“One true goddess? Ruler of these lands?”

Gustav mumbled Kelz’s words while looking at her.

(She’s the only one with gold in her hair and golden eyes.)

He smirked and bowed.

“So are we expected to kneel or bow before your highness?”

“No, since we’re cooperating.”

“I see.”

Gustav straightened his back.

“So I take it your position as ruler was stolen from you and you were banished to the lower island by who did it?”

“Not entirely true, but you’re not far off. A good guess.”

“Thanks, I’m a fan of fantasy novels and this type of thing happens a lot.”

Gustav puffed his chest out proudly. Roxanne pushed him behind her and faced Kelz.

“My apologies, but when you say goddess do you mean those who created these islands?”

(Father doesn’t mind taking his time learning about the origins of this place and its people, but I think it’s important to know now before we get ourselves too involved.)

Roxanne’s eyes narrowed.

(Especially if the enemy is people of her level.)

Kelz looked at her and chuckled a bit.

“I guess it’s natural you’d be interested in what I am.”

She pointed at herself.

“I’m a direct descendant of the gods who created this place. That makes me a goddess.”

“….When you say goddess.”

“Goddess. I don’t mean in a poetical sense or as a title, I mean in the literal sense.”

Kelz looked at Roxanne and the others and saw doubt in their eyes. Only Gustav’s eyes were sparkling.

She sighed.

“This happens when the world advanced in the wrong direction.”

She stood up and placed her right hand on her left arm. With one swift movement, she ripped her arm off.

“Wha?!”

Eyes peeled open and jaws dropped as Kelz's blood sprayed in the air.

“Why—”

Roxanne swallowed her words. Blood stopped spraying as Kelz's wound closed. She blinked profusely as a new arm grew to replace the old one. The entire process was less than 10 seconds. Kelz threw the old arm at Janx who caught it and took it away.

“Girl, how old do I look to you?”

Roxanne didn’t answer immediately. The question made her realize something.

(This woman is far older than she looks.)

“Going by the pace of things, I’ll say 100 years old give or take.”

Gustav answered for Roxanne.

“Close. I’m 262 this year.”

(How the hell is that close?!)

Roxanne screamed in her head.

Kelz sat in her seat.

“Think about it like this, I’m the descendant of the beings who can grant immortality, superhuman strength, and regeneration. What are those beings if they aren’t gods?”

“Then our enemies are beings like that? Gods like you?”

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

“That’s right.”

(We all agreed to join her because we thought our opponents would only be stronger than Janx and Magnax, but I’m starting to see the magnitude of what we’re getting ourselves into.)

Roxanne clenched her fists. A grin slowly crawled on her face.

“This will be the greatest battle of our lives.”

Kelz nodded.

“It’s good to see that you’ve finally understood.”

“Now that’s settled, let’s get down to business.”

Gustav stood in front of Roxanne.

“What do you want us to do?”

While Gustav and Kelz’s group met up, something else was happening in this city. While Kelz held a significant amount of authority, she wasn’t the only one.

“Come in.”

A man sat in his office going through a stack of documents. He swept his blue dreadlocks out of his eyes as he answered a knock on the door without looking away. The door opened and a man dressed in a suit walked in. His skin was fair, his red hair was swept back, and there was a cut across his otherwise dignified face.

“What is it, Julius?”

The man's brows furrowed looking at Julius entering his office.

“I’ve heard my people have visited the island again.”

“Outsiders? Then they must’ve been killed.”

“Not from what I hear. They were apparently captured by two scouts who turn them over to the security forces for questioning.”

“So why are you reporting this to me?”

“The outsiders have broken out of their cells and disappeared.”

“That’s a big deal, but not my problem.”

“Yes, but the one who’s your problem might be involved.”

The man looked at Julius and frowned.

“Why do you always speak in a roundabout way? You could’ve opened with that.”

“Because I love the build-up to that troubled look on your face.”

Julius smiled. The man clicked his tongue in irritation.

“The only reason Lady Kelz would be involved is if she plans to use those outsiders to help her rebel.”

“I thought the same, so I came to report to you, Drax. However, I find it hard to believe she would rebel with only 8 outsiders. It doesn’t makes sense.”

“It doesn’t make sense for us, but for that goddess this is nothing.”

Drax grimaced.

“I want to avoid her going all out to return to the promised land. If she returns, this place might sink from her battle with the Lord.”

“That’s why the Lord sent you here, to keep her in check.”

Julius leaned on Drax’s desk.

“So what should we do?”

“There are people who will come after us soon.”

Back under her mansion, Kelz was talking to Gustav’s group.

“It won’t take a genius to figure out I allowed you to escape. They’ll immediately know I’m making my move to return to the Promised Land.”

“So we don’t have much time, but is there anyone here who can take you on?”

Gustav answered.

“On the lower island, only one. He’s the ruler of this realm, Drax. He’s originally from the Promised Land like me and was sent down here to keep me in check. He’s probably on his way with his army of soldiers to fight me.”

“So we’re going to war right off the bat?”

“Do you have a problem with that?”

“Nope. The faster we get the medicine the faster I can save the one I want.”

“Good, because I also want to reclaim what’s mine.”

Janx handed Kelz a chest. She opened it and took out a vial with a golden liquid.

“Inside this is concentrated God Essence. Janx and Magnax should’ve already explained it’s God Essence that gives us our abilities. It can be found in all living things on this island.”

She threw it at Gustav.

“If you drink this, it will be like you’ve absorbed a year worth of food from this place.”

“So we’ll become far stronger than we are.”

Gustav lifted the vial before his eyes.

“Risks?”

“Your body might explode.”

“Well, fuck.”

“Are you scared?”

Kelz smirked. Gustav opened the vial and threw the liquid down his throat. Kelz’s eyes widened.

“Do not love your life? What if it was poison?”

“Then my soldiers will avenge me by sinking this island. Either way, I’ll win.”

(Win? How would him dying be considered a win?)

Gustav’s words puzzled Kelz.

“How do you feel?”

Roxanne asked him. Gustav clenched his fists.

“Not much different.”

Kelz’s eyes narrowed. She took out another vial and gave it to Roxanne.

“You’re next.”

Roxanne looked at the vial for a bit before opening it and swallowing what was inside.

“?!”

Her entire body pulsated.

“Ugh!”

She dropped to one knee holding her chest.

“Roxanne!”

Damini and Gina rushed to check on her. Chul and Raphael were grabbed by Gustav and pulled back from rushing at Kelz.

“Calm down.”

Gustav spoke with a low and stern voice, one that you couldn’t disobey. Kelz pointed at Roxanne.

“This is how one should act after drinking Goddess Essence.”

She pointed at Gustav.

“You being completely unaffected is beyond abnormal.”

Gustav kneeled and rubbed Roxanne’s back while looking at Kelz.

“What can I say, maybe I’m just different.”

He showed a smirk.

“Ugh…I’m fine. I’m fine.”

Roxanne spoke while breathing heavily.

“How do you feel?”

Gina asked her.

“It’s as if there’s a fire in my stomach. It feels like my body temperature is rising.”

Dark sweat started oozing out of her body.

“Your body is adjusting properly. After a few hours, you’ll be fine.”

Kelz stood up holding vials in her hand.

“The rest of you, drink up. You need to get stronger if you’re gonna be any use.”

Gustav stood up and looked at Ryder who was leaning against a wall sleeping.

(Ryder is an anomaly. I don’t know how he’ll react to drinking this essence. It’s possible he’ll go on a rampage. If that happens….)

Gustav took one of the vials.

(I’ll just take him down.)

He walked over to Ryder, stooped down, and smacked his cheek a bit.

“Ugh…”

Ryder slowly opened his eyes with a groan.

“Ryder, we’re going to be killing gods so I need you to drink this mystery liquid and get stronger.”

“……..”

Ryder looked at Gustav in a daze. He took the vial, opened it, and drank it.

“Guh?!”

His eyes rolled to the back of his head and he passed out again. Gustav stood up and turned around. Everyone was on the ground groaning in pain. Kelz was looking at him in silence. He just shrugged. She opened her mouth but closed it. She looked at the ceiling.

“They’re here.”

Above, Drax and Julius were in Kelz’s yard with hundreds of soldiers armed from head to toe.

“Alright, Lady Kelz. Let’s get this over with.”