Chapter 9: Deity vs Deity

Their battle continued fiercely. The Throne City of Faore and several surrounding villages were ablaze and in ruins from their clashes. Nerville and Maria, the two gods, were exchanging powerful blows.

"Fortunately, Father gave me this," Nerville said, pulling something from a portal. "Longinus, this can hurt you."

"Same," Maria replied, opening a portal and retrieving a scythe. "This is Miasma."

Nerville swiftly threw his holy spear at Maria. Suddenly, 999 pulled me out and handed me my shield. "Hold this for me, Thomas. Don't worry, as long as I haven't taken your soul, you won't die."

"Now, Haziel, Theodora!" Nerville opened a portal.

"Hello, Argiel. You're coming back to us now," Haziel greeted, gripping my shoulder.

The spear hit me, rendering me helpless. I felt excruciating pain, with my health points dwindling to just 1. 999 grinned and used this chance to attack Haziel and Theodora.

"Gotcha."

The Miasma scythe from 999 slashed at them both, causing them to release me and fall. His next attack severed Nerville's arm. 999 swung his scythe at Nerville's neck, but Nerville's body melted, and his true form appeared behind 999.

"How about we make peace?" Nerville proposed. "Don't you pity your subject's suffering? Oh, I forgot, you're the god of death. The more chaos and death, the happier you are."

"Our envoys are both severely injured. They might not be able to fight in the upcoming envoy tournament before X," he continued.

"I'll accept if you agree to join me in defeating X," 999 replied, lowering his scythe.

Watching their conversation, I managed to sit up. Theodora and Haziel approached me. "Hi, Argiel."

"I-I'm Thomas! Not Argiel," I replied. "G-get away from me."

Kuti appeared, pulling me away from them. "Stay away from my lover. Come on, darling, your wounds are getting worse."

Kuti yanked Nerville's spear out of me and carried me away. Romanova and Atmaja finally caught up with us. Atmaja helped Kuti support me. "You're seriously injured. So am I."

"What h-happened to me?" I asked. "When they captured me?"

"It's a long story," Atmaja replied.

999 appeared before the four of us. "Ah yes. From now on, we'll be allies with God 111. You must return to Ludanes quickly because Majagada is still besieging Ludanes."

"Two weeks have already passed," I said. "S-sorry, everyone."

Nerville, Theodora, and Haziel appeared before us. "Okay. As promised, I will heal you completely."

"And you must thank me, Maria. Your envoy is almost at the level of divinity, thanks to me. He will become a new god." Nerville licked my hand. "I'm so envious that X favors you, but in the end, you want to kill him."

"Want to join me, Argiel?" Nerville asked.

"He's Thomas, not Argiel," Kuti answered, drawing her dagger.

"Tch. Fine, see you another day." Nerville and his envoys vanished.

We spent two days helping to repair Faore Island. The sirens became docile and assisted us in rebuilding the city. 111 and 999 appeared, commanding the villagers to restore the island.

The two gods also used their magic to expedite the city's repairs. The fanatics who refused to worship 999 were given their own settlement. Both sides agreed to peace, discarding their weapons and banning their use in battle. Instead, if Faore Island were ever in danger, an envoy would appear to eliminate the threat.

I noticed something different about Atmaja. He no longer wore the Knights' Order badge. "W-where's your Knights' Order badge?"

"I threw it away. I no longer wish to fight for the Knights' Order," Atmaja replied. He placed some wooden planks he was carrying down and stretched. "I'd rather join you on your adventures."

"Dueling you while you were under God 111's control made me realize I wouldn't grow with the Knights' Order," Atmaja continued, approaching me. "Seeing the many wrongs of the Knights' Order, I decided to leave."

"But when I return to Ludanes, the grandmaster and others will likely hang me," Atmaja extended his hand for a handshake. "So, can I join you?"

"Just accept him!" Kuti shouted from afar, helping the women of Faore prepare meals in the communal kitchen.

"Al-alright, alright. I'm happy to have another member," I said, shaking his hand.

After bidding farewell to the villagers, we headed to the harbor. There were no ships docked there. A portal opened, and 999 appeared before us. "You need a ride. Outside the sacred tree, many villagers and Knights' Order members are asking for your help to defeat Majagada. Also, that foolish and perverted Nerville gave me this."

999 handed me a bag containing all my equipment. I was thrilled to be able to use my gear again. "Enter my portal."

The four of us entered the portal created by 999. Instantly, we found ourselves walking through another dimension. 999 walked with us.

"Aren't you a god? Can't you just transport us directly?" Kuti asked.

"No. This portal shortens the distance. Every 1 km here is equivalent to 40 km in the real world," 999 replied. "Besides, I want to walk with my envoys."

"So you have to tell us the truth, 999. This isn't a game world, is it?" Kuti asked 999.

"I'll explain when it's just the two of you," 999 evaded. "Romanova and Atmaja aren't involved."

"What about Dahlan and Rosa?" Kuti asked.

"Later," 999 replied. "We're here."

999 opened a portal, and the four of us arrived inside a temple. We breathed a sigh of relief. Atmaja immediately sat in the temple's prayer chair. Romanova collapsed on the altar. Kuti and I headed to the second floor to look outside.

Outside, villagers were protesting and attempting to break the iron gates at both ends of the bridge to the temple. 999 appeared before us, "Well, according to the plan, you should have been able to escape from here. But because of 111, you spent too much time in Faore."

"What's outside the city walls?" Kuti asked.

"Majagada's forces are besieging all access to this city. Knights' Order troops from other cities are stuck outside," 999 replied.

"I need you to defeat the Knights' Order soldiers from within and open the gates for them," 999 said.

"We're still exhausted," Kuti replied.

"Don't worry." Nerville appeared beside 999. He cast a spell on me and Kuti. "Now you are refreshed and healed."

"Let's slaughter them all," Nerville said, holding my chin.

"Don't touch my lover," Kuti said, lowering Nerville's hand. "You're a god; you shouldn't have relationships with humans."

"Eh? But without me, you wouldn't experience love, desire, or life," God 111 laughed.

"Kuti, leave. This is important for Thomas to gain more power," 999 ordered.

"If you say so, alright. But keep him away from this perverted god." Kuti left the room angrily.