Later that day, I sat beneath an ever-sparrow tree. The scenery was perfect, serene.
I stroked the hair of a beautiful woman who rested in my lap—her breathing slow, her sleep undisturbed.
She was Dian. Her aura had shifted—more dangerous, more refined. Her mana pulsed denser than before. All of this was thanks to the spine I gave her.
"It's constantly adjusting to her realm," I murmured. Just as planned. Yet, something gnawed at the edge of my thoughts.
Above her head floated the mark of the shattered god, burning like a calm, unreadable flame.
"How annoying." I reached toward it, but a deafening beep halted my hand mid-air.
*Master, forgive me.*
*Please do not interact with that mark.*
"And why is that, Inerous?"
*Yes, yes, Master. That mark carries the god's essence. The moment you touch it, your power will be pulled across, bringing him to us.*
"I see…" I paused. That was close—too close. I had nearly invited disaster upon myself.
"Such a skill," I muttered.
*Master, why are you surprised? We speak of a god.*
"That is true." I nodded in agreement.
"Let's just wait for her to wake." I lifted Dian in a princess carry and placed her gently onto Bain's back.
"In the meantime…"
The tranquility shattered.
A black tear ripped open in the air and spat out a limbless hobgoblin. Barely alive, it collapsed at my feet, trembling, eyes wide with terror.
"Holt ashi baba toshi," I said, voice sharp as glass. (Lowly one, do you wish to step on the strong as I step on you? Do you wish to drink the blood of the heavens' chosen?) I spoke in the goblin tone all thanks to Inerous decoding thier language.
Its eyes burned with confusion and hate. "Tila hu makiba akembe tulai." (Who are you? Are your words true?) Its voice was hoarse. The sound pleased me.
It trembled as it spoke, but I didn't care. This state was temporary—only, if it agreed to my terms.
With difficulty, it raised its head in perplexity.
"Tapas makebe, dankaku tilae." (I have no reason to lie to a monster. You are nothing, but an ant.)
A sliver of my aura burst forth—the Will of Origin.
The air stirred. The clouds churned like wine swirling in a glass.
Why such a reaction? My eyes narrowed in surprise. In that flicker of revelation, I glimpsed how Origin intertwined with the world.
Strange.
"Ah—Lord God, Lord God! Forgive me, I was blind," it cried in goblin tongue. "Please, let me atone for my sins!"
I watched in silence as the goblin, desperate, used the jagged bones of its broken arms to stab into its own eyes. Blood poured. It bit down, trembling, holding itself from fainting. Blind now, it still lifted its gaze toward me.
"Lord God, please use me. I will do whatever you command."
I saw its resolve. As it had acknowledged me as its god, I would elevate it. A smile crept across my lips, faint and paternal.
"May the stars bear witness. As you have acknowledged me as your god, I shall bless you with the name—Vados."
System notifications cascaded in my head as Origin acknowledged the bond:
—1 Origin
—1 Origin
—1 Origin
—1 Origin
—1 Origin
—1 Origin
—1 Origin
—1 Origin
—1 Origin
—1 Origin
"Become my butcher."
At my words, mana drained rapidly from my body.
—50 Mana
—55 Mana
—60 Mana
—50 Mana
—100 Mana
—50 Mana
—50 Mana
—150 Mana
—50 Mana (x10)
"Haha… intriguing. Do you need more?" I taunted. The Dark Gathering Art revealed itself—clean, terrifyingly beautiful, just as expected.
Then mana returned in increments:
+20 Mana
+20 Mana
+20 Mana
+40 Mana
"Why so little?"
I pushed the Dark Gathering Art harder. At once, a transparent spiral manifested behind me, devouring mana with ferocity.
+100 Mana
+100 Mana
—100 Mana
+100 Mana
—100 Mana
The struggle between gain and loss played out under my gaze. Origin and mana intertwined, weaving around Vados until the hobgoblin was sealed inside a cocoon.
The cocoon pulsed, drinking hungrily from the mana-rich air.
"The first step is complete."
"Emerald Hive."
Thud.
The powerful goblin corpse I had synthesized earlier dropped from my storage.
"Good."
I approached. In one sharp strike, I split its skull open.
Squeezing my palm, I let blood drip into the hollow skull. Then I pressed my hand to it, mixing my blood with his.
Like a demonic ritual, I drew a straight, bloody line connecting the corpse to Vados' cocoon.
Synthesis.
Vmmm.
Like magnets, they latched together. Vados dissolved into the corpse. In that mythic instant, an intense aura exploded from the fusion.
****
Meanwhile in a dark cave, a man sat in silence. His jade-green eyes gleamed in the shadows, but one thing stood out—his irises were shattered like broken glass.
His presence radiated danger. Cruelty dripped from his gaze.
He laughed—slow, triumphant.
"I. Have. Found. Youuuu, Origin!!"
Kak.
Kak.
"I'm coming. I'm coming."
****
At the pinnacle of the Savage Mountain, a violent aura burst forth.
From the peak, a massive black dragon took to the skies. In the blink of an eye, it shifted—flesh reshaping into human form.
Long black horns curved from his head. His eyes glowed with an otherworldly purple light, radiating mystery.
His presence screamed of power and pride. The aura leaking from his body alone was enough to crush the weak.
"Such power." He said
"Is that… a relic? Or some sort of heavenly treasure?" His voice was curious, but he shook his head.
"My curiosity will be sated soon enough. Everything in this mountain belongs to me."
"Barbados! Assemble with the Sky Demon Fox at the First Mountain and await my arrival."
"Yes, Lord." Barbados appeared on one knee, then vanished into the air.