Immortal Paladin

The echoes of celebration still clung to me as I walked, faint laughter and distant music trailing like ghosts at my back. The grand exchange between Losten and the Hollowed World had unfolded smoother than I anticipated, almost unnervingly so.

Smiles, trade, conversation—two worlds brushing against each other without immediate collapse. A success, undeniably. Yet beneath that success lingered the familiar weight of unfinished work. The Primaries would not be so easily swayed. They never were.

Convincing them to resume the World Council, to grant Radiant Losten a voice through Dave or Joan, that was a different battlefield altogether. Not to mention, the discussion to merge Losten to the Hollowed World. Politics was always slower, more suffocating than war. Still, that could wait a little longer.

There was something else requiring my attention, something buried, quite literally, beneath all of this newfound harmony.

The massive cave entrance loomed ahead, jagged like the maw of some ancient beast. Standing before it, steadfast and immovable, was Ox-Head. His towering figure cast a long shadow across the stone, his presence alone enough to deter even the most foolish wanderer.

“I see you’re still standing guard, Ox-Head. Thank you for your hard work. You’ve done well keeping things in order here.”

He turned his heavy gaze toward me, snorting faintly as if my words were both expected and unnecessary.

“Where’s Ru Qiu? Don’t tell me he isn’t with you.”

I shook my head once.

Ox-Head clicked his tongue, irritation flashing plainly across his features.

“That bastard promised to switch shifts with me today. Said he’d handle the watch so I could rest. And now he’s nowhere to be seen? Hah. Figures. Ever since he got that so-called Supremacy Trait, he’s been running around like he owns the world.”

There was a sharp edge to his voice, the kind that came from restrained anger rather than fleeting annoyance. I winced slightly. It did sound like Ru Qiu, especially now. Power had a way of inflating certain personalities beyond reason.

“I’ll talk to him. He won’t ignore me, I think? Yeah, hopefully, he doesn’t do anything reckless.”

Ox-Head huffed, though whether in agreement or lingering frustration, I couldn’t quite tell.

Behind him, several Guardians patrolled the perimeter, their armor faintly gleaming under the dim light. The moment they noticed me, their posture shifted instantly, energy rising.

“Your Majesty! Supreme Bearer!”

Their voices carried a mix of awe and excitement, far less restrained than Ox-Head’s stoic demeanor.

I lifted a hand in acknowledgment, offering a brief nod.

“At ease. Continue your patrols. I won’t keep you from your duties.”

Without waiting for further exchange, I stepped past them and into the cave, the temperature dropping almost immediately as darkness swallowed the light behind me.

“Alright, I’ll be heading inside now.”

“Stay sharp, all of you. Keep your eyes open while I’m gone,” Ox-Head barked behind me before his heavy footsteps followed shortly after.

The darkness did not last long. One by one, torches ignited along the cavern walls, their flames burning with an eerie blue hue. Azure Nether Flame. I had heard of it before. It was cold, steady, and far more controlled than hellflame. The light it cast was unnatural, yet strangely calming, illuminating the carved pathways and reinforced stone with quiet precision.

I let my gaze wander, taking in the structure as we descended deeper.

“This place… the construction is impressive. You’ve outdone yourself, Ox-Head. Truly, thank you for your effort.”

He gave a low chuckle, the sound rumbling through the corridor like distant thunder.

“Back in the Age of Divinity, this was nothing. I used to build prisons far greater than this in the Underworld. Places where even gods begged to be erased. This one? Hah. This is practically merciful.”

Merciful. The word lingered strangely in my mind as we reached the deepest chamber.

The air grew heavier there, saturated with a presence that was neither entirely hostile nor entirely passive. And at the center of it, chained firmly against the wall, was the prisoner.

A woman.

Porcelain-like skin stretched unnaturally smooth across her frame, fractured in places with thin, spiderweb cracks that revealed faint darkness beneath. Her lips were a deep, vivid red, standing in stark contrast to her otherwise pale complexion. Even restrained, there was something regal about her posture.

One of the Six Queens.

A self-proclaimed daughter of the so-called Supreme Death.

I stepped forward, my voice cutting cleanly through the silence.

“My name is Da Wei, Supreme Bearer, Holy Emperor of the Hollowed World. You wished to speak to me. Speak.”

Her head lifted slowly, deliberate, as her eyes met mine. They were empty, devoid of fear, anger, or even defiance.

“My name is Gao Fu, Cherish of the Origin Faith, one of the Six Queens and representative of the Underworld. I implore you to have mercy on my people.”

My Divine Sense brushed against her words, probing for deception. There was none. No hidden malice, no twisting intent. Just a straightforward plea.

That alone made this… inconvenient.

“Elaborate.”

She did not hesitate.

“First, spare the Children of the Origin who remain. They are not fighting out of there own will, at least most of them. Second, resurrect my fellow Queens who have fallen. Third, grant us a land of our own, isolated from all others, where we will seal ourselves for ten millennia. Fourth, promise that you and your forces will not interfere with us during that time. Lastly, permit us to establish an embassy under your rule, so that we may maintain a line of communication.”

Silence followed.

For a moment, I simply stared at her.

Then a breath escaped me, slow and measured, though no words came with it.

Behind me, Ox-Head scoffed loudly, his patience clearly nonexistent.

“Delusional. Completely delusional. We should just get rid of her. All this talk, and for what? A waste of a perfectly good prison cell.”

I exhaled quietly, the weight of the situation settling heavier than expected. My fingers flexed slightly at my side.

Softheartedness. An irritating trait, especially at times like this.

They were a threat. Or at least, they had been. With the Origin King gone by my hand, their foundation had already crumbled. What remained was fractured and scattered.

Still dangerous, but not insurmountable.

My gaze returned to Gao Fu, sharper now.

“Tell me… do you truly believe the information you possess about the Supreme Death is worth that much?”

Gao Fu did not flinch beneath my gaze. The chains binding her wrists creaked softly as she shifted, lifting her chin with a quiet, almost detached composure.

“I hold no love for my father,” she said, her voice steady, stripped of bitterness yet devoid of warmth. “My sisters and I… we were never meant to exist. We are nothing more than scabs formed from his failed attempt to kill himself. Imperfections. Leftovers. To him, we are less than dirt.”

Her lips curved faintly, though there was no humor in it.

“Fate led me to the Origin King. I was given to him not as an ally, but as collateral… a ransom, and a watcher. I existed to observe him as much as I served him. The same applies to the other Queens. We were never trusted. Only used.”

Her cracked porcelain skin caught the blue light as she tilted her head slightly.

“My knowledge does not end with the Supreme Death. I have seen the workings of the Six Supremes, walked the edges of their dominions, and learned the nature of the realms they rule. Their systems, their hierarchies, their… habits. My Queen-kin carry knowledge of equal value. Knowledge that would aid you… should you intend to conquer the Greater Universe.”

I narrowed my eyes slightly, her words settling into place with deliberate weight.

“What makes you think I have plans of conquering the Greater Universe?”

Her answer came without pause.

“Survival.”

The single word did not stand alone in spirit, as she continued with quiet certainty.

“You cannot coexist with the Six Supremes. I know this because I have seen them. I have lived beneath their shadow. They do not recognize us as ‘people,’ nor even as ‘life.’ To them, we are no different than tools… or pests. Lesser than what cultivators consider lesser races.”

Her gaze did not waver.

“I have been to the Hollowed World. I have walked your lands in secrecy, observed your civilizations, listened to your people speak your name. It is… naively idealistic. And yet, I can feel it. The subtle influence you cast upon everything under your rule. You govern not through fear, but through something far more intricate. Love. Sincerity. Your presence lingers in the hearts of your people, woven into their stories.”

She paused, her voice lowering just slightly.

“The Origin King I once served… was nothing more than a tyrant chasing validation. He sought the love of a ‘god’ that would never return it. His obsession consumed him. His faith became blindness. And that blindness led him to ruin.”

Her eyes sharpened faintly.

“My faith in the Origin remains pure. Unchanged. But I am not blind.”

The chains rattled softly as she inclined her head just enough.

“Show mercy to my people, and you will have my loyalty. In turn… you will have theirs.”

Her words hung in the air, calm and deliberate.

I let the silence stretch for a moment before turning my attention slightly, my voice shifting into Qi Speech, unheard by any but Ox-Head.

“What do you think?”

Ox-Head’s response came as a low, rumbling current in my mind.

“Her words carry weight. She stood as second to the Origin King. If anyone knows the inner workings of that regime, it would be her.”

I exhaled faintly, returning my focus to Gao Fu.

“And what if I don’t accept?”

Her expression did not change.

“Then you lose information that would prove… disadvantageous to you. My mouth will remain shut. That, I can promise.”

I studied her a moment longer, then spoke again, my tone sharpening slightly.

“And what if I tell you I have the means to rip that information from you regardless?”

There was no fear in her response.

“I am at your mercy, Your Holy Majesty. Do as you will.”

Of course, she would say that.

The easiest path had always been clear. Eliminate uncertainty. Remove potential threats. Leave nothing behind that could one day grow into a problem.

If she had shown even a trace of deceit or hostility, I would have ended this already.

But she hadn’t.

Behind me, Ox-Head’s voice cut in again, this time openly, firm and unyielding.

“You shouldn’t accept this. Ghosts are bound by obsession. By grudges. They do not forget, and they do not change easily. And this one… she is the daughter of a Supreme Being. That alone makes her dangerous beyond reason. She cannot be trusted.”

I closed my eyes briefly, then opened them again, my decision settling into place.

“I have heard your words well, Ox-Head,” I said calmly. “But I did not reach this position by carrying the weight of others’ expectations alone. Every step I took… was a choice. Often the more difficult one.”

My gaze returned to Gao Fu.

“This will not be an easy path. But I will accept your surrender.”

Before either of them could respond, I extended my will.

Divine Zone unfolded silently, enveloping the chamber in unseen authority. Power gathered at a single point, precise and absolute.

Divine Smite.

The chains shattered in an instant.

Gao Fu’s arms dropped slightly as the restraints vanished, and for the first time, a visible shift passed through her.

A breath.

A quiet, genuine exhale.

“…Thank you,” she murmured, her voice softer now. “For your benevolence, Your Holy Majesty.”

I stepped closer, my presence pressing down once more, not allowing the atmosphere to soften too far.

“Now that I have granted you mercy,” I said evenly, “you will tell me everything you know. And understand this clearly… if I find even the slightest hint of deceit—”

My gaze hardened.

“—you will beg me for death.”

Titles meant little if not upheld. Mercy, without strength, was nothing more than weakness in disguise.

Gao Fu lowered herself to her knees without hesitation, her posture shifting completely, submission now evident in every movement.

“This servant greets the Holy Emperor,” she said, her tone reverent and controlled. “I pledge my loyalty and offer all that I know. Ask, and I shall reveal everything regarding the Supreme Death… and beyond. Whatever knowledge you seek, I will provide it without reservation.”

“We shall postpone this conversation, because I imagine it will be a lengthy one.”

The words left me calmly as I turned away from Gao Fu, shifting my attention toward Ox-Head.

“Watch her for me. I have other business I have to attend to.”

Without waiting, I raised my hand and summoned light into form. A presence descended. The figure of Ezekiel manifested, shaped from divine will itself, his existence humming with quiet authority.

I glanced back at Gao Fu.

“This is Ezekiel. He will learn everything about you on my behalf. No secret will remain hidden. Everything will be made clear. You only need to let him in.”

She lowered her head immediately, posture yielding without resistance.

“I am at your mercy, Your Holy Majesty. I will not resist.”

I extended Ophanim, the countless unseen eyes unfolding around perception itself, layering reality with precision and clarity. The familiar combination settled into place as Ezekiel stepped forward.

“Divine Possession.”

His voice was steady, and in the next moment, he entered. His essence merged seamlessly into Gao Fu’s body, slipping past flesh, bone, and soul as though they were merely thresholds.

Through Ophanim, I perceived everything.

Ezekiel moved within her like a flame drifting through an ocean, his Soulful Guiding Flame illuminating pathways that should never be seen. Memories, fragments, instincts, ancient impressions? He navigated them all with unsettling ease.

A slow breath left me.

I looked down at her.

“My Holy Spirit now resides within you. If Ezekiel senses even the slightest hint of betrayal, I will know.”

My voice did not rise, yet it carried weight.

“You will have your cooperation rewarded. In time, I will resurrect the rest of your queenly kin.”

Through the brief glimpses I allowed myself, I could already tell that her value was real. Vast. Intricate. Dangerous in the wrong hands.

And now, entirely within mine.

It was a gross violation. There was no gentler way to describe it. To see, to sift, to know someone so completely stripped them of something fundamental.

What I did with that knowledge… was entirely my choice.

I turned away.

“Thank you for looking after her,” I said to Ox-Head. “Bring her to New Risendawn. Ensure she is well-rested, and prepare her for an expedition to gather the remaining stragglers of the Origin Faith. I will send Ding Shan with you.”

Ox-Head gave a firm nod.

“I will bring Ao Lun with me.”

“That’s fine with me.”

With that, I activated Egress.

The world folded.

And in the next instant, I stood within the royal lobby of New Risendawn’s palace.

The shift from cold cavern air to refined grandeur was immediate. Polished stone, high arches, and the quiet hum of ordered life replaced the oppressive stillness of the prison.

Waiting for me were two familiar figures.

Dave… and Joan.

Or rather, Davian and Joana.

I still wasn’t used to it.

“Am I late?”

Dave smiled lightly, his tone easy in a way that felt increasingly rare.

“You’re right on time. Don’t worry about it.”

Joan stepped forward, already carrying that poised energy she adopted when responsibility called.

“The impromptu World Council is about to begin. I’ll be representing Radiant Losten.”

I nodded faintly. It made sense.

Dave still looked too much like me.

Or rather… I looked too much like him.

An irritating technicality.

At least people could tell the difference. Dave carried himself more solemnly, his hair slightly more orderly, and more often than not, he wore his helm. His nature as a Holy Spirit had always set him apart, but recently, with his body gaining more flesh, more weight… the distinction had blurred.

I still didn’t fully understand it.

“The others are already waiting,” Joan added.

“Then let’s not keep them.”

We both turned, moving toward the inner halls, leaving Dave behind.

“Wait, why do I have to handle the paperwork again?” he called out, his voice laced with mild frustration.

Joan didn’t even look back.

“I won rock-paper-scissors. Fair and square.”

We walked side by side through the corridor, her steps lighter than usual. There was a subtle shift in her presence, something beneath the surface.

Through Ophanim, I saw it clearly.

Life.

A small, growing existence nestled within her.

“Congratulations,” I said quietly. “You’re with child.”

She stopped mid-step.

For a moment, the composed representative of Radiant Losten vanished, replaced by something far more human. She turned slightly, her expression caught between embarrassment and uncertainty.

“…You noticed.”

Her voice dropped.

“Please… keep it a secret for now.”

I inclined my head once.

“As you wish.”

She exhaled softly, then straightened, her earlier composure returning as we approached the chamber doors.

By the time we entered, she was no longer Joana the individual.

She was Joana, representative of Radiant Losten.

The Primaries were already gathered, their presences filling the room with layered authority and quiet tension. Eyes turned toward us as we stepped forward.

I did not pause.

“The impromptu council shall now begin,” I declared, my voice carrying cleanly across the chamber. “We are here to discuss the unification of two worlds, Losten and the Hollowed World.”

A brief silence followed before I continued.

“In addition to this, I bring forth a new agenda.”

My gaze swept across them all.

“In the near future, I intend to initiate a large-scale expedition into the Greater Universe… with the purpose of expansion.”