The scene shifted again, plunging Orion, Aerialia, and Aegis of the Deity into a hellish landscape. By now, the Seven Great Gods had established themselves as humanity's protectors, prompting the 'Nine Greed Gods' to abandon restraint and launch a full-frontal attack, sparking a massive confrontation between the two factions.
On one side stood Orion and Aerialia, recognising the Seven Great Gods as the initial candidates listed for the man-made god experiments. On the opposing side were the Nine Greed Gods, each a formidable entity in their own right. Malgarthor, the god of Eternal Darkness and Death, commanded attention with his towering figure clad in obsidian-black armour, crimson eyes radiating inner darkness, and long, flowing black hair entwined with tendrils of shadow.
Next was Morghul, the god of pestilence, ice, and emotion, shrouded in a robe woven with an eerie beauty. His form was marked by plague-ridden sores and a sickly green aura of disease. Next was Anilius, the god of ruin, a colossal figure with a skeletal visage, hollow red eyes, and Jagged obsidian-like armour enveloping his entire frame.
Besides him was Nesaaria, the goddess of light and dream, an ethereal figure in a striking white and black gown adorned with barbed chains who represented a stark contrast. Besides her was Margona, the goddess of Malevolence and witches, exuded regal charm with pale skin, flowing dark hair that seemed alive, and eyes shimmering with shifting crimson and emerald colours. Her attire, a feminine robe embellished with runes and sigils emitting divine energy, carried an aura tinged with despair.
Besides her, Vael'tar, the god of betrayal, his form mirrored the desires and fears of those who encountered him. His appearance remained elusive even to the other Nine Greed Gods, leaving even them uncertain about his true form.
Next was Caelar, the god of air and unity. He resembled a flying centaur, wore a full-body suit and green armour, and had violent winds swirling around him irregularly.
Next was Kralan, the god of vengeance. He towered like a humanoid figure bathed in blue flames and clad in dark, plated armour. His sword appeared forged from bluish flames, adding to his formidable presence.
Lastly, Klephiria, the goddess of eternal storm, stood tall on a cloud platform shrouded in misty winds, her figure obscured by the swirling cyclone. Even Oberon, with his keen perception, struggled to discern more than her wavy blonde hair and piercing blue eyes amid the atmospheric veil.
As humanity waged war against frost giants, flying centaurs, ghouls, other undead races, and various unfamiliar races, Orion discovered new races he hadn't seen before. Drawing from Oberon's memories, he gradually learned their names one by one.
The clash between the sides unleashed violent winds of destruction, and shockwaves reverberated through the sky, leaving trails of devastation in their wake. Amidst the chaos, glimpses of their skills and abilities were revealed until they abruptly vanished, retreating into a 'Mirror Realm' to contain the cataclysmic effects of their battle.
Following this disappearance, observing the ongoing battle became impossible. Oberon entertained infiltrating the Mirror Realm to witness the conflict firsthand, but he quickly dismissed it as foolish. Sneaking into a battle between the Seven Great Gods and the Nine Greed Gods was not a risk he was willing to take.
The scene shifted once more, revealing Oberon stealthily trailing behind Naka as they navigated a secret passageway within the 'Paradise' they had constructed.
Orion's heart raced as he watched Oberon trail Naka into a vast underground laboratory. His heart seemed to leap into his throat as he saw various body parts and organs from diverse races, some from within their paradise and others from across the world. Some specimens were preserved in cylindrical fluid, appearing alive yet immobile, while others were in various stages of development, from fetuses to mature forms, all trapped within the eerie laboratory.
Aerialia's eyes widened in shock as she beheld the unsettling scenes unfolding before her. She had encountered many strange and grotesque sights, which was particularly discomforting. However, she knew this discovery brought them closer to unravelling the Princess of the Garden mystery, so she steeled herself to continue observing patiently.
"I can sense your presence. You can come out now; there's no need for stealth," Naka said, his voice echoing across the room.
After a few minutes of silence, Oberon appeared before Naka. "How did you figure out you were being followed?" he asked.
"I didn't. You've merged entirely with your new body now, so if you decide to put all your effort into stealthily following and observing me from a distance, even I would need some time before noticing you. But since I'd picked up your intense suspicions about me, I simply needed to be less guarded than usual and take my chances to see who it was,"Naka replied, returning to his human form as he started working with the equipment before him. "Luckily, it's only you, so I'll let it slide,"he added.
"And what if it wasn't just me?"Oberon countered.
"Then, I'd have no choice but to include them in one of my experiments. The only issue would be to hope that they don't have any immense, powerful loved ones or relatives snooping around for them, as that would be a pain to handle,"Dr Nakamura responded with a wry smile.
Oberon fell silent, realising that he had been deceived, before he sighed and asked, "So, what are all these things?"His voice was solemn as he surveyed his eerie surroundings, taking in the bizarre laboratory.
"They are all part of my research,"Dr. Nakamura responded calmly.
"What kind of research?"Oberon pressed further. As he continued to scan the area, his eyes landed on a few pixies in the same condition as the other beings within the laboratory, causing him to freeze and tremble at the unsettling sight.
Dr. Nakamura paused his work and turned to face Oberon. Seeing the tremors in his figure, he released a deep breath and asked, "Are you sure you want the answer to that question?"
"EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT ALL OF THIS IS!!" Oberon's voice thundered through the laboratory, causing the equipment to vibrate intensely.