Vol. 6 Ch. 134

The next day, at the Golden Thunder Clan, in front of the Five-Spirit Altar, the clansmen had already gathered early in the morning.

"Why did the High Priest summon us so early? Is there something important?"

"I don't know. It's been a long time since the High Priest so urgently called all of us together."

"Could it be he's planning to organize the troops again and go out to search for the Thunder Spirit Core?"

"Really? It's already been more than ten years since the last fruitless search. Can we really find it again?"

...

The clansmen were all discussing.

Until eight o'clock in the morning, High Priest Dimo walked up onto the altar under the clansmen’s puzzled gazes.

As the discussions gradually quieted down, Dimo slowly swept his gaze over the clansmen gathered below the altar, then opened his mouth and said,

"Everyone, it is my great honor that to this day, you still respond to my summons. This proves that you recognize me as your High Priest. Truly, I am deeply honored."

After speaking, Dimo bowed deeply to all the clansmen present.

But the people below the altar didn't understand what Dimo was trying to pull.

Why was he suddenly bowing and giving thanks?

Could it be that something major was about to happen within the clan again?

Dimo slowly straightened up, his face still bearing a calm and undisturbed expression.

"Everyone here should know that thirty years ago, the sacred relic of our clan, the inheritance left behind by Ancestor — the Thunder Spirit Core — was stolen by the traitor Hera.

The core represents the foundation of our clan, and in the thirty years since losing it, we have been in gradual decline.

The world would never believe that the descendants of the primordial god Zeus would fall so low as to settle in such an isolated place.

To put it nicely, we are living in seclusion from the world, but in truth, it is nothing but rootless decline, reduced to this."

Dimo’s tone grew heavier, filled with regret and resentment toward the theft of the core and toward Hera.

His speech was very compelling.

The clansmen below the altar responded one after another.

"The High Priest is right. These thirty years, our lives have indeed worsened day by day."

"It's all because of that Hera. She wanted to monopolize the power of the core. Did she ever think about what would happen to the rest of us?"

"High Priest, you're suddenly bringing this up today— does it mean you've found Hera?"

Dimo waved his hand, signaling everyone to quiet down.

"No. Not only have I found Hera, I have successfully recovered... the Thunder Spirit Core."

As soon as he said this, the previously quiet clansmen erupted into a fierce commotion—

"Recovered the Thunder Spirit Core?!"

"How did you do it? Didn't they say Hera hid it somewhere absolutely impossible to find?"

"Was it in the Empire? Hera was last seen in the Empire. Did the High Priest recover the core from the Empire?"

"......"

This time, Dimo did not immediately quiet the crowd.

He listened to the astonished exclamations and praises directed at him from below the altar, deeply intoxicated by it.

This was exactly what he had told Carl last night— he needed to use the Thunder Spirit Core to reinforce his prestige and position within the clan.

Although Carl had promised him that once the Void descended, Atos would not mistreat him, but who could know when that future would truly arrive?

So before that big promise materialized, Dimo’s little piece of land was here, within the Golden Thunder Clan.

Thus, he cared greatly about his reputation within the clan.

Enjoying the clansmen’s praise, Dimo waved his hand again.

"Alright, alright, everyone quiet down."

"High Priest, you really recovered the core? Let us see it!"

"Yes, High Priest, show us! After all, it's the sacred relic left to us by Ancestor Zeus!"

Dimo smiled proudly.

"No problem."

Saying that, Dimo waved his hand.

Immediately, the girl named Anie came up from the side of the altar, holding a wooden tray in both hands, with a black cloth covering it.

Anie stood beside Dimo, respectfully presenting the tray before him.

"Everyone, prepare yourselves for the return of the Thunder Spirit Core!"

With that, Dimo lifted the black cloth covering the tray.

And there, glittering with a blue glow, was the crystal.

"It's really the Thunder Spirit Core!"

"The High Priest really recovered the core!"

"As descendants of Ancestor Zeus, the High Priest has not failed the will of our ancestor!"

"......"

Dimo continued to bask in the clansmen's praise.

He closed his eyes, quietly savoring it—

"Hera, in the end, you still lost."

Yet in the next moment, Dimo suddenly heard his own voice and the words that came.

The clansmen also fell into sudden silence, looking around in confusion.

"Who’s speaking?"

"High Priest?"

...

"What’s the point of stubbornly following Zeus?"

"The Thunder Spirit Core you gave your life to protect— in the end, didn't it still fall into my hands?"

...

"It's... it's the core making the sound!"

"No... not just sound. Look carefully, there's an image!"

...

In the image, there was Dimo’s triumphant, arrogant smile.

It looked ridiculous and laughable.

And the voice continued to come from the core,

"Heh... Hera, let the crime of being a traitor follow you into hell."

...

"High Priest, what’s going on? Who were you talking to?"

A clansman below the altar questioned loudly.

Beside him, Anie also took two steps back, accidentally dropping the tray to the ground, then looked at Dimo with some fear.

"High Priest, what did you mean by ‘what’s the use of faithfully following Zeus’? Aren't we all following our ancestor?"

Dimo first looked at Anie. He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Then he looked toward the clansmen below the altar.

The voices of suspicion grew louder.

Dimo panicked a little, subconsciously taking half a step back.

He stared at the Thunder Spirit Core in his hand, muttering,

"What the hell... is happening?"

Shaking his head, Dimo forcibly suppressed his confusion and panic, forcing himself to calm down. He squeezed out a slight smile.

"Everyone, calm down, calm down."

The clansmen quieted, waiting for Dimo's explanation.

Dimo licked his dry lips, thought for a moment, then spoke,

"Yesterday after recovering the core, I was as emotional as all of you. I couldn't help but say some excessive words.

After all, it’s been thirty years. I've been waiting for this day as long as you have. How could I not be excited?

I hope everyone can understand.

I, Dimo, the High Priest of the Golden Thunder Clan! Swear to faithfully believe in Zeus, never to betray Zeus!"

However, the core once again interrupted him, broadcasting his own voice:

"Lord Carl, I have already recovered the Thunder Spirit Core and completely dealt with Leon Casmod—"

Another man’s voice rang out,

"That fulfills the old man's wish. If Leon had survived, the Void would have slowly seeped up from the Nine Abysses, and one day in the future, there would be no way to counter it.

You've done well, Dimo. Once the old man paves the way on this continent, you will be rewarded."

"Thank you, Lord Carl. By the way, Lord Carl, as we agreed before, after retrieving the Thunder Spirit Core, I still need to use it to elevate my prestige within the clan. I only need one day."

...

"What... Void? What is that?"

"And who’s Carl? Why are you calling him ‘Lord’? What kind of deal did you make?"

"Use the Thunder Spirit Core to raise your prestige— and after that day? What do you plan to do with the core?"

"Speak! Dimo! Answer us! What the hell happened?!"

...

The clansmen’s emotions spread rapidly. In an instant, Dimo went from "the heroic High Priest who recovered the core" to "the deceiver who secretly bargained away the core."

Sometimes, the distance from heaven to hell is very far; other times, it is very close.

In just a few short minutes, Dimo experienced this journey.

His whole body went stiff, dumbfounded on the spot.

The clansmen’s shouts seemed to fade away, growing blurry.

"What the hell is happening..."

In his daze, a man's voice suddenly rang out from not far away.

"Hera was not the traitor. Dimo was."

The voice came from the back of the crowd.

Dimo and the clansmen all turned toward the sound.

Anie immediately recognized the man.

"Leon... Casmod?"

Dimo naturally recognized him too.

"Leon, it’s really you? How are you not dead?!"

As if seeing a ghost in °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° broad daylight, Dimo’s legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground.

Leon stepped forward.

The Golden Thunder clansmen automatically parted to make way for him.

Leon’s gaze was like a sharp blade, locking onto Dimo on the altar.

"Thirty years ago, you secretly colluded with the Void, trying to trade the Thunder Spirit Core for future wealth and glory.

Hera discovered your plot and fled with the core.

You deceived the clan, slandering Hera as a traitor, and hunted her to the ends of the earth.

You were never afraid of the core being stolen. You were afraid Hera would expose your conspiracy to the world."

Under the clansmen’s shocked and incredulous gazes, Leon steadily approached the altar.

No one could stop him.

Because everyone wanted to know the truth.

"At that time, the desperate Hera used transformation magic to turn the Thunder Spirit Core into a human.

And like a mother, she placed all her hopes on him, wishing he would walk the right path.

And thirty years later, that human in whom Hera placed her hopes..."

Leon stepped onto the altar, looking down coldly at the collapsed Dimo.

In a low voice, he said,

"—is now standing right before you."

Leon showed no mercy. He grabbed Dimo by the collar and lifted the swindler clean off the ground with overwhelming strength.

Tears welled in Dimo’s eyes.

Not from remorse, but from terror.

He grabbed Leon’s wrist, shaking his head desperately.

"This can’t be... This can’t be! I clearly saw you turned back into a crystal! You can’t possibly be alive!"

Leon laughed loudly.

"It’s true you were deceived. You didn't learn enough about today’s magic system. Phantom Illusion— a simple but very practical A-rank magic."

After a slight pause, Leon added,

"Oh, but I guess I can’t really blame you. After all, even a Starshine Dragon King couldn’t see through the illusion I created. You, a schemer hiding in the shadows, had no chance.

As for that Thunder Spirit Core...

It’s just a replica, one that cost me half my power.

It recorded everything you said last night. I believe..."

Leon, still clutching Dimo, slowly turned to face the countless furious Golden Thunder clansmen below.

"...those recordings are enough for you all to decide who the real traitor is."

"Leon..."

He ignored Dimo and slowly let go.

Dimo’s body dropped.

In the process of falling, Dimo’s senses slowed to a crawl.

He could only watch as Leon grew farther and farther away.

Below, the angry cries of the clansmen became clearer and clearer.

Leon’s face grew distant in his vision...

And from start to finish, on that cold and austere face, no emotion ever appeared.

...

The crowd engulfed the true deceiver.

They beat him, spat on him, cursed him with everything they had.

They unleashed upon him all the grievances and suffering they had borne for thirty years.

He deserved every bit of it.

Leon stood there quietly, watching the scene, with not a shred of mercy in his heart.

"The pain you are suffering now... is not even one ten-thousandth of what Hera endured back then."