Let death approach.
Feel your blood boil.
Relive your youth.
Was it worth it? Others might say no… but what about Zeus, the most powerful god? What would he say? Zeus had spoken of this once, and Baal had read it in a book stolen from Athena's home:
'Only by looking deep in the death's eyes can mortals truly awaken and, maybe one day, they might become divine. therefore, the Gods are not those who avoid death, but those who walk alongside it for eternity like old companions. Only then can someone awaken the primary divine component: the Aura.'
It was only at that moment that Baal felt the truth of it as a human.
As a mortal.
He had never been an adventurer, he was mundane. His strength, though formidable, was mundane, his body mundane. But now…
At that moment, he was finally awakening.
He was transcending mortal shackles for the first time, in pure ecstasy.
Finally, his true aura was being born.
This was not the pseudo-divine aura of Baal, the ancient god of thunder, nor the bestial aura of the divine bird — this was the aura of the true god of lightning.
The aura of a transcendent human.
[ Milestone Reached: First Trial Completed ]
| You have endured what many could not.
| You feel something long lost wanting to awaken within you.
"How? HOW?! HOW ARE YOU DOING THIS?!" Meanwhile, in the real world, the large man was growing more and more frustrated.
His blows never connected, and his opponent dodged them with his eyes closed. Yet he knew he could hit him. The boy was fast, but not much faster than his sword.
The blade was brushing against his skin but inevitably never cutting.
Finally, he clenched his teeth and made a decision.
'His footwork is great, but what will he do without it?' For a single moment, he saw a terrible opening from Baal.
"Predict this!"
WOOSH
"DIE!" The man didn't think twice, crouching low and slashing furiously at his ankle — and in that instant, Baal slightly opened his blue eyes angry — the man trembled under his cold gaze, fearing for his life.
Even so, there was no way to dodge that strike! No matter how fast one is, the body has limits.
However, retreat was unnecessary.
SHING BANG
Suddenly, Baal stepped forward with his right foot, stomping on the blade, and quickly struck the man's head again.
The impact made him drop his sword. This time, however, the blow wasn't as strong — it only left the man slightly dazed.
"Know your limits, mortal. I won't give you another chance."
Baal then crouched and picked up the blade for himself, resting it against his shoulder.
His face twisted with both pleasure and dissatisfaction. He could feel the awakening, but at the same time, he was still just a little distant from it.
Baal, of course, was trying to awaken naturally. The same way the ancient heroes of this world once did. Rather than the borrowed awakening the gods here were using.
He processed the feeling in silence for a few moments, recording it all deep within his being.
"Please, forgive us! We swear never to commit another crime again!" The two men, seeing how strong he was, knelt before him and begged for mercy.
In the end, he sighed, looking at the men fallen before him.
Silence.
He stared at them in silence for a while, still processing.
Then He said in a cold voice.
"I usually don't mind thieves and swindlers. But I'm also not a fan of mercy. You crossed my boundaries and it's only natural that I retaliate." He said, stepping closer to them with the sword.
The more they listened, the more nervous they became.
"But… I might think different under certain conditions." They felt a wave of relief.
"What are your names?" Baal asked, and they promptly answered.
"Gregor," said the big man.
"August," said the smaller one.
"I can give you a chance to survive and become stronger. I have only one condition." They looked up, doubt still in their eyes, but also a spark of interest.
"Can you introduce us to a god?" they asked. Baal shook his head. He would not present them to any god and would not even present himself as one to them.
"I can do something different. Whether it's better or worse than death… well, that's for you to find out." Baal had uncovered many secrets of the gods and now wanted to conduct a small experiment.
"And what would that condition be, my lord?" August asked cautiously.
"Become my servants for the rest of your lives. Act in my name in the black markets and report to me everything that happens above and below the surface. In return, I will give you the power you seek."
They exchanged glances, muttered to each other briefly.
"Either way, it's this or death," Gregor said. "We accept."
Baal smirked, recalling the ritual created to acquire his children.
And so he began with the blood of a deity — the blood of the Thieving Bird, the thief of the gods.
It wasn't the blood of a god, but the blood of a divine bird, a Beast.
The blood of a fallen deity.