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Elayne stood up amid the surrounding nature and realized her power had surged even further. It now combined not only her original divinities but the new ones she had unlocked as Tartarus—a completely fresh set of abilities.

Strange circuits spread through her entire being, similar to the game-like system she remembered from Arcadia. However, unlike with Elena and her friends, the process was taking far longer because of her immense strength. She set it aside for the moment; it posed no threat to her life and instead bolstered her soul’s vitality.

"She’s awake!" the Black Dragon celebrated, tears glistening in her four eyes as she gazed at Elayne.

"Auntie!" Anna called. Her transformation faltered as she struggled to hold on.

"Ruler!" Yasuke exclaimed, visibly relieved. "You’re finally back to normal?! Oh, thank god!"

"F-Finally..." Olivia cried. Covered in deep wounds, she vomited blood as she lay dying. "E-Elayne... you’re safe..."

"Olivia...!" Elayne gasped. She pulled Olivia into her arms, watching helplessly as the woman fought for life. She quickly enveloped her in healing magic, but a deep curse now coursed through her veins, devouring her from within. "This curse...! It’s really him!"

"E-Elayne..." Olivia’s tears streamed down her face as her life faded.

Elayne tried to cleanse her body, but she knew it would take too long. Options were running out. All the while, Berserker laughed maniacally and charged at her with his enslaved Nightmares, now transformed into Vengeful Nightmare Spirits.

"HAHAHAHA! GOOD! I’M GLAD YOU’RE BACK, RULER! TIME TO END THIS ONCE AND FOR ALL!!!"

"Mom! He’s coming!" Elena shouted, too exhausted to move.

Everything now rested on Elayne.

She closed her eyes. Dark and golden wood surged forth as the powers of Gaia and Tartarus merged into a perfect duality of darkness and light.

RUMBLE!

A massive dual forest of life and darkness erupted, spreading golden and obsidian trees across the battlefield. A sea of millions of spirits surged forward, followed by ancient titans and giants—children of Gaia—as well as demons and horrors born of Tartarus.

"W-Wha...?!"

Berserker gasped in disbelief as the colossal army of mythical beings raced toward him. They tore through his Vengeful Nightmare Spirits with ease, then struck him with overwhelming force. The impact sent him flying through several buildings before he crashed into the barrier sealing the area.

"Gaaahaa?!" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

He vomited blood, a sharp pain piercing his Spirit Core. A golden sword—conjured from metal-like wood—had impaled it. Elayne had launched the blade the instant a cyclops struck him.

"W-What is this—Nnngghh?!"

He gasped as the parasitic "Curse" that had granted him power and independence began to tremble and shatter, rapidly draining his strength.

"I-Impossible! D-Did she find out about my benefactor?!"

With frenzied eyes, Berserker panicked. Kaguya and the Vampire Queen, having just finished off Ulric, rushed toward him and unleashed their strongest attacks. Blood Novas and Sunlight Beams bombarded him mercilessly.

"GAAAAHHH! D-DAMN IT!!!"

BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM!

"Master!" Ninsun cried. She desperately tried to heal Olivia from the potent curse Berserker had inflicted, but the woman showed no signs of recovery. It was a curse from Cain himself—from God.

It was the same curse that had crippled the Werewolf King—too deadly to be cured quickly. Unlike the Werewolf King, who could endure it, Olivia was far too weak.

"Elayne... I..." Olivia struggled to speak, gently caressing Elayne’s face. "I-I... I..."

"Olivia..." Elayne whispered, tears falling as her own appearance shifted—her hair turning white, eyes burning red, skin darkening to gray.

"I love... I love you..." Olivia murmured in her final moments, gasping for air between sobs. "I-I’m... sorry..."

Overwhelmed by emotions she had never felt before, Elayne hugged her tightly. Then she slowly opened her mouth, revealing sharp fangs.

"I won’t let you die... Don’t worry. You can tell me all about your feelings afterward..." Elayne said softly before sinking her fangs into Olivia’s neck.

"Ah...! Wha...?" Olivia gasped. A wave of ecstasy washed over her as Elayne drank. "What’s... happening...?"

Olivia slowly lost consciousness. The Curse of God that Berserker had inflicted began to recede, melding with her bloodline as an even stronger force—no, a blessing—took hold.

It was a blessing of Nature and Darkness, of Light and Shadow, of Divinity and Malice fused into one. Born from Elayne’s newly merged powers and drawn from the sealed Blood God Emperor, Noah, within her soul.

"Ahhh!"

Olivia, who had seemed dead, suddenly gasped for air. Warmth flooded her body once more. Her heart beat stronger and faster, filled with vibrant vitality.

"E-Eh?"

Her appearance had transformed. Streaks of white now ran through her long red hair, and her blue eyes had become a striking deep red and gold. She now possessed long canine fangs, sharpened nails like claws, and a pair of elegant antler-like horns made of black wood, beautifully adorned with red leaves. Her ears had grown long and elven.

"What... happened to me?"

For a moment she feared she had become a vampire, yet she felt no chill or sadness—only life. Her heart pounded with unprecedented energy, free of the despair and loneliness that plagued all vampires.

It was... a completely new species.

"Olivia, are you okay?" Elayne asked, holding her tenderly.

"I-I... Elayne?! W-What happened? Wait, did you... did you heal me?" Olivia asked in disbelief.

"I did something similar," Elayne nodded. "I wasn’t sure if it would work, but the Curse of God has dissolved into your bloodstream and become part of your power through this Blessing."

"B-Blessing?" Olivia asked. "Why do I have vampiric traits but feel so alive?! Am I a Dhampir? And these antlers?! Eek! My dad is going to make such a fuss if he sees them! C-Can I saw them off?!"

"Hahah..." Elayne laughed, heartened to hear her react like a proper young lady worried about her prestigious father’s opinion. "I wouldn’t recommend that. They help regulate spiritual energy and vitality throughout your body. They’re part of what I assume is a new species or bloodline of vampires I may have accidentally created. You’re the first member of this clan—a Pure Blood."

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