章 241: Chapter 240
[Third Person's PoV]
When the others arrived in Japan, they were left in a state of shock. They had seen how Cid previously made buildings rise from the underground, restoring them to how they appeared before the apocalypse began. But now? Now the city looked entirely different—completely remodeled. It had transformed into a stunning blend of modern architecture and fantasy elements, perfectly merging the two worlds.
With magic becoming a permanent force in their new reality, they would have to adapt and incorporate it into their everyday lives.
However, that wasn't even the strangest part. People were casually moving about, walking the streets as if life were completely normal—nothing like the chaos and despair that dominated the outside world.
When they saw Cid, the people greeted him with warm smiles and looks of gratitude.
"What the hell happened while we were gone?" Alexia finally asked the question on everyone's mind.
"Well," Cid began, "I'm not sure if you've noticed, but most of the monsters have started to dwindle. Claire fought and defeated the one responsible for them. Although there are still monsters appearing because of the tear, they aren't nearly as dangerous as the ones that came through the gates." He paused, giving them time to absorb the information before continuing.
"Since that issue has been handled, I decided to build the first city of my empire—"
"Empire?" Alexia interrupted, raising an eyebrow.
Cid gave her a look, clearly annoyed at being interrupted. "Yes, my empire. I'm going to rebuild this world from scratch and turn it into a safe haven for us."
"Are we just going to abandon our original world?" Alexia asked hesitantly, her thoughts drifting to her father and sister, whom she dearly missed.
"What? Of course not," Cid replied. "I'm going to connect them. But right now, we're waiting for Alpha and the others to gain enough power to cleanse our original world of the cult that plagues it."
"Connect them?" Rose asked curiously. "How exactly?"
"I'm going to create a gateway between the two worlds," Cid explained. He raised one hand upward and the other downward, forming two floating images of globes between his palms. "In one world, we'll rule openly, in the light. In the other world, we'll rule from the shadows."
"And I take it our original world is the one where we'll control things from the shadows?" Sherry asked timidly.
"Exactly. And the key to that plan is you two," Cid said with a snap of his fingers, pointing at Rose and Alexia.
"Us?" they echoed in unison, pointing at themselves before glancing at each other in confusion.
Cid nodded. "As princesses, you'll be made queens of your respective kingdoms. Rose is technically already a queen, so that just leaves Alexia."
"Me? A queen? But that's Iris's role—she's the eldest. I can't become queen!" Alexia protested, utterly bewildered.
"Who was born first and who was born last doesn't matter when it comes to power," Cid explained. "You may not realize it yet because you're probably comparing yourself to the other members of Shadow Garden, but as of now, you're far stronger than Iris."
Alexia looked taken aback at first, but after a moment of thought, she puffed out her chest with pride. "I suppose you have a point… Oh, right, you can continue with your earlier explanation."
Cid rolled his eyes. "Right. As I was saying, I decided this will be the place where we'll begin building the empire before expanding to the other territories we've conquered. Aurora has taken it upon herself to organize the inner workings of this new society—how it will be established and thrive with the addition of magic."
He gestured toward the bustling streets outside. "The reason people now have homes and their normal lives back is thanks to Aurora. With the help of others, she devised a system of jobs people can take to earn wages. Those wages allow them to secure temporary housing, and after working for a while, they'll be able to afford homes of their own. Everyone is just grateful to have some semblance of normalcy again."
Once again, everyone was stunned. The most incredible part was that all of this had been accomplished in just a few weeks.
As they continued walking, their eyes fell on a giant castle in the distance. Nearby, a towering statue of Cid stood proudly, its presence impossible to ignore.
They all turned to Cid with a questioning look.
He let out an exasperated sigh. "That wasn't me… That was Zeta, Beru, and Lucifer. Anyway, let's head to the castle. It's time to reward everyone."
At the mention of rewards, their eyes widened with curiosity and excitement.
---
When they reached the castle, Cid pushed open the grand doors. A steady march of footsteps echoed behind him. Before entering the throne room, Beru and Lucifer appeared by the doors, their voices booming.
"NOW ENTERING, HIS MAJESTY! OUR GREAT LORD!!" they announced with dramatic flair, opening the doors with a flourish.
Cid rolled his eyes. "Do you guys really have to do that every time I enter?" he asked as he strode forward.
As he stepped inside, his clothing transformed. His usual Shadow attire, black and gold, was replaced with white and gold, giving him an aura of regal authority. Unlike his typical outfit, this one lacked a hood, revealing his composed expression.
He ascended the golden steps to his throne and sat down. Shadows surged beside him, and from them emerged Alpha and the other key members, along with Claire and Aurora.
"Yukime, Alexia, Elisabeth, Rose, and Sherry, step aside for now," Cid ordered. "Your rewards will come after everyone else's after which will be Lambda's own and final reward."
The women nodded and moved to the side without question, their anticipation building as they awaited what was to come.
"Now then, for all of you…" Cid began, his tone commanding and regal. "As a reward for your grand efforts and unwavering dedication to me, I grant you the knowledge of a brand-new magical system. You will now learn how to construct your own mana core—a privilege until now reserved for a select few."
Cid's eyes gleamed as he thought, Although they won't have my bloodline's unique advantages, this knowledge should elevate them to a higher state of power.
The room fell silent as the gravity of his words settled over them. The gathered crowd's eyes widened in awe. They had heard of mana cores—an advanced and mysterious system of magic that allowed users to wield elemental powers far beyond the basic enhancements their standard magic provided. It had been a long-hidden desire among them to attain the same kind of abilities as the Seven Sins.
Rising from his throne, Cid spread his arms slightly. A glowing magic circle appeared above the crowd, radiating with intricate designs and ancient runes.
In an instant, the knowledge of mana core construction surged into their minds. Even those who had been standing to the side, like Yukime and Elisabeth, felt the revelation blossom within them.
The room erupted with movement as every single individual dropped to one knee, their voices uniting in a thunderous roar of gratitude.
"WE ARE FOREVER GRATEFUL TO YOU, MY LORD!"
Cid smiled, a hint of satisfaction in his expression. "Once I finish distributing the rewards, I will personally train you all in mastering this newfound power."
Another wave of reverent shouts filled the hall.
Cid gestured for silence and then spoke again. "Now then, Claire, Aurora, Yukime, Alexia, Elisabeth, Rose, and Sherry… step forward."
The seven women exchanged glances, some curious, others slightly nervous. Yet, without hesitation, they moved to stand just below the steps leading to the throne.
Cid gazed down at them, his voice steady and resonant. "Where there is darkness, there is always light to cast it away. Light and darkness are two sides of the same coin; one cannot thrive without the other. I have established the Seven Deadly Sins to embody the darkness, but this creation remains incomplete. Darkness cannot exist without a counterbalance.
"After careful thought, I have chosen the seven of you to embody that counterbalance. From this moment onward, you will represent the light. If the Seven Deadly Sins are the personification of darkness, then you—The Seven Heavenly Virtues—shall represent the light."
章 242: Chapter 241
[Third Person's PoV]
The girls were all surprised to find themselves part of this new group, and even more so to learn that they would hold equal status to the Seven Sins.
"Now then," Cid began, drawing their attention back to him. "For the leader of this group, I will assign that role to my dutiful sister. Claire, step forward."
Claire stepped forward gracefully, her head held high as if to say, 'Naturally, I would be the leader.' She knelt on one knee, exuding an air of regal confidence.
'She didn't have to kneel, but it looks like I'll have to improvise,' Cid thought to himself.
Descending the platform, Cid unsheathed a pure white sword from his hip. He began, "Claire, as my sister, I have personally witnessed your dedication, your relentless training, and your unwavering pursuit of strength. Your reasons for seeking power have never been selfish. They have always been noble—whether it was to protect me as your younger brother or to combat the cult. You've honed yourself to such an extent that you managed to take down a Monarch on your own."
Raising the sword, Cid gently tapped it on each of Claire's shoulders. "Thus, from this day forth, you shall be known as the Virtue of Diligence."
As he completed the ceremony, Claire winced, glancing at the back of her hand. A golden Godrune had appeared there, glowing faintly. Her eyes widened as she studied it. "You've managed to create one for us as well? How long have you been planning this?"
"Since I first began experimenting with Aether," Cid replied with a small smile. Then, raising his voice, he announced, "As the Virtue of Diligence, I bestow upon you a unique Virtue ability: Momentum Manipulation. The longer you stay in motion, the more power and speed you build. Once you start moving, your actions become unstoppable—you can smash through barriers, evade attacks, or accomplish tasks with incredible efficiency. However, stopping resets your momentum."
Claire glanced at Alpha and the others, noticing the black Godrunes marked on the backs of their hands. A smirk tugged at her lips. "I'm already quite overpowered. Do I really need this?"
"No," Cid replied with a shrug, "but it doesn't hurt to be stronger."
"I suppose not." Claire bowed slightly, her smirk softening into a grateful smile. "I graciously thank you for your gifts." She rose to her feet and returned to her place.
Next, Cid turned his gaze to Rose. "Rose, if you please," he called.
Rose hesitated, her nerves showing, but she stepped forward and knelt before Cid with a determined expression.
Claire, look at what you've started, Cid thought with an inward sigh before continuing.
"You've no doubt heard the phrase, 'Patience is a virtue.' Of all people, you understand the truth of this better than most. The trials your kingdom faced taught you patience in ways few could imagine. Though it was difficult at first, you held back, waiting for the right moment to strike and reclaim what was yours. For this, I bestow upon you the name and powers of Patience."
As he knighted her, a golden Godrune materialized on the back of Rose's hand, shimmering with light.
"This Godrune grants you the power of Temporal Manipulation," Cid explained.
"Thank you—" Rose started, but Cid held up his hand, cutting her off and confusing her.
"There's… something else," Cid began awkwardly. "Which I may or may not have forgotten to give you. Or inform you about."
Rose's brow furrowed further, her confusion evident. Suddenly, from Cid's shadow, a small white wisp emerged, gradually transforming into the familiar shape of her father.
Rose's eyes widened in shock. "F-F-Father?!" she stammered, disbelief shaking her voice.
The figure of Raphael Geerk Oriana, the former king, crossed his arms and sighed. "So, you finally decided to let me out," he said warily.
"I can throw you back, old man. Don't test me," Cid replied with a scoff before turning back to Rose. "When you… well, killed your father, I took his soul with me. My plan was to return him to you once everything was settled. But, with everything that's happened since then… I sort of kept pushing it to the back of my mind."
'I can't believe I've become a literal afterthought,' Raphael thought to himself with a weary sigh.
Rose covered her mouth with one hand, her other trembling as tears began to flow freely down her cheeks.
With a snap of his fingers, Cid conjured a glowing magic circle beneath King Oriana. His ghostly form began to solidify, his body becoming flesh and blood once more.
As Raphael took a deep breath, now fully revived, Rose tackled him in a fierce hug, nearly knocking him over. Tears welled up in his own eyes as he hugged his daughter tightly in return.
The members of Shadow Garden watched the emotional reunion in silent awe. To see Cid revive someone so casually only reinforced their view of him as a deity.
When their embrace finally ended, both Rose and Raphael turned to Cid, bowing deeply in gratitude.
Cid waved them off nonchalantly. "Don't make such a big deal out of it. I only did this because she's my future wife. Now, get moving—we still have a ceremony to finish."
Rose gave Cid a tight hug, whispering a quiet "thank you" before returning to her spot. Raphael, meanwhile, moved to join the other Shadow members, his presence adding to the group's collective awe.
Cid cleared his throat and addressed the gathering. "Now, let us proceed... Alexia, if you will."
'Finally,' Alexia thought, stepping forward confidently. Unlike the others, she didn't kneel. Instead, she grasped the hem of her skirt and bowed with dignity.
Cid smiled faintly. "Although you don't usually show it and prefer to maintain a strong front, there's a deep sense of kindness within you—"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Alexia interrupted, narrowing her eyes. "I am kind. I'm the kindest there is!"
Cid's eyebrow twitched as he muttered under his breath, "This is why I'm giving you Kindness and not Humility."
Alexia's brow twitched in turn, but she held her composure.
"As I was saying," Cid continued, his tone steady, "there's a kindness within you, an ability to empathize with and acknowledge the struggles of those around you. For that, I bestow upon you the title and power of the Virtue of Kindness."
As he knighted her, a golden Godrune formed on the back of her hand, shimmering faintly.
"With this Godrune," Cid explained, "you are granted the power of Empathic Healing and Emotional Manipulation. You will be able to sense and understand the emotions of others, soothing their pain and inspiring peace, joy, or hope when needed."
"I am most grateful for your generosity and this great honor," Alexia said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Cid leaned down slightly and mouthed, "You only got Kindness because it's the one part of you that isn't abysmal."
Alexia's hands twitched at her sides as she fought the urge to strangle him. Instead, she straightened her posture, plastered on an elegant smile, and returned to her place with practiced grace.
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