Chapter 108: Evangeline Became The Goddess Of Winter Again
Evangeline smiled softly, feeling the warmth of Linsley's embrace.
She nestled deeper into his arms, her worries slowly fading. "I know," she whispered, her voice full of affection. "With you by my side, I feel safe."
They remained like that for a few moments, wrapped in the comfort of each other's presence. The weight of their responsibilities seemed distant, leaving them to enjoy the peace they hadn't had for so long.
After a while, Evangeline pulled back slightly, her eyes meeting Linsley's. "So, what's next for us?" she asked, a playful glint in her eyes. "Now that the Outer God is sealed, do we finally have some time for ourselves?"
Linsley chuckled softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "We do. There's nothing left to stop us. But before anything else, I want to make sure you're fully restored," he said, gesturing toward the crystals scattered around her room.
Evangeline smiled, her gaze softening as she glanced at the avatar and celestial crystals Linsley had gathered for her. "You've already done so much, Linsley. With these, I can recover my strength as the Goddess of Winter. But it might take some time."
Linsley nodded. "That's fine. I'm not in a hurry. Once you've restored your Winter godhead, you'll be at full power again."
Her fingers traced his hand gently. "And after that?" she asked with a soft smile.
"After that, we take a real break," Linsley said with a grin. "No battles, no chaos. Just us. Consider it a vacation."
Evangeline raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "A vacation? That sounds nice."
"A well-deserved one," Linsley added, pulling her closer. "But first, we'll make sure you're back at your peak. We've earned that."
Evangeline chuckled softly and rested her head on his chest once more. "I'll hold you to that."
They stayed like that, quietly enjoying the rare moment of peace, but they both knew there was work to be done.
Soon after, Evangeline began the process of absorbing the avatar and celestial crystals that Linsley had gathered for her. She sat on the bed, her focus entirely on regaining her lost strength.
As her aura started to grow, Linsley acted swiftly. He summoned his invisible force and wrapped it around the room, using his presence concealment to prevent any leaks of Evangeline's rapidly rising divinity.
If left unchecked, the sudden surge of divine power could cause a commotion, but under his careful watch, the entire process remained contained and unnoticed by the outside world.
Time passed steadily, and throughout the day, Linsley remained by her side, ensuring that the absorption went smoothly.
The glow around Evangeline grew stronger with each crystal she absorbed, her aura shifting and becoming more potent as she steadily regained her true power.
The air in the room crackled with energy as the final crystal dissolved into her, and the room was briefly filled with a soft, icy mist—Evangeline's trademark as the Goddess of Winter.
Linsley watched quietly, his invisible force still keeping the power contained, until at last, the process was complete.
By the end of the day, Evangeline had fully restored her godhead, and her aura as the Goddess of Winter radiated within the room.
She opened her eyes, the icy blue hue of her divinity glowing brightly for a moment before settling into a calm, controlled brilliance.
Linsley released his hold, dispersing the invisible barrier he had maintained throughout the day.
Evangeline stood, her movements now brimming with renewed strength.
She turned to Linsley, a serene but powerful presence surrounding her, and smiled softly. "I've returned."
Linsley nodded, a proud smile forming on his face. "Welcome back, Goddess of Winter."
Evangeline stepped forward, her aura controlled yet powerful. "It's strange how familiar this all feels," she said softly, her eyes scanning the room as if to test the quiet strength she now commanded again. "But this time... it's not temporary."
Linsley grinned. "No more resets. No more simulations."
Evangeline nodded, her expression softening. "We only went through a few timelines, but each one felt like an eternity. It's strange, but now... it feels like we've finally made it."
Linsley stepped closer, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Yeah, no more going back. This is it. We've earned it."
Evangeline gave a slight chuckle. "I didn't think I'd be restoring my powers again after all we've been through, but it's good to feel whole again."
Linsley smiled. "You've always been powerful, Evangeline. This just makes it official."
They stood there, savoring the moment, knowing that the cycle of simulations was behind them. It was real now, and they had a future to look forward to—one without the weight of timelines hanging over their heads.
"You're sure about the Outer God, though?" Evangeline asked, her tone more thoughtful than worried. "I know you've sealed it, but I just want to be certain we're done with that threat."
Linsley gave her a reassuring smile. "I've got it under control. Sealing it is a formality at this point. Its power is nothing compared to mine now."
Evangeline breathed a small sigh of relief, resting her head on his shoulder. "Good. It's strange, having all this behind us. No more battles, no more timelines."
Linsley wrapped his arm around her waist, holding her close. "Well, now we can focus on something a bit more important—us."
Evangeline laughed softly, her hand resting on his chest. "I like the sound of that."
Linsley smiled, but then his expression shifted to something more serious.
With a wave of his hand, countless avatar crystals and celestial crystals materialized in the room, each one glowing faintly with the power they held.
These were the shattered godhead fragments of Median True Gods—rewards he had obtained during the god simulation.
Evangeline's eyes widened as she took in the sight of the large number of crystals now neatly arranged before her.
"These," Linsley began, "are the shattered godhead fragments I acquired. Right now, you're at the Intermediate Stage of Median True God, but it's not enough. I don't want you to be in any danger, especially now that you've regained your powers. These fragments should be enough to push you to the Peak Stage of Median True God."