Chapter 2: a help
In a void where darkness had devoured everything, seeing nothing and hearing nothing, only darkness...
A soul scattered within itself, floating alone in the void.
"Huh, so this is what's after death? Truly unexpected," Dillon said subconsciously.
"I can't believe I died this way, haha."
"This is truly pathetic," he said in a serious tone, letting out what he wanted to say.
"Hee hee hee," a laughter like an echo overshadowed the place.
"Huh? What was that?" Dillon asked in shock.
"Oh, mortal, dying this way is rather ironic, isn't it?"
"Who is speaking?" Although this was Dillon's voice, he couldn't hear it; he was just a scattered soul, after all.
"It doesn't matter who I am. Answer me, human, do you regret it? After your death, have you ever regretted your choice?"
"Huh? Regret? Impossible! The only thing I regret is not being able to tear the heads off those scoundrels! Even if I had to die a thousand times, I wouldn't regret my choices. I'll walk as I wish and do as I wish. If I don't, then what's the meaning of my life?!" Dillon scoffed.
"Haha, you talk as if you're alive."
"..."
"Hee hee hee, you've truly captured my interest, boy! With my help, you'll be able to dominate, you'll be able to reach the heavens, no, rather, overthrow the heavens! Even surpassing me!"
"Huh? What are you saying?" Dillon was shocked by the words and the power emanating from the unknown entity. If he had his physical body, he would have already been crushed.
"I, in my magnificence and might, choose you as my heir! Return and advance, do not regret!"
"What are you talking about-" Before he could finish, a giant vortex appeared and began to pull Dillon's soul.
"I am the ancient Shadow God, Nemesis! Seek my traces, take revenge on my brothers who cast me out! Kill the gods!"
"What is he saying?!" Without giving Dillon a chance to recover, the vortex was about to swallow him, but before that, the unknown being added,
"Say my name!"
Immediately after, Dillon's soul disappeared.
---
The sun shone, illuminating the surroundings. Sunlight streamed through the window, making the household dust visible to the naked eye.
In a certain room, a small child slept soundly on a large, soft bed. His skin was pale white, his beautiful black hair fell over his eyes, and a mole was centered under his left eye.
The maid tiptoed in, placing the breakfast tray on the table gently, as if afraid to break the silence. At that moment, the child was struggling with sleep, slowly and heavily opening his eyes, to receive the first rays of sun reflecting on the edges of the glass.
"Oh, young master, have you woken up?"
"What? Young master?" The child was shocked, as if hearing this for the first time.
"Young master Dillon, I've already prepared your breakfast. I'll prepare the bath as well. I won't be long." It was that child who was Dillon.
"Huh? What's going on here?"
Dillon adjusted his sitting position and began to feel his features and body.
"Huh? Why is my body small, and why am I here too? Didn't I die?"
Dillon got out of bed and quickly headed towards a mirror. He looked at his face closely.
"Yes, without a doubt, this is my face and my features from childhood!"
Staring into his beautiful blue eyes, he began to recall what had happened.
"I'm sure I died. After that, I found myself in that strange place with the unknown being," he tried to recall with difficulty but was interrupted by the maid.
"Master, you've already gotten up? That's good. The bath is ready." As soon as she said this, she turned to leave, leaving Dillon alone.
"That was Amanda, wasn't it?..."
Amanda, a commoner girl with brown hair and brown eyes, had provided great help to Dillon and his mother.
Dillon entered the bathroom, finished his shower, and ate his breakfast as if nothing had happened. He sat on his bed and began to think.
"I'm not dreaming right now, am I?" He pinched himself, but it only left a slight redness on his skin.
"Huh~ This seems real, but how, in the name of the world?" he wondered, beginning to recall past events again.
"First, I was betrayed and died. Second, I found myself in a large void. Third, I spoke with that unknown being. I think he said he was the ancient Shadow God or something like that?"
His eyes widened as if he had realized something important.
"Did that god say 'Return and advance, do not regret!'? Does this have anything to do with my current state?" He continued to think.
"Anyway, what was his name? Neveris? Teneris? No!"
"Nemesis! Yes, that's it!" As soon as he said this, he felt dizzy and a heaviness in his heart.
"Huh? What's happening?" Dillon wondered.
A few seconds later, Dillon lost consciousness.
---
Dillon slowly opened his eyes. The first thing he did after regaining consciousness was to survey his surroundings. He was back in that void, but this time he was in his human form, floating in an infinite emptiness. His heart leaped for a moment.
"Don't worry, I've been here before, and I'm already used to flying," Dillon calmed himself.
"Now I need to think about how to get out of here, or why I'm here," he was interrupted from his thoughts by a powerful voice from the void.
"We meet again, mortal."
Dillon was shocked by the voice and almost lost consciousness and vomited from the sheer presence of the being speaking to him, but he quickly recovered.
"So... will you tell me what you need from me? Or why you brought me here?" he asked cautiously and formally.
"To speak like that to your savior is truly rude."
"..."
"Tsk! He won't kill me for this, right?" he thought to himself.
"Relax, I won't do anything like that, and also, I will tell you everything."
"What? Did he read my thoughts or something?" Dillon was shocked with a sense of awe.
"One, I chose you as my heir to complete my mission and take revenge for me."
"Heir? Revenge? Oh, right, I think he mentioned something like that before."
"Two, for you to know the hidden truth of the wicked gods from you humans."
"What? Truth? What truth?"
"Three, for The Glorified to be born."
'The Glorified? Who is this person?' Dillon wondered internally.
"Wait... Lord Nemesis, may I ask a question?"
"Go ahead. You only have three questions."
"Only three?..."
"Hurry up, or I'll count this as a question."
"Alright! Alright!"
"I only have three questions, so I must ask important ones."
"So, for my first question, you said the gods cast you out. What did you mean by that?"
"I won't tell you. Discover it yourself."
"What, how-"
"Two questions remain."
"Huh? But you didn't even answer me?!"
"What? Aren't you going to ask then?"
"I will, I will!" Dillon replied angrily.
"What do you mean by the truth of the gods?"
"Gods? They don't even deserve that name. They are just scoundrels who treat everything as a game."
"That's not an answer."
"If you discover this, you'll understand why they cast me out. Come on, one question left."
"Huh? What's the point of bringing me here if you don't answer me?"
"Human, ask, or I'll send you back from where you came."
Dillon gritted his teeth and had no choice but to agree to his terms.
"Who is the Honored One?"
"On the day the heavens split and the stars dance, on the day light ascends and the boundaries and realms merge, at the moment the body reconciles with the soul, when the voice of truth and majesty echoes, he will stand alone above all entities and creatures, for his greatness and might, the Lord of Truth, The Glorified will be born."
Dillon's eyes lit up upon hearing Nemesis's words. He imagined the magnificence of the Honored One, the being who would stand above all!
For a moment... Dillon felt envy...
"Everything ends here. And also, before you leave, take this."
Two balls of light shot out and danced with each other before entering Dillon's chest.
"What is this?"
"Things that will help you. This is nothing for now, but I have already left parts of my power in your world."
"Huh? But how will I find them?"
"Just follow your heart."
"What do you mean-" Before he could finish, Dillon lost consciousness again.
___
Dillon opened his eyes again. He was on his bed. He quickly got up and looked around. It was still morning. He touched his hair, and it was still damp from his shower.
"What is this? Has time not moved in the outside world?" Dillon thought before hearing a knock on the door.
"Young master, may I come in?" It was Amanda.
"Yes, please come in."
The young woman entered and quickly bowed to her master.
"Young master, haven't you prepared yet? The carriage will arrive shortly to take us to the main house."
"What? The main house? Why so suddenly?" He thought for a moment and quickly reached a conclusion.
"Amanda, what is today's date?"
"Huh? It's the last day of the fourth month, sir."
Hearing this, Dillon couldn't control himself, forming a chilling smile that didn't suit a child his age.
"M-Master, are you alright?" Sweat dripped down her beautiful face, clearly showing she was nervous and scared.
Hearing this, Dillon regained his composure and spoke seriously.
"Alright, thank you. If there's nothing else, you may leave." With that, he turned, and she quickly left.
Dillon walked towards the window with an unreadable expression.
He stared out the window, watching the blindingly bright sun. Dillon paid no mind to it, continuing to stare as his eyes began to redden and tears welled up. He formed a wide smile on his face, making anyone who saw it flee in terror.
"That day has finally come, the day of the selection of the young lord's!"
__