Chapter 505: Earth Star: Water Spirit Ventini
"..."
Salamander's words left Grom in silence.
"..."
Seeing his reaction, Salamander also fell quiet, the atmosphere becoming awkward. After a moment, she broke the silence, her voice laced with sarcasm. "So, are we really going to end up as someone else's lackeys?"
"Lackeys?"
Grom shook his head and replied calmly, "That's not the right way to describe it. To become a warrior under His Majesty is to join a path of glory."
"Ah?"
Salamander tilted her head in confusion, clearly unable to grasp what he meant.
To be honest, Salamander found herself bewildered by the reverence in Grom's gaze. What is this nonsense? Are you even my brother? This doesn't feel like the Grom I grew up with.
Salamander, having been with Grom since their creation, knew him better than anyone. She understood how prideful and unyielding he was. For someone like Grom to speak with such admiration and submission—this wasn't something she could process easily.
"Salamander," Grom said softly. "There are things that cannot be explained in just a few words. Even I don't fully understand some of them."
It seemed he wanted to say more, but after a brief hesitation, he shook his head and chose not to elaborate.
Clearly, even Grom knew that delving too deeply into this topic might cause more problems than it solved.
"Fine, fine," Salamander waved him off. "If you can't say more, then don't. But let me ask you this—do Ventini and Sylph know about this?"
"They do."
Grom nodded. "I've hidden nothing from them. Both of them have made their choices. In fact…" He paused briefly before continuing, "Unlike you, Ventini and Sylph have already become warriors under His Majesty. This is their honor and their glory."
His voice carried a tone of reverence that left Salamander even more baffled.
Wait a minute.
Who is this "His Majesty" you keep talking about? Can you at least clarify that much? This vague talk is driving me insane!
At that moment, Salamander felt a sense of alienation, as if her siblings had abandoned her to play in a game she wasn't invited to join.
"Salamander," Grom said, noticing the frustration building in her expression. His voice was calm and reassuring. "Don't overthink it. There are some things you will come to understand in time."
His tone carried a hint of consolation, as though he was trying to soothe his sister's irritation.
Having grown up together, Grom was well aware of Salamander's fiery temperament and stubborn nature. He knew that if he didn't tread carefully, she might spiral into anger or despair.
"Sigh… is that so?"
Salamander scratched her head, clearly still confused but willing to let the matter rest for now.
Grom nodded, his voice steady. "For now, there's no need to think too deeply about these matters. Everything will become clear soon enough. Until then, trust me."
Though Grom himself wasn't entirely certain why Salamander hadn't yet been blessed by their mysterious benefactor, he felt it was best to avoid pushing the topic further.
"Alright," he said, breaking the conversation off. "Let's leave it at that for now. We need to regroup with Ventini and Sylph. There's much to discuss and plan for the future."
"Fine."
Salamander didn't argue and followed him as they left the area.
---
A Scene of Madness
As they stood on a hill overlooking a human settlement, the sounds of chaos filled the air. Below, humans had fallen into a frenzy, their crazed laughter and violent screams echoing.
Their eyes were wild, filled with an unnatural light that reeked of madness.
To Salamander and Grom, the humans were enveloped in a dark, malevolent energy. The aura of corruption was so overwhelming that even glancing at it made Salamander's heart race. A sense of impending insanity gripped her.
"Salamander!"
Grom's sudden, forceful shout snapped her back to reality.
"…"
Blinking rapidly, Salamander steadied herself, her fiery gaze now filled with alarm.
"What… is this?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. "Is this the power of the Evil God? Just seeing humans touched by it is enough to…"
She trailed off, unable to find the words to describe the oppressive despair that had washed over her.
For the first time, Salamander truly grasped the enormity of the Evil God's power. It wasn't just a matter of strength—it was a force that seemed to warp reality itself, dragging everything into its suffocating grasp.
"Salamander," Grom said gently. "Now you see why this world is doomed. This is not something we can fight against."
"…I understand now."
Her voice was quiet, her usual fiery confidence dimmed.
Though Salamander had always been wary of the Evil Gods, she had never imagined their power would be so overwhelming. Now, confronted with the truth, her bravado seemed almost laughable in hindsight.
"Grom," she asked after a moment of silence, her tone cautious. "This 'His Majesty' you speak of—are you saying he's stronger than the Evil God?"
Grom's response was immediate and resolute. "Salamander, comparing His Majesty to an Evil God is an insult to His Majesty."
"Evil Gods, Outer Gods, Old Gods—they are not equals. Evil Gods are the lowest, rotted and corrupted beyond recognition. They lack the strength to stand against His Majesty."
Grom's words were filled with an unshakable confidence that left Salamander momentarily stunned.
What in the world had her brother gotten involved with?
"Let's go," Grom said, cutting through her thoughts. "We need to find Ventini and Sylph and make preparations. There's no time to waste."
"…Alright."
Though she nodded, Salamander couldn't shake the nagging questions in her mind. What exactly had Grom and her siblings discovered? And what kind of being could inspire such reverence and confidence, even in the face of an Evil God?
---
As the siblings left, the humans below continued their frenzied acts, oblivious to the fact that they were already consumed by corruption. Unbeknownst to them, their descent into madness was a prelude to complete annihilation.
Salamander glanced back one last time, her fiery gaze filled with both pity and determination. Whatever lay ahead, she was ready to face it—alongside her family.
[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! Only $5 per novel or $15 for all!!] [www.p@treon.com/Mutter]
[+100 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[+5 Reviews = +1 Extra Chapter]