"Thread of what now?"
Zun looked up again.
That shimmering thread, dark red, glowing faintly in the sky like blood on silk pulsed above him. Beautiful. Terrifying.
"…Bruhhhhh."
Then "she" appeared. Or rather.
The goddess of lust.
Sherls.
The road to where he died disappeared, replacing it with a grass field.
Zun was amazed"woahh"
She floated lazily in the air, smirking like she owned the stars. "All of this is inside my domain," she said proudly, puffing out her cheeks like a child who wanted praise. "I was sad, you know. You died right away when you gazed upon me . But, well, mortals do tend to die when they look at a deity." She crossed her arms with a dramatic pout.
Zun narrowed his eyes. "So I died because of you? Great. Thanks. I don't have a job anymore."
She blinked. "Huh? You're happy? I thought you'd go mad, scream, maybe… I dunno…" She touched her cheeks, blushing. "Beg me for forgiveness, then hug me and tell me I'm pretty and divine and—" she suddenly swayed her hips, teasing, "—beg me to kiss you\~."
Zun's face went blank.
What the fuck is wrong with her.
Then something clicked. Something she'd said earlier.
"Mortals die when they gaze upon a deity".
Wait… did that mean—
"So… am I gonna die again just from looking at you right now?"
Her gaze sharpened, turning ice-cold for a second. "Die to what?"
"I'm looking at you. You're a deity."
In an instinctive motion, Zun raised his right hand—and morphed it. His flesh twisted, turning into a grotesque Dweller's claw, the one he copied from his ability true blessing.
But it fizzled.
The transformation was immediately neutralized by the glowing symbols in the air around them.
"What the—? It's not working."
Sherls's eyes widened. "Whoa! You've got an ability now, huh? ♡ That's kinda hot." She twirled a finger. "But don't worry, cutie. You're not gonna die here. This is my domain. A dream domain. You're actually safe here."
She flicked her fingers dramatically, and hearts sparkled above her.
"But that means I don't get to kiss you in reality," she sighed, pouting like a kicked puppy.
Zun blinked. "What the fuck?"
Then his tone shifted, serious again. "Wait… are you the one who drew that symbol on the ceiling? When I reincarnated into this messed-up world?"
She smiled, touching her cheek with pride. "Yaaasss, baby\~ That's my protective sigil. Remember that night when that night Dweller couldn't get in? Only scratched the window? Yeah, that was me keeping you alive,well I did fall for you and followed you though your reincarnation." She did a ridiculous peace sign and winked.
"Oh. So that's why it didn't get in.. but I'll file a report on you stalking me."
"Yasss\~" she said again, way too proud of herself "But i ain't stalking just following my darling♡"She pouted.
Zun squinted. "Let me guess… are you also one of the Outer Deities? The ones that sealed Kayaks, the true creator?"
Her whole vibe changed instantly.
"HELL NAHHHH. He's my fucking besprendo! I'd never betray him!" she shouted, then giggled, twirling again midair. "Besides I was once a boy, My original name was Eli."
Zun turned to stone.
... Is she fucking joking right now?
"Nope!" she said, sparkling. "I can hear your thoughts, hehehe\~"
Zun turned into a stone and cracked into tiny pieces.
"eh?"
She burst into full-on chaotic laughter, kicking her feet in the air like a cosmic maniac.
---
TO BE CONTINUED