Chapter 1148 The Ancient Beast
As Michael prepared himself, several guards rushed into the temple, their weapons drawn and ready for battle. Their confident strides quickly turned to shock as they took in the scene before them.
"By the gods! He's killed them all!" one soldier exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief.
"Look at the bodies... What kind of monster is this?" another shouted, his voice tinged with fear.
In a swift, fluid motion, Michael teleported to the door. With the blink of an eye, he closed the giant doors of the temple and secured them by placing a giant beam across the entryway. He then bent the beam with his strength, ensuring that the doors would not easily be opened.
The soldiers on the other side shouted in shock and frustration as they realized they were effectively locked in with this formidable adversary. "He's sealed us in!" one yelled, the panic clear in his voice.
Not wasting any time, the soldiers began to cast rain-based spells in an attempt to subdue Michael. "Aqua Torrent!" one chanted, while another cast, "Rain of Blades!"
Simultaneously, some soldiers, fueled by adrenaline and desperation, dashed towards Michael, shouting battle cries as they charged. "For Rainar!" they yelled, determined to take down the formidable foe who stood before them.
As the soldiers launched their assault, the Responsive Shield activated around Michael, creating a barrier that absorbed their magical attacks. The shield, a pale blue translucent barrier, shimmered as it neutralized each spell cast against him.
Unfazed, Michael utilized his powers effectively. He shot dark beams from his eyes, slicing through the soldiers with lethal precision. Blood splattered across the temple floor, painting a grim picture of the battle's brutality.
Amidst the chaos, the medallion on Michael's chest began to tremble, a warning that using more of his powers would attract the attention of the Pantheon. However, Michael chose to ignore the warning. He was determined to make a statement, to show that he was a force to be reckoned with, even if it meant drawing the eyes of the celestial beings.
Within a few seconds, the outcome of the confrontation was clear. All the soldiers lay on the ground, bleeding and lifeless. Michael's display of power had effectively neutralized the threat, but at the cost of alerting higher powers to his actions.
An hour later, Fayeth returned to the temple and was met with a startling scene. Michael was sitting leisurely on the steps, a calm contrast to the scene of chaos around him, where the bodies of the fallen guards lay strewn across the hall.
Fayeth let out a deep sigh as she took in the sight. "This... this does not bode well with Rainar," she said, a hint of concern in her voice.
Michael, unfazed, responded confidently, "Rainar will not be alive for long to react to this."
Fayeth's eyes widened in shock and disbelief at his statement. "You do know you cannot just kill a god, right?" she asked, the gravity of his implication hitting her.
Michael, with a snicker, replied nonchalantly, "I can." His tone carried a mixture of confidence and determination, hinting at a plan already forming in his mind.
Fayeth raised her eyebrows, a mix of skepticism and intrigue in her expression. "Why do I feel like you're actually telling the truth?" she asked, her tone indicating that she was beginning to believe in Michael's audacious plan.
Michael simply smiled calmly and affirmed, "Because I am."
Taking a deep breath, Fayeth looked around at the bodies littering the hall, the aftermath of Michael's confrontation with the guards. She then turned her gaze back to him and said earnestly, "Whatever you plan to do, I hope it brings change for the better for these people."
"Don't worry," Michael assured her. "I will make sure the people are treated right."
Fayeth, sensing the direction of their conversation, remarked, "I have a feeling you're about to ask me something."
Michael chuckled at her perceptiveness and gently patted her on the shoulder. "You're quite perceptive, Fayeth," he said. Then, getting straight to the point, he added, "I need the collar bone of an ancient beast to kill Rainar. I'm hoping you might have an idea about where to find such a beast."
Fayeth's expression turned serious as she delved into the subject of ancient beasts. "The ancient beasts are extremely powerful, and even the gods don't dare to mess with them," she began. "It's believed that these beasts possess the ability to suck a god's soul, but this has never been proven, as no god has dared to confront one in thousands of years."
Michael processed this information, understanding now why the system had decoded the book and specified a weapon made from an ancient beast's collar bone as a requirement. "So, this collar bone must have the ability to suck a god's soul. That's how I can kill Rainar," he deduced.
"Where can I find such a beast?" Michael asked, his tone indicating the urgency of his quest.
Fayeth thought for a moment before responding, "There are many ancient beasts in the Vilan Desert, but attacking one might attract many others, which would be highly problematic."
"That would be problematic indeed," Michael agreed.
After a few minutes, Fayeth added, "I have heard rumors of an ancient beast roaming the Celestial Valley, a barren domain inhabited by beasts and other dangerous creatures. I haven't heard of any other ancient beasts in the Celestial Valley, so it might be your best bet."
Michael nodded, taking in this new information.
Fayeth continued, "Luckily for you, the divine portal in Rainar's temple can open up a portal to the Celestial Valley."
Ayag, poking her head out of Michael's pocket, remarked with a hint of dark humor, "It seems like the universe wants us to kill Rainar."
Sarba, joining in, added, "Everything does indeed seem to be lining up quite nicely for the assassination."
Fayeth chuckled at their comments. "Are your pet serpents always this... murdery?" she asked Michael, amusement in her voice.
Michael responded with a chuckle of his own. "Yes, they are."
Fayeth then offered, with a hint of jest in her tone, "I would be honored to walk you to the portal."
As they walked, Michael noticed a layer of worry and concern beneath Fayeth's chuckle. He reassured her, "Just bear with Rainar's angels a bit longer. I'll end his reign soon."
"I hope for nothing else," Fayeth replied, her voice carrying a mix of hope and earnestness.
Together, they slowly made their way to the portal room. The room housed a large, circular beam, its surface covered in glowing runes. Fayeth approached the portal's control pedestal and tapped her fingers on it thoughtfully.
With her touch, an emerald green vortex swirled to life within the portal, its colors vibrant and otherworldly.
Michael took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself for what lay ahead. "I'll meet you soon," he said to Fayeth, a promise of his return.
Fayeth waved her hand in farewell, her voice warm with sincerity. "May Goddess Ava bless you on your way," she said, wishing him well on his perilous journey.
Michael stepped into the portal, immediately feeling the powerful pull of its magic. The sensation was intense and disorienting, a vortex of colors and energies swirling around him.
Suddenly, he was ejected from the portal, finding himself in free fall above a vast canyon. The ground rushed up to meet him, the wind howling in his ears.
Ayag, exhilarated by the experience, shouted from his pocket, "This is awesome!"
Reacting quickly, Michael tapped into his celestial energy and stabilized his descent. He soared upwards, redirecting his flight towards a nearby mountaintop. Landing gracefully, he took a moment to survey the breathtaking beauty of the Celestial Valley spread out before him.
The valley was a tapestry of vibrant colors and diverse landscapes. Magical creatures flew and roamed freely, each more wondrous than the last. There were creatures with iridescent scales that shimmered in the sunlight, winged beasts that glided gracefully through the air, and others that roamed the lush forests with an aura of mystique.
Sarba, taken aback by the beauty, remarked, "It's beautiful."
Michael, gazing at the scene, replied contemplatively, "Beautiful places often tend to hide the most dangerous things."
Just as they were taking in the sights of the Celestial Valley, a sudden movement caught their attention. A massive creature, resembling a centipede, burst through the ground with a deafening screech. Its enormous size and fearsome appearance were like nothing they had ever seen.
Sarba, taken aback by the sudden appearance of the creature, exclaimed in shock, "What the...?"
Michael, eyeing the beast closely, said, "I have a feeling that might be the ancient beast we're looking for."
Cain, with a hint of skepticism in his voice, asked, "Do centipedes even have collar bones?"
"We'll find out soon enough," Michael responded, his voice steady.
The centipede-like ancient monster was a sight to behold. It was enormous, easily spanning several meters in length, with a thick, segmented body that glistened with a dark, chitinous armor. Each segment of its body was lined with sharp spines, and its many legs were like powerful spears, capable of tearing through the toughest materials. Its head was adorned with mandibles that clicked and snapped menacingly, and a pair of beady, glowing eyes that seemed to pierce through the soul. The creature exuded an aura of ancient power, a living relic from a bygone era.
"Let the hunt begin," Michael said with a crack of his neck.
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