Chapter 23 – The Blessing of the Primordial (Part 4)
Intermediate Neutral Zone – Arena of the Ten Saints
Private Room of the Daughters of the Sun
"The presence of the Ngola family confirms that the Otchalis have allied with the Kíkana," Daisy said, narrowing her eyes slightly.
"This doesn't look good for us," replied Nangong Yue, her best friend and vice president of the Guild.
The two had met at the beginning of Daisy's journey. She had saved Nangong Yue, whose family had been exterminated, leaving only her and her younger sister. Being from the race of the Celestial Foxes, they possessed extraordinary beauty.
The reason her family was exterminated was that the son of one of the clan elders violated Nangong Yue, and in a fit of rage, her father killed the man. The elder retaliated by killing both her grandparents and parents, then sending her and her sister into slavery.
At that time, Nangong Yue's talent had not yet awakened. But upon witnessing the death of her parents, the shock was so great that her talent awakened: God's Eye, SSS Rank.
With her eyes, she could hypnotize, read memories, identify enemies, and gain a godlike perspective. She could see ten levels higher into space.
With this talent, despite being a slave, she hypnotized her slave marker and lived well with her sister. She did not free herself because there was no real advantage in doing so, and the influence of the Celestial Fox race was immense within the Divine Domain.
When she first met Daisy, she attempted to hypnotize her, but it failed. Daisy, in turn, tried to use the Voice of God, but it had no effect either. Because of the similarity of their talents, they became friends. With Daisy's family influence, Nangong Yue finally freed herself.
Daisy had wanted to help with vengeance, but Nangong Yue refused, saying she wanted to do it with her own hands. Together, they created the guild The Daughters of the Sun. To prevent future betrayal, they made a blood pact within the Divine Domain.
"It may not be good for us, but it can be managed," Daisy said.
"Is the Kikana family one of those behind your attack?" asked Nangong Yue.
"Yes, very likely. Of all of them, they were the ones who least wanted me to receive the Primordial's blessing, given the rivalry between our races."
"Then, if today is blessed…" Nangong Yue began.
"Do you think the Primordial's blessing is common? Something just anyone can receive?"
"But that girl from the Otchali family is very talented. If she weren't from that race, I would have paid her a personal visit and recruited her to our guild," said Nangong Yue. "She has a good chance of being blessed."
"She will not," Daisy replied confidently.
"But what if she is?" asked Nangong Yue. "Dozens of people throughout history have been blessed, but even so, to this day, there are only seven monarchs."
"First, she would need to complete the hunting trial. And if she were blessed, what would she do if, by chance, her sacrifice were destined for the twelfth portal?" Daisy said with a mischievous smile. "She would have no choice but to head toward the twelfth portal."
"And who would be crazy enough to approach the twelfth portal? Just its aura is terrifying," said Nangong Yue, doubtful. "No one would be reckless enough."
"But in this room, one of us has the Eyes of God, and the other has the Word of God. Both of us are absolute beauties. And who would refuse a small request to pass through the portal?" Daisy said, smiling.
"People would know there was interference," Nangong Yue said, shocked.
"They may suspect, but what proof would they have?"
While the two conversed, in another room, others waited even more anxiously.
The Otchali family, with Ndombele Otchali, sat in the main seat. At his side was a tall, dark-skinned young man, extremely handsome, with a noble and arrogant aura emanating from him. Both appeared anxious.
The young man was Mungo Kikana, the youngest son of the Kikana clan's patriarch — the same who had replaced Daisy at her ceremony.
After Nduma Ngola's speech ended, he began the ritual. He asked the ancestors for their blessing to intercede with the Primordial. At that moment, the entire arena fell silent.
The moment everyone had awaited arrived: the release of the sacrifice, which would then enter one of the twelve portals, representing the first to the twelfth floor of the Tower.
With a staff in hand, he shouted and lifted his hands high, chanting an ancestral hymn.
According to legend, it was during the chant that the Primordial bestowed blessings. It had always occurred during the hymn. Thus, if no blessing appeared by the end of the chant, the reserved sacrifice would be released.
As for the sacrifice, the more powerful it was, the better.
The chanting continued, and everyone's anticipation reached its peak. As it neared the end, hope began to fade.
Ndombele Otchali grew increasingly tense. So too did Nzinga, who stood below in her beautiful armor, waiting. Like Daisy, her entire existence since childhood had revolved around this day.
Nduma Ngola was also anxious, hoping to be one of the ritualists to receive the blessing, just like the ancestors of old.
The chant continued, but as it reached its end, everyone was disheartened. It seemed that today they would not witness the beginning of a legend.
As the chant ended, Ndombele and Zinga Otchali felt the ground fall beneath them. They had believed it would happen, and when it did not, it was a crushing blow — especially for Nzinga.
When Mungo Kikana, disappointed, prepared to console Ndombele Otchali, a portal suddenly opened in the middle of the arena.
From it stepped a tall, dark-skinned young man, of plain if not unattractive appearance, wearing a sacred mantle and holding a novice's sword.
Just as in the legends — today, the Primordial had blessed someone.