"What is His Excellency doing?"
Brilliant elemental light stretched across the sky, spanning tens of thousands of meters. Onboard the ghost ships, beings who were not strictly undead—though they bore many similarities to them—struggled to think clearly under the oppressive aura emanating from Muria's towering presence. They watched in awe and curiosity.
"Who knows? Let's just observe. It's normal for us not to understand what someone like that is doing," replied the exorcist Nyaki, who, like the other powerful undead nearby, had involuntarily fallen to his knees in reverence. He spoke in a hushed tone, filled with awe for the figure holding the staff aloft.
It wasn't just fear of Muria's imposing stature but also reverence for his immense power. Yes, reverence. Nyaki, who had always harbored deep hostility toward all non-human beings, found himself wanting to worship this one. It was an emotion he never imagined he could feel.
But there it was. Not long ago, as he and his friend teetered on the edge of life and death, they encountered what was arguably the greatest being in existence. From that moment, they were utterly subdued.
A master of death. A protector of all who had passed. This was the impression etched into Nyaki's mind when he saw Muria's avatar as the God of the Dead. To him, this being was a god in every sense of the word.
And this wasn't entirely incorrect. Given the immense power of Muria's avatar, he could easily ascend to godhood in this world with a single thought. After all, worlds were often lenient toward future powerhouses, provided they bore no ill intent.
Of course, this was only possible once the fusion of the two worlds was complete. The current turmoil in the laws of this world made it impossible for anyone to ascend, no matter how talented, unless they possessed the overwhelming power to stabilize the world's laws themselves. And such beings would have no need to ascend in the first place.
"Still, I can't shake the feeling that something's wrong. His Excellency didn't act when fighting the Evil Spirit King, but now he's making such a grand move. It doesn't feel right," whispered Inger, Nyaki's companion. His voice was even quieter, as he noticed a powerful undead nearby seemingly directing a displeased "gaze" at them.
"Let's talk later," Nyaki suggested. The two exorcists quickly fell silent as more oppressive "gazes" turned their way.
The transformations their bodies had undergone after being stranded on a deserted island had left the two exorcists hopeless about their futures. They had clung to life with shared consolations and hollow optimism.
But everything was different now. They had glimpsed the hope of returning to their human forms and reuniting with their homeland. With hope came a renewed will to live, and their former suicidal tendencies vanished.
Now, the two exorcists prostrated themselves on the deck, sneaking glances at the imposing God of the Dead as he displayed his power.
Elemental runes began to condense within the light radiating from the staff, intricate and mysterious. Like a resplendent river of stars, these runes floated before the God of the Dead, forming a rectangular portal.
The spatial fluctuations were immense. As they threatened to spread outward, the God of the Dead raised a gauntleted hand and pressed down lightly, instantly suppressing all disturbance within a hundred-meter radius.
As the fluctuations intensified, the portal solidified, revealing glimpses of a vast world: undulating mountains, pristine lakes, lush forests—each image flashing briefly before settling on a disciplined army of giants. Above the giant army hovered restless five-colored dragons, their primal instincts for destruction barely restrained.
The first to step through the portal was a giant clad entirely in armor, leaving no skin exposed. His foot landed firmly on the ghost ship's deck, the radiant vitality within his body clashing starkly with the deathly aura of his surroundings. This rejection manifested as a protective flame of life, shielding him from the encroaching deathly energy.
Unbothered by these reactions, the giant bowed deeply to the avatar of his master before stepping aside to clear the portal.
…
As the ten-thousand-strong army of giants marched through the portal, they were followed by the dormant warbeasts. These creatures, gifted to Muria by his grandfather Archimonde for the express purpose of waging war, had lain in slumber within his pocket dimension. Now, driven by Muria's killing intent, they awoke in their millions, crossing the portal to this unique fusion of worlds.
Finally, the five-colored dragons made their appearance. Despite being the least disciplined of the three armies, their individual combat prowess was unmatched. While their disobedience was tolerable, it paled in comparison to the strict orderliness of the giants and warbeasts.
"That should suffice," Muria said, dismissing the portal as the elemental light on his staff dimmed considerably. "The Evil God's progeny are likely heading toward the human world. Those giant eyeballs won't pass up the chance to massacre humans."
…
"Having been transformed into non-human forms, do you still consider yourselves human? Are you still willing to fight for humanity's future?"
When the exorcists Nyaki and Inger approached Muria's avatar, trembling with both reverence and apprehension, this was the question they were greeted with—devoid of emotion or inflection.
"Your Excellency, though I am no longer human in form, I am still willing to fight for humanity with this body," Nyaki responded without hesitation. He knew there was no point in deceiving a being of such power.
"Good. In that case, let me share with you a matter concerning humanity's survival."
Muria nodded. He had already decided: his avatar, commanding the ghost fleet, would disguise itself as a native force of the Evil Spirit World. It would opportunistically attack all epic-led armies, focusing primarily on the God of Hundred Eyes. If they saw it, they would strike.
Meanwhile, the true progeny summoned through his portal would fulfill the traditional role of an epic's army, scouring the fused worlds for divine treasures imbued with laws. Their secondary objective was to eliminate all of the Evil God's progeny they encountered.
"Humanity's survival?" The two exorcists were thrown into disarray. Before meeting Muria, they had believed that the evil spirits, though formidable, posed no existential threat to humanity as a whole.
But witnessing Muria's power changed their perspective. They now understood that beings like him possessed the might to erase entire civilizations. So when he spoke of survival, they couldn't help but panic.
"Do not overthink it. I have no interest in your human civilization. If not for unexpected circumstances, I wouldn't have involved myself in your affairs at all."
Muria easily sensed the turmoil in their souls. With a vast disparity in their levels of existence, these mortals had no secrets before him.
"I can tell you this clearly: there is a being whose power rivals mine, leading a force no less formidable than this fleet, with their sights set on humanity. Your civilization faces the threat of total annihilation."
"What…?" The exorcists were dumbfounded. While they were relieved that Muria bore no ill will toward humanity, the news of another being as powerful as him targeting their kind was devastating.
"Do not panic or despair. Humanity is not alone. I will aid you in opposing this evil because I am diametrically opposed to that being."
"Your Excellency, what can we do?" Nyaki, struggling to regain his composure, asked the crucial question. This was a matter far beyond their capabilities—what role could mere exorcists play?
"There is much you can do," Muria replied, gazing intently at the two half-human, half-undead figures. A peculiar light shimmered around them—something newly awakened.
Muria traced it back to the moment the Evil God's army entered the world. Their arrival had triggered the world's immune system.
These two exorcists had been chosen as the world's "champions" against the Evil God. They were now bearers of destiny, though they remained unaware of their newfound role.
This blessing of destiny wasn't mere luck; it was a recognition of their potential. After all, they had survived the chaotic clash of two world laws—a testament to their resilience.
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