Plundering Divine Perception

Although Barbatos had many questions about the mysterious third item, he knew this wasn't the right time or place to experiment with it.

He carefully stored it away in his space storage, deciding to investigate it later when conditions were more favorable.

Now that the divine war had ended with Sylvanus' defeat and death, Barbatos and his followers, along with the captive forest kobolds, were transported back to the Eternal Continent.

The familiar surroundings of the ancestral hall greeted them, and the oppressive atmosphere of the divine war realm was replaced by the more grounded reality of their world.

Gazing at the forest kobolds, who had knelt in submission without needing to be restrained, Barbatos addressed them with authority, his voice resonating with divine power. "You are now in my domain, under my rule. If you renounce that heretic god and swear your loyalty to me, I will treat you as my own believers. Those who contribute to my cause will be rewarded and granted greater benefits."

He paused, letting his words sink in before continuing. "However, for those who refuse to see reason and cling to your former god, I will have my hierophant execute you publicly as an example to the rest."

The forest kobolds exchanged fearful glances, their initial hesitation giving way to a collective decision. One by one, they began to prostrate themselves before Barbatos, pledging their loyalty to the God of Free Wind.

Their voices, though trembling, were sincere as they expressed their willingness to serve him and forsake their previous allegiance.

Barbatos nodded in satisfaction, pleased with their submission. "Very well," he said. "Prove your loyalty through your actions, and you will find favor in my eyes."

With his new believers now under his control, Barbatos turned to Eldric, his hierophant. "Integrate these forest kobolds into our ranks. Train them well and ensure they understand the consequences of disobedience."

Eldric bowed deeply, ready to carry out his lord's orders. "It will be done, my lord."

Satisfied with the outcome, Barbatos left the forest kobolds in Eldric's capable hands and made his way back to the ancestral hall.

Now that they had returned to the Eternal Continent and the immediate concerns had been addressed, Barbatos could finally focus on examining the intriguing loot he had acquired from Sylvanus.

Barbatos walked through the quiet halls of the ancestral hall, his thoughts focused on the mysterious item he had stored away during the divine war.

Now that the urgent matters had been dealt with, curiosity pulled at him, urging him to uncover the secrets of his unexpected loot.

Reaching a secluded chamber within the hall, Barbatos summoned the strange item from his space storage.

The cluster of white mist, still shrouded in a sliver of gold-colored divine light, floated before him. It seemed almost alive, pulsating with an enigmatic energy that stirred something deep within him.

As he studied the mist, Barbatos felt an instinctual pull, a sense that this object wasn't dangerous. On the contrary, it felt as though it was beneficial to him, a gift from the mysterious workings of the Endless Void.

His instincts as a god, honed over his time in the Divine God City and on the Eternal Continent, whispered to him that this was an opportunity he shouldn't let pass.

Trusting his instincts, Barbatos decided to take a leap of faith. He reached out with his divine power and began to absorb the mist into his being.

The moment the mist entered him, a rush of energy flowed through his divine essence. It wasn't overwhelming, but it was potent, like a river of knowledge and power merging with his own.

Barbatos felt his body hum with newfound strength, his divine perception expanding as the mist integrated into his very soul.

He closed his eyes, focusing on the sensation, and soon realized that his divine perception, which had previously extended to a 5km radius, was now reaching further—by an additional 0.6km.

Opening his eyes, Barbatos marveled at the subtle yet significant increase. The world around him felt clearer, sharper, as if he could sense every movement within his expanded range.

He could feel the wind rustling through the trees at the edge of his territory, hear the distant whispers of his believers, and even sense the minute shifts in the environment beyond his previous limits.

He let out a satisfied breath, recognizing the significance of this enhancement. "So, this is what it feels like to plunder the divine perception of another god," Barbatos mused. "It seems that Sylvanus' divine perception has been added to my own. Not entirely, but a portion of it."

The realization clicked into place. The white mist must have been the residual divine perception of Sylvanus, freed by Barbatos' unique divine position of Freedom. In death, Sylvanus' divine essence had been liberated, and now, part of his strength was Barbatos' to wield.

"This is a game-changer," Barbatos thought, a slow smile spreading across his face.

The Endless Void held many secrets, and it seemed he had stumbled upon one that could give him an edge over other gods.

The power to not only defeat a god but to absorb a part of their essence, their very perception, was an ability that could tip the scales in his favor in future divine wars.

He flexed his divine senses, feeling the extended reach of his perception. The additional 0.6km might seem small to others, but Barbatos knew that in the Eternal Continent, every inch of advantage counted.

The more he expanded his perception, the more territory he could control, and the better he could protect his followers and prepare for future conflicts.

Barbatos' smile grew broader as the full weight of his discovery settled in. "If I can continue to plunder the divine perception of the gods I defeat," he mused, his voice tinged with excitement, "then it's only a matter of time before my reach extends far beyond what anyone expects."

A spark of ambition flickered in his eyes as he continued, "Not only can I claim the godhead of those I vanquish, but I can also strip them of their divine perception, adding their power to my own."

Barbatos chuckled, a mix of satisfaction and anticipation in his tone. "I'm not just the God of Free Wind. It seems I have a new role to play—as a godslayer, reaping the rewards of every victory."