Chapter 10 – The Revelation of the World (Part 2)
The morning sun struggled through the broken, moss-covered windows of the ruined temple. Faint, golden rays traced cracked stone walls and the faded carvings of gods long forgotten. A thick mist lingered in the air, curling around ancient pillars like ghostly fingers — as if the divine domain itself still breathed, still watched silently.
Cordelia was the first to stir, letting out a soft, groggy sigh.
— Ah... ah... so sleepy. It's been ages since I've slept this well...
She stretched her arms lazily and glanced sideways, spotting Adrian curled up under a worn cloak on the cold stone floor, softly snoring.
— Hey, get up! — she urged. — We've got a lot to do today!
Adrian grumbled as he rubbed his sore neck.
— Alright, alright... I'm up. Ugh, my whole body hurts...
Slowly, he pushed himself to sit, wincing at the ache spreading through his muscles. The floor had been anything but comfortable.
— So, Cordelia, where exactly are we searching for your parents today? — he asked, still half waking.
— We're getting close to the ruins you found. But first — I need to ask you some questions.
Adrian yawned, his voice thick.
— What is it?
Cordelia raised a brow.
— First: did you bring supplies?
— Of course I did.
— Well, at least you're not as dumb as I thought. Hand them over.
Adrian hesitated.
— Why? — then handed her a small satchel.
Cordelia crouched by a flat rock and began inspecting the contents: dried meat, water flasks, root vegetables, and a few herbs tied in cloth.
— We're inside a broken divine domain — she explained. — I need to know how much food we have so I can calculate how long we can search for my parents before we have to get out. If we ration well, maybe three weeks.
A cold breeze swept through the temple ruins, carrying the scent of ancient dust mixed with something faintly metallic — the lingering echo of long-dead power.
— What's a broken divine domain? — Adrian asked, intrigued.
— It's the shattered legacy of a dead god. Their divine realm when they were alive. Now, it's just fragments… leftovers from their death. Unstable, dangerous — but filled with secrets.
— I see...
Cordelia raised an eyebrow in disbelief.
— Wait, how do you not know that? Wasn't it in the journal?
— That kind of info? — Adrian shrugged. — The journal only showed the location of the legacy and some equipment.
— So you don't know anything about heirs or divine domains?
Adrian hesitated.
— Actually...
Cordelia facepalmed.
— I knew you were dumb, but I didn't think you were this dumb!
— Is it really that important? — Adrian replied, a bit defensive.
Cordelia sighed deeply.
— Of course it is, you idiot! Ugh... fine, I'll explain what I know. Otherwise, you'll get yourself killed fighting monsters without a clue.
She stood, brushing dust off her cloak, then drew lines in the dirt with a stick.
— Look, I already mentioned divine domains. Now, heirs. There are three types, at least from what I've learned:
— Race Heirs: inherit mythical or legendary beasts, like phoenixes or dragons.
— Divine Heirs: inherit gods, awakening divine powers.
— Subordinate Heirs: inherit heroes, ancient warriors, or saints.
Adrian nodded.
— Got it.
— Now, power levels. I'll keep it simple:
— Superhuman: people who've broken human limits. Stronger, faster — maybe strong enough to destroy a house.
— Supernatural: where heirs defy logic — flying, manipulating fire... depends on the legacy. The strongest attacks might level a street.
— Hero: that's different.
— Why? — Adrian asked.
— Adrian, you know we inherit divine spirits that left behind myths and legends, right?
— Yeah, so?
— To reach Hero level, you have to perform one of those feats. Like if your spirit saved 100 people in legend — you have to do the same.
She looked away, eyes narrowing as if recalling something painful.
— At full strength, a Hero could destroy an entire city.
Adrian stared, stunned.
— Incredible... So this is the world of heirs. So a Hero could destroy our city?
— Yes. But thanks to divine barriers, we're mostly safe. Those barriers suppress our power by 90%. Inside them, we can only use about 10% of our strength.
— That's why I never heard any of this...
— One more thing — Cordelia added, tossing him a piece of bread wrapped in cloth. — In places like this, you find power stones — crystals filled with divine or demonic energy. They're valuable. Some trade them, others absorb them for a temporary power boost. But they attract monsters, so don't be stupid.
Adrian caught the bread, nodding.
— Got it...
Cordelia headed toward the moss-covered doorway, her boots echoing softly on the cracked stone.
— Enough talk. Time to find my parents.
Adrian scrambled to his feet.
— Wait for me!
He ran after her into the mist. The ruins loomed ahead like remnants of a forgotten war between gods — vast, broken, and waiting.
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If you want, I can help with the next chapter or any other edits!