Chapter 314: The Multiverse of Bounded Hearts (4)
[A/N: Warning... slight, but important info dump incoming.]
From that moment onward, everyone turned their attention to Akasha and did their utmost to focus on the information he had given them.
With Akasha’s bloodline now at the Saint Rank, the information and knowledge he possessed edged ever closer to encompassing the entirety of the endless collection of multiverses.
However, what he knew for certain was essentially information about every Pantheon on the Multiversal level and how such entities operated.
He began explaining that, for the foreseeable future, the Pantheon of Infinite Dreams would reside on the surface level within the Multiverse of Bounded Hearts.
While the Land of Elsewhere remained accessible to them all through their Dreamer’s Token, they could no longer bring anyone with them, unlike before.
To prevent any invasions like before, anyone trying to enter the Land of Elsewhere who wasn’t a member would be shipped... directly to the surface-level base, and from that point, Number One would handle everything.
He then continued, explaining that 99% of multiverses, including the one they were in, were ruled by a Pantheon with a Multiversal Emperor or Empress at its helm.
Now, things worked the same way across all multiverses...
For a Multiverse to truly earn its name, it had to contain at least nine universes, while every Multiversal Pantheon aimed for the grand goal of ruling ninety-nine universes.
At that point, the Pantheon would be poised for ascension as soon as its ruler was ready, in terms of power rank.
Each Pantheon embraced unique philosophies designed to cultivate supreme divinity, and this case was no exception.
In essence, each multiverse served as a farm for divine supremacy, benefiting its ruler.
This was because every universe within had been conquered, saved, or claimed through various means.
Consequently, they had to push the multiversal philosophy widely, while the ruler sought new universes to claim.
This brought things to the current situation of the Pantheon of Infinite Dreams.
They found themselves in the Multiverse of Bounded Hearts, ruled by the Pantheon of Bounded Hearts, whose philosophy revolved around forging unbreakable alliances through marriage.
This meant that all fifty universes within this multiverse were interconnected in some way.
Every decade, each Universal Pantheon in the Multiverse of Bounded Hearts was required to send hundreds of their strongest members to form alliances with the other surrounding universes.
At first, it didn’t seem like a bad idea, but that was before anyone realized that those who were sent away would never be able to return to their home pantheon.
At least not under normal circumstances.
They were also bound by strict rules, forbidden under any circumstances from doing anything that might cause disruption.
In the end, the marriage was simply an oath meant to keep everything running smoothly, a symbolic gesture that truly forged an "unbreakable alliance."
----
After Akasha finally finished laying everything out, everyone took a moment to take it in.
"Hmm."
Well, everyone needed a moment, except Calista, for she alone, due to the configurations Akasha had made to the Hub of Knowledge, shared a unique connection to it.
Since it was essentially her domain, her understanding expanded alongside his, meaning she was privy to everything he said to the others.
"So, Master... are we supposed to, you know, tear everything down?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.
From her century and a half as his disciple, Calista knew well that Akasha was not one to be controlled.
At her question, the rest of the group pulled themselves from their thoughts, fixing him with curious gazes.
"Or," Amateras began, folding her arms slowly, "are you just going to take their multiverse away from them?"
"Haha, I think Lord Dream would probably just politely force them into an alliance," Harlan chuckled, as each of them seemed to recall the way Akasha had drawn them into his inner circle.
"Why not just take everything for yourself?" Jovian asked with a shrug. "That seems much more like a Main Character to me."
"Just... do whatever you want," Akasha said, his lip twitching slightly.
"As long as you’re not being careless... I really don’t care."
Akasha had accomplished nearly everything he had planned for them, and as usual, there was no chance he would do more unless necessary.
By now, everyone possessed Divine-ranked bloodlines and Stars, and each of them held the Authority of Dreams.
Well, except for Jovian, who didn’t fit into that last category—but even so, everyone was prepared enough to carve their own paths and handle their own problems.
"Well," Jovian said with a faint smile, turning to his companions. "It looks like we will have quite the eventful journey."
As always, Jovian had no plans to join Akasha’s Pantheon—or even knew whether he wanted to create one of his own—but he knew one thing for certain: adventure was calling his name.
"I am fine with that," Melissa said, rolling her eyes. "As long as you are not walking me into a grave that is."
HUMMM!!!!
As they bantered, Akasha waved his hands while Jovian turned around.
Before them, portals had already formed, each leading directly to the Multiverse of Bounded Hearts.
In the same breath, a green apple appeared in front of each of them, skin so clear it looked almost too pure.
[Apple of Instant Growth — Once every decade, this apple can be consumed to grant one major rank increase and +10 BP.]
---
"Consider this my final gift to you for now," Akasha said casually, noting that this Apple was merely a small part of what he intended to dream into existence across the Land of Elsewhere.
While those outside could enjoy the benefits Kalpa would offer, within the Land of Elsewhere it would be a pure paradise of power.
This was a significant reason why Akasha never planned to leave his domain.
"Use them before you depart."
After all that Akasha had accomplished thus far, no one sought a further explanation. They examined the fruit, regarded him briefly, and consumed it.
HUMMMMMMM!!!!!
In that moment, pure divinity rose from the grass in a perfect ring, each figure glowing from within as the apples fulfilled their purpose.
Right before Akasha’s eyes, each person ascended into an Unbound God.
After taking time to settle into their final decrees and newfound power, they all turned their gaze to Akasha.
"Dude," Jovian said, breaking the silence with a shake of his head. "You know what... I’ll just reach out to you sometime."
No words could capture the depth of gratitude everyone felt in that moment.
Instead of trying to say it aloud, each person chose to leave, carrying a quiet resolve and determination building in their minds.
Once Jovian, Nara, Calista, Amaterasu, and Harlan had left, Lliana slowly pulled away from her parents’ arms.
She walked across the grass, eyes already brimming with tears, her mouth opening and closing as if unsure of what to say.
Without a word, she pressed herself against him.
In that moment, she couldn’t care less about anyone watching them, because all she wanted was for him to know she was truly thankful.
Her cheek pressed against his throat, both arms locked around his back, her long black hair spilling over the broken infinity necklace.
Feeling her warmth, Akasha didn’t retreat or flee. He had already decided that Liliana would be his third woman.
His free hand traced the line of Liliana’s spine and lingered there.
Her eyes were tightly shut, but a single tear escaped, sliding down and catching at the corner of her mouth before falling onto his collarbone.
"Thank you... for everything."
The words came out small and complete.
It had nothing to do with the things from today... or even just him returning her mother.
But it was for everything he’d done over the last one hundred and fifty years, helping her attain a power like no other, brought her family back together...
And also calmed her mind, regarding Amber.
Liliana gently turned her face toward his neck, her lips finding the spot just above the necklace.
Her fangs followed, careful, and then she drank.
Mmh~
She moaned softly as the white, purple, and gray blood flowed into her mouth. Akasha smiled faintly, letting her continue, while her fingers tightened on the back of his clothes.
When she finally pulled away, her eyes shone so brightly it felt like staring into a wound that had chosen to become a star.
She licked the mark closed, slow, until the skin remembered how to be skin.
"My husband," she murmured, her forehead resting against his lower jaw.
As she tried to step back, Akasha’s grip tightened slightly.
"My crazy vampire~," he whispered near her ear, "You have three years... three years~."
Pah!
After his words, he gave her ass a soft slap as he released her.
There was no need for him to say anything more; she knew exactly what he meant.
She stood there frozen for a moment, her pale face flushed, before meekly nodding.
Her blood-pool eyes were too bright, and her fingers squeezed his once before he let them go.
Without wasting another moment, Liliana strode back to her parents, her thoughts fixed firmly on the deadline.
"Three years... and you’ll be mine!" she mused with a widening smile as she stepped into the portal.