Chapter 282: Plans for the ‘god’ of darkness
If they were generating the law energies from their bodies, then these malevolent and benevolent gods in Gade’s myths would be at least transcendent realm existences.
"The information might also have gotten distorted over the years."
"But think about the state of this world, you think it has transcendent level existences?"
Layla’s words had Edward silent for a moment before he replied while shaking his head.
"There’s a possibility, but it’s low.
You want to say that they might be Sovereign realm existences?"
"I think that except the leaders, the others are all lower than that. Legendary Realms.
Don’t forget that this leader of the malevolent gods was ’stripped of his godhood’.
If controlling the powers of laws is something that makes someone considered a ’god’ in this world, then they basically reduced his realm of existence and brought him down to a level where he cannot use the powers of the laws."
"The Epic realm..."
Right after Edward spoke, Esna’s voice rang out, citing another important piece of information to be considered.
"The person who wants us dead CAN use the powers of the laws. So, he has most defiantly recovered his realm to the Legendary Realm at the very least."
The godslayer girl then turned towards the Count, Ady and Sakaala, before asking them a very important question.
"The records you guys have about your world history. From a thousand years ago and now, can you say the overall strength of its inhabitants has reduced?"
"...Yes.
The number of grandmaster-realm existences reduces every generation. Records from 500 years ago show that many beings could reach the realm above the grandmaster realm and become demigods, but now only one person is known to be close."
Esna placed her hand on her chin after hearing Sakaala’s reply, sinking into her thoughts for a few moments before finally saying.
"Safe bet, our enemy is most likely a Legendary Realm."
"And that’s not something even all four of us combined can take on.
Even if we all become Inferior stage Epics right now, we would at most be able to deal with normal Intermediate stage Epic realm existences with ease but Superior stages would be too much for us.
A genuine Legendary is not something we can defeat and kill at all. Unless they let their guard down but anyone who’s reached that realm wouldn’t be too stupid to do that.
Well, that’s if they don’t underestimate us because we have lower realms."
The four of them sighed in exasperation at the fact that the level of strength of the person who was after their lives was much higher than they could handle, well, normally at least.
Sure, they understood why this being was trying to kill them as they were a potential threat to him, but that didn’t mean they were okay with being one-sidedly targeted just like that.
In fact, they would have long left the planet if Nicole hadn’t noticed that the parasite-infested monsters had it out for them.
"Undine can you pitch in and help?"
[Hmm.... Should I?]
Undine placed her hand on her chin and tilted her head to the side with a smile as she asked in reply, something that made Layla instantly realise Undine had 0 intentions of lifting a finger.
[Don’t look at me like that.
It was your decision to stay back and investigate what was going on in this world, so you guys take responsibility for it.
Besides, if I helped you with every little thing that happened, you guys would not grow, now would you? Situations like this are good for growth, after all.]
The spirit replied with a shrug before floating to Nicole’s other shoulder and continuing.
[On a side note, I think that this ’malevolent god’ would be more paranoid because you four are off his radar.
That guard of yours did cloak you with his aura, making it impossible for him to peek at you through fate. I guess he noticed it and did it on purpose.]
Undine’s words had Layla remembering the strange smile that was on Number One’s face when she declared her intention to stay back, instantly realised that the man already knew they were being watched.
[I’m guessing he wanted you guys to gain real experience handling this situation on your own, to fight against strong opponents that are actively trying to kill you.
The experience you gain in training spars is a lot different from real life and death battles after all, and you improve more with the latter too.
You all have trained your foundations, techniques and abilities for years and all, if you increase your realms here, you’d have no shortage of opponents to help you stabilize your power and improve even further.
That’s the whole point of your ’Realm Expedition’ after all.]
Undine then sighed softly before adding one last word of advice.
[I would not interfere unless things are very dire for you guys, but I just want to point something out.
You guys are only thinking about killing this being, but who said you can’t get him back for attempting to kill you with other means?
No one’s asking you to fight and kill a Legendary. He’s sealed and whatever action he is taking is in an effort to unseal himself.
So, you can get back at him by reinforcing their seal, or if they are already unsealed, you can fight and force him back into his seal or something.
There are many ways to get back at him, and since you’re the weaker ones here, killing him is not your number one method.]
Her words made them realise that ever since the beginning, they had all subconsciously decided that killing this malevolent god was the only way to get back at him, but that was not the case.
If the very beings who he so tried to kill because they could potentially affect his unsealing, came straight to him and reinforced said seal, or made it permanent, trapping him in it eternally, now would that not be worse than just dying to him?
Layla thought something along the lines of that, smiling lightly before turning to Undine and saying.
"First of all, thanks.
Secondly, you seem to be forgetting something, Undine.
Three of us here have deity-level existences for parents."
[Okay....?]
When Undine tilted her head to the side in slight confusion, Layla calmly pulled out something from her inventory, and that thing made Undine’s eyes go wide in shock.
It was a sword, a very simple standard-issue weapon that was issued to the Eryrth Duchy’s Knights and the foot soldiers of their personal army.
However, these ’foot soldiers’ were all at least demigod realm existences.
A weapon that could be used by these existences, was something capable of killing a Legendary-level existence even if it was in the hands of someone an entire realm lower.
’And there’s no way that sword’s the only thing she has on her...’
"We are also trying to gain experience too, so unless absolutely necessary, we are not to use these little ’gifts’ our parents left us with.
The intention was to solve the whole issue using our own strength and wit, but as you said, we were a bit narrow-minded in our approach."
Layla spoke as she put the sword back into her spatial ring, knowing fully well that Undine could tell how strong that weapon was.
She then turned her gaze back to Sakaala and asked her an important question that she should have asked from the start.
"How did you know that the malevolent god deduced through the laws of fate that we are a potential threat."
"...It was a divine message from the Benevolent god of fire himself.
He recently awoke from his slumber, perhaps at the same time that the Malevolent god of darkness began plotting his revival.
And after deducing via fate, he saw that you four are targets for the god of darkness."
She also added that as much as the Benevolent god of fire would like to fight the god of darkness, he was just a subordinate god while the god of darkness was a Leader, and the discrepancies in their strength were too much.
"Would It be possible to talk to this god of yours?"
"Unfortunately, the communication channel is One-way."
"That’s inconvenient."
Layla clicked her tongue lightly as she replied, before turning to the other three and asking them their thoughts.
The four discussed for a few minutes, deciding on a plan of action which was most optimal, with occasional inputs from Undine while the others just watched on in silence.
"I guess we’re heading for the capital then.
How long is it to the capital from here?"
"A week or less with horses. They’re inferior stage master realm existences."
"Too slow, we’re much faster than some inferior stage master realm horses, so if we fly there, it’d be a lot easier for us."
Layla instantly shut down the plan of using horses, but Edward rose an eyebrow and tapped her on the shoulder.
"Hey, don’t forget I’m a human, and Esna’s well...? The bottom line is we don’t have wings like you and Nicole."
"That’s also tru-Hmm? What is it, Nicole?"
"Monsters. A lot."
