Aelthar still didn’t scream or howl in agony, the god just shook his head as if disappointed, and then tapped the gourd wrapped around his waist.
The mystical fog swirled out of it and instantly put out the fire, burning his soul.
"Ages ago, someone back in my world said a saying which always stuck with me, cause I couldn’t make sense of it amidst all the peace and quiet of my world, but with you, I finally understand it now." Aelthar spoke calmly, his aura and appearance still the same as ever.
"Oh yeah, and what is that?" Rio said, while placing his sword on his shoulder in a resting pose.
"That a fool only sees his mistakes after it gets him murdered."
His words, making Rio chuckle in response, and this time not as a joke or an act, but for real. As he couldn’t help but think that this foolish fucker didn’t understand shit after his mistakes got himself murdered, but bitch, be bitching over his fight.
"My reactions are much lower than what they should have been. I suppose that’s your doing too?" Aelthar spoke, finally noticing why he couldn’t sense or dodge the moves of this mortal.
"Right you are." Rio replied, not denying anything since the god could sense the formation with a sweep of his divine spells anyway.
"A certain god of trickery was very happy and willing to help when I told him one of his past enemies was still standing and looking for a successor." Rio explained, even though he didn’t mention any names, Aelthar understood everything.
"Loki…" He whispered under his breath and seeing Rio smile in response, he couldn’t help but grit his teeth in anger.
The damned trickster was someone who often caused trouble for him and his sanctuary back in the day. Swaying other gods behind the scenes, fooling them for his own sick and twisted sense of entertainment. _ there was nothing the god did was ever worthy of divine.
And the same spawn of spite was still shadowing his steps. Haunting him even after death.
"Yupp, he’s helping me get your legacy by suppressing your strength, stamina, speed, senses _ you name it. And he’s already doing it."
"You’re doomed if you think he’s helping you with anything. The only one Loki loves is Loki himself." Aelthar spoke, while spreading his energy to break whatever formation these pests had set up.
Rio noticed his little actions, but ignored it anyway. "I know. That’s why I have his daughter keep an eye on him." (and if that’s not enough, my system watches it too.) He thought in his heart with a smile.
Remembering how when he set up the previous barrier during their conversation blocking other gods from hearing about Erebus, it also hid the presence of Hela and Loki who helped set this trap of suppression.
[You sure you can’t give his soul to me, you promised me a fancy toy, the last time...And I gotta say, _ I like this one.] Loki’s whispers came to Rio’s ears, distracting him for a second.
[You got a pretty good bargain the last time you sold a soul to my daughter. So now, it’s my turn, and trust me, I’m generous.]
(Generous, my ass, you pair still haven’t paid me my prize from the last time yet.) Rio replied with a curse.
[Come on, what’s the rush? That old ghost’s lips are sealed tighter than my testicles.] Loki responded with a joke, before being serious, [Hela will still need to open him a couple of times more, before he can open up. So you’ll get your rewards by then.]
(I hope so. But besides, remind me again, when did I promise you a toy?) Rio asked, not trusting this trickster, but in Hela.
[Don’t act coy with me, mortal. Or have you already forgotten the help you asked for when dealing with that boy in convincing his girl to be hypnotized.]
(Ohhhh yeah, I did promise you something, then didn’t I?)
[So his soul is mine now.] Loki spoke instantly, his sudden change in tone clearly showing how excited he was. But Rio’s words were like a basin of cold water which chilled him in silence.
(No.) Rio replied. Cause no matter how generous Loki was, could he be more helpful than his system.
And besides, he sold Francius cause even if by some miracle the old ghost escaped, knowing about his secret deals with godkiller Myorbaksh, and his granddaughter’s burial location, he could still handle the man. – but he couldn’t take this chance with Aelthar.
A vengeful spirit of a god wasn’t something he wanted to worry about. So done and dusted was the way to go.
As if reading his thoughts, and knowing he couldn’t sway his decision, Loki too just gave up and disappeared with a sour mood, while cursing Rio in his mind. Find adventures at freewebnovel
{Damn mortal, how loud you said one of my enemies was secretly hiding and plotting something big, and you could help me deal with it. _ and how little was this stupid ant whose even name did I forget.}
{But then again a dead god is a good god, so I’ll let it slide. But just this once.}
….
By the time the conversation between Rio and Loki ended, Aelthar too probably sensed that he couldn’t break the formation, and since he was bound to this temple along with his legacy, he couldn’t leave. _ so the only choice left now was to fight to the end.
Not just for the mortal, but for himself too. As who knows who else will learn about his existence and come after him.
He raised his palm once more, fog swirling around his arms and forming spears floating in front of him. Rio watched as the numbers started as one, then became two, then four, then eight, and then kept doubling down constantly.
"Let me show you the gap between realms one can never cross." Aelthar said and moved his wrist.
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Sending off the dozens of spears hurting towards him like raindrops. Each carrying the might of god ready to murder the mortal.
The constant collision as those spears landed on the ground, while Rio constantly tried to move and dodge between them. Dancing with the sword in his hand, swiping off the fog and slashing them sideways.
Each collision sent sparks and shockwaves across the temple, spreading dust and debris everywhere. Shrouding the vision of his which saved him till now.
But just when the fight seemed hopeless for him, when he couldn’t dodge or didn’t have any space to move or jump around, when spears pierced his arms and torso, and were ready to stab his heart_ he looked up with a smile and snapped his fingers.
Calling forth the legion of reapers from his shadow, which ignored everything, every attack, and moved straight at Aelthar. Their scythes, ready to slash and reap the soul of the dead god. Causing him to change the targets of his spears.
With everything happening at the academy, Rio didn’t have time to visit hell temples or portals, and increase his army of undead, but even with the same numbers, he still felt plenty successful against this stupid god.
But this time Aelthar was prepared, before the reapers scythes could even touch his soul, the god disappeared from his place and appeared behind Rio.
"So you finally got your weapon out." Rio said as his sword clashed against the stone spear from the god whose arrival he anticipated.
A pit of murky darkness replaced his shadow and tied the feet of Aelthar, making him stuck in place for a few seconds.
Which was enough for Rio, who felt his arms go numb from the collision between their artifacts, so he switched places with a reaper and let them deal with Aelthar, while he himself pulled out various potions and started downing them his throat.
His health, mana, stamina, aura _anything he consumed in this fight was back to full value. And even going further as several blessings got activated and started applying various buffs to his speed and strength.
In mere seconds, the god with his spear had slaughtered half his reapers, so Rio simply called them off.
Their job was done after all. The small nicks and cuts here and there caused by the scythes were like a constant curse upon Aelthar, corroding the god’s soul and consuming his energy slowly.
"You’re fighting a losing battle, Aelthar. The sooner you accept this defeat and willingly die, the less you suffer." Rio said and charged into battle once more.
Aelthar sneered in response, his remaining divinity removing the bloody curses by burning their essence. But it was a slow process, and one for which he didn’t have time to focus on.
Knowing he was no match for the god’s speed or strength even after him being suppressed, Rio was fully aware where his own advantage lay. His unpredictability. And his endurance.
He knew of Aelthar’s methods due to the trials and the story, but Aelthar knew nothing about him. And second, Aelthar’s soul had a limited amount of energy to function, while he, with his potions and points in the system store, could fight endlessly unless he died in one hit.
So he just used that for his own advantage. Always using various techniques and tricks to keep the god on his toes. Never repeating the same spell, the same weapon, or the same scheme.
So after the sword and the whip, he pulled a dagger and played with it in his palms before rushing towards the god.
One of his daggers, smooth and sharp along the edges, like one made from the finest of the blacksmiths, lit up with red runes, channeling the sealed explosive power of nether mana.
While the other jagged and rough, like fangs pulled from a ferocious beast, lit up with the blessing of Hela, channeling the corrosive power of her Morbid mana.
But this time Aelthar made his march, and met with him midway, launching a flurry of attacks using the spear, made out of stone but covered in runes with hints of ancient tales.
In a single breath, sparks flew everywhere, as the weapons clashed several times.
It was clear at a glance who had the high ground in this single clash. Aelthar with his high experience and superior knowledge and techniques, instantly forced Rio backwards.
Taking this chance, Aelthar thrust his spear towards Rio’s throat in a straight lightning-like dash. Evading the daggers which tried to block it.
A rare smile coming to Aelthar’s face, as now there was nothing in between to block his spear from ending Rio’s life.