Upon hearing those words again, Barbara shifted her gaze back to the Silver Moon Goddess, her tone calm and indifferent.
"The authority of the Silver Moon is one held by my Master. When She returns, it will inevitably be reclaimed. Thus, we were enemies from the very beginning."
"Furthermore, even if we were to cooperate, what could you possibly do now? What could you even achieve?" By the end, Barbara’s voice had become utterly contemptuous.
The Silver Moon Goddess fell into silence. Just as Barbara said, they were natural enemies unless she was willing to relinquish her claim to the Moon. Her expression shifted several times before she finally grit her teeth.
"I can abandon the authority of the Silver Moon!"
The corners of Barbara’s lips curled up slightly. She leaned down, looking at the Goddess with genuine interest. "Then, having lost your authority and being unable to ascend to the Divine Throne, what role could you possibly play in this cooperation?"
"I can raise my Divine Throne through other authorities!" Facing Barbara’s mockery, the Goddess spoke with a darkened expression.
"Other authorities..." Barbara repeated softly, shaking her head with a hint of amusement. "And how long do you plan to take? A thousand years? Two thousand? We don't have time to wait for you to slowly gather authority."
Seeing Barbara’s persistent disdain, the Goddess finally snapped, sneering back in retaliation. "And what about your Night lineage? Do you think someone from your side can ascend to the Divine Throne within a few hundred years? Or do you think THE NIGHT can return within that time?"
"Wake up! The Night cannot return. Her imprints in the past, present, and future have all been erased by those few. She cannot come back."
"It’s only you group of paranoid, pathetic fools who still believe She can return."
Facing this mockery, Barbara did not show anger. Instead, she let out a mysterious smile and whispered in a meaningful tone:
"Rest assured... it won't take long."
The Silver Moon Goddess’s pupils shrank violently. She didn't know what this Spirit meant. Was she saying someone from the Night lineage would soon ascend? Or was she saying the Night Goddess herself would return soon? If it were the former, a mere New God might not stir much of a storm. But if it were the latter... she didn't dare think about it. No, it was impossible. Her source had been divided and consumed, her imprints erased. How could she return?
Seeing the disbelief on the Goddess's face, Barbara stood tall, her voice proud. "So, let’s forget about 'cooperation.' However, if you are willing to submit, that isn't entirely unacceptable."
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The Silver Moon Goddess remained silent for a long while before speaking with difficulty: "If you are willing to help me achieve godhood, I am willing to become a Subordinate God of the Night lineage."
"A wise choice." Barbara nodded in approval of her pragmatism.
Simultaneously, Barbara’s voice suddenly rang in Eros’s ear:
"Her agreement just now is very likely just a temporary measure to paralyze us. Those who are used to being Gods don't submit so easily."
"Even though her performance seems real and her expressions are reasonable, we must stay on guard. That wisp of divinity should be enough to support a round trip to the Astral Realm with some left over. When the time comes, remember to use your Divine Status to give her a Spiritual Brand. That is the only way to be truly safe."
Eros, who had been quietly listening to the debate, was startled. He looked at Barbara’s unchanging face and realized this message was for him alone. Her meaning was clear, but he realized one problem: she hadn't taught him how to give someone a "Spiritual Brand" yet. He didn't know how! However, since Barbara mentioned it, he figured there would be a solution when the time came.
On the other side, after finishing her transmission, Barbara reached out and snatched the wisp of divinity from Eros’s skin into her hand. The Silver Moon Goddess looked at the wisp nervously, fearing Barbara might swallow it to restore herself. That was her last trump card; by using her soul—which still retained divine characteristics—she could temporarily unleash power at a Divine level. Though only one strike, in a world where Gods could not walk the earth, it was effectively invincible.
To her shock, Barbara didn't swallow it. Instead, she handed the divinity to the man who had just desecrated her.
What is she doing? Does she plan to let a Sequence 7 absorb divinity? Impossible!
She admitted the man's body was strange, but divinity was the exclusive power of Gods. If a Sequence 7 tried to absorb it, their soul would be torn to shreds by the rapid escalation of their status. As the "Eyes of the Night," Barbara had to know this. So why? Did she think he could endure it? Who exactly is this man? For a moment, the Goddess was lost in confusion.
Eros looked at the divinity Barbara held out, his tone hesitant. "How do I use this?"
"Touch it with your consciousness, and it will take you to the Astral Realm," Barbara said succinctly.
Eros nodded and extended a thread of his consciousness to touch the golden wisp. The Silver Moon Goddess held her breath.
As soon as his consciousness made contact, Eros’s vision went black. He didn't lose consciousness, however; he could feel his soul rising at extreme speed, elevating infinitely. The sensation was familiar—he had experienced something similar before his reincarnation.
Finally, with a soft "pop" as if breaking through a barrier, his vision returned. He saw a massive, white sphere with only portions showing other colors. Is that the Croatian Continent? Is this sphere the planet I live on?
Before he could get a clear look, the planet shrank rapidly in his sight. His ascent hadn't stopped after leaving the world; instead, it felt as though he had cast off some shackle and was moving faster. Just as he wondered when he would stop, his vision flickered.
In a daze, he thought he saw a gargantuan eye, with a ring-shaped galaxy reflected in its pupil, staring at him.
In the next instant, the eye vanished. With another "pop," an infinite starry sky filled with shining stars appeared before him. He knew immediately: this was the Astral Realm.
The rising sensation stopped, but Eros didn't call for a Star Spirit immediately. He stood there, his expression dazed as he murmured:
"Was I just seeing things?"
Just then, a gentle and respectful voice drifted from beside him:
"Humble Alex Star requests an audience with the Great and Honorable Excellency!"