Aetherion stood in his celestial residence, staring at the radiant skies of the Divine Domain, his mind deep in thought. The path ahead was clear but perilous—he had to steal the Sacred Flame from Goddess Boltia. Yet, he knew that his current power wasn't enough. The six Archangels and 20 lower-ranked angels guarding the flame would be nearly impossible to defeat with his current strength.
"The Sacred Flame…" Aetherion whispered to himself, the words heavy with ambition. To claim it fully, he would need to grow stronger—much stronger.
The system's familiar voice echoed in his mind. [Aetherion, you are right to be cautious. The task you are planning requires more than just your current strength. To defeat the Archangels and seize the Sacred Flame, you must ascend to the next rank: Principalities.]
Aetherion nodded slowly, knowing that this was his only option. He had already proven himself as an Archangel, but the power he needed now lay beyond his current status. If he were to ascend, he would need to act swiftly and strategically.
"What must I do to reach the rank of Principalities?" Aetherion asked, his voice filled with determination.
The system's tone remained calm but firm. [To ascend to the rank of Principalities, you must gather followers—those who will believe in you and strengthen the Sacred Flame within you through their faith. Their devotion will fuel your divine power, allowing you to grow stronger and ascend.]
Aetherion listened intently as the system explained. [At least 20 followers are required for the Ritual of Faith—a sacred ritual that will amplify the Sacred Flame you already possess. The ritual will bind their faith to you, feeding your divine strength. Only then will you be able to ascend to Principalities and stand a chance against the Archangels.]
Twenty followers, Aetherion thought. It seemed simple enough, but the system's voice darkened with a warning.
[There is one obstacle: You cannot gather these followers in the mortal realm yourself. Goddess Boltia is watching, and any move you make toward gathering faith in the mortal world will alert her. She is already suspicious, and if she discovers your intentions, she will act swiftly to stop you.]
Aetherion's thoughts raced. Without access to the mortal world, where could he find the followers he needed? How could he inspire faith without setting foot in the realm where mortals lived and breathed?
The system continued, sensing Aetherion's unease. [Goddess Boltia monitors your actions closely, Aetherion. Any attempt to enter the mortal realm to gather followers would reveal your plan. She would know immediately, and you would lose the element of surprise.]
Aetherion clenched his fists, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "Then how am I supposed to gather followers if I can't even go to the mortal realm?"
He needed followers to ascend, but Boltia's watchful eye made that impossible. His power, and by extension his entire plan to steal the Sacred Flame, hinged on gaining believers—faithful mortals who could perform the ritual.
Suddenly, a voice cut through the silence, surprising Aetherion.
"Master, let us go in your place."
Aetherion turned sharply, his eyes landing on the divine eagles that had remained silent for much of the conversation. To his astonishment, they spoke—something they had never done before.
Aetherion blinked in surprise, his mind struggling to process what he had just heard. The eagles, who had been his loyal companions since their transformation, had never spoken before. But now, their voices were clear and powerful, resonating with divine authority.
"We can go to the mortal realm," one of the eagles said, stepping forward with its wings outstretched. "We will gather the followers you need."
Aetherion studied the eagles, their radiant forms glowing with divine energy. He had known they were powerful, but their ability to speak showed just how far they had evolved since their transformation.
"How is this possible?" Aetherion asked, still amazed by their sudden display of intelligence.
The system explained. [Your bond with the eagles has grown deeper than you realized. Their connection to your divine power has allowed them to evolve further, granting them new abilities—including speech. They are now fully capable of serving as your emissaries in the mortal realm.]
Aetherion looked at the eagles with newfound respect. "You would go in my place? You would gather followers for me?"
The eagles bowed their heads in unison. "Yes, Master. We will gather those who believe in you and bring them together to perform the ritual. We will do whatever is necessary to help you ascend."
Aetherion's mind raced as he considered the eagles' offer. If he couldn't go to the mortal realm, sending the eagles as his emissaries was the perfect solution. Their divine forms would inspire mortals, and Boltia would be less likely to notice their presence than if Aetherion himself were to descend.
The system spoke again, providing more details. [You must tread carefully, Aetherion. While the eagles are less likely to draw Boltia's attention, they must still act with caution. They cannot simply appear and demand followers in your name. The mortals must be inspired—drawn to the power of the Sacred Flame without understanding the full scope of your plan.]
Aetherion nodded, already thinking of how to execute the plan. "They will go to places where corruption still lingers," he said. "Places that have not been fully cleansed. The mortals there will see the eagles as signs of divine intervention—symbols of hope."
The system agreed. [Yes. The eagles will represent the power of purification, and through them, the mortals will come to believe in you. Once they have gathered enough followers, the Ritual of Faith can be performed in secret.]
The system continued, laying out the next steps. [Once the eagles have gathered at least 20 followers, the mortals must be taught the Summoning Ritual. This ritual will allow them to summon you to the mortal realm, bypassing Boltia's watchful gaze. Only through their combined faith will you be able to manifest without alerting her.]
Aetherion felt the pieces falling into place. The eagles would go in his place, gathering the followers he needed and teaching them the summoning ritual. Once summoned, Aetherion would be able to complete the Ritual of Faith, strengthening the Sacred Flame within him and allowing him to ascend to the rank of Principalities.
"The ritual…" Aetherion murmured, already envisioning how it would work. The followers would gather in secret, their faith directed toward him, and when the ritual was complete, he would have the power to confront Boltia's defenses.
[The ritual requires more than just faith,] the system warned. [It requires secrecy and devotion. The mortals must be willing to offer themselves to your cause, even if they do not fully understand your divine purpose. Choose wisely when selecting those who will perform the ritual.]
Aetherion's determination solidified. "I will do whatever it takes. The eagles will go to the mortal realm and gather the followers I need. When they return, we will be ready."
Aetherion stepped onto the balcony of his residence, looking out at the vast expanse of the Divine Domain. His mind was clear, his plan fully formed. The divine eagles, now capable of speech and acting as his emissaries, would descend to the mortal realm and gather the followers necessary to perform the Ritual of Faith.
The system's voice echoed in his mind, offering one final piece of advice. [Be patient, Aetherion. The path to godhood requires careful planning and execution. You are on the right track, but remember—Boltia is powerful, and the more you grow, the more she will suspect. Keep your intentions hidden until the time is right.]
Aetherion nodded, his eyes focused on the horizon. "I understand. I will not make any moves until the followers are gathered."
The divine eagles, standing beside him, bowed their heads in unison. "We will leave at once, Master. When we return, the ritual will be ready."
With a final nod of approval, Aetherion sent his eagles to the mortal realm, confident that they would fulfill their mission. The first step toward godhood had been taken, and now, with the help of his divine servants, Aetherion would gather the strength he needed to challenge Boltia and claim the Sacred Flame.
The chapter ends with Aetherion watching the eagles disappear into the sky, his mind focused on the future. The path to ascension had begun, and there was no turning back.