Game of Thrones: The Road to Pirate King

Chapter 376 Divine Power - Plunder

After announcing his strategy of besieging Lotus Harbor without attacking it, Euron Greyjoy disappeared from the suffocating standoff below the city.

Euron did not stay in the army, but instead, together with Lisa, quietly arrived at Talltree Town, located inland on Valano Island.

The town seems to be situated under a green dome woven from a giant canopy of trees.

Words and Trees.

The sunlight was filtered through layers of branches and leaves, as vast as a cloud, casting dappled, flickering spots of light that enveloped the entire town in a tranquil and mysterious glow, even during the day.

Gaoshu Town gets its name from the ancient giant tree known as the "Yan Tree" that grows within its borders.

The trunks of these giant trees are gnarled and strong, requiring dozens of people to encircle them. Their surfaces are not ordinary bark, but rather have been engraved by priestesses in haori robes throughout the ages, using specially made carving knives. They have inscribed the entire history of the people of the Summer Islands, ancient songs, legends of heroes, the commandments of the gods, and the ancient laws that govern the behavior and lifestyle of the islanders.

Walking through it is like strolling among living, breathing megalithic history books.

The air was filled with a mixture of earthy, humus, and some unknown spice, a deep and ancient scent.

The town is dotted with more than twenty temples of varying sizes. They are not grand stone buildings, but most are cleverly constructed using the massive root systems or branches of the arbor trees, blending seamlessly with the forest. These temples are dedicated to the local gods of the Summer Islands, and the scent of incense wafts from the depths of the temples, adding to their sacred and transcendent atmosphere.

Euron walked among these silent "historical records," his fingertips occasionally brushing against the deep and ancient engravings. Lisa followed quietly beside him, her gaze lingering more on the temples and the occasional passing priests, pondering what impact this land of spiritual faith would have on future rule.

While those ancient trees, etched with a thousand years of history, were certainly fascinating, and the knowledge they contained would greatly benefit future rule over these archipelagos, this was not Euron's primary purpose in venturing into this land. His gaze passed over these living history books and fell upon the even more ancient places hidden among the roots and branches of the giant trees—the more than twenty temples scattered throughout Hightree Town.

These temples were Euron's true objective on this journey.

Bloodline: Gray Sea King Bloodline—1. Extended Ocean Perception: Consciousness can spread outwards like a jellyfish, allowing the user to perceive subtle changes in ocean currents, the movement of fish schools, and even the approach of large creatures (such as seals and sharks) within a few miles without visual observation. This is especially strong during stormy weather, enabling the user to "read" the anger and rhythm of the waves. 2. Large marine creatures will instinctively feel awe or curiosity towards the user rather than actively attack, and the user can even command legendary sea beasts. 3. Deep-Sea Body: Strength and endurance are significantly amplified in water, allowing the user to swim at speeds comparable to the fastest dolphins. The body is better able to resist water pressure and cold, allowing the user to dive to depths far exceeding those of ordinary people and maintain core body temperature and mobility in icy seawater. 4. Bloodline Majesty: Believers of the Drowned God will experience a deep-seated awe and obedience. 5. Divine Power Absorption: The user can absorb divine power and transform it into their own. 6. Unknown. ————

Deep within Greyjoy's bloodline, stemming from the legendary Grey Sea King's legacy, lies a forbidden and terrifying ability: Divine Devouring. This is a power capable of blaspheming the gods and stealing primordial authority, forcibly stripping and absorbing the power belonging to the gods, transforming it into resources for his own growth.

Euron first used this ability in Lee River City. There, the Frey family secretly worshipped a sinister god known as "Life Loan" (Chapter 266). That absorption allowed him to taste the sweetness of divine power for the first time—not only a massive influx of energy, but also a huge accumulation of "points" and "soul energy," significantly enhancing his basic attributes.

From that moment on, the systematic and purposeful absorption of divine power became a crucial and highly tempting part of Euron's grand plan. This was not merely an accumulation of power, but a plunder and reconstruction of the world's essential rules.

Now, this holy city, with its more than twenty temples dedicated to the native gods of the Summer Islands, is no longer merely a center of faith in his eyes, but a sumptuous feast of divine power awaiting him. He strolls through it like a diner assessing the delicacies at a banquet, calmly choosing the first to "taste."

Deep within the tranquil town of Hightree, over twenty temples, scattered like stars under the shade of the Tree of Words, each dedicated to a deity who governs a particular aspect of life on the Summer Isles. They are not merely places of faith, but tangible embodiments of the soul of this land. Now, they have become lambs to the slaughter in Euron Greyjoy's eyes.

Aurora, the goddess of love, possesses the most magnificent temples, with expansive domes and columns entwined with ever-blooming exotic flowers. Here, physical intimacy is not shameful, but a path to the sacred, an art worthy of a lifetime of refinement. Believers briefly meditate here, sublimating their most primal desires into sacrifices to the divine. Those men and women recognized for their ultimate beauty, passionate emotions, and superb skills remain, becoming revered priests; their very existence is the highest hymn to Aurora.

Melia—the goddess of fertility—her temple is imbued with a profound sense of life, its walls carved with fertile beasts and lush vegetation. Here, prayers are not offered for personal pleasure, but for the continuation of the race, for the unwavering strength of bloodlines that stretch like vines.

Every line in the Temple of Merediame, the goddess of art, strives for ultimate harmony, and the air is filled with the fragrance of pigments and spices. She is the patron saint of all painters, dancers, and poets, and the master of all forms and colors that can touch the soul.

Serafina—the goddess of fertility and abundance—her altars are always piled high with newly harvested grains and ripe fruit. Believers pray here for the land's generosity and for fruitful labor; she is the gentle yet powerful force that sustains the material foundation of the Summer Isles.

The temple of Lila, the patron goddess of pearls and trade, is paved with smooth seashells, making it feel like being underwater. She protects the wealth harvested from the deep sea and the merchant ships that travel between the islands, and is a symbol of prosperity and exchange.

Marco—Guardian of the Forest and the Hunt. His temple is constructed of uncarved giant logs, filled with the scents of leather and green leaves. He is the guide to hunters and the guardian of all creatures in the forest.

The temple of Charles—the god of volcanoes and earth—is built of black volcanic rock, and the ground faintly exudes the warmth of the earth. He represents both destructive eruptions and fertile soil that nurtures all things, and his character is as violent and profound as subterranean fire.

Seville—the goddess of the sea and fisheries. Her temple resembles an overturned giant ship, with the sound of waves echoing between the walls. She grants fishermen their harvest and controls storms and tides; she is the mother and ruler of all those who live by the sea.

Okaleon—the god of beauty and inspiration. He shares the pursuit of beauty with Meredea, but his field focuses more on momentary inspiration and masculine beauty, serving as a spiritual source for sculptors and architects.

Lilith – Goddess of Gardens and Horticulture. Her domain is meticulously tended flowerbeds and herb gardens, and the temple itself is like a miniature Eden, full of order and the beauty of cultivation.

Thaddeus, the god of sea breezes and navigation, has temples whose windows are always open to the sea, their sail-like curtains billowing in the wind. He gives sailors favorable winds, guides lost ships, and is the hope for adventure and homecoming.

Euron walked among them, sensing these different yet equally powerful divine energy fluctuations, as if evaluating delicacies on a menu.

He needs to make a choice about which god's power will be the first main course at his "feast".

This is completely different from the situation when he devoured the "Life Loan" god of the Frey family in Lihe City.

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The reason he was able to directly devour that evil god that time was largely because only the Frey family knew of its existence. After the battle, almost all the Frey family members were wiped out, and the thread of faith that sustained its existence was completely severed. The god itself was like a rootless duckweed, which is why he was able to easily uproot it and devour it completely.

But here, in the Summer Islands, the situation is completely different.

The essence of God is closely related to faith.

As long as there are still living beings who sincerely believe in and worship the gods, the gods will be like an inexhaustible source, difficult to be completely extinguished.

The more than twenty temples in Gaoshu Town enshrine the gods of the Summer Islands, regardless of their importance or status, and whether they govern the sea, the sun, or fertility. These gods enjoy a broad and deep-rooted faith among the island's inhabitants. The prayers and offerings of countless believers act like countless strong threads, firmly anchoring them to this world.

Therefore, it is almost impossible under the current conditions to completely "devour" and erase the existence of these native gods in the same way that the Frey family evil gods were treated.

Unless, of course, all their followers are killed, which means slaughtering all the people of the Summer Islands.

For Euron, “unable to devour” does not mean “powerless”.

His forbidden ability, derived from the Grey Sea King, is exquisite in its flexibility. While he cannot uproot the entire "Tree of Faith," Euron can transform into a vine that parasitizes it, forcibly drawing sap and nutrients from the tree.

He could not destroy these gods, but he could absorb their divine power to strengthen himself.

This was more like a continuous plunder, a theft of sacred essence. He stood in the temple, feeling the divine power surging and overflowing from the faith of countless people, as if facing an ocean that could not be monopolized, yet could be freely scooped up. With each absorption, his power increased, and the gods themselves might become weaker from this continuous loss of blood, but as long as faith remained, they would not truly perish.

For Euron, that was enough. A long and efficient harvest had begun.

You absorbed a portion of the power of Lilith—the goddess of gardens and horticulture—gaining 20000 Soul Points and 12000 Points. Your Spirit increases by 2, and your Charm by 1.

You absorbed a portion of the divine power of the Caloos Volcano and the Earth God, gaining 10000 Soul Points and 8000...

Points: Your Strength +1, Stamina +2.

The Summer Islands worship a total of twenty-eight gods.

The goddess of love and desire is the final feast.

You have absorbed a portion of the power of Aurora, the goddess of love and desire, gaining 60000 soul points and 50000 points. Your stamina, spirit, and charm towards the opposite sex have all increased by 5.

Because he did not completely devour the gods, Euron did not gain the domain power that those gods possessed, but the surge in his attributes alone was already a tremendous gain.

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[One Piece System Bound to Host: Euron Greyjoy]

Power: 52

Agility: 60

Stamina: 58

Spirit: 66

Command: 22

Charm: 19 (Opposite sex +5)

Euron's attributes are currently almost impeccable, with each one surpassing the highest level he has ever seen.

The points and soul points gained were enormous: 560,000 soul points and 330,000 system points.

Euron felt incredibly powerful, powerful enough to single-handedly slaughter an entire army.