Village Head's Debauchery

The woman said, "I, Rhylla, swear a binding oath before the Spirit Realm and all who are listening that I will not raise arms against you, Avarielle of Paradise, nor those around you, nor this territory. I will not interfere with your plans, nor will I betray your trust. My strength will be lent to driving back the Vylkr spawn as you instruct. Should I fail in this vow, may I suffer the consequences."

A rush of wind appeared around them, with the space rippling briefly before it swiftly vanished.

Just like Avarielle, they felt a distinct connection with the words they had just spoken.

Avarielle nodded, her expression filled with satisfaction.

She looked at the other Spirit Beasts and asked, "Is there anyone else?"

"I have heard about the legends of your humble and chivalrous character, Duke Zaelthar, as you go from region to region, helping tribes and secluded Spirit Beasts in danger. So if you choose to accept this vow, then I know no reason to hesitate any longer," said a Humanoid crocodile with water-like veins, snorting hot vapours of water through his nostrils.

"I have encountered a Vylkr spawn once, and I detest the atrocious way they carry themselves within our realm, so I don't mind eliminating one as long as I get the information that I have come here for."

"I will also take the binding oath…"

"I, Jaros, swear a binding oath before the Spirit Realm…"

As Jaros completed his vow, a similar phenomenon emerged.

"I also want to take the binding oath and hear the information myself. If any of you don't want to, you can stand aside. I will make sure to inform you of what I learn," said a tall, pale Arachina woman with eight gossamer limbs and a shawl of glistening threads. Her violet eyes gleamed beneath a loose black robe.

She smiled, sensing the attention drawn toward her.

"Hmph! Why should I wait for you when I can get the information myself? Anyone who thinks otherwise should step out of the way," said an 18-meter (56ft) Treant made of gnarled bark, grey fur, and mossy vines.

"Since we've all come to an agreement, I will be joining Duke Zaelthar, Duchess Rhylla, Duke Jaros, and the others in taking the binding oath," said a man with semi-translucent wings resembling frozen leaves. His skin gleamed like frost-covered quartz, and snow crystals drifted around him as he moved.

"I will also be taking the binding oath."

As more Duke-ranked Spirit Beasts stepped forward to take the binding oath, the once-hesitant weaker ones soon joined them.

Even a few who had been hiding, hoping to exploit the situation or observe from the shadows, emerged from concealment. They realized there was no longer any reason to hide their presence.

Meanwhile,

Avarielle and the others observed more Spirit Beasts than they had initially sensed gathered before them, taking the binding oath one after another.

Suddenly, Avarielle frowned.

She received information that the Vylkr spawn would soon break free.

It had been ten minutes since she dragged the Vylkr spawn into the Mirror Realm.

No matter how confident she was, Avarielle knew she couldn't kill or entirely suppress it without Margona's aid. She could only stall for time until her plan came into effect.

Her expression gradually softened.

The Vylkr spawn would either do as she commanded or regret ever stepping into this territory by triggering a battle involving the entire Middle Layer of the Spirit Realm.

Avarielle was certainly hoping he would choose the latter.

The other women also sensed the same danger.

However, their expressions soon relaxed as they realized there was no longer any need to worry.

Everything was going according to plan.

…...

Nyzzorrak clenched his hand around the short, golden-haired goddess. His expression twisted with rage as he glared at her.

"Did you really think you could defeat me with such petty tricks? Before I end your life, answer me truthfully! Are you also a clone? How can you wield Vylkr energy? What kind of goddesses are you all?" he demanded, his voice hoarse.

His crimson armour was tattered and slowly repairing itself, wisps of flame still flickering along its surface.

Below them stretched a boundless chasm, spanning billions of kilometres in radius, as if the earth itself had been obliterated by a catastrophic event. The crater glowed with residual energy from the devastating attacks unleashed upon it.

A void of endless darkness stretched above them, surrounding them. Only Avarielle and Nyzzorrak stood within its depths.

Despite the fact that only her upper body remained, Avarielle responded, "When did you realize?"

"When I devoured that goddess who tried to shrink me," Nyzzorrak growled. "I sensed she was a clone. A genuine goddess would've offered far greater nourishment."

"Does that mean you gain the abilities of the goddesses you devoured?" Avarielle asked, unbothered by her condition.

"No. Even if I wanted to assimilate their unique abilities, it's far too complex. I only gain a pitiful glimpse into the laws of the universe they've grasped. But even that is barely useful. My own arsenal contains laws far more powerful."

He narrowed his eyes.

"But you're different. Though your mastery over the laws of the universe is low, your understanding is the most profound I've ever encountered. You're a reincarnated goddess, aren't you?" he snarled.

Avarielle remained silent.

"Answer me!"

"It's fine if you don't want to," he said coldly. "Once I leave this place, I'll find your real body and beat the truth out of you. Then I'll devour you and your companions. No matter how far you run, you'll never escape me."

Crimson flames gathered at his fingertips, searing through Avarielle's neck.

As the fire consumed the rest of her upper body, Avarielle spoke calmly, "You won't have to search for us. We'll be waiting for you outside." She smiled as her body turned to ash and dissolved into countless flickers of light.

Nyzzorrak's armour opened like the jaws of a beast, swallowing the countless motes of light and consuming them completely.

Then, it returned to its original flawless state.

Nyzzorrak frowned at her parting words but quickly dismissed them. Instead, he focused on the essence he had absorbed from the clone.

It was filled with fragments of myriad Laws of the universe, valuable insights he could use, and an immense reservoir of Vylkr energy.

"Humph! It has enabled me to recover to my peak state," Nyzzorrak said.

He looked around, sensing that the Mirror Realm still held firm.

"Strange," he muttered with a frown, having never encountered anything like it.

"No matter. Just another petty trick."

Flames erupted from his body, burning several times brighter than a star.

Suddenly, the Mirror Realm began to crack.

....

Spatial fissures began forming in the sky.

Avarielle, the others, and the surrounding Spirit Beasts watched with intense focus.

A being with crimson skin, clad in armour, emerged from the spatial cracks.

Then, the spatial cracks vanished.

Nyzzorrak turned his attention to Avarielle and the women, his frown deepening. Then he scanned the gathered Spirit Beasts surrounding the floating island. Confusion furrowed his brow.

He had arrived with the intent to destroy the island before pursuing the divines who had attacked him, but they were here, facing him openly.

They had not run.

Not only that but every Spirit Beast he had sensed while approaching was now hovering in place before the floating island.

A sense of foreboding crept into his heart.

Spirit Law of Shadow: Shifting Darkness!

A Spirit Law of the darkness materialized, transforming into tendrils of shadow that coiled around Nyzzorrak.

"Vylkr spawn," Zaelthar said, "you have made a grave mistake by acting so brazenly within the Spirit Realm. You have threatened one of our kind and an ally. And for that, we are forced to act."

He bound the Vylkr spawn in place with his technique.

He and Rhylla surged forward, arriving before Nyzzorrak in an instant.

BOOM!!

Crimson flames exploded outward from Nyzzorrak, engulfing him and scorching the surrounding space. He ignited the shadow tendrils wrapped around him, attempting to burn them away.

The heat emanating from the flames was so intense that it was enough to turn the entire region into a purgatory of fire.

Spirit Law of Water: High Sea Submerge!

Jaros, the humanoid crocodile, swiftly summoned a massive seal around Nyzzorrak. A wave of clear water materialized from thin air, enveloping the bound Nyzzorrak.

The water absorbed and sealed the searing heat.

Instantly, it began to boil almost.

Steam hissed outward in all directions, but no matter how much evaporated, the water was endlessly replenished.

Jaros nodded toward Zaelthar and Rhylla. "I can't let you two do all the work," he said with a grin, his elongated jaw stretching into a smirk.

"WHAT'S GOING ON?! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHO YOU'RE DEALING WITH?!" Nyzzorrak roared telepathically across the area. His tone was filled with fury and wariness.

"You don't need to know what's transpiring," Zaelthar replied coldly. "And we don't need to know who you are. All you need to do is remain still while we transport you elsewhere."