Dervin's face was crushed against the divine floor.
Yet—he felt nothing.
No pain. No discomfort. Nothing but the weight of the illusion placed upon him.
As he remained kneeling, his sharp mind worked, analyzing, dissecting, unraveling the truth hidden beneath the Goddess's deception.
Earlier, when his blood had burst from his lips, something had felt off.
Yes, there was pain—but not real pain. A weak imitation.
And that was when he realized—this was all an illusion.
If they were truly dead, why could they feel?
On the path to hell, where they had been moments before, time had twisted, stretching each second into an eternity of suffering. Yet now, in this so-called 'divine domain,' they could still feel?
Impossible.
He experimented briefly, sending a thought to his maids, observing their reactions. Their sensations were dulled, unnatural.
Then came the final piece of evidence—he saw it.
With the veil lifted from his eyes, the truth was undeniable:
Their bodies did not exist.
They were nothing but blue, floating orbs—souls given false forms.
A smirk tugged at Dervin's lips. The Goddess had tried to deceive them.
The Illusion Crumbled.
Aisha's eyes widened as Dervin did not react.
No pain. No anguish. No fear.
Instead—he smiled.
His lips parted, his voice smooth yet mocking.
"Strange, isn't it?"
Aisha's brows furrowed.
"Why is it that I don't feel pain from your power?"
With deliberate ease, Dervin's illusionary form stood.
Aisha's divine suppression—the force meant to keep him on his knees—no longer affected him.
Because now, he understood the rules.
Unless she directly grasped his soul, she had no true control over him. And by the looks of things… she hadn't figured that out yet.
His smirk deepened.
"Come now, Goddess." His voice dripped with amusement. "How could I be just a mere mortal if I can withstand your power?"
He tilted his head, watching her closely.
"That would only mean… you are no stronger than a mortal."
A calculated strike. A jab at her pride.
Aisha stiffened.
The words slithered into her mind, planting seeds of doubt where none had existed before.
Could it be…?
No. Impossible.
And yet—
Her lips parted, her voice carrying both a lie and a truth.
"Mortal, that is only because I am not even using a quarter of my power on you."
Dervin chuckled.
She was half-right—she hadn't used her full strength. But that wasn't the real reason he remained unaffected.
She was lying to herself.
Aisha's expression twisted, frustration creeping in as she continued.
"And as you have guessed, there is indeed a world of Deities."
Her jaw clenched, as though the next words pained her.
"But I am restricted from reincarnating you there. It is beyond my authority."
She exhaled sharply, as if his very presence exhausted her patience.
"State your wish, mortal. The sight of you alone is enough to drive me mad."
Another lie.
Dervin caught it instantly.
A frown crossed his face.
"So many restrictions…"
He glanced toward Thalia, the most cunning of his five maids.
She met his gaze.
No words were needed.
His command had already been given.
And Thalia, with a voice that could rival even the Goddess herself, spoke.
"Goddess, my wish is simple."
She took a step forward, her eyes gleaming with calculated intent.
"I wish for Master to meet one of the higher-ranked Gods of your world—the one who has the power to grant him what he desires."
Aisha's hands clenched into fists.
Shame.
That was what she felt.
Not because she was weak—but because this mortal's servant dared to belittle her.
As if she wasn't enough for their so-called 'Master.'
As if she was merely a stepping stone to something greater.
She gritted her teeth, but the divine restrictions that bound her existence left her no choice.
The wish was within her power to grant.
And by the laws placed upon her, she had to obey.
A blinding light enveloped the chamber.
A surge of divine energy swallowed them whole.
And in an instant—
Dervin and Aisha vanished from the exquisite room.
Dervin and Aisha reappeared in an entirely different settlement.
The shift was seamless, yet the contrast between their previous location and this one was striking.
Before them stood a grand medieval-style villa, its luxurious wooden gates towering with an air of regal authority. The craftsmanship rivaled even the greatest noble estates, almost matching Dervin's own destroyed villa.
His sharp gaze swept over the scene, taking in every refined detail—the pristine cobblestone paths, the lush greenery meticulously shaped by skilled gardeners, and the subtle hum of magic woven into the very fabric of the place.
Yet, what caught his attention most wasn't the villa's beauty—but Aisha's behavior.
The proud, aloof Goddess who had once looked down on him—knocked.
Instead of bursting in with divine authority, she raised a delicate fist and rapped against the towering doors.
Dervin arched a brow. "At least you have manners."
Aisha shot him a glare but didn't reply.
With a soft creak, the giant wooden doors opened on their own, guided by unseen magic.
Dervin smirked. Another display of magic.
A power he would one day claim.
Stepping inside, his gaze wandered across the vast courtyard, where gardeners moved gracefully, their hands glowing with traces of divine energy as they tended to the garden.
Then—
Two maids materialized before them.
Their sudden appearance held an almost eerie elegance. They bowed deeply before Aisha—yet when their gazes flickered to Dervin, they barely spared him a glance.
No bow. No acknowledgment.
Not a sliver of respect.
Dervin's jaw tensed, but his expression remained unreadable.
He showed no reaction.
He simply watched. Observed. Calculated.
"Our Mistress has sensed your arrival and welcomes you to her home."
Their words were polite, yet their tone held a subtle condescension that did not go unnoticed.
Before Dervin could respond, the world shifted—
A mere blink of an eye, and they were no longer in the courtyard.
The room they now stood in was breathtakingly modern.
Sleek, pristine walls. A polished mahogany desk adorned with celestial symbols. Soft lighting casting an ethereal glow across the room.
It was a stark contrast to the medieval exterior of the villa—as though two different worlds had merged.
And at the heart of it all—
She sat.
A woman whose beauty rivaled the stars themselves.
Silver hair cascaded in delicate waves, like moonlight spilling into a midnight river.
Her midnight violet eyes held an almost hypnotic depth—a gaze that seemed to pierce into the soul itself.
She was effortless perfection.
Dervin barely had time to analyze her before she disappeared from her seat—
And reappeared before Aisha.
Without hesitation, she jumped into Aisha's arms, embracing her with childlike enthusiasm.
"Baby Sister!!"
Her voice—a melody sweeter than honey.
Dervin almost compared it to Theresa's, but something about this woman felt otherworldly—a dangerous mix of beauty and mystery.
Aisha, momentarily caught off guard, recovered quickly, matching the embrace.
"Emily!!!"
The two held each other tightly, squealing with unrestrained joy.
Dervin, however, found himself staring in surprise.
They looked nothing alike.
Aisha possessed the divine beauty of nature itself—an ethereal, almost maternal presence that radiated warmth and life.
Emily, on the other hand, was the embodiment of the night—mysterious, entrancing, yet carrying a silent lethality.
Their chatter spilled into the air, completely forgetting Dervin's presence.
"How long has it been since we last spoke?!" Aisha gushed.
"Too long! I thought you were avoiding me!" Emily pouted.
"Avoiding you? Do you know how impossible it is to even communicate across divine domains without an official reason?"
Emily scoffed. "As if that ever stopped you before. Don't tell me you actually started following rules."
Aisha's lips twitched. "I may have… matured a little."
Emily's expression darkened playfully. "That doesn't sound like my sister at all. The Aisha I know was reckless, chaotic, and—"
She paused, then gasped dramatically. "Oh my gods! Did you finally find a lover?!"
Aisha choked on air.
"Wh—what?! No! Who said that?!"
Emily grinned, eyes glinting mischievously. "You're blushing."
Aisha hurriedly shook her head. "No, I'm not!"
Emily smirked. "Yes, you are."
Dervin cleared his throat.
Finally, the two Goddesses turned toward him.
Emily's gaze locked onto him.
Her midnight violet eyes widened slightly—but not in shock.
In realization.
Then, her expression shifted.
A teasing smile curled her lips as she looked at Aisha.
"Oh my god. Aisha…"
A pregnant pause.
Emily's smirk grew wicked.
"Did you do what I think you did?"
Aisha's eyes twitched. "Emily, don't—"
Too late.
"Did you kill that mortal you secretly crushed on and pretend it was an accident?!"
Dervin's eyes widened.
Aisha… had a crush on him?
Aisha's face flushed crimson.
"Did you have to shout that?!" She hissed.
Emily burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha! Oh my god, this is priceless!"
Aisha groaned, covering her face. "It wasn't on purpose! I accidentally killed him while I was mastur—"
She froze.
Dervin raised a brow.
Aisha quickly corrected herself. "I—I mean, while I was watching TV! Yes, watching TV!"
Emily wheezed.
"Oh… my… gods… Aisha!!"
Her laughter rang throughout the room, resonating like music.
It took her minutes to regain composure.
Finally, wiping a tear from her eye, she exhaled.
"Alright, alright… So what brings you here?"
Aisha hesitated before answering.
"I need you to… reincarnate him and his maids as Deities."
Silence.
Dervin smirked.
Aisha had spoken before he even asked.
Interesting.
She was already bargaining for his sake—acting as though it were her duty to fulfill his desires.
She was already on the path to becoming his sixth maid.
Emily stared.
Then, her expression snapped.
"What?! Have you lost your mind?!"
She threw her hands up. "Do you even know how much power that would take?! That's an insane request!"
Emily narrowed her eyes. "Is this seriously over a silly little crush? Aisha, wake up! Do you have any idea how dangerous this is? If you force a mortal into godhood, you could destroy their very soul!"
Her rant continued, but Dervin… was done listening.
His voice cut through her shouting.
"Woman, are you complaining out of concern for us?" His smirk returned. "Or are you just too weak for the job?"
Emily's amused demeanor vanished.
Her midnight violet eyes darkened.
Deadly. Piercing. Unforgiving.
"Mortal."
Her voice dropped. "Do not test me."
For the first time, Dervin felt it.
Lethality.
This woman was dangerous.
A double-edged blade.
Deadly beautiful.
Lethally powerful.
A woman worthy of being his seventh maid.
____________________
----------------------
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°