Based on the vaporized area where the Grovyn once was, Dei guessed that it was not a very long battle though. Aloran, Amaya, and Moren all endlessly trained in the time they had, and the battle was very close before they did so. Now? The demon-kin didn’t stand a chance.
Heedless of his musings, Aloran walked closer until he stood just before Dei. It was odd, but Dei was around a foot or so taller than Aloran, despite the God being so much more powerful.
With his thin pointer finger, Aloran tapped the area over Dei’s heart, and Dei felt an electrifying warmth spread out from the point of contact.
“When you came to me, you were hopelessly lost, new to the world. Though I did little but provide a safe place for you to sleep, I would like to say it gave you the time you needed to raise yourself up. I would never claim to be responsible for your survival, but I am glad I was able to assist your path, what little I did.
“More than your survival, I am proud of your own subsequent actions. You were given refuge, and provided refuge to others in turn. I’ve seen your character, and it is one I find myself respecting. For this reason, I present you two options. The first option I lay before you is a simple blessing, one which will empower your ability to protect others, as your unique Slaughterer path requires.
The second option I present to you is for you to become one of my Supreme Inquisitors of the mortal plane. As a Supreme Inquisitor, you would act as my hands- Okay I’m running out of time so I’ll summarize.”
He said the last part in a rush, and Dei became acutely aware of the familiar spatial cracks forming around Aloran that he’d seen back in the Geometry Convergence. The difference now was the fractures led not to a void, but a brilliant white light shone through each, most likely of the Divine Plane.
“Supreme Inquisitor means you act as an enforcer in my interests of the Physical Plane when I ask you to. In return you’ll gain more power the longer you do so as I spend more faith for you. Uh, you can command my other inquisitors and almost nobody will be above you. I may pick a Grand Inquisitor though, the only position that would have a right to tell you what to do. Okay, you can decide if you want to do that while I bless some of my other followers.” Then he turned away from Dei, facing the remains of his Garden and addressing a beatle.
Dei sensed Aloran link minds with a few of the insects and he was able to catch the general gist of their conversation, as Aloran started handing out blessings left and right to all his most devout bug followers. He even chose one to become his Pope and various High Priests on the mortal plane. Normally he wouldn’t be able to sense anything magical outside his own body, so he suspected Aloran was purposefully doing something that sent signals into Dei’s own, perhaps even maintaining a connection with Dei so he could hear the conversations between God and worshippers.
Dei was again stunned to realize most of Alorans followers were not, in fact, true sapients. Aloran didn’t seem to mind though, nor did he judge harshly.
While Aloran did that, Dei thought about what he’d want to do. He could either choose a flat blessing, or become one of Alorans Supreme Inquisitors. He liked Aloran well enough and figured Gods in this new world had genuine power, so he’d most likely end up picking one eventually, might as well make it one he was close to, right?
Based on Alorans words about “Interference” with the blessing as well, it seemed like it would be much more difficult to gain a blessing from Gods within the Divine Plane, or those blessings would be much weaker. This was Dei’s one and only chance to gain an incredibly powerful connection to a moderately powerful God.
There were a few questions though, so he wanted Aloran to answer some before he agreed. Aloran, seeming to sense his desire to communicate, opened up a line to Dei’s mind as well. He still discussed plans with his bugs, but it seemed he had more than enough in his mental stats to answer a few of Dei’s simple questions.
“I’d intended to go back to Earth pretty much right after my battle with Edward. I’m close to figuring out how to teleport with Void and when that happens, Earth is just a stones toss away. Would my duties to your faith hinder my journey? Would I have to come back as soon as possible?”
“No, I can't imagine needing an inquisitor for a few more years. Maybe a decade. I just need you to kill enemies that might come hunting my followers when I become more well known.”
“Hmm. If I think your orders are morally wrong, do I have to do them?”
“You won’t be forced to and I can have some leeway. You’d only lose your position if you become super belligerent or rebellious against me.”
“Do I have to kneel and stuff to you?”
“I’d prefer if you didn’t, though praying to me would grant more strength to yourself in the long term.”
“So it’s just a good position that may grant more power, with some foreseeable responsibilities? And I can step down if those responsibilities become too much?”
“Yes.”
“Would I lose the power I’d gained if I did step down?”
“All but the initial blessing. I’m giving you that either way and it’s yours to keep.”
“Fair enough. Alright, I’ll become one of your Supreme Inquisitors”
As he agreed, Dei saw a new urgent notification, opening itself to him.
[Achievement Gained! Supreme Inquisitor of (Eternal Refuge)
The battle never ends. Even in death, the shield of the protector never falls, yet its enemies continue to pound at the gates. Defense is not the only tool in a guardians arsenal though, and to ensure the innocent are protected, blood must be spilled.
Serve as a Supreme Inquisitor for Aloran, God of (Eternal Refuge)
- Massive boost to abilities based around protecting those under your protection
- Aura of Divinity marking you as a significant member of your church
- Refuge affinity is 5% easier to learn and advance
- Undeath affinity is 5% easier to learn and advance]
He quickly scanned the notification, seeing it was everything he expected. The aura thing was cool too, and he expected it flavored his presence.
When it came to the (Eternal Refuge) as well, he didn’t get a single word from it, but a general feeling. It had parts of both the concept of Refuge and Undeath, which was shown in that it gave him boosts to both affinities.
Dei wondered if Refuge was angry at being shafted in their deal with Aloran changing his domain, or if it’d simply revoked the gifts it gave Aloran. Dei had a million more questions for Aloran, but it seemed he didn’t quite have the time as the glowing cracks around Aloran worsened.
The God finished up with his bug followers and quickly went to Fendrascora next. This time, Aloran did not beam the conversation into his head to eavesdrop on. It seemed that he wanted some privacy here.
* * *
POV: Fendrascora
“Fendrascora! I’d like it if you became one of my priestesses. It’s clear you greatly enjoy protecting that little garden you have, and my followers will need a new holy land. I have many plans for that, but they will be easier if I have you in my church.”
“What?!” Fendrascora exclaimed, “I am not worthy to be entrusted with your followers! They… they deserve someone better! Something safer!” It was true that she loved caring for the plants and bugs she had, but this was too much! They were so valuable to the God, his people, she couldn’t trust herself to be good enough.
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“I promise, you have it in you. As a show of my trust in you, allow me to give you this- something which you will keep even if you reject my offer.”
Fendrascora watched Aloran pull out a folding purple… thing from within his armor, floating it above his hand. She watched as he manipulated the magic within it and sent it towards her peripheral body. She had a slight idea of what it was, so she did not pull away when it flowed into her, and Aloran used his mana manipulation to break it apart within her, dispersing in her soul and granting her a new Skill.
“This is the Anchor of Geometry, created by Amaya herself in her attempts to shift space to find me again. It will help you, as it will grant you the ability to shrink and widen spaces at will. Use this to create a world within yourself. Before you thank me though, I only ask that you allow my followers into this world. They are weak, and not suited to survive on their own. They are not meant for battle, and I do not expect you to fight for them. I trust in your ability to escape and take them with you. I would feel much better if you were my priestess, but at the very least I ask that you repay the gift of spatial distortion with my followers’ continued existence.”
“I understand” Fendrascora spoke respectfully, back to using words. “I would be happy to become a priestess of yours, and happier to protect your followers. I thank you for this opportunity…”
When she thought about it for only a moment, what other option did Aloran have? Dei was going to leave back to his world soon, and that might cut him off from Alorans influence. If Aloran was cut off from all his followers, it might spell catastrophe for the budding God. Who else would watch the helpless worshippers?
Long ago, when she first planned an ambush on the humans, she’d spent hundreds of years watching the settlement rise. In that time, Fendrascora came to love the people. She loved observing their day to day lives, and cherished the time spent there. When she found out she was the cause of their deaths, she fell into a deep depression and was shortly thereafter hunted down and locked away.
This was… this was her chance. Her chance to prove she’d changed, that she could become the protector she always loved seeing in the village Shaman. It had not been very long since she’d escaped her prison, and the memory was not so easily washed away. She collected her garden and watched it grow, but knew that it was only a temporary patch for the hole in her heart.
She loved… being a caretaker. Being there for the little ones and watching them grow. The favorite part of her day used to be watching the little humans, the kids, splash around in the river, happily innocent and oblivious to the world.
She reached out first for her own garden, testing the limits of the Skill to compress space within her body. She would not risk Alorans followers, so she needed to know her limits first, which she found rather quickly.
When she was ready, she gently began to envelope all that was left of Alorans cave and his people, creating a small inner world of compressed space to store what they currently had. She would manage it well, keeping it all in check and protecting them.
She felt like crying as she saw them there, safely tucked away.
‘My own village… I won’t fail you this time, I promise. I promise…”
* * *
POV: Dei
He watched Aloran pull out what seemed to be a tesseract, some shapeless object folding in on itself, then disperse it into Fendrascora, who promptly shrank her own garden then Alorans into her body.
He wasn’t quite sure what they talked about, but he could sense waves of grief spilling out from Fendrascora.
“You okay?” he asked her, trying to make it private but knowing that Aloran could see through it if he wanted.
“The best,” she replied unconvincingly. He didn’t want to push her though.
“My time is almost over” Aloran said, and Dei could see he was correct as the flow almost fully obscured him. “With what I have, I will fix a few of your issues.”
He then reached out and grabbed the Decay Anchor Dei had tied into his soul, undoing Dei’s own work. Before the Egogorn could perish though, he stuck the anchor to the beast, and Dei saw the pain in its expression relax.
“Did you… make it independent? Can it just walk around without me now?”
“Yes.”
“I did not know that was an option…”
Aloran laughed. “Not for you its not, but I’m a God.”
“Well, that makes sense. Thanks for getting that.”
The Egogorn immediately dropped to the ground, lowering its head and kneeling before Aloran. Dei imagined it was probably swearing fealty to Aloran and spouting off as much gratitude as it could, but he heard none of it.
“One last thing Dei, there is another mark on your soul, one meant to lure you. I can see it was placed there by the two surviving demons, and it is an incredibly subtle one. I’ve been trying to locate its start and end in the time I have left, but not even I can do that with how fine they’ve made it. I see now why these two were left alive, as they are clearly specialized into information collection. I can’t explain everything, but once you finally finish Edward, I would highly suggest slaying the two demon-kin. The mark will eventually try and usurp your mind once its been ingrained and lure you into a disadvantageous position against many demon-kin, but it should dissolve if the ones who placed it perish.”
Dei felt a shiver go up his spine when he realized another mark was on his soul, one he didn’t realize had been there, or maybe he did. He hadn’t counted out exactly how many tracking marks [Good Samaritan] had picked up on, but it was in the hundreds. He imagined it would be very easy for a single one, especially a very sneaky one, to get lost among the crowd.
More pressing than that though, Dei shouted “Edward is still alive?!” and turned to look at the massive pit of destruction.
“How… HOW am I supposed to kill him?!” he shouted again and started planning on how to escape. Surely Edward wouldn’t be able to follow him all the way to earth? But maybe he would form a…
His thought was cut off by Aloran saying “Woah woah! No, he’s out of commission for the next few months, maybe years. I purposefully left him alive, as he is your responsibility I’m afraid. True, I could end the problem now as you’ve done most of the work, but it is times like this that can grant you the most personal growth.”
The light was all encompassing now, and Dei had to squint to even remotely make out Alorans form.
“I will be watching you, Dei. Me and my entire family are grateful to you, and we will speak again. One day, in your dreams, I will answer more of your unending questions. Until then, be well, live long, and grow powerful.”
Without even a pop to mark his departure, the cracks in reality sealed back up, and Aloran was gone, somewhere in a wild Divine Plane.
On his shoulder, Clever expressed a small amount of jealousy that he didn’t get a blessing like Dei or Fendrascora, but was happy for them anyway.
“Buddy I don’t think you’d use a boost to Refuge very well, you don’t do much defending of others.”
“Maybe…” he conceded noncommittally.
Dei rolled his eyes and smiled, but looked out again to the destruction.
The few vines left of the Grovyn were blackened, cracking, and falling apart, and none were left at the epicenter of Alorans divine attack. Looking around the edges of the new landmark, Dei saw it’d cut into the Bog cavern slightly, but that was left mostly untouched. The Lorpees were in the complete other direction from the attack, so they were fine as well.
He stepped to the edge, looking out and trying to spot Edward somewhere in the rubble, but couldn't.
The Egogorn stepped next to him, joining Dei in surveying the destruction. Its eyes were mostly on the Bog cavern though, and Dei guessed it would be returning to its home soon. It stared at him next, so he opened a line of communication with it.
“Thank you.”
“What for?” he asked.
“Not leaving me to die.”
“I brought the danger to you, it would be unfair if I’d let it kill you.”
“Others would have.”
“I’m me, that’s not what I’d do.”
“Good.”
They lapsed into silence again and Dei found his mind turning its words over in his head. Others would have let the monster die. Many creatures in this world had foreign ways of expressing emotion, so it was easy to say those emotions simply didn’t exist, but that wasn’t true.
‘What was the saying again? If a fish could scream, fishing wouldn’t be so popular? I can’t remember.’
He wouldn’t claim the moral high ground at all though. He’d definitely killed some monsters that felt emotions, but by acknowledging his actions and understanding what he did each time he killed something, he could stop himself from being the cause of more destruction than necessary.
“My name is Narami” the Egogorn- Narami- said.
“Nice to meet you, my name is Dei.”
“You as well. I should be returning to my home. I hope you succeed in your tasks.”
“Thanks, I hope you live a long and successful life.”
“Thank you.” Narami said, then jumped off the ledge and started making its way to the bog.
‘You know I’ve been thinking of it as a male or neutral, is it female? That name sounded a bit female to me’ he wondered, and studied its gait, hoping to get some information from the way it moved translated by Beastial Communication.
He couldn’t gather much, but Dei had a feeling the answer was neither. The walking skeleton was probably neutral.
‘I wonder what the criteria are for certain genders in this case. Fendrascora is a woman but she’s made of water? And this thing clearly has a skeleton, one that probably belonged to a male or female person before they died, but it's neutral. Hmm… very curious.’
He shrugged, then looked towards the epicenter again. Edward was bound to be around there somewhere and he wanted to make sure the man didn’t escape.
Jumping off the ledge, Dei started sliding down the hill to find and finish the enemy.