Chapter 440 - 440: it has been a while

"Didn't I tell you... I am the absolute... Even death cannot hold me!" Derik said with a kind smile on his face.

He watched the face of the pawn, Blata turn red as he struggled for air. Tears rolled down his eyes and based on the dejected look in his eyes it was obvious he was trying something but the beyond was not responding to his calls. Since he has already reached his limit there is no reason for the beyond to waste any more time on him.

"It's heartbreaking right? Abandoned by the one you love and serve with so much vigor... Sad" Derik's eyes held no form of sympathy as he spoke.

He tightened his grip on the youth's throat and was just a moment away from ripping his head from his body but then a thought popped up in his mind.

At this point, Blata was no different from a normal man. The power of the beyond has left him and killing him won't bring him any benefits, so why not keep him. They are gods and mere mortals shouldn't be able to reach them. If they should create a church of their own, they should need a priest or someone normal people can relate with.

He could feel Blata was already broken and his faith in the beyond was crushed. This is the best time for him to come in and give the vibrant youth a new reason to live. A new reason to fight.

"That's enough for today" Derik sighed as he let go of the youth's throat.

With his own power, Derik was able to keep Blata afloat, leaving the youth a bit stunned.

"Cyrus please heal his injuries" Derik said casually leaving the other new gods stunned. Especially Typhoon and Spinx who bore a grudge against this man. 

Since Blata was well known around here and his popularity in the kingdom cannot be undermined, Derik saw him as the perfect candidate to become their first priest or pope. Whichever they decide.

Also, the youth knew about the inner working of the church and how to set it up. These are small issues Derik and the other new gods do not pay attention to.

Using basic telepathy, Derik conveyed his thoughts to the others and waited for their approval. This wasn't like the past where he could just enforce his will on the other hosts with force. This time all their lives were at stake and unless they work well with him and Cyrus their chances of survival are low.

It took a few seconds but after it was decided, Cyrus proceeded to flick his fingers, and Blata was completely covered in a golden light which slowly faded, alongside all the pain he felt and all the injuries he sustained.

"Why? Why are you helping me?" Blata was more fearful now when facing the new gods.

He realized everything Derik said was true, including how he fatally injured the beyond. That explains why the beyond is yet to show himself and deal with them. He could also tell that he was still able to fly because Derik was keeping him afloat with his power.

"Now that you have adopted the right tone when speaking to greater beings like us, I will give you a gift" Derik said as his death aura slowly surged into the youth's body.

Blata was terrified as a warm feeling spread across his body and he shut his eyes tight waiting for the pain to start before his death but after waiting for a while he felt no pain, instead, he felt like he was getting stronger. His purple eyes had turned darkish green just like Derik's and his white hair had streaks of black on it now. He felt like the strength which the beyond took away from him was returning but this strength was different. 

Derik's death aura gave him the feeling of an unstoppable spear which nothing can stop. For the first time in a long while, he felt invincible and was completely lost in the feeling of strength.

Pa!

"Don't be silly... No one is truly invincible..." Derik lightly tapped his forehead while he spoke. With the power of the beyond gone, Blata was no different from any other powerless human. Derik could read his thoughts easily. 

His eyes carried no hostility or hate, it was more like an elder brother speaking to his little brother.

"But you... You said you are absolute! Death is absolute... That's what you said" Blata gently rubbed his forehead while he spoke.

"Gosh!" Derik slapped his face.

"Death is inevitable... All living things will eventually die... Even gods die... The beyond can be killed... That's why I say death is absolute but that doesn't make me invincible... I can be killed too but I can't stay dead... If you have the power of death, it doesn't make you immortal or invincible, you can still be killed but the only difference is that you have no reason to fear death because death is on your side" Derik winked at him while he said the last part.

Blata was left stunned by these words and he turned to look at the other new gods who wore serious expressions on their faces. Shifting his attention back to Derik, Blata noticed Derik was frowning too.

They were all looking towards one direction and the killing intentions oozing out of them made him believe strongly that Derik was only toying with him back then.

Xiu!

Suddenly a blood-red spear shot through the skies, shooting towards Blata but Derik reacted quickly, pulling Blata behind him before reaching for the spear with his bare hands.

Boom!

Derik grabbed onto the spear before it hit, creating series of powerful shockwaves which forced Derik to retreat repeatedly. 

"YOU DARE SHOW YOUR FACE HERE? WHAT HAPPENED CREATOR? ARE YOU SO EAGER TO DIE?" Derik roared as struggled with the spear with furrowed eyebrows.

His vicious gaze was fixed on the young lady standing on the clouds with a similar red spear in her hand. Her cunning smile flared up the anger in the hearts of the new gods even more.

"it's been a while, Derik Angus, how is Demos doing?" She asked.