"How dare a stray god like you speak to me this way?!" Andras said angrily, his purple eyes glowing and the Mana around him intensifying.
Jack’s crow-like eyes narrowed. Even though Andras was known as a weak god, he was still stronger than Jack for now.
Moreover, instead of possessing an Avatar, Andras had taken over the body of a devout believer. This made him even weaker than an Avatar. Yet Jack wanted to stall until his Mana regenerated.
"Are you stupid? You’re talking to a crow." Jack’s question made Andras look at him like an idiot. "I can understand what you’re saying, crow."
Jack’s eyes widened. "Wait, are you serious?!"
Andras furrowed his brow. "What kind of god are you? Haven’t you heard of telepathy?"
Despite his wounded pride, Jack played dumb. "Sorry, you know, I’m new to this god business..."
"You are stupid!"
"Hey, I’m right here, you know that, right?!"
"A stray god like you isn’t even worthy of looking at me," Andras said with a disgusted expression. A smirk appeared on Jack’s face.
"Stray god, huh?" Jack said mockingly. He looked into Andras’s purple eyes. "Do I really look like a stray to you?"
Andras’s eyes narrowed, angered by Jack’s disrespectful tone. "You’re just a crow without even true divinity, don’t talk so much!"
Jack chuckled. "At least I’m not shunned by other gods..."
As Andras’s veins bulged with anger, Jack continued mockingly, "After all, even though I’m a crow, I don’t look like a freak."
"You—you are nothing but a weak worm compared to my magnificent existence!"
"What happened? Are you going to cry?" Jack controlled his Mana, his mocking gaze further enraging Andras. "Sorry, but you look really stupid."
"Weren’t you the god of war once, or was it the god of tears?" Jack said as he slowly retreated. Despite his anger, Andras managed to smile.
"You’re trying to stall me, aren’t you?" Andras grinned as he saw Jack tense up, and Rufus’s body began to change. His teeth elongated like a vampire’s, and his eyes gradually turned red.
Andras’s hands transformed into claws, and with a swift leap, he caught Jack off guard. Jack used a Barrier spell to block the claws, barely escaping the attack as the Barrier shattered in just two seconds.
Jack quickly flew upward, while Andras grinned savagely. "What’s the matter? Are you scared? Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you too much!"
Seeing Jack fly into the forest, Andras chased him with a terrifying smile. Using the trees, Andras jumped high.
"Ignis!"
The purple flames that shot from Andras’s hands singed Jack’s feathers, but he managed to escape thanks to his quick reflexes.
"Damn it! I almost got burned!" Jack felt relieved that he was okay. But before he could celebrate, another fireball came at him.
With a sudden maneuver to the right, Jack dodged the fireballs, which lit up the night one after another. As Jack fled, Andras laughed angrily. "Come here, worm! I’m going to cook you!"
Jack paled at the word "cook" and flapped his wings harder, but Andras was closing in on him with every moment.
Seeing his Mana climb to 500, Jack quickly enveloped his body with it, nearly doubling his speed. "Damn it! Faster!"
Andras’s eyes gleamed as the crow sped up. He pursued the crow relentlessly.
Meanwhile, after putting about 500 meters between himself and Andras, Jack hid himself in a bush. He blended into the shadows, using his Dark Form.
Sensing Andras approaching, Jack hid carefully.
As the 20-meter-long Dark Sword quickly accelerated downward, Andras drew all the Mana from the body and injected it into a single spell.
"Kurea Ignis!!!!"
With a deep, guttural, animalistic roar, a spear made of scorching flames appeared in Andras’s hand. As the spear burned the ground with rage, Andras’s body was on the verge of breaking apart.
Getting into position to throw the flame spear, Andras sneered and looked mockingly at the 20-meter-long Dark Sword coming toward him.
Then, he tensed and threw the spear. "Now, die! Rat!!!"
With Andras’s roar, the spear sped toward the Dark Sword at incredible speed.
Jack held his breath and used the last of his Mana with deep determination.
The accelerating Dark Sword collided with the Flame Spear.
"Boom!"
The collision between the Flame Spear and the Dark Sword caused a powerful gust of wind to blow.
Sparks from the flames damaged Andras’s eyes, which were already nearly blind. Yet he laughed and reveled in it. "It’s over, I won!"
As the Flame Spear and the Dark Sword annihilated each other, suddenly shadowy spikes pierced Andras’s brain, heart, and lungs.
"What!" Andras’s body, groaning in pain, couldn’t endure any longer and collapsed to the ground. The body had become completely non-functional.
"Don’t underestimate me, bastard..." Jack’s tired voice only fueled Andras’s anger, but there was nothing he could do but helplessly endure it.
"I will remember you, rogue god! Wherever you are in the world! I will kill you!"
Before Rufus’s body exploded, a final voice echoed in Jack’s mind.
Feeling Andras’s presence vanish, Jack suddenly felt extremely exhausted due to Mana loss, but his spirits lifted when a sudden notification appeared.
{Level Up}
{General level increased from 14 to 20}
{New skills acquired: ’Dark Sword’, ’Telepathy’, ’God Aura’}
{Shadow Manipulation leveled up from 7 to 10}
{Shield leveled up from 6 to 10}
{Avatar Creation leveled up from 7 to 10}
{Dark Transformation leveled up 10<15}
Despite being exhausted, Jack was pleased with the Level Up and lay down on the ground to rest a little. Thinking it was nearing 4 o’clock, Jack guessed that Morrigan was probably at her mansion by now.
Jack was uncertain about what he would say to deceive Morrigan. He sighed and looked up at the sun shining above. "This is such a troublesome situation..."
Reflecting on the events of the day, Jack’s eyes narrowed as he remembered the last wish of the blonde girl.
"Finding this person named Urien will be difficult for me. Should I ask Morrigan for help?"
Jack dismissed the idea. "Morrigan doesn’t have any personal influence. She can’t do it..."
Time passed quickly for Jack as he contemplated what to do. After resting for half an hour and regaining his Mana, he stood up and set off toward the Capital.