Chapter 1236 Complete Domination
The moment everything turned dark, an oppressive, thick darkness enveloped the hall, swallowing every trace of light and making it impossible to see anything. In this realm of shadows, Michael's strength surged, the darkness amplifying his power as the God of Darkness. Valorix, aware of this advantage, felt a surge of apprehension.
Despite his growing fear, Valorix couldn't help but vent his anger and disbelief at Michael's actions. "You fucking monster," he spat out into the darkness, his voice tinged with a mix of anger and incredulity. "You killed all those innocents just to ruin my plan? You've truly lost it. The Dark Lord I knew... he had limits. But you? You're something else."
Valorix's words were laced with a bitter realization of the drastic change in Michael's character. The new ruthlessness, the willingness to sacrifice anyone and anything to achieve his goals, was something Valorix had not anticipated. It wasn't just the loss of his plan that stung. it was the understanding that he was now dealing with a God of Darkness who had embraced his darkest aspects without reservation or remorse.
"Enjoying the turn of tables?" Michael's voice cut through the darkness, a moment before his fist connected with Valorix, sending him flying through the air. The sound of Valorix's body hitting the wall echoed through the castle's throne hall.
"It's my turn to brag," Michael declared, his voice filled with a cold satisfaction as he moved unseen in the darkness. "You know, I've been keeping an eye on Jin. I watched him opening treasure chests, always looking for something more."
Valorix, struggling to regain his composure, spat out a curse. "How the fuck did you—"
Michael cut him off, "Goddess Marli was blabbering about getting Vedora's remains, along with the elder of the Kraken clan, before we entered this godforsaken dungeon. So, when Jin came searching through your castle, it wasn't hard to guess he was after the bones too,"
Valorix, now reeling not just from the physical blow but from the revelation, gasped, "But how—"
"Surprised? Yeah, you turning out to be Valorix, the God of Thieves, that caught me off guard. I'll give you that. But then, I heard you bragging to Jin about keeping some adventurers like the Ironfist beast tamers, Elrion, and Lysandra captured. Planning to absorb their souls, were you?" Michael's voice was tinged with disdain as he paced the darkness, his steps silent.
The sounds of punches landing were punctuated by Michael's revelations, each hit emphasizing his words. "Your hatred for me, your plans, they all unraveled today, Valorix. Did you really think you could outplay the God of Darkness?"
Valorix, cornered and beaten, could only groan in response, realizing that Michael had outmaneuvered him at every turn, using his own hatred and plans against him in the ultimate game of shadows.
"And let's not forget about those adventurers. If any of them who knew I'm the God of Darkness made it outside, they'd blab to everyone. That would've fucked up my plans. So, in a way, Valorix, you've helped me eliminate potential witnesses. How's that for irony?"
Amidst the beating, Valorix reached for an item that could bring light to the overwhelming darkness in a desperate bid to turn the tides. But before he could activate it, Michael's foot connected with him, sending him flying once more. The item clattered away, useless.
With a cold laugh, Michael then crushed the orb beneath his feet, the sound of it breaking as satisfying as the silence that followed his explanation. "Leaving Lysandra and Elrion chained a bit longer will just make them desperate enough to call for their gods. But we both know no god will answer them... except me. Their prayers, their worship energy, it'll just make me stronger."
Valorix, battered and bruised both physically and mentally, was struck by the depth of Michael's strategy. The realization that Michael was playing the game of gods with such ruthlessness and merciless efficiency was a bitter pill to swallow. "You... you're a fucking monster," Valorix gasped, the shock evident in his voice. "I never... I never expected you to be so... so calculating, so cold."
Michael's laughter echoed once more through the darkness, a sound devoid of any warmth or humanity. "You should've known, Valorix. In the game of gods, it's not about being kind or merciful. It's about being the last one standing. And I intend to win, no matter the cost."
In the enveloping darkness, Valorix made a desperate attempt to regain some ground, lunging at Michael with the halberd. But Michael, ever the superior combatant, easily caught the weapon and, with a flick of his wrist, absorbed it into his system storage. "I'll be taking that," Michael quipped, his voice dripping with mockery.
"What about the Ironhand beast tamers, huh? What sick plan do you have for them?" Valorix shouted, his frustration and confusion boiling over.
Michael couldn't help but laugh at the irony. "You're one to talk about sick games, Valorix. Planning to steal souls and you're worried about my plans?" Shaking his head, Michael delivered a stinging slap to Valorix's cheek. "As for the Ironhand beast tamers, let's just say Gaya and they have a score to settle. You see, they've been hurting and caging monsters and creatures. And Gaya, being the Goddess of Monsters, feels it's her duty to look after her own. It's kind of her thing."
Then Michael simply chuckled as the sound resonanted in the darkness. "Gaya just came into her godhood, and yeah, some of those monsters they cage are responsible for killing and havoc. But it's only right for me, as her husband, to support her in her endeavors. You know, couple goals and all that."
Valorix, still reeling from the slap and the revelations, was left speechless. The realization that Michael was not only unbothered by his accusations but openly mocking them, all while planning to support Gaya's vendetta against the Ironhand beast tamers, was a clear indicator of how far Michael was willing to go. The God of Darkness's cruelty and calculation were unlike anything Valorix had anticipated, and it dawned on him just how outmatched he truly was.
Meanwhile, Michael's laughter filled the darkened hall once more, a sound of genuine amusement at the turn of events. "You know, Valorix, I really should be thanking you. You've handed me so many goodies and helped me tie up all the loose ends so neatly. It's been quite the productive day, thanks to you."
The gratitude, dripping with sarcasm, only served to fuel Valorix's growing anger. "You're fucking mocking me," he seethed, his voice a mix of rage and disbelief.
"Mocking? No, I'm genuinely thankful," Michael continued, his tone still light, almost jovial. "Normally, I'd just kill you and be done with it. But you see, I can't kill you completely yet. I've decided to toy with you instead. You annoyed me, thinking you could pull one over me. So, consider this a lesson in humility, Valorix. One you're not likely to forget anytime soon."
The threat, veiled in the guise of gratitude, made it clear. Michael was in control, not just of the situation at hand, but of Valorix's fate. His decision to let Valorix live was not born of mercy, but rather a desire to prolong Valorix's suffering, a punishment for underestimating the God of Darkness.
Amidst the tension and dark threats, Valorix managed to landed a punch on Michael with a burst of unexpected agility. The blow was solid enough to draw blood.
Michael wiped the blood away and chuckled, "Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while, huh?" His amusement was evident, not at all diminished by the strike.
"There's no minotaur here to do your dirty work, to absorb my soul like it did Marli's. No matter what you do, I'll always be here, scheming, planning. And eventually, I'll be the one to end you." Seizing the moment to boast, Valorix sneered.
Michael's laughter echoed through the hall once more, a sound that held both amusement and a hint of pity. "Out of the loop? Oh, Valorix, you really are behind the times," he said, shaking his head in mock disappointment. "I killed Rainar, the God of Rain. There was no minotaur involved. Just me."
The revelation hit Valorix like a physical blow, his previous confidence evaporating into disbelief and shock. "You... what? You killed Rainar? No, that's... that can't be. You're lying!" His words were a mix of denial and realization, struggling to accept the truth Michael laid bare.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully being a badass. The reward is 25,000 Badass points] [Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully being a badass. The reward is 35,000 Badass points] [Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully being a badass. The reward is 55,000 Badass points] …
As Michael was delighting in giving Valorix metaphorical heart attacks, the continuous rings of the system notifications caught his attention. He couldn't help but feel a surge of delight at the rain of badass points flooding in, a testament to his strategic prowess and ruthless actions. Even the system seemed impressed, noting the quick and decisive manner in which he turned the tables on Valorix with nothing more than a Spyder and a demonstration of his merciless nature.
Ignoring the system's pings for the moment, Michael focused on Valorix, who was still reeling from the revelations. "No one can kill a god except the ancient beasts," Valorix mumbled, clinging to this belief as if it were a lifeline.
Michael's laughter cut through the tension, "You're so fucking wrong," he taunted, enjoying the visible shock on Valorix's face. "Can you guess what my next plan is?"
Valorix, desperation creeping into his voice, asked, "What? What are you planning?"
"I have multiple ways to kill you," Michael admitted with a predatory grin. "But it would be particularly poetic to use one of your ancient monsters in the dungeon against you. The very ones you put there."
"How?" Valorix roared, disbelief and anger mingling in his voice.
With another effortless slap, Michael sent Valorix flying. As Valorix struggled to regain his bearings, Michael's voice followed, dripping with condescension. "Did you forget already? My wife is the Goddess of Monsters. And soon, she'll be boss around the ancient beasts as if they were mere pups. So, guess who'll really be in trouble then?
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