Chapter 265: Facing Demacles and the thirteen 2!
Even the more devout temple attendants, who had initially frowned upon the twins' audacity, couldn't suppress their grins.
Demacles clenched his fists, his frustration barely masked as he glared at Tessa. The twins' antics, though seemingly harmless, felt like tiny daggers to his pride.
Tessa, unbothered by his glare, kept her focus razor-sharp. She didn't need to say anything more—her stance and expression said it all: I will not be swayed. I will not bow.
Just as Tessa prepared to turn away, a sudden flash of blue light burst onto the scene, drawing gasps from the crowd. The light coalesced into a figure—a man clad in pull over, long sleeves with skinny pants, his presence exuding an ancient and otherworldly energy. It was Bandel Blue, the blue thieving god a lesser god of unfathomable means. His arrival caused an immediate stir, whispers spreading through the onlookers like wildfire.
Bandel rushed forward, his urgency palpable. "Tessa!" he called out, his voice firm but laden with worry. "Do not join him! He serves that one—the forbidden god that is presently causing devastation back on Earth!"
The crowd erupted in gasps and murmurs, their shock and confusion evident. The very mention of the forbidden god, whose name was erased from Kaelrian history out of fear and reverence, was enough to send shivers down their spines.
Demacles froze, his composure shattered. "You dare speak of my master in such terms?" he growled, his voice trembling with suppressed rage.
Bandel turned his piercing gaze on Demacles. "You cannot hide his nature, Demacles. The forbidden god's corruption seeps through your every action. Do not insult Tessa's intelligence by pretending otherwise."
Tessa's eyes narrowed, her mind racing as she processed Bandel's words. She had no intention of joining Demacles, but this revelation added a new layer of intrigue—and danger—to the situation.
Justin tilted his head, looking at Bandel. "Forbidden god? What's that supposed to mean?"
Jordan shrugged. "Probably just another overgrown potbellied maniac who can't handle Mom."
The crowd chuckled nervously, though their fear of the forbidden god lingered in the air.
Demacles, now visibly enraged, took a step forward, his celestial aura flaring. "You meddling fool!" he spat at Bandel. "You have no idea what you've done!"
Bandel stood his ground, his voice unwavering. "I've done what must be done. Tessa will not fall into your master's trap, and neither will her sons. The legacy of Solaris will not be tainted by your lies."
The tension reached its peak as Tessa raised her hand, signaling silence. The crowd immediately fell quiet, their eyes fixed on her. She stepped forward, her posture regal, her voice steady.
"Demacles," she said, her tone icy, "you've overstayed your welcome. Take your offer—and your lies—and leave. Tell your master that Tessa Caldwell bows to no one, least of all a forgotten god."
"If you will not come quietly, I will take you by force..." Demacles tone changed as he prepared to charge with all 12 lesser gods behind him.
Demacles sneered, his aura flaring with unrestrained rage as he prepared to charge. "For Erodius, the darkness within! Capture her, dead or alive! And as for those glib-tongued twins," his voice dropped into a guttural growl, "I'll personally eat them for breakfast."
The crowd gasped collectively, the tension so thick it felt as if the air itself had turned solid. Yet Justin, small and barely a month old, wriggled out of his mother's embrace with surprising ease and took a step forward. His tiny figure, dwarfed by the towering forms of the lesser gods, radiated an unexpected calm.
Bandel Blue, still reeling from the escalating chaos, stepped forward in alarm. "Tessa! Are you seriously letting your baby face thirteen lesser gods alone? Have you lost your—"
Tessa raised a hand, silencing him with an air of authority that was impossible to argue against. Her calm demeanor only deepened Bandel's confusion.
"We have much to discuss, Bandel," Tessa said, her voice measured, "but for now, let him handle it. This is his fight."
Bandel looked from Tessa to Justin and back again, utterly baffled. "A baby, Tessa? Against lesser gods?"
Tessa's lips curled into a smirk as she turned her gaze to her son. "Justin," she called out, her voice carrying a soft yet commanding edge, "you have my permission. Go all out. Leave no one alive… except maybe the messenger boy in front. He can go back and tell his master how he was humiliated by a baby."
Her words sent shockwaves through the crowd. Gasps and whispers erupted like wildfire.
Her words also drew confusion and curiosity from the attentive viewers.
"She's letting him fight?"
"That baby? Against thirteen lesser gods?"
"Is she insane?"
"Is that baby going to take on 13 lesser gods..."
"I heard that, that boy singlehandedly killed king Rhopgin's 6 remaining sons...and even injured ambassador Dzek..."
"That doesn't count, in that case the 6 sons of King Rhopgin were just enhanced Kaelrian mortals, however, we are talking about 13 lesser gods against a baby that may not have even clocked one year.... That is preposterous..."
"The outcome will shock you....It will shock you..."
"Those 6 sons of King Rhopgin weren't gods, though. This is different. He's just a baby!"
Bandel Blue was the most confused. Back when he was with Tessa on earth and when they newly got to planet Kaelria before Tessa's new experiences, she was still reliant on him, however, as things are looking, she seemed to be far ahead of him. Even with his god eyes, thieving hands and powerful mind, he seem to pose little or no help to Tessa.
The speed of her growth is tremendous, it brothers on mind boggling.
Amidst the rising tension, Jordan, ever the opportunist, began moving through the crowd. His cherubic face was alight with mischief as he held out a small bag of coins. "Place your bets, everyone! One hundred and thirty Kaelrian gold if my brother loses, thirteen hundred if he wins. Who's in?"
The crowd hesitated, some unsure whether to laugh or take him seriously. Yet a few couldn't resist the temptation, handing over their coins with skeptical glances.
Tessa, meanwhile, stood motionless, arms crossed, her expression unreadable. Bandel Blue, watching her closely, was at a loss. This wasn't the Tessa he once knew—the one who had leaned on him for guidance, the one who had struggled to understand her own power. This Tessa was leagues ahead, her growth staggering and her confidence unshakable.
Justin, oblivious to the murmurs and wagers, took a single step forward, his tiny feet kicking up a small puff of dust. The thirteen lesser gods, led by Demacles, stood ready, their auras flaring with divine energy. But Justin's calm, unwavering gaze sent an unsettling chill through their ranks.
"You're wasting time," Justin said, his voice small yet strangely resonant. "Are you going to fight, or are you all just here to pose like statues?"
The crowd froze, unsure whether to laugh or shiver. Demacles, however, had had enough. With a roar, he charged forward, his twelve companions following suit, their combined energy shaking the ground beneath them.
Justin yawned. "So dramatic," he muttered. Then, with a speed that defied comprehension, he vanished.