Restoration

Dark Moon Goddess narrowed her eyes as she saw Rowan appear, her voice cold and distant.

"How exactly do you plan to save me?"

Rowan met her gaze, unfazed. A faint smile played on his lips as he replied, "I can save you, but I have conditions."

At his words, the goddess's face darkened with anger. Throughout her existence, she had dominated countless realms, never bowing to anyone. No one had ever dared to make demands of her—until now.

Fury burned within her chest, but she forced herself to remain calm. Her voice was laced with suppressed rage as she asked, "What conditions?"

Rowan could see that she was not one to be easily swayed. This woman is going to be a challenge, he thought to himself. Yet, without hesitation, he spoke his terms.

"I want you to be my wife."

The moment the words left his mouth, the Dark Moon Goddess trembled with fury. Her presence became unstable, the sheer force of her anger distorting the very space around her.

"You dare to offend me? Do you have a death wish?" she roared.

Rowan quickly countered, his voice steady. "The entire Dark Moon Clan has been waiting for you to lead them back to glory! How can you be so selfish? Do you have any idea how much your people have sacrificed for you over the years?"

He took a step closer, his gaze unwavering.

"Every year, ten of their strongest warriors offer their lives in blood sacrifice just to extend your existence a little longer. Even if you don't care about yourself, shouldn't you at least think of them?"

His words struck a nerve. The goddess's fury wavered, replaced by a flicker of hesitation. A storm of emotions surged within her, leaving her momentarily speechless.

Seeing her hesitation, Rowan pressed forward.

"You're not afraid of death, yet you hesitate at the idea of becoming my wife? Is there any fate worse than vanishing into oblivion?"

The goddess fell silent for a long moment before finally speaking in a measured tone.

"Fine. But you'll need to prove your strength first. Empty words mean nothing to me."

Rowan smiled. That was all he needed to hear. Without delay, he activated one of his most powerful divine abilities—Grand Prophecy.

A brilliant radiance enveloped his body, sacred and pure, exuding an overwhelming divine presence. His voice echoed with power as he spoke:

"By the decree of the divine, let the corruption within the Dark Moon Goddess be purged!"

As his words resonated through the space, a miraculous transformation took place. The dark, insidious energy that had plagued the goddess for so long—clinging to her like an inescapable curse—began to dissipate instantly, as if it had never existed.

The goddess's eyes widened in shock. She had spent countless years suffering under the weight of this corruption, slowly withering away despite all efforts to stop it. Yet, in mere moments, this man had erased it effortlessly.

And more than that—he had done so with Grand Prophecy, an ability only the most powerful beings could wield.

Her voice wavered slightly as she asked, "Who… exactly are you? And what is your true purpose in saving me?"

Rowan let out a small chuckle. "If I said I genuinely wanted to make you my wife, would you believe me?"

The goddess scoffed internally. Like hell I would.

But as she observed him, she found herself unable to ignore the undeniable truth—her body was no longer decaying, her soul no longer corroding. He had truly saved her.

After a brief silence, she spoke. "Even if my body has recovered, I am still powerless. My divinity is gone—I no longer possess my godhood. Without a divine core, I cannot absorb faith energy. In the end, I'm no different from a mortal."

Rowan's expression remained unwavering. "I can give you a divine core—your divine core."

The goddess's eyes sharpened. Her voice turned icy. "Impossible. My divine core was destroyed long ago. There's no way it still exists."

Rowan, however, was utterly confident. "If I didn't have the means to fully restore you, I wouldn't be standing here."

His hand moved, and a shimmering orb of power appeared before him—the Dark Moon Divine Core.

The moment it materialized, the goddess's breath hitched. She recognized it. The energy it radiated was unmistakably her own. But… how? She had felt its destruction with her own soul. How could it be restored?

Rowan met her gaze. "Do you believe me now?"

The goddess clenched her fists, her emotions turbulent. Finally, she exhaled and spoke in a firm voice.

"Fine. I accept."

Rowan's lips curved into a smile. With a teasing glint in his eyes, he added, "I still don't know my wife's name."

A hint of pink dusted the goddess's cheeks. She hesitated before answering softly, "Yue Lan."

Rowan's voice carried a quiet reverence as he said, "Then remember this, Yue Lan—you are now the wife of Rowan, God of Light."

With that, he extended the divine core toward her.

Yue Lan hesitated for only a moment before taking it. As her fingers closed around the orb, she looked at Rowan and asked, "You trust me so easily? You're not afraid that I'll betray you after regaining my power?"

Rowan's gaze remained steady. "I trust my instincts. I also trust in the honor of the Dark Moon Clan. If they revere you so deeply, then you must be worthy of that faith. I believe you won't disappoint me."

Yue Lan was silent. Then, without another word, she closed her eyes and began the process of fusing with her divine core.

Instantly, an overwhelming surge of divine energy erupted throughout the sacred space.

As the power of her divinity returned, an ethereal light enveloped her, pure and radiant. It pulsed like a heartbeat, filling the air with an awe-inspiring presence.

Bit by bit, her weakened body transformed. The divine essence surged through her veins, restoring her to her true form—the form of a goddess.

Her aura expanded, more powerful than ever before.

Within moments, she ascended to the Lesser Deity realm.

When the light finally faded, Yue Lan stood tall—her beauty more breathtaking than ever, her presence commanding and regal.

Her garments had changed as well. What was once a simple robe had transformed into a divine dress woven from the very essence of moonlight, shimmering with celestial brilliance. Her long, midnight-black hair flowed like liquid silk, exuding an enchanting glow.

Her eyes, once laced with weakness, now held a sharp, unyielding light. A goddess reborn.

Rowan simply watched her, a satisfied smile on his lips. This is the woman who will stand by my side.

Yue Lan slowly opened her eyes, feeling the divine power coursing through her veins once more. Her voice was soft, yet filled with deep emotion.

"I… have returned."