Aquaria led me to a darker part of the city, but the streets seemed pretty quiet. The buildings were all nice here, but something about them was just not as nice as the area where we had been before.
"Is this the... Poorer part of town?" I asked, and then quickly said, "I am not judging or anything, but I can help but notice the slow decline in splendor around."
"Yes, this is the Starless area, but there are more areas like this all over the Heavenly Realm. Though, the place is a lot quieter than normal," Aquaria said, looking around a bit worried.
As we continued walking, the uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach grew stronger – the silence that surrounded us was almost deafening. The streets, which were usually bustling with activity, were now eerily deserted. Something wasn't right.
"I don't like this," I whispered to Aquaria, not wanting our voices to carry through the empty streets. "It feels like there's something… or someone watching us."
Aquaria nodded, her own unease evident on her face. "Yes, I can feel it too. We need to be cautious and stay alert."
Suddenly, a cold gust of wind swept through the street, sending chills down our spines. It felt unnatural as if heralding an imminent threat. And then, out of the darkness, multiple figures emerged – their eyes gleaming maliciously in the dim light.
"So, then you are the Trigger?" A man with a sneer stepped forward, flanked by several other individuals. They were clearly divine beings, but there was something off about them – an aura of malice that made my skin crawl.
"We are the children of the Greek pantheon," another figure added, her voice dripping with disdain. "Minor gods, perhaps, but we still hold considerable power."
Aquaria tensed beside me, ready for battle. "What do you want with us?" she demanded, trying to mask the fear that threatened to creep into her voice.
A third figure smirked as he answered, "We've heard whispers about this so-called Chaos Trigger who dares defy the hierarchy and challenge the status quo. We're here to put an end to your little rebellion before it even begins."
I clenched my fists, feeling anger rise within me. Who were these minor deities to threaten us? But at the same time, I knew that they held enough power to potentially overwhelm us if we weren't careful.
"So, what now?" I asked Aquaria quietly, not taking my eyes off our adversaries.
She took a deep breath, determination setting in her gaze. "We fight. We have no choice. If we back down now, word will spread, and more divine beings will come after us. It's better to make a stand and show them we won't be intimidated."
In an instant, the tension broke, and a battle erupted on the desolate street. The minor gods launched themselves at us with fury, their various powers clashing against each other in a chaotic display. Aquaria's control over water manifested itself in powerful torrents while my own abilities as a Chaos Trigger remained shrouded in mystery, waiting to reveal themselves at a crucial moment.
Despite being outnumbered, Aquaria and I fought fiercely, relying on our teamwork and strategy to counter the attacks from the minor deities. I had no weapons, but my strikes seemed to have the same effect as if on a normal human. Even though they looked like gods, they were really no better than me. For every blow dealt to us, we returned one twice as strong, refusing to back down or give in to fear.
As the battle raged on, I searched for any opportunity to utilize my unique Chaos Trigger abilities. I still didn't quite understand how it worked, but then, amidst the chaos and violence, it came to me – if I could drain the star power from a three-star being like Mi Dong, why not try it on these minor gods?
With renewed determination, I focused my efforts on getting closer to the most aggressive attackers, dodging and weaving through their onslaughts with surprising agility. As I reached my target, I willed my power to activate, attempting to siphon away their star energy.
To my relief, it worked. Just like with Mi Dong, I could feel the flow of energy shifting, draining gradually from the minor deity and empowering me in return. Their strength began to wane, their attacks weakening, giving us the upper hand in the skirmish.
Meanwhile, Aquaria continued to fight valiantly, using her command over water to create defensive barriers and hurl powerful blasts at our opponents. With the tide turning in our favor, we pressed onward, determined to drive these malicious divine beings away from us and protect our newfound partnership.
Gradually, the minor deities realized the futility of their attack as their numbers dwindled and their powers diminished under our relentless assault. Frustrated and defeated, they retreated into the shadows, their bruised egos smarting from their unexpected failure.
As the last vestiges of their presence disappeared, Aquaria and I stood panting in the wreckage of our battle, drained yet victorious. Our bond had been tested and strengthened by fire, proving that together, we were a force to be reckoned with.
"That was… intense," I said, wiping sweat from my brow.
Aquaria smiled weakly, leaning against a nearby wall for support. "Yes. But we did well. We showed them that we won't be pushed around, that we can defend ourselves."
Nodding in agreement, I looked around at the destruction left in the wake of our fight. "So… what do we do now?"
"We need to report this. Whoever sent those minor gods after we might try again, or worse, escalate their attempts to take us out," Aquaria explained, concerning etching lines across her face.
Feeling weary but knowing that she was right, I nodded. "Alright, let's head back to your place and regroup. We'll need all the rest and preparation we can get to face whatever challenges lie ahead."
Together, we made our way through the ravaged streets, emerging from the darkness stronger and more resolute.