Chapter 8 – Infiltration

Being bound to a physical body, as in the case of Martyr, offered a crucial advantage: the ability to suppress his own strength. This ability allowed him to move unnoticed, an essential element for infiltrating the heart of Proxima Mortis without raising suspicion.

Unlike the other Eden, Martyr's singularity did not extend into the surrounding space, but exclusively influenced his own body. (This would be the second-type singularity I discuss in the appendix.)

Martyr's singularity was called Ignis Virtus, a power designed for battle. When Martyr extended it, his body underwent an extraordinary transformation: from a simple being of mud, he took on the form of an imposing being of flesh, as tall as an Eden. Magnificent wings of white fire, burning and majestic, sprouted from his back, making him a glorious figure.

Ignis Virtus unleashed a devastating military power, making Martyr a formidable warrior. However, the true essence of his power lay in his ability to endure any wound, embodied in his main ability: Forgiveness.

Every time Martyr uttered the word "Forgiveness," all his wounds, no matter how severe, healed immediately, as if they had never existed. This power made him virtually indomitable, capable of withstanding fatal blows and rising again, unscathed, whenever he was struck down.

In addition, Ignis Virtus allowed him to generate and manipulate a white fire, a pure flame used to deliver devastating blows, creating explosions of light and heat that swept away everything in their path.

Thanks to his physical body, Martyr could deactivate his singularity and remain unnoticed, hiding his true power until the right moment. This ability made him the perfect infiltrator, a figure balancing between the humility of mud and the glory of fire.

His power, seemingly simple, was actually a combination of devastation and redemption, strength and sacrifice. Ignis Virtus was not just a weapon: it was the very manifestation of his purpose.

To complete his offensive potential, Martyr carried with him a divine weapon forged by Pyro before his departure: a sword called Courage.

Divine weapons differ from common mortal weapons in their intimate connection with the wielder. These weapons do not simply reside in the hands of those who use them; they merge with the body and essence of their owner, ready to be summoned at the moment of need.

When a divine weapon is summoned, it manifests in all its power, responding to the desire of its bearer.

This sword literally resided in Martyr's heart, fused with his body, ready to manifest only when the moment required it. Courage was not just a simple weapon, but an extension of Martyr’s will, capable of accumulating energy during combat and then releasing it in a devastating explosion of power.

God, on the other hand, was in a more vulnerable position. The ethereal nature of his body made him ineffective in many aspects: he could wield no weapon nor physically interact with the material world. To overcome this limitation, God took possession of one of the mud bodies, a mortal shell that allowed him to act in the earthly realm.

He too, however, possessed a divine weapon: the sword called Strength, a twin to Courage, with the same ability to store energy and release it in a sweeping attack.

In God's case, the characteristic of these weapons became crucial. Although his ethereal body was ineffective at wielding a weapon, the summoning mark tied to his identity allowed him to summon Strength even while using a mud body as a vessel. The mark, after all, was not tied to the physical body but to his immortal essence.

Thanks to this connection, God could manifest Strength through the possessed body.

And now, we enter the heart of the action.

The infiltration began on the bridge of bones, the spectral connection between the two hemispheres of Proxima Mortis. To avoid prying eyes, the point of entry was chosen halfway along the bridge, a place far from both War’s and Death’s domains. The mud creatures, with their foggy minds and lack of will, didn’t question what was happening around them, so the plan could unfold without interference.

God blended with the flow of the other terrestrials, heading toward the gathering square at the foot of Death’s residence. His movements were deliberately conforming to those of the others, every step calibrated to avoid suspicion. But as God moved silently, Martyr took an entirely different route.

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Martyr was not infiltrating. His action was the complete opposite: it was an invasion in full force.

Martyr was not infiltrating. His action was deliberately the opposite: it was a full-on invasion.

Under the guise of a simple mud body, Martyr walked in the opposite direction of the mass of terrestrials, moving away from the center of the bridge to head straight for War’s domain. Step by step, his seemingly insignificant figure advanced without hesitation, ignoring the imposed rules and inevitably drawing attention.

When he reached the foot of War’s throne, the massive Eden, taken by a mix of surprise and irritation, immediately noticed him. From War’s perspective, what was happening was entirely inconceivable: a mud being was disobeying orders, challenging the very nature for which it had been created.

War, growing more irritated, ordered Martyr to turn back immediately, to return to the ranks and follow the path assigned to him. But when the supposed mud being ignored the command, War’s surprise turned into even greater astonishment.

Martyr advanced fearlessly, without responding, and in doing so extended his singularity, Ignis Virtus.

In an instant, the mud body walking toward War changed, transforming into a majestic and terrifying figure. Martyr grew to the height of his opponent, his flesh now vibrating with divine strength. Mighty wings of fire spread from his back, a blazing crown that framed his figure like a harbinger of war and sacrifice.

His transformation was an act of defiance, a wordless message that conveyed only one thing: Martyr was not there to obey, but to fight.

And it was at that moment, between the flames of Martyr’s wings and War’s furious gaze, that the silence of the confrontation was broken:

War: What are you, truly? This presence I sense is certainly not that of a mere terrestrial.

Martyr: (with a provocative tone) Me? I am the one who will end your reign, your destroyer.

War: (laughing loudly, his voice booming like thunder) Our destroyer, you say? Ah! Tell me, little fly, what do you think you can do against me and my brother? You know, the last one who dared utter such words before me... well, let’s just say I tore him apart before eating him.

Martyr: (with a mocking smile) Well, what a shame. I would have preferred to start with the stronger brother, but it seems I’ve run into the leftovers.

War: (his smile slowly fading, his gaze darkening) Watch how you speak, little one.

Martyr: (becoming more direct) Are you really so blind that you can’t see my strength? Can’t you understand the extent of the threat I represent for you? You, the great War, are nothing but an arrogant fool who lives on empty words.

(Still with a provocative tone) If you really believe what you say, then prove it. Get up from that rotten throne and face me. Show me if you’re worthy of the fame that precedes you... or will you stay there hiding behind your arrogance?

Martyr’s goal was clear, he wanted to make the Eden angry, to make him fall into the trap they had set.

At that point, War stood partially, his imposing figure casting a colossal shadow. With a fluid yet powerful motion, he drew his divine weapon: a massive axe, engraved with ancient symbols, called Clash, and each strike could shake the very fabric of matter, creating devastating earthquakes.

Still sitting, he swung the blow at Martyr, the sound tearing through the air.

The ground trembled, but Martyr had already moved, with surprising agility for a figure of his size.

He had a mocking smile painted on his face, now standing above his rival, and with one leg, he pressed War’s face hard against the backrest of the throne.

Martyr: (with a sarcastic tone) Is this really all you’ve got, great War? Your throne seems more fitting for me than for you... perhaps you should reconsider who commands here.

You’d better get serious if you want to survive. This time, I’ll spare you, but I want to have some fun. Now, behave like a good little toy and show me what you’re capable of.

War had underestimated him, he was dangerous, and he hadn’t realized that he was being manipulated.

Despite being underestimated, which had given him the chance to eliminate the enemy, Martyr wisely decided not to, as they needed to follow the plan.

The first goal was simple: reunite the two Edens, and Martyr was doing an excellent job.

The tension rose, each word of Martyr fueling War’s fury, who was preparing to respond with a rage never seen before.