The Divinity of the Dark Moon Goddess

Rowan's expression turned grim at the news.

This was precisely the issue he had been dreading. He needed faith energy—urgently. This problem couldn't be left unresolved.

"This cannot be delayed any further," Rowan declared, his voice firm. "We can't afford to rely solely on appeasement. Stronger measures must be taken. The current situation doesn't allow us the luxury of slowly converting them through gentle persuasion. We need to unify the faith as quickly as possible. Only then can we fully consolidate our control over the kingdom and prepare for the challenges that lie ahead."

Hearing this, Evelyn was momentarily taken aback, a trace of surprise and doubt flashing in her eyes.

In her view, religious conversion had always been a gradual process. It required patience, listening to the people's hearts, and using a gentle yet persistent approach to introduce new doctrines. Only by earning their trust and acceptance could faith truly take root.

Faith was a matter of the soul—how could it be forced through sheer authority? Taking an overly aggressive stance could provoke resistance, incite unrest, and ultimately destabilize the kingdom.

However, Rowan had already made up his mind. He had no intention of engaging in a debate over the pros and cons of his approach. Instead, he immediately summoned Ian.

Turning first to Evelyn, Rowan commanded, "I want statues of the Radiant God crafted immediately. They should be modeled after my likeness. Every household in the kingdom must have one. The image of the Radiant God must be deeply ingrained in the daily lives of the people."

He paused before continuing, his tone even sharper.

"An official decree must be issued—those who refuse to worship the Radiant God will be deemed heretics. Any heretic discovered is to be arrested and tried without exception. We must establish the authority of the Radiant God through absolute resolve. The people must understand that faith in the Radiant God is not a choice—it is the only path."

Evelyn's heart tensed at Rowan's ruthless decree. She harbored concerns about the potential consequences of such extremism, but as the Holy Emperor, Rowan undoubtedly had his own strategic considerations. She chose not to voice her doubts and simply nodded, turning away to carry out his orders.

Next, Rowan shifted his gaze to Ian.

"Ian, mobilize the Inquisition immediately," Rowan ordered. "I have no doubt that remnants of the Luminous Church are still operating in Loran. They will try to undermine us and incite rebellion. Locate every last one of them. Root them out. I want no survivors. You have one month—do whatever it takes."

Ian's expression hardened. "Understood, Your Holiness! I will not fail you."

With that, he left without hesitation, gathering his forces for a full-scale purge.

The Purge Begins

As expected, the resistance in Loran was fierce. The people clung to their old faith stubbornly, unwilling to abandon their gods. Blood was spilled, but under Rowan's iron-fisted rule, the faith of the Radiant God began to take hold.

Rowan could feel it—his faith energy was increasing at an unprecedented rate.

Time flowed like a silent stream, and under Rowan's relentless governance, the Radiant Kingdom continued to stabilize and flourish.

Then, in the midst of this new order, a momentous event occurred.

Alice gave birth to a daughter.

At that very moment, a long-forgotten voice echoed in Rowan's mind.

[Ding! Detection complete—Alice has given birth to a daughter. This child possesses exceptional potential.]

[Reward: Dark Moon Goddess Divinity (Low-Tier False God).]

Rowan froze.

A divinity… of the Dark Moon Goddess?

He was already the bearer of the Radiant God's divinity—why was he now receiving a second one?

A deep sense of unease settled in his chest. Without hesitation, he questioned the system.

"System, what is going on? Why am I being granted another divinity?"

The system's mechanical voice responded indifferently.

[No need to be alarmed, Host. A new mission is now available.]

[Ding! In seven days, a mysterious realm will manifest within the Loran Mountains. The Dark Moon Goddess resides within this realm.]

[System recommendation: Marry her.]

Rowan's mouth twitched.

So this was just another one of the system's ridiculous matchmaking schemes?

He let out a silent sigh but continued his inquiry.

"Something isn't right, System. Lately, too many pocket realms have been appearing. And gods—powerful ones—are descending into our world. What exactly is happening?"

The system's response was slow but deliberate.

[Host is correct. This world is undergoing a critical transformation—it is on the verge of ascending to a higher tier. During this process, it will intersect with multiple other realms, attracting gods and powerful beings alike. These events will bring both great opportunities and formidable dangers.]

Rowan's eyes darkened.

So that was the reason.

A new determination ignited within him.

The Dark Moon Goddess's realm would appear in seven days. This time, he wouldn't allow anyone else to seize the opportunity.

The War for the Dark Moon Goddess

Wasting no time, Rowan sprang into action.

Under the pretense of purging the remaining heretics from Loran, he mobilized a massive army. Their true objective? To lock down the entire Loran Mountain range.

His forces flooded the mountains, sweeping through valleys, caves, and dense forests. Every possible hiding place was searched.

Anyone found within the mountains—whether hunters, herbalists, or wandering travelers—was expelled without exception. Those suspected of heresy were imprisoned. Resistance was met with immediate execution.

Rowan's orders were absolute:

Within the next seven days, no unauthorized person was to step foot into the Loran Mountains.

To enforce this, he stationed elite soldiers at every strategic point—guarding passes, sealing off hidden trails, and establishing patrols that moved tirelessly through the region.

Anyone attempting to enter was to be killed on sight.

Standing at the edge of the Loran Mountains, Rowan gazed into the misty expanse before him.

His eyes gleamed with ambition.

The Dark Moon Goddess's realm would soon appear.

And when it did—he would claim it.