On the throne, Orion held Elara in the palm of his hand, playfully teasing her while explaining her origins.
"So, she's our daughter, then?"
Lilith reached out and took Elara into her arms, her face brimming with maternal warmth. Perhaps because she herself was expecting, Lilith felt a strong affection for Elara, much like she had once felt for Lorelia.
"… Mama!"
"Mama!"
Elara's childish voice rang out, her eyes revealing a mixture of puzzlement and cleverness—a rather contradictory sight.
Yet the moment they heard Elara call them Mother, both Lilith and Soraya wore matching expressions of doting tenderness.
Who wouldn't like such an adorable foster daughter? Clearly, they both liked and accepted this child.
Orion couldn't quite say for sure what Elara's exact identity was.
She had awoken beside the World Tree; upon opening her eyes, the first person she saw was Orion. For a little girl who showed no hostility and whose first words were calling him "father," Orion pondered for a time before deciding to take her in.
Elara appeared to have lost her memories and couldn't recall anything. Since Orion had made the decision to adopt her, he gave her a name: Elara Stoneheart.
He then briefly spoke about some of his experiences in the Godforsaken Land before asking the two women about the other races in Valkorath Realm. Only then did their conversation wrap up.
–––
"Daddy, there's some light beaming over here!"
At the top floor of the Purification Tower, Orion sat upright as gentle rays of light shone down on him and passed through his body.
Elara was perched on Orion's shoulders, clutching his ears while her large, violet-red eyes curiously examined everything around her.
Orion did not respond to Elara. He kept his eyes closed, wearing a serene smile.
The purifying beams not only penetrated his body but also reached into his sea of consciousness.
Bit by bit, the purifying light swept through his mental space. Any hidden malevolence, like shadows under sunlight, had nowhere to hide.
After about half a day, Orion's mind returned to him, and he opened his eyes.
The corrupt traces lurking in his consciousness had been completely eradicated, and that unsettling sense of discord was gone for good.
"Daddy!"
On Orion's head, Elara had somehow slumped over and fallen asleep. She was snoring softly, occasionally muttering as she dreamed.
Orion gently lifted Elara into his arms, and at that moment, the girl opened her eyes.
But when she saw it was Orion, she closed them once again.
Child. Daughter.
It was a strange and wonderful feeling.
For the first time, Orion felt what it was like to be a parent.
"I'm really looking forward to your births as well…"
Deep inside, Orion sighed, filled with anticipation for the children Violet and Lilith were carrying.
–––
Titanion Realm, Stoneheart City.
In a lavish castle within the inner city, Dirtclaw reclined on a massive lounge chair, gazing proudly at a roomful of puppies—his offspring.
Among these young pups, Dirtclaw could faintly sense the Hellhound bloodline in a few of them.
At last, the gnoll bloodline had been upgraded. These little ones would become the hope and future of all gnolls.
"Honorable lord, Elder Drakthul has come to visit."
A gnoll hurried into the hall, causing Dirtclaw's eyes to light up.
"Go, bring out all the fine liquor I've been saving. Order the kitchen slaves to prepare a feast. I want to entertain Elder Drakthul!"
Dirtclaw got up from the pile of pups and headed toward the outer chamber.
During the battle against the fungal creatures in the Valkorath Realm, Dirtclaw and Drakthul had developed a close friendship.
In the past few days, several elders, including Dirtclaw, had been summoned back to Stoneheart City by Delilah.
However, Delilah had not disclosed the reason for the summons.
Now that Drakthul was here, he had presumably come to learn Delilah's intentions from Dirtclaw in advance.
"Drakthul, look what I have."
Dirtclaw lifted two kegs of liquor purchased from a dwarven caravan, handing one to Drakthul.
Drakthul, unreserved, took it and drank greedily.
After chugging away in one exhilarating go, Drakthul let out a loud belch, obviously pleased.
"This is good stuff! Dirtclaw, where'd you find such strong, potent liquor?"
"Hahaha, from those dwarves outside the city."
"Tastes great. I'd heard rumors about it, and I'll need to buy some as well."
"Drakthul, you won't have any luck. I bought the entire latest batch."
Dirtclaw also took a few huge gulps and smacked his lips in satisfaction, looking rather smug about his extravagant purchase.
A flicker of disappointment crossed Drakthul's face—it was a shame.
For elders like them, aside from striving toward Legendary level, enjoying fine food and drink was one of the last pleasures they had left.
"Hold on, Drakthul. Don't worry. I'll give you a few barrels before you head back."
At those words, the regret on Drakthul's face started to ease.
"By the way, is this summons another expedition?"
After an idle round of banter and feasting, Drakthul finally revealed the reason for his visit.
"Eh… I don't know!"
Dirtclaw shook his head, leaving Drakthul mildly surprised.
"Still, the fact we can hang around Stoneheart City enjoying ourselves for a few days suggests it's probably nothing serious."
Dirtclaw understood Delilah quite well. He was adept at reading her intentions and knew how to handle her orders.
This time, Delilah had called them back without clarifying a reason, only requiring that they remain in Stoneheart City. Hence, it couldn't be too pressing or dire.
"Bro, I heard you rotated through buffalofolk city recently. Tell me what it's like over there—I still haven't set foot in the new fortress."
Buffalofolk city was one of four new cities the Stoneheart Horde had established.
To outsiders, all four cities seemed alike.
But for people like Dirtclaw and Drakthul, those city names held great significance. They represented Orion's recognition of each respective race.
In reality, these cities were fiefdoms.
When buffalofolk city, obsidian city, Delilah City, and Lilith City were completed, they would become the fiefdoms of the buffalofolk, obsidian golems, and the succubus race.
And what did a fiefdom mean?
Both Dirtclaw and Drakthul, veterans of the Valkorath Realm, knew exactly what it implied—it meant a real shot at reaching Legendary level!