It was four in the morning when Shiva suddenly woke up from sleep with a jolt.His body was tense and drenched in sweat.That same terrifying dream had returned once again—the clear memories of that experiment which had almost destroyed two worlds.
He sat cross-legged and stared at his hands.How did everything go so wrong?The merging of Earth and Satal, the destruction…and now this wandering journey through dungeons just to survive.
He knew that he couldn't stay trapped in the past for long.Today was a new day—to move forward.
He began recalling yesterday's incident.
Siya was telling him—"This is Black Mold Slime, they rarely attack.These are Silk Spiders; as long as you don't touch their webs,they remain completely calm."
Inside the dungeon, there were small puddles of water in some places.Pointing toward creatures clinging to the walls above those puddles, Siya said—"These are Sonic Bats. They look dangerous,but they only awaken for three months in a year.During that time, this dungeon remains closed."
Shiva said,"Why does it feel like all the monsters here are harmless?"
Kavi laughed from behind and said—"Oh brother, maybe you don't know why this is called a low-tier dungeon.Because except for the boss room,all the dangerous monsters have already been killed."
"Now the monsters exist only in the boss room.And when we defeat the boss,we'll obtain treasures more valuable than Bloodstones."
Shiva said—"Okay, but if we can obtain Bloodstones without fighting the boss,then what's the need to fight?"
Siya replied—"You really are very naïve.Let me explain—this boss monster has only just appeared, and defeating it right now is very easy.When we defeat this boss, its Bloodstone will be destroyed.The energy released from it takes a new formand over time becomes powerful again."
"And if boss monsters are not defeated periodically,the boss monster itself will absorb the energy of all Bloodstones,which will disrupt the balanceand make the monsters even more aggressive.That's why they must be eliminated from time to time."
"Oh, now I understand," Shiva said.
Kavi said—"And as for obtaining Bloodstones without killing the boss—no, that's not possible.All the mines outside the boss room have already been cleared,and whatever little remains is of very poor quality."
"Now only inside and around the boss roomdoes the evil miasma remain,so the stones will be found only there, brother."
While talking like this,Shiva—along with his new companions—Ansh (heir of the God of Ponds),Kavi (heir of the God of Knives),and Siya (heir of the Goddess of Fire)—was now standing in front of the dungeon's boss room.
Together, they had passed through several waves of small monsters.Their teamwork had brought them this far.
With them was Karan as well—a mid-tier god heirwho had been leading the group until now.
He was the one everyone trusted—until now.
Standing before the massive doors of the boss chamber,Karan said—"Friends, now we must enter the boss room.Even if the boss is weak,it is still a boss.We must be at our full strength."
He took out several vials from his pocketand handed small bottles to everyone.
"Drink these," he said casually."We'll need strength for the final battle."
Kavi said—"Wow, big brother Karan,you're so kind—giving us mana nutrient liquid."
Everyone slightly bowed their heads and thanked Karan.
And then Shiva…
Ansh, Kavi, and Siya trusted Karan without hesitationand drank the potion.
But in Shiva's heart,a strange uneasiness arose.Something didn't feel right.
Still,he hesitated for a momentand then drank the potion as well.
Siya said—"Wow! I can feel my full strength returning.I think I can defeat the boss all by myself."
But within just a few seconds,Siya and the others staggeredand fell to the ground one by one.
But Shiva…remained standing.
Seeing this, Karan's smile widened even more—even more terrifying.
"Interesting,"he said while stepping toward Shiva."It seems this potion had no effect on you."
"W-what… what did you do?"Shiva asked.His heart was pounding rapidly.His eyes drifted toward his unconscious companions.
"These potions sever the connection to the gods,"Karan said in a cold voice."Once that bond is broken,evil miasma takes the place of divine powersand the body begins to turn into a monster."
"Their Bloodstones are even purer than those of boss monsters,"he said in a loud, filthy voice."And then their Bloodstones are extractedand offered as sacrifices to the gods of darkness.""Hehehehe…"he began to laugh.
Shiva's breath caught in his throat.His first friends in this world were in danger.He wanted to do something,but he couldn't understand what he should do.There was very little time,and he had to act immediately.
Karan took another step forward and said—"But explain one thing to me, Shiva—why didn't this affect you?""We may be far more hidden than we appear,but perhaps you are far more than you seem."
"Could it be that you tooare a pawn of some evil god?""Hehahaheheha…"that same filthy, disgusting laugh.
Shiva's mind was racing.He couldn't afford to be afraid.He had to do something—anything.
Then a thought flashed through his mind—spirits.
"Can these spiritsreconnect the bond with the gods?"he asked Michael silently in his mind.
Michael replied—"Yes, we can try."
Now Shiva only needed time.
Shiva said in a grave voice—"Karan, why are you doing all this?And what will happen when everyone finds out the truth?"
Karan laughed that same filthy laugh again and said—"What do you think happened in the dungeon—who outside will know, and who will tell them?"
"Tell me, will you tell them?"he growled sharply."But you'll tell them onlyif you manage to get out alive."
Shiva had already instructed the spiritsto protect his companions.
He said—"But Karan, aren't you my friend too?"
Karan replied—"I am only a friend of my own kind—the dwellers of darkness."
Karan's voice changed again.Now, mocking him,bringing both his arms together, he said—
"So tell me, Shiva, what are you?""Why weren't you affected like the others?""Are you like me too?"
Shiva decided to keep him talking.
"Karan,"he said calmly,"why are you doing this?We trusted you—"
But before Shiva could say more,Karan interrupted him with a smile and said—
"Trust?"Taking a long breath, he said—"Trust is for fools, Shiva.""This world belongs only to the powerful.""Here, only power matters, Shiva."
"The gods you serve—where were theywhen the world needed them the most?"
"Have you ever thoughtwhy they interfere only at the very last moment?"
"When chaos arrived,the gods were asleep.""But when the number of their worshippers began to decrease,their powers also started to fade."
"If there is no one leftto worship them,then they too will perish."
"That is why they took this step at the last moment.""Otherwise, they wouldn't carewhether we lived or died."
"But they are nothingcompared to the godswho are about to rise."
"Your friendsare just the beginning.""When they awaken,the entire world—and all those who call themselves true gods—will be wiped out!""Hahahaha… hahaha…"
At that very moment,invisible spiritswere hovering over Ansh, Kavi, and Siya,slowlyneutralizing the effects of the potion.
Shiva knew—even a single mistakewould end everything.
He kept Karan occupied.
"Power is temporary,"Shiva taunted."You too are just a pawn of the gods."
Anger flashed in Karan's eyes,but then it turned into a cold smile.
"Oh, listen," he said."I am not a pawn of the gods—I am a pawn of the evil god."
"And you talk about understanding the nature of gods.""You know nothing, Shiva.""You will see soon enough."
The spirits continued working without pause.Shiva felthis companions slowly regaining consciousness.
Karan spoke again—"I was wrong about you.""You are not an ordinary heir."
"Are you a god yourself?""No… impossible.""After the catastrophe, the gods fell into deep slumber."
"Unless…""you are something else entirely."
"Are you, like me,a pawn of the evil gods?"
Shiva clenched his fists.He could not wait any longer.
"Maybe you're afraid,"Shiva said in a steady voice."That you're not as powerfulas you believe yourself to be."
Karan's face twisted with rage.
"I'll show you fear."
He raised both hands,and energy darker than darkness began to pour out.
At that very moment,Ansh moved,then Kavi and Siya stood up as well—their eyes had already opened some time ago,and they were waiting for Shiva's signal.
Karan saw this,and his eyes narrowed.
"No… this can't be possible!""How can all of you still be fine?"
Then he looked at Shiva and said—"Did you do all this?"
His voice was growing louder and louder with rage.
He summoned darkness with both hands and said—"I'll end everything right now!"
But before he could attack,at a single signal from Shiva—
Ansh's eyes began to glow.He moved his handas if throwing a rope toward Karan.Then he pulled water from the airand bound Karan's legslike chains.
Without hesitation,Kavi summoned knives from the airand unleashed a barrage of bladesinto Karan's body,which embedded themselves deep within him.
Flames burst from Siya's hands,and she released a ferocious wave of fire.Every attack landed perfectly.
For a moment, everyone thought—they had won.
Karan's burning bodycollapsed onto the ground.
They had just begun to breathe again when suddenly,from within the burning body,a cold laugh echoed—
"Did you really thinkthat would be enoughto finish me?"
Karan stood up.His charred bodywas rapidly regenerating.
"You low-tier heirsthink you can defeat me?""Now I'll show youwhat true power isand what death looks like."
Darkness began spreading from his body.
He released a sphere of darknessthat sent the entire group flyingand slammed them into the ground.
Karan stepped forward.
"Now, Shiva, it's your turn.""You can no longer hideyour true identity.""Tell me—who are you really?"
He grabbed Shiva by the throatand hurled him into the air.Leaping up himself,he struck Shiva with punches and kicks mid-airand slammed him into the ground,creating a massive crater.
Injured and panting,Shiva stood up.A stream of blood flowed from his mouth.Shiva spat blood.
Karan laughed—a filthy, spine-chilling laugh.
"Wow, you're still standing?""Come on,first watch your little insect friendsdie."
The spirits circled around Shivaand began to give him strength,but it wasn't enough.
He needed more time…and more power.
Then, deep within him,something awakened—somethingthat was his,and yet not his.
Shiva's vision blurred.His eyesglowed with otherworldly light.His black hairbegan shining white.
At that moment,the aura emanating from his bodyfelt extremely ancientand overwhelmingly powerful.
He raised his hand,and time itselfslowed down—or stopped.
Light burst forthand struck Karan.
Karan's movementsbecame heavy and broken.
Karan froze.He was unable to do anything.
"Th-this… what is this?""What's happening to me?"he said in a trembling voice.
Slowly,Karan's body began to age—his skin started to wrinkle,his strength began to fade.
But just as Shivawas about to deliver the final blow—a sharp pain exploded in his head.
The skin of his body began to tear,as if the powerattacking Karanwas also damaging Shiva.
His hair turned black again.Blood began flowing from his nose.He let out a painful scream.The pressure of that power was unbearable.
Weakened, Karanalso collapsed backward.Panting heavily, he said—"Y-you almost defeated me."
He was furious.
"But now you will pay the price."
But before he could attack—Kavi and Siyahad fully recovered.
Together,they launched a combined assault.
Water bound his hands,knives pierced his chest,and fire engulfed him once again.
But this time,Karan did not resist.
He looked at Shiva and smiled.
"This isn't over yet, Shiva.""We will meet again."
And the very next moment,he vanished into the darkness.
Shiva collapsed to the ground.His body was completely soaked in blood.
Ansh came to himand gave him a healing potion.
"Shiva, you saved us.""Nothing will happen to you.""Without you, we wouldn't have survived."
They all took Shiva back to the guildand told Assistant Rekha everything.
Rekha apologized for Karan's betrayaland, as compensation,gave them rare guild passesfor one month.
Priest Rishi healed Shiva,and then Shiva regained consciousness.
After resting for a while,Ansh supported Shivaand led him toward his room.
But even while returning,one thought refused to leave Shiva's mind—
Karan knew far more about himthan should have been possible.
Who was he, really?And why did he call himselfa "pawn"?
The answers would come with time.
But one thing was certain—
this battlewas only the beginning.