A Chemist's Interstellar Saga
Chapter 148: Sylvana Dance

Chapter 148: Sylvana Dance

Arix returned to the Tiger clan’s high platform just as the blessing ceremony kicked off.

The first step? Inviting the gods.

Alpha Leonidas, decked out in pure white ceremonial robes, stood front and center on the sacrificial platform. Behind him was a priest in similar ceremonial garb.

Another priest respectfully handed three white flowers to Alpha Leonidas and then stepped back.

Taking the lit flowers, Alpha Leonidas bowed three times to the Sylvana statue, holding the flowers to his chest. With deep reverence, he began reading the sacrificial text.

"Revered Moon Goddess Sylvana, heart of heaven and earth, destiny of all beings, bringer of eternal peace. Your mighty influence benefits all generations. I humbly follow the heavenly order, offering this sacrifice with respect. I pray for our nation’s everlasting peace. May you enjoy this offering!"

His powerful voice echoed like a chant across the Moon Goddess mountain top. As he finished, every member of the Empire dropped to one knee, placing their right hands over their hearts, and shouted earnestly toward the Sylvana statue, "Sylvana, please grant us your blessings!"

With the god-inviting step complete, Alpha Leonidas left the platform. Next up was offering the sacrifices.

"Present the offerings!" the Pontifex announced loudly. Priests moved in waves, placing the offerings in front of the Sylvana statue.

Once the offerings were in place, it was time for the third step: the Pontifex’s sacrificial dance.

"Present the Sylvana Dance!" called the Pontifex. Scion, dressed in pure white robes, slowly approached the Moon Goddess statue, holding a branch of phoenix flowers.

From the moment Scion appeared, Arix couldn’t take her eyes off him. Usually the aloof admiral, Scion now seemed like a celestial being. His white robes and unbound flowing white hair gave him an ethereal look.

As the music started, Scion began to dance, moving with divine grace. The phoenix flower branch in his hand seemed to come alive, swirling around him.

His robes flowed, making it appear as if he might lift off and return to the heavens. He moved so lightly it seemed like he was floating.

As Scion danced, countless tiny white glowing points began to fall from the sky. Sunak gently nudged Arix and her brother forward, smiling. "Now you can go to the sacrificial platform."

Arix and Drexel exchanged a glance, nodded, and walked toward the platform. They weren’t alone; countless young members of the Empire were also moving closer. As they approached, the glowing points from the sky rushed toward them.

Arix watched, fascinated, as the small glowing points entered her body. She felt warm and cozy, almost sleepy.

Arix’s eyes slowly closed as the small glowing points swirled around her.

By the time she reached the sacrificial platform, she was enveloped in a radiant cluster of light. That light lifted her into the air, drawing even more glowing points toward her.

All around, the young ones experienced the same phenomenon, each encased in a glowing orb and hovering in mid-air.

As the sky stopped showering the glowing points, Scion’s dance reached its final moments.

Holding the phoenix flower branch to his chest, he finished his dance.

Before leaving, he glanced back at Arix’s glowing cluster, then turned and exited the sacrificial platform.

As the young ones received the blessings of the Moon Goddess, the people below buzzed with conversations about the new Pontifex at this ceremony.

"The Pontifex who danced just now wasn’t the usual one, but he was truly impressive. This year’s blessings from the Moon Goddess are more abundant than ever."

"I know, he’s Scion, the admiral of the Tiger Legion. I’ve heard he’s the next Pontifex."

"That explains it. No wonder he’s part of this year’s blessing ceremony."

"Still, it’s curious why he’s here this year."

Amidst the chatter, some young ones on the sacrificial platform began to wake up.

Upon landing, they followed the pontifex to a room, where they transformed from beast form to human form and re-tested their physical and psychic power levels.

The blessings from the Moon Goddess could enhance their abilities to some extent.

Drexel was among the first to wake up. Since he didn’t need to transform, he went straight to testing his abilities.

As he placed his hand on the testing device, two lines representing his physical power and psychic power appeared on the screen.

Psychic power: Supergiant Class.

Physical power: Supergiant+ Class.

The priest conducting the test looked at Drexel with a bit of surprise but said nothing. Drexel himself was pleasantly surprised. He had just come to the Empire for the blessing ceremony and ended up with an unexpected boost. He couldn’t help but feel delighted.

After politely thanking the testing priest, Drexel returned to the Tiger clan’s high platform.

"So, how did it go? Did your abilities increase?" Krylak asked eagerly.

Drexel grinned widely and nodded. "My physical power increased by one level. I’m now a Supergiant+!"

Krylak immediately raised his thumb in joy, and the surrounding members of the Tiger clan followed suit, all giving Drexel a thumbs-up.

If Drexel could achieve such excellence, the pureblood, Arix, should be able to have even more extraordinary potential.

With this in mind, the anticipation for Arix’s results grew even stronger among the Tiger clan members.

Arix, thinking she was still inside the cluster of light, slowly opened her eyes. She saw a giant tiger head staring right at her.

Surprisingly, she wasn’t scared this time, maybe because she’d gotten used to these strange occurrences.

"Sylvana, are you out of your mind?" the tiger roared. "How could you possibly save them all on your own? As a divine beast, why would you stay here to die with these lesser beings instead of leaving with us?"

The tiger’s anger was almost tangible as he yelled at Arix. She felt bewildered for a moment before realizing the tiger seemed to be talking to her. ’But who’s Sylvana? Isn’t she the Moon Goddess?’

"Excuse me, are you talking to me?" Arix cautiously asked.

"Who else would I be talking to? Sylvana, have you really lost your mind?" The tiger’s fierce expression softened slightly, revealing concern in his eyes.