Chereads / Reborn as suguru geto (draft) / Chapter 20 - Echoes of Divinity

Chapter 20 - Echoes of Divinity

Amidst the shattered ruins of the once-hallowed temple, a potent silence hung in the air like the aftertaste of a cataclysmic event. Geto stood amidst the remnants of his recent struggle, the faint vibrations of the Trisula reverberating through the ground beneath him. As the divine trident settled, a sigh of both relief and exhaustion escaped him, the resonance of his victory mingling with the remnants of his encounter.

Perched atop a fallen column, he eased himself down onto a jumble of debris. Dust and debris whispered their testimony to the fierceness of the battle, while the faint hum of lingering energy played a discordant melody to his contemplation. "Phew, mission accomplished," Geto breathed, his voice a blend of fatigue and satisfaction that resonated within the temple's shattered sanctuary.

A moment of introspection ensued, accompanied by a soft sigh that carried the weight of a task fulfilled. The tranquility, however, was interrupted by a voice that bypassed the physical realm, emanating from the depths of his own thoughts. It was Ian, his confidant and guide through the enigmatic currents of existence, who inquired with an undercurrent of urgency, "So what's next? Are you merely going to remain here?"

Geto leaned back slightly, his features etched with a yearning for respite. "Allow me a brief reprieve. Once I've regained my strength, I will distance myself from the ceaseless embrace of India—for a time. In the future, I might contemplate a return, but for now, I yearn for a moment of respite."

Ian's presence lingered, a voice that carried wisdom and caution in equal measure. "It's true fortune smiled upon you today, that Ravana stood before you instead of Shiva."

Geto's gaze turned skyward, his eyes reflecting the constellations that had borne witness to both mortal endeavors and divine strife. "Shiva's manifestation would provoke more than mere awe. The other pantheons would perceive it as a declaration of war, awakening in response. Thus, Shiva chose subtlety and sent Ravana in his stead."

Yet skepticism danced in Ian's voice, the inquiry unrelenting. "But how can you be so certain? Your assurance seems almost unshakable."

With a pondering look, Geto's eyes flitted from the heavens to the earth below. "Confidence does not course through my veins; it's an understanding of patterns that guides me. The gods' restraint from meddling in human affairs is underpinned by a force capable of subduing even deities as formidable as Zeus and Shiva."

Curiosity danced in the fabric of Ian's thoughts, etching inquiry into his words. "And what catalyst do you suppose prompted the gods' retreat? A malevolent design, perhaps?"

As if the very mention invoked a presence, a shiver raced down Geto's spine, the sensation of unseen eyes scrutinizing his very soul. He replied cautiously, "I'm bereft of certitude. It could be the shadow of Typhon, the cataclysmic prophecy of Ragnarok, or the relentless march of human modernity. While the causes remain diverse, the outcome remains consistent—whatever compelled their withdrawal is far from benign."

A sudden chill gripped Geto, and his gaze, which was aimed at the stars, shifted, reflecting a view that transcended his perception. He felt like a captive in a cosmic globe, his existence shrunk beneath an all-encompassing gaze. Unbeknownst to him, in the vastness of the void, a figure watched, a shadow in the recesses of the unknown.

A voice, eerie and chilling, wove its way into the fabric of existence, a sinister whisper that resonated with secrets untold. "It appears he's starting to see the tapestry of truth. An unexpected enlightenment, spurred by consuming Ganesha. Intriguing," the voice purred, its words laden with malevolent amusement.

The sinister utterance reverberated in the void, carrying implications far beyond mortal comprehension. An enigmatic figure, perched within the shadows, gazed upon a projection of Geto encapsulated within a globe, his visage reduced to insignificance in the grand design of the cosmos.

With an ominous laugh that seemed to emanate from the abyss itself, the figure mused, "A hint of truth, born from the most unlikely of sources. How entertaining."

And so, within the remnants of the temple and the tapestry of the stars, an unwitting pawn grappled with newfound awareness, while shadows stirred in the corners of reality, whispering of hidden forces and a cosmic drama that transcended even the gods themselves.