Chapter 1058 The Worshippers of the God of Darkness
"Honey, they've been serving the pantheon for thousands of years. No wonder they were made into gods," Marli remarked as she licked her wrist, conjuring a camp. With a flick of her wrist, several logs flew toward the campfire and landed neatly.
Michael settled onto a log, facing Marli.
"I thought you cannot turn someone into gods," Michael said.
"We all thought so. Life is full of surprises, especially when it comes to the pantheon. Speaking of making gods, that's one of the reasons why Dagon rebelled against the pantheon," Marlia\ explained.
At the mention of Dagon's name, Michael's curiosity was piqued. He wanted to learn more about why a god-like Dagon was banished from the realm of gods and relegated to ruling over hell.
"What do you mean?" Michael inquired. Surpsingly, Vedora curled into his inner pocket and fell asleep.
"Dagon was always curious and an old god. Many gods don't know the truth. What I do know is that he started asking the pantheon too many questions about their origins, their powers, and their creator," Marli elaborated.
"I believe it triggered the conflict between the Pantheon and Dagon. To know more, you'd have to ask either the pantheon or Dagon himself," Marli chuckled as if making a jest. But seeing the chilling expression on Michael's face, her smile faltered.
"I was joking. Never try to involve yourself with Dagon," Marli cautioned Michael, her fear palpable in her eyes and words. This only fueled Michael's curiosity further. If he was to align himself with Dagon against the pantheon, he needed to learn more about him.
"From what I've heard from you, Dagon didn't seem like a villain. There must be more to the story," Michael remarked.
"Dagon is not the good guy in the story, darling. He slaughtered millions of devotees of other gods, mainly those in the pantheon and their angels. He razed places where the pantheon held dominion, causing countless deaths. His thirst for knowledge and hatred for the pantheon turned rivers of this world into streams of blood," Marli explained.
Michael absorbed her words silently, then pressed further with another question.
"You mentioned that if one of the rain god or thunder god were to die, I could potentially take over their kingdoms. How does a god die? Specifically, how can a god be killed?"
Marli responded with a chuckle to his inquiry.
"Honey, that's a question nobody can truly answer. No one has witnessed a god's death or how one can be killed. Legends and tales speak of ancient monsters capable of devouring a god's soul, but we've never seen a god die. Not since I've been around, and believe me, that's quite a long time. But I do believe that anyone can be killed if the assailant is skilled enough," Marli said, her smile containing a hint of intrigue as if she had sensed a killer within Michael.
"The reason I mentioned Rainar or Kranar potentially dying is that I have a sense you're exploring ways to slay a god. Your devotees, even though they are few and hunted by many, believe that only you, the God of Darkness, possess the ability to bring down a god. Fortunately, the pantheon doesn't seem to be putting too much stock in that belief. Otherwise, you'd be at the top of their hit list alongside Dagon," Marli explained.
"I have worshippers?" Michael was taken aback by the revelation.
"Yes. Somehow, some of your temples have managed to stand despite the pantheon's influence," Marli said. Her limited knowledge of the previous Dark Lord and her confined access to the outer world of the realm of gods meant she wasn't familiar with the history of the previous god of darkness.
"Now that you're here, you'll likely start hearing prayers directed your way," Marli added.
As Michael processed everything Marli had shared about the gods and the realm of gods, a thoughtful silence settled between them.
"But before you embark on your godly pursuits, I need your assistance to save my worshippers. Do we have a deal?" Marli inquired.
With a resigned sigh, Michael nodded.
"It's a deal. But to reach Nimbosia, I still require your guidance to locate a divine portal," Michael stated.
"As I mentioned earlier, the nearest portal is in the Vikan desert, within the temple of Haiyathi. Yet, reaching the portal won't be straightforward. But I have full faith in your abilities to locate it," Marli assured, causing a faint smile to grace Michael's lips.
"I can fight my way to the portal, but how am I supposed to ensure the safe passage of your worshippers through the same portal?" Michael voiced his concern. Battling monsters and opponents was one thing, but safeguarding innocent lives was another matter entirely.
"That's something you don't need to worry about. Among my followers, there's an individual who possesses an artifact granted by me. This artifact enables her to utilize the portal within Nimbosia to travel here. Locate her, and your task will be much simpler," Marli explained. Beneath her initial facade of a lustful deity, Michael was beginning to glimpse a compassionate and considerate goddess.
Nithroel's counsel to seek Marli's assistance had proven wise. However, Michael sensed there might be a history shared between Nithroel and Marli, a story he felt wasn't appropriate to delve into at the moment.
"Rest now. You can set off for the Vikan desert as soon as tomorrow," Marli suggested, her demeanor shifting. The warm and benevolent goddess he had seen earlier was replaced by her previous allure and desire towards him. Yet, Michael merely smiled and settled down on the ground.
"Would you like a view?" Marli inquired playfully. With a wave of her hand, the canopy above them shifted, revealing a night sky adorned with countless stars.
As Michael lay beneath the starry sky, his eyes closed, and he began drifting into slumber. Within his dreams, faint whispers grew louder, chanting "May the God of Darkness's darkness embrace us." He found himself in a shadowy realm, surrounded by figures cloaked in absorbing darkness. They encircled a powerful stone statue resembling him, in a room adorned with pulsating symbols.
The chant intensified, summoning his godhood with reverence and longing. Michael felt a connection to these worshippers, united by an unseen thread. Gradually, the dream's edges blurred, figures fading, and the room contracting until only the chant remained. Then, like a fading whisper, the dream dissolved, leaving him in tranquil slumber.
Amidst his dreams, Michael heard a persistent call, "Wake up," from Ayag. The soft nudging of Vedora's heads against his face accompanied the summons. Gradually, the dream world gave way to the gentle embrace of reality. The morning greeted him with the melodic chirping of birds and the soothing caress of a calm breeze.
As his eyelids fluttered open, he was met with the gentle warmth of the rising sun on his face. The world slowly came into focus, and his gaze met Vedora's watchful eyes fixed upon him.
"You're awake," Michael heard Marli's voice and rose from the ground. Vedora swiftly hopped back onto Michael's shoulder, readying themselves for the journey to the Vikan desert.
"If you set out now, you should reach the Vikan desert by nightfall. But wait at the desert's edge until sunrise before venturing further. In other words, avoid traveling through the desert during the night," Marli cautioned with a serious tone.
"Why?" Ayag inquired.
"You'll understand once you witness the monsters that roam the desert at night," Marli replied succinctly.
"But remember what I told you. Don't use your godly powers excessively; it'll alert the pantheon. Rely on your swords in battle," Marli advised.
"You mentioned these monsters can even devour a god. So how are we supposed to fight them with just swords?" Ayag retorted, his tone laden with skepticism.
"Figure it out, genius. Unless you want the pantheon breathing down your neck, follow my advice," Marli retorted with a sly smirk.
"I'll handle it," Michael interjected before an argument could ignite between Ayag and Marli.
"Good. Now go," Marli gestured for them to depart.
As Michael took a step forward, Marli lightly tapped her forehead and conjured a golden parchment with a flick of her wrist.
"This parchment contains a map detailing the journey from here to the Vikan desert. Use it wisely," Marli tossed the map to Michael, then moved forward to kiss him on the cheek.
"Back off!" Michael was taken aback as all three heads of Vedora—
Cain, Sarba, and Ayag—hissed at Marli in unison when she kissed him.
"You're not getting close to Gaya's man," Ayag hissed, their fierce loyalty to Gaya, Michael's wife, evident in their protective stance.
"I'll catch up with you later," Michael brushed aside the confrontation and began ascending into the sky.
As Michael ascended higher into the sky, Marli's figure gradually grew smaller and smaller, eventually blending into the landscape below. With a determined focus, Michael propelled himself forward, slicing through the air with newfound speed. The wind rushed past him, carrying the distant echoes of Marli's words and the memories of their conversation.
Following the guidance of the map Marli had given him, Michael dashed forward through the vast expanse of the sky. His destination lay in the distant horizon—the treacherous Vikan desert. The golden parchment in his hand provided a roadmap for his journey, outlining the twists and turns that would lead him to his destination.
Beneath him, the forest he had spent the night in began to shrink, gradually fading from view as he soared higher. The once-lush canopy gave way to the open sky, and the vibrant greenery vanished, leaving behind only the endless stretch of blue above and the earth below.
After two days of continuous flight, the expanse of the Vikan desert finally came into view beneath the darkened night sky. Michael's eyes fixed on the seemingly tranquil desert landscape on the horizon. The vast stretch of sand and dunes appeared deceptively calm from a distance, but a sense of unease began to creep in.
"Does anyone else have a foreboding feeling about this desert?" Sarba's cautious question broke the silence as they approached the desert. Michael gradually reduced his speed, gliding closer to the desert's edge.
The sand seemed to shift like a constantly moving canvas, with ripples and waves forming intricate patterns under the night sky. The air was cool and carried a hint of sand, a testament to the desert's harsh environment.
The starlit sky stretched above, providing a stark contrast to the arid desert below. Despite its serene appearance, Michael couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this desert than met the eye. As he drew nearer, the sense of unease only deepened, reminding him that appearances could be deceiving.
Approaching the desert's edge, Michael was suddenly confronted by an unimaginable sight. Emerging from the sands with a thunderous roar, a colossal creature reared its head—a nightmarish embodiment of terror. This behemoth resembled an immense centipede, its segmented body extending far into the desert. The moonlight illuminated its scales, casting an eerie glow across its hide. The creature's roar resonated through the silent desert, sending shivers down Michael's spine. Its sheer enormity left him feeling insignificant in its shadow.
The centipede-like monster's scales shimmered like burnished metal under the starry sky, reflecting glimmers of moonlight. Each segment of its body was adorned with sharp, glistening spines that seemed capable of tearing through anything that dared to challenge it. Its many legs undulated with a disturbing fluidity as it moved, kicking up swirls of sand in its wake. The creature's eyes glowed with an otherworldly intensity, fixated on Michael and his companions as they hovered above the desert floor.
The realization struck Michael with a jolt. This was undoubtedly the reason Marli had cautioned against traversing the desert at night. The monstrous centipede before them was a testament to the dangers within the seemingly tranquil landscape.
"What in the holy hell is that?" Sarba's voice trembled with shock.
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