Upon hearing that unfamiliar voice, Eros froze for a split second before snapping back to his senses. He instinctively turned toward the source of the sound.
There, he saw a dozen or so faint blue, humanoid phantoms standing a short distance away. The leader was the one who had just addressed him as "Alex Star." Without needing an introduction, information about them naturally surfaced in Eros’s mind—this was the limited trait of Omniscience granted to him by the wisp of divinity.
These beings were the very reason he had come to the Astral Realm: the Polymaths of All Things, the Witnesses of the World, the Recorders of History—the Star Spirits of the Astral Realm.
Eros was slightly surprised. He hadn't even performed a summoning ritual yet; how did they arrive on their own?
Seeing Eros look over, the one named Alex seemed to read his thoughts. A faint smile appeared on his transparent face. "From the moment the stars across the entire Astral Realm began to shimmer, we knew a great and honorable existence was about to descend. Therefore, we waited here in advance for Your Excellency’s arrival."
So that’s it. Eros wasn't entirely shocked that they could sense his coming. His inherited knowledge told him that Star Spirits were masters of divination; in fact, all divination in the physical world had originally been taught by them.
As for why they called him "Excellency," Eros assumed it was because he was currently using divinity and temporarily possessed a divine status. He dismissed the comment about the "stars shimmering" as mere flowery, otherworldly politeness.
Understanding this, Eros didn't waste any time. He knew the wisp of divinity wouldn't last long, so he asked directly:
"I want to make a trade. I need to know how I can advance to Sequence 6 without switching pathways."
Alex’s tone remained gentle. "Understood. I shall perform a divination for Your Excellency immediately."
As the words fell, Alex closed his eyes, and his pale blue body began to combust.
Eros was dumbfounded. The knowledge in his mind told him clearly: this Star Spirit was burning his own essence. For a moment, Eros didn't know whether to stop him. If this continued, the being would undoubtedly die.
However, seeing the other dozen Star Spirits standing by with total indifference, he hesitated. Could this be a standard procedure for the Star Spirit race? Although his internal library didn't mention such a "standard procedure," he used the thought to comfort himself.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Finally, after the blue flames had consumed half of his body, Alex opened his eyes.
"Is the divination complete?" Eros asked hurriedly. He paused, pointing at the rising flames still eating away at Alex, and added hesitantly, "Are you... alright?"
Alex smiled, his tone casual. "Your Excellency’s status is too lofty. I had to burn my life force just to have a sliver of a chance to seek an answer for you."
"Fortunately, I succeeded. Please pay attention to the anomalies around you. The opportunity for your advancement has actually been by your side all along."
Eros’s heart sank. He really is burning his life away? Even though his mind told him it was happening, seeing the other Star Spirits do nothing made him doubt the "facts" in his head. His knowledge said Star Spirits were a unified, harmonious race. If one was dying, wouldn't the others try to save him? Why were they just watching?
As if sensing Eros’s bewilderment and horror, Alex smiled. "To be able to die for Your Excellency is the honor of humble Alex and our entire race. That is why they do not stop me."
"Why?" Eros’s voice was dry. According to everything he knew about them, Star Spirits might revere Gods, but they would never go to such lengths.
Furthermore, from his current divine perspective, he could see Alex’s strength—he was clearly a Sequence 1 existence. A Sequence 1 Star Spirit divining a God should, at most, suffer an injury. Especially since Eros was only borrowing divinity and only had partial characteristics. Theoretically, Alex shouldn't even have been hurt.
Why did it cost him his life? Was it because of the "Tentacle" inside him?
Facing Eros’s confusion, Alex’s voice was humble and sincere. "As long as you do not lose your loftiness, the entire world will open for you."
With those final words, Alex’s figure vanished completely.
Eros stood there with his mouth agape. He knew the spirit was gone—dead in a way that precluded resurrection. While Eros was reeling, one of the remaining spirits spoke up:
"Excellency, your wisp of divinity is about to be exhausted!"
Eros snapped out of it. He had no time to dwell on the tragedy. He quickly addressed the group: "Thank you for your help!"
As he prepared to disconnect from the Astral Realm and return to his body, he heard a unified chant echoing behind him:
"Praise be to the Great and Honorable Excellency!"
In the Spirit Realm (Eros’s Soul Space):
As Eros’s consciousness soared to the Astral Realm, the Silver Moon Goddess’s eyes went vacant.
"This... how is this possible?" she whispered in shock. Having lost her divine status and divinity, she now possessed more "humanity" than before. In the past, she would never have displayed such blatant shock.
Barbara glanced at the Goddess’s disbelief and said coolly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world: "He is merely reclaiming the power he once held."
Hearing this, the Goddess’s pupils shook violently. Her breathing became labored. She seemed to understand the implication behind Barbara’s words.
But... how was that possible?
Suddenly, as if a thought struck her, she spoke with absolute certainty: "Although gender is irrelevant to beings at our level, unless it is absolutely necessary, there is no reason to change it."
"He cannot be THE NIGHT."
At those words, Barbara froze. Suddenly, even she looked a bit lost and confused.