Jack turned and froze, his heart pounding in disbelief. Standing before him, cloaked in an aura of dark majesty, was Erebus, the god of life and death. The figure's presence was overwhelming, a paradoxical mix of ethereal grace and malevolent power.
"How is this possible?" Jack's voice quivered, barely a whisper. His fingers twitched involuntarily, as though bracing for an unseen blow.
Erebus chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that reverberated through the space around them. "I'm surprised you managed to subdue . Well, I suppose Olion, that insufferable brat, was correct about you." He stepped closer, his movents slow and deliberate, his hands clasped behind his back.
The god's cloak fluttered, defying the stillness of the air. It seed carved from the very essence of darkness, its edges shifting and curling like tendrils of smoke. Patterns of crimson and gold shimred across the fabric, flickering like flas, alive and defiant.
Jack's gaze lingered on the imposing figure, confusion etched across his face. 'How is he here? We're one now… aren't we?' he thought, but no answer ca from within. His connection to Erebus felt silent, distant.
"Don't look so perplexed," Erebus said, his tone laced with amusent. "The binding is complete. You succeeded in becoming the principal soul of this body. In essence, you are in control now." He sighed, the sound heavy with disappointnt. "Still, to think those fools managed to weaken to such an extent…" His eyes narrowed as fleeting mories of past battles flickered across his mind.
Jack's confusion deepened as Erebus' words sank in. Yet, beneath the uncertainty, a flicker of resentnt stirred within him. "If I'm in control, what are you doing here?" he asked, his tone sharp, his cold gaze fixed on the god.
Erebus' lips curled into a smirk. "You may resent all you like," he said, "but it changes nothing. We are bound now. I cannot harm you, and you cannot harm . We are one and the sa, whether you like it or not."
Jack's eyes darkened, his disdain evident. His previous encounters with Erebus and Olion had cented his belief that gods were cruel beings, playing with mortal lives as though they were re pawns. He buried his resentnt deep, unwilling to let Erebus see the full extent of his thoughts.
"So again," Jack said, his voice cold and unyielding, "why are you here?"
Erebus' smirk faded, replaced by a calm, unreadable expression. "I ca to warn you," he said simply.
Jack's brows furrowed. "Warn ? About what? I already know the gods will co for because I have your soul within . What else is there to warn about?"
Erebus chuckled, shaking his head as though amused by Jack's naivety. "You're still as naive as ever," he said. "There is much you don't understand, much you refuse to see." He turned his gaze to the distance, his expression thoughtful. "You believe the world is crooked, that the gods are cruel. You're not wrong. But you've barely scratched the surface of what that truly ans."
Jack's frown deepened, his fists clenching at his sides. "I don't need a lecture," he snapped. "I already know this world is broken, and the so-called gods are no saviors. They're tyrants, playing with our lives for their amusent."
Erebus' gaze snapped back to Jack, sharp and penetrating. "You speak of truth, but truth is rarely so simple," he said. "Good and evil, hero and villain—these are constructs shaped by perception. Everyone believes they are in the right, driven by their own sense of justice. The masses decide what is right and wrong, and those who oppose them are branded villains."
Jack t Erebus' gaze, his anger simring beneath the surface. "What are you trying to say? That I should just accept this?"
Erebus shook his head. "No," he said. "I am saying that only those with the power to stand against the entire world can truly change it. And power is not handed to the strongest, the wealthiest, or the smartest. It is seized by those willing to do whatever it takes."
Jack stared at the god, his mind racing. Erebus' words carried a weight that was impossible to ignore. Yet he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this encounter than re philosophy.
"Enough with the speeches," Jack said finally, his voice tinged with impatience. "If you have sothing important to say, then say it."
Erebus chuckled again, a dry, humorless sound. "Very well," he said. "The gods are already moving against you. They won't co themselves—not yet. Instead, they'll send their agents, mortals empowered by divine blessings. They will hunt you, and they will not stop until you are dead."
Jack's expression hardened. "I already expected that," he said. "What else is new?"
Erebus' gaze darkened, his tone turning grave. "Your soul is weak," he said. "The balance of life and death has shifted, and the realm of souls is in turmoil. If you do not act, you will die—sooner than you think."
Jack's heart skipped a beat. "Weak soul?" he repeated. "What does that an?"
Erebus fixed him with a piercing stare. "It ans the damned are already coming for you," he said. "You've felt it, haven't you? The whispers, the laughter in the shadows?"
Jack opened his mouth to deny it, but the words caught in his throat. A cold chill ran down his spine as faint voices began to echo in his mind. They were faint at first, like distant whispers carried on the wind. But they grew louder, more insistent, until they were a cacophony of shouts and laughter.
"Yes, yes! That bastard will join us this ti!" one voice cried.
"Demon! You don't deserve to live!" another snarled.
Jack clutched his head, his knees buckling under the weight of the voices. Despair flooded his senses, a deep, all-consuming sadness that made him question everything. For a brief, horrifying mont, he felt an overwhelming urge to end his own life.
And then, as quickly as it had begun, the voices stopped. Erebus stood before him, his hand outstretched, his expression grim.
"This body still holds divine power," Erebus said. "It has been protecting you, shielding you from the damned. But that protection won't last forever. If you don't act soon, those souls will consu you."
Jack's breaths ca in ragged gasps as he struggled to steady himself. "What do I have to do?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Erebus' eyes glinted with an inscrutable light. "You must consu the soul of a being with divinity," he said. "Only then will your soul grow strong enough to withstand the damned."
Jack stared at him, a mixture of fear and determination in his eyes. He didn't know what lay ahead, but one thing was clear: his fight was far from over.
********
Jack's eyes widened, shrinking with alarm as Erebus's words echoed in his mind. The god's grim warning had struck a chord deep within him.
"So... what do I do?" Jack finally asked, his voice steady, but the dread clawing at his heart was unmistakable.
Erebus studied him for a mont, his lips curling into a sardonic smile. "To think you'd make such a fine actor," Erebus said, breaking into a low chuckle. "Just a few days ago, you were craving death's sweet embrace, and now you're asking for a way to live? Intriguing. Good. At least you're not so weakling ready to abandon his goals the mont things get complicated."
Jack sneered in response, his cold deanor masking the storm brewing within. "It makes no difference. I have one goal—only one. And that's to see this crooked world erased. I can achieve it in two ways, and death is one of them. But," he paused, a shadow of a smirk creeping across his face, "maybe you're right. Maybe I just want to have a little fun before the end."
Erebus's gaze glead with dark satisfaction. "Fun, you say? Oh, you'll have plenty of that soon enough. Trust ," Erebus replied, the faintest trace of amusent coloring his tone. Then his expression hardened. "But let be clear: killing a divine being with your current strength is a fool's errand. You might as well hand yourself over to them and save them the effort."
Jack clenched his fists, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He felt cornered, like a caged animal staring down the barrel of inevitability. "That's exactly what I'm saying," he growled. "I can't fight a divine being as I am, and I sure as hell can't train properly while this curse hangs over my head. So, what am I supposed to do?" Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire
Erebus observed him silently, his expression unreadable. Jack's frustration mounted. The thought of being shackled, unable to progress toward his goals, gnawed at him. He wasn't one to tolerate weakness—not in himself, not in others. He needed a solution, and he needed it fast.
The mory of his battle with Zamazo flashed through his mind. Even then, the odds had been stacked against him. Without the Book of Death, victory would've been impossible. The book had turned the tides, but it had co at a steep cost.
Jack recalled the massive drain on his soul essence. The previous encounter had cost him more than five hundred thousand soul essence points. If it weren't for Naon's untily demise and the subsequent replenishnt, he wouldn't have lasted long enough to broker a deal with Zamazo.
Even now, the aftermath of that battle lingered. His once-impressive reservoir of soul essence had dwindled significantly.
[Soul Essence: 501,200]
He grimaced at the thought of relying on the Book of Death again. Its power was undeniable, but the price was equally steep. At this rate, using it recklessly would deplete him completely. Without soul essence, he would be vulnerable—utterly defenseless.
"You're awfully quiet," Erebus remarked, his tone almost mocking. "Thinking about your predicant, I take it? Trying to figure out how to fight your way out of this ss?" He leaned in slightly, his dark eyes boring into Jack's. "Let save you the trouble. The answer is simple—you can't. Not yet."
Jack's scowl deepened. "Then what's the point of this conversation? If you're just here to gloat or waste my ti, spare the theatrics."
Erebus's smirk returned, sharper than a blade. "Oh, I'm not wasting your ti. In fact, I'm about to do you a favor."
Jack arched a brow, skepticism etched across his face. Erebus rarely offered help without so ulterior motive. "A favor? Let guess—this is where you tell it's going to cost sothing."
Erebus chuckled darkly. "Not everything cos with a price, mortal. Well," he paused, tilting his head, "most things do. But in this case, consider it... an investnt."
Jack remained silent, his gaze locked on Erebus, waiting for him to continue.
"There's an item," Erebus began, his voice lowering, as if the very ntion of it carried weight. "Sothing ancient. Sothing powerful. And it's closer than you think. I can feel its presence in this place."
Jack's pulse quickened. "What item?" he asked, his voice laced with urgency.
"The item is the..."
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