Chapter 280
Another effect was the abundance of nature, which was slowly waning with Ikenga gone. Previously, with Ikenga’s presence, nature had embodied abundance and vitality, a flourishing reminder of the balance and harmony that once prevailed. The forests, once lush and vibrant, now appeared increasingly weary. The rivers, which had flowed with a ceaseless, joyous rush, seemed to move with a more subdued and hesitant pace. The vibrant colors of the flowers and the robust growth of the trees had started to pale, as if nature itself was mourning the loss of its beloved guardian.
Jaws, whose divine responsibility is to ensure the lands are nourished with mana-filled rains, felt the weight of his new role more heavily than ever before. The absence of Ikenga, his brother had left a void that none of them had anticipated. Jaws, Brix, and Aqua, now fully ascended spirits, were doing everything in their power to preserve nature, but the challenges were growing.
The forest fire was unlike anything they had faced before. The flames, born from the battles of magical creatures with fire-related abilities, had always been a part of the forest’s natural cycle. But without Ikenga’s presence to contain them, the fires began to spread uncontrollably, threatening the delicate balance of the ecosystem.
Jaws, Aqua, and Brix found themselves in a constant state of vigilance. Jaws summoned rain to douse the flames, but without the precision of Ikenga’s control, the rains sometimes came too late or becomes too much causing more damage.
Meanwhile, on the southern continent, Wardenwild faced his own struggles. Tasked by Keles to ensure the safety of souls in the afterlife, he had always been meticulous in his duty. However, Murmur’s growing influence over the souls around him was a threat Wardenwild couldn’t ignore. He hardly let go of souls around him as he grabs them to recover.
Wardenwild, realizing the severity of the situation, made the difficult decision to leave the spirit realm and establish his presence on the southern continent. His goal was clear: hinder Murmur’s progress and protect the souls from being consumed. But this decision came at a cost. With Wardenwild’s focus solely on the southern continent, other regions began to suffer from his absence. His children, who had always relied on his guidance, struggled to manage the tasks left to them. Unlike before where souls goes directly to the underworld because the gate is opne, now they roam around aimlessly in the physcial world. The living began to notice strange occurrences—ethereal whispers in the night, glimpses of figures that vanished in the blink of an eye, and an overwhelming sense of unease that pervaded the air every night.
The absence of their two siblings also created a two big hole in the shield surrounding their world, and that was the feeling on discomfort mostly come from presurring the other gods.
Mahu, the goddess of Motherhood, was particularly affected. She had always felt a deep connection with Ikenga, whose presence had been a source of stability and comfort. His absence left her with a sense of loss that grew more unbearable with each passing day. As her emotions fluctuated, so too did her divine influence over childbirth. Pregnant women across all races began to experience complications, and the once joyous occasion of birth became fraught with danger. The birth rate plummeted, and families across the land grew anxious, unsure of what had caused this sudden change.
When her siblings noticed the unsettling changes in the world—complications during childbirth, a plummeting birth rate, and the growing anxiety among families—they approached Mahu with concern. They gently informed her of the effects her sorrow was having on the world, hoping that awareness might help her regain control over her divine influence.