Gods Are Not Perfect
A deafening roar exploded—Kwaaaang!
The shockwave utterly dispersed the enveloping darkness around Adel, leaving only Abyss before his eyes.
"I-is that... the God of the Dark Sea?"
"Finally..."
Kasla and Harun murmured softly, gazing at Abyss kneeling before Adel.
"You did well."
Their bodies were covered in wounds everywhere, evidence of their fierce struggle within the shadows.
"I never want to go through that again."
"...Worse than Garon's trial, even."
But Adel nodded as if he'd believed in them from the start.
Just as I expected.
Kasla, Nazan's daughter, and Harun, the future great hunter captain of Ulan, both possessed exceptional talent.
"Ugh... urk."
"M-Mom...!! I did wrong!! I swear I won't steal cookies from Aunt Ronda's house again!!"
And rightly so—Daran was still clutching his chest in agony, groaning, while Makullan flailed on the ground.
"...Get lost."
Harun sighed, shoving Makullan away from his pant leg.
"Heila?"
"I'm here. Sorry I couldn't be of more help."
Adel turned at the sound of her voice. There she was, leaning against the wall, blood trickling from her thigh.
[She stabbed herself to escape the darkness. A true Mad Kill move.]
"Treating the wound now. It won't take long."
They had exceptional qualities, but more than that, they'd grown through their time with him. Daran wasn't lacking in combat prowess, yet he was still lost in the shadows—which said it all.
[Gr... grrr...]
With the darkness gone, Abyss heaved ragged breaths in evident pain.
"What now? Is there any chance he can return to being a god?"
[It's not impossible. Find his sacred treasure. It should be somewhere here.]
"That?"
Adel eyed the small box at the temple's center.
[A locked box... Perfect.]
He pulled out Pola's Key and slid it into the box.
Click.
As expected, it unlocked with a creak, revealing three relics inside.
This must be the Siren's Blue Gem.
Adel gazed at the transparent orb wrapped in golden filigree among the artifacts.
"What about the other two?"
Curious about the unfamiliar artifacts, Adel asked.
[Those...]
Kalderet let out a strange sigh, as if he knew exactly what they were.
[I see. So that's how it is.]
"What is it?"
[You'll find out soon enough. First, we should awaken Abyss.]
Adel nodded at his words.
Sizzle...!!
The moment he grasped the orb, searing heat burned his palm, the pain so intense it felt like his skin was melting.
"...?!"
He dropped it in shock, staring incredulously at the orb on the floor.
[Careful.]
"Even with divine power shielding me, it reacts this strongly... Can this even be purified?"
[That depends on you. Normally, darkness is cleansed with light, but that's impossible here.]
Kalderet materialized.
[In the end, we'll have to devour it with my void—darker than the darkness itself. But even using my power, the vessel is you. You risk being tainted by it.]
"Don't worry about that."
It was then.
[Grrr...]
Like a beast awaiting prey, Adel's armor bared its teeth.
[Ah.]
Kalderet nodded.
Clank—shrrrr...!!
In that instant, the rear of Adel's armor split open, gluttonously devouring the Siren's Blue Gem.
The shattered plates from the previous battle absorbed the gem's energy, emitting a dark crimson glow.
[Gr...]
The broken connections mended, and for the first time, the gluttony seemed satisfied, exhaling deeply.
Hummm...
The armor shifted form, transforming into a black robe enveloping Adel's body. The heavy weight vanished, leaving him feeling almost buoyant.
"Hm."
Adel slowly gathered his mana.
Hummm...
With his palm upturned, space warped and twisted—then, astonishingly, the devoured artifacts materialized as translucent images.
Clank.
Grabbing one, it solidified in his hand: a hefty longsword with a razor-sharp blade—the sword from the Ralph family's wrecked ship warehouse, courtesy of the King of the Isles.
Interesting. Not just magic-resistant armor, but subspatial storage too.
Kalderet eyed the perfectly reformed sword with intrigue.
If the devoured weapons aren't gone but reusable...
Adel licked his lips, recalling the armaments left in Shan's lair.
Shan's treasures are invaluable. If Dragon's Gluttony sates its hunger and I can use them again later...
It was an enormous gain.
"I like it."
Regretting the loss of his shattered Nazas, Adel roughly sheathed the Ralph sword at his waist.
Whoooosh...!!
Oddly, contrary to Adel's thoughts, the wind spirits chattered in displeasure at the sword.
"I'll find you a proper spirit weapon soon, so bear with it. It'll be cramped, but stay in the seed ring for now."
At his words, the spirits seeped into the seed ring.
He then collected the fragments of broken Nazas. Fearing the gluttony might consume them too, but it ignored the damaged weapon.
Alkar would lose it if he knew.
Adel gave a wry smile.
For the spirits' sake, I need to hurry to the eastern druid, Elune.
The creator of breathing techniques and master of spirit weapons—she could craft the perfect wind sword for this situation.
Shwaaak...!!
Just as he'd summoned the devoured armaments, the fully purified 【Siren's Blue Gem】 appeared.
"Abyss."
At his call, the God of the Dark Sea slowly lifted his head from his kneeling position.
"Feeling better now?"
[You...]
His voice was hoarse and weak, but clearer than when dominated by darkness.
"The one who pulled you from the darkness."
[Kalderet's contractor, huh.]
[What an idiot. A high god eroded by darkness? Even Garon over there wouldn't stoop that low.]
[...Better sealed than this. You wouldn't know what it's like to be a forsaken god.]
[No idea. Nor do I care to. It's worthless knowledge.]
Unlike the grave Abyss, Kalderet sneered.
[Forsaken god? Don't make me laugh. You just fought Pola over sea hegemony and mutually destroyed each other.]
Kalderet said.
[If more humans had followed me... Or why must the sea have two gods? It's so unfair.]
[That's why darkness ate you alive.]
[What?]
Abyss stared at him, face hardening.
[Word is, the Haesu clan—Pola's followers—abandoned her for you. But she still left chances even for traitors.]
He pointed to 【Pola's Key】, which had unlocked the box.
[But what did you do?]
[...They just wanted true power. The power of the dark sea, not from a softie like Pola!]
[That's why you're a half-baked god. Gods don't exist just to grant power.]
He continued.
[You must become worthy of being followed. Don't you get it yet? Pola's thinking.]
[Her thinking...?]
[Why leave a key for humans who betrayed her? To give them a chance—not just humans, but...]
Shwaaak—!!!
It was then.
Cold droplets formed inside the box, erupting like a fountain. The water filling it was crystal clear.
"No way..."
Adel knew what it meant—one of the two remaining relics from when he'd first opened it.
Plop.
Pola's sacred treasure, 【Silver Harmonica】.
Kalderet picked up the small instrument from the box with his mouth and placed it before Adel.
[Pola, the one you warred with, has been here with you since you hid—from then until now.]
[H-how...?]
[What else? Consideration for her foolish little brother.]
Adel realized the faint sound that had briefly pierced the darkness was this.
[She foresaw you'd be eroded by darkness, so she left her treasure here. Her power protected you.]
Tsssk.
But as if expending its last strength, the shimmering silver harmonica turned pitch black.
[Then... Pola?]
[Gone, just like that. No trace of her energy. Likely annihilated.]
[Such a fool...]
Abyss's face twisted.
Trembling, he picked up the harmonica from the floor.
[Your wish came true. Now there's only one sea god.]
[...That's not what I wanted. I thought she was hiding somewhere, regaining strength.]
No divine dignity remained in his sobbing form—only the regret of a needy, immature brother.
"Even gods aren't perfect beings."
"Yeah..."
Kasla and Harun could only offer bitter smiles.
"Who said gods are perfect? They're far from it."
Envy, jealousy, or endless gloom like darkness—they resembled humans endlessly.
"That's why they can have it too. A chance to seize."
Step—step—step.
Adel approached Abyss slowly.
"Pola is gone. We can't revive her, but her will can manifest."
[...What?]
"The seas churn more than ever. Without a god. So restore that order."
Hummm—
Then, Adel's divine power seeped into the blackened harmonica, emitting faint light as it broke into particles absorbed into Abyss's body.
[Pola's spirit remnant.]
A small shield appeared on Abyss's wrist.
[Shield of the Sea Song. Hmph, Pola, ever the softie. Left something good for her worthless brother.]
[Why would she...]
"The seas are in chaos from your war. The one who started it must fix it. Looks like Pola gave you that chance."
[...But will anyone follow me?]
Abyss muttered lowly.
"Don't worry."
Adel grinned, glancing at Daran, who was still groaning in pain.
"I've got it all prepared."