Chapter 414: Worry O’Clock (2nd Bonus)
Alter-Bella appeared thoughtful. "Actually...now that I think about it, I do find it strange that you possess the power of the Spirit King."
She knew this because Isabella had interacted with Percival who possessed the sigil of the Spirit King. This was a few months ago, when Bella, Hayley and Percival had gone in search of Ethan at the cloaked Island.
Isabella herself didn’t particular know of her husband possessing this authority, but her other-self did.
Her eyes suddenly widened as though a thought had just occurred to her. "Wait...could it be that you—or him—entered reincarnation as well?"
Ethan looked at her for a moment before shaking his head. "I’m pretty sure that’s not the case."
"I mean, come on, husband. Mine was tampered with." She gestured towards herself. "And before Isabella awakened the Endless Dark, she had absolutely no idea who I was."
Ethan scoffed, and said in an amused tone, "trust me, nothing of such happened with me."
Dark Bella studied him for a moment. "Alright, then... Are you perhaps his Blessed?"
"I...I don’t know." Ethan looked puzzled. "I mean, if I were, shouldn’t I be able to communicate with him?"
"Yes. That would normally be the case." Alter-Bella said, before asking "So you don’t communicate with the Spirit King?"
Ethan shook his head, "Nope."
Dark Bella went quiet for a moment, considering his answer. Eventually, she decided to let the matter go.
Her own reincarnation had already proven that circumstances surrounding the return of an Elder God could become more complicated than expected. If something unusual had happened to Ethan as well, then she couldn’t completely rule it out.
Besides, the detail wasn’t particularly important to what they were discussing.
She then returned her attention to his earlier question. "So, regarding your question...The Warden of the Departed has always remained neutral when it comes to the affairs of other deities. He was the only Elder God who never became a member of the Celestial Court, and only focused on his own duties within his divine realm."
"His divine realm?" Ethan asked.
"Yes. His divine realm." Dark Bella gestured around the throne room. "This place is mine, and is where my power is at its strongest."
She glanced around the room. "Of course, my current state is reflected in the strength of my domain as well. The Endless Dark isn’t nearly as powerful as it should be."
"The Spirit King has only ever had one known duty. He grants souls of his choosing safe passage into his divine realm, a separate civilization where those who enter are said to live free from loneliness within the Well of the Undying."
Ethan’s expression became thoughtful as he wondered if this divine realm could be the Mythical Summoning Space he needed all four key fragments to enter.
Dark Bella stared him for a moment. And with a smile on her face, she said. "I don’t know exactly what you are, husband, but it would certainly be an interesting twist if you really did turn out to be the Spirit King... I would be having one of the most powerful gods is an ally."
Ethan shook is head in amusement, then became thoughtful for a while.
Then he began. "Okay...so we know you’re a hated god, and practically every other deity wants you dead."
He paused.
"And just to be clear, that’s most likely why Norman was so determined to kill you that day."
"Affirmative." She said
Ethan sighed. "Well...if he was trying to kill you, then his patrons must have told him who you were. Which means the other gods have already found out."
He then looked towards her. "How much danger are we in now that they’ve found out?"
Dark Bella’s expression became slightly more serious. "First of all, none of Norman’s patrons were Elder Gods. So, for them, finding me would be an opportunity to score points with those above them. That means the news of my return is unlikely to reach an Elder God immediately."
’And since, gods are barred from entering human civilization, I don’t expect any of them to act directly. However...there is a problem."
"Isabella has already been revealed, and because of that, people like that Hero are likely to come after her more frequently."
Ethan heaved a sigh and shook his head. "And it’s even worse because everyone probably knows where we live."
"Uh-huh." Dark Bella nodded.
"Well, you don’t have to worry." She leaned back. "The next time someone comes here, things will go differently from the last time."
A smile appeared on her face. "Asides your friend, there’s one more in service of me."
Ethan looked at her. "One of your Blessed?"
"Yes. In fact, he’s the only one who has survived alongside me all these years."
She paused briefly.
"His name is Abaddon."
—
Later that night...
Ethan was lying on the bed with Isabella fast asleep against his chest. She had crossed her arm over his body, and they were both covered by the sheets as Ethan gently stroked her back.
His thoughts kept returning to the conversation with the Mistress a few hours ago.
Towards the end of their discussion, Ethan had managed to ask about the Chalice of Verdona and Norman’s body. He wanted to know why Alter Bella had taken both of them and, more importantly, what she intended to do with them.
And to that, she answered that they were necessary ingredients for restoring the fullness of her power
There were still several details she had left unexplained regarding how exactly the process worked, deliberately withholding it from him. Although, she did mention that there was final item she was still waiting for.
However, what really weighed on Ethan’s mind was the fact that his wife had become a target for higher-level beings. And on the other hand, his mother was still being held by fucking dragons. And all of these problems left Ethan constantly wondering how strong he would eventually have to become to deal with all of it.
And how long it would take him to reach that level.
These thoughts eventually led him to check his current Experience Points balance to which the system displayed.
[Experience Points Balance: 555,000 xps]
The amount represented the accumulation of Experience Points he had gained since the last time he had properly checked his balance, including everything earned from the battle and enemy he had defeated.
Ethan then mentally instructed the System to level him up.
[400,000 XP has been deducted to raise your Summoner Level from 25 to 26]
[Experience Points Balance: 155,000 XP]
[Congratulations on reaching Summoner Level 26]
[For reaching this new Summoner Level, you have gained a new summon]
’Let me see its profile.’ Ethan said within his thoughts.
The System immediately brought forth the profile.
[Name: The Usurping Hunger]
[Title: The Box of Ten Thousand Things]
[Classification: Object-Type/Cursed]
[Summon Class: Beast]
[Potential Rating: Max]
[Skills: Right of Claim]
[Notable Limits:
-Right of Claim requires the target to be within a 5m radius.
-The target’s full and real name must be called.]
[Summon Background: Long ago, an ancient Imp served the High Priest of a powerful god. Over the years, the Imp became increasingly deceitful, stealing various treasures and sacred objects belonging to both the High Priest and the temple. Eventually, the High Priest discovered the Imp’s crimes. Enraged by the betrayal, he invoked the power of his god and placed a curse upon the creature.
The Imp’s body was transformed into a box, condemned to remain in that form for eternity. The curse carried one purpose: to steal. From that day onward, the creature became known as the Usurping Hunger, forever driven by an insatiable compulsion to claim the possessions of others.]