[Andel's POV]
I'm disappointed. To be honest, I expected dealing with Hecate's issue regarding the predicament her clan had to face without going crazy to be quite a challenge, but I never took into account the statute an alchemist has in this world.
From the point of view of my former world, I could only be considered the worst of all divine alchemists out there but here, in the eyes of pretty much everyone I'm already some kind of intangible god of alchemy. And this is after showing a single simple CC pill.
What the hell did I do wrong… I just don't understand. The plan was simple: get in, feed the CC pill to that imbecile, keep annoying him until he breaks and tries to kill me and then just deal with him once and forever in an act of self-defense.
As for his clan… I just intended to let the retarded trio stage a grand battle on top of it leaving only destruction in their wake.
Taking everything into consideration I suppose that things solved themselves pretty nicely.
But there is one problem remaining. I mean… To deal with that issue I had to come to Hecate's town and, while trying to avoid dying from a heart attack because of my phobia, I pretty much mutilated my body to the point where I could barely be considered a proper human at all.
Oh well, at the very least I experienced what it would feel like to be raped by a giant dragon. Yeah… That was something. But… Never again!
Well, let's move on. There is no point in thinking about the kind of matters that have already been solved. Considering that almost all my problems are no more I should start training for the upcoming war. The problems are A) I don't know where to start from and B) My body is still mutilated beyond compare.
I know that I can regenerate my whole body with relative ease but the main problem is my soul. While tearing apart the link I had with Exodus, without even realizing, my soul kinda cracked… Yeah… I know it sounds bad but believes me, it's worse. Fortunately, I do know a method to heal myself. Dual cultivation. Slowly circulating your energy through your body then towards your partner's body and then through her soul, slowly absorbing some of her soul energy and using that power to mend my soul.
And here is where the problem comes in. Well, you see, I'm strong. No really, I'm not bragging right now, it's just that I'm extremely powerful. There aren't that many beings in this world that can endure dual cultivating with me.
For example, Hecate would be torn to pieces in a matter of seconds. Balcifer might be able to endure for a while longer but we are still talking about a matter of seconds or minutes at best. And then there's Yra, the doppelganger of a Creation Goddess. Yap… She is pretty much the only one that could help me with this problem.
Now try explaining this to those three demons. For many using the word "demon" to describe your wives could be considered cruel but I've seen what they are capable of so, from my point of view, I'm quite generous here only using such a mild word.
And that is not even mentioning the training issue that I have no idea where, to begin with. At this point, the only thing I can think of is to lower my power to the same realm as my training partner, whoever that might be, and fight with him until I can defeat him effortlessly.
That can be quite a good solution but, unfortunately, I would need countless training partners versed in all styles and techniques that exist out there to simulate all potential scenarios.
'Haaah…'
Even since I came to this world this is the first time when I feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. I don't know what to do, where to start from and how to deal with all of these problems. And to make things worse I only have eighty-something years at my disposal. That might seem like a lot of time but, with daily 8 hours dual cultivation sessions, I'm not even sure if I'll even manage to heal my soul completely until then.
What do I do… What the hell do I do?! How can I solve this fucked up situation? I mean I know I'm pretty much responsible for fucking it up this badly but there is no point thinking about the spilled beans at this point.
For now… Let's do the only thing I can do in such a situation.
"Hey, Cif!" [Andel]
"Yes?" [Cif]
"Are you in the mood for some fishing?" [Andel]
"Yes!" [Cif]
…..........….
[Erebus, The Shadow Dragon God's POV]
I can't believe it! There is no way this is happening! We've been chasing those insects for over four days now and, somehow, they are still capable of escaping our grasp.
"I CAN'T FUCKING BELIEVE IT!!!" [Erebus]
The greatest allied army the world has ever seen, Gods and immortals covering the horizon, all chasing after three kids and a sword. Even if we catch them now this shame is enough to stain this realm for eons to come.
"If only they did not have that sword!" [Women's Voice #1]
Hmm… Yeah. In reality, the main problem is that sword. I don't know who created such a terrifying weapon but I want it! Once I kill those three I will seal that thing and slowly break its will until it surrenders to me. At that point, I doubt there is going to be anyone else that could stand against me in this whole realm.
"Huh?! Isn't that… My clan?!" [Man Voice #1]
Clan? Oh… I see. In the distance, the shadow of a large city can be seen. Well, I say large but that is only relative. Compared with my empire's capital it's not even worth being mentioned. Still, this is a chance!
"You! The head of that pathetic clan. Send a message to let them get in and then rise all barriers!" [Erebus]
"But S-sir… If we do that the final fight will take place in my clan… I…I… " [Man Voice #1]
"Shut up! Do it now! Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless!" [Erebus]
"Y-yes, sir!" [Man Voice #1]
Now you are mine! Just you wait until I get my hands on the three of you. Soon I will make you understand the gravity of your crimes. Soon I will use your blood and flesh to wash away my shame!
…......
'Crash!'
"W-what happened?!" [Erebus]
Even if I ask it myself, there is no answer. At one point when the hunt was about to end and the trio was cornered under the grand shield of that clan, just I was preparing to personally go and capture my prize, everything changed.
It was a single instant. In one second the Supreme Allied Army was standing triumphant in the sky and the next we were on the ground, trembling in fear, not even daring to raise our heads.
Ever since I was born, I've never been afraid. A dragon can face death straight on the battlefield and smile in the face of damnation but here I am, cowering in fear with mud staining my ageless robe.
'Why?! Just why? I don't understand'
'NO!'
'I REFUSE!'
'I WILL FIGHT!'
'Even if I can't win, I WILL FIGHT!'
'I REFUSE!!!'
'I REFUSE!!!!!'
"I…" [Erebus]
"FUCKING…" [Erebus]
"REFUSE!" [Erebus]
As my once lowered head finally manages to rise again, what lays before me is a scene that exceeds my comprehension.
Right there, less than ten meters away from me, a young man without eyes and covered in horrible scars "looks" in my direction with rage visible on his face. In his hand, a fishing rod can be seen with the tip laying casually on his shoulder while the annoying flying sword that I've been chasing for the past couple of days floats by his side.
He… He is… I think I've seen him somewhere before but I just can't put my finger on it. Still, if there is one thing that I'm certain about then that is that I could never hope to win against that monster.
"YOU…" [Man with horrible scars]
'Me?'
"HOW DARE YOU…" [Man with horrible scars]
'Oh god, he is angry. Oh fuck me, we are all going to die!'
"HOW DARE YOU INTERRUPT MY FISHING SESSION WITH CIF?!?" [Man with horrible scars]
"HUH?!?" [Everyone]
What… What the hell is he talking about?! I… I'm so confused right now!
"Well, I'll give each of you two choices. The first one is to die here and now!" [Man with horrible scars]
"A-and… The second choice?" [Erebus]
Somehow I manage to squeeze those words out through my clenched teeth. If there is even the smallest chance that he won't kill us I want to take it. I'm not ready to die. I'm still so young. How the hell could someone like me die at the tender age of 272 million?! I'm not even a billion year old yet. I only have less than a million children. There are still so many things I want to do. So many places to visit. So please, oh great one, whoever you might be, please spare my lowly life.
"The second one is…" [Man with horrible scars]
'Is…'
"Well… Fight with me!" [Man with horrible scars]
"Huh?!?" [Everyone]
"Every single one of you will fight with me one on one. If you manage to win then I will spare your lives. Otherwise…" [Man with horrible scars]
'What fucking otherwise?! Fight you one on one?! Are you fucking kidding me… Isn't the second choice the same as the first one? No… That is wrong… At the very least the first one is a fast death while the second one is a painfully slow death filled with despair.'
"SO CHOSE YOUR DESTINY NOW! DIE OR JOIN MY OOMBA-LUMBA TRAINING CAMP!" [Man with horrible scars]
"We chose the FIRST OPTION!" [Everyone]
"Hah?!?" [Man with horrible scars]