"Dad! Are you ok!" the golden figure shouted, it was none other than Nova.
Blinded by the tears in his eyes, Mengsk replied: "Yes, my sweet child. I'm ok," his voice tinged with exhaustion and happiness.
Quickly, Mengsk wiped his tears away as he finally meets his daughter once more.
"My dear Nova, how are you feeling." He softly spoke after clearing his eyes as tears keep falling. No matter how much he didn't want to appear weak in front of his daughter, his body, who longed for a whole century, was unable to calm itself.
"I.. I don't know…" Nova answered. Fear in his voice so tangible it stopped Mengsk from crying.
Slowly, using the shelf as support, Mengsk stood up. Trembling, he walked closer to his daughter.
With a worried look, Nova also wanted to walk towards her father, but she couldn't. Her petite figure remained standing, unable to move.
"What's wrong?" Mengsk asked. His father instinct telling him that something is wrong with his daughter, forgetting she's not alive.
"I.. I don't remember how to move, dad." She replied weakly, fear laced in her weak voice.
Mengsk froze as he stared at Zhenin. Complicated feelings were displayed clearly in his face.
Zhenin still had the astonished look he had when Nova's figure formed. With a loud ding on his mind, he broke from his daze.
[Her soul is extremely fragmented. The only thing that remains of her is her intense feelings for her father.]
Zhenin repeated Jack's words for Mengsk.
Before he could retort, the golden light that formed Nova's figure began to flicker.
Mengsk choked back his words as he held back his complaints. Walking closer to his daughter's face, he began to talk to her with his heart.
…
On the side, Zhenin trembled. Didn't Ninzhe's soul get fragmented? Would he also forget everything except for his emotions?
*DING*
[Your brother is fine. He's watching you right now. Great job.]
With that, Zhenin's heart eased. He remains quiet as the father and daughter told their stories, thinking about how his parents would be once they were restored like Nova.
At this moment, doubt began to sprout in Zhenin's head. "Do I still want to restore my parent's soul?" he thought as his astonishment transitioned into one of worry.
…
After a minute, a voice spoke in Zhenin's head.
"Nova's soul is dispersing in three minutes. Convince him to be a priest now." Jack said.
Looking at the reunited father and daughter, Zhenin almost couldn't speak. This is also something he yearns for. He then decided to wait for another ten seconds.
"Yes, my little Nova. I may look weak now, but I'm still stronger than your half-bull uncle! Haha." Mengsk boasted to his now smiling daughter.
"Hey. Nova's soul is about to collapse." Zhenin spoke. He figured that this was the best way to take their attention.
He was right.
The two immediately turned their heads toward Zhenin. His heart almost breaking at the sight of Nova's teary eyes and Mengsk's unwillingness.
But before Zhenin could speak, Mengsk willingly kneel. "May I know of my god's name?"
Swallowing the words he was about to say, Zhenin answered, "He's called Jack Hemmons. God Hemmons for us believers."
If he didn't see the miracle himself, Zhenin would've used "the believers" instead of "us believers." In his own world, Jack smiled at this small detail.
"I'm willing to be his priest as long as I can save my daughter."
*DING*
[Receiving a holy ring…]
The stone began to glow white as a silver ring with a white stone materialized from the light. Zhenin could tell at a glance that it was the same stone in his necklace.
*DING*
[Once he receives the ring and drips his blood, your mission will be successful.]
Following the message, Zhenin let the ring drop in his hand after it finished materializing.
Nova just watched while his father remained kneeling with his head bowed. He did not see the ring materializing.
"Rise," Zhenin spoke.
Mengsk finally stood up, breathing heavily. For sixteen years, he had been hoping to meet a god. Just like everybody else, he turned crazy. Spending the entire sixteen years inside a library as he ate the technology inside one by one. Just as he was about to give up, golden light embraced his daughter filled with a divine aura and another white light filled with holiness.
This light dispelled all his doubts and complaints. He was now Jack's servant, not the other way around.
Standing firm, Mengsk stared directly in Zhenin's eyes. It was the eyes of a zealot.
"Wear this ring and drip your blood. Once all the blood is absorbed, you'll be the first priest of the Hemmon's Heralds and will be able to communicate with him through the ring." Zhenin explained.
Mengsk nodded, a twinkle of hope shone in his eyes.
Opening his both palms in front of him, Zhenin placed the ring slowly. From this moment, he won't be the only one guided by a god. Yet, he did not feel bitter, only excitement as he, too, finally saw hope.
After receiving the ring in his palms, Mengsk cupped his hands and bowed. He then wore the ring, bit his finger, and dripped his blood on the ring's stone.
With a red glow, the ring absorbed Mengsk blood and receive a sound similar to a smartphone receiving a notification.
*DING*
[To save Nova, she shall be welcomed to my kingdom. As you execute my will, I shall help you with her recovery. Do you agree?]
[Yes] [No]
With a determined voice, Mengsk shouted, "Yes."
*DING*
[You got 30 seconds left before Nova enters my kingdom, say your farewell as she will require to rest for a while.]
Nova heard nothing of this; her face showed confusion.
"My sweet little Nova, I am now a believer of a true god, and he is willing to help us," Mengsk spoke with a bright smile on his face.
Nova felt the sincerity in his father's voice, so she, too, brimmed her white teeth and nodded.
"You'll have to rest in his heaven for a while, don't worry, I'll make sure to do everything I could to help."
Nova nodded again, tears building up in her eyes.
Suffice to say, for someone who can only remember her caring feelings but not knowing the reason why she really couldn't say anything. Even so, under her deep confusion, she found the words she longed to say.
"I love you, dad," Nova said.
The sweet voice tugged at Mengsk and Zhinen's heartstrings.
With a tear in his right eye, he answered, "I love you too, my little Nova."
Rubbing the silver frame of the ring, Mengsk whispered, similar to how Zhenin prayed for the miracle, "Please take care of her for me."
With that, the ring glowed gold. Like a black hole, the golden light began to suck in the golden figure along with the soul fire.
Before Nova was completely sucked in, she managed to let out a few words. "Stay strong dad, I know you can do it."
As Nova entered the stone, the golden light remained. Gradually, the light began to envelop Mengsk, his wrinkled face slowly turning smooth.
It turns out that Mengsk retained a tanned human skin while having parts of a camel in his body. Besides his skin, his muscle wriggled in as they suddenly gain mass. Due to the spasms, He was in pain, but due to his visible recovery, Mengsk remained smiling.
From a vegetable, Mengsk's body turned stocky in a matter of seconds. Once the light subsided, his transformation finished.
Darkness consumed the entire library once more.
*DING*
[Mission Complete]
At the sight of the message, Zhenin felt ecstasy.
Unlike Zhenin's green night vision, Mengsk contact lenses enable him to absorb more light. Even with little light, he could see the room as if a light bulb was on.
Mengsk immediately saw Zhenin's expression. Before he could speak, another golden light appeared from where Nova was standing before. Mengsk had to take a few steps back. This was his god's work. Deep within his soul, he knew.
Subconsciously, he kneeled and bowed like a knight.
When Zhenin saw Mengsk's actions, he too felt the urge to kneel.
After a year of relying on only himself while taking care of his brother, he finally let go of his pride and kneeled the same way that Mengsk did.
"Good, you three would be my first followers. From this day on, you three will receive strength directly from me." With a snap, all the white stones began to glow gold that enveloped all three of them.
Zhenin smiled when Jack said three, he knew who it was, but he managed to control himself. His trust towards Jack may only be budding, but he already accepted that the man isn't a mortal.
"It's time for you to go, my people. Spread my name and my church. I will save anyone without discrimination, and with success, you will receive your due rewards."
"Your will shall be done," the Leiman twins and Mengsk spoke in unison.