"Hmmm..."
As Mira dispersed into thin air, vanishing like golden mist into the breeze, Deus' gaze slowly shifted eastward—the direction he'd been keeping mental tabs on for some time now. His glowing, soulfire-filled eyes narrowed.
'So... Lancelot.'
'Even with help, trash still manages to remain trash. How does one so utterly incompetent possess such rare affinity to soul?' He scoffed inwardly. 'Hopefully his wife is more sensible.'
Without another thought, Deus shot off.
'This body… barely three hours old. Malnourished, weak—still trembling from the damage of miscarriage. Even with my divine soul energy reinforcing its shell, it's a miracle it's held this long. Direct teleportation would shatter it completely. The void would devour it without effort. I need to move... carefully.' His small lips curled in subtle irritation, eyes burning like twin lanterns.
'Mira... you better not fail me.'
Moments later, he arrived.
The seven bounty hunters stood circled around a barely conscious Lancelot, now stirring weakly—his wrists still bound by soul-restricting cuffs. Deus observed in silence, his presence completely veiled from mortal senses.
'So... you finally broke through the illusion. Another second in that trap and I would've deemed you beyond redemption. A waste of divine effort.' He sighed softly.
Then, with the whisper of a god's breath, he unveiled his presence.
The atmosphere twisted instantly—like reality itself had been touched. The air grew heavier. The skies seemed to hold their breath. The bounty hunters' heads snapped toward the new presence. But what they saw—
A newborn child. Floating. Eyes aglow with divine light, skin faintly radiant, his body hovering without aid, untethered by gravity. Silent. Cold. Judging.
"What... what the hell is that thing?!"
"Is that... a child?"
"That ain't no baby. What sort of monster floats like that?"
"Some kind of cursed beast soul?"
"No way... Is that a... beast disguised?"
"Shit! That's not human. what the fuck is it!"
They have no idea what that thing was, but they were sure no matter how humane it looked it was definitely not human, no human baby should be able to do that, no matter how talented and if a prodigy they are... It doesn't make any sense...
Panic settled like frost in their veins. Logic screamed that this made no sense. Nothing in all their years of bounty hunting—of hunting anomalies—had prepared them for this.
Meanwhile, Lancelot's eyes widened with recognition and a flood of relief.
"It's him... It's God! God's here to save me!"
Scar grit his teeth, his hands trembling as the invisible pressure mounted.
"Don't just stand there! Attack!" he roared, forcing strength into his voice. Sweat trickled from his brow.
Swoosh!
Beast soul after beast soul surged forward — each one a powerful entity honed through years of battle and bonding, their attacks lighting the air with destructive brilliance.
But they never reached Deus.
Mid-flight, the attacks froze. Suspended like shattered glass paused mid-fall.
They hung there. Still. Helpless.
"No... No!" Scarlett suddenly gasped as her heart sank, her beautiful face ashen, terror flooding her chest as her legs buckled. "This can't be happening…"
The others felt it too.
One by one, they lost contact with their beast souls. The spiritual bonds are severed.
It was like having your arms torn off. The weapons they had relied on, the very foundation of their strength—went.
Now, they were nothing but superhuman bodies. Brute force without art. Power without purpose.
Then the pressure came.
Boom—!
Knees hit the earth.
Deus' aura surged like the breath of a dying star, washing over them in oppressive waves. The ground beneath them cracked and groaned.
"Such impudence," Deus' voice echoed, smooth and cold—far too deep and ancient for a newborn. "You mortals dare raise your hands against your god... and use my own methods against me."
He lifted a single glowing finger.
A thread of white light lanced from it and struck Lancelot's cuffs.
Crack—!
The shackles shattered instantly.
Lancelot inhaled sharply, soul energy rushing back into him like a long-lost breath. His strength surged. His aura reignited. He stood.
His eyes burned with vengeance as he turned toward the kneeling bounty hunters.
"Lord God," he said, seething. "Permit me to erase these worthless—"
Crash-!
He was crushed to the ground. The pressure Deus unleashed on him was merciless. Lancelot's bones creaked as he hit the dirt beside the very people he wanted to kill.
"You are the trash here."
Deus' gaze was sharp as blades. "You dare speak before me so soon after proving your worthlessness?"
The bounty hunters were frozen — minds reeling.
'What... what was this thing?'
How did Lancelot, an exiled Emperor, have ties to something that could tear their souls apart with a whisper?
And yet... in all that dread, one thing was clear:
They were going to die. Every breath they took now felt borrowed. If this being willed it, they'd cease in an instant.
But then...
Deus' gaze shifted—away from Lancelot and back to them.
"You need not tremble," he said calmly. "You are seedlings of Earth. My domain. I will not destroy what is still of use."
The pressure remained... but the intent behind it shifted. There was no hatred in his voice—only the firm weight of absolute judgment.
"You seven have potential," he said. "Potential greater than the traitor whose bounty you served. And unlike him... you have not yet sealed your fate."
The bounty hunters were too stunned to respond.
"I have a mission for you," Deus said. "Agree... and not only will your beast souls be returned to you, you will receive gifts far beyond what you've ever dreamed. Strength, technique, enlightenment... and a role in restoring what was lost."
He hovered above them like a silent sun, eyes glowing brighter now.
"You will follow my will... and aid Lancelot in reclaiming his Empire."
He paused.
"Resist, and you will fade. Not in pain. Not in fire. But in nothingness—forgotten even by fate itself."
Silence followed.
Even the wind dared not whisper.
***
A/N:
Congratulations to me for successfully signing my first contract, you can now vote not only powerstones, but also golden tickets too! Gifts would be very much appreciated as well.