The Dark Gold was feared partly because of his unique ability to wield both Dark energy and Celestial energy.
He could use Celestial energy because he was a god, but Dark energy, although not fatal to celestials, acted like poison to them.
Even a slight touch of Dark energy could weaken a celestial. Why? Because Dark energy was the kryptonite to Celestial energy.
Although Celestial energy was the most powerful force wielded by gods, it became a liability when faced with Dark energy.
For someone as unstable as Azrael, who despised celestials yet controlled both energies, this gave him a tremendous advantage.
Azrael leapt from his position, swinging his hands backward.
Dark energy gathered at his fists before he slammed them into the ground, moments away from crushing Elder Kim, who gulped hard.
The impact created a meter-wide hole in the ground. Elder Kim kicked back in shock, imagining what could have happened if that blow had hit his body.
The other three Elders—Li, Fin, and Dan—couldn't tolerate a child disrespecting one of their own, so they moved to strike.
Elder Li lashed out with his palm, ignited with their clan's ability, *Wolftin Rage*.
Wolftin Rage was a technique gifted to the tribe by the primordial gods, a god race considered the strongest yet peaceful due to their heavenly nature.
The first elder to receive this power had secluded himself from the world and formed a village where only they could harness its strength.
After his demise, the village lived on, becoming the most powerful in the region.
Wolftin Rage summoned the spirit of the wolf within one's soul, symbolizing loyalty and honor to the clan.
Only a few villagers awakened this ability from birth, and they became the champions of the village.
Elder Li's palm struck Azrael hard on the back, breaking bones and causing internal injuries.
[Two ribs have been fractured, rupturing a kidney.]
"Ha! Damn body!" Azrael shouted, slapping Elder Li's hand away before punching him hard in the abdomen, shattering his ribcage.
Elder Li's body was sent flying, blood spraying from his mouth.
His back slammed into the wall, creating web-like cracks before he plummeted to the cold floor.
His injuries were severe—likely a broken spine, skull fractures, and torn muscles—explained by the blood painting the walls in a disturbing pattern.
"What beautiful art," Azrael mumbled, his eyes gleaming.
"Elder!" Evan shouted, her face twisted in pure anger.
She could already sense that Elder Li's vitals were gone.
He was dead.
She wanted to tear Azrael apart, but the dark, destructive power surrounding him made it clear that attacking wasn't wise.
The only option she could think of was to exhaust him.
'From what he said, his body can't handle his power, which means it will give out eventually. That's when I'll go for the kill,' Evan thought.
For now, she could do nothing but stay alive.
She was no match for the entity standing before her.
Though she hesitated, remembering their past friendship, she knew that person was gone.
In his place stood a monster.
[Instant healing commenced.]
[Your ribs and kidney have been healed.]
"You bastard!" Elder Fin screamed, pointing his hand at Azrael.
Ten sharp fingernails detached from his fingers and shot out like bullets.
Azrael spun mid-air to avoid them, but the last two punctured his shoulders, and he fell to his knees.
Before he could recover from the pain, Elder Kim slashed his neck, ending his life.
"The fool thought he was stronger than us just because he defeated one of us so easily," Elder Kim said with pure malice.
He stepped forward and repeatedly stabbed Azrael in the neck with his claws, his eyes filled with bloodlust.
Blood splattered everywhere, creating a chilling scene of carnage.
Azrael's neck was completely shredded, leaving only the bone exposed.
Elder Fin sighed in relief, exhausted from the battle.
Fear had gripped him when he saw Li's body, but now it was finally over.
Elder Kim turned to Fin.
"There's no need to worry. He's dead now. He wasn't as strong as we thought. With our combined might, we—"
Elder Kim's sentence was cut short as a sharp object pierced through the side of his neck.
Blood sprayed out like a fountain as he struggled to breathe.
[Undying God activated.]
[Skill can no longer be used for two hours.]
A devilish smile and crescent-shaped eyes appeared behind him. Azrael's neck was still mangled, adding to the horrifying atmosphere.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Humans never learn. You can't kill a god—especially one who never dies," Azrael said, before thrusting his hand through Kim's chest and pulling out his still-beating heart.
For Elder Kim and the others, it all happened in seconds—too fast for anyone to react.
The object used to stab Kim's neck was clearly one of the claws Elder Fin had fired at Azrael.
Azrael pulled out the heart and shoved Elder Kim's lifeless body to the ground with a thud.
He brought the heart close to his nose, sniffing it with a delighted expression.
Then, he crushed it in his palm before tossing it into his mouth, chewing, and swallowing it in one gulp.
"Hmm... needs more blood," Azrael remarked, turning his attention to the remaining two.
"Now, where were we? Oh, right, I haven't killed you yet," Azrael said, pointing at Fin.
The thought of all of them fighting a single person and still being no match, only to meet gruesome ends, was deeply unsettling to Fin.
'I have to get out of here,' he thought. Grabbing Evan's wrist, he flung her toward Azrael, who was slowly advancing, using her as a distraction.
"Good luck. Your death will be the greatest honor to the clan," Elder Fin said before spinning around in a 360-degree turn, attempting to flee.
Azrael caught Evan in his arms and gently placed her down. Before leaving, he whispered in her ear;
"The only reason you're still alive is because the former owner of this body had a strong attachment to you."
Those were his final words to her before he chased after Elder Fin.
Just as Azrael's hand reached Fin, a gunshot echoed through the air, and a bullet pierced through Fin's head, killing him instantly.
[Ding!]
**[First Quest]**
〘Objective: Grow your strength.〙
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〘 Devour over 100 people using the (Devourer) skill, leaving only one survivor.〙
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〘Reward 1: 5% increase in (BC).〙
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〘Reward 2: Acquire a new body.〙
*****