Gaia

A/N: We finally hit 15power stones after a while again so here's a bonus chapter for y'all!

Support me more and with every 15 PS, get a bonus chapter in return~

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Jester's POV

The fog of exhaustion and frustration clouded my senses, but as I looked through Caedes' eyes, I felt something shift. The boy's once blue eyes now glowed with an eerie emerald light. I could sense every tremor of his body, every throb of his heart. 

I chuckled to myself, feeling the dark satisfaction of my awakening. "This fucker finally consumed enough blood, huh? Took him long enough," I said, a mocking note in my voice as I flexed Caedes' limbs. The effort of resurrecting this wretched kid into my form had been draining, but now it was worth it.

I admitted with a self-deprecating laugh. The energy flowing through me was invigorating. I looked around at the wet, battered landscape with a twisted smile. "Oh, Lilith," I murmured, "I'm waiting for you in ways Keiren never could."

Relishing the surge of power within this weak body, I moved with purpose, racing toward the cliff's edge, as if drawn by some invisible force. The wind whipped around me, and the rain lashed relentlessly, but it all seemed insignificant compared to the disdain I felt for this world.

I remembered the question that had haunted me: 'If you had the chance to go back into the past, what would be the one thing you would change?' It was a question that had seemed like a mere philosophical musing, but now, as I stood on the brink of this new existence, I realized its significance.

The fall was imminent. As Caedes' body leapt from the cliff, the world spun around us in a chaotic dance of wind and rain. I savored the tumult, the final act in a drama that was far from over. Caedes—no, Keiren—was about to face a revelation that would shatter everything he thought he knew. He was not as simple as he believed. After all...he was no human.

With a final, bitter laugh, I embraced the descent, feeling the chaotic energy revolve around me. This was just the beginning, and I was ready to see how it all played out.

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Caedes' POV

I woke up to a blinding light that threatened to penetrate my eyes. Using my hand to shield my face, I squinted and tried to make sense of my surroundings. The sharp scent of hospital disinfectant filled the air, and white walls enclosed me. I was lying in what looked like a hospital bed, my body covered with a thin white quilt. I shifted my gaze to the white curtains letting in the light.

Next to me, a boy who couldn't be older than 14 was curled up in a chair, his head resting on my knees. He had short blue hair and wore a yellow T-shirt with small shorts. His face was etched with worry. When I moved, he startled awake, his eyes blinking at me in confusion before he hurried to the door and slipped out.

I didn't have time to ponder who he was. My mind raced back to the forest, the beetle, and my breakdown when I couldn't awaken my bloodline. How did I end up here?

One moment I was in a forest, fighting for my life, and the next, I was lying in a hospital bed. My heart sank with a troubling thought: did my curse take over and turn me into the mindless beast the reports had mentioned?

How could I prove myself if these mysterious events kept throwing me off course?

Then it hit me: was proving myself even what I wanted? All I ever wanted was a normal life. So why did I have these thoughts of proving myself or being worth something? Was it the curse influencing my mind or just my experiences making me think like this?

Deep down, I knew the truth. I'd always wanted to prove I wasn't useless. I wanted to show that I had worth. I struggled with accepting it because I was so exhausted, my thoughts a jumble. I had been pushing my body to its limits just to survive.

I threw off the quilt and felt the cold marble tiles under my feet. I examined my body, noting the slight increase in muscle and the quicker flow of my blood. Everything felt more connected, almost like I had a better understanding of my body now. I grabbed a plastic cup of water and drank it quickly, feeling some relief.

I'd left God's realm and was now in a place that operated under different rules. I should have known I was in a hospital, in the New Age—year 0027.

The planet Gaia was divided into seven domains, each with portals leading to the Ancient God's Realm. 

Namely,

Ancient sea realm [ Indian Domain ]

The realm of palladium [Domain of Greece]

Sky god realm [ Japan's Domain ]

Star god realm [ Domain of Egypt ]

Shrouding mist realm [ USA's Domain ]

Realm of the corrupted [ Domain of Rome ]

World tree realm [ Central Domain ]

I had lived my whole life in the Domain of Egypt, isolated and harsh and did not know much about the outside world or Gaia's ways.

The sound of the door clicking open drew me from my thoughts. Reflexively, I moved my hands to my chest, and my tentacles sprouted from my back. A tall man with short black hair, thin brows, and a large pointy nose peeked through the door. He wore a black overcoat and matching pants, his skin a deep brown.

"Ummm, is everything alright?" A childish voice followed, the same boy from earlier. The man looked tense at the sight of my tentacles, raising his hands in a peace gesture.

"Can we come in… Uhhh—"

I managed to muster a response.

"The name's Caedes."

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