Dimension Game Empire Chapter 480

This was just a verbal agreement, with no binding force.

But the moment he woke up and saw Pandora’s smiling face, Xia Yan understood that Pandora had really been watching his situation and keeping the promise. This was by no means a simple sense of responsibility; this mother of the Godslayer was not just one in name.

Genuine concern—

“Although the way she expresses her concern is a bit clumsy, I don’t dislike such a cute elder.” “…Hoo.”

Moonlight shone brightly on the ground, Xia Yan exhaled, looked up at the fair moonlight, and the fireflies dancing in the night sky.

Before Pandora told him the specific time, Xia Yan didn’t know how long he had stayed in that dead world. Because in that situation, he had forgotten the concept of time, and was just repeating the same action.

“Is this the feeling of being reborn…”

Xia Yan smiled slightly.

The Dark Rite of Epimethius—this great ritual that gave birth to Campione, was an ritual that used ‘gods’ as sacrifices to usurp their authorities. The ultimate result was the birth of beings called ‘Campione’.

But after all, it was power plundered from ‘gods’, and could not be used perfectly.

Not to mention the heavily restricted Ten Incarnations Authority of Veleslana.

Even Lilith’s Authority, Xia Yan had not been able to use perfectly before. In the battle of Godslayers, Lilith had once used the two incarnations of the Vampire King and the Demon together.

After becoming a Godslayer, Xia Yan couldn’t do this.

Moreover, Authority had its limits.

Godslayers could constantly improve their control over Authority through battle, and even transform it through hard work. However, when Authority reached a certain level, there was no way to increase it any further.

The reason was simple.

This was the power of ‘gods’, and the limit of ‘gods’ was here. No matter how you cultivated, you couldn’t surpass something that wasn’t your own.

To put it simply, 『Authority』 had an absolute level cap.

Constantly fighting and accumulating experience points would allow you to reach the maximum level. But after that, no matter how much effort you put in, you couldn’t continue to become stronger. To surpass this point, you had to break the level cap and transcend the limitations of Campione.

For example, the incarnation of 『Bull』, its most basic divine formula, could double strength.

However, the limit of 『Bull』 was a sixfold increase.

No matter what, it was difficult to surpass this point.

In this respect, 『Grace』, which was also the power of gods, was stronger than Authority.

Because although 『Grace』 had a low starting point and relied entirely on oneself, it had no limit.

Every Godslayer was a dragon among men, with talents and possibilities that others couldn’t imagine.

But—only Xia Yan had succeeded in breaking the limits of Godslayers in thousands of years.

In addition to his own efforts, the opportunities Xia Yan had obtained in other worlds could not be ignored, which was also the biggest difference between him and other Godslayers.

Now, the existence within Xia Yan that was similar to 『Authority』 could no longer be called Authority.

Because it was no longer the power of ‘gods’, but a power that had been completely analyzed, understood, and belonged to him.

Perhaps it would be more appropriate to call it 『Divine Thaumaturgy』.

Not only Authority, but Xia Yan’s other powers had also broken through their boundaries and been redistributed.

For example, 『Grace』, he had accumulated an excessive amount of experience points since leaving the Dungeon world, with Evangeline, with gods who were not obedient, with Godslayers, with Players, and with other various battles and cultivation.

This excessive amount of experience points naturally allowed Xia Yan’s 『Grace』 to evolve to an incredible degree.

But now, even Hestia couldn’t see Xia Yan’s 『Grace』 anymore.

Because 『Grace』 had also broken through its boundaries and become Xia Yan’s own thing.

It possessed the characteristic of being able to continuously level up as long as he ‘fought’.

This one hundred and twenty-eight years was the sublimation of his foundation.

These were just the two most representative examples, and Xia Yan himself hadn’t figured out the other changes yet.

“I need some battles to figure out my current strength.”

Xia Yan muttered in a low voice.

Only battle could allow him to familiarize himself with his current power faster and understand how strong he was now.

“You’ve returned.”

A voice as quiet and calm as the surrounding night sky echoed. This voice not only did not break the beauty of the night sky, but instead blended into the night, making people feel relaxed and happy.

A girl stood beside the altar, her silver hair falling to her shoulders, emitting a faint glow as if it had melted into the moon. Her night-like dark snake eyes looked at Xia Yan calmly, but never moved away.

“You’ve been waiting here all this time?”

Remembering what Pandora had said, Xia Yan slowly walked forward.

“Yes, didn’t I say so? I will definitely witness the moment you achieve transcendence with my own eyes. This is the promise between you and me. I thought I would have to wait a while longer, but I didn’t expect you to be back in just half a year.”

“I can’t feel your aura anymore, it seems you have succeeded.”

Athena slightly raised the corners of her mouth.

“You’re as unfrank as ever.”

Xia Yan walked unhurriedly to the girl, gently stroking Athena’s fair face with his hand. His fingertips traced across her translucent and tender skin.

“Waiting here for half a year… only you would do such a thing.”

He shrugged, expressing his feelings about Athena’s stubborn behavior. This wasn’t a matter of the depth of their feelings, it was purely due to her personality. Xia Yan had once called Athena’s stubbornness ‘pig-headed’.

But undeniably, Xia Yan felt happy about it.

One hundred and twenty-eight years was a very long time, and Xia Yan never thought that he would have spent such a long time. Coming back from that dead and lonely world, he had a feeling of being reborn.

But Athena’s stubborn behavior just happened to touch his heart.

It was like a wandering son returning home after decades of hardship, and the girl from his childhood had been waiting for him at the door for a hundred years—this kind of tranquility, permanence, and intoxication.

For Athena, it was definitely an unexpected surprise to be able to see Xia Yan in just half a year.

As a ‘god’, she couldn’t possibly not know how difficult it was to transcend this boundary, but even so, she was still waiting here.

Athena had decided to keep this ‘promise’, even if it meant waiting for thousands of years. Perhaps she had already prepared for the possibility that Xia Yan would fail and she would wait forever.

“…Did you come back just to touch me?”

Athena let him hug her, not resisting. She watched him bury his head in the hollow of her collarbone, feeling the man’s gentle touch on her neck.

Xia Yan didn’t reply, placing the girl in his arms on the grass. Under the moonlight, the beautiful woman was looking at him.

Athena’s small face showed a hint of confusion, and her fair hand gently stroked Xia Yan’s cheek, feeling the man’s warm face.

“Why are you so uncharacteristically eager for me?”

“I’ve just learned to cherish the good things more. Little Athena, I’ve decided, I will never return the ‘snake’ to you. You are the most beautiful as you are now, and it is this appearance of you that I deeply remember.”

Xia Yan teased the beauty under him, his voice soft. His gentle voice, however, had an undeniable resoluteness.

“I will never let you escape. Now that you have fulfilled the promise and want to leave, no matter where you run, I will catch you back and tie you tightly to my side. You are my ‘guardian’.”

“…A man of sweet words.”