The Guardian gods

33  Death

"I also noticed a unique transformation in my skin. Though there are no outward changes, when I touch it, it feels strangely like tree bark. It's as if my body is becoming a wood," he continued, marveling at the sensation.

"But the most incredible change is this," he said, reaching out to touch the grass around him. "I feel like I can understand these plants now. It's not crystal clear yet, but there's an undeniable connection. I sense their needs, almost as if they're speaking to me in their own silent language."

As he spoke, Ikem's face lit up with wonder and amazement. The bond between him and nature seemed to have deepened, allowing him to perceive and communicate with the living world around him in a way he never experienced before.

It took a moment to process what he was saying, but I wasn't that much surprised because I was already expecting the situation to be like this after seeing the changes that took hold in his body.

" These changes can be said to be a breakthrough in strength. Now, I want you to listen closely to my thoughts on why these changes occurred."

" Let me start by saying that we have discovered an unexpected power system. The first stage of this unknown power system is what I would like to call 'Mana Body Adaptation.'"

" In this stage, I believe that the body learns to adapt to this foreign energy called 'Mana.' The more the body adapts to it, the easier it is to take in mana and manipulate it. Something else about this stage is what I call 'Imprint Feeding.'"

" Every creature, I believe, born in this world called Nana has an elemental imprint. In your case, the imprint is the wooden element. In the mana adaptation stage, the body is taking in more mana as you get used to it, and this mana is feeding that imprint."

" The more the imprint is being fed, the more that element is being exposed to you and your body. So, while your body is adapting to mana, the elemental imprint is leading this adaptation."

" This elemental adaptation is what leads us to the next stage, which is the one that you are now in. In this stage, your body is already adapted to your imprint with the help of mana. Now, the element now deems your body a worthy place for them to gather."

" Which is why I call this stage 'The Mana Inhibition Stage,' because the mana now absorbed into your body at this stage changes it to a mana attribute bearing your imprint. I am guessing that is why you now have no problem infusing mana into your inborn abilities."

" Now, every mana attribute has its own qualities, and these are the changes you are now noticing in your body. For example, your rapid healing and the newfound ability to understand and communicate with plants, like the grasses you mentioned earlier."

" I don't know what the next stages will be, but that will be up to you to find out from now on."

We sat in silence as I watched my son absorb the information that I just gave him, leaving him to his own thoughts. I thought back on Maul. I wonder if his power system was similar to what was happening with Ikem but would be different according to each person's elemental imprint.

Six months have gone by since we started our training, and that means I now have a year and a half left with my son before he leaves for his own journey.

" It seems that I now have another goal to focus on in the future," my thoughts were interrupted as my son, who seemed to have understood everything, called out.

" Yes, and it's crucial to emphasize the importance of this power system. It can be very beneficial for your offspring and the goals you have for the future," I replied, knowing that he already had a clear vision of his future path beyond my realm.

" Now, we both need to go to bed as we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow," I said, realizing the time as the sun lotus in my realm slowly closed, enveloping the realm in darkness with a soft light emanating from the lotus.

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Crepuscular sat on his realm, observing his creation as they built their society and created new power systems. At first, he was intrigued by the power system, but as he realized it offered no benefit to him, he lost enthusiasm.

Even though the power system wasn't useful to Crepuscular, it proved beneficial to his daughter, Ursula, and her offspring. They could now wield the power inherited from him and utilize the surrounding mana more effectively.

"I am bored," Crepuscular uttered to himself. Despite growing more powerful every day and witnessing the success of his creation, he couldn't shake his discontent.

The presence of humans inhabiting his continent hindered his complete dominion over the place. He considered letting his creation interact with the humans, but he hesitated, wary of defying Nana's instructions.

If he allowed his creation to interact with the humans and was questioned by Nana, he could falsely claim that he hadn't ordered it and that they acted on their own. But he knew this was a lie, as his creations couldn't make any move without his command.

He recalled his conversation with Ikenga a few months ago, where he learned of Mahu's plan to go into slumber. Crepuscular wasn't surprised, as he had done the same when he first created his daughter. He couldn't bear the slow pace at which his daughter's offspring grew, so he decided to take a nap. When he woke up, the place was thriving.

Now, Crepuscular contemplated returning to slumber, sensing that Nana wouldn't awaken anytime soon. His creations were on the right path and didn't require his constant guidance. It seemed fitting to sleep until Nana's next awakening

As Crepuscular pondered his decision, the sun seemed to dim slightly, reflecting the sun god's descent into a deep slumber.

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Down in the depths of the world lies the Death Realm, a place ruled by the goddess Keles. Among all her siblings, Keles had it relatively easy, as her realm seemed to expand infinitely with each soul that inhabited it.

Despite her domain's growth and her increasing power, Keles couldn't shake her discontent. She yearned for a way to interact with the outside world without violating Nana's rules. Her only option was to use her creations, her daughter Xerosis, and son Roth, as conduits for interaction. However, they too were bound to the Death Realm and couldn't venture outside under Nana's restrictions.

Keles's creations were incapable of reproducing offspring on their own, requiring a medium to expand their races. This realization came to light after she conducted an experiment with both her son and daughter. When they first ventured into the outside world, they struggled to control their powers, unlike Keles, who had perfect command over hers.

At first, Keles believed that the issue lay in their lack of control over their powers. She diligently trained them to rein in their innate abilities, hoping it would resolve the problem. Yet, even with improved control, the malevolent effect persisted. The mere presence of her daughter and son caused devastation in their surroundings—the soil darkened, and death spread like a contagious plague. Animals sensed danger and fled, and the once lush trees withered to dry husks. A sinister fog enveloped the area, turning it into a terrifying spectacle of horror.