Chapter 1656: Evolution of the Divine Kingdom
The horizon of the Divine Kingdom stretched endlessly.
Ever since Orion extended the roots of the Divine Kingdom into the three realms of the Cult of Four, the dormant seed of the realm had finally erupted into life, recovering bit by bit.
The withered landscape trembled in the morning light. Ley lines awakened, glaciers fractured, and seeds burst through the soil. Even the Divine Idols outside the Stoneheart Temple radiated blinding light, illuminating the entire Divine Kingdom.
Yet, the true catalyst for this metamorphosis was the assimilation of a divine heart fragment.
While devouring the World Essence of other realms sparked its revival, the divine heart fragment elevated the realm to an entirely new echelon. The most obvious proof of this evolution was the surging power of Lumi and Gustalon.
Outside the Stoneheart Temple, the two studied each other, sensing an unfathomable might emanating from within.
"Is this the power of a demigod?" Gustalon stared at his hands in disbelief, feeling like a stranger in his own body.
Moments ago, the Divine Kingdom had granted him new Authority, fundamentally altering his existence. With a flick of his wrist, a colossal hurricane—one that previously required his physical immersion to conjure—manifested effortlessly, howling across the sky.
"Your senses don’t lie. We really have become demigods," Lumi replied. She was calmer than Gustalon; as Orion’s woman, she naturally knew more of the realm’s secrets. "Prepare yourself. Once we stabilize the weather patterns of the Divine Kingdom, Orion needs us to descend to the Titanion Realm to serve the Horde."
She looked up at Gustalon’s hurricane, gaining a newfound respect for demigod power. "Aren’t you curious about how our homeland has changed since ascending to an Ascendant Plane? Have new mountain ranges risen? Have rare flowers bloomed? Or perhaps unknown races have been born?"
It was a rare sight; the usually aloof Lumi was eager to leave the Divine Kingdom and explore the changed world.
Gustalon chuckled. "With such massive changes to the Divine Kingdom, our Lord has clearly grown much stronger! Greater power means greater freedom. Lumi, I can’t wait to get out there!"
He spun around, transforming into a gust of wind that swept toward the horizon. He needed to organize the weather Authority quickly so he could leave the realm. He missed the comrades he had fought alongside.
The Divine Kingdom changed so drastically, and the two of us were directly elevated to demigods. Orion, what exactly did you do?
Ultimately, Lumi was different from Gustalon. She cared far more about Orion’s safety. Fortunately, the realm’s evolution proved that Orion was currently safe and rapidly growing stronger.
She gazed at the sky, realizing that the phantom which had projected outward earlier must have been Orion’s Divine Vessel.
I wonder how he’s doing.
The realm and the Divine Vessel nurtured each other. Lumi stood transfixed, staring at the heavens.
The Bastion of the West, frontier camp.
With the Stoneheart Horde and their allies pouring resources and manpower into the region, a network of defensive fortresses was rapidly erected along the interior of The Bastion Wall.
Inside the central fortress, Dirtclaw, Kaelen, Dregbone, and a few others sat on the ground around a roaring campfire, drinking ale and roasting meat in high spirits.
"Your Highness, I’m telling you, the First Prince is an absolute monster!" Dirtclaw exclaimed. "He fought a whole pack of Arch Lords by himself! Slaughtered some, sealed the rest. Unless a demigod steps up, he’s invincible! His magic is terrifying. He throws around forbidden spells like they cost nothing. And his blade work? He cuts them down like weeds. Every strike is lethal."
Dirtclaw wasn’t exaggerating. Caelus was just that powerful. The only other person Dirtclaw had seen display such overwhelming dominance was their Chieftain, Orion.
In some ways, Caelus shone even brighter than his father. Orion had fought for his strength step by step; his ascent was grounded and visible. But Caelus? His power was innate. He was born a lord, a rare existence harboring an inner world from birth. Then, completely under the radar, he rapidly advanced to Arch Lord. His combat prowess was unmatched. Dirtclaw honestly believed the Stoneheart Horde’s First Prince could hold his own against a demigod.
"Uncle, you’re not just blowing smoke, are you?" asked Dregbone, a descendant of Thundar, who sat beside Kaelen. "Throwing forbidden spells around casually? That sounds even crazier than Her Highness Elara."
As an old friend of Thundar, Dirtclaw treated Dregbone like a nephew. His response was stern.
"Listen here, whelp. Just because you haven’t seen it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. The world of true geniuses is beyond our imagination." Dirtclaw grabbed a slab of roasted meat from the spit, tore it into three, and handed pieces to Kaelen and Dregbone. "I’m dead serious. The First Prince of our Stoneheart Horde is a dragon soaring through the heavens... No, comparing him to a dragon is an insult. His talent eclipses them entirely. Dragons rule the skies, eagles fight the winds, but our prince? He tramples the heavens and tears through space. He is a seed destined to look upon the demigod realm. He is the pride of the Stoneheart Horde!"
Dirtclaw spoke with near-religious fervor. He had become a fanatic of Caelus.
"Your Highness," Dirtclaw said, turning back to Kaelen. "I’m not picking sides, nor am I looking down on you or belittling you. I just want you to understand that compared to the title of Tian King, compared to the throne within the Horde, absolute power is the only true foundation."
It was a truth Dirtclaw had learned in blood after Orion conquered him, forged through countless life-and-death struggles in the slave legion. Only the strong survive war. And survival means wealth and power.
"I understand, Uncle Dog. I’ve heard tales of my brother’s strength," Kaelen replied with a smile, his eyes reflecting genuine gratitude. He was smart enough to recognize good advice. "The fact that he rarely appears in the Horde shows he has no interest in its power or wealth. Something far more compelling drives him forward."
Kaelen took a bite of his meat. "I know power is the foundation. It’s just a shame I missed him this time."
In truth, Caelus was an enigma not just to the Horde, but to his own brothers. They had rarely seen him. To outsiders, Caelus was a legend. To Kaelen, his brother was a myth on par with Orion.
"Good. As long as you understand." Dirtclaw reached out and patted Kaelen’s shoulder. He dreaded the thought of princes like Kaelen, Kronos, and Pallas foolishly challenging Caelus for a scrap of political power. Just picturing that slaughter made him shudder. "You’ve also perfectly inherited the Chieftain’s bloodline. I believe in you. I Hope you win glory here and grow into a powerhouse just like the First Pr—"
Before Dirtclaw could finish his sentence, a manifestation of Authority materialized from the void and descended upon him.
Dirtclaw convulsed, his eyes glazing over as he froze in place.
