Chapter 235 The Diviner World Is Finally Free
With the Overlord defeated, the team spent the following hours purging the remaining corruption from the Devouring Whale Ocean.
The Devouring Whale Clan, now free from the virus's influence, cautiously emerged from the depths. Their leader's fall had left them shaken but relieved, and the ocean's oppressive energy began to dissipate.
Aurielle floated lazily in the water, her violet flux forming small ripples around her.
She flashed a wide grin. "Well, that's another one for the history books. I think we've earned a bit of downtime. Maybe a celebratory feast?"
Ted smirked, but his tone remained grounded. "Feast later. We're not done yet."
Linsley, his Real Fantasy gift shimmering faintly, conjured a map of the Diviner World.
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The glowing projection showed patches of crimson scattered across the globe—small remnants of the Outer Gods' corruption that still lingered in isolated pockets.
"This isn't over. The major threats are gone, but until this map shows nothing but blue and green, our work isn't finished."
Lucy nodded, her golden wings spreading slightly. "Let's finish what we started. The Diviner World deserves to be completely free from the Outer Gods' influence."
Aurielle sighed dramatically, twirling her crown with a flick of her wrist. "Fine, fine. No rest for the awesome. Let's clean this mess up once and for all."
The group embarked on a whirlwind journey, using Linsley's map to pinpoint the remaining corrupted areas. Each location presented unique challenges, but their combined power and expertise ensured swift victories.
Their first stop was a cluster of islands far from the main continents, where the crimson corruption had twisted the tropical landscapes into grotesque parodies of their natural beauty. Infected flora emitted toxic spores, and corrupted beasts lurked in the dense jungles.
Lucy's Angel of Redemption: Gabriel gift burned brightly as she led the charge, purifying the air and vegetation with waves of golden light.
Ted followed closely, his annihilation flux carving through the corrupted beasts with surgical precision. Aurielle conjured playful constructs to lure out hidden threats, turning what could have been a grueling task into a game of hide-and-seek.
By the time they left, the islands were restored to their pristine state, the vibrant greens and blues of the tropics shining once more.
Next, the team journeyed to a remote mountain range where the corruption had seeped into ancient caves.
The infected rock formations pulsed with dark flux, and the local wildlife had been turned into aggressive predators.
Linsley's Real Fantasy gift reshaped the terrain, sealing off corrupted tunnels and isolating the sources of infection
Lucy's purifying light cleansed the remaining flux, while Ted used his annihilation flux to obliterate the more stubborn remnants. Aurielle fashioned glowing tools to stabilize the cave systems, ensuring they wouldn't collapse under the strain of the battle.
As they emerged from the mountains, the air was fresh and clear, and the land no longer bore the scars of the Outer Gods' influence.
…
The team returned to the ocean, targeting smaller regions that still bore traces of corruption.
Linsley's map guided them to hidden reefs and deep trenches where infected aquatic beasts and corrupted currents lingered.
Aurielle's Gift Creation produced glowing nets that swept through the water, capturing and purifying entire schools of infected creatures.
Lucy's light spread like waves, cleansing vast stretches of the ocean floor, while Ted focused on eliminating the larger, more dangerous beasts.
With each location cleansed, the ocean's natural beauty was restored, its ecosystems thriving once more.
…
Their journey culminated at a remote, uninhabited island where the last vestiges of the Outer Gods' corruption had taken root.
The land was barren, its once-lush forests reduced to ash-like remains. A single corrupted tree stood in the center, its gnarled branches pulsating with crimson flux.
"This is it," Linsley said, his white flux glowing brightly. "The last trace."
The group combined their powers for one final strike. Lucy's light surged forward, purifying the tree's outer layers.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om
Ted's annihilation flux targeted its core, breaking apart the corrupted energy. Aurielle conjured a massive construct—a shimmering hammer that shattered the remnants with a single swing.
As the crimson light faded, the barren island began to heal. The soil regained its vitality, and new growth sprouted from the once-dead land.
…
Back on the surface, Linsley summoned his map once more. The glowing projection of the Diviner World was now free of crimson, its vibrant greens and blues untainted by corruption.
Aurielle stared at the map, her grin widening. "Well, would you look at that? We actually did it."
Lucy exhaled, her wings folding neatly behind her. "It's done. The Diviner World is finally free."
Ted crossed his arms, his expression a mix of satisfaction and relief. "Took long enough."
Linsley dismissed the map with a wave of his hand, his gaze steady. "We've done our part. The Outer Gods' influence is gone, and the world can begin to heal."
Aurielle twirled her crown, her violet flux sparking faintly. "So… now can we take that vacation?"
In response to Aurielle's words, Linsley shook his head with a serious expression and replied, "You and Ted can take a vacation if you want, but Lucy and I don't have that luxury. The two of us need to prepare for our ascension into the higher realms. Staying here in the Diviner World won't help us grow stronger anymore."
He paused, his tone measured yet firm. "On the other hand, you're better off remaining here. Ascending to the higher realms would only increase the risk of exposing yourself to the Outer Gods. It's crucial that you stay and ensure their corruption doesn't return."
"As for Ted, he can do whatever he wants, but since he hasn't reached Level 9.9 Overlord, ascension isn't an option for him yet. Ideally, he should assist you in protecting the Diviner World while we're away."
Aurielle pouted, crossing her arms with a dramatic sigh. "You don't have to be so boring about it! Didn't you mention you can reset the universe after your death? That sounds like a pretty solid insurance plan to me."
She leaned closer, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "Why not have a little fun for once? We've worked nonstop purifying the Diviner World from the Outer Gods' corruption. We've earned a break—a proper one!"
Lifting her crown with a lazy flick of her wrist, she added, "Even if the righteous side is about to lose ground, as long as the Outer Gods don't find me and take the origin of the Gifts, this universe is safe for a few hundred more years. That's plenty of time for you to unwind."
Linsley's reply was cut short as Aurielle abruptly hugged him, catching him completely off-guard.
Lucy's white feathered angel wings quivered as her gaze narrowed in jealousy, but she remained composed, unwilling to disrupt the moment. She reminded herself of Linsley's relationships with others and chose to hold back her emotions—for now.
Aurielle's voice softened as she held Linsley close, her usual playfulness tinged with sincerity. "Protecting the universe has always been my duty, but I've become more of a liability than an asset. Just revealing myself would hasten its destruction. It got so bad that even the will of the universe had to call on someone like you to shoulder my responsibility."
She pulled back slightly to meet his eyes, her tone shifting into a rare moment of seriousness. "But you can't keep carrying everything alone. Even if it's your burden now, you should take a break every once in a while, or you'll burn yourself out—and trust me, that's way more counterproductive in the long run. Victories like this one deserve to be celebrated."
To Aurielle's surprise, Lucy nodded in agreement, her golden eyes softening as she addressed Linsley. "Aurielle's right. In the previous timeline, I saw how hard you worked to protect the Diviner World from the Outer Gods. It's admirable, but it's also unsustainable. You deserve to rest, even if it's just for a little while."
Lucy's voice grew quieter, tinged with a mixture of hope and determination. "Besides, you still haven't given me an answer to my confession. With the Diviner World finally safe and free from corruption, maybe now's the time to think about it."
"We could... spend some time together, just the two of us."
Aurielle raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Oh, now this is interesting! Linsley, you're practically being dragged into having fun. You better take us up on it before I start teasing you endlessly for being a stick in the mud."
Linsley sighed, glancing between the two girls.
He could feel the weight of their words and the exhaustion in his own heart, though he wouldn't admit it aloud. For once, maybe they had a point.
Linsley understood that receiving the God Simulator System had granted him immense power, but it also came with the responsibility of wielding it against the Outer God Race.
While the system never explicitly pressured him to confront them, the fact that every antagonist in each simulated world originated from the Outer God Race made its intentions clear—it was designed to pit him against the Outer Gods.