Off guard

And this is how the chiefs life has turned out to be from a small child to a revered immortal to once again return to humble beginnings.

Chief :

When I first saw you I saw the multiple paths but never their end. That's why I made the safest bet. Get you to join the factions which can keep you safe and safely raise you.

The safest path to tread on

I'm glad I get so see something soo. Unlikely.

Chief :

What do you seek Jay?

Jay :

I want to know why did the immortals attack me that day.

Did you send them after me.

Chief :

I'm just an mediator. It was something they did by themselves.

Jay :

I still don't understand that day when we first me.

You know I stole divine power then why were you so much supporting that day.

Chief :

Since birth I am able to see one's path through life. I saw your path and I couldn't see it. The end of the path.

And what you did also surprised me.

Because what you took wasn't some divine power.

It also had the ability to unlock latent potential.

The God of Chaos opened up the path to metal bending.

Jay :

If if I had taken the other crystal.

Chief :

You might had become a water mage. And if you're wondering it it was someone else. It might have awakened something else entirely.

Because that's the fragments of the Goddess of the Sea.

That awakened the potential of the sea within you by sending your brain the information in such a way that after a brief period of time and practice it feels like you've known water based magic all along. A talent if you will.

Jay :

So everything just happened to be. Because of me!

Chief :

Are you sure this was the thing you wanted to ask.

Jay :

That day why did you ask for Chroma.

Chief :

You still are not on the right track. You're confused on what you want.

As for Chroma I saw the path and saw the failure of the Super soldier project so I called you to pull the plug.

And move on to the next one. The Incarnation project.

Which failed as well.

Are you closer to what you want now

Jay :

So between Immortals and God's who do you prefer most.

Chief :

As I said I am an intermediary I don't bias against anyone.

Jay :

If you can see the path then what is the path most correct for me.

Chief :

There you are. This is what you wanted to ask all along because your path converges at this point.

Only to diverge again.

I don't know because I can't see your path neither theirs.

Chief :

I can't see the paths of the Immortals and the God's and neither yours or your comrades. Anyone who's faith has been intertwined with you.

This was the last of the path I could see. Now I can't see further.

From here on out. See things for yourself.

Now it's time for you to depart.

Jay :

It was nice to see you for one more time.

I hope you'll be well.

And after saying the parting words they left that same day.

And paraded through the dark night towards Elba.

Rena :

Say who was that lady.

Phoenix :

She is the sole reason we have avoided war for so long.

She mediated between us and the God's. Always preaching for a truce.

Ray :

That Girl was weak it was a bad taste in my mouth.

I'd rather take a strong opponent

Rena :

How about you take me on I'd love to shut your talking mouth right now. For finally some peace and quiet.

Phoenix :

Now now don't fight. We are supposed to return alive remember.

Jay :

Phoenix what is like to become a hero.

Phoenix :

A hero. It's a lot of work meeting everyone's expectations.

But humans do need a sense of validation to keep working.

So it does feel good. To think that you're on the right way.

But you'll have to leave everything that you love. You'll just become an puppet controlled by the hopes of the weak.

Or an actor who just acts how the audience wants them too.

Phoenix : frustrated.

It's difficult if you choose everyone you lose yourself.

If you choose someone you become the villain.

The demon of greed, the tyrant of destruction.

Why just because you don't meet their expectations.

Phoenix : frustrated and angered tone.

Humans are just impossible, if they become strong for himself he is backstabbed, if remain weak they are stabbed from the front.

Phoenix : calm tone

Remember Jay if one day you do try to become a hero.

Don't do it for other's sake do it for yours.

Hero of the End.

Through the interaction Phoenix's rage and frustration could be seen as his tone was emanating such malice and sadness that one would pity him uncontrollably.

A. I :

EMERGENCY EMERGENCY A SWARM OF ABYSSAL BEASTS HAVE BEEN DETECTED AND ARE APPROACHING.

A. I:

Number estimation : 200.

Type : Lowest class.

Course : Encounter.

Phoenix :

Rena, Ray dispatch.

Jay :

I'll go too.

Phoenix :

Remain on standby.

Rena and Ray dispatched and they were faced with waves of abydsal beasts who were almost blended with the darkness of the night had it not been for the flood lights the vehicle turned on around if self to brighten the area.

The shape-shifting abyssal beasts attacked discriminately Ray and Rena.

Phoenix : on virtual call.

Both of you move don't use any spells. Concentrate mana and launch the mana at them.

Rena :

190332 : Mana slash.

Rena concentrated mana in her blade and as she slashed she let out a wave of mana which cut down the abyssal beasts down.

Ray impulsively used lightning magic to launch himself and jumped in the middle of the horde and through his every pore he let out a pulse of mana like a gas cloud.

Phoenix :

Cut down the mana towards your head . These are terrestrial.

And within a few minutes they were finished with the horde of abyssal beasts.

Phoenix :

Camping outside too dangerous we'll make it for Elba today by itself.

Jay was thinking of nearby locations one came to mind was the Azuma estate. But every Azuma died on that day. There would be no way anyone would be at the estate.

This we have no choice but to push forward to Elba.

Releasing mana is naturally but concentrating it and releasing does take some mental effort.

After travelling for another three hours. We reached What seemed to be a fortress. There were even larger walls erected on the walls there were soldiers guarding the walls.

Elba was one place that wasn't affiliated with the Immortals instead it was allied with God's.

What protected them was the light magic user that protected them as they were filled with the same fragments of light just as Jay and McElroy.

They used light magic to drive out the abyssal beasts.

That's why there was no progress. But what about the guild.

It was the dead of night so there was no way of knowing what had happened to them. And Jay's house was also in Elba.

Jay :

I have a place in Elba we can stay there.

Phoenix : Spits outside the vehicle.

I don't think I'll be able to live in such a place.

Rena : draws her blade

I now think you're allied with them. Now spill this was your plan wasn't it.

Ray : laughs maniacally.

I knew you couldn't be trusted. But to think you were allied with the enemy all along.

Jay : tried to calm things down.

Look I'm still neutral, when I lived here gods didn't have that much influence here.

Rena : finished drawing her blade.

Liar. You dare lie to my face. So if you are neutral you can still take their side and back stab us.

Phoenix :

No he is still on our side.

Jay :

I'll check out the situation outside.

Jay stepped out of the vehicle and walked towards the gate.

And knocked on the gate. A man came outside with a spear in his hand. And two men with crossbow in their hands.

Guard :

Halt what purpose do you have this late in the night.

Jay :

I want access to the town.

Guard :

This town is under protection of the Judge only those who have lived here can enter.

Jay :

I have lived here for many years. I have bought the house of the baron who used to reside here.

Guard :

So you're the one who lives in that cursed house.

Do you have any proof of identity.

Jay :

Well I have a guild seal right with me.

Jay showed the guild seal.

Guard :

Alright your entry is permitted. Are those behind with you.

Jay :

Yes.

Jay returned with the vehicle kept on standby mode everyone had been permitted entry.

Rena : grasping her sword

I should remain on alert since there could be enemies nearby.

Ray :

Hey you sword Swordphile we are deep in enemy territory Acting like this will get us suspicious.

Phoenix :

The worst we will have to scorch this entire town.

Jay :

I'm still surprised you can say those horrible things so easily.

As the walked down the empty streets of Elba. They had a strange eery feeling. As if someone was watching them.

And finally they reached Jay's abode and it was dark but one look at it looked like it was just newly made.

Jay :

We're here.

Ray :

Not as big as my mansion but I'm impressed I thought you were living on the streets of some empty streets filled with bandits.

Rena :

I thought you were living in some sewer systems.

Phoenix :

I thought you lived with tribals.

Jay :

Now I'm seriously offended.

The doors of the mansion were opened and strangely there were no kids no sign of the chef. It was empty. Suddenly the door behind closed and it triggered Rena instinct with one mana slash she cut the down into pieces.

As as the pieces crumbled came the soldiers holding a light arrow within their bows. And warriors with swords made of light.

And from the stairs above we heard the noise of armor clinking and the eery noise of water flowing somewhere.

As from the stairs there were two unfamiliar figures who came down

A man with armor made of iron dust and the pattern extremely random I some area the armor was in different orientation from normal. The toe figure in random direction.

The pure incarnation of the disruption of Order.

The Lower God Kaos.

And a person wearing the clothes of a judge while his eyes radiated extreme degree of order without any hint of randomness. As he was wearing a cloth to cover both his eyes. He carried a weight scale on his right hand and a sword in his left.

The Pure incarnation of the Order

The Lower God Redro