As they materialized on the farm, the women were initially startled, their hearts racing with fear. However, their fear quickly turned to joy as they realized that the person who had just arrived was none other than Orion.
"Orion!"
"Orion!!"
Celeste, Greta, Reena, Fiona, Gina, Derry, and the others all rushed towards Orion to hug him and check if he was alright. After all, they had all watched him vanish from their sight before they also disappeared and appeared within Anara's section of the farm.
"Nothing bad has happened to me, as you can all see. I am okay," Orion responded, hugging his wives and giving each of them a kiss on the lips.
"Daddy," Grace yelled, pushing through the crowd with Anara following closely. She rushed into Orion's open arms. "Are you okay? I was scared," she added, tightening her grip around Orion.
"I'm okay, so you don't have to worry," Orion responded, kissing both cheeks to brighten her expression.
After he finished, he replicated his romantic actions with Anara, Dariya, and Malaia.
After ensuring all his wives had calmed down and checked on his children to ensure they were alright, Orion introduced them to Aegis of the Arctic Deity, observing the unfolding scene from the side.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})"Everyone, this is Aegis of the Arctic Deity, the god who has been protecting the Orion Cities and the one I've told you all about before," Orion said.
The women instantly became aware of Aegis of the Arctic Deity's presence. They looked at him in surprise, not expecting to meet the famous god that Crystalia and the others had also mentioned to them.
However, they didn't forget their manners and instantly bowed down.
"It's a pleasure finally meeting you, Aegis of the Arctic Deity," they said respectfully, one by one.
Aegis of the Arctic Deity nodded quietly in response.
Witnessing this, Orion coughed lightly, clearing the tense atmosphere in the surroundings. He walked towards the Princess of the Garden. "Here, someone wants to speak with you," he said, giving her the crimson Greatsword.
The Princess of the Garden furrowed her brows in confusion, already guessing whom Orion was talking about. However, she couldn't discern why Aerialia wanted to speak with her at this critical moment.
Nonetheless, she understood that it must be something really important since Orion had come here himself at such a moment.
"Alright," the Princess of the Garden responded, collecting the Crimson Greatsword from Orion. However, just as her hand touched the handle of the Crimson Greatsword, she fainted.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})Fortunately, Orion was nearby to catch her before her body could reach the ground.
"No one should disturb her, no matter what occurs, until she awakens, okay?" Orion said, gently laying the Princess of the Garden down on a comfortable flower bed that Anara had created for her.
Hearing Orion's words, the women nodded in understanding, their curiosity piqued as they gazed at the Princess of the Garden, wondering about the unfolding scene.
Orion returned to his position near Aegis of the Arctic Deity. "I promise you everything will be alright; we already plan to fix our current situation. In the meantime, for your safety, I want you all to stay here until everything is back to normal," Orion said, watching as his wives nodded in agreement.
"You don't have to worry; we don't want to be a burden while you're trying to fix this whole dilemma," Seraphina said reassuringly.
The rest of the women nodded in agreement, assuring Orion that they wouldn't do anything foolish.
As Orion nodded, almost instantly, he and Aegis of the Arctic Deity vanished from the farm and materialized within the Village Chief's compound.
The warriors guarding the Village Chief's compound were startled and poised to attack upon their sudden appearance. However, upon recognizing Orion's familiar figure, they sighed in relief but raised their weapons, ready to activate their gifts, as they didn't recognize the unfamiliar being beside him.
"Stand down! This is Aegis of the Arctic Deity, the god protecting the Orion Cities," Orion spoke loudly, introducing Aegis of the Arctic Deity to them.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})Hearing Orion's words, the warriors' eyes widened in shock. They immediately lowered their weapons and knelt down, bowing in reverence.
"We apologize for not recognizing you, God Aegis," their leader responded, his voice trembling as he dared not raise his hand. He couldn't believe they had been foolish enough to point their weapons at the god protecting the Orion Cities.
Aegis of the Arctic Deity glanced at them briefly before turning around and soaring towards the sundial. He didn't have time to engage in conversation.
"You can return to your work. Just ensure that we are not disturbed," Orion ordered, watching as the guards nodded and swiftly left the area, seeming afraid to stay in the presence of Aegis of the Arctic Deity any longer.
Orion turned around and joined Aegis of the Arctic Deity beside the sundial.
"If everything we've witnessed within your sealed memory is true, then I think it's safe to assume that the barely living manmade god within the sundial is Naka's failed experiment to revive goddess Ilse by transferring her essence into a new body," Orion said, his tone serious as he focused on the sundial.
Aegis of the Arctic Deity nodded in agreement. "There's no need for assumptions as I'm certain it's her. Nonetheless, now that we are aware of its identity, I no longer need to hold back in doing what I had in mind," he responded, stretching his right hand forward and placing it on the sundial.
Instantly, he channelled his divine energy into it, sensing as it converted into Primordial energy, growing in intensity and quantity.
Orion took several steps backwards from the sundial. Although he didn't know what kind of plan Aegis of the Arctic Deity had in mind, he understood that it was something he should observe from a distance.
Suddenly, the primordial energy began to spill outwards, creating a suffocating atmosphere that collapsed on Orion's shoulders, forcing him to the ground before it abruptly ceased, thanks toAegisof the Arctic Deity.
Nonetheless, as the primordial energy continued to spill outwards, it spread from the Village Chief's compound to the Village square and every part of the Village before reaching the border cities around it, immersing everyone within its suffocating atmosphere and causing them to feel a sense of dread flowing up and down their spines.
