With his divine eyes, Zigeyr pierced the walls of the compound until his gaze locked onto his target. The Prime Minister of Aliana.
A blink later, space folded, and he was standing inside the prime minister's chamber.
Idom, the forty-five-year-old leader of Aliana, sat hunched over his desk, lines of exhaustion etched deep across his face. His mind was consumed with the crisis tearing his nation apart.
Then, without warning, a young man — perhaps twenty-five, dark-haired, dressed in simple attire — appeared out of nothingness in the center of the room.
"Hell—"
Bang!
The report of a pistol cracked through the chamber before Zigeyr could finish his word. A bullet slammed straight into his forehead. He didn't flinch. No wound. No blood.
Idom froze, eyes wide. Then, with trembling hands, he fired again.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Each five shot struck true — chest, head, neck — yet the intruder remained unharmed, as if the bullets had vanished into the void.
When his magazine clicked empty, silence swallowed the room.
"You… how—how are you still standing?" Idom demanded, his voice shaking. "And how did you bypass my guards?"
Finally lowering his hand from his head, Zigeyr smirked. "At last, you're willing to speak. I expected you'd shoot, but I didn't think you'd be so quick about it." His tone carried more amusement than anger. "Decisive. Very good."
He strolled unhurriedly to a chair opposite the desk and sat down, utterly at ease.
"I see your nation drowning in crisis. I am a god. And I can help you."
Idom's mouth went dry. He tried to shout, "Guards!" — once, twice, again. No answer came.
"It's useless," Zigeyr said, his voice calm and sharp as steel. "This room is sealed. Nothing leaves it. Not even sound."
The prime minister's face paled. For the first time, he believed. This was no ordinary intruder.
"…If you are truly a god," Idom said slowly, "then may I ask… which god?"
Zigeyr's lips curled into a smile. "The God of Chaos."
Idom blinked. "God of Chaos? But… isn't that a goddess?"
"There can be more than one who holds the same divinity," Zigeyr snapped, irritation flashing across his face. "Spare me your doubts. Tell me — what is the true state of your nation?"
Idom swallowed hard. "We… we are still fighting the Malsic terrorists. Three of our states are already lost. Our major cities lie in ruins from bombs and missile strikes. And with foreign powers arming the rebels, our chances of survival grow slim."
"Heh." Zigeyr gave a low, mocking laugh. "Malsic — a faith that births only terrorists."
The words were dangerous, but Idom, despite knowing better, gave a stiff nod.
Zigeyr leaned forward, his eyes gleaming. "What of your own faith? Aidni calls itself secular… but what do you believe?"
The prime minister hesitated, then admitted quietly: "I follow the Path of Enlightenment… the teachings of Yani."
"Excellent." Zigeyr's expression softened into satisfaction. "Then you are fortunate indeed. Had you followed any other creed, I would have been forced to replace you."