Myths Reawakened

“I don’t believe it. This isn’t... real!!!”

Staring at the all-too-familiar figure, Saigner’s eyes went crimson. Brilliant light overflowed in torrents, and as though she had spiraled into madness, her vast thoughts pushed heavy Death energy out of her body.

A grey hemisphere of energy expanded with black lightning crackling across space. Wayne was pressed flat against the energy barrier. The manifesting energy bleeding off the hemisphere sent him flying into the sky.

The evolution was still ongoing!

Wayne pushed his power into his arms and braced his sword against the expanding energy barrier. With a roar, he tore open air and cut his way into the grey area thick with Death energy.

The energy forced its way into his body, taking away his vitality and leaving him withered and drained. The next second, white foam surged out, its incredible vitality overwhelming the encroaching death, offsetting the attack by burning itself.

At the center of the grey zone, a colossal black bird rose into the air.

The crow’s wingspan reached a full kilometer, its body covered in slick black feathers that each glimmered like a faint star. As it flew, it left a splendid trail in the air, ensnaring the souls in its way and dooming them to be devoured.

Most notably, where the crow’s head should be was a stunning face with a pair of deep eyes, which radiated esoteric, terrifying information so vast that it transcended the boundary between life and death. A single glance was enough to guide a lost soul to judgment.

The Soul-devouring Crow!

The moment the eyes fixed on him, Wayne went rigid and hung motionless in the air.

Nom.

Unaware of what was actually happening, Saigner felt her heart settle when she saw his suspended form. “You’re lying. The goddess has not blessed you. I am Her chosen successor. She told me that I would become the next Goddess of Death!”

Her eyes locked onto Wayne to draw his soul from his body, but failed. She tried more times and failed every time. Her heart sank once more. To quell her unease, she beat her black wings and flew toward Wayne.

The stunning face was only stunning from a distance. Up close, the massive facial features screamed monster.

It was no longer beautiful, but dreadful.

The Soul-devouring Crow opened its enormous maw to swallow Wayne whole, digesting his body and soul together.

“Kekekeke—”

Wayne’s face cleared in an instant. Under the suppression of infinite Death energy, he suddenly rose in height, and the pale blade of Shadow Nightmare elongated to over a hundred meters, covered in white foam.

A giant eyeball opened on his chest. The soundless whisper it unleashed dealt a heavy blow on Saigner’s thoughts. Now she was the one standing frozen.

Swoosh!

Shadow Nightmare swung down, slicing off the crow’s left wing. Blood splattered along the vertical cut surface, and a look of agony flashed through Saigner’s face.

Another arc of white light separated the crow’s right wing.

Now wingless, the bird tipped backward and plummeted from the sky. The searing pain, at last, freed Saigner from the whisper’s grip, and the moment her mind cleared, a shriek tore out of her throat.

Wayne’s pale form cut through the sonic waves with his sword. The instant Saigner hit the ground, he thrust the blade down two-handed and pierced through the crow’s chest, pinning her there.

Crash into it with his thoughts! Again!! Then crush it! Crush it once more!!

After the repeated attacks, Wayne reverted to his normal size, and Saigner transformed back into her human form.

Her black gown was still on, but not her long gloves.

Wayne hoisted Shadow Nightmare over his shoulder and lifted Saigner by her silver hair, breaking into a bright smile with his head cocked. “What a beautiful neck. If I slit it, I’m sure a lot of blood will spray out.”

Saigner didn’t respond. Her half-lidded eyes had dimmed, and drool streaked down the corners of her mouth. Her limp hands twitched now and then.

“Tell me, what exactly did the goddess say to you?” Wayne narrowed his eyes, marveling at the scope of Aztimor’s script. From Ines to Sukra, nearly everyone had been assigned a role. He wondered what role Saigner played in this story. Was she the gullible, dutiful daughter, the rebellious daughter looking to replace her mother, or, even more dramatically, an unfilial daughter who coveted her mother?

Saigner said nothing. She continued to drool blankly.

“What is this? Did I hit you too hard?”

Wayne frowned. He pondered corrupting her thoughts, but decided against it at the last moment. He would like to avoid doing that if possible.

“For Rognes’s sake, I’ll go easy on the older sister he wasn’t related to by blood.”

He let go of the grey hair and touched his right eye. He had already corrupted Aztimor. If he corrupted Saigner on top of that...

It would be a bit much.

If word got out, his moral standing would truly hit rock bottom.

***

Meanwhile, the demigods were staring at the grey area. The Death energy was so pure that each strand contained the most profound information of Death. Even though they were all confident in their faith magic, none of them dared venture in.

“Who won? It’s been quiet for too long...”

“Did Sir Wayne win?”

“He should. He’s too powerful.”

“It doesn’t make sense. If he’s so powerful, why didn’t Rognes formulate the plan around him?”

“We can’t blame Rognes. I didn’t expect him to be this strong...”

They murmured among themselves. Sukra alone straightened her back more and more, her eyes fixed on Ryza. “What did you say, Master? That I know nothing about the subordinate gods and have nothing in my head?”

Ryza couldn’t be bothered to stoop to her student’s level. She tucked a grey strand of hair behind her ear and turned away.

“Hmph, I don’t know subordinate gods, that I admit. But you know Wayne even less. Now who’s the one with an empty head—”

Thwack!

“Why did you hit me again? You were in the wrong. Am I not allowed to say anything?”

“I’m the master, and you’re the student. Any questions?”

“...”

While they anxiously waited for the outcome of the battle, the great power locking down the eighth level dispersed, and the barrier keeping out the Heart of Nature vanished. They fell out of space and found themselves in the ravaged eighth level. They looked around and then at the passageway right within reach. They hesitated whether they should wait here or leave immediately for the safe zone.

After exchanging glances, they decided to stay.

Wayne was more important than they were. Without him, none of the plans could be executed. Whoever won, they had to stay and wait for the outcome.

Space rippled. Wayne emerged with Saigner over his shoulder. He was in his human form rather than his Death Knight form.

(•`´•(_人_)

“Why are you still here?” Wayne patted the backside on his shoulder and rattled off instructions. “We can’t stay. Let’s retreat. The Authority that the subordinate gods have stolen is more powerful than I expected. They’re too strong. The other two traitors could show up at any moment, and I’m not confident that I can defeat them two alone.”

“Um...” The group was stunned. One of them hesitantly spoke up, “Should we call Rognes back, Sir Wayne? It seems that him going to the One Universe won’t accomplish much.”

“How so? Without his cover, how would I have gotten the chance to fight Saigner one on one?”

“...” xN

***

Heart of Nature.

The green world, normally a silent forest, was even more silent today. Wayne had summoned the nine Night Gods to the treehouse. He had solo-cleared a raid against a subordinate god—and a subordinate god who had claimed the divinity of the Underworld at that. The victory maxed out his reputation. The Night Gods held themselves with deference in front of him, too intimidated to raise their voices.

“Why is everyone standing? Sit down!” Wayne patted his thigh. “Ryza, here’s your seat.”

“...” x9

“You have no sense of humor.” He huffed. “You’re not like your student. Sukra would’ve already been grinning on my lap.”

Ryza lowered her head and closed her eyes, pretending to hear nothing.

“Change of plan. I’ve captured Saigner, one of the three subordinate gods. Once word gets out, Sizorn will hole up in the One Universe, making it difficult for Rognes to approach the Temple of Eternity.”

Wayne frowned. “I’ve been thinking. To cover Rognes, we must muddy the water further. Put the word out that Saigner has become so infatuated with Rognes’s bony looks that she offered marriage and a truce, and that the honeymoon is underway.”

“Um...”

The Night Gods couldn’t keep up with Wayne. One of them ventured, “Sir Wayne, why don’t we attack the One Universe directly? Wouldn’t that be faster?”

“Good question. I fought hard to defeat Saigner and needed a full night to recover from such serious injury.” Wayne coughed into his fist.

He pretended to be injured, while the Night Gods pretended to believe that he was injured. The treehouse was filled with their wordless understanding.

“Also, I have to subdue Grau before attacking the One Universe.”

Wayne narrowed his eyes. He would spend the night interrogating Saigner and find out what Aztimor had told her. Then he would invade Grau’s territory to see how much the spy knew.

His instinct told him that Grau was absolutely a spy. He had been acting the whole time.

As the most persuasive person in the room, Wayne received no pushback for his sudden revision of the plan. Whatever he said went.

“If there’s nothing else, you’re dismissed.” Wayne waved them away, then he turned to Ryza. “Bring Sukra and watch the door for me. I’m conducting a surprise interrogation of Saigner and her associates. Do not let anyone disturb my business.”

Ryza panicked. “Sir Wayne, I don’t under—”

“Whatever I tell you to do, do it and don’t ask why. I’ll do the thinking, while you’ll follow orders. Take a page from Sukra. She never asks me why.”

Wayne cut her off. He had hundreds of millions of seeds to give, so he couldn’t sleep soundly at night without a couple of armed escorts.

“Oh, where’s the rug and the subordinate god who should be wrapped in it? Is she not done with her flower petal bath?”

“Huh?!”

Wait, are you serious? x9

The Night Gods looked horrified, but none of them spoke up on the traitor’s behalf. After a brief consideration, they all decided they had heard nothing.

“You’re too slow. How am I supposed to save the Underworld and wake the goddess with incompetent fools like you? In the end, I’m the one charging around getting things done.”

Wayne scowled, declaring the vermin unworthy of his time. He waved dismissively.

“Forget it. Just move the bath to my room. Clock’s ticking. I’ll get the interrogation started first.”