Omega Ascension System[BL]-Chapter 308: _Divine Swim Session

Elian’s POV

*****

An hour later.

"The moonlight well is ready now, your majesty." Elder Gaius, the leader of the empire’s spiritual leaders, announced to Lucian as they descended the palace through an Ascension platform.

The lift moved slowly, with Lucian, Elian, Elowen and the elder within. The Elder wore a serene white robe, his beard so long it reached his waist. He clutched a wooden staff adorned with a moon stone at the top.

"Moonlight well?" Elian repeated, hoping he’d get some kind of explanation from the old man.

Instead, the latter glanced over his shoulder at him, giving him a brief once-over before turning back to Lucian. "Forgive me, Alpha Prince. But... Your mate—"

"Will be one of the witnesses for the baptism alongside my mother." Lucian brushed his fingers across Elian’s hand. "Is there a tradition against that?"

"N–No. But it’s just—"

"It’s just nothing." At that same second, the lift stopped at its destination with a ding. "I may not know much about this ritual, but I do know the one next in line to the throne is accompanied by their inner circle. Including their mate."

The doors opened with a hiss, blue lights dimming on the runes and buttons. Lucian brushed past the elder, Elian scurrying hurriedly behind him. What welcomed him first was a chill in the room—

—or rather, the chamber.

Ahead of them was a large open chamber that seemed oddly similar to the cave-like architecture of Kyren’s heated pool. The ceiling was curved in a glass dome which let in free light from the moon.

That and the shimmering body of water at the centre were the only light sources in the chamber. The water glowed silver, still but alive with energy.

Elian’s breath hitched, his footsteps faltering. He didn’t even need the system to sense what that water was made of.

’Holy fuck...’

[More like divine fuck. You sensed correctly. That pool is brimming with concentrated Divine energy. Same signature as the Divine crystal—just way less powerful.]

Hearing the system’s alert didn’t help his hesitation. His legs trembled, lips pressing into a line as he watched Lucian walk toward the pool confidently.

"Alpha Prince!" Elder Gaius boomed behind him, forcing Elian to glance back. Elowen hurried to stand beside Elian while the spiritual leader stood just a few meters away from the Ascension platform doors.

When Lucian turned to give the elder a look, the man continued grimly. "For the ritual to work, you need to have faith. Be open to the blessings of the moon goddess and let go of all worldly tethers as you meditate."

Faith.

Welp.

[Now that’s not something you tell a prince who recently discovered his goddess is dead and his boyfriend is a fragment of her essence. Hey—if anything they should be having faith in you now. No?]

’Cut it, system.’ Elian’s mental voice was strained. ’I’m being cautious here. Being close to divinity right now is risky... Remember?’

[Uhm, yeah... But it’s not like you’re going to run after Lucian and go for a god-level swim session. Right?]

Elian paused.

[Fruitcake—by the name of the gods still alive, are you—]

’Of course, I’m not going to join him!’ Elian rolled his eyes. ’I’ll just stay all the way here and watch. Hopefully nothing triggers the curse...’

Lucian didn’t hesitate.

He stepped onto the smooth stone edge of the pool and began undoing the fastenings of his ceremonial jacket. Fabric slid from his shoulders and fell soundlessly to the floor, followed by his shirt. Moonlight kissed bare skin marked with faint scars.

Elian’s throat tightened at the sight.

Gods.

[Now’s not the time to get horny, fruitcake!]

"Elian." Elowen’s voice was gentle but firm. "Stay grounded."

[See?]

He nodded, tearing his gaze away just long enough to steady himself.

Lucian lowered himself into the pool.

The instant the water touched his skin, the chamber reacted.

Runes carved into the stone ignited one after another, lines of silver light threading through the walls like veins. The moon above the glass dome brightened, its glow sharpening until it poured straight down, a focused beam striking the surface of the well.

The water rippled.

Then churned.

Lucian inhaled sharply—but he didn’t cry out. He sank until the glowing water reached his chest, then his shoulders. Silver light crawled over his skin, sinking into muscle and bone, into something deeper.

Elder Gaius lifted his staff, voice echoing through the chamber.

"By the grace of the Moon Goddess," he intoned, "may her blessing reshape your being. Your soul. May her light strip away limitation. May you rise not as prince—but as sovereign."

At the words Moon Goddess, Elian’s gaze flicked instinctively to Lucian’s face.

Lucian met it.

Just for a second.

There was no fear there. No doubt.

Only understanding.

The water surged.

Lucian gasped as silver light detonated outward from his body, a shockwave that rattled the chamber. Elian staggered back a step, Elowen gripping his arm as power thundered through the space.

Lucian disappeared beneath the surface.

"Lucian..." Elowen started.

"He’s... he’s okay," Elian whispered, eyes locked on the pool. His heart pounded painfully. "He’ll be fine."

He wasn’t sure who he was reassuring. Himself or her.

The pool glowed brighter. Too bright. Patterns formed in the water—ancient sigils spinning, collapsing and then reforming. Lucian’s Alpha aura flared so violently Elian could almost taste it from this distance.

[ALERT: Alpha aura energy spike detected.]

The water exploded upward.

Lucian broke the surface in a rush of silver and white, head thrown back as he drew a deep, shuddering breath. Power rolled off him in waves. The air bent. The runes screamed and then fell silent, overwhelmed.

Then he stood.

The water slid off his body like it didn’t dare cling.

Lucian climbed out of the pool, bare-chested, moonlight carving every line of him into something unreal. His eyes—those familiar silver eyes—now burned brighter, threaded with starlight.

A Celestial Sovereign Alpha.

Elder Gaius dropped to one knee, staff clattering. "It is done," he breathed. "The Moon Goddess has... blessed you."

Lucian’s gaze flicked briefly to Elian again.

Just a flicker of amusement. Of something private only the two of them knew.

No goddess "blessed" the Alpha Prince tonight.

Elian swallowed hard.

And somewhere deep in his chest, the curse stirred.