Subscriber of the Gods Chapter 368 - Dark Elf's Reward

The last Migos fell.

Arean took a deep breath and slowly turned around.

There stood the Migos who had fought alongside Arean.

“We’ve won.”

Arean Windreaker raised his sword high after finishing everything.

“We are victorious!”

The dark elves of the Yugos clan quietly raised their weapons.

Although they had won the battle, the outcome could not be considered very good.

A faint joy of victory flickered across their faces, but they soon returned to reality.

“As you can see, I’m very lacking. I was supposed to protect you all, but I foolishly got kidnapped. Because of that, many of our kin died.”

Arean declared on the spot.

“It will never happen again. I declare here and now. I will become an elf worthy of the name Elf Lord. I promise you.”

All the elves once again gathered their strength and began to cheer at Arean’s firm resolve.

Although it was a gloomy reality, on second thought, it could be seen as the beginning of a new era.

“Thank you to Count Ethan Whiskers for making all this possible.”

“Thank you for your help!”

“Thank you! Servant of the goddess!”

As Arean bowed, all the dark elves bowed simultaneously.

-Moonforce’s followers have increased by 1,000.

-The dark elf Yugos clan has reclaimed the true name of their god.

-Your fame rises!

-You have received Moonforce’s blessing!

-Receive your reward at the newly opened Ancient Temple in Asterian!

A notification window popped up in front of Ethan.

‘One thousand people.’

It was a small number compared to Lyubin, but gaining 1,000 dark elves as followers and opening a temple was quite encouraging.

‘50,000 was too many. 1,000 is not a small number either.’

Meanwhile, Arean quickly took control of the situation.

Although she had hurriedly ascended to the position of Elf Lord, she was not lacking in ability.

She quickly organized the situation by giving orders here and there.

Ethan also helped with this work. Whenever Ethan helped them, the dark elves expressed their gratitude with looks of admiration.

“If the messenger of the goddess hadn’t helped us, we all would have died.”

“We’re sorry. We had even forgotten the name of our goddess… To think that you would come to help us when we needed the goddess’s protection the most.”

Some dark elves even shed tears.

-The dark elves’ faith increases!

Every time they cried, their faith in Moonforce increased, and each increase in faith had the same effect as gaining new followers.

‘So this is why cult leaders use a lot of emotional language?’

That’s how faith rises and power increases.

After about half a day of organizing.

Finally able to catch her breath, Arean approached Ethan. She looked quite haggard in the span of half a day.

Nevertheless, her expression was bright. Many had been sacrificed, but they had managed to protect Asterian.

“Thank you, Count Ethan. Thanks to you, we were able to save Asterian. We were also able to protect the World Tree.”

After saying that, Arean soon wore an embarrassed expression.

“I didn’t know that the Moonforce you mentioned was actually referring to our Moon Goddess.”

“Still, there were a few who remembered. That’s fortunate. Even though they forgot her name, the goddess didn’t forget the dark elves who believed in her.”

Ethan pointed to the temple.

“She’s probably been there for a long time.”

Arean looked at the old building that had appeared in front of the World Tree.

The ancient temple incorporated architectural styles unique to dark elves.

“It seems the Moon Goddess sent you to us in our time of crisis, Count Ethan. Count Ethan, are you an apostle of the Moon Goddess… no, Lady Moonforce?”

“No.”

“Then…”

“I should formally introduce myself again. I am Ethan Whiskers, the leader of the Moonforce Order.”

For a moment, Arean wore a dumbfounded expression.

“L-leader? Then… does that mean you’ve inherited everything from Lady Moonforce, Count Ethan?”

Moonforce, the Moon Goddess that the dark elves had believed in for so long.

To think that Ethan was the leader of the Moonforce Order.

Arean hurriedly bowed her head.

“There’s no need for excessive formality.”

Ethan said as he raised Arean.

“Believing freely and acting freely is the doctrine of the Moonforce Order.”

Ruling authoritatively is harder than one might think.

‘If you want to take it easy, this kind of freedom is essential.’

But Ethan’s words shone brightly for Arean.

“Freedom…”

It was the most important aspect for dark elves. Dark elves were those who couldn’t integrate with existing elves due to their skin color.

They had a history of being ostracized despite being elves.

Because of this history, dark elves always felt a thirst for freedom.

“I understand your words well, Lord Ethan. I see, so we should believe and act freely.”

‘She seems to have realized something. Indeed, fame and position are important.’

When you’re in a high position, whatever you say becomes meaningful. Even if Ethan doesn’t intend to, the listener imbues meaning into it.

‘This is why they say you have to be careful with every word when you’re in a high position.’

But in a case like this, it could be seen as quite advantageous.

“I’ll start praying right away. May I enter the temple?”

“From now on, that temple can be freely used by all elves in Asterian.”

Saying that, Ethan entered the temple along with Arean.

The World Tree, and Moonforce’s temple.

‘Arean will probably use this opportunity to definitely expand Asterian. She’ll gather all the dark elves at this eastern end and spread the word about the World Tree.’

If that happens, countless elves will probably gather. It was perfect for spreading the Moonforce Order to them.

‘It would be perfect to make Arean an apostle.’

Entering the temple with Arean, Ethan first received Moonforce’s blessing.

Shaaaaaa-.

Filled with sacred light and cold air, Ethan raised his hand in front of Arean.

“She says she’ll bestow the position of apostle to the leader of the dark elves who have believed in the goddess for so long.”

“…What?”

Arean, who had been praying, wore a surprised expression.

“Is it okay for me to become an apostle?”

“No one starts perfectly. If there’s a will, there’s a way.”

Despite Ethan’s vague words, Arean nodded as if she understood everything.

“I understand! I’ll do it. I’ll spread the word about Lady Moonforce and do things I couldn’t do until now!”

Ding-!

-You have appointed the third apostle of Moonforce!

She was the third apostle following Rosir and Entrosa.

***

Arean, who had newly become an apostle, was incredibly motivated. Having become both the new lord of Asterian and an apostle, she couldn’t help but be full of enthusiasm.

‘I wonder how much the number of believers will increase.’

Ethan was quite excited to see how many believers the apostles he had personally appointed would create and evangelize.

‘Who would have thought I’d get a taste of auto-hunting here.’

Ding-!

-Moonforce’s followers are increasing!

-1st Apostle Rosir has increased the number of followers through evangelism.

The notification sound rang as soon as he thought about it.

“Ohoho, as expected of the Desert Empress.”

Not much time had passed, but she had already increased the number of followers.

“The apostle’s name is visible, and so is the number. This would be perfect for creating competition.”

It seemed like it would be quite useful later on.

Ethan looked around various parts of the Ancient Temple.

In the process, he discovered a box in front of a huge altar.

It was Moonforce’s reward that he was receiving after a long time.

When Ethan opened the box, a blue cold air enveloped him.

-You have received Moonforce’s reward.

Shaaaaaa-.

The blue cold air lingered on Ethan’s hand and then transformed into the shape of gloves.

-You have obtained Moonforce’s Gloves (S)!

-The effect of the Goddess’s Ring is enhanced!

-The effect of Moonforce’s Armor is enhanced!

-The effects of the armor and ring are combined.

Originally, the effect of Moonforce’s Armor was a powerful defensive ability.

But it was just a defensive ability, not an absolute defense like the Moonlight Defense of the Goddess’s Ring.

However, as soon as he obtained Moonforce’s Gloves, the armor and ring resonated and activated a set effect.

-The number of uses for Moonlight Defense has increased to ‘3’.

-You can now use the special skill [Moon Shield].

[Moon Shield] [S]

-When attacked, blocks the attacker’s attack while simultaneously inflicting cold damage on the opponent.

“Oh…!”

It was such an amazing reward that even Ethan, who had received numerous rewards, was surprised.

Simply put, it was an exclusive item that only Moonforce’s Descendant could use. But since Ethan had already secured two exclusive items, the cumulative reward effect was considerable.

“Moon Shield.”

Shaaaaaa-.

A shield of cold air so fine it was invisible enveloped Ethan’s body.

“So in this state, it will block any attack once? And on top of that, this cold air penetrates the opponent’s body.”

It could be seen as a technique that truly unified offense and defense.

“In reality, it’s 3 uses of Moonlight Defense plus 1 use of Moon Shield. So it’s increased to a total of 4 times?”

It meant he could use Moonforce’s equipment-based defense twice as many times.

It was exactly the ability Ethan wanted.

‘My physical abilities have been enhanced, and absolute defense has increased by 2 more times.’

But this wasn’t the end of it.

‘My original purpose wasn’t this, after all.’

Saving the dark elves was purely coincidental. Ethan came here to obtain a superhuman ability.

Ethan approached Arean, who was praying.

“Leader?”

“Apostle Arean, is there a tower near here by any chance?”

When Ethan asked in a solemn voice, Arean wore a surprised expression.

“How did you know about that, Leader?”

“I told you it was a coincidence that I went to that prison, right? I was originally looking for something. What I was looking for is that tower.”

There was a tower here.

Named the Hero’s Tower.

‘A superhuman ability is sleeping at the top of that Hero’s Tower.’

“Yes, there is one. But that place…”

Arean said with a slight frown.

“It’s a tower of death from which no one has ever returned.”