I Reborn as a God Within a Statue, And You Ask Me to Enslave All Gods?
Chapter 187 -186-The Hatched Egg

Chapter 187: Chapter186-The Hatched Egg

"Should I call you a human... or an Aberration?"

Owen’s voice was calm as he cast a detached glance toward the Ice Mage.

At that moment, most of his attention wasn’t on her—but rather on the egg lying quietly at the center of the mountain valley.

From his divine senses, he could feel it—it was about to hatch.

The egg was nearly ready to break free of its shell.

Staring at Owen’s broad back, the Ice Mage froze for a moment, unsure why the god would ask such a question. But after only a brief hesitation, she replied quickly:

"I was born a human... so naturally, I am human!"

Yet Owen’s expression grew slightly more complex as he turned to face her.

"Your appearance may still be human... but within, your soul has already changed. You’ve become part of the Aberration."

From the very first moment he encountered her, Owen had sensed two completely opposing auras within her body.

One was unmistakably the overwhelming order force of Aberration—pervasive to the soul.

But the other... was something extraordinary.

It was Primal Faith.

Primal Faith!

That rare and sacred force which only emerges when someone has made monumental contributions to humankind, remembered, praised, and even worshipped by others.

And yet, somehow, this Ice Mage possessed it.

What’s more—her Primal Faith was astonishingly rich. It far exceeded the amount found within James.

James, who had spent his entire life serving humanity, sacrificing himself to protect the younger generation from spellbeasts—his Primal Faith was hard-earned and deeply deserved.

Yet somehow, this Ice Mage, tainted by the Aberration, had even more?

There had to be a hidden story behind all of this.

After all, Primal Faith could not be faked. It only came from true service to mankind—through gratitude, remembrance, and reverence from others.

Now that Owen had become an Ancient God, he was more than willing to help individuals who possessed such powerful Primal Faith.

And yet, hearing Owen coldly declare that she was no longer fully human, the Ice Mage’s body trembled. She couldn’t believe it.

"Great god... could your divine perception be mistaken?" she asked, voice filled with unease. "I’ve been human since the day I was born. I know Aberration power is dangerous, but only those with power can carve out a place in this increasingly chaotic world."

Owen understood her reasoning.

That exact thought—the need for power to survive—was what had led her to be gradually consumed by the Aberration.

"You’ve only scratched the surface of what Aberration truly is," Owen said softly. "You think you’ve harnessed it, but the truth is... it’s been silently harnessing you."

"The longer you coexist with it, the more dangerous it becomes."

"You’re gifted—fast progress, powerful spells. For now, you can still hold your ground... but twenty years from now? When your body weakens, when your advancement slows—then the only outcome awaiting you will be full assimilation."

He spoke with certainty.

Owen had studied the Church of Aberration extensively in the past. He had even used divine points to purify Aberration from others, so he knew exactly what she was dealing with.

Unless she became a god, she would never be able to resist the Aberration’s influence. That was the power of order itself—completely beyond human resistance.

From what he could tell, the Aberration had already seeped deep into her body—into her very soul.

Surely, the upper echelons of the Church must have sensed this. Yet they never warned her.

In fact... they might have deliberately concealed it from her.

Could it be that her hybrid nature—half human, half Aberration—had developed a will of its own? Had she begun the early stages of a full fusion?

Owen had eradicated many Aberrations before... but none had exhibited the same symptoms she did.

"Twenty years from now... I’ll be devoured by the Aberration?"

The Ice Mage’s face turned deathly pale as Owen’s words sank in.

She did not believe he was lying.

He was a true god—a being in complete command of infinite divine points. If he had wanted to kill her, he could have done so at any moment.

He had no reason to deceive her.

Which meant... it was all true.

And that thought chilled her to the bone.

She thought of the many ancient members of the Church of Aberration—those who had joined decades, even centuries ago.

If what Owen said was correct... then they were already long lost. Nothing more than puppets for the Aberration.

Horrified, she dropped to her knees once again and kowtowed repeatedly toward Owen.

"Great god, you must have a way to save me, don’t you? If you’re willing to spare me... I will follow you for all eternity, serve you faithfully, and spread your faith wherever I go!"

In her heart, Owen was now her only hope. The only being in existence capable of saving her from this doom.

Owen looked at her, sighing with a trace of regret.

"Your soul is already fully fused with the Aberration. Even I cannot separate the two without destroying your essence entirely."

"However," he continued, a faint change in his tone, "that doesn’t mean there’s no way at all."

"I can send you into the hell realm of my divine district. There, you can be reborn. You will become a new citizen of Annasi City—and a devotee under my name."

"Would you be willing?"

The Ice Mage’s eyes widened.

It was her first time witnessing the legendary concepts of reincarnation and hell not in books, but from the lips of a true god.

And the shock it brought was indescribable.

This was something that far transcended the control of life and death. It was the power to reshape fate.

Her heart pounding, she no longer hesitated.

She pressed her forehead to the ground and said firmly, "Please, great god, grant me this rebirth. If I succeed... I shall offer you my eternal devotion for all of time!"

Just as Owen was about to respond, a new divine prompt appeared before his eyes.

A name—Anna—had suddenly risen from F-rank devotee all the way to B-rank devotee in a single breath!

B-rank devotees were extremely rare in Annasi City.

And yet, this woman—who had only just encountered him less than fifteen minutes ago—had reached that rank already?

Owen was extremely satisfied.

He nodded.

"Very well. Since you are willing... so shall it be."

As if his words carried divine authority, the space before Anna suddenly cracked open—revealing a strange, glowing tunnel stretching downward into darkness.

From within, one could faintly sense the presence of countless restless souls writhing deep below.

Anna glanced at the path ahead—then, without hesitation, leapt into it.

Her resolve was unshakable.

She was a human, and she would cling to that identity with everything she had. She was willing to give up her life to be reborn—so long as she could remain human.

Sensing her determination, even Owen felt a flicker of emotion stir within him.

"This girl... might be a hidden treasure."

"At this rate, she could very well become my first A-rank devotee... perhaps even an S-rank one."

Though Anna would lose her memories temporarily upon reincarnation, she would begin anew within his territory.

Once she reached around ten years of age, she would gradually recover her past memories.

And with them—her understanding of order, her battle instinct, and all the strength she had once gained.

Owen was genuinely excited.

He had a strong feeling—compared to the many geniuses reborn each month in the Realm of Immortality, Anna wouldn’t be lacking in the slightest.

She might even surpass them.

Those geniuses, while talented, had had their memories completely erased.

Unlike Anna—who had been sent into the inner hell of Owen’s own divine realm.

That distinction meant everything.

Only in this unique situation could someone awaken their pre-reincarnation memories when the time was right.

Not immediately, of course. It would take years of growth.

That was the iron law of reincarnation—an immutable truth.

———

Just then, a faint tremor passed through the mountain valley.

The egg in the center of the valley... shook.

Then came a gust of violent astral wind—whipping through the entire valley, causing the mountains to tremble ever so slightly. Sharp rock faces—normally as strong as steel—crumbled, shedding fragments and dust.

It was as if all of nature were about to be swept away in the storm.

Owen narrowed his eyes, sensing something unusual.

Within the egg, radiant order runes ignited—releasing a burst of brilliant light that filled every corner of the valley in an instant.

And within that light—

A small bird emerged.

It had azure feathers covering its body, and a pair of undeveloped but unmistakable wings extending from its back.

A hatchling.

A mere chick in size and shape... but the aura it radiated was terrifying.

Sharp. Piercing. Untamed.

Its presence alone already matched that of a tier-6 Awakener.

In human terms, this level of power was enough to make one a regional commander—or even a city lord.