faint glow from his golden ring pulsed steadily, the remnant of the divine call that had summoned him here.
A calm, melodic voice broke the silence.
“Rise, my child.”
The sound alone was enough to make the air tremble.
Russel stood carefully, his robe brushing the floor.
“My Lady,” he said, lowering his head again in respect, “I’ve met a newly ascended god, someone who bears the Authority of Karma.”
At those words, the faint sound of divine bells rang somewhere above.
The goddess didn’t move, but the light behind her flared ever so slightly.
“Karma…?” she repeated, her voice calm, though something stirred beneath it.
“You are certain?”
“Yes.” Russel nodded quickly, excitement and disbelief mixing in his tone.
“His name is Aestrea. Barely twenty-one years of age. His power feels… ominous. Like something buried deep within time itself.”
He hesitated before adding:
“He seemed calm, polite, but there was something about his presence. It wasn’t heavy like the usual gods, more… quiet. But the quiet that hides something deeper.”
The Goddess of Light was silent for a long moment.
Then she slowly turned, her luminous form stepping down from her throne, the divine glow dimming just enough for her features to be seen.
Her beauty was blinding even in restraint, her golden hair flowing like sunlight made flesh, her eyes pure and piercing.
“Interesting…” she whispered, a faint smile touching her lips.
“He finally ascended, huh?”
“You… recognize him?” Russel blinked in surprise.
The goddess’s gaze lingered somewhere far beyond the walls, into the past, or perhaps another lifetime.
“Karma,” she murmured softly.
“That name belonged to someone I once knew… long, long ago.”
Her voice turned faintly wistful.
“If fate truly dares to repeat itself… then the Divine Realm may soon see light and shadow dance again.”
Russel hesitated, unsure if he should speak. But the goddess only smiled faintly, her radiance flickering like dawn breaking through clouds.
“Leave him be for now,” she finally said.
“Observe quietly. Do not interfere.”
“As you command, my Lady,” Russel bowed deeply before turning into a dim golden light and dissipating from her sight.
The hall grew quiet after Russel vanished, and the Goddess of Light returned to her throne as the golden glow around her dimmed to a gentle shimmer.
Then, slowly, her lips curved into a strangely wicked smile.
She leaned back against the throne, her golden hair spilling like liquid sunlight down her shoulders.
Her fingers brushed lightly across her mouth, her eyes half-closed as if lost in a pleasant dream.
“Ah… my future husband~,” she whispered softly, putting her fingers onto her mouth before sucking on them greedily.
The light in the chamber seemed to tremble at her words.
Her smile deepened, strangely sweet and unsettling at once.
She crossed one leg over the other, her movements graceful yet deliberate, her aura flickering between divine purity and quiet desire.
“You’re finally here…”
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[Aestrea’s POV]
Passing through the gates of the divine academy, we walked towards the registration wall, where I was supposed to get both my benefits and the key to one of the dorms.
The registration hall was massive, stretching farther than I could see.
Students of all ages moved around, some floating slightly above the floor, others conversing in groups with a polite nod of acknowledgment.
The air hummed with power, and I could feel the subtle currents of divine energy weaving through everyone here.
A tall attendant, shimmering with golden light, approached us. His eyes flicked over me quickly, then widened slightly.
“Ah… Lord Karma,” he said with a bow.
“We’ve been expecting you. Please, follow me.”
Nodding, we followed him into a wide, circular chamber filled with hovering golden tablets.
“This is the registration center,” he explained. “Once you are registered, your benefits and accommodations will be allocated based on your Godhead status and age. Please confirm your details here.”
I touched one of the tablets.
My name, age, and Godhead glowed in brilliant light just as it happened with my student ID.
A soft chime sounded as the tablet scanned me.
The tablet hummed and then split into three glowing fragments, which floated toward me and merged into a single scroll of light.
Thirty high-grade divine crystals.
An enchanted school uniform.
Three thousand Pesus.
I caught the scroll in my hand.
The crystals sparkled faintly, pulsing with raw energy.
The uniform shimmered as though it were alive, and the Pesus floated as golden coins before settling neatly into a small container.
“All of that… for you?” Christina’s eyes widened slightly.
I nodded slighly, it really was quite a lot.
Just these thirty crystals alone could turn Christina into a god, and even make me break through to an intermediate god.
“Ahem,” the attendant cleared his throat.
“Your superior dorm has also been prepared. You may move in immediately. Please follow me.”
The room really deserved its name as superior.
Light-colored walls pulsed faintly with magic, a large floating bed hovered near the far wall, and crystal shelves glowed with small, enchanted books.
The soft glow from the ceiling gave the room a warmth that felt alive.
Besides that, there was also a kitchen, a bathroom, a living room… this was pretty much an apartment!
Christina moved to set our things down, arranging them neatly while I took in every detail.
“Hah…”
This place clearly had a hierarchy.
The younger, more powerful, and more exceptional students got the best benefits, while others had to make do with less.
I had received the maximum.
Already, the currents of power here shifted subtly in my favor.
Christina looked up at me, her hand brushing mine lightly.
“This… this is our place now?”
“For now,” I replied, nodding lightly.
However, even if I’ve received such good resources… this was going to be a little troublesome. My power should be on par with most peak gods…
If I use my bloodline… I should be able to compete with a 2✯ true god, but of course, I won’t be using it… yet.
As for the 『 ✯Moon Mark ✯』, I can still use it, of course, and it was even strengthened by Luna and everything.
With it, I can compete with a 1✯ true god.
But that still isn’t enough, just the hallway I passed had at least a dozen students that were at least 3✯ true gods.
So yeah, I need to be really careful.
“Aestrea~?”
A soft voice called out.
I turned my head, and my eyes widened slightly at the sight before me.
Christina had changed into a maid’s outfit, her form accentuated by the crisp uniform. She did a small, playful twirl, letting the hem flare just enough to catch my attention.
“How do I look?” she asked, her eyes narrowing charmingly as she struck a pose.
I sat on the edge of the bed, letting my gaze linger for only a moment before nodding.
“Great.”
Her lips curved in a teasing smile as she stepped closer. Without hesitation, she knelt before me, tilting her head up mischievously.
“Then… what can I be of service for, Master~?” she teased, her voice light and playful.
My expression didn’t change.
Not at all.
The moment her grin reached me, my eyes hardened, and a coldness settled over my features.
Christina’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she looked away, biting her lower lip. She knew I hadn’t forgiven her yet.
Perhaps she thought a little teasing would work… but it didn’t.
“…I’ll go take a bath…” she muttered, rising and heading toward the bathroom, leaving the room and me, silent again.
I leaned back, my eyes narrowing slightly.
Power, strategy… control.
Those were my priorities for now.
After all, I would say that at least… 75% of the students in this academy were stronger than me.
But yeah, for now, I should simply start cultivating these divine crystals and save a few for Christina to turn into a god.
…I wonder what type of God she’ll turn into…
Maybe the Goddess of Betrayal?
Fuck no… I’d kill her in the same second.
Well… she’ll be useful either way.
Fwoop!
I grabbed one of the crystals and slowly started absorbing it, feeling the divinity contained within start flowing directly onto the tree in my dantian.
Gurgle…
“Huh?”
Did the Yggdrasil tree just increase in size?
I quickly checked, and it really did; besides, now the sources, like Hellheim, seemed even more powerful than before.
Was it because it was pure divinity that flowed onto it?
I don’t know, but if it means that I’ll be getting even more powerful than I already am…
Fwoop!
I quickly grabbed another crystal.
The Yggdrasil tree can absorb as much as it wants!