Goddess's Yuri harem: Chosing the Empress is hard
Chapter 60: The Corruption- Part 2

Chapter 60: 60: The Corruption- Part 2

Shanti chuckled, stretching her arms above her head lazily.

"Fair enough. I suppose you are more perceptive than most. But no need to be so suspicious. I’m merely assisting you on your little mission."

She then tilted her head, a mischievous glint in her cosmic eyes.

"But since you clearly want to speak with the Chief God and the others, why don’t I just summon them for you?"

Auriel was silent for a moment, carefully considering her words. As much as she disliked how Shanti played with her, she had no reason to refuse the offer.

"...Alright. Please lead the way."

She finally agreed, folding her arms across her chest.

Shanti grinned, snapping her fingers.

"Good choice."

A swirl of cosmic energy enveloped them, and in an instant, the scenery changed.

Auriel blinked as they arrived at the grand celestial hall, a place where only gods of great significance gathered.

Majestic pillars stretched into infinity, supporting a vast expanse of divine light that flickered in ever-shifting hues. The air was thick with divine power, almost suffocating in its intensity.

Seated at the center of the hall was the Chief God, an ethereal being whose very presence commanded reverence.

Other powerful deities stood nearby, their gazes landing on Auriel and Shanti as they arrived.

The Chief God’s piercing golden eyes met Auriel’s.

"You have something important to report, do you not?"

Auriel wasted no time. She stepped forward and spoke with urgency.

"Dark magic is spreading. I have seen it with my own eyes. I recently encountered followers of Goddess Minerva who were desperate to reach their goddess... but they were also involved in dark magic. Their village is now empty, their people vanished without a trace."

A heavy silence settled over the chamber.

"Dark magic...? That’s a serious claim, Goddess Ariel."

One of the gods murmured, frowning.

"It is no mere claim. I witnessed it in my dreams—someone using dark magic to consume the essence of others. I believe it is directly linked to Goddess Minerva’s current state"

Auriel pressed on.

The Chief God narrowed her eyes.

"Then we must confirm Minerva’s condition immediately."

With that decree, she turned and strode forward, signaling for Auriel and the others to follow. Without hesitation, the gods made their way to Minerva’s resting place.

______

As they arrived at the sacred resting ground of Goddess Minerva, an overwhelming wave of dark magic greeted them.

Thick, swirling tendrils of corruption clung to the entrance of Minerva’s chamber, pulsating as if alive. The air was dense, heavy with an unnatural weight that made even the gods uneasy.

"This...This is no ordinary dark magic. This is a powerful curse"

One of the gods muttered in alarm.

Auriel felt her heart tighten as she gazed at the sight before them. Minerva, the goddess of wisdom, had been confined to this place due to her weakened state, and now... she was completely ensnared by darkness.

Even the Chief God hesitated, her expression unreadable.

"This level of corruption is dangerous. If we try to break it with brute force, we risk harming Minerva in the process."

The gathered gods exchanged troubled glances. They were powerful, yes, but even divine beings had limits.

Auriel clenched her fists.

"Then there’s only one solution. I’ll absorb it."

All eyes turned to her.

"What? That’s reckless!"

One of the gods blurted out.

"I have the ability to purify dark magic. If I take it into myself, I can slowly cleanse it from within"

Auriel explained firmly.

The Chief God studied Auriel for a long moment before speaking.

"That is a dangerous decision. Even if you possess purification abilities, absorbing such concentrated dark magic could taint you. The risk is great."

"I understand the risk. But this magic is already spreading. If we wait any longer, it will only become worse. We have to act now"

Auriel said, meeting the Chief God’s gaze without faltering.

The gods murmured among themselves, uncertainty evident on their faces.

Shanti, who had been watching the exchange with a knowing smile, finally spoke up.

"It’s a bold move... but I like it. I say we let her try."

The Chief God sighed before finally nodding.

"Very well. But if anything goes wrong, we will intervene immediately."

Auriel stepped forward, inhaling deeply. This was it. There was no turning back now.

She reached out her hands toward the dark mass, feeling its malevolent energy swirl around her fingers like living shadows. Slowly, she began pulling it into herself.

At first, the darkness resisted. It lashed out, trying to consume her instead, wrapping around her arms like chains. Auriel gritted her teeth as pain shot through her body, but she held firm.

The gods watched in tense silence as the dark magic slowly but surely funneled into Auriel, disappearing into her being.

A sharp, icy sensation spread through her chest, but she remained steady, using her divine power to suppress and contain it.

Little by little, the corruption began to fade from Minerva’s chamber.

After what felt like an eternity, the last remnants of darkness vanished, leaving Minerva’s resting place cleansed once more.

Auriel staggered, feeling the weight of the absorbed darkness settling within her. It pulsed beneath her skin like a dormant storm, waiting to be purified.

She exhaled heavily, beads of sweat forming on her brow.

"It’s done."

The Chief God observed her closely before nodding in approval.

"You have done well, Auriel. But be careful. That darkness is still inside you. You must cleanse it completely before it corrupts you."

Auriel nodded, already feeling the battle she would have to fight within herself.

Shanti smirked, folding her arms.

"Well, that was quite the show. You never fail to impress, Auriel."

Auriel shot her a tired glance.

"Save your compliments."

The other gods began murmuring among themselves, discussing what to do next. But one thing was clear—this was far from over.

Dark magic had resurfaced, and now, it was within Auriel herself.

She only hoped she had the strength to resist it.

However, it did not take long for Auriel to feel the side-effects of her recklessness.