Chapter 432: Divine Lightning

Caelus returned to Genesis Kingdom and called everyone out of training. Once his parents arrived with Mia and Seraphin Lin, he waited for Freya and the others before taking out the recording device.

Sylvia noticed his expression and came to stand beside him.

"What happened out there? Did you find the Heavenly Faction?"

"We found more than that. The Heavenly Lord has kidnapped the Ender of Fate."

Caelus explained what he and John had discovered before playing the recording for them. Nobody interrupted as the planet burned and Bane was beaten unconscious.

When the Heavenly Lord mentioned Death and Life, Freya turned toward Sylvia. Caelus stopped the recording before the message could play again.

"Starting now, we need to be careful. That bastard intends to come for both of you, and things won’t end smoothly if he catches us unprepared."

"He wants us to fight each other?" Freya asked. "I don’t want to fight. Big Brother."

"I know. Bane refused too, and you saw what happened to him. I don’t know why the Heavenly Lord needs this war, but he’s willing to force it."

Sylvia’s expression turned cold as she looked at the device.

"Then he can come and try. I’m not letting him drag either of us away."

"And I’ll make sure he doesn’t," Caelus said. "But we need more strength before we face him."

Everyone nodded as he put the recording away. Even Gorn had stopped making remarks after seeing how easily the Heavenly Lord’s clone had defeated an Ender.

"For now, reaching Lesser God Rank comes first. Sylvia and I will take the lead so we can learn what the rest of you should expect."

"Then tell us how we can help," Gorn replied. "There must be something we can prepare before you start."

"John and I will handle the trial arrangements. Keep working on your own strength because I want all of you ready when your turn comes."

His mother watched him for a moment before speaking.

"My son is all grown up now." She came and patted his head. Well, he had to bent forward slightly to let her do it.

"Make sure you both come back safely." When she said both of you. She was naturally mentioning Sylvia.

Caelus smiled at her before turning to Sylvia.

"We will."

Immediately after the meeting, he began making arrangements with John. He also sent Ayame and Candy a warning about the Heavenly Faction and told them to stay in contact.

News of the ascension soon spread through the Star King Administration. By the time Caelus and Sylvia left the planet, a broadcast had been prepared for everyone below.

Ships carried their companions and several local leaders to a safe viewing distance. Glaciana stood among them with other Overlords who had yet to reach Origin Lord Rank themselves.

Caelus checked the area once more before stopping beside Sylvia. There were no nearby worlds or settlements, and John could move the ships farther away if the trial became dangerous.

"I’ll go first," Sylvia said. "Once I’m through, you can start yours."

"Don’t hold back just because everyone is watching."

She smiled at him as the ascension panel appeared.

[Total Faith Power Required: 330,000,000.]

She swiftly paid all the Faith Power to the Origin Network.

[Payment Complete.]

After the payment went through, Sylvia accepted the prompt before her. Golden light immediately gathered overhead and spread through the empty space.

[Lesser God Ascension Trial Initiated.]

[Survive the Divine Lightning.]

A huge storm covered the stars as lightning moved within it. Caelus could feel its pressure from outside the trial, but Sylvia remained beneath it with her Blood Sword Construct ready.

The first bolt fell as she raised her weapon.

BOOM!

Sylvia cut upward and split the lightning before it struck her head. The broken strands spread across her arms and sank beneath her skin, leaving bright burns along their path.

Her health dropped, but she had already prepared for it.

[Talent Activated: Death Ascension.]

The burns began healing as her mana begin converting to HP as several more bolts gathered above her. Immediately after that, she raised her free hand and formed a shield of blood over her back.

[Skill Activated: Sanguine Genesis.]

Sylvia flew toward the nearest bolt and broke through it with her sword. The shield caught the attacks behind her while she turned to face the next wave.

CRACK!

The blood shield burst as another strike forced its way through. Lightning wrapped around her sword and reached her chest, driving her backward before she cut herself free.

Caelus watched closely as blood ran from her mouth. Her talent was already healing the damage, and she returned to her position before the storm could strike again.

Then the light above her began drawing together.

The remaining lightning formed a thick pillar that fell straight toward her. Sylvia gripped her sword with both hands and swung as it reached her.

BOOOOOOM!

Golden light swallowed her entire body, hiding her from the watching ships. Caelus kept his senses fixed on her until a red slash cut through the center of the pillar.

The slash spread upward and tore into the storm.

Immediately after that, the lightning broke apart and revealed Sylvia beneath it. Her clothes were torn and blood covered her hands, but she turned toward Caelus with a tired smile.

[Divine Lightning Trial Complete.]

[Divine Body Fusion Beginning.]

Threads of light wrapped around her before he could speak. They swiftly formed a bright cocoon that hid her from view as the final stage of her ascension began.

Caelus waited until the cocoon settled before accepting his own trial.

[Lesser God Ascension Trial Initiated.]

Another storm formed above him as he moved into position. He raised his hand toward the first bolt, intending to test how much force his body could withstand.

BOOM!

The lightning struck his palm and spread through his arm. Right then, a voice spoke from somewhere he could not sense.

"A Primordial shouldn’t do such a thing."

Caelus froze as the stars twisted around him. He tried to withdraw his hand, but the storm stretched into a blur before the world disappeared.

When his sight cleared, he was standing in the paradise again.

The six children were nearby, just as he remembered them. He tried to call out as he walked toward them, but no sound left his mouth.

Then he noticed something moving above their heads.

A vast structure rotated in the sky as its sections passed through one another. Caelus followed their movement, unable to understand how any of it held together.

He had not seen this during the earlier vision.

A warm glow spread across the ground and reached the children’s feet. At first he thought it was sunlight, but then flames rose from the trees beyond them.

The paradise was burning.

Fire raced through the place while the structure continued turning overhead. Caelus reached toward the children wanting to rescue them, only for the entire vision to break before he could touch them.

Pain tore through his chest as he returned to the trial.

Another bolt struck him before he could defend himself. Golden light burned through open wounds as his skin split beneath the force.

Caelus looked down at his body and finally understood what had happened.