Chapter 263: The Blue Thieving god appears 2!
Debul, finally sensing the gravity of the situation, set down his drink. His playful tone was replaced by one of suspicion. "Did you confirm this, Kayyo?"
Kayyo puffed out his chest, enjoying the attention for once. "Hehehehe..." He chuckled nervously, looking around at the faces locked onto him. "I saw it with my own two eyes! Not only her, but her son, her firstborn! He killed the six sons of King Rhopgin in a single move and even injured Ambassador Dzek!"
Gasps erupted from the patrons, the weight of Kayyo's words rippling through the room like a thunderclap.
"Pfft. Hogwash," Debul scoffed, leaning back dismissively. "You must have been drunk off your usual rotgut."
Kayyo slammed his fist on the table, his face red with indignation. "I swear on my unborn child! Everyone is talking about it!" He took a deep breath and added, "She even wanted to punish her son for acting without her instruction. She's no ordinary woman, Debul!"
Before Debul could retort, a shadow fell over Kayyo. Bandel Blue moved so quickly it was as though he teleported. In an instant, he had Kayyo by the collar, lifting him off his feet as though he weighed nothing. The room collectively held its breath.
"Which way did they go?" Bandel Blue's voice was deep, cold, and commanding, like the rumble of distant thunder. His presence left no room for defiance.
Kayyo stammered, sweat trickling down his brow. "L-last I saw her… she was heading toward the temple. The Temple of Lord Solaris!" His voice broke, but he didn't dare lie.
Debul, unwilling to be sidelined, surged forward to challenge Bandel Blue. "What's it to you? Who gave you the—what the…!" His words faltered as he realized something shocking—no matter how much force he used, he couldn't budge Bandel Blue even an inch.
Before Debul could react further, a blur of motion exploded in front of him. Bandel Blue's fist shot forward like a bolt of lightning, slamming into Debul's chest. The sheer force sent the massive man flying across the room, crashing into the stools near the counter. He landed with a groan, clutching his chest as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. His breath came in ragged gasps, his chest visibly concave from the blow.
The onlookers were stunned, but a strange sense of satisfaction washed over the room. Debul, the arrogant and loudmouthed brute, had been a thorn in everyone's side all day. To see him humbled so decisively was a rare and satisfying sight. He was lucky because if Bandel Blue hadn't held back, it would be his gut out in the open and in smithereens spread out all over the place.
Bandel Blue didn't spare him a second glance. He released Kayyo and strode toward the door, his movements smooth and unhurried, yet exuding an undeniable power. The patrons watched him in awe, their whispers turning into reverent murmurs.
"That… that's the freaking Blue Thieving God! In the flesh!" one man finally exclaimed, his voice barely above a whisper.
"You're lucky to still be alive if that was really him," another muttered to Debul, who was still sprawled on the floor.
"Who is the Blue Thieving God?" a young boy asked, his voice trembling with excitement.
"You don't know? Haven't you read the Kaelrian texts and legends about his deeds?" an older man scolded.
"If I had, would I be asking?"
"Alright, sit down and listen well…"
As the chatter resumed, Bandel Blue disappeared into the night, his thoughts swirling. If Tessa truly was heading to the Temple of Solaris, then he was closer to finding her than ever before. It seems she has now given birth to not just a child but twins. However, what age could the children be to be able to even attack a lesser god, this part confused Bandel Blue who was happy to unite with Tessa.
The murmurs in the inn grew louder as the older man adjusted his seating, ready to delve into the legends surrounding the Blue Thieving God. The eager listeners leaned in closer, their eyes wide with anticipation.
"There are many legends about the Blue Thieving God," the man began, his voice low and reverent, "and because of these legends, many believe he will eventually rise to the rank of a Higher God. But even as a Lesser God, none in their right mind would dare challenge him."
The crowd held its collective breath as he continued, "You see, the Blue Thieving God is not like the rest. He has three supreme powers that grant him an unfair advantage. The first is his God Eyes, capable of seeing through all illusions and lies, no matter how intricate or powerful they are. The second is his Thieving Hands, also known as soft hands, those are hands so gifted that they can steal anything, no matter how securely it is hidden or protected. And lastly, his Trickster Mind—a mind so cunning it can trap even the wisest of beings in their own thoughts, leaving them disoriented and vulnerable."
Gasps of astonishment rippled through the crowd. Some shook their heads in disbelief, while others nodded solemnly, as if they had heard fragments of this story before.
The man leaned forward, his voice dropping to a whisper that somehow carried across the room. "One legend speaks of the time he faced off against a Higher God. The Blue Thieving God didn't bring an army, didn't even call for reinforcements. No, he went alone to the Higher God's domain, where he stood against an entire army. And do you know what happened?"
The listeners hung on his every word.
"He emptied the vaults of the Higher God, stripping away wealth and treasures accumulated over millennia. He left the army in disarray—defeated, confused, and completely broken. And as for the Bandel Blue? Not a single scratch touched him. The Blue Thieving God returned to his realm unscathed."
The room erupted into hushed exclamations of disbelief and awe. Even those who had doubted the tale moments ago were now glued to the narrator's every word.
"And here's the part that made the Kaelrian world shudder," the man said, his voice trembling with excitement. "When scholars studied the aftermath of that war and questioned the survivors, they uncovered a shocking truth. The Blue Thieving God hadn't merely relied on brute strength or cunning tricks. No, he used his unconventional abilities to their fullest extent, turning the Higher God's strengths against him and exposing the weaknesses no one had ever dared to exploit. He is truly unlike any god we've ever known."
"Wow..." one of the patrons whispered, breaking the stunned silence. Others nodded, their eyes still wide with awe.
As the story concluded, the inn gradually returned to its usual noise and bustle. But a sense of unease lingered in the air, as though the very walls had absorbed the gravity of the tale.
Meanwhile, Bandel Blue was far from the inn. With each step, his sprint quickened, his determination sharpening like a blade. The Temple of Solaris loomed in the distance, its ancient spires piercing the night sky. The thought of Tessa, so close yet still out of reach, burned in his mind.
The Thieving God's hood fell back as he increased his speed, revealing his piercing blue eyes glowing faintly in the darkness. He was a blur, moving faster than the mortal eye could track, leaving nothing but a faint ripple in the air behind him.
"Tessa," he murmured to himself. "You won't slip through my grasp this time."
And with that, the legend of the Blue Thieving God continued to unfold, his presence now intertwined with the mysterious reappearance of Tessa, Daughter of Solaris.