đ Want Early Access & Bonus Content?
"Loving this story so far? You can read ALL chapters RIGHT NOW by joining my Patreon!
â¨Â Unlock instant access to the full completed novel
â¨Â No waiting for daily updates
⨠Support your favorite degenerate author (that's me!)
Only $5.99 for the full experience!
đ Check my profile for the Link!!
Free readers - don't worry, I'll still be posting daily updates here. But Patreon members get the VIP treatment!
Your support helps me create more wild stories like this. See you on the dark side! đ"
================
Ehit was ecstatic. He was finally getting the vessel he deserved.
Even now, remembering what happened 300 years ago made his blood boil. He had found Aletia, a suitable vessel for himself, and used the power of the Holy Church to steadily corner her. Finally, he had even gained control of her parents; it was as if he already had Aletia in his grasp. Or so it should have been. Aletia's uncle, Dienleed, had realized Ehit's plan and hidden her somewhere unknown. He had Alv possess a body and search its memories, but not only was Aletia's hiding place erased, so too were the memories of Ancient Magic. Aletia's trail had completely vanished.
However, now he even considered that to be his divine fortune. Aletia certainly possessed sufficient power to be a vessel for a god. But Aldias was born with talent far exceeding Aletia's. When he received Alv's report and confirmed it with his own eyes, he couldn't help but let out a joyful roar on the spot. In that moment, Aletia's existence became utterly irrelevant to Ehit. He simply continued to wait for the vessel to be complete. He had waited for hundreds of years. He thought an extra ten or twenty years would pass in an instant, but he never imagined the frustration of having something he desired so deeply right before him, yet unable to grasp it, would be this intense.
But that would end today. Aldias, guided by Alv, moved to the position directly beneath him. At that moment, Ehit leaped towards Aldias.
"Heheheh, hahahahaha! Finally! Finally! How long I've awaited this day!!"
In a world of jet-black, engulfed in darkness, Ehit let out a roar of joy. This was the inside of Aldias's body, literally the spiritual world where his soul resided. Ehit, attempting to infiltrate Aldias, had succeeded in entering Aldias's depths without any resistance, thanks to Alv's prior explanation.
"Heheheh... No, calm down. I haven't completely taken control yet. Once I find his soul and utterly destroy it, this body will be mine."
For now, perhaps thanks to Alv's words, he showed no signs of resistance, but if he knew Ehit's true nature, he would surely resist. Ehit didn't think for a moment that he would lose, but his opponent was Aldias. Even if he didn't lose, his precious body might not escape unharmed.
"...But where is the soul?"
Ehit looked around, but couldn't confirm anything resembling a soul. A human soul was the only entity that shone in a spiritual world enveloped in darkness. Even the most evil person, as long as they were "human," would be no different.
"Hm? Is that...?"
Amidst this, Ehit's eyes fixated on a single point. The glow of a soul, though with slight variations in color, mostly emitted a white radiance. But this one was black. A pitch-black soul, utterly devoid of the concept of white. However, it wasn't that the soul was tainted or corrupted. To illustrate, it was a jet-black so pure it couldn't be stained by anything, yet it dyed everything, like a cloudless night sky, or a flawless black diamond.
"...Magnificent."
Even through the eyes of a god like Ehit, its beauty was breathtaking. It was a treasure so exquisite that he wished to simply take it with him.
"It's a little hesitant to destroy this... but it's necessary to completely take control of this body. It can't be helped."
After a moment of hesitation, he reached out to Aldias's soul, deciding it was irreplaceable for his vessel. And the moment Ehit's hand touched the soulâ
"...Huh?"
Before Ehit's eyes, a darkness that seemed to reach the heavens appeared.
"!"
Ehit involuntarily withdrew his hand and recoiled. Then, the darkness that should have been before Ehit's eyes vanished, as if it had all been an illusion.
"W-what was that sight just now...?"
Ehit was confused by the unexpected turn of events, but he had one idea about the current phenomenon. A soul was the very core of a person. It represented their character, their life... and the magnitude of their power. If, hypothetically, soul met soul, the stronger soul would try to devour the weaker. In other words, the sight Ehit had just witnessed could be said to be a visualization of the power difference between his own soul and Aldias's soul.
"Impossible!?"
Ehit's scream echoed. And it was only natural. He was a god. Being overwhelmed by a mere human was unthinkable. However, in reality, Ehit was overwhelmed by Aldias's soul. That explained everything.
"What's wrong? You seem quite flustered."
"!?âY-you! Why are you here!?"
As Ehit was in a state of confusion, he suddenly heard someone's voice from behind him. He hastily turned around and saw the person, his eyes wide in astonishment.
"Why... even if you ask me that. This is my world. Is there a problem?"
The person standing thereâAldiasâreplied casually, tilting his head slightly. Anger welled up at the retort that seemed to deliberately rub him the wrong way, but he just barely managed to suppress it. Perhaps the presence of an intruder like himself had caused the original owner of the body's consciousness to also enter this spiritual world.
"...No, I apologize. I was momentarily confused by an unexpected event. I imagine a person as shrewd as you already understands, but I amâ"
"Ehit, the God of Humans. Though you're called the Creator God and worshipped by humans, in reality, you're a wicked god who sees the people of this world as mere pawns in a game... right?"
"...It seems I don't need to explain... How long have you known?"
Ehit had tried to maintain the facade of a benevolent god to avoid unnecessary hostility and troublesome situations, but upon hearing Aldias's words, he seemed to decide it was no longer necessary and directed a sharp gaze at him.
"From the beginning. I've never once worshipped you."
"...I see. So Alv was a failure from the start, then... Then why didn't you reject my descent? Surely you didn't believe I would truly save the demonkin?"
"No, I never thought anything so convenient. If I had refused, you would have harmed the people, wouldn't you?"
"Ah, I see. As always, you're a worthless one, caring for your nation and your people. Your power is commendable, but that aspect is regrettable... Well, for me, only the vessel is necessary; everything else is irrelevant."
"But you couldn't take it. You flinched the moment you touched my soul. For a god, how pathetic."
"Youâ!"
Ehit had surely witnessed the moment Aldias touched his soul. A faint but unmistakable smirk, as if openly mocking Ehit, appeared on Aldias's face. In response, Ehit's calm demeanor vanished instantly. Rage emanated from his entire being as he roared at Aldias. To Ehit, humans were nothing more than game pieces for his amusement. Even Aldias, whom he acknowledged as a vessel, was no exception. To receive mockery from such a being was an unbearable humiliation for Ehit.
"You mere human! Die regretting insulting me, a God!!"
Ehit aimed his palm at Aldias. What Ehit sought was only Aldias's body. The state of his mind was irrelevant. Although he had been astonished by the magnitude of Aldias's soul earlier, he could certainly destroy it by continuously sending power over time. However...
"What!?"
Ehit launched a spell at Aldias, but when the flash of light illuminating the darkness subsided, Aldias stood there as if nothing had happened.
"What did you do!!"
"What did I do? You should know best, shouldn't you?"
"What...!"
"...I've always wondered why you seek human bodies."
Gods cannot directly interfere with the terrestrial world. Hence, they seek vessels. This is written in all the books of this world. Alv himself told him so directly. However, if they cannot interfere, then why can they possess vessels on earth? Furthermore, if they possess divine power, there should be no need to painstakingly select a vessel. There should be no need to search for hundreds of years. Yet, Ehit had indeed waited.
"I suspect that you gods can interfere with this world even without a vessel. But without a vessel, you cannot fully exert your magical power on this land."
"!"
Magical power is generated endlessly over time from the human body and is possessed by all races in Tortus except certain demi-humans. And the more talented one is, the more magical power they can harbor within their body.
"So, you wait, don't you? To seek a vessel that can withstand even your own magical power."
"..."
Aldias's conjecture was almost entirely accurate. To be precise, there were hindrances to the exercise of magical power outside the divine realm. The earlier magic probably didn't even reach half its original power. Of course, even if it couldn't be used at full power, it was still a spell cast by a god. If one were to take a direct hit, there would be no escape.
"Did you never imagine? That I would be unaffected after receiving your power, even if weakened. Did you never imagine? That I would interfere with souls. Did you never imagine? That I, a God, would be pressured by the soul of a mere 'human'."
"!"
At that moment, Ehit finally recognized the being before him not as a mere pawn, but as an enemy with the potential to harm him. The next action Ehit chose after making that judgment was to escape from this place.
(I misjudged! His power already reaches that of a god! I have no chance of winning here!! However, if I can just get through this, I can do anything!)
He had waited 18 years for this vessel, but even if he retreated now, there was still a chance. As long as Aldias existed in this world, there would be endless opportunities. More than anything, there was no need to directly confront him to seize the vessel. He knew all of Aldias's weaknesses.
(...I'll kill him. I'll destroy his precious people... the demonkin! I'll take his body this time, after he's lost everyone he should protect and fallen into despair!!)
Aldias cared for the demonkin people above all else. The sight of them being harmed would be the greatest torment for him. Ehit suppressed his boiling rage and attempted to flee. However, Aldias was not so naive as to allow that.
"I wouldn't let you escape."
The moment Aldias softly murmured, countless lines shot out from the darkness towards Ehit.
"What!?"
With a high-pitched metallic clang, they stretched in a straight line and instantly coiled around Ehit, binding his soul.
"Wh-what is this... chains!?"
Ehit, initially confused by what seemed to blend into the surrounding darkness, squinted and realized that what was wrapped around him were chains. Chains dyed entirely black, just like Aldias's soul. However, an immense magical power emanated from these chains. A power that even surpassed Ancient Magic...
"'FĹŤjin Kokusa' (God-Sealing Black Chains). This is the first conceptual magic I created. Chains that bind only the target I designate. It should be quite effective against you, who are only a soul, wouldn't it?"
"Guh!?"
"God-Sealing Black Chains"âAldias's first conceptual magic. The only concept infused within it was, "I will absolutely not let you escape." Gods did not possess physical bodies; they were beings of pure soul. Therefore, even if a body decayed, the god themselves did not die. That was why Aldias had created this conceptual magic. To restrain and bind a god's soul, and then to utterly annihilate that soul. The chains were an ethereal artifact constructed entirely from magical power. Ehit desperately struggled to break free, but the chains did not loosen in the slightest. On the contrary, their constricting power began to increase.
"Stop your futile resistance. These chains steal the target's magical power and grow stronger. You, who possess no physical body, have no means to resist."
"Impossible!? When did you use magic!?"
Even the most basic magic would cause a slight fluctuation in the surrounding magical energy the moment it was was activated. Since entering this spiritual world, he hadn't felt any magical fluctuations whatsoever.
"The moment you entered me. I had already activated the magic and kept it on standby around you. That's all there is to it. Did you really think I wouldn't take any precautions, knowing you'd willingly enter me?"
"!?âDamn it!!"
Aldias had taken every conceivable countermeasure for this very day. Two things, in particular, he was wary of. First, the possibility of his body being taken. Second, allowing Ehit to escape if the body possession failed. The first was self-explanatory, but the secondâif he somehow escaped, things would undoubtedly go terribly wrong. That's why he needed to crush that possibility definitively.
"Give up. While you were reveling in treating people like toys, we continued to gain strength and wisdom."
"...What!?"
Ehit, still bound by chains but glaring at Aldias with hatred, felt an ominous presence behind him and shifted his gaze. He caught sight of the entity there and let out a gasp of astonishment. Behind Ehit... a darkness that reached the heavens spread out. It was exactly the same as what he had seen when he touched Aldias's soul earlier. Then, the darkness, which had been flickering like flames, gradually converged, beginning to take shape.
It wasâlike a shinigami delighting in hunting lives... It wasâlike a raging demon, consumed by hatred... It wasâlike a person lost in sorrow... It wasâlike a god who enjoyed destroying human emotions above all else...
It looked down at Ehit with black eyes filled with various emotions.
"Hiiih!? Let me go, let me go, let me go, let me go, let me go!!"
Ehit, feeling an indescribable terror, frantically struggled to escape the chains, abandoning all pretense. However, despite Ehit's desperation, the chains did not budge.
"I am a God!! I am the absolute being who rules this world!! And for you, a mere human...!? Impossible! How can this be possible!! I won't accept it!!"
"Whether you accept it or not, this is reality. If you, God, had not underestimated us humans, the outcome might have been different. You made a mistake... in everything."
The colossal, human-shaped darkness slowly extended its hand towards Ehit.
"Stop, don't come!! I am not wrong! There is no mistake in God! I am... I am...!"
"...That's enough, stop whining. While regretting your own choices..."
"âI don't want to... die..."
"Die."
A darkness vast enough to cover the world enveloped the tiny light.
"Congratulations on acquiring the vessel. How does it feel? Are there any problems?"
When the pillar of light descending from heaven disappeared, Aldias stood there, gazing at his own palms as if checking the sensation of his body. His master had finally obtained a vessel and descended to earth. Alv, trembling with joy, immediately knelt and bowed his head. Aldias had been looking down at his own body for a while, but he reacted to Alv's voice and caught sight of him kneeling.
"...How does it feel, you say?"
"?âEhit-sama?"
Despite having acquired the long-awaited vessel, his reaction was different from what Alv had imagined, making him tilt his head. ...Perhaps there was some inconvenience with the vessel? Or had he done something wrong? As Alv's face began to turn pale with anxiety, Aldias suddenly spoke.
"How does it feel? It's the body I've been with for eighteen years. There shouldn't be any problems."
"What!?"
Alv's eyes widened at Aldias's words.
"Y-you! Could it be Aldias!!"
"Indeed. We've been together for eighteen years, after all. It's rude to be mistaken."
"Impossible!? Unbelievable!?"
Alv's voice rose in confusion. But indeed, the person before him felt utterly devoid of divinity. Why?! He had clearly felt Ehit-sama entering Aldias's body. Then where was his master...?
"Ehit-sama!? What happened to Ehit-sama!?"
"Ehit? Oh, you mean this?"
Aldias held out one hand to Alv, palm facing upwards. Then, a faint flicker of light appeared in Aldias's palm. A weak, tiny flame, as if about to extinguish at any moment. To an outsider, it would seem like nothing more than a basic spell, but Alv immediately understood what it was. It was unmistakably a soul. But it was empty, a mere hollow shell. Yet, the faint divinity he felt was undoubtedly that of his master.
"Ehit-sama!? You! What did you do to Ehit-sama!?"
"He tried to do as he pleased with my body, so I dealt with him."
"Did you not hear me!? Ehit-sama was for the sake of the demonkinâ"
"That's enough. I knew your true nature from the beginning. You're not benevolent gods at all; you're just wicked gods who destroy what humans have built."
"!"
Alv was speechless at Aldias's words. If his words were true, the reason his master was in such a state was undoubtedly...!
(No, helping Ehit-sama is the priority right now.)
Alv's face turned pale at his own blunder, which had caused his beloved master such suffering, but his immediate priority was to ensure his master's safety. Though weakened, he wasn't completely dead yet. If he could return to the divine realm, he might be able to slowly heal.
"W-wait. Wait, Aldias. It seems you're mistaken. We are by no means such wicked gods. If we talked, you would understand. First, hand Ehit-sama over to me."
"..."
"A wise person like you should understand. Do you not believe the words of one who has watched you grow by your side since you were a child? I cherish you like my own son. Now..."
Aldias listened to Alv in silence, but slowly extended the hand holding the flickering light towards Alv.
"Yes. As expected, you are my proud, sensible son. This incident, too, must have surprised you, having another soul enter your body for the first time, right? Ehit-sama is benevolent. If you explain the situation, he will surely understand."
Alv desperately suppressed the mockery that threatened to surface at how easily Aldias believed him, and reached out to receive Ehit's soul. And the moment Alv's hand was about to touch Ehit's soulââ
"Foolish."
Aldias crushed the small light in his hand.
"...Eh?"
A sound like shattering glass echoed through the air, and sparkling, dust-like particles scattered from Aldias's fist, disappearing.
"Ehit-samaaaahhh!!"
Alv, who had been momentarily frozen with a stunned expression, immediately came to his senses and screamed.
"Ah!? Wait, no! Ehit-sama! Ehit-samaaa!!"
Alv desperately tried to gather the scattering particles, but of course, he couldn't collect Ehit's completely shattered soul that way. One by one, they vanished, and the very last fragment dissolved into thin air in Alv's palm.
"...I won't forgive you. I won't forgive you, you mere humanâ!!"
Alv, lamenting Ehit's complete disappearance and shedding copious tears, turned eyes of hatred towards Aldias.
"By the name of Aruvu, I command you! 'Kneel'!!"
The words from Alv's mouth were not mere words. It was "Godspeak," giving forced power to words by uttering a divine name. This power, further strengthened by invoking his true name, was an absolute command that no "human" on earth could defy. This power, capable of dominating all living creatures on earth with a single word, was undoubtedly worthy of bearing the name of a god.
âExcept for one.
"You first."
"!"
Alv, hearing Aldias's words, knelt on the spot and bowed his head. His eyes widened in shock and confusion that he had performed an action he had never done for anyone but Ehit.
"Impossible!? That was 'Godspeak'! But without invoking a name, why...!?"
"Godspeak" only took effect when one's own name was invoked. There was the question of why Aldias could use it, but more importantly, Aldias had not invoked his name. Yet, his own "Godspeak" had been nullified, and now he was kneeling disgracefully before Aldias.
"When I enveloped Ehit's soul, I saw his memories too. Most of them required divinity, but this one seemed usable to me. However, in the midst of battle, invoking one's name is like telling the enemy what you're about to do. So I reconstructed it in my own way... Well, if what you use is 'Godspeak,' then this is, let's say, 'DemonSpeak.'"
"Reconstructed it...!"
Alv was utterly speechless, losing his words, at Aldias's casual declaration. Indeed, "Godspeak" wasn't a magic exclusively for gods. However, if a human attempted to learn it, they would dedicate their entire life to it, and even then, most would likely fail. Yet, Aldias not only understood its structure and learned it with ease, but he even modified the spell.
"Don't mock me!? Are you saying that someone like you is above me!?"
Alv, trembling with rage, slowly but surely began to raise his body.
"Still a god, even if a rotten one, I suppose? To defy my 'DemonSpeak'... Well, it's just completed. Is it still too soft?"
As Aldias watched with surprise, Alv glared at Aldias from his kneeling position.
"I'll kill you, kill you, kill you, kill you, kill you!! I'll definitely kill you!! You alone, I will surelyâ?"
Alv's voice, full of resentment, suddenly stopped. Feeling something strange in his chest, Alv shifted his gaze from Aldias to his own chest. And he witnessed a black, glowing blade protruding from his chest.
"...Huh?âAh... Guuuaaahhh!?"
A moment later, Alv felt an intense pain and tried to collapse, but the piercing blade prevented him from falling.
"Ah... Guh... Y-you are..."
His face contorted in pain, he glanced back and saw the silver-haired maid who had earlier ushered Aldias into Alv's room.
"W-what are you doing... You...! Do you... know what you're doing...!?"
"Of course, I know. I'm delivering divine punishment to the bastard who's been freely using my uncle's body for 300 years... That's all."
"Uncle...? Y-you don't mean you!?"
The maid's figure, who wore a faint smile at Alv's words, blurred as if becoming indistinct, and a moment later, her true form was revealed. Golden hair that shone like moonlight, and eyes closer to crimson than red. She appeared to be a girl of about twelve, but the magical power she possessed far surpassed that of an ordinary person. Alv knew this girl well. There was no way he couldn't. Three hundred years ago, he had desperately searched for her for Ehit's sake, but never found her. The then-queen of the vampire clan.
"Why... why is Aletia here!?"
"Don't call my name so casually."
"Guh!?"
Aletia plunged the magic-formed sword deeper into Alv.
"A-Aletia... It's me, Dienleed. Don't you remember? No, even if you do, you must hate me terribly. However, listen... I, thinking of youâAgaah!?"
"Didn't you hear me say don't call my name? I know you're just using Uncle Din's body... and that Uncle's soul no longer exists in that body..."
Though her face was contorted in anger, an undeniable sorrow could be felt in her tone. Aletia already knew the true intentions behind her uncle Dienleed's actions. Everything he didâhurting her, sealing her deep undergroundâwas all to protect her. Her life, having awakened her unique magic at twelve and ascended to the vampire queen's throne at seventeen, had been far from easy. Yet, Aletia was happy simply with the existence of her people who relied on her and her uncle who constantly supported her by her side.
But that happiness crumbled in an instant. The fear from the people she had protected, and the despair of being betrayed by the uncle she trusted. Even now, remembering it made her legs tremble with terror. However, it was all an elaborate scheme orchestrated by her uncle to protect her from the divine clutches.
How turbulent must Aletia's heart have been upon learning the truth? The relief that she hadn't been betrayed. The sorrow of never being able to see her uncle again. And... the rage towards the unreasonable gods. That's why Aletia bowed her head and pleaded with Aldias. The plan was originally for Aldias alone to execute, but she wanted to be included. Her fervor must have been conveyed. Under the condition that she would immediately flee if she failed, Aletia's accompanying him was approved. And she waited patiently until that moment arrived. Now, finally, after 300 years, she could avenge her grudge.
"That body isn't yours... Give it back...!"
"Gwaahh!?"
Aletia forcefully pulled out the piercing blade. The recoil sent Alv's body sprawling onto the floor. However, contrary to Alv's agony, there was no bleeding from the wound.
"Wh-what... is this... that sword...!"
"My 'God-Sealing Black Chains' are ethereal artifacts. Changing their form is trivial."
As if to prove Aldias's words, the sword in Aletia's hand changed shape, transforming into chains that began to bind Alv.
"S-stop... Let me go...!"
Though words of resistance escaped his mouth, he couldn't move his body properly. Without any resistance, the chains bound Alv's limbs, and the tips of the chains pierced his chest. "God-Sealing Black Chains" was magic that only restrained and destroyed designated targets. Therefore, the physical body would not be harmed. The chains that entered Alv precisely bound Alv's wounded soul.
"Igyah, Aaahhh!?"
Alv's scream echoed. If the body was injured, healing magic would suffice. If the pain was severe, pain sensation could be blocked. However, damage to the soul itself could not be undone. He could neither heal, nor defend, nor even resist.
"W-wait! Please wait!! I beg you, help me!! I'll do anything! Anything I can do!!"
Alv, terrified by his inevitable death, pleaded pitifully with Aldias. There was no trace of divine dignity in his appearance. However, the chains gripping Alv's soul slowly began to tighten.
"Aaahh!! Th-that's right, Aldias!! Why don't you become a god too!? With your power, becoming a god isn't impossible! I'll even lend you my power! So...!"
Discarding all shame and dignity, he proposed to Aldias. He knew Aldias wouldn't be interested in such a thing, yet, in his desperation to live, he uttered the thought that came to his mind.
"H-honestly, I didn't want to do this!! I was just being threatened by Ehit! I'm merely Ehit's subordinate! I couldn't defy him!!"
Finally, he even made a statement that could be considered a betrayal of his own master, Ehit, but the chains showed no sign of loosening.
"N-no! I don't want to die!! Please! Help me! Aldias!! We're family, aren't we!? Please! Father... help meee!!"
As the chains continued to tighten, Alv began to beg for his life, appealing to Aldias's emotions. Aldias, however, neither raged nor disdained Alv's state. He simply continued to stare at Alv with a blank, Noh-mask-like expression. He felt no pity for the pathetic state of a being who had been the Demon King and a God of the demonkin for 300 years. If there was anything, it was only...
"That's enough... To think I've been troubled by someone like you all this time, I'm angry at myself."
It was merely anger at himself, the fool who had been so easily manipulated by such a being.
"Aldias, let's end this now."
"Yes, you're right. I wished you could have been more like a god in your final moments, but..."
Aldias raised his hand towards Alv.
"Stopâ"
Alv, realizing what Aldias was about to do, desperately struggled to stop him, but his bound body remained completely still...
âVanish.
He then made a motion as if crushing something. Then, a sound like shattering glass echoed from Alv, similar to when Ehit's soul was crushed.
"Ah..."
For a moment, Alv's body convulsed, then returned to its proper form, an inert corpse.
For a long time, the two pillars that ruled Tortus, Ehit and Alv, met an anticlimactic end at the hands of a single demonkin, Aldias.