While Carol was still on Xandar, asking Star-Lord to take her to find the Master of Life, Jason Kin's group had already returned to Earth after several space jumps.
Inside the room, the shipgirls knelt respectfully before Roland Phils, offering him a box that contained the Power Stone.
"Master, the Power Stone you wanted, we have brought it back for you!"
"Good. You've done very well. Tell me, what kind of reward do you want?" Roland asked with a smile, looking at the five shipgirls.
Hearing this, their faces lit up with excitement.
"Master, it is our duty to share your burdens. We don't want anything in return!" they answered in unison.
"Truly nothing? I can give you anything you want," Roland said with a knowing smile. With his psychic powers, he could easily read their hearts. Of course, he already knew what they were secretly hoping for.
The shipgirls lowered their heads, blushing. With shy voices they whispered, "Master, we… we want you to reward us heavily."
"Haha, I knew it. You little fairies. Don't worry, you won't be disappointed," Roland chuckled, shaking his head. "But besides that, I have something else prepared for you."
"Something else? What is it?" Their eyes shone with anticipation.
"Relics from Asgard," Roland revealed. With a wave of his hand, the Eternal Flame, the Casket of Ancient Winters, and the Eye of the Warlock appeared before him. He had kept them hidden ever since raiding Odin's vault, and now was the perfect chance to bestow them as rewards.
But first, the treasures had to be offered as sacrifices to him. That way, the system would enhance them. Items at the demigod level could very well be raised to sub-god or even true-god level. Such an opportunity was not to be wasted.
"What powerful auras. These items feel no weaker than demigod-level artifacts. Master, what are they exactly?" Akagi asked in surprise.
"This fire is the Eternal Flame. That box is the Casket of Ancient Winters. And this eye-shaped relic is the Eye of the Warlock, able to pierce illusions and banish darkness," Roland explained.
"Just hearing the names makes them sound amazing. I can't wait to see," Amagi said with a smile.
"They are powerful, but I need you to sacrifice them first. Once I bless them, they will become even stronger," Roland said.
"Yes, Master!" The shipgirls nodded and began the ritual. After chanting, they connected their faith directly to Roland, who received the offerings into his divine realm.
The system's voice rang in his mind:
[Log]: Your saint Akagi has held a devout sacrifice for you. [Log]: She offered a demigod-level Eternal Flame. [System]: Critical reward! The offering's quality has been enhanced a hundredfold. [System]: You obtained a sub-god level Nirvana Flame. [Log]: Your saint Amagi has offered a demigod-level Casket of Ancient Winters. [System]: Critical reward! Enhanced a hundredfold. [System]: You obtained a sub-god level Heart of Frost. [Log]: Your saint Kaga has offered a demigod-level Eye of the Warlock. [System]: Critical reward! Enhanced a hundredfold. [System]: You obtained a sub-god level Eye of Truth.
"So, they only rose to sub-god level? A little disappointing, but still acceptable. I can't be too greedy," Roland thought. He knew that as the quality of the offerings increased, the chances of massive upgrades decreased.
The three new treasures radiated immense power:
Nirvana Flame: A sub-god level treasure, stronger than the Eternal Flame. It carries both destruction and rebirth, granting near-immortality to its host. Heart of Frost: A sub-god level treasure born from the Casket of Ancient Winters. It contains freezing power capable of turning a planet's core into solid ice. Eye of Truth: The evolved Eye of the Warlock. It can pierce all illusions, dispel darkness, unleash holy light, and fire beams that damage both body and soul.
"Fire, frost, insight. Perfect." Roland smiled with satisfaction. "Akagi is fiery and headstrong, so the Nirvana Flame suits her best. Perhaps it might even help her ascend to true godhood. The Heart of Frost will go to her rival, Kaga. The Eye of Truth fits Amagi's scheming nature well. As for Nymph and Monica, I'll prepare something else for them later."
He waved his hand, sending divine light into each of the three chosen shipgirls. Kaga and Amagi immediately ascended from demigod to sub-god level. As for Akagi, her transformation was far more dramatic.
When the Nirvana Flame merged into her, a painful cry escaped her lips. Flames burst forth wildly, threatening to incinerate everything. Roland calmly raised a hand, forming a spatial barrier that sealed the firestorm. Against a mid-tier true god like him, the raging flames were meaningless.
Soon, the Nirvana Flame wrapped Akagi in a fiery cocoon. Just like the mythical phoenix, she entered her rebirth. Roland infused divine power into the cocoon, speeding up the process.
Moments later, a surge of divine aura erupted. It was the aura of a true god. Roland's eyes brightened with joy. With his help, Akagi had successfully ascended to the rank of an early true god.
The fiery cocoon burst apart. A stunning woman stepped out, her long crimson hair flowing like fire, ruby eyes gleaming, her figure perfect and alluring. Nine flaming fox tails swayed behind her. She was breathtaking, the very image of a goddess of desire.
Akagi walked gracefully toward Roland, knelt at his feet, and said with devotion, "Thank you, Master, for guiding me into a higher realm. From now on, I shall remain your most loyal servant, forever by your side."
Roland nodded in satisfaction and draped a scarlet robe over her body. The cloth flowed elegantly, accentuating her beauty. Even the other shipgirls couldn't help but gasp in admiration.
"Akagi looks so beautiful like this!"
"Could it be that advancing in strength also improves our appearance? Then I must hurry to reach true godhood too," Kaga thought to herself.
"No wonder she's called the nine-tailed fox. Her charm is irresistible. She'll be my rival from now on," Atago muttered.
"That red robe is gorgeous. I'll have to wear something like that for Master one day," Yorktown secretly decided.
Roland had no idea that simply clothing Akagi would spark so many thoughts among his shipgirls.
"Enough. You've only just returned. Rest for now. Nymph and Monica's rewards will come later. I have more important matters to handle." Roland's eyes fell on the box in his hand.
Inside was the Power Stone. After the Mind Stone and the Space Stone, this was the third Infinity Stone he had acquired. He could hardly wait to fuse with it.
Through the shipgirls' faith channel, the Power Stone was offered as a sacrifice.
[Log]: Your saint Bismarck has offered a cosmic-level Power Stone. [Log]: You have gained 1500 divine power. [System]: Critical reward! Enhanced. [System]: You have obtained a cosmic-level Power Stone, granting 2250 divine power.
"As expected. Another 2250 divine power. It seems all Infinity Stones are evenly matched. Still, this is more than enough," Roland thought.
At that moment, the Power Stone transformed within his divine realm. It became a massive purple statue of a muscular giant, bearing Roland's own face. The giant stood tall between heaven and earth, exuding endless destructive might.
Thus, Roland obtained his seventh godhood title: God of Strength.
Knowledge of the stone's powers surged into his mind:
Power Stone: Grants infinite physical strength, invincible attack and defense, control over all forms of energy, and the ability to amplify the effects of other Infinity Stones
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