The spirit realm was as it always was.
Enoch flew through the golden space, which was now tinted red as he watched the space through the Angelbird's eyes.
Ahead, Jane's golden light flew through the space. The spirit realm always seemed unchanging, a constant cacophony of golden-white colours flowing impossibly, yet somehow she always knew where to go.
Enoch wished to ask her, but could not speak when controlling the bird. He decided it would be a topic of conversation after he survived his encounter with the saint's god.
After an unknown amount of time, Jane's light suddenly stopped. The pair hovered there still.
Enoch waited.
The saint's light seemed to be doing nothing, yet at the same time, it seemed as though she were waiting for something.
Eventually, Enoch noticed something. A white thread of silk appeared in front of him, as though waiting to be pulled upon.
"I'm sorry Enoch, but this is as far as I can take you." Jane's light suddenly spoke. "He will already be wondering why I am here."
Her spirit trembled, wondering whether the god was angry at her.
Enoch looked around confused. This didn't seem like some home belonging to a god.
But then, Jane's spirit floated around the thread in front of him, which seemed to be attached to the sky above.
"Pull on this thread, and you will be brought into the god's domain. If you return, then I will sense the presence of your Angelbird, and return to bring you back."
If.
Enoch noticed the word choice of the saint.
He was lacking in knowledge when it came to the spirit realm. Most people were, due to its many dangers.
The concept of domains was foreign to him. It seemed that today would be the day he would find out.
Enoch opened the beak of the Angelbird and pulled upon the thread.
As though he had drawn the curtains on the spirit realm, the golden shades swiftly faded away, making way for a new image to form before him like a painting.
The ground gave way to swirling oceans, with currents far too treacherous for any ship to sail. Ahead, the land rose, forming a minuscule island with only enough space for a single structure to stand.
It was a castle, which might have once been made from grey stone, but now had been bathed and stained red.
Enoch, still in the form of a bird, flew above the currents of the water, making sure he was not drawn in. Only after growing accustomed to the world did he realise that the ocean was red, as was the rain that fell from black clouds.
A voice called out to him, coming from the giant castle ahead.
"Godeater... Godeater..."
Enoch had started to regret his decision in coming here. The presence of a god weighed upon him, and it was powerful.
There was no hiding from it. Even in the form of the Angelbird, his true identity could be found.
With hesitant flight, Enoch flew the Angelbird to the edge of the island, where the castle towered over him. Once there, he activated Bodily Exchange with the bird.
His physical form appeared on the island of red rain.
To his surprise, he felt his status notify him.
[Passive Effect "Abyssal Instinct" Activated]
> physical and magical strength increased by 50%.
Instantly he felt a surge in his core which shortly spread throughout the rest of his body.
As his feet rested upon the cold grass, and the droplets of red rain fell atop his white hair, Enoch pondered.
The god is afraid? Is it because it is aware of what I did to Hvadis, the god of nightmares?
With every passing moment, Enoch found himself growing with curiosity. He was desperate to meet this god and figure out its nature, yet at the same time, he himself was fearful.
Still, with shaky steps, Enoch approached the giant double doors of the red castle, pushing them open with a creak.
He then stepped inside.
The interior of the castle was as one would expect. Grand, but ancient.
Paintings hung on the wall, ruined with scratches that obscured what might have once been painted upon them.
Two winding staircases lined both sides of the room, leading to a higher floor where another set of doors lay.
As Enoch climbed the stairs and approached, the presence of the god became heavier.
He knew that through that door, his next prey lay.
Enoch didn't bother drawing the sword from his waist. He knew that his true weapon lay within his skill: Divine Devour.
As he took in a deep breath and pushed the second door open, he was first hit with a gust of wind.
The giant throne room had a large window on the far side that had long since been cracked open, allowing the red rain and wind to blow inside. Across the floor of the room were puddles of the red liquid.
Right beneath the window was a throne, once silver, but now silked with the red substance.
Sitting atop the throne was a figure that many mighty men would struggle to look at.
Its form resembled a man, yet the man should have been long since dead. There was a hole on the right side of his chest, revealing his heart. From the heart spilled an endless fountain of blood.
Half of the man's head was missing, exposing his brain which too leaked with blood.
There was a mighty wound in his abdomen, revealing a core that glowed red like a dying sun. From the core, a red mist spilled from out of the wound.
The man was beyond death already, yet as he noticed Enoch entering the room, his head glanced up, and two bloodshot eyes stared at the vagabond prince.
"Godeater..." he said.
Enoch remained by the door.
He could tell that this being was the god. He contemplated devouring him there, and not wasting any time, or giving it a chance to fight.
Yet he felt no malice from the god. Instead, it felt as though the being wanted to talk to him.
"Who are you?" Enoch demanded brazenly, keeping his wits about him at all times.
"Khovar... I am Khovar."
Enoch had heard the name before. It was a name that not many people knew.
Khovar... the king who became addicted to blood.
The Rose Kingdom was a kingdom within the human continent. However, there were four other kingdoms that have existed ever since the great split.
Khovar was the first King of the Tornchest Kingdom, and though it has now changed names to the Lavender Kingdom, it is the weakest of the five human kingdoms even to this day.
Its weakness was due to Khovar's depravity. Rumours, though very old, mentioned that he had strung his entire family and closest allies on ropes and feasted on their bloods one random day.
"They said that you died, but instead you somehow ascended to godhood." Enoch voiced his thoughts, which were based on loose history.
"You would know about false death." The god's voice boomed, despite sounding croaky and weak.
For a moment, Enoch was left unknowing what to say. It seemed that the god had kept its eye on him.
Khovar remained seated, but continued. "Have you come to eat me, as you did Hvadis?"
"I have." Enoch admitted.
"Then do it. Though let me first thank you for getting rid of my mortal enemy. Now I may die in peace."