Chapter 215: The True Gods and Primordials

"It is not a ghost poison, nor is it any kind of spiritual poison, for that matter," Monica said before pausing briefly and explaining, "When I was first afflicted with it, the elders from the Mage Tower took me to a bishop of the Sun Church, and she examined me."

’How is that possible?’ Elias wondered inwardly, his expression turning deeply confused.

The System had identified the affliction as Shadow Ghost Poison, yet the bishop had denied that it was any kind of poison associated with ghosts or spirits.

’Was it a lie so they could remove Monica, the only flower among the three who was still standing tall?’

He couldn’t say for certain, but the possibility didn’t seem unlikely, especially considering how little he knew about the circumstances surrounding Monica’s affliction.

Noticing the thoughtful expression on his face, Monica clicked her tongue and muttered, "So, no, it is not a ghost."

Her words pulled Elias out of his thoughts, and he stepped closer with his brows furrowed before placing his hands on her shoulders and asking, "What did you just say?"

Monica blinked at him in confusion before repeating, "It is not a ghost...?"

Hearing those words in her familiar yet slightly distinctive voice gave Elias a sudden sense of déjà vu, and as the fog in his memory shifted, he recalled the only dream he had ever experienced, if it could even be called a dream.

The Dreamwalker’s words echoed through his mind, and he unconsciously repeated them aloud.

"He is not a ghost."

Elias’s expression changed as another fragment of that strange conversation resurfaced, and he continued mumbling, "He has existed since the Era of Creation, and He has waited for His revival. He is Shadow..."

His sudden change in behavior caused Monica’s expression to turn worried, but as she considered the words he had just spoken, her concern gradually gave way to deep confusion.

"Are you talking about the Primordials?" she asked.

Elias emerged from his reverie and raised his brows in surprise. "Primordials? What are those?"

Monica exhaled softly before explaining, "You must know about the Old Gods, right?"

He nodded. "The gods who ruled the realms before the Era of Myths and Wonders."

"Correct, but they were not all the same," she replied.

A curious expression appeared on Elias’s face as he asked, "What do you mean?"

He had never heard of any distinction between the Old Gods beyond the domains they governed, so Monica’s words immediately caught his attention.

"A few of the Old Gods were born with Creation itself," she explained. "They were all-powerful and all-knowing from the moment they came into existence. The Mistress of Death was one of these True Gods, while the others were Primordials. They were born alongside the gods, but unlike the True Gods, they were not all-powerful or all-knowing. Instead, they gained power over time and eventually became gods themselves."

Elias fell silent for a long while as he tried to comprehend what she had told him, and after swallowing nervously, he finally mumbled, "Becoming a god... Is that even possible?"

"We do not know," Monica replied, shaking her head slightly. "But if what you said is correct, then the being inside me is a god."

Elias’s eyes widened, and before he could respond, an orange screen appeared before his eyes.

[Ding!]

[The host has realized the true nature of Shadow Ghost Poison!]

[Skill: Shadow Ghost Poison Resistance (A) has been changed!]

[Shadow Possession Resistance]

[Grade: S]

[The wielder can resist the forceful possession of the Shadow, once a Primordial now reduced to mere fragments that search for the perfect vessel.]

Elias froze as he read the notification, and his eyes trembled while the implications slowly settled in.

"Elias? Are you okay?" Monica called out worriedly, but he was far too shocked to hear her.

The thing everyone had considered a poison was not a poison at all, but rather one of many fragments belonging to a being that might have existed for millions, billions, or perhaps an incomprehensible number of years.

’How am I supposed to cure something that might be incurable?’

’Is the only way to save Monica to kill the god inside her? And how could I even do that?’

The questions crowded his mind, leaving him with no clear answers, but he forced himself to take a deep breath before looking at Monica and offering her a faint smile.

"I am fine," he assured her.

He then leaned closer and planted a kiss on her cheek before murmuring, "You do not have to force yourself to become a Lord. I will protect you and everyone else. That is my responsibility."

Monica frowned slightly and asked, "What about me? What is my responsibility?"

Elias chuckled as he held her face in his hands, gently rubbing her cheek with his thumb before answering, "Your responsibility is to be loved and cared for, and perhaps to teach someone like me magic so I can do better."

A smile spread across Monica’s face, and she nodded. "I will, but I will not let you give it more importance than me. Hmph!"

Elias shook his head in amusement before lowering his face toward her ear and whispering, "I never did. My wives are far more important to me than anything else."

"Good husband," Monica mumbled before turning her head to kiss his cheek and then smiling widely at his reaction.

He gazed at her with affection, but their quiet moment was interrupted when Benjamin knocked on the door and announced, "My Lord, the merchant is calling for you, and it seems to be serious."

Elias sighed and muttered, "I have to go."

Monica nodded reluctantly before glaring toward the door.

’It is the same motherfucker from back then!’

However, instead of leaving immediately, Elias suddenly cupped her head in his hands and pulled her into a deep kiss.

His tongue pushed through her lips, and he wrapped them around hers, exploring her mouth before pulling back and mumbling, "I will return soon."

Monica didn’t answer because she was breathless and far too stunned by the sudden attack. All she could do was nod mindlessly.

He chuckled in amusement and turned around before leaving the room, his eyes sharpening.

Upon reaching Olide’s room, Elias found the merchant sitting in a chair with Greta standing behind him, and both wore deeply worried expressions that immediately caught his attention.

"Why are you two wearing such looks on your faces?" Elias asked as he approached the table and settled into the chair opposite Olide, positioning himself directly in front of the merchant.

"You are here..." Olide mumbled before leaning forward slightly and continuing, "You must have noticed that this place now has only two guards instead of four when you first came here."

"I did," Elias replied with a nod.

"It is because I sent the other two to work as mediators between my spies and me," Olide explained, rubbing his forehead as he struggled to organize his thoughts. "I did not want to remain at the forefront of all of it any longer."

Elias furrowed his brows as he studied the merchant’s expression. "Did you learn something worrisome?"

Olide nodded slowly, his expression growing grim. "Yes... It is the worst-case scenario for all of us."

Elias’s eyes shone with curiosity as he leaned back in his chair and asked, "What did you learn?"

"Just an hour ago, Berlic personally went to inspect your manor, Lord Elias, and..." Olide paused, glancing toward Greta before returning his gaze to Elias.

"And?" Elias pressed, his brows drawing closer together.

"He showcased his abilities a little," Olide mumbled, his voice turning serious. "Based on what he demonstrated and what my spies have reported, Berlic Draveon has undoubtedly taken the second step and become a Lord."

Elias fell silent, and his expression darkened as he considered the implications of Olide’s revelation.

"Berlic is a Lord..." he muttered before furrowing his brows and asking, "Then why is he not leading a raid into the rift?"

Olide shook his head helplessly. "I do not know. I tried to find out, but my spies are limited, and very little is known about him because he spent most of his years at the western ports."

Elias tapped his fingers against the table as he considered their situation before asking, "How long can we hide here?"

"Not for too long," Olide replied grimly. "He intends to conduct a city-wide search to find you."

Elias leaned forward and interlocked his fingers on the table, his gaze fixed on the merchant as he asked, "How long would it take him to find us?"

Olide considered the question for a moment before answering, "About three days."

"Three days, huh..." Elias muttered as he rose from his chair and turned toward the door.

Olide stared at him in confusion, unable to understand why he seemed so calm despite the danger they faced. "What do you intend to do?"

"What else? I have to become a Lord," Elias replied as he continued walking toward the door.

Olide frowned and glanced at Greta, who met his gaze with an equally bewildered expression.

"Did I hear that correctly?" he asked.

Greta nodded silently, confirming that she had heard the same thing.

Olide then turned toward the door through which Elias had just left, his brows furrowing as he muttered, "Did he not become an Exalted just a few weeks ago...?"