Distant Memories, Radiant Will

Gently touching the fragment.

In the next moment, a surge of overwhelming power rushed in, and the memories of another flooded both their minds.

"This world is beyond saving, President... Disband the association..."

"Truth is dead. The mage problem is unsolvable. Our research is meaningless..."

"My only wish before the dark apocalypse arrives is to return to my distant homeland once more..."

Luo Wei felt as though he had traveled back to the ancient era of the Magic Empire. He witnessed the mages' golden age—countless towering obelisks piercing the sky, and grand, miraculous structures that defied imagination...

Yet this magnificent era was crumbling.

In an instant, he saw the sky consumed by darkness, countless mages twisted in agony...

At the pinnacle of the grandest obelisk, robed mages gazed upon the silent, feminine figure standing before them.

"There is one last chance."

"Initiate the plan."

The assembly erupted into chaos.

"But, President! The sacrifice is too great—how is it any different from the apocalypse itself?"

The silent figure slowly turned her gaze toward the withering land.

"As long as our bloodline endures, as long as our truth remains untainted, any price is worth paying."

"But—"

"No 'buts.' Those unwilling may leave voluntarily."

The room fell silent as everyone watched the mage leader turn to face them.

"We emerged from the chaos of the beginning, pursuing the truth that illuminates all."

"We grasped the essence of the world. We were the favored of the gods."

"Yet now, the supreme order is nothing but void. Our faith lies shattered. Our era will become but a speck of dust in the annals of history, a pitiful ruin..."

"But it shouldn’t be this way. The world must not descend back into chaos and disorder."

"Remember—we are the Children of Truth. We were born extraordinary!"

"All of you, go forth and guard our faith."

And so, the Godforging Project began.

Luo Wei saw the mages sacrifice countless lives—a mountain of corpses paving the path to godhood.

That mage had been right—what difference was there between this and the apocalypse?

Yet Eltuga, the Guardian of Truth, never faltered.

With the divine spark, she attained power equal to the Old Ones.

But stabilizing divinity required anchors—faith.

Led by her, a group of mages unearthed a long-lost primordial faith: Bader, the God of Light.

Thus, the Holy Light Church was born.

The first cathedral was erected in Weston, the continent's heart—a sacred mountain whose name endures to this day.

And Eltuga succeeded.

'His radiance was glorious and mighty. He sealed away all evils plaguing the world. The people rejoiced—the Age of Light had dawned at last.'

The second God of Light, Eltuga, sealed nearly all the Old Ones. The "truth" and "order" she sought finally saw a glimmer of revival through the Church—akin to a backdoor rebirth.

But she never lived to see it.

Eltuga fell at the final hurdle—the Bountiful Mother, the last Old One she sealed.

Even with divinity, she could not escape corruption. Buried alongside the Mother, in her final moments of clarity, she destroyed her tainted self and carved out the purest fragments of her being.

She scattered them across the world, awaiting rebirth.

Ages passed. Lands shifted.

The fragment that landed in the southern continent took root, blossoming into a kind and beautiful girl.

Guided by the light, she journeyed north, joined the Church, and heard the call of divinity...

A new cycle had begun.

The glow faded. The fragment vanished. Luo Wei and Eleya slowly returned to themselves.

After absorbing these overwhelming memories, Luo Wei stood shaken.

It was as though he had lived through those times alongside Eltuga, witnessing the dark and brutal tapestry of history.

"So... this is the truth..."

Luo Wei turned to Eleya, finding her trembling.

The sheer madness of the revelation seemed too much to bear.

Eleya opened her mouth but could not speak.

After a long silence, she whispered,

"Then... does that mean I'm..."

Luo Wei watched her silently. Even he hadn’t expected it—Eleya was a fragment of Eltuga, the "God of Light."

No wonder she could manifest as a "Throne Angel." No wonder she heard "divine whispers."

She was truly a child of godhood.

And now, after merging with this fragment, she would soon ascend as the true God of Light.

Yet there was no joy in Eleya’s expression.

"Luo Wei..."

Her voice was hollow, her eyes lost in turmoil.

"From the moment I first saw the light... from the day I received the divine whispers... I knew I was destined to become a god."

"My faith in the light never wavered. I believed that bringing the Holy Light into the world would restore beauty and order..."

"But..."

She let out a broken laugh.

"I never imagined... the light I sought was like this."

"The god I worshipped, the embodiment of goodness... was this."

"Just a dark sorceress... one who orchestrated a blood ritual of millions..."

"Perhaps no dark sorcerer in history has committed atrocities as horrifying as hers..."

"Such darkness... such cruelty and depravity..."

A tear slid down her cheek. Her body swayed as if her very life had reached its end.

Luo Wei steadied her gently.

She lowered her head, unable to face him.

"This isn’t the light I wanted. I don’t want to become someone like Eltuga..."

"Countless believers adore me, thinking I’ll bring them happiness and beauty. But I know... I don’t deserve their love."

"I chased the light for power... to find you."

"I’ve sacrificed others for my goals. I’ve done terrible things. I’m selfish. I’m cruel..."

"But deep down, I always believed the light would redeem me—because surely, it couldn’t be like this. That’s why I longed to find the true light..."

Her body shook violently as she let out a tormented cry:

"Liar! Why did you show me these memories?!"

"There was never any light! Just a bunch of dark sorcerers playing gods!"

"When Charlton II said those things, I refused to believe it, haha... Now I understand—the essence of this power is nothing but primitive natural witchcraft..."

"The God of Light is a lie too! What Eltuga did is no different from me—no, even crueler by countless degrees!"

"She's just a delusional fanatic obsessed with truth, yet she dares to aspire to godhood! She doesn’t deserve to be light—she’s a false god!"

Eleya gazed at Luo Wei in anguish.

"I don’t want to become her!"

"I refuse to become her!!"

As Eleya’s emotions spiraled further into collapse, Luo Wei gripped her delicate shoulders, his eyes locked onto her pale golden irises.

"If you regret it, it’s not too late. Eleya, you still have a choice!"

"Really...?" Her golden eyes wavered with doubt. "Do I truly have a choice...?"

"Of course." Luo Wei nodded firmly.

[Eleya]

[Affection Level: 100]

[Corruption Level: 82↑]

No... The corruption is too high. Containment is impossible...

Yet he dared not let even a flicker of hesitation show on his face.

A glimmer of relief finally broke through Eleya’s torment. "Thank goodness... I still have a choice..."

"I still have a choice... I can’t become her. I can’t bear that sin..."

"Child, don’t you think it’s a bit late for such words now...?"

Suddenly, Eleya—who had been trembling with emotion moments ago—let out a quiet, melancholic sigh.

Luo Wei froze. That voice, that tone—it unmistakably didn’t belong to Eleya.

[Eltuga]

[Affection Level: 0]

[Corruption Level: 0]

Having fused memories and power, Eleya’s divine aspect had at last completed its metamorphosis...

Becoming the true second-generation God of Light—Eltuga.