[Rudeus Pov]
I opened my eyes slowly and in confusion.
The last thing he remembered was being swallowed by the teleportation light and...
Nothing?
I sincerely expected to be in that blank space but then I remembered that the system had given me the ability to be invisible to Hitogami's sight so I instinctively relaxed.
But still... Why did I feel uncomfortable?
"Looks like you've really enjoyed your life, huh?" A voice I never thought I'd hear again echoed behind me.
"Morgan?..." I asked cautiously as I turned to look at him.
Before me was an elderly black man in a white suit.
"Yes, that one," he replied, smiling affectionately. "Tell me, how has your life been so far? Have you enjoyed it?" He asked.
"Of course!" I responded immediately. "If it weren't for you, I would never have had this opportunity to live, let alone live so comfortably!" I said, bowing.
Since I was born, Morgan had been my only god!...well, as long as he let me do and fuck whoever I wanted without interruptions.
"Hehe, you don't need to flatter me, boy. In fact, I haven't had this much fun in millennia. It wasn't until you came along that I was finally able to escape my monotonous life. So, I thank you too." He responded by bowing in the same way.
"Well... I'm glad I could help!" I replied.
"Good, good... Well, but it seems you've reached a critical point in the story, huh?"
"Yes... But again thanks to your help I feel like I can save my family much more easily!" I answered
"Hmm, that's true, but also... I must warn you of something, Hitogami has already discovered you... oh rather, he has already discovered that he can't see you."
Morgan's words put me on guard and I became serious as I looked at him, he simply laughed as he looked at me.
"But don't worry, he can't see your physical form or your memories or enter the minds of people who are precious to you, so you're safe...or so I'd like to say," Morgan murmured.
"What do you mean by that?" I said, starting to get scared.
"Hitogami went into despair like the cockroach that he is and found you through Ruigerd Superdia's gaze or rather through the black spot in his gaze" he explained.
So I look like a black mark to Hitogami?... Wouldn't it be better to just be completely invisible?...
"I know what you're thinking, but my power can't affect the Six Faces World that much. Besides, the guy is sealed in the Void World, which makes it more difficult." Morgan explained, seeing my confusion.
"So... Hitogami has visited Ruigerd in his dreams?" I asked, frowning.
"Haaa... Yes, he did it and you can imagine what that bastard put into poor Ruigerd's head" Morgan said with resignation and I clenched my fists in frustration.
"Is there nothing I can use to make him see reason?"
"...No, although with your current strength you will be able to defeat him without problems, he simply will not trust you."
"...I understand," I muttered sadly.
'Damn it! Ruigerd was one of the characters I most wanted to see and befriend but now that bastard Hitogami ruined it for me!'
"I suggest that when you wake up you must be prepared to fight immediately" Morgan warned and I nodded firmly.
'After all... Even with all the affection I have for the character...if he tries to kill me or my women, he won't live to tell the tale.'
"Okay, I want to wake up," I declared.
"Well, good luck and keep entertaining me!" was the last thing I heard Morgan say before losing consciousness.
....
I woke up and immediately looked around, it was nighttime and it looked like I was inside a cave next to a campfire.
*Ding!*
[Defeat Ruigerd Superdia!]
[Reward: Superd Eye!]
"Hmm?" What kind of reward is that?...
But I didn't have time to think too much as I slowly heard someone get up from the ground and start walking slowly towards me.
From my position I could see that Eris, Sylphie and her mother Hope were here with me, still asleep, snuggled up together and with a blanket on top just like me...
'Shit Ruigerd! I don't want to kill someone so kind!'
But I had no other choice.
Slowly the sounds of footsteps came closer and closer to me and through the fire I could see the silhouette of Ruigerd thrusting his spear in my direction.
He lifted her up in position to stab me and spoke.
"This is for the honor of the Superd race and for all the lives you took!!" Ruigerd shouted and I immediately got up from the ground.
*crank!!*
His spear buried itself in the ground right where I had been leaving a huge crater.
"tch!, you won't escape!" Ruigerd shouted as he got into a fighting stance and started advancing towards me.
He was fast... Very fast, but Ghislaine is faster now, even I don't see myself defeating her anytime soon...
"Hey! I don't know what you've heard about me, but they lied to you!" I said, lying, and mana began to accumulate in my hands.
I quickly looked at my hip, my Dragon Phoenix sword was behind Ruigerd, he had taken it before trying to kill me...
"Don't act smart! God told me! You are Laplace Reincarnated! I can feel it! That disgusting mana and your presence! It's just like his!" Ruigerd screamed and started running towards me with his spear in hand.
I could only frown at his words and began to form two stone bullets with shrapnel.
*ziiing!!*
The stone bullets broke the speed of sound as they approached Ruigerd, he dodged the first and with his spear split the second in half.
'serious mistake!'
*krooom!*
Immediately the shrapnel in the stone bullet was released, hitting Ruigerd squarely, who received the blast and debris in his face.
"uurgh!!" He immediately began vomiting blood as he fell to the floor.
"..." I slowly approached him, pulling his spear out of his reach and touching him on the shoulder.
"Please Ruigerd... I'm not Laplace, they lied to you" I whispered to him.
"blahw...agh!! N-nonsense! Youu agreee Lapazzce! And Iii muct kill you eveff if itt kilff me!" Ruigerd's voice trailed off as he choked on his blood.
I could only frown and turn away from him.
He immediately got up despite his injuries and started throwing his fists in the air.
His eyes, mouth, throat and chest were pierced by shrapnel and bleeding profusely.
His movements began to become clumsy and his voice faded.
Looking at his face I could see that the gem on his forehead had been destroyed in the same way.
'but still...'
"Ruigerd...please let me heal you and let's talk about it calmly, let me explain everything to you..." I murmured anxiously.
"Neveefr!!!, Iii goig...t-to kifl you!! Uurgh!!!" Ruigerd screamed but immediately fell to his knees on the ground holding his throat.
I just gritted my teeth as I looked at him.
I tried to make one last attempt by channeling my healing magic into his back but he sensed it and moved away from me.
"Shit... This is getting troublesome!" I growled as I gritted my teeth.
"Uugh!" With gravity magic I caught Ruigerd who was walking aimlessly and started healing him.
He tried to move and attack me but in the end, perhaps due to blood loss or tiredness, he stayed still.
When his vision recovered he stared at me as his throat healed.
"Damn Laplace... Let me go..."
"Haaa... I'm not Laplace, I'm just a human child" I said staring at him.
"You expect me to believe that? Your mana is identical to his..."
"And that's your whole argument?" I asked, staring at him.
"Who told you I was Laplace? How did you find me?" I asked, looking him in the eyes.
Ruigerd narrowed his eyes in anger but then spoke.
"You fell from the sky along with those women, you used magic to cushion your fall and you were knocked unconscious..." Ruigerd muttered, analyzing his own words.
"If I were Laplace, and I am not, I would never have been defenseless against you, and you would already be dead from my attack."
"..." Ruigerd remained silent as he looked at me, his gaze beginning to lose its anger but also still doubtful.
"Besides, Laplace was a demon, right? I'm a human and I come from the central continent in the kingdom of Asura."
"Yes... He was a demon... B-but God told me!-..."
"God? What God? A god told you I was Laplace?" I murmured as I looked into his eyes.
"...yes, I fell asleep for a few moments and that god appeared in front of me, he told me that you are Laplace Reincarnated and then... Haaa... I didn't even understand what he said to me afterward" He muttered, lowering his head in shame.
"I see... So if I let you go, you won't attack me anymore?" I asked cautiously.
"...no" he simply replied but to be safe I drew his spear towards me with gravity magic
With a thud Ruigerd fell to the ground and sat on the floor as he looked at me with concern.
'Yes, he definitely lost a lot of blood...'
"Now please, tell me what was everything you saw or remember about that god" I asked, Ruigerd hesitated for a few moments but then nodded and began to talk.
So Ruigerd began to tell me everything that happened with his encounter with the god and indeed it was Hitogami.
The blank space, the faceless figure, and his carefree, almost childlike attitude, along with vague advice...
All these points give rise to a single person.
"S-so I was deceived by a false god..." Ruigerd muttered as he clenched his fists.
"And to think... Haha... And to think that so many years ago something similar had happened... I almost made the same mistake" Ruigerd muttered to himself heavily
*Ding!*
[Defeat Ruigerd Superdia!]
[Reward: Superd Eye!]
"..." I remained silent at the robotic voice of the system but immediately felt the change.
My senses... Became sharper and more precise.
I could feel it, every creature within a two-kilometer range, I could feel their presence and how big they were.
So that's the power of the superds third eye?...
Leave Ruigerd to give him space to digest the situation and I walked back to the cave where the three women lay still unconscious but healthy.
And as it was already nigth I activated my ring and started being bombarded with hundreds of messages.
[Zenith: Rudeus, where are you?]
[Laws: Zenith where are you?]
[zenith: I'm with Lilia and Ghislaine and the girls but not with Hope, we're in some kind of forest we suspect in the conflict zone]
[Laws: Okay... I don't know where I am either, I'm in some kind of forest but hotter than Buena Village]
[Hilda: Check the map that Rudeus added, I am apparently located near the Millis kingdom!]
[Philip: I'm apparently on the Beggarit continent... Although it's no surprise, there's only sand around me]
[Zenith: We are in the conflict zone! But it is in the north, we will be able to return home in a month at the most!]
[Lilia: But where is Rudeus and Sylphiette?]
[Hilda: According to the map, he, Sylphiette and Hope are north of the demon continent...]
[Philip: I don't know who's in the worst situation... But at least they have Rudeus]
[Ghislaine: Don't forget that with the ring's functions you can protect yourself, and according to the map you are close to the city of Rapam]
[Philip: Yes I'm heading there but the heat is killing me]
I sighed in relief to see that everyone was safe and sound, the ring was incredibly convenient.
[Rudeus: I'm fine besides Eris, Sylphiette and Hope, only they are unconscious, I just woke up]
[Zenith: Rudy! Thank Millis you're okay!]
[Lilia: We are also fine, young master, don't worry about us]
[Philip: I'm also glad you're okay Rudeus, even though our situations aren't that great...]
[Rudeus: Please don't worry, I swear to everyone that I will find a way to rescue them all and bring them home safe and sound]
[Hilda: Rudeus, your group and I are the closest right now, what do I do?]
[Rudeus: Head to Millis, we'll go south and meet you there]
[Hilda: Alright]
[Rudeus: Please also tell me what is the last thing you remember before you wake up where you are now]
When the message was called the others responded immediately with "a blinding light and then I fell unconscious"
Apparently my case was the strange one because I appeared directly in the air just like Sylphie in the original anime.
"That ring you have there is an interesting magical artifact..." Ruigerd whispered, staring at me.
"Yes, I believe it in fact, it allows me to communicate with my family"
"Hmm I see, then you did an excellent job" Ruigerd replied as a small smile formed on his face.
"Haaaaa!!! A s-s-s-superd!! " Eris's screams brought me out of my thoughts as I stared at the terrified girl.
"N-no! No!!, Rudeus!!!" She screamed, scared to death, as she ran to take cover behind me.
'Oh, this will be troublesome...'