"No!"
The emotional response was so intense that it pulled Alex out of his state of paralysis. He recovered from that, and right now, he was able to sense all of his limbs that were filled with intense, ever-increasing pain permeating every cell and fibre of his being.
But Alex ignored that tormenting feeling as the shock he was going through had dulled it considerably.
The current events were too much for Alex to bear. He never imagined in his entire life that he would meet a person and pushover like Steve, who would sacrifice himself just for the sake of two days of friendship.
Alex clearly knew if he was in Steve's place, there was no way in hell he would have done it.
Alex arm raised, stretched, pointing toward a space. This was the last place Steve had stood, which was now filled with nothing but trash that continued to fall down almost like a downpour.
Because of this obstructing sight, there was still a seed of hope in Alex heart that Steve was able to survive. The reason? He believed Steve was a chosen one.
There was no logical thinking; it was just a wish.
Although Alex didn't know if something like a chosen one existed in this world, the only hope and the source of his delusional thinking were the countless games and stories he had consumed on earth.
Tip-tip-tip sounds echoed as multiple organs from different sharks attached to the walls of the pyramid started to slide down toward the ground, while a rain of blue liquid fell, covering the entire aftermath in an azure veil.
As the downpour subsided, a humanoid figure could be seen levitating firmly in the air like a shadow over the fog.
It was Steve who floated in space without any support. Seeing his levitating figure, a faint smile adorned Alex's face as he understood what had transpired.
Steve is one in a millionth person who is capable of using devouring pathways, meaning he can practice it without any side effects.
After all, that's the only possible reason that could explain the following events.
As the blue veil was cast down, it revealed the Steve inside who seemed to undergo a mystical transformation.
In this act, light yellow spirituality is generated from inside of body, covering his entire existence from both inside and out. Multiple particles started spreading throughout his entire body, reaching each of his cells.
These yellow sparks acted like fibres, helping in closing the wounds on Steve's body. It seemed to cover the gap in the abdomen, skillfully mending the flesh together with artistic mastery.
The wound on Steve right shoulder, in the place where his hand used to be and was detached by the boss of this blessed land, pulsated with vitality.
Newfound energy covered the remaining muscles, accelerating the healing and regeneration process of his hand, and started its reconstruction from scratch, first, the bone became visible and then muscles followed after nerves and arteries.
Not only his arm but also his leg and all the bitten marks of sharks' fangs on his body started to mend together as if skillfully healed and regenerating from scratch.
The only downside of his newly generated body was the previous pants that covered his lower body, now reduced to tatters.
"Steve?" Alex addressed the person because that sight alone couldn't help him determine if the individual in front of him could still be called a human
The body posture and face look like Steve there was still some difference, like The inviting and ongoing aura that always covered Steve now seemed to transform into a repulsive state.
Pushing every shred of goodness away, enveloping his form in dreadfull air currently his mere presence felt like it could erase a city, an empire, even an entire species.
One of his healed legs was slightly folded while the other was straight.
Suddenly, there was a movement in Steve's body as he raised his arm, moving it toward his head, wanting to pull back the black hair that was falling and covering his eyes.
Both of his palms slid across his skull, and when they passed his forehead, a small dark horn with a yellow spark glowing around became visible on the right side of his head.
All the hair was now settled down on his head, revealing his forehead and closed eyes.
With that, Steve's enclosed eyes slowly opened as he started descending to the ground. Both actions occurred in parallel to each other.
The small black horn at the right side of his forehead emitted a demonic feeling as if it wanted to devour existence itself.
Thud!
Now, Steve reached the ground, landing effortlessly.
Suddenly, this figure of Steve took a deep breath, as if he wanted to inhale every shred of air from the world, He pulled the air into his nostrils with an inhuman strength, as if trying to inhale the entire world in one breath.
The sheer force was like an invisible hurricane that threatened to tear away the very essence of existence.
"Such nostalgia, the familiar taste of air. It can only be felt in a real body."
The familiar scent and flavor of air filled his lungs it's sensation seem to brought back sweet memories of a time when the person inside Steve was a mortal man, This moment was like an anchor in a vast sea, the taste of air a sweet reminder of what it was like to feel truly alive.
Then Steve's figure grabbed the remaining armour around his body and started pulling both parts.
Steve chest became visible, which was completely healed without any injuries. The previous wound hole in Steve abdomen had no trace of it presence.
Steve's eyes opened wide that had yellowish Serpent like pupil as he started laughing.
"Keke Keke Keke hahahahhahaha."
With that, he jumped up and landed a strike at the ceiling of the dome.
The force was so intense that it directly tore it apart, demolishing it in seconds.
"Where are humans, where are women!"
"Where the hell is population,"
Steve said, quickly moving toward another place and landing on the ground facing toward a direction that was completely covered in darkness.
He was in front of the miasma, glancing at the city that was situated at other side of the miasma.
Facing the dark fog, standing amidst the debris and the corpses of multiple dead fish, Steve spread his arms wide, as if celebrating his long-awaited arrival. Half laughing, he said,
"How auspicious the time it is to reawaken me in the current era, MARVELOUS!"d,
Currently Steve face was adorned with a menacing, beast-like smile. It truly represented how much he was enjoying himself while savoring each and every word he spoke.
After a while of celebration,Steve stopped moving and yelled in a battlecry voice that announced his presence,
"It's time to feast!"
But then he suddenly stopped and started sniffing hungrily, as if he had locked onto his prey.
The prey was none other than Alex, whose body was under the rubble of the demolished dome.
"There's my food!" Steve waved his hand in the air, removing every part of debris and larger stone structures that seemed to weigh a to, everything is reduced to ashes in front of this simple gesture
Glowing white particles flowed in the air, revealing Alex's body which was in good condition.
Thankfully, there were no noticeable injuries on Alex. If any of that debris had landed on him, it would have been the end for him.
"I am talking to you.'' Steve said addressing Alex; his yellow eyes seemed to pierce Alex's soul, reaching to the depth.
"He is not Steve." This mere thought was terrifying for Alex; a bead of sweat generated at his temple. Alex understood what had transpired.
The artefact was related to the infamous Cursed God, a ruler from a distant past.
So when Steve consumed it, although he was able to endure the spirituality as one in a millionth person who can follow the devoured pathway, in that moment of absorption, the Cursed God awoke itself in his artefact.
At this moment in time, Steve is no longer himself, but the Cursed God, who is using Steve's body as his vessel in this modern world.
He said to Alex after sensing something peculiar in him.
"Interesting, who are you?"
Alex back hit the remnant structure of demolished wall of pyramid he could not move a single inch from the spot.
Alex was stuck with nowhere to go.
Seeing him trapped, the Cursed God yellow eyes glimmering in the darkness of night and said.
"No point in running."
Curses God lean forward and announced!
"You are my feast,"