Chapter 34 – Absorption
Astrael's energy spread across the battlefield like a collapsing sky. It was so terrifying that even his own army instinctively stepped back, unable to withstand the pressure. The air itself felt heavy, as if space was bending under his presence.
Varunesh was no different. His aura surged like a raging storm, sharp and suffocating. Even Nameless glanced at him and muttered under his breath, "Hmm… it would take a thousand people like you to even hurt me."
He said it casually, as if it were a simple fact.
Nameless stood on a high ridge, observing the battlefield from a distance where several gods had gathered to watch. One of them turned toward him sharply, clearly having heard what he said.
"Nameless," the god spoke with a serious tone, "I know you're strong, but saying it would take a thousand beings like them to hurt you… isn't that too much?"
Nameless looked at him lazily and replied, "Bro… I am Nameless."
That single sentence carried an arrogant weight that made the god fall silent. There was no argument left to make. They both turned their attention back to the battlefield.
In the sky, Astrael raised his hand and formed a massive spear of divine energy. It descended like judgment itself, tearing through the clouds as it aimed directly at Varunesh.
Varunesh didn't even look impressed.
He calmly drew his bow, aimed at the falling spear, and released a single arrow. The arrow pierced through the air with precision and collided with the spear.
In the next moment—
The spear shattered.
Fragments of divine energy scattered across the battlefield like falling stars, each piece carrying enough force to kill immortals instantly.
Gods from Varunesh's side rushed forward, intercepting the fragments and blocking them before they could reach the lower ranks. The impact alone shook their arms, forcing them to grit their teeth.
One immortal stood frozen, watching everything unfold.
"…Now I understand," he whispered.
The others looked at him.
"When we go to the human world… even our weakest attacks make them tremble in fear," he continued. "We used to think they were just weak… that they overreacted."
He clenched his fist.
"But this…"
His eyes trembled as another fragment of energy struck nearby and shook the ground.
"This is what they feel."
For Astrael and Varunesh, these attacks were casual.
For immortals—
They were death.
Several mythic gods stepped in to stabilize the battlefield, preventing unnecessary casualties. Without them, many would have already been eliminated.
The clash between Astrael and Varunesh intensified, their movements becoming faster and more violent. Each collision of their weapons sent waves of energy across the battlefield.
And that energy—
Began to scatter.
And then—
Something strange happened.
Nameless felt it first.
The scattered energy, instead of dispersing into nothingness, started drifting toward him.
"…What?"
He frowned.
The energy entered his body without resistance, as if it belonged to him. But instead of stabilizing, it began disturbing his own energy flow.
His breathing slowed.
His vision sharpened.
"…Why can I absorb this?"
Nameless stood still, focusing on the sensation. The energy from two celestial gods was entering his body, yet it wasn't harming him. It wasn't even resisting.
It was being accepted.
Like it had always been his.
Then—
A realization struck him.
Sharp.
Clear.
Terrifying.
"…Wait."
His eyes widened slightly.
For the first time in centuries—
Nameless felt something he rarely experienced.
Curiosity.
A deep, dangerous curiosity.
Because he understood something he had completely ignored until now.
His soul.
It wasn't just fragmented.
It wasn't just broken.
It had changed.
And now—
It was reacting to power.
Absorbing it.
Adapting to it.
Evolving through it.
Nameless slowly looked back at the battlefield, his expression no longer playful, no longer careless.
"…So that's how it works."
The war continued.
The gods clashed.
The battlefield trembled.
But for Nameless—
This was no longer just a war.
It was an experiment.
And he had just discovered—
Something terrifying about himself.