Death would be a mercy for a living Hand of God.
In fact, if he were any other god, then the slowly healing burned man would have died the moment he showed off his celestial aura. It would be a single most important act of kindness they could show the man.
Hand of Gods were weapons of mass destruction, containing a sliver of the Almighty. Although others of his kind had so much ego and pride that they treated the absentee creator to be their equals, Hephaestus was but one of the few immortals that recognized the truth.
Fortunately for the burned man, killing him would be a waste of the potion. Besides, Thrudgelmir and he have a bet going on about whether the Hosts of Heaven would invade the mountain once they detect his magical aura.
"13 Dracma on a dozen angels." Thrudgelmir said suddenly. His head resting upon the foot of the central forge, using the magma-infused foundry to warm his cold head. "No Archangels, but a Seraphim, though."
Hilde did not partake because her worries were greater than both of them, immediately contacting the nearby Coven watchtower and calling for reinforcements.
A day had gone by with nothing but continuous healing happening. The witches Hilde had called would arrive at night and, frankly, keeping the defensive arrays and magical sigils inside the hut was boring his mind.
If not for the fact that Hilde and Thrudgelmir accompanied him through the night, he would have thrown the burnt body next to the forge so he could sleep on the cot.
But things would not be so boring the day after.
The moment daylight reached the burnt body and enveloped him in a golden glow. Warmth spread through the cracks of the thatched hut, disturbing the sleep of both Hilde and Thrudgelmir as the injuries they had accrued for millennia began to heal.
It was not just external wounds or physical injuries, but the gashes in their very essence seemed to be repaired in a chronological order.
The wounds taken during the Gigantomachia, wounds inflicted to his very soul, the source of his being, basked in the glow of the golden sun and, by his estimate, will be healed anew by the time the glow had dissipated.
Hilde, startled awake by the sudden warmth enveloping her body, gazed cautiously at Hephaestus and silently questioned the events forthwith.
Thrudgelmir, on the other hand, did not spend time questioning the events, merely settling down on his own cot and letting the glow regenerate his battle wounds.
Hephaestus smiled, shrugging his shoulders at Hilde before copying Thrudgelmir, "What's the worst thing that could happen, eh?"
●●●●●
■■
Warning! The host's physical body is under reconstruction. Pain may be unbearable.
…
Warning! Insufficient Energy detected. Activating [Advancement Recoil Protocol]
…
Experience has gone down from [100%] to [1%]
…
Unable to deduct spent potential energy. Unable to de-level
…
Warning! Insufficient Energy dete-ERROR!
■■
The Mark, [Touch Of The Almighty], has been activated.
■■
[Touch Of The Almighty] has healed your injuries. You have regained your flesh and blood.
You have regained consciousness.
…
[Touch Of The Almighty] has detected an excess of energy. It has chosen to reinforce your body. Your skills have strengthened.
…
Skills listed below are upgraded by one (1):
▪︎ Marksmanship (Lvl 03 -> 04)
▪︎ Unarmed Combat (Lvl 03 -> 05 -> 06)
▪︎ Swordsmanship (Lvl 03 -> 04)
▪︎ Krousurgy (Lvl 03 -> 04 -> 05)
▪︎ Pain Tolerance (Lvl 01 -> 03 -> 04)
▪︎ Arcane Resistance (Lvl 06 -> 07)
▪︎ Enhanced Physique (Lvl 03 -> 04)
…
Magik listed below are upgraded by one (1):
▪︎ Mind Guardian (Lvl 03 -> 04) (Human)
▪︎ Flame Whip (Lvl 06 -> 07) (Human)
▪︎ Blood Scry (Lvl 05 -> 06) (Fairy)
▪︎ Blight Hex (Lvl 01 -> 02) (Human)
▪︎ Ward Of Obviation (Lvl 01 -> 02) (Pagan)
▪︎ Age Transfiguration (Lvl 01 -> 02) (Pagan)
▪︎ Energy Shield (Lvl 01 -> 02 -> 03) (Human)
▪︎ Vessel Immobilization (Lvl 01 -> 02) (Human)
▪︎ Solitary Immolation (Lvl 01 -> 02) (Human)
▪︎ Summon Wildling (Lvl 01 -> 02) (Fairy)
▪︎ Scattering Wind (Lvl 01 -> 02) (Celestial)
■■
[Touch Of The Almighty] have been removed from your Status sub-system
You will no longer be hidden from Celestial, Infernal, Fairy, Human, Purgatory, and Pagan divinatory methods. Normal resistances still apply.
Your skill, [Natural Immunity (Lvl MAX)], has been reduced to [Natural Resistance (Lvl 08)].
■■
Good Luck!
■■
The series of messages was the first thing he saw the moment he regained consciousness. The ever-present maroon background, black border, and white letters gave him a sense of familiarity and helped him acclimate to the new feeling in his body.
It was as if he had been reborn, rejuvenated by the golden glow that enveloped his form. Any lingering pain or ache from the recent torture, and even the ones that he had accrued before, vanished alongside his sense of comfort.
The moment he ran through his body using his magical energy, revitalized by the Mark, he felt something or someone eyeing him from afar.
He quickly checked his Status and saw that Health, Stamina, and Magik Reserves were at full 100%. With that in mind, he let the magik held within to pulse along his body and used Spell Purge, a sub-effect of Arcane Resistance that he hoped will help the prying eyes.
Although not that familiar with Spell Purge, he managed to use a tenth of his stamina for the singular usage. He felt the eyes recoil and become fewer, the stronger ones trying to gain more ground but the sub-effect kept attacking at the source of their magik.
It took a few more minutes, but the eyes, at least those who were patient enough to keep tracking him, finally left him alone. Either due to his Spell Purge or they had enough information about him.
After having removed the eyes on him, Irwin tried to open his eyes. He felt something pushing back against his eyelids, as if something heavy had covered his whole socket.
"Let me help you."
It was then that he heard a gruff voice echo beside him. A sudden touch to his eyes nearly caused him to fight back, but the gentle way in which the person removed whatever was blocking his eyes calmed him down.
It did not, however, hide the fact that his hands had clenched into a fist. An act that was clearly visible to the person who had helped him as laughter rang out soon after.
"There we go. Come, open it up." Hurried the voice.
And he did, thankful for the dim light that peppered across the vast chamber. IN what seemed to be a house made of wood and hay, these figures stood around him with grave expressions and flushed faces.
Repeatedly re-opening his eyes to get accustomed to the low light, Irwin gave a friendly smile.
He spoke a warm greeting, but his voice came out grating and parched. "H-hello. Crap, s-sorry. You must be the ones who saved me."
The colossal figure, a man with a slight azure tint to his skin, burst into laughter once more, removing his grave expression. "Aye, that would be me. But don't worry, you've already paid the fee!"
A scoff resounded in the room before Irwin could respond, one borne out of the last figure's mouth. A woman of Amazonian physique with a fiery red mane. Words known to Irwin could not describe the ferocity with which she carried herself. Instead, he opted to just hang his mouth loose and lay agape.
"Enough japes. Reinforcements are coming. We don't know what they'll do when they see him." She admonished the bigger man, but before they could argue, the first man who helped him hushed at them.
"Enough." He said. His bushy beard and large warts quivered under his voice, which seemed to be infused with magik.
He gazed back towards Irwin. "Tell me, boy, do you know what you are?"