Two hours ter, Rilden exited the pool with the two women, feeling like he was walking on clouds.

  "Although we didn't go all the way, I did get to grope and kiss them while they serviced me with their soft hands... Erose's butt is round yet smooth and squishy, and Astrid's breasts are big yet firm and perky. And their lips and naughty tongues... This is a win." Rilden happily thought, his little brother satisfied for now.

  While getting dressed, Rilden noticed the two women were dressing up slowly. It was as if they were putting on a show.

  "No, they are truly putting on a show!" Rilden's lower body turned heated again as he noticed the gnces they gave him. Astrid even gave him a wink.

  He would be tempted to get more than just handsy if they were not in the literal abyss of death and had a hundred men waiting.

  "I'll wait until we get out of here..." Rilden thought.

  He then recalled the information he received while bathing.

  [Your body has undergone a tier 6 Essence Baptism! Your Warrior and Magician talents have drastically improved, your bloodline has been refined and purified, and its upper limit improved from tier 3 to tier 6!]

  [Due to being refined, your Bloodline Abilities, ,

  , and are more powerful and less taxing.]

  [Due to being refined, your Bloodline Ability, , has higher divination priority and is more resistant to counter-divination and interference.]

  "Er... I don't know what higher divination priority means, but resistance to counter-divination and interference sounds good. Wait, I can be counter-divinated?! Does that mean can be obstructed?!" Rilden was startled.

  Until now, he thought was invincible. Now it looked like it was not.

  "I should probably use my head more when something looks off." Rilden thought.

  He wouldn't stop using it just because of a low chance he would csh with someone else with divination abilities.

  But there was something else that bothered him.

  "Hey, Erose?" Rilden turned to Erose.

  "My husband, what is the matter?" Erose asked, having put on most of her armor.

  "My bloodline improved from tier 3 to 6. What does that mean?" Rilden curiously asked.

  "It means what it means. Before, your bloodline would only provide abilities up to tier 3. Now, it would provide abilities up to tier 6, whether as a warrior or magician. Most common bloodlines are limited to tier 0 or 1 at most, while some mutated ones can reach tier 2, 3, or above. The has an upper limit of tier 6, being a legendary bloodline. But although the limit didn't improve, it was refined, so my abilities are stronger and more efficient now." Erose happily smiled.

  "My bloodline is special due to being granted by Qhiion, called . However, my bloodline limit is very low, only at tier 3. Until now, I only had four abilities- , , , and . Although I am at tier 4, I didn't awaken another ability. These were all passive abilities, and I was merely more sensitive to these four aspects of my god. But now, my bloodline limit improved to 6, and I finally gained an active ability, . I can now kill with my eyes." Astrid's ruby eyes turned to crescents, showing her glee.

  "Okay... That's scary." Rilden muttered.

  "Astrid... Is there any limitation to that?" Erose also warily asked.

  "Of course! It mentally sshes a target and relies on my Shaman Tier and Comprehension. I can cause more damage to a target with stronger magic, and with higher Comprehension, it causes more Mental Damage. It is a two-pronged assault on the mind and body." Astrid proudly said.

  "I am gd she is on my side..." Rilden warily thought and checked his status.

  Name: RildenSex: MaleAge: 18Status: Perfect Condition, Refreshed, Post-Nut critySocial Status: Hero of QhiionSexual Status: Empowered Semi-Virgin Adonis (Well... if hands count. Better than your own hands.)Bloodline: ???(Unknown and refined mutated bloodline at tier 6)Bloodline Abilities: Daily Prophet, Analysis, Precognition, Cirvoyance.Blessing: Qhiion(Hero Blessing)Hero Abilities: Perfect Warrior, Fire of Hope, Ruler's Mark, Carver of PathsWarrior Realm: Initial tier 3. Warrior Talent: 7.Magician Realm: Peak tier 1. Magician Talent: 7.Comprehension: 3.5(Low Profound)Overall Evaluation: A new hero with Mythical Talent and strong, loyal, and sexy subordinates.

  Looking at his insanely high talent, Rilden couldn't help but grin.

  "I once used to have no talent. Now I have Mythical Talent! Erose and Astrid are also Mythical Talents now. Even without more opportunities, our roads will be smooth until the legendary level, and we have a good chance to become Mythical powerhouses! And this is merely the beginning! I am sure I can find many more opportunities!" Rilden excitedly thought.

  After getting ready, the trio returned through the path and backtracked until they reached the rge hall near the entrance. The warriors were already waiting, their bags filled with crystals and ores they dug up. Looking at their expressions, they were beaming and eager to return to the surface with their hauls.

  "Alright, men! Let's get out of this dark pce!" Rilden said while pointing at the exit.

  Without Astrid needing to transte, the men cheered as they wore their bags.

  They then returned, and by the time they reached the exit, it was te afternoon. While eager to get out of the blighted pass, Rilden still didn't forget to cover the cave entrance with boulders again. Even if unlikely, he didn't want anyone accidentally entering and discovering his new treasure trove. The warriors also understood this point and were not disgruntled. It was better to be safe than sorry.

  After burying the entrance, they hastened their steps and jogged for five miles until they were finally out of the damn pass. By then, it was already sunset and close to evening, so they set up camp outside the pass.

  Unfortunately, the two dies didn't visit him that night, likely due to insufficient privacy.

  "We should be at Steorus's capital, Hrisateigr, tomorrow at te noon. We can have some privacy after we conquer it..." Rilden thought and fell asleep.

  The next early morning, Rilden checked his .

  [Your actions are shaping the future of a god, just as he is shaping you! As an ancient human god, Qhiion was venerated as a god of hope in ancient times. But as time passed and humanity grew and prospered to the point of being the dominant race, they turned their swords on each other, and from a god of hope, Qhiion transitioned to a bloodthirsty god of violence. As a result, his favor waned, new gods rose, the pantheon split, and even the barbarians worshipped him less and less due to his bloody ways. He understood he was growing old and obsolete, not keeping up with the times. While so tightly linked to humanity that he would exist as long as humanity exists, he hates being the vilin and still wants to be liked as before and grow along with humanity.

  Wanting to change, he selected honorable and strong leaders, hoping they would lead his religion and humanity to a brighter future. But they all failed him, becoming bloody and savage tyrants as their forefathers, consumed by his power, failing to achieve the metamorphosis he hoped for, and alienating him even more. Out of depression, he stopped blessing new heroes for thousands of years- until you came along- A weak, rude, and curious d from the civilized world, performing miraculous feats and fighting the enemies of humanity despite his weakness and not personally drawing blood. With luck and amusement, Qhiion pced his gambit on you despite having no affinity to him.

  As his hero, you and Qhiion share a tight link, and your actions and use of Qhiion's power will affect both of you, for better or worse. Will you become consumed by his power, becoming another bloody tyrant as your forefathers were? Or will you defy his nature, carve Qhiion a new path to tread, changing him from a bloodthirsty god to a new god of hope once more? You will become more corrupted by his powers if you accept and abuse them. On the other hand, if you persevere, reject his tempting gifts, endure his punishments and threats, and successfully change Qhiion's religion, Qhiion will find a way to change, transforming into the god of hope he yearns to be. If you want immediate power, accept Qhiion's power. But if you wish for long-term development, Hope is the right direction. The choice is yours.]

  The prophecy was as much of an opportunity as it was a huge responsibility.

  "You want to change? And abusing your power will change me? I... Don't know what you expect me to do. I am just one guy..." Rilden felt complicated, a heavy weight on his shoulders.

  After being dazed for a minute, he shook his head. "Forget it. I will deal with things as they come."

  Rilden then checked the other three prophecies, closed his eyes, and inwardly sighed.

  "God... dammit. I don't think even the emperor would have the balls to do what I will do today."

  .

  .

  .

  Wolfgang led the army and arrived at noon before Hrisateigr, waiting for Rilden to arrive. He was currently meeting Sigvor, Audbjorn's brother, and an initial tier 5 warrior.

  "We will not surrender to you, Wolfgang. Not after backstabbing my brother. Especially now that you follow some so-called civilized pup, whom the bloody one deigned to name as a hero for an inexplicable reason, after all these years." Sigvor, a tall and thin bald man with a blond beard who resembled his brother, scowled.

  "As I said, Audbjorn allied with an evil god. He angered Qhiion, and he almost abandoned us because of it! He was so angry with us that he chose a hero from our enemy! I saw it with my remaining eye! And I choose to follow and believe in him." Wolfgang gred with his remaining eye.

  Sigvor flinched but didn't relent, "Even if you believe in the pup, we don't! If he doesn't prove himself a worthy leader, we will fight till the st man, woman, and child."

  "Then, when the time comes, send a champion you deem fit. But no more than one tier above our new hero. You are not cowards, are you?" Wolfgang provocatively sneered.

  "Fine. But you will retreat if he loses." Sigvor spat.

  "Naturally." Wolfgang nodded.

  "Then where is your hero? Shouldn't he come with you?" Sigvor asked, looking left and right.

  "He took a detour and will arrive shortly," Wolfgang replied.

  Just then, a soldier came to report, "My lord! The Hero and Prophetess have arrived with their retinue!"

  "See? Prepare your champion." Wolfgang said to Sigvor.

  "Hmph. I want to see how strong that pup is." Sigvor snorted and returned to his city.

  Soon, Rilden and the others reunited with the main army, dropping the bags of loot they had gathered.

  "You seemed to have quite the haul," Wolfgang said to Astrid, raising an eyebrow at the bags. He immediately noticed the elemental crystals and hearts.

  "It is all thanks to our hero," Astrid replied.

  "Hm." Wolgang nodded and didn't comment. "I have already discussed things with Sigvor. They will unconditionally surrender after our hero duels and wins against their chosen champion. At most, he will be one tier above his."

  "I shall convey it to the hero," Astrid replied.

  Wolfgang nodded and didn't say more.

  Astrid returned to Rilden and expined everything, and he nodded.

  "As expected. I will go there now and duel their champion." Rilden said.

  "Qhiion be with you, my Hero," Astrid said.

  "My Husband, are you sure you will be fine? I never saw you truly fight before..." Erose said with a frown, worried for him.

  "I will be fine. Believe me." Rilden smiled, waved to her, and walked toward the city gate of Hrisateigr under the watchful eyes of two sides.

  On the wooden battlements of Hrisateigr, Sigvor looked over at the young red-haired man who walked toward their city, armed with his brother's axe, and silently narrowed his eyes.

  "The pup is taunting us." One of the tier 4 jarls said.

  "Should this be an honor that a hero wields our Grand Jarl's axe? Or a disgrace?" Another asked.

  "Let me fight him." Suddenly, a feminine voice was heard.

  Sigvor and the other tier 4 leaders looked over and saw a woman in fur armor. Her helmet was the head of a giant bck feline, and her hands were armed with bone cws, not wearing a single piece of metal. She was tall and thin, her limbs long and agile, and her hair tied in a long brown braid, tied to a bone cw like a scorpion's stinger at its end.

  She was Audbjorn's daughter, Audfrey, an initial tier 4 Totem Warrior of Jurgan.

  Sigvor remained silent, knowing she had a vendetta to settle and was indeed the strongest duelist in her realm. There was truly no better choice than her.

  "Fine. Go. Bring the pup's head, avenge your father, and prove the bloody god chose wrong, or die with honor." Sigvor said, motioning with his chin.

  Audfrey ceremonially bowed as a sign of respect before jumping down the wall, gracefully nding like a cat on bare feet.

  Rilden, who saw her walking toward him with light steps, had the illusion that a giant cat was prowling in his direction, ready to pounce.

  Rilden and the tall woman soon arrived 20 steps from one another and stopped.

  "I am Rilden, Hero of Qhiion." Rilden spoke, giving a respectful nod.

  He didn't expect her to understand, but she understood him well enough.

  "Ek em Audfrey, totem vígamaer Jurgans." She replied, giving him a ceremonial bow with crossed hands.

  And then, she got into a battle stance, the eyes under her mask carrying a deadly glint as she pointed her cws at him.

  Rilden also drew his axe and dagger, preparing for the tough fight.

  "Yeah... I hope the wasn't wrong... Or I am fucked." Rilden warily thought as the woman lunged at him.