Orion, the Emperor of Shadows, stepped into the depths of the snowy mountains, his steps echoing through the eerily silent surroundings. The cave, hidden deep within the icy terrain, held an air of mystery and foreboding.
With a swift movement, Orion flung open the sealed door that guarded the entrance. The ancient, creaking hinges groaned in protest as the heavy door swung open, revealing the dark, cavernous chamber that lay beyond.
The stone of ice in the chamber was indeed colossal, and within its icy embrace was imprisoned the God of Strength, Rai. His imposing, muscular figure was encased within the thick ice, frozen in a state of immobility.
With a measured gesture, Orion tapped the ice that held the God of Strength captive. A web of cracks immediately erupted across the frozen surface, radiating outward from his point of contact. The ice groaned and shattered, releasing Rai from his icy constraints.
Rai, freed from his icy prison, raised his gaze to meet Orion's, his eyes burning with a mix of anger and determination. The once cold and emotionless God of Strength was now ablaze with a fiery intensity, his eyes glowing with a captivating blend of golden and ruby hues.
Orion stepped back as the ice shattered, revealing the formidable figure of Rai, the God of Strength. The once frozen deity was now free from his icy prison, and it was clear that his anger burned fiercely.
"Welcome back, Rai," Orion said, his voice steady and composed. "I trust that your slumber was as unpleasant as expected."
Rai's burning gaze fixated on Orion as he spoke, his voice filled with a mix of curiosity and confusion. "What year is it?" Rai's words echoed through the cavern, his voice carrying the weight of one who had been secluded from the world for an untold amount of time.
Orion's lips curled into a hint of a smile. "It has been more than 1000 years since your sealing, Rai," he replied, his voice laced with a touch of mockery. "Quite a lengthy nap, if I do say so myself."
Orion, still towering over Rai, knelt down in a mockingly respectful gesture. A smirk played at the corners of his lips as he spoke, his voice carrying a hint of mockery.
"I'm glad you recognize my graciousness in freeing you," Orion said, his tone dripping with condescension. "But let us not forget, I expect a gesture of appreciation for my act of liberation."
Rai, his golden and ruby eyes burning with a mixture of anger and determination, met Orion's gaze defiantly, his voice crackling with suppressed power.
"You think my gratitude can be bought so easily?" he growled, his voice laced with pride. "I am the God of Strength, not some lowly pawn you can manipulate with empty words and hollow promises."
Orion chuckled, his eyes flaring with a dangerous gleam. "Oh, I'm not asking for your gratitude, my dear God of Strength," he replied, his voice filled with a mix of mockery and threat. "I simply expect you to repay the debt you owe me, after all, it was I who freed you from your icy prison."
Orion, his smirk widening into a malicious grin, spoke of his intentions with a cold and calculated tone, his words dripping with malice.
"My goal is simple," he said, his voice echoing through the cavernous chamber. "I seek to wreak havoc and bring destruction. I will kill as many as I can, reveling in the chaos and ruin I sow."
Rai's gaze hardened, his expression becoming stern and resolute as he listened to Orion's declaration. The God of Strength's hatred towards humanity was legendary, and his eyes held a burning intensity as he responded.
"And what makes you believe I would ally myself with a being like you?" he growled, his voice carrying an undercurrent of simmering rage. "Your thirst for destruction and bloodshed is antithesis to my very essence."
Orion, his expression hardening at the mention of the Demon of Battle, continued with a tinge of caution.
"The Demon of Battle, Kanji, is a force to be reckoned with," he acknowledged, his voice grave. "He is powerful and unpredictable. He poses a significant threat."
Rai's anger flared at the mention of the Demon of Battle, Kanji. The connection between the two was personal, as Rai was one of the six unique gods sent by the Omni God itself to defeat Kanji in battle.
"I know the Demon of Battle all too well," Rai said, his voice laced with a bitter edge. "He is a force to be reckoned with, his power and unpredictability making him a dangerous adversary."
Orion's smirk widened at Rai's response. He had a plan in mind, and he knew just how to entice the God of Strength further.
"If you continue your rampage on this island," he said, his voice filled with calculated manipulation, "there's a high chance that some important individuals related to Kanji will come here to stop you. And there's even a chance that he himself will make an appearance."
Rai's eyes narrowed as Orion spoke, his anger and curiosity flickering in their depths. The idea of encountering individuals closely connected to Kanji and even the Demon of Battle himself was a tantalizing proposition.
Orion extended his hand, holding out a Divine Ascend Scroll towards Rai. The scroll radiated with an otherworldly aura, its power pulsating beneath the surface.
"Here, take this Divine Ascend Scroll," Orion said, his voice filled with confidence. "It holds a significant boost in power that will accelerate your ascent and make you even more formidable."
Orion explained, "Yes, it will take some time for you to fully master and integrate the power of the Divine Ascend Scroll. It won't happen instantly, as the power will need time to resonate with your being. The process could take several hours or even days."
The mention of the possibility of Kanji's arrival seemed to stoke the fire within Rai even further. His anger flared, and his eyes burned brighter than ever. The thought of facing his old adversary again was too enticing to resist.
"You say there's a chance that Kanji will come himself?" Rai thundered, his voice filled with a mixture of anger and anticipation. "Then let them come. I've been waiting far too long for a chance at revenge."
Orion's smirk widened into a satisfied grin. He could see the raw power and unbridled rage within Rai, and he knew at that moment that he had successfully persuaded the God of Strength to join him.
"They will come," Orion assured him, his voice cold and confident. "And when they do, you will have your chance to unleash the full extent of your wrath upon them."
Orion's smirk grew even wider at the sight of Rai's increasing anger. He knew he had struck a chord within the God of Strength, and his plan was working flawlessly.
"Excellent," he said, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "Then it is settled. Go on, let loose your rage and destruction. Summon your power to its fullest extent. Let us turn this island into a battlefield like it has never seen before."
Rai's muscles tensed as the last remnants of his restraint snapped, and a surge of raw, untamed power began to boil just beneath the surface. The sheer magnitude of his anger was nearing its zenith, his entire being quaking with its intensity.
~Next chapter: Heaven reign