Confusion flickered across Jade's face, her eyes igniting with a soft white glow at their centers as she considered the creature's words. "And why do you think that?" she asked, a hint of skepticism in her voice.
The creature's response carried the weight of centuries, a testament to its vast, yet shadowy, experiences. "Even in my short time around and what I have heard, he has given parts of him for as long as he has existed for one reason or another, and I have never seen it not play out in his favor."
Pausing for a moment to let the gravity of its statement sink in, it then added, "If I were a guessing king, I would say you will die upon the summoning, and you will be the vessel for his summoning."
"But I suppose that isn't too much of my concern. However, I do believe you have the potential to assist me in preparing for the great coming."
The creature then shifted the topic, its voice sharpening with curiosity, "But first, tell me, were you the one who ripped a hole in Victur? One of my own? Were you the one who slit his throat open?"
Jade, feeling a surge of defiance at the creature's inquiry, clenched her fist. She lifted her gaze to meet the creature's, her eyes alight with a fierce resolve. "Yes, Yes I did. With the help of my new friends, we took down this monster that wanted to destroy everything we love. I regret nothing about it either."
"I see," the creature responded, its tone unreadable. With another snap of its fingers, the wound on its chest and the slice under its neck began to heal miraculously. Jade observed the creature, trying to gauge its power level or any hint of its capabilities, but it simply smirked back at her.
"Sorry, that won't work on me in your current state, so don't try too hard," it stated, dismissing her efforts to understand its strengths.
Jade, taken aback, realized she had inadvertently tried to sense its energy level, something she hadn't even known was possible to conceal. With more questions now swirling in her mind, she watched as the creature rose to its feet, a easy to see rage burning in its eyes.
"Don't worry about that for now, Food. For now, bask in your winnings," the creature retorted with a dismissive wave of its hand. With another snap of its fingers, it turned its gaze towards Victur. In a shocking display, Victur exploded into pieces, which then reformed into a small cube. The creature casually tossed this cube to Jade. "Here, as the victor of your fight.
It is tradition to eat your enemy and consume them to become stronger."
Jade's eyes widened in horror at the suggestion. "W-we don't eat people after we beat them, actually, and I don't want to eat such a disgusting creature!"
The creature, taken aback by Jade's vehement refusal, gave her a look of confusion. As she continued to express her disgust, a small eyeball popped out of the cube, scanning the surroundings in bewilderment. This grotesque detail only fueled Jade's determination to stand against such practices.
"I would like if you stopped invading my world so I might focus on getting ready for Ty to return and dealing with every other problem that is arising!" Jade stated, her voice firm with resolve.
The King paused for a moment before responding, the delay heavy with contemplation. "I am afraid that is not possible," he finally declared. His explanation revealed a world of complexities far beyond mere conquest.
"We can only become strong enough by consuming worlds, while the Angelic Race is too consumed in their own affairs and self-loathing. We aren't just seeking strength for nothing like they do. The great prophecy is upon us over the last 100 years, and the return of a great threat will require me back in my old form."
Jade's confusion deepened as she tried to untangle the creature's justification for its actions. "What are you talking about? How does this have to do with you murdering and trying to invade our planet?"
The creature's response was chilling in its clarity. "When Erebos, or whoever follows in his steps next, finishes unsealing the 12 universes, they will go back to war as the Devil God aims to destroy everything. I am simply seeking to become stronger and preparing for that time."
Its explanation laid bare a cosmic scale of conflict, where the fate of universes hung in the balance, driven by forces and prophecies far beyond the comprehension of most. "I hold nothing personal against the food I eat to become stronger, no more than you look at a meal as a way to stay alive."