Suddenly, above them, the sky began to tremble as ear-splitting waves of lightning and thunder shot through the air, tearing apart the Vylkr-infested clouds. The sky swirled and turned, signalling the onset of a heavy storm far more dangerous and frightening than the previous one.
It felt as though Divine vengeance was about to descend upon the land below.
"Let's go," said the man with ashen skin. The space around him warped, and he vanished into thin air.
The other two nodded, instantly disappearing from their spot and following behind him.
Beneath the Divine lake essence
Aegis of the Arctic Deity pondered deeply about his discovery the day before, staring at the transparent, blood-red box hovering in the air before him.
He felt a strong urge in the back of his mind, telling him that all the answers he sought were within this box. However, he couldn't bring himself to open it, not only because he had sworn not to but also because of the potential catastrophe it could unleash upon Orion and his territory.
'That boy,' Aegis of the Arctic Deity thought, Orion's image reappearing in his mind. While he hadn't been surprised when a human conquered the trial left by Naka and freed the Prismerions from their prisons, he couldn't ignore the fact that all his discoveries—like their effortless use of Vylkr energy, their farm and the Tree nymphs, and the barely living man-made god in the Village Chief's compound—were interconnected.
He wondered whether he would find all his answers once he regained his memories, a prospect he was still unsure about.
Aegis of the Arctic Deity never imagined he'd face such a sensitive choice, even as a god. He exhaled deeply and waved his hand, causing the transparent, blood-red box to vanish into thin air.
As he was about to return to rest and examine the Primordial energy he had observed from the unnatural tree, his senses flared up, and a grimace appeared on his face as his eyes pierced into the distance.
Aegis of the Arctic Deity almost instantly disappeared, vanishing into thin air.
Third Border city walls
Seth stared at the icy snowstorm before him, in shock at how it had frozen his molten lava, transforming them into ice sculptures and turning the landscape into a frozen furnace.
A chill travelled down Seth's spine as he tried to imagine the tremendous power capable of freezing his molten lava in the blink of an eye.
Suddenly, an immense weight settled on Seth, accompanied by a resounding voice that shook him.
"Summon Orion and all your key figures. Gather everyone within the Orion Cities in one place. If necessary, I will shrink down the barrier to reserve more of my strength," Aegis of the Arctic Deity said, squinting his eyes at the icy snowstorm before him.
Seth slowly turned his head and was astonished to see a tall, slender being whose skin shimmered with an opalescent glow, changing colours with every movement and illuminating the space around him. His eyes lacked pupils but were wide, filled with shimmering dots resembling stars and the universe.
The being's hair cascaded like bright shooting stars, flowing in an otherworldly and ethereal manner. Two Pixie-like wings adorned his back, shimmering with celestial purples and blues.
As the immense pressure weighed on his shoulders, Seth gulped, recalling the uncomfortable sensation.
Aegis of the Arctic Deity!Seth realized, recognizing the being beside him. It was the first time he had seen Aegis in his true form, and he couldn't help but be entranced by the stunning sight before him.
"What are you still doing here? Can you not understand my words?" Aegis of the Arctic Deity demanded, shifting his focus toward Seth, who stood frozen.
Fortunately, Aegis's words instantly snapped Seth out of his thoughts. He bowed toward Aegis. "I'll be on my way, god Aegis," Seth said before turning around and launching rapidly toward Queen Selene's palace manor, then swiftly heading toward Orion's manor.
As Seth disappeared from view, the atmosphere outside the barrier above the Orion Cities rippled intensely before stabilizing, revealing three humanoid figures.
Aegis's grimace deepened as he peered at them. Though he couldn't discern their identities or intentions yet, their initial actions made it clear they hadn't come for a peaceful meeting.
Meanwhile, above Aegis of the Arctic Deity's barrier, the trio immediately sensed his gaze and redirected their focus toward him. They vanished from their positions and reappeared at a distance before him.
Without hesitation, Aegis released his Primordial energy into the barrier, causing it to glow with unusual brilliance as he further strengthened it.
As the trio observed the barrier's brilliance and sensed its unusual nature, frowns emerged on their faces.
"Primordial energy," remarked the massive humanoid figure, whose body appeared to be formed of swirling water. The figure quickly noticed the barrier's uniqueness.
The other two also identified the Primordial energy within the barrier and agreed with their companion's deduction. They then shifted their attention toward Aegis of the Arctic Deity.
As they scrutinized him, they frowned again, noting the strangeness of the being before them. They could sense his divinity, even from outside the barrier. However, they could not determine whether he was a god or a Vylkrspawn.
"Who or what are you? And are you the one responsible for killing the Vylkrspawn bringer and halting its tasks here?" said the man with ashen skin, his eyes fixed on Aegis of the Arctic Deity.
"Before you answer, think and respond wisely because I won't repeat myself or use the same method twice to get my answers," he added.
"Such boldness! You break into a territory under my protection and threaten the lives of those within it. Yet, you ask such an audacious question. Nonetheless, I am not too shy to reveal my identity. Listen well because I won't repeat myself the second time. I am Aegis of the Arctic Deity, the divine apostle of god Aerendir," Aegis of the Arctic Deity responded, his resolute eyes on the trio before him.
Author's Note:Aegis of the Arctic Deity - Shield of the frozen god.