Charges against you

Both Dagon and Kaisellin lay on the ground, unmoving. Valier, Reggie, and Nivea were all speechless, though Reggie's face was filled with excitement rather than shock or disbelief.

"You're all seeing the same thing I'm seeing, right? The mortal defeated Dagon and Kaisellin—both of them demigods. Is Iode's power comparable to a god's now? Has he become... a god slayer?" Nivea said.

Valier frowned as he watched Iode standing eerily still.

"It's your turn, Baran Valier," Iode said, before leaping from where he stood.

' I guess I really do have to deal with him. He's become more trouble than I thought… Now, show me your future. What actions will you take?' Valier thought, watching Iode approach at increasing speed.

"…Seems I don't even need to lift a finger. His body will deactivate those strange powers to protect itself," Valier said.

As Iode was about to reach Valier, he felt a strong pulse run through his body. Midair, he froze—then dropped like a stone. His body was stiff, unresponsive. He could feel the Enraged Dragon Man form fading, and his strength draining fast.

"What's happening? Why does fatigue weigh on my body so suddenly? I can't even lift a finger. Keuk! Is this the side effect of Clairvoyance of Flaw? Or the Enraged Dragon Man? Or is it Hades' curse? Whatever it is… it kicked in at a really bad time," Iode muttered, lying on the ground before Valier.

"Seems the heavens are on my side, mortal. Your transgressions just multiplied. You deserve divine punishment—from me," Valier declared in a thunderous voice.

"The charges against you are as follows. First: assault and battery. You dared to force yourself on a celestial and beat up his underlings.

Second: destruction of private property. You devastated this glamorous abode—my command center—and turned it into rubble and dust.

Third: murder. After defeating my underlings, you killed them in cold blood. Their deaths must be answered for.

Fourth: mass injury. A vast majority of my soldiers were wounded because of your childish tantrum," Valier pronounced.

' Though Dagon and Kaisellin are still alive, it would take more than one hit to put them down. But they're unconscious. Still… better to let him believe they're dead—might make him feel guiltier '. Valier thought.

"What a load of crap," Iode snapped. "You unlawfully detained me here against my will! You've got no right to make any accusations, you sorry excuse for a god."

"Insolent mortal. You breached our contract. Fighting the Flame Boars, Cyclops, and Cerberus was merely payment for damages. But this? What you've done now is punishable by death," Valier said.

He raised his hand and clenched his fist. Iode, helpless on the ground, instantly felt a crushing force grip him—squeezing his body and internal organs painfully.

"Gah!" Iode grunted.

"You shall rue this day, mortal. You wanted to go home so badly? Then allow me to show you what has happened in your world—especially to your tribe, the Wizard Tribe," Valier said in a raspy voice.

He lifted Iode into the air with invisible force, then summoned a large portal gate brimming with dark energy. Within it appeared the image of a young blonde woman clad in intricately crafted red armor, holding a glowing red lance in her left hand.

"Recognize this woman? Hehe."

"What about her?" Iode struggled to speak.

"She's your flesh and blood. Your first child—Boudicca, of the Valkyrie Tribe," Valier grinned.

"You know damn well she was born out of wedlock. I was raped by Queen Bathsheba while held captive by the Valkyries. Those days were a nightmare. I watched my friends—my people—get slaughtered by those warmongers. She's not my child. I don't consider her one," Iode said bitterly.

"Well, that 'illegitimate' child of yours has become the harbinger of doom for the wizards. You did well stopping the Valkyrie expansion during Queen Bathsheba's conquest—your legend still lives, and the site of your final battle remains protected.

However, your daughter pursued her mother's dream. She unified the magical nations... and sacked Wizardsville.

As of now, there are three world powers in your world: the Stickmen of the East, the Valkyries of the Northwest, and the Kaiju Nation of the South. The world you once knew is gone."

Valier showed Iode images from the portal—burning houses, wailing mothers, crying children, ruined cities, armed soldiers, and raging war.

"You're lying. The Wizard Tribe would never fall. The successors of the Original Five—they'll stop the Valkyries!" Iode shouted.

"Too bad they weren't born in time for the conquest," Valier replied.

"Lies! All of this is a lie—just another illusion to break me!" Iode yelled.

"Sorry, Methuselah. But you've lived too long for a mortal, from Heaters that is, from the golden realm it's different" Reggie chimed in.

"'golden realm'?" Iode asked.

"Oh, that's just another name we call Earth—the Golden Realm," Nivea answered.

"Indeed, mortal—Iode de Pandavatton. Your transgressions have been measured, and punishment shall be dealt. For your crimes, you—along with these two brats—will be sent to the Golden Realm.

Yes, I'm sending you to Earth.

You will serve as their chaperone. And every Earth month, you will give me a considerable portion of your essence as atonement. Don't worry. Even if you refuse, I have my ways," Valier said.

Nivea and Reggie moved to stand beside Iode.

"I should warn you—Earth is filled with all sorts of things dangerous even for devils of Dagon and Kaisellin's caliber. It'll be fun watching you struggle," Valier said in a melancholic tone.

"Yeah, yeah, we know already. Nicholas told us so much about humans—they sound fun," Reggie said, excited.

"And full of energy… especially the men," Nivea added with a grin. "I can't wait to have a taste."

"Well, this castle will be less rowdy once you two leave. Without further ado, spend the rest of your pathetic life in a distant world," Valier said, waving his hand.

A massive, dark, fiery portal opened and surged toward Iode and the twins, swallowing them whole.

"Peace and tranquility… at least for now. Let's rebuild what this insolent mortal destroyed. He'll repay me—with his essence," Valier muttered. "And you two—get up. You're such disappointments..."

---

Alternate Dimension...

In another realm, a dark portal opened. The demon twins popped out and landed gracefully on their feet. Iode, however, shot out like a shooting star—crashing face-first into the ground.

"Hard landing, are we, Methuselah?" Reggie teased.

"Whoa... Earth is colorful! Just like the stories said," Nivea said, eyes wide with excitement...