Chapter 259 Chapter257-What Defines a Deity
"Sovok, you truly are not dead."
Primordial Key Seth's face bore an expression of disbelief, yet also an inevitability.
Even though he had long harbored resentment towards Sovok, the Original Elf King, often cursing and scorning him, anyone capable of becoming a deity was no ordinary being.
Hearing Seth's voice, Sovok laughed once more.
This manifestation of the Original Elf King, formed from dark mist, showed no signs of malevolence.
His face bore a gentle smile, and with the inherent delicate features of an Elf, it was difficult to harbor negative feelings towards him.
It even felt familiar, almost inviting.
"My old friend, after all these long years since our last encounter, have you truly been so eager for my demise?" Sovok mused.
"Remember, it was I who brought you out to witness the world's splendor. And yet, now you plot my death. It's so heart-wrenching, old friend."
With that words, Original Elf King Sovok covered his face, seemingly reluctant to show his sorrowful expression to the others.
These words stoked an unparalleled rage in Seth.
The metal key, as thick as an arm, repeatedly struck the ground, fracturing the stone floor beneath.
Yet this did nothing to quell Seth's fury.
"Sovok," he seethed, "You remain as deceitful as ever!"
"Deceitful?" Sovok's voice chilled.
His gaze flitted over Ethan, Quel, and the others, pausing briefly on Rose, then shifting to Windsor with a conspicuous smirk.
Only then did he address Seth, now resembling a key, "In the world of the powerful, there is no deceit. Only the weak accuse others of deceit to mask their own frailty. And Seth, from the very beginning to this moment, you never grasped this truth. The deceitful one has always been you, not me."
"You consider yourself the Primordial Key, a miracle birthed from this world. Yet, you never sought to elevate yourself, to enhance your strength, or even to cast away this metallic form and become a true sentient being. Isn't that deceitful?"
Sovok's challenge was soft-spoken, but everyone heard it clearly.
It wasn't just an accusation directed at Seth, but also a profound question for Ethan and the entire group, one that reached deep into the soul.
"Silence!" Seth roared in retort, "I have tirelessly gathered countless rare materials to empower myself, facing many perils in the process. How could that be deceitful?"
"Ha-ha-ha!" The Original Elf King Sovok burst into laughter.
He turned, gracefully making his way to the throne behind him.
The skeletal figure that previously rested on the throne crumbled into dust as Sovok neared, then was whisked away by a breeze.
Sovok clasped the Heart of the City in his hand.
Then, Sovok took his seat on the throne.
The moment he settled, the entire palace seemed to come alive. Golden lights bathed the hall, making the palace appear as if it were forged from pure gold.
Sovok continued to gaze serenely upon the assembly.
"My old friend, do you know? I have always envied you," the Original Elf King remarked, a touch of melancholy in his voice. His words were directed at Seth.
A scornful smirk appeared on the face of the Primordial Key Seth, clearly skeptical of Sovok's sentiment.
Sovok continued, "You are a wondrous creation of the world, born with an array of formidable skills and a nearly indestructible form. At your peak, you rival even a deity. But me? I'm just an Elf, an insignificant Elf."
"Do you know what irks me most about you?"
"Your arrogance!"
Without giving Seth an opportunity to respond, Sovok declared the answer and went on, "You speak of the perils you have faced gathering those precious materials to elevate yourself. But have you ever pondered the origin of those dangers? Or even, were they truly dangers?"
"In your perspective, only the most elite materials are worthy of your consumption. But have you ever considered that even the most mundane materials could aid your growth? Yet you disregard them. Do you have any idea how much effort I expended seeking those rare materials to enlist your help? And when you faced the slightest resistance in absorbing them, you deemed it adversity."
"Am I right, old friend?"
Seth didn't respond, an implicit acknowledgment.
As a Primordial Key, a wondrous anomaly birthed by the cosmos itself, he was endowed with the power to break bonds, making him immensely potent from inception.
Moreover, he was exceedingly discerning.
In fact, from the very beginning, he never genuinely acknowledged Sovok, deeming him just another Elf.
Only when Sovok provided him with some coveted materials did he deign to offer a few words of praise.
Thus, it seemed, the truly deceptive one was Seth.
Realizing this, Seth's visage inevitably twisted into madness.
Dark runes emerged on his golden key-shaped form, driving him further into frenzy.
Meanwhile, Sovok, seated regally on his throne, bore a triumphant smirk.
"Mr. Seth!"
Rose cried out in concern.
Ethan sensed the looming danger and promptly channeled the Power of Holy Light, pressing it onto Seth's metallic form.
The sinister black tunes were stifled, unable to spread any further.
This action caused the mirthful expression on the face of the Original Elf King to fade.
"The Power of Holy Light, it's truly detestable," the Original Elf King Sovok spat with irritation.
He then stretched out his hand, giving a light flick in Ethan's direction.
Ethan instantly felt an impending threat. He swiftly dodged, releasing his grip on the Primordial Key.
"Intriguing," Sovok sneered coldly, clearly not intending to let Ethan off easily.
As Ethan evaded, the ground where he stood bore a fractured mark, reminiscent of an imprint made by a thumb magnified hundreds of times.
Glancing at the ground, Ethan couldn't help but be taken aback by the sheer power of the Original Elf King's casual strike.
However, he also discerned the anomaly's origin.
He returned to Rose and the others, gazing at the Elf King seated on the throne, declaring, "It was you who meddled with Seth, cursed him, turned him into what he is now!"
"A curse?"
The Original Elf King laughed coldly once more, his eyes indifferent and devoid of emotion.
"All I did was plant a seed within his psyche. A seed that feeds and grows on negative emotions."
"And those eons of solitude undoubtedly intensified such emotions."
"So, in essence, I merely initiated the curse."
"Its fruition, however, was entirely his own doing," the Original Elf King retorted.
"Nonsense!"
Rose, unable to hold back, rebuked, "It is because of you that Mr. Seth began to harbor these tumultuous feelings of rage. Ultimately, the blame rests squarely on your shoulders."
"You bear the Elf Bloodline," Sovok interjected, skillfully sidestepping the issue and redirecting the conversation toward Rose, "As an Elf, in my presence, you should address me as your King, not brazenly accuse me!"
"You are unworthy of the title 'Elf King'!" Rose proclaimed loudly.
Seemingly enraged by her declaration, a dark mist began to emanate from the Original Elf King.
His eyes darkened to an abyssal black as he intoned, "You dare defy me? Your insolence will be judged. Even if you carry the Elf Royalty Bloodline, now, that Bloodline shall be stripped away from you!"
As the Elf King's words echoed, Rose suddenly felt her body go limp.
Bright red blood began to seep from her skin, gathering mid-air into a crimson stream, flowing irresistibly towards the Elf King Sovok.
"Halt!" Oberlis roared.
In a blink, his silhouette vanished, only to reappear instantly before Elf King Sovok, thrusting a dagger towards him.
"A Dark Elf with the talent of spatial manipulation!" Sovok discerned Oberlis's essence with a mere glance.
This revelation delighted Sovok immensely, provoking an uncontrollable chuckle.
Swiftly, he reached out, seizing the incoming dagger and effortlessly crushing it.
Then, with a mere flick, Oberlis was sent hurtling back, crashing onto the ground.
But the onslaught didn't end there.
As Oberlis tried to muster the strength to rise, he felt his blood betraying him, uncontrollably seeping out from his body.
The agony was indescribable.
"Attack!" Ethan urgently commanded Quel and the others, realizing they couldn't keep on like this.
Without hesitation, Ethan harnessed the power of Thunder, launching a fierce strike directly at Sovok.
Windsor, in turn, conjured a massive fireball in her hands, its terrifying heat palpable and daunting. With a forceful toss, she hurled it straight at the Elf King.
Kadiven, waving both hands, sketched a Magic Circle in mid-air. A circle imbued with the power to seal, descending swiftly towards Elf King Sovok in an attempt to suppress him.
Quel's approach was straightforward. Drawing two long blades from his sheath, he crouched slightly, gathering momentum. With a powerful leap, he swung the blades with intent, aiming straight for Sovok's head.
Yet, facing this barrage, Sovok remained unflinchingly calm.
His demeanor unchanged, he remarked, "Pitiful insects, you do not comprehend the power of a deity. You fail to grasp the essence of what it means to be a deity!"
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