Ghoto was startled. The energy undulations from the avatar announced that it belonged to a grand god.
‘When did I become so popular as to have my name known by a random god?’
The resistance army had almost forgotten that the gods possessed avatars because they didn’t use them at all to fight them back. They didn’t think much of it because even if the gods spammed avatars the strength will be too lacking to be considered a significant battle strength in a war of this level.
But as the war continued the gods started to send avatars, little at a time. Then they sent more but they were still weak. It was until the god’s avatars started to use the golem vessels that they were taken seriously. It was like they were testing something or they were waiting for the right time to use this trump card. For some reason unknown, the gods were incredibly cautious about participating in the war themselves.
The addition of this level of strength boosted the defense immensely. In the past, the resistance army didn’t have high-level lifeforms above Transcendents to fight for them. It is one of the many reasons why they couldn’t put up any significant opposition. The addition of the god’s avatars changed all that.
But what is rather peculiar is that Ghoto has been a target of gods. He didn’t understand why gods much stronger than him will focus on him rather than face someone of equal strength. The avatar that just attacked him is much stronger than him but it still resorted to an ambush. It was like the gods wanted to get rid of him at all costs. Was he worth this much attention?
“You gods have no honor. Always ambushing weaker foes.” Ghoto broadcasted even as he ran.
He stood no chance whatsoever against what can be considered the equivalent of a sovereign. He was being bombarded by the spears of light. His very life was hanging on a thread. He knew he just had to survive for a few seconds and someone will come to his rescue.
The allied forces didn’t lack sovereigns, a grand god cannot be allowed to throw his weight around like this. Two seconds later a sovereign rushed past Ghoto and an explosion occurred behind him. He ran ahead for a while before stopping to enjoy the sight of a pompous god being put in his place.
The god’s avatar had been thrown backward by the explosion. Its shining armor was dented and sparking with lightning. It righted itself and rose back up but it lost some of that grandeur.
“I am Tandrak of the Ghastorix Family. You have been targeting that king multiple times now. Introduce yourself cowardly god or are you too shameless for even that.” The powerful divine sense of a sovereign of law demanded with imperious authority.
“I am not Shameless. That is blasphemy. A god’s prestige cannot be tarnished. You will pay for that you lowly sovereign.” The god’s avatar said.
Everyone within the range of the divine sense could hear Tandrak chuckle. The sound of the battle around them couldn’t cover up that sinister chuckle of derision. Ghoto shook his head and smiled too. In what world was a sovereign lowly?
“Me? A lowly sovereign? Who will make me pay?” Tandrak asked. A storm cloud began to form above him. The storm blackened and lightning bolts began to form within it.
The god was not intimidated by the display. He maintained his stately demeanor as if he was a king speaking to a subject of his.
“I am Xanc, the grand god of Justice. I will punish you for defiling the prestige of the gods and for standing in my way of declaring retribution on that weakling.”
Ghoto was shocked. He knew that name. Wasn’t Mihila’s friend from ages ago also Xanc. Was this the same one that became a god? It was highly likely. But why was Mihila’s friend specifically targeting him? All’s fair in war and all that, but he didn’t think joining this war warranted such treatment. Xanc could have used his strength somewhere else.
Tandrak on the other hand chuckled louder. He found this god to be amusing. Like a young master that didn’t know that his backing is about to be ruined, but still goes around bossing people. The black clouds above them began to be saturated with lightning bolts, so much that the cloud was turning blue instead.
‘The pride of gods is in their bones. It has clogged their reasoning and prevents them from seeing things from other people’s perspectives.’ Tandrak thought in pity.
Tandrak is a very old soul. Like almost a hundred Origin cycles old. His long life has made him experience many things, both good things and bad things. He had made friends and he had made enemies. The gods are on that list of enemies.
Like most people that came here to fight, he bore a grudge against the gods. His grudge isn’t something so emotional or heroic. A god killed his best friend and he had promised to make them pay as a whole. The death of his friend is a result of a clash for resources, it was normal and there was no foul play. They just weren’t strong enough and his friend paid for that mistake with his life.
It is the way of the world but he had promised. He was always a taciturn battle sage monkey but his best friend could always know what he was thinking about. To resolve all the karma in his life so that he can face his tribulation with peace, he had to fulfill that promise. This was a great opportunity to fulfill that promise.
They were at war, but that didn’t mean a sovereign could be called lowly.
“Is that so? And what crime has he committed to warrant such retribution? From a grand god no less.” Tandrak seethed.
“He has a bloodline. All those with bloodlines must be eliminated. Bloodlines are the cancer of the society.” The grand god said with his head raised high. He felt empowered by his noble cause.
Ghoto was shocked where he was standing. ‘When is that a reason to kill someone? What a mad man.” He thought.
Tandrak on the other hand was stunned into silence. Never in his wildest dreams would he have thought that someone will be so stupid as to think that. What’s more, he even said it out loud. There are some things you can think about but must not say.
Everyone around them could hear their mind broadcast because it was open. They were at war either for the fun of it or certain obligations but what the grand god just said made things personal.
It is a common practice within various cultures to respect one’s ancestors. Ancestors are the ones that came before, they paved the road for those that came after, and for that their descendants are thankful. A bloodline is a testament to the efforts of an ancestor. The grand god was practically saying he despises their ancestors. Who could take that lying down?
But more importantly, how can someone even think like that? Bloodlines are the inheritance that strong parents give their offspring. The parents had struggled and suffered to reach their level of strength. In order to reduce the suffering of their lineage, they bestow upon them an inheritance.
Royal bloodlines are the surest inheritance. They are the proof of the achievement of greatness, never to be forgotten, eternal. A parent might not be able to give his child wealth or welfare, but a good bloodline will enable that child to acquire those things for himself. Bloodlines are a blessing, a blessing to the family, and a race as a whole. And yet, someone believes it is a curse. Even the children of gods have bloodlines. Tandrak shook his head. His chuckle escalated into all-out laughing. The storm clouds above them became completely blue in reaction to his state of mind. It even began to take on a purple hue.
“You are very stupid. The kind of stupidity that will get you killed if you were on the path of perfection. It is a shame that you are not dead and haven’t taken your stupidity with you to the grave. Instead, you got the opportunity to spread your stupidity to believers and call it faith. It is a true shame.” Tandrak said with his divine sense after laughing. “You clearly cannot be reasoned with, not like there’s a reason for it anyways. We are at war after all. But I’ll teach you a lesson. Why sovereigns are not lowly by any means.”
Tandrak’s mental message resonated with the world in a way that a titan of law can not invoke. And the world answered. Tandrak is usually calm, but now, a storm is coming. Retribution must be paid in full for the slight done to the honor of a Sovereign of law.