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Epic of Caterpillarchapter 439: inner realms

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"Well… we already knew that your soul was strange, mysterious and unique… and that you were somehow capable of reincarnating a few souls… but… you have an Inner Realm inside of it?!" shouted Levana.

"Yeah… it happened even before I ate Megusan's soul pieces. But since then, this Inner Realm has become bigger… I even managed to create a Dream Attribute Dungeon inside of it" I said.

Everyone was already surprised by what I said… but after dropping the bomb of the dungeon, they became frozen still.

Rimuru glanced at everyone with a confused expression.

"Gu? What got into all of you? Isn't it great that Masta can do that? Praise her!" asked Rimuru.

Agatheina was the first to talk.

"It is… it is amazingly great! I could not expect anything else from Kireina-sama! You can store the souls you devour, even reincarnate them… and you can even use that space to create dungeons and other places!" she shouted.

"Indeed! To be expected of our Master!" said Bovdohr.

"That's right! Kireina-sama is the best after all!" said Nomera.

"You created a dungeon inside your very soul…? T-That is crazy…! No gods are capable of doing something like that!" shouted Marnet.

"To start with, our Divine Realms are a special space that we create inside of our Divine Cores, which are located inside of our Divine Souls… your Inner Realm is something almost similar to this, but it seems to be even greater and spacious… and to begin with, no mortal should even be capable of creating their Inner Realms!" said Hodhyl.

"Well, the point that Hodhyl is trying to reach is that… we gods cannot create Dungeons inside of our Divine Realms… it is impossible. Dungeons need to be created in the outside world, as they draw on the energy of the environment to exist. Also, they need their own Circle of Reincarnation to keep monsters spawning… but you seem to already have the last one without having to ask a God of the Souls and Reincarnation Pantheon…" muttered Morpheus.

"Do you not feel weakened since you created the dungeon?" asked Merveim.

"No… I've even felt stronger. I am currently exploring it with one of my Aura Clones/Avatars. I am even gaining Experience Points and abilities through defeating the monsters inside and eating them with my Aura Clone" I said.

"Well… we already knew that you were able to somehow eat with your own Aura… but this… it's incredible!" said Maeralya.

"If Kireina-sama is capable of developing dungeons inside of her own soul, then she could even develop a whole world inside, more than just a realm! We could even fit all of your population inside… or the entire Realm of Vida!" said Agatheina.

"Really? That much?" I asked.

"Yes… Kireina, you seem to not understand something about Dungeons… Dungeons are a space of their own as well, and they might seem small outside but inside they can expand for several kilometers, or even have their own giant biomes such as my former Dungeon" said Morpheus.

"If you begin creating dungeons after dungeons inside of your soul, you can expand its space almost endlessly! Imagine how many biomes can you have inside, all separated by dungeons. You would be able to harvest materials of all attributes!" said Hodhyl.

"Well, I have a leftover Dungeon Core, I was planning on making it a Soul Attribute Dungeon. I bet there aren't any of those in here as well" I said.

"T-There isn't any… indeed… the sole thought about a Dream Attribute Dungeon in the Realm of Vida is baffling. If the Great Goddess of Nightmares and Dreams, Freyja, were to know about this… she would get quite angry" said Marnet.

"Haha! So what? She cannot do anything; this is not the Realm where she inhabits! This is the Realm of Vida! Kireina-sama will be the new Goddess of Dreams in here!" Said Agatheina.

All the gods were too bewildered by these notices… and my family was also curious, they seemed to want to explore my Inner Realm.

The classes for Divine Energy manipulation have not started yet, but I suppose it was fine to let them enter to see around.

"Well if you want to take a peek, it's fine. But be wary of the souls inside… there are thousands of them. They cannot do anything to you though, but they might a be bit annoying." I said as I opened a portal that led to my Inner Realm, Soul World.

Flash!

The God's projections glanced at the inside of the portal as they were not able to enter just as projections.

"The environment of this Inner Realm is so mysterious…" said Levana.

"So many souls…" said Nomera.

"The sky it's so dark and cloudy. It feels like home" said Bovdohr.

"That purple building… is that the dungeon?" asked Agatheina.

"Yes… the entire floor of the Inner Realm is some kind of crystalline water. I filled the Dungeon Core with Dream Attribute Mana and then dropped it into this water. The Dungeon was then created simultaneously." I said.

"This crystalline water… can you take it out?" asked Morpheus.

"I can take a bit…" I said, using my Aura to materialize as a large hand, taking a bit of this water, and then moving it outside of the Inner Realm.

The moment the mysterious water entered the outside world, it evaporated immediately.

"Oh? It evaporated…" muttered Morpheus.

"What a strange material… and you say that it covers your entire Inner Realm?" asked Hodhyl.

"Yes…"

"Could it be? A primordial material? The Water of Eden…" muttered Agatheina.

"The Water of Eden?" I asked.

"Agatheina, that's too rash of a conclusion… it's impossible that- well, maybe. It's Kireina that we are talking about" said Hodhyl.

"Kireina-sama, the Water of Eden is a Primordial Material. A special liquid that possesses the ability to generate energy. Only Great Gods and Supreme Gods possess it… inside of their Divine Realms… but not in such a high quantity… this Water made up your entire Realm pretty much" said Bovdohr.

"It's a special water that grants energy and nourishment to Divine Realms. But it can only survive inside Divine Realms, whenever it touches the outside world, even in a dungeon, it will evaporate and disappear" said Nomera.

Special water? And how could it even appear inside of my soul, to begin with…?

"You're wondering its origins? The Water of Eden can only be created by the True Spirit of Water… who was devoured by Poseidon and other gods in the past. Water Spirits are capable of generating it if they are given Divine Energy… but real Water Spirit not created by the System are extremely rare… only gods that are swimming in Divine Crystals are capable of buying them, like the Great Gods or Supreme Gods" said Agatheina.

"Perhaps Kireina-sama is capable of creating it because she has eaten Spirits and assimilated their abilities and powers?" asked Bovdohr.

"I cannot think of another solution… we Gods are only capable of stealing the divinities of the True Spirits. But weak, mortal-like spirits will not give us anything, no matter how much we eat them…" said Nomera.

"I see… Well, I have eaten a bunch, of almost any Attribute… I suppose that it all stacked into this strange Inner Realm… though there might be other things that influenced its creation, like my own Soul that grew abnormally strong. Eating Megusan made it even stronger at the end" I said.

"Well, it is the only speculation… for now, your family should explore the inside and see how things are," said Morpheus.

"You're right…"

Led by Rimuru and Zehe, most of my family entered through the portal.

The first thing that happened, is that everyone realized that they were walking over the water as if it were made out of a solid material.

"Hmm… the atmosphere is normal in here, there is also oxygen, so we can breathe normally…" analyzed Zehe.

"There is a small cold breeze, coming from the west…" muttered Brontes.

"And the souls�� seem friendly, guu," said Rimuru, patting a dozen souls in the shape of different monsters.

"As far as I can see… there are not any mountains, the entire place seems completely plain. There is the dungeon there… should we take a look?" asked Nesiphae.

"Uwah! I am really inside mommy's soul? This is freaky!" said Vudia, flying around.

"Yes… Hm? We can cast magic and all without any issue" said Ailine.

"Techniques… and even our Auras are fine," said Ryo.

In the end, my family explored the Dream-Attribute Dungeon while being guided by my Aura Clone/Avatar.

We reached around the twentieth floor before I made them resume the Divine Energy Manipulation Classes.

Everyone harvested a large amount of Dream Attribute Monster Corpses, alongside chests filled with riches and special Dream Attribute Materials. Vudia was snacking on a small Dream Horned Rabbit, which she had grilled with her own electricity, she said that it tasted sweet, differently than most rabbits.

"My soul… It feels like it tickles…" Muttered Vudia.

"Your soul? It might be the effects of eating Dream Attribute materials, which are one of your affinities…"

"Ah! It ranked up! It's Rank 5 now!" said Vudia.

The Gods glanced at Vudia easily ranking up her Soul by just eating items…

"That's… is it something inherited from Kireina?" asked Morpheus.

"Yes, it should be… her children had inherited part of her Devour, and can draw on energy by eating the materials of their attribute affinities… by eating Dream Attribute flesh, Vudia-chan soul ranked up." Analyzed Agatheina.

"Hmm… perhaps if I can create a Soul Attribute Dungeon, I will be able to harvest Soul Attribute Monsters materials and easily rank up the soul of everyone no matter their affinities?" I wondered.

"I-It is worth a try…" muttered Morpheus.

"I wish I could give you a Dungeon Core, but they are expensive and hard to create," said Levana.

"I do have a few in my Item Box… here, Kireina-sama, please, create many dungeons so everyone can grow stronger," said Agatheina.

The rest of the gods did not have such items. It seems that Dungeon Cores are expensive to create, as they need to be made with special materials, and also large quantities of Divine Energy.

Agatheina had three leftover ones that she had planned on using someday. There were a Medium-sized one and two Lesser ones.

"I would recommend creating dungeons that are of rare attributes in this Realm… Though a Life Attribute one could result in its inside being filled with more attributes, similar to Morpheus" said Agatheina.

"Will do, thanks Agatheina," I said.

"Uwah… Kireina-sama, there is no need to thank me!" said Agatheina, blushing.

"But perhaps… could I kiss your feet?" asked Agatheina…

"No… Don't do that" I said.

"Ah! S-Sorry, did I sound too creepy? Am I a degenerate? Please, Kireina-sama, punish me!" shouted Agatheina. Clinging on my feet.

��Agatheina… stop this! Now go and teach my children how to use Divine Energy! …That's your punishment!" I shouted.

"Oh! Yes! Yes! Gladly!" she said.

"Kireina-sama, can we be punished as well?" asked Bovdohr.

"Please!" shouted Nomera.

"What? Why would I punish you two? Well… teach Belle everything you know! That's your punishment…" I muttered.

"Gladly!" said Bovdohr, smiling with his eyeless face creepily.

"It will be as you say~!" said Nomera, coquettishly.

Handing gods is quite hard. But I did my best.

As I learned from their teachings, even if I was not able to generate Divine Energy, I took care of my seven harpy children by dividing my body, with Nephiana as well.

They mostly played around the empty dungeon area, it was a heartwarming moment with my wife and children.

At the same time, I learned a lot about Divine things with my first body, and spend some time with Mady and her eggs with another body.

I think I am getting better at dividing my body and administrating them with the same mind. Unlike Slime Clones who have wills of their own.

Using my Aura Clone, I kept exploring the Dream Attribute Dungeon and hunted several beasts, greater beings began to appear, such as Nightmare Lizards, Lesser Dream Dragons, and Chaotic Dream Specters. Unlike my family, I was reaching floor sixty by now.

More and more Dream Realm Portals showed up, but I sealed them inside doorless rooms, as they might be dangerous.

After the classes, we had a large dinner with my large family, it is always very lively. And at night, things became very heated…

[Kireina] gained 68.340.220.147 EXP!]

[LEVEL 075/250] [EXP 205.376.452.180/515.000.000.000]

[You learned the following Skills]

[Nightmarish Specter Claws]

[Dream Scales Creation]

[The Levels of the [Divine Energy Understanding; Level 3], [Eclipse & Dawn Magic; Level 1], [Phantasmagoric Puppet Thread Arts; Level 7], [Demon Iron Hair Arts; Level 7], [Demon Steel Hair Manipulation Arts; Level 6], [Wisdom Whale Heavenly White Horn Creation; Level 5], [Horn of Forbidden Nightmares; Level 5], [Demon Beast Crimson Horns; Level 5], [Draconic Horns of Windstorm; Level 4], [Divine Emerald Horns that Summon Thunderstorms and Windstorms; Level 3], [Devilish Horns of the Venom Deity; Level 3], [Heavenly Life Horns of the Fierce Manticore Sovereign; Level 3], [Global Charming Illusion; Level 5], [Love Connection; Level 9], [Lustful Ecstasy Nectar; Level 8], [Pleasure Mind Attack; Level 9], [Greater Sexual Resiliency; Level 8], [Endless Sexual Lust, Tireless Libido and Adaptability; Level 8], [Brainwash Master; Level 7], [Charming Tower; Level 6], [Love Extraction; Level 8], [Sexy Provocation; Level 8], [Savage Love; Level 8], and [Freezing Kiss; Level 4] Skills have increased!]

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