Game World: I Can Share Talents

Chapter 87: I Can No Longer Offer Complete Loyalty

Demigods are the favored children of the Celestial Gods, their Deputies, their Dominators.

In the Mortal World, they are the undisputed strongest beings beneath the Celestial Gods.

In the past, only at the very beginning of the Imperial founding would the Radiant Holy Tree elevate a Demigod to act as its Deputy, just so it could sustain the war against the Dragon Race.

And to become a Demigod meant... one would inevitably become the Emperor!

’It’s clear now! It all makes sense!’

’Why the Radiant Holy Tree would issue a divine decree specifically to spare Reiya’s life—it wasn’t to torture and punish her, but to nurture and train her!’

’Why the Divine Ancestor never specified an heir to the throne—it’s because one had already been chosen!’

Even under the pressure of the Divine Ancestor’s will, a brief stir went through the silent crowd. Many looked up in shock before quickly lowering their heads again, their backs drenched in sweat.

"!!"

The Regent King, Sylvia, looked as though she had been struck by lightning, swaying on her feet and nearly collapsing.

No matter what had happened during the Trial before, the Regent King had always remained calm, because Sylvia had long considered the Imperial throne a prize already in her grasp.

As the highest ruler in the Imperial Mortal World, she had the luxury of such confidence.

But now, Sylvia’s composure had shattered—utterly shattered. She even wanted to stand up and question the Radiant Holy Tree.

But she didn’t dare.

Sylvia instantly suppressed the impulse, her nails digging into her palms as she stared fixedly at Reiya’s back.

’If that little sister of mine just nods her head, the Imperial throne will slip from my grasp, and I’ll become a mere backdrop for a Demigod.’

"So it is..."

After hearing the Divine Ancestor’s answer, even someone as resolute as Reiya couldn’t help but show a flicker of emotion.

Although she had her suspicions, the confirmation still left her with a swirl of complicated feelings.

’Overwhelming fury? Shocked by the favor? A sense of relief? Numbness?’

’Perhaps it was a bit of all of them.’ Reiya shook her head, casting aside the complex emotions, and continued speaking.

"Even so, I ask Your Eminence to restore what I have lost. This Path of Life and Death... I do not wish to accept it."

’Huh? What is she saying? Is she in her right mind?!’

If the Radiant Holy Tree’s proclamation was explosive, Reiya’s unhesitating refusal was downright heaven-defying. Everyone present was completely unable to comprehend her state of mind.

Shouldn’t she be ecstatic in a situation like this, kowtowing in gratitude for the divine grace?

That was the immense honor of being elevated to a Demigod!

She would become the most powerful and authoritative Dominator in the Mortal World, second only to the Celestial Gods!

Even Westheid was watching Reiya with surprise. To be honest, he hadn’t expected the Silver-haired Princess to refuse so decisively. Faced with such unimaginable benefits, if he were in her shoes, Westheid would have at least tried to negotiate.

"Are you... resentful? Do not sacrifice a great gain for a small loss."

The sublime Celestial God was clearly unwilling to let go of such a promising candidate for Demigod status and actually spoke up to persuade her.

But Reiya wasn’t the least bit moved. She took a deep breath, turned her head to glance at Westheid, and met his gaze.

The Silver-haired Princess gave a silent smile before turning back to reply.

"I am truly sorry, Your Eminence, but I cannot become your Demigod scion."

Then, Reiya dropped to her knees and kowtowed, her voice firm and resolute as she spoke.

"Because this heart of mine can no longer offer you complete loyalty."

"Please fulfill my humble wish. Grant me wholeness... and freedom."

’She’s insane! This is even crazier than when she threw Dragon Thunder at the tree before the Trial!’

Watching Reiya speak such disloyal and unwise words, the crowd in the plaza was in turmoil. They had countless unspoken complaints and criticisms, but under the pressure of the Divine Ancestor’s will, they dared not make a single move out of line. They could only wait quietly for the Divine Ancestor’s reaction.

Would the Celestial God become enraged, turning this comedy into a tragedy and crushing the defiant one?

Or would it disregard Reiya’s wishes and force the Path of Life and Death upon her?

Reiya’s kowtow and plea seemed to have silenced even the Celestial God. After a long moment, the ethereal and vast mental voice of the Radiant Holy Tree echoed out once more.

"So be it. It was not meant to be."

Just as Westheid had predicted, the Radiant Holy Tree had no unyielding desire to elevate Reiya to a Demigod. If she resisted from the bottom of her heart, it could only acquiesce.

Such was the nature of the Holy Tree; it never intended to force anything.

The branches of the Holy Tree Illusion extended, sending down a brilliant radiance that enveloped Reiya.

"Urk... Nngh..."

A scorching wave surged through her body. Reiya’s delicate brows furrowed slightly as she felt a bone-deep pain.

However, this agony was nothing compared to the "Divine Punishment." Reiya gritted her teeth against the pain, focusing on the changes coming from within.

"CRUNCH... CRACK..."

Crisp, crackling sounds pulsed continuously. The Divine Power within Reiya’s body was rapidly receding, and all the organs it had been replacing were being fully restored.

Her liver, blood vessels, heart, lungs, bones...

"THUMP-THUMP—"

The most obvious change was the return of her heartbeat. The heart granted by her Dragon Blood was incredibly strong, each beat majestic, powerful, and enduring.

The Silver-haired Princess dazedly touched her chest, feeling that nostalgic beat as her magnificent eyes widened.

It was a sensation she had nearly forgotten—the rush of warm blood pumping with each and every beat.

And that wasn’t all. Reiya felt a warm current fill her empty eye sockets, accompanied by a stabbing pain that shot straight to her brain. The world before her gradually came into focus, and hot tears, shed from her newly reformed eyes, fell drop by drop to the ground.

From her eyes and torso, the restoration moved down to her legs.

The Radiant Holy Tree’s restoration was surprisingly considerate. It didn’t reject her prosthetics but instead began to transform them, turning the masterpieces of bionic craftsmanship into true flesh and blood.

The Radiant Holy Tree’s healing of Reiya lasted only a moment. When the radiance receded, the Silver-haired Princess felt an unprecedented sense of liberation.

The periodic pain that had been like a bone-eating poison was gone without a trace. Vibrant Life Force flowed through her body. Reiya had never experienced such a wonderful feeling.

’Anywhere is heaven as long as it’s not Purgatory.’

Her delicate body trembling slightly, Reiya once again kowtowed to the will of the Radiant Holy Tree.

"Thank you... for Your Eminence’s gift."

"As you were born a descendant of Mine, you must still fulfill your duties."

The Radiant Holy Tree slowly spoke its last words.

Then, without any lingering, the radiant golden branches of the illusion retracted. The "presence" that had enveloped everyone’s hearts receded like the tide.

In the blink of an eye, the sky itself seemed to brighten. Many people gradually got to their feet, feeling as if a lifetime had passed.

If they couldn’t still feel the warm beads of sweat on their backs, they might have suspected the Divine Ancestor’s manifestation was just a hallucination.

Even though faith in the Radiant Holy Tree was rooted in the heart of every noble who followed the Divine Ancestor, most would go their entire lives without perceiving the Divine Ancestor’s personal presence if not for special circumstances.

Today, thanks to Reiya, they now had a story to tell for the rest of their lives.

After the Divine Ancestor’s will departed, all eyes naturally fell upon Reiya.

"Cough, cough... COUGH COUGH COUGH!"

The Silver-haired Dragon Lady coughed repeatedly as she tried to stand up, but she clearly wasn’t used to her fully restored body. She staggered two steps and was about to fall.

At that exact moment, Westheid rushed forward and caught her.

"You’ve made another surprising choice, Reiya."