"True god?"
Muria nearly laughed out loud when he heard the self-proclaimed god hidden in the shadows. The sheer audacity of attempting to ascend to godhood with the sacrifice of a few hundred mortals was absurd.
To Muria, a true god was an eternal being, unbound by time, with limitless power. To claim godhood on such a feeble foundation was not only laughable but an insult to those who struggled for eons under the weight of divine churches to even graze the edge of such power.
"What's so funny?"
The tone of the voice grew irritated as it noticed the mocking smile on Muria's youthful face.
"I'm laughing at you." Muria's smile widened, his expression dripping with disdain.
"What's so ridiculous about me?"
Muria's golden eyes gleamed with amusement. "I came here expecting to see a god desperately trying to resurrect or, at the very least, a genius madman with the audacity to challenge the divine. Instead, what I find is a fool attempting to steal a god's power and claim it as their own."
"Since you recognize that I am stealing divine power, you should understand my greatness. You dare to mock me? Witness the wrath of the first true god of the new era!"
The dry, rasping voice grew deeper and more authoritative. A seven-meter-long, spiraling bone spear materialized in the air and shot toward Muria with incredible speed, aiming to impale him.
"Is this a joke?" Muria sighed, disappointed. He had hoped for a worthy challenge but found himself facing nothing more than a deluded fool. As the bone spear approached, his delicate hand transformed into a black-scaled dragon claw. With a single swipe, the spear shattered into countless fragments.
"What... what are you?" the voice stammered, its arrogance giving way to disbelief. "How can you defy my divine power?"
As the voice echoed through the chamber, an elderly man emerged from the shadows. He was hunched over, gripping a staff adorned with a human skull. Thick, suffocating blood mist swirled around him, exuding a faint but oppressive aura that made it hard to look directly at him.
"Divine power? That's what you call this?" Muria scoffed, shaking his head.
Before the old man could react, a hearty laugh erupted from the air, carrying a mocking edge.
Muria turned to see a new figure stride boldly into the room, tearing through the old man's carefully constructed domain with sheer force. The intruder was a majestic being with the head of an eagle, a humanoid body, and golden wings that shimmered like sunlight. In his hand, he held a gleaming divine spear that radiated power.
"Who... who are you?" the old man stammered, his composure cracking as he faced the golden eagle-headed demigod.
"Foolish worm!" the eagle-headed being sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "You should address me as 'Your Highness.' I am Giovanni, Son of the Golden Eagle!"
The demigod stepped forward, his golden aura intensifying as he reached out and grabbed the old man by the throat. The frail figure dangled helplessly in his grip, his blood mist dissipating under the oppressive divine radiance.
"You dare to profane the divine with your pathetic schemes? Know your place, mortal."
Despite his predicament, the old man retained a shred of defiance. "I've... never heard of you."
"You wouldn't have," Giovanni scoffed. "A barbarian from this backward world would never know my name."
"You're from another world?" the old man's eyes widened in realization. "You're a god from another world!"
"No, I am not a god," Giovanni corrected, his tone filled with pride but also humility. "I am a demigod. A true god's power is beyond your comprehension, and I am far from achieving such greatness."
"How can you wield divine power and not be a god?"
"Who told you that having divine power makes one a god? Ignorant fool," Giovanni sneered, tightening his grip. "Only beings like my father, eternal and boundless, deserve to be called true gods."
"True gods..." the old man murmured, despair flickering in his eyes.
Crack!
Before he could say anything more, Giovanni's grip tightened, and the old man's neck snapped. His body disintegrated in a burst of golden light, his flesh and blood reduced to nothingness.
The demigod turned to face Muria, who had been silently observing the entire scene.
"And now, it's your turn," Giovanni declared, his sharp, avian eyes locking onto Muria. "Reveal your true form, strange one. In the presence of the great Son of the Golden Eagle, do you think your pathetic disguise can fool me?"
"Reveal my true form?" Muria chuckled, finding the demigod's arrogance amusing.
Before he could respond, a piercing whistle cut through the air, followed by a deafening explosion. The chamber shook as flames and shockwaves tore through the building, reducing its upper floors to rubble.
"So this world's mortals have developed their killing arts to such a degree," Giovanni remarked, seemingly unfazed by the barrage of explosions. "This level of destruction could threaten even my bravest warriors. Impressive."
However, his tone quickly shifted to one of disdain. "But it ends here. Prepare to witness the wrath of a demigod, insects of this primitive world! You should learn to revere those who carry the blood of true gods!"
With a sweep of his spear, Giovanni extinguished the lingering flames and shockwaves. His towering form, wreathed in golden light, stood unscathed atop the crumbling skyscraper.
The scene exposed him to the full view of the city's emergency forces. Helicopters circled overhead, their mounted weapons trained on the demigod, while sirens wailed in the distance.
Yet Giovanni paid them no mind. To him, these mortal machines were beneath notice. His attention was entirely focused on the black-scaled dragon crouched nearby, its golden-patterned scales gleaming in the sunlight.
"So this is your true form," Giovanni said, his gaze narrowing as he appraised Muria. "A beast perfectly suited for war. Consider yourself fortunate, creature. I, Giovanni, Son of the Golden Eagle, offer you the chance to serve me as my war steed. It will be your greatest honor!"
Hearing the demigod's audacious proposition, the black dragon tilted its head, its golden eyes gleaming with amusement.
"You just signed your death warrant," Muria growled.
The massive dragon vanished in a blur of motion, leaving only an afterimage in its wake. In the next instant, it reappeared before Giovanni, its long tail whipping through the air like a divine scourge.
Boom!
The blow struck Giovanni's chest with tremendous force, sending the demigod hurtling through the air. His body smashed through multiple skyscrapers, the buildings crumbling like sandcastles under his impact.
"Magnificent!" Giovanni roared, his voice echoing across the city as he emerged from the wreckage. Golden light radiated from his form, healing his injuries almost instantly.
"Such raw, untamed power! A beast like you is worthy to serve me. Together, we will bring glory to my name!"
As he rose into the air, Giovanni's divine aura surged, creating a massive vortex in the stormy sky above. The sheer intensity of his presence sent shockwaves rippling through the city, leaving the mortals below in awe and terror.
But for Muria, the demigod's arrogance was merely an opportunity to teach him a harsh lesson.
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