Volume 5 Chapter 0074 The return of the era of disaster? - I, The Dragon Overlord

Since the awakening of the deities, there have been immense changes in the nations and powers of the main material realm of San Soliel. The southern continent is occupied by the dragon kingdom, the eastern lands are the domain of the orcs, and the central San Soliel Mountain Range divides the west and north into numerous federations formed from the remnants of the once-mighty Subila Empire. The incarnation of the Goddess of Misfortune found herself in one of these kingdoms, the territory of the former Grand Duke of Subila, now known as the Aioa Duchy. Important life stages such as birth, coming of age, marriage, and death are significant celebrations for any church. Every major religious order has its own system for commemorating these special milestones. Today, a wedding was taking place on the estate of a noble within the Aioa Duchy. This was a town with a thousand households. Though not as populous as cities with tens of thousands, it was certainly much larger than an ordinary village. Beautiful farmlands surrounded the town, tended by tenant farmers in service to the local noble. They grew crops, brewed wine, raised horses, or worked in the noble’s manor. The prosperity of the land was a testament to the wealth of its noble. Today, the nobleman’s son was to be wed, and the bride hailed from a well-known family in the Aioa Duchy. The family worshipped the God of Law, who was an aspect of the Goddess of Dawn, ensuring the wedding adhered to the doctrine of the Law Church. The bishop of the largest city nearby, who was also the chief justice, personally arrived at the small town to bestow blessings upon the newlyweds. Marriage is a day of great joy. On this day, the local residents could enjoy delicious food and exquisite wine, while even travelers passing through were warmly welcomed by the noble. Bards performed music at the ceremony, and some cheerful followers of the Goddess of Joy danced in the streets, spreading happiness among the local populace. The incarnation of the Goddess of Misfortune slipped silently into the town amidst this merriment, drawing no attention. "No, no invitation for my priests!" As the Goddess of Misfortune wandered the village, She found no trace of Her priests. There was a branch of Her church in the nearest city, but the couple dared to ignore Her laws by not inviting Her clergy to attend. The hosts were followers of the God of Law, a deity of lawful good, and naturally would not invite a priest serving a chaotic evil deity to participate. Yet it wasn't just this. The Goddess of Misfortune noticed members of the Church of the Goddess of Fortune attending the wedding ceremony, a sight that immediately sparked jealousy in Her narrow heart. She envied how many truly adored and respected Her sister, the Goddess of Fortune. These mortals wouldn't even spare a word of respect for Her, the Goddess of Misfortune, fearing Her power rather than revering Her. "These cursed mortals, I'll curse you all, may you be plagued by misfortune for eternity!" The Goddess of Misfortune hissed venomously, scanning the surroundings until Her eyes settled on a fruit tree. She plucked a fruit and carved Her divine name upon it with Her nails. A deity's name holds mysterious power. Once inscribed, the fruit became imbued with Her essence of misfortune. With a smile twisted in malice, She tossed the now rotted fruit into the heart of the wedding festivities, right at the feet of the bride and groom. The nobleman, who had been receiving blessings and chatting with the bishop, noticed the rolling fruit. Curiously, he bent down to pick it up. Seeing a name etched into the fruit, he instinctively read it aloud: "...Benshaba?" Upon hearing this, the bishop of the God of Law turned pale and exclaimed in horror, "Quick, throw that away! It's the name of the Goddess of Misfortune!" At the mention of Her name, the nobleman's face grew ashen. He rushed to discard the fruit, but it was too late. In the next moment, the corrupted fruit dissipated into a thin veil of black smoke that spread to everyone present. The bishop immediately invoked the power of law to shield himself. However, the fruit bore the direct curse of a deity, and no mere priest could fend it off. "Ah—" "What is this?!" "It's inside me!" Chaos erupted among the guests, most of whom were simple farmers. They had never witnessed anything so bizarre, and panic ensued. Shouts of terror and cries filled the air as people scattered. The town guards tried to restore order but were overwhelmed by the hysteria. The wedding descended into pandemonium. "We're doomed. The Goddess of Misfortune Herself has cursed us!" The bishop of the God of Law gazed around in despair, seeking the deity's presence. As a mortal, he couldn't find a hidden god. He realized the turmoil was no coincidence; it was bad luck unleashed, disrupting even a simple wedding ceremony. The curse of the Goddess of Misfortune was notoriously difficult to lift, even for other deities. While the bishop could petition his god for divine intervention, the rest faced a grim future, for the gods were not playthings to be summoned to fix human problems. "Feel the misfortune, you'll never escape My embrace!" The Goddess of Misfortune's incarnation reveled in the chaos She had wrought, deriving satisfaction from the punishment inflicted on those who disrespected Her. Yet She failed to realize that Her actions only fueled fear and hatred, driving people further away. As She basked in the misery, a massive spatial tear opened above, showering the area with countless glowing points. In a heartbeat, pillars of light rained down from the heavens. These beams, with pinpoint precision, targeted Her manifestation. The sky turned a sickly green, and darkness draped the earth. Even the air felt stagnant. The townsfolk froze, staring dumbfounded at the collapsing sky and the light pillars connecting the heavens to the earth. Simultaneously, all the gods sensed a change in the material world and turned their gaze upon it. "This... is a weapon of the extraterritorial civilization?!" "Have they returned?!" "How could it be so soon? The gods have only just awakened, and now we face another 'Epoch of Calamity'?!" Ancient deities, survivors of the catastrophic wars that once nearly destroyed the world, murmured in astonishment, some with doubt, others in fear, and many overwhelmed with uncertainty.