Chapter 8
"Where are you going?"
Dax's gaze never once returned to the golden angel. His eyes were locked solely on Solos—the blood-soaked aberration fleeing like a desperate animal.
He vanished.
"You are not leaving."
Dax reappeared directly behind Solos, palm stretching outward to seize him.
Solos felt the pull immediately—the monstrous devouring force that sought to swallow him whole.
**Death.**
Vabon's soul shrieked within him.
Solos turned just in time to see Dax's fingers inches from his throat. With fluid, impossible grace, he placed one foot atop Dax's palm and _launched_ himself away. The reactive force blasted Dax violently toward the earth.
**Boom!**
He struck the ground like a meteor, rock and dust ripping outward in all directions.
Dax stood up from the crater, unbothered. The entire second arm's flesh had been reduced to vapor, leaving only the gleaming black bones. He didn't even blink.
He shot upward, tearing through the air like a thunderbolt.
Yet no matter how fast he ascended…
the sky only grew further away.
"Ridiculous," Dax muttered, slowing. "What kind of world… has no ceiling?"
For the first time since arriving, Dax was genuinely taken aback—not by an enemy, but by the world itself.
And Solos had gotten away.
His jaw tightened in irritation. "How?"
He began his descent.
---
**Ha… ha…**
Solos gasped for air inside the safety of his personal domain, his form flickering like unstable light.
_That thing is no human._
He trembled.
Its strength defied logic. It used no mana, no laws—nothing of this world.
An anomaly. The kind that did not belong to any known plane.
And worse…
its blood.
"Vabon," Solos whispered within their shared consciousness. "Give me every fragment of knowledge you possess on that… creature."
A cold silence answered him.
Their souls shifted—control returned to Vabon.
"Familiarize thyself with my power," Solos ordered, withdrawing into the depths of Vabon's soul to analyze the divine taste of Dax's blood.
Vabon inhaled sharply, sweat soaking him. "Damn… I had no control."
But a slow, reverent smile grew across his face.
"Power… pure power." His eyes glowed with fanatical devotion. "My god did not lie."
He rose, elegant and composed once more.
"I will return."
And he vanished into the horizon.
---
"Impressive. He destroyed my second arm."
Dax flexed the exposed bones as flesh wrapped itself around them anew, regenerating instantly. He picked up Micah and retrieved Cil from the shattered ground.
But the golden angel blocked his path.
"You provoke the God of Light and the entirety of His Church by saving that man."
"You misunderstand," Dax said quietly. "I want this man. And you cannot stop me."
He turned his back.
He vanished.
The golden angel—Aron—did not pursue. Instead, he etched Dax's image into his memory with solemn dread.
---
Inside a remote cave, Micah lay motionless in golden armor. Dax sat cross-legged beside him, reviewing the cold text before his Origin Eyes.
---
**Name:** Dax Godfall
**Race:** Human
**Bloodline:** None
**Realm:** Trait Emperor
**Rank:** 0
**Titles:** The Black Doctor, Father of Origin
**Traits:** Synthesis, Origin Eater
**Skills:** Telekinesis
**Strength:** 5,000,000
**Agility:** 5,000,000
**Physique:** 10,666,000
**World Ki:** 10,000,000
**Mana:** 0
**Aura:** 0
**Luck:** -1
**Skills:** Origin Eyes, Origin Body, Origin Touch
---
"Good," Dax murmured. "This is how it should be."
He leaned back, finally allowing his mind to rest. "Since arriving here, I've had no room to think. Annoying."
But reflection brought clarity.
"A world governed by strength. Humans cultivate mana and aura. And deeper still… entities unknown. Interesting."
He lifted Cil, brushing her cold edge.
"This world will suit my laboratory."
"What troubles you, Master?" Inerous asked gently.
Dax didn't scold her; he continued thinking aloud.
"The sky. I couldn't break past the troposphere. It just… kept rising. Like a trap." His eyes narrowed. "And how did this world endure my battle with Solos? It shouldn't have."
"Master truly is the greatest," Inerous said sweetly. "Already dissecting the world itself. But to do that, you must understand its foundational laws."
He smiled faintly. "Good girl."
He closed his eyes. "I will embrace this new life."
Then he looked toward Micah.
The old man was awake—barely—his trembling hand reaching out.
"Please… sir… save my grandchild." His voice sounded like a soul dragging chains.
"You can't even protect yourself," Dax said calmly. "And if I told you I couldn't save her? What then?"
"Then kill me," Micah whispered. "End me. I cannot watch her suffer. I've lost everyone I've ever loved. Please… kill me."
Dax saw the depth of his pain—but his own curiosity outweighed sympathy.
"I will help," Dax said. "But what do I gain from saving her?"
"You may have my life," Micah offered, desperate.
"What use is a life already in its last chapter?"
Dax had only planned to save and study him, but desperation invited opportunity. A dying man with nothing left always bargained highest.
"Please," Micah begged. "My life… my wealth… everything."
Dax raised a brow.
Micah pulled off a black ring. "This is my spatial ring. A thousand-meter vault containing the corpses of powerful beasts, and all my riches."
Dax plucked the ring instantly—then coughed, pretending he hadn't just snatched it like a starving raccoon.
"I will save you both."
He held out a familiar blade.
"This was in your clothing," Dax said, returning Excalibur.