162 Gods and Dragons
"CURSED HUMAN CUB, WHY HAVE YOU COME TO MY DOMAIN?" Sumaru's voice thundered through the still night, his ancient wrath reverberating across the snowy landscape.
Hours had passed since Sumaru first laid eyes on the young man, and yet the ominous feeling gnawing at him refused to subside.
The human before him exuded an unsettling aura, one that disturbed the natural balance of his domain.
Sumaru had watched the human intently during those hours, hoping to discern whether the darkness that marked him was a mere anomaly or something far more dangerous.
He had allowed the young man to wander, observing his every action.
Sumaru even waited for the Dungeon of the Stars to manifest, its celestial light known to illuminate and purify those touched by darkness.
As the dungeon's ethereal glow bathed the landscape, Sumaru watched closely, searching for any sign that the light might cleanse the human of the darkness clinging to him.
But no such transformation occurred.
The darkness remained, unmoved by the dungeon's holy presence.
To Sumaru, this was no trivial matter.
The young man was not just marked by darkness—he seemed to be favored by it.
The very shadows clung to him as if he were their chosen vessel.
It was as if fate itself had decreed that this human was bound to be claimed by the darkness, his destiny already sealed.
'He's bound to die...' Sumaru thought with grim certainty.
The human was no significant threat to him, not with such a fate hanging over his head.
But Sumaru's concern wasn't just for the young man's life.
The darkness that marked him could bring ruin to Sumaru's own domain, spreading its corruptive influence like a poison.
Sumaru had seen what such darkness could do, how it could taint even the purest of places. He would not allow that to happen to his realm.
His eyes, glowing with an inner fire, bore down on the human with a mixture of disdain and resolve.
Sumaru knew what had to be done.
He would not allow the darkness to take root in his domain.
.....
As expected, his voice boomed like a thunderstorm, reverberating through the very air.
The fact that it was transferred directly into my mind via telepathy only made it worse, amplifying the impact.
If my endurance, power, and strength stats were any lower than they are now, I would've fainted on the spot, overwhelmed by the sheer oppressiveness of his voice, I almost lost my balance for a bit.
It wasn't just loud; it was like thunderclaps hammering directly into my brain, each word a bolt of lightning searing into my consciousness.
It felt uncomfortable, a relentless pressure bearing down on me, yet there was something slightly restrained about it.
I could tell he wasn't trying to kill me—at least, not yet.
The raw power behind his voice could have easily shattered my mind if he truly intended harm.
The fact that I was still standing, albeit barely, suggested that Sumaru's intentions weren't entirely hostile, at least for the moment.
But to call me a "cursed human cub"... What exactly does he see in me? Sumaru, a being of immense power, likely perceives things far beyond what ordinary beings can.
Does he see something within me that I'm unaware of?
Could he be witnessing the fate tied to my existence?
Whatever the case, I needed to calm him down.
The divine aura he was using to suppress me was unbearable, pressing down on me like a mountain of thunderclouds. Each second under its weight felt like an eternity.
I wasn't just relying on rumors and old tales—I had the knowledge from the game, a knowledge that had proven accurate so far.
And yet, as I stood before Sumaru, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of anxiety.
He was a being far beyond anything I'd encountered before, capable of seeing through lies and half-truths with ease. If he realized that my "reliable information" was actually gleaned from a video game in another world, he might see it as a deception—and who knows how he'd react then?
If he had detected any falsehood in my words, he might have snapped my neck without a second thought.
To my relief, Sumaru seemed to accept my explanation, even if it was technically a lie.
Perhaps the depth of my immersion in the game had somehow made it resonate as truth in his eyes.
I had lived through countless runs, seen this dungeon and Sumaru's role in it over and over again.
Maybe that was enough to convince him, or perhaps he simply saw no reason to doubt me further.
Sumaru's curiosity, however, didn't seem fully satisfied.
He continued to watch me, as if weighing something in his mind.
"I can tell you are telling the truth, but not the whole truth, cursed cub...." Sumaru's voice rumbled like distant thunder, the weight of his words heavy in the air.
I stiffened, caught in the silence that followed. My mind raced, trying to anticipate his next move.
"But I won't reprimand you for it... telling subtle lies directly to my face takes courage in and of itself...."
'So, he did see right through it, huh?'
The realization sent a jolt of anxiety through me.
I'd gambled by withholding the full truth, and I'd been certain he'd seen through it, but hearing it confirmed from his mouth still made my heart skip a beat.
Fuck, I'm glad he didn't take it as an offense.
Suddenly, the skies rumbled ominously as Sumaru approached me, his massive form closing the distance with a predatory grace.
Although the oppressive aura from before had dissipated, his sheer presence was still nerve-wracking.
The size of him, the power that radiated from every step—it was like standing in the path of a storm, knowing it could destroy you in an instant.
His steps echoed with the wind, each footfall sending a ripple through the atmosphere that made the cool air buzz with electricity.
It felt like the very air around us was prickling with energy, as if countless acupuncture needles were being laced into the sky, ready to strike at a moment's notice.
I could sense it, even though it was subtle—he had no intention of letting me leave just yet. The tension was thick, and I knew that one wrong move could be my last.
"The young man... your friend... is someone worthy to be in the presence of the Dungeon of the Stars," Sumaru continued, his voice a low growl. "Someone who was worthy of climbing the peaks of this mountain. You, however, are another matter entirely, cursed cub."
His words cut through the air like a blade, and I felt a chill run down my spine. "What do you mean?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
"You've trespassed into my territory," Sumaru said, his voice growing darker, more menacing. "Harboring within you the interest of a being that is too foul for this world to let be...."
As he spoke, his claws slowly emerged from his massive paws, sharp and deadly, gleaming in the dim light.
His lips curled back, revealing razor-sharp teeth that looked like they could snap me in half with a single bite.
The sheer threat in his posture was unmistakable.
"Tell me, cursed cub... did you meet the god clinging onto you?"
'.... God?'
Does he mean this thing?
[Note: An Evil God wants you to please!!! accept her blessing!!!!!!]
[Note: An Evil God wants you to please stop ignoring her presence!!!!]
[Note: An Evil God wants you to please notice her!!!!!]