My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger Chapter 850 - 851: Elixir Of Pseudo Immortality

The domain was a vast white void, stretching infinitely with pillars that rose from an unseen floor far below. A heavy, sacred aura permeated the atmosphere, exerting a powerful pressure that forced any visitor into a state of silent awe.

A sphere hovered at the center of these numerous pillars, ringed by bands of shimmering gold. Inside the orb, a radiant liquid swirled in slow, deliberate cycles, as if directed by a hidden consciousness.

A solitary man stepped into this pale expanse.

Though his face remained composed, a great weight sat upon his heart. He carried a parasol, its grip linked to a delicate chain that produced a soft jingle with every stride. The faint noise was quickly lost in the immense silence of the chamber.

He came to a halt on a pillar near the center, positioned close to the rotating golden orb.

The Elixir of Pseudo Immortality.

He stared at it for a long moment. He had encountered the substance before, yet it never failed to stir a sense of quiet terror within him.

Legends claimed that the god Aetherus had crafted the elixir himself, distilling it from the essence of all the lesser deities. Drinking it granted a state of pseudo immortality to the consumer.

However, greed followed its birth. Even the minor gods lusted after it, leading to its placement under the protection of Seraph Null. It was commanded to be kept here, alongside the heretical god Lazarak, who remained shackled in the deepest pits of Eidolon, forever denied the sun.

Half of the concoction had already been drunk by Aetherus.

As long as the god endured, the world survived. Thus, any method used to sustain him was deemed righteous, even if it meant stacking immortality upon a being who was already eternal.

But were the gods of minor worlds truly deathless?

Planets eventually perished. Even stars, which burned for eons, would one day flicker out.

The elixir did not truly prolong one's life. Instead, it made the body nearly impossible to kill.

’If that is the case, why is it only called pseudo immortality?’

The conclusion was plain to see.

Even this masterpiece by Aetherus, the god of life, possessed flaws.

The man flinched as soon as the thought crossed his mind. It was heresy. His heart hammered as he closed his eyes, muttering a frantic prayer for mercy.

He was already in disgrace. He had come here to face judgment. And yet, he still entertained such rebellious notions.

With a dull thud, he sank to his knees on the pillar.

The Apostles sat before him. They were Wardens like him—beings who should have been his brothers. He ought to have been among them, seated in a position of honor and authority.

Instead, he was forced to kneel.

"I appear before the Apostles, humbled by my own incompetence," he declared, his voice remaining firm despite the crushing aura in the room.

"You have failed us, Wind."

The freezing remark came from the Apostle of Fire. Embers danced around his body, contained but ever-smoldering.

"Your blunders have brought shame to the Wardens and tarnished the glorious name of our master, Seraph Null."

The kneeling man bit his lip. The Apostle of Fire had always held a grudge against him, and this was the perfect moment for his rival to destroy him.

Nevertheless, he suppressed his resentment.

"I am filled with shame."

A splashing sound rang out as water shifted and pooled nearby.

The Apostle of Water gave a mocking sneer, her liquid form trembling.

"Ashamed? You should be. You departed this place bragging about how you would handle that Evangel, yet despite having the numbers and the high ground, a nameless nobody defeated you."

The kneeling man bowed his head further, his muscles tightening.

That individual was no nobody.

He was arrogant and powerful, with the strength to justify his pride. Even worse, he possessed a strange charisma that allowed him to sway others without using force.

Sand cascaded down the pillar where the Apostle of Earth stood. His voice was as steady as stone.

"The story of your defeat is spreading. Our control over the branded is slipping. Now, they have found hope. They realize that we are not invincible."

Those words cut deeper than any physical wound.

He had no defense. No excuse to offer.

That man had escaped him. If he only had one more opportunity, or a bit more time.

"That is enough."

The room grew bright as the Apostle of Light intervened. His body glowed with a pure white radiance, formed entirely of sentient light.

"Your conflict destroyed several districts. Thousands perished, including the chained knights we spent vast resources on."

The light throbbed, pulsing with a controlled power.

"The era is changing. An increasing number of powerful entities are being locked away in our realm. Those considered too hazardous are thrown into Eidolon, but those remaining here are growing in strength. Their combined power is reaching a point where we can no longer simply crush them with ease."

The Apostle of Darkness stirred beside him, his voice a deep snarl.

"They are nothing but insects."

"Those insects outnumber us by a factor of a thousand."

Water rippled as the Apostle of Water spoke again, her voice surprisingly soft.

"We cannot permit any skepticism regarding our dominance. If we do, our entire society will crumble."

The Apostle of Earth leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest.

"And yet, the great Seraph Null remains with us. With his support, their numbers are irrelevant."

Laughter broke out among the Apostles.

Except for one.

The Apostle of Wind remained in his kneeling position.

"What if they have found a god of their own?"

The mocking laughter stopped instantly.

"You are already aware," he whispered. "Lazarak is trapped here. And we have lost all contact with the Arch Archivist."

A heavy silence gripped the chamber.

"Escape from Eidolon is impossible," the Apostle of Fire snapped. "It cannot be done. Not even by a fallen god like Lazarak."

The Apostle of Water wavered, her body flickering.

"A scouting party has been dispatched to check on Eidolon. Though I doubt they will even manage to gain entry."

"Then it is a waste of time," the Apostle of Earth said bluntly.

The Apostle of Light emitted a soft glow before speaking once more.

"There is strange activity within the city. The branded are not merely being killed; they are vanishing entirely. This is happening most frequently near the Grinding Gate."

"Hmph. A rebellion," the Apostle of Chains remarked, the metal binding his body clinking. "Insolence must be answered with pain."

"Deploy the knights," he added. "Thin their ranks."

The others signaled their agreement, their faces cold as they condemned millions to a violent end.

"For the time being," the Apostle of Light concluded, "the Archivist will continue the investigation."

Finally, their cold gazes returned to the man on his knees.

"Now," the Apostle of Fire said, his flames surging, "it is time for your punishment."