The Devil’s Cage

The two types of energies were already straining their last efforts under the attacks from Cardinal Sins Force. Now, with the sudden arrival of Devil Force, Dawn Force, Plague Force, and Saint Thorn Force, the vigorous energy and gloomy energy crumbled right away.

Devil Force burned everything rampantly.

Dawn Force’s mild and tenacious traits contained everything.

Plague Force, as its name suggested, infected everything.

Saint Thorn Force was giving; instead, it used the taken the energy and returned it, in the form of gifts and damage.

In the end, these two energies were converted into Origin Force, solely belonging to Kieran’s body.

The 5 major Origin Forces in his body operated according to a set of procedures, maintaining a balance between each other. Almost instantaneously, all 5 of the Origin Forces transformed the external energy into ‘fuel’ and pumped it into the weak fire in Kieran’s mind.

The little fire jumped a few times and grew slightly more prominent. It also became brighter and expelled the chaotic darkness around it a little further, but…

At the very next moment, the chaotic darkness replied.

An unknown but horrifying wail came from the chaotic darkness, it threw itself to the weak little fire, trying to extinguish it with a single blow.

RAWR!

“GET BACK!”

The red magma figure stood in front of the weak fire like a giant dam, blocking the fierce rising tide of darkness.

A burning white color appeared in the middle of the black tides. Under the strong, sturdy, and shining knight armor, a loud and steady voice echoed throughout the chaotic environment.

“Fight, never step back!”

“Fight, never give in!”

The voice was like a battle horn, signaling Pride with his blazing black greatsword to slash down at the chaotic darkness.

When the blazing black greatsword was swung down, the tenacious white and the gloomy gray energy came from behind.

The white was filled with the tenacity of life; the gray was filled with destructive despair.

Both sides were like the raging storm, opening hole after hole in the chaotic darkness.

Tsssss!

A sizzling noise was heard, the rising black tide paused for a moment before it slowly retreated.

The fire, which had grown a little, was left in its spot, being more active than ever. The figures that protected it were nowhere to be found anymore as if everything was just an illusion.

“It didn’t go up to V?”

Perceiving and controlling everything, Kieran looked at the Spirit attribute in his character tab. A slight blur later, it returned to rank V-.

It was evident that his Spirit was enhanced again, but it wasn’t enough to boost it to the next level.

The reaction from the chaotic darkness amidst the confrontation also told Kieran that with his current rank V- Spirit, each time the little fire grew, he would be greeted with the counterattacks from the chaotic darkness, and it would only be relatively fiercer from now on.

It was either him expelling the darkness completely or suffering total annihilation!

A mortal enemy!

The term unconsciously rose in Kieran’s heart, and it made him realize his condition.

However, he still didn’t know what the darkness inside him was, but he knew every step that he took from now on had to be meticulously calculated.

Any slight misstep would cost him his life.

He didn’t think he could survive if that little fire in his mind went out.

Likewise, another question in Kieran’s heart had grown bigger.

What were the Gods of Naveya?

Known as Gods by the natives, but in terms of power, they were still too far apart from a deterring force. According to the categorization of the big city, these Gods were ranked between rank II and rank IV.

Similar to the God of Harvest just now. Although he was heavily injured, given all the tactics and methods during his prime, the God of Harvest should only rank around rank IV in Kieran’s point of view.

However, with his allegedly rank IV power, the God of Harvest still possessed some divine abilities, like absorbing faith from his believers. Which meant the God of Harvest was wielding powers beyond his own.

Such ability was barely achievable for Kieran even with his Spirit of rank V-.

In the categorization of the big city, rank V- was around a first-generation divine descendant, while the lower rank IV represented a second-generation, third-generation, and so on.

Given the God of Harvest’s ranking, he shouldn’t have the ability to absorb the Power of Faith.

“The secrets that the Gods hide?”

Kieran couldn’t hold back his grin as he talked to himself.

He didn’t dislike these kinds of secrets, though, because he knew secrets would always result in huge rewards and benefits.

Kieran never minded getting any kind of reward or benefit, but that was a matter for another time.

He knew if his plan proceeded smoothly, he would have sufficient time to uncover the truth behind this.

And now?

The smell of lunch had entered his nose.

Beef, potatoes, carrots, and the unique aroma of stew.

Once he thought about the flavorful bite of bread dipped in that creamy soup, Kieran couldn’t wait anymore and walked outside.

Arya Outpost had prepared the traditional army ration: significant portions that were high in calories.

Other than the mentioned traits, the ingredients used were very fresh as well.

The beef was from the lords of Yort Fields.

The potatoes and carrots came from the outpost’s own plantation.

The bread was freshly baked with wheat delivered by the Millman in the morning.

“Your Majesty.”

Roffu, who acted as a guard outside the wooden house, bowed and greeted Kieran when he saw him come out.

Since Kieran saved Roffu before and given his current reputation, the young soldier admired him unconditionally while having a sense of fanaticism in his gaze.

Other than Kieran, nothing could disturb Roffu fanatic gaze anymore, and because of that, Roffu triumphed over many of his competitors who fought to be the guard in front of the wooden house.

When Roffu bowed, Kieran clearly felt the delight from the fire in his mind.

Because of the delight, Kieran replied with a smile and a nod.

“Where’s lunch? I’m famished.”

Kieran didn’t conceal his hunger, it wasn’t anything embarrassing anyway, so he didn’t want to hide it.

“Please follow me, Your Majesty.”

The young soldier volunteered to bring Kieran to the mess hall.

As a matter of fact, as long as Kieran followed the smell of the food, he would eventually arrive at his destination, but he didn’t reject the young soldier.

Now, Kieran was interested in everything or people that could trigger the little fire in his mind.

Soon, Kieran found out the point that differentiated this young soldier from the others.

If he remembered correctly, a few days ago, Roffu was just an ordinary soldier, the kind of soldier that went through typical training to boost his physique and skills, but now, Roffu was obviously different.

Roffu’s body was more fit than before, even with the leather armor on his body, his body was bulging. What concerned Kieran the most were Roffu’s eyes and ears, each step Roffu took, his eyes would glance over the shadow and the hidden spots. Kieran was sure it wasn’t an act, Roffu could really see the details, and his ears could hear any movements within a 30-meter radius.

“Because he is different from others, that’s why the Power of Faith is different?

Kieran wondered in his heart before asking, “Roffu, did you notice something different about yourself lately?”

“Yes, Your Majesty! After you saved me, my life has become quite different.”

“And when I made you my only belief, the changes on my body got even more obvious. Thank you for your… gifts!” said the young soldier in a frantic way.

Kieran, on the other hand, smiled to hide his embarrassment.

It seemed like the young soldier had triggered some kind of gifts during the battle of life and death.

It was rare but not impossible.

As for his faith giving him power?

It was not true, at least not now, not with Kieran’s current power level.

Of course, he didn’t mind others thinking that he could bless people.

Gradually, plans started to form in Kieran’s mind that may benefit him throughout the dungeon run, but the clamors that came from further away made him frown.