Chapter 215: Journey through Cosmos
After the celebrations had ended, Igaris began his journey.
This time, neither the World Dungeons nor his Dimensional Sovereign trait could aid him, for the destinations he sought lay deep within the boundless cosmos, beyond the reach of shortcuts or quick travel.
Yet even without them, his power was immeasurable. At his peak Saint speed, he could surpass the very concept of light. His mastery over the Space-time Domain bent distance and duration, allowing him to carve paths through eternity itself.
Under the tearful gazes of his three wives, Igaris rose slowly from the sacred land of Orca. His departure was not a sudden strike, but a solemn ascension—every motion heavy with meaning. Within moments, he was already far above, standing suspended against the heavens, the mysterious construct known as Orca looming beneath him.
From this vantage, Orca revealed its true form. Its silhouette resembled a colossal, devouring beast, an endless maw that consumed all that dared approach. It was less a planet and more a living will of hunger, masked by continents and seas.
"Where are you going, Igaris?"
The voice came from below, resonating through the atmosphere, rolling forth from the maw of the Celestial Planet itself. It was the Creator—Gilgamesh’s counterpart—whose consciousness lingered within Orca.
Igaris turned his gaze back and smiled faintly, his eyes carrying the light of countless battles.
"To find certain people. Chaos is about to descend, and I must be ready."
"Are you not going to seek him
?"The planet’s voice was deep, almost mournful, pointing not to the masses but to one being. Someone important. Someone missing.
"Yes," Igaris answered softly. His tone held both resolve and weariness, as though the burden of that search weighed heavier than any war. "I have a guess where your counterpart might be. I will bring him back, so that you may be complete once more."
The planet rumbled, a sound that was both approval and warning.
"Good. But remember this, Igaris. When that time comes, you will stand before a choice that cannot be undone. A choice that will shape not only yourself... but the fate of all your people."
"I know," Igaris replied, his voice low, yet steady.
For a brief moment, silence stretched between man and planet, between mortal and god. Then, without another word, Igaris let his form dissolve into pure radiance.
He disappeared into the vast tapestry of stars, leaving behind only the echo of his promise.
And the cosmos, ancient and endless, swallowed him whole.
As Igaris vanished into the glittering depths of the cosmos, the skies above Orca pulsed with light, as if the stars themselves bowed to his departure. Below, his three wives—Diva, Shirley, and Evernight—stood hand in hand, gazes never leaving the streak of brilliance that had been his trail. Their eyes shone with pride, longing, and a tenderness only love could carry.
"Even the stars bend before him," Diva whispered, her silvery hair glimmering with divine radiance as the winds carried her voice across the mountains and seas.
Shirley wiped her eyes, her heart torn between pride and loneliness. "He will come back... He always does. But this time, he carries all of us with him. Not just in spirit, but in his resolve."
Evernight cradled her stomach gently, her expression both serene and resolute. "Our child will be born into a world where his father is no longer bound by fate. He will grow seeing his father as the one who defied gods and chaos itself."
The words struck deeply, filling the moment with solemn warmth. Around them, the people of Orca—the citizens, soldiers, and servants of the new Overlord Empire—gathered to watch their sovereign’s rise into the boundless dark. None spoke above a whisper. Some bowed, some wept, some raised torches to the sky as if guiding him forward.
In the skies above, the Celestial Planet, Orca itself, rumbled low with Gilgamesh’s counterpart’s words echoing even after Igaris had left. The planet’s voice was like a hymn to eternity, resonating in the souls of every living being who heard it.
"He walks where mortals dare not step. The boy who became Saint... now journeys to worlds beyond reach. Remember this night, for it is the night when hope itself took flight."
The people of the Overlord Empire clutched those words tightly. Whispers spread like wildfire across every city, every village, every household: Their lord was not just an emperor. He was a beacon, a warrior who rose higher than gods themselves to shield their fragile world.
Diva turned to her sisters. "Until he returns, we will not falter. This empire is his dream, and we shall tend to it as though it were his very heart."
Shirley nodded, gripping her Zither tightly, the fire in her eyes unyielding. "Let them come, whether they be nobles, rebels, or even gods. Until our husband returns, they will find only ruin at our gates."
Evernight smiled faintly, her hand on her stomach glowing with faint starlight. "And when he returns, he will not only find an empire thriving... he will find a family waiting."
The three of them stood together, not merely as wives but as guardians, rulers, and symbols of unshakable resolve. Above them, the stars continued to shine in reverence.
Far into the cosmos, Igaris himself felt their warmth. Though the void around him was cold and endless, he carried the fire of their love within him. And as he bent space and time itself to carve his path forward, he knew one truth burned brighter than all else:
This time, he would not fail. This time, he would protect them all.
---
Back on Orca, the festivities had faded into memory, leaving behind the steady rhythm of empire. The air no longer roared with fireworks and hymns but with the clamor of rebuilding, training, and preparation.
From the imperial citadel, the three wives of Igaris stood as living pillars of his legacy. Each embodied a different flame of his will.
Shirley sat upon the high throne of crystal, her fiery hair cascading like golden waterfall. Her presence alone commanded silence across the hall. Ministers, generals, and envoys from countless territories bent their knees before her as she dispensed judgment with calm, divine precision. Her words were law, not only because of her authority but because they carried the echo of Igaris’s vision.
"Remember, strength tempered by wisdom is the path forward. Those who hoard wealth will contribute to the reconstruction. Those who scheme will be watched. And those who falter shall be lifted, for the empire’s might is built upon unity, not oppression."
Her rulings spread throughout the empire like ripples in a vast sea, calming turmoil, and rooting out rebellion before it could sprout.
Meanwhile, Diva’s divine radiance burned at the empire’s frontiers. Clad in battle armor, sword gleaming like the dawn, she rode at the head of the Overlord Legions. From the mountain passes of the north to the scarred plains of the south, she led campaigns to quash marauders, pacify restless tribes, and secure trade routes.
Soldiers whispered her name with reverence. To them, she was not only their Empress but their sister-in-arms. They fought harder under her banner, knowing she would bleed beside them if needed.
"Hold the line!" Diva’s voice thundered across a battlefield where raiders dared challenge the empire’s might. "Every strike you make is for him! Every step you take is for the empire he entrusted to us!"
Her sword cleaved through chaos, and morale surged. Victory after victory followed her wake.
Evernight, by contrast, was the unseen veil that cloaked the empire in safety. In the halls of shadows, she wove her influence like a spider’s web, drawing out spies, assassins, and foreign agents who sought to destabilize their reign. Her beauty was as ethereal as midnight, her whispers subtle as falling ash.
With one hand on her swelling stomach, she gave quiet commands to her agents. "No secret shall escape us. No hand raised against us shall go unseen. Let the world believe the Overlord Empire rests, when in truth, its roots grow deeper every night."
She was the shield in silence, ensuring the enemies of tomorrow were dismantled before they could even rise.
Together, the three women created a balance that kept the empire whole: the wisdom of Diva, the steel of Shirley, and the shadows of Evernight. Their bond was no longer just through Igaris, but with each other—three halves of a singular will.
Among the people, stories spread. At markets and taverns, citizens whispered with pride:
"Did you hear? Our Empress Shirley personally led the charge against the bandits. Not a single one escaped."
"They say Lady Evernight uncovered an entire network of spies in a single night."
"Lady Diva’s reforms are giving farmers more land... I never thought an empire could be this fair."
"Hah! That’s because our Emperor chose his wives well. Even without him, they shine brighter than kings."
Hope blossomed where once only fear lingered.
And high above all, the stars that had watched Igaris’s departure still glimmered. To the people, their light was no longer cold or distant. It was a reminder that their Emperor lived, striving for them in the endless dark, while his wives held the world together in his stead.