CHAPTER 175 – PROMISE OF THE TWO OUTER GODS
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TWO DECADES AGO – DURING THE END OF THE DRAGONOID LIBERATION WAR
A deafening explosion shattered the air, followed by a blinding flash of light that enveloped me completely. It felt as if I were witnessing the birth of the universe itself, a cosmic spectacle unfolding before my eyes. Despite the sensation of my body disintegrating, a warm feeling of love permeated through me. Perhaps this was the power of the Vesryn Pulse. Perhaps it was the power born from the love between a human and a dragonoid.
"Necross."
A voice, gentle yet profound, resonated within my very soul. Even as my physical form vanished, I felt the presence of someone communicating with me telepathically. In the dazzling light, I saw the silhouette of an ethereal being, her features delicate and otherworldly. Her crimson eyes, deep and empathetic, gazed at me with a hint of pity. Her golden hair, luminous and flowing, danced like sunlight through the particles of light. She wore a white robe that billowed like clouds, enhancing her goddess-like presence.
"You have been defeated. It’s not because of me, nor Amphere, nor Airelina. You have been defeated by the very essence of the Vesryn Pulse,” the mysterious figure whispered.
"Goddess Exceria..." I murmured, the name escaping my lips like a sacred incantation.
The goddess smiled, her expression serene and filled with divine grace.
"So this is the power of the Vesryn Pulse. This warm feeling. I wanted to feel it too," I confessed, my voice carrying the weight of yearning.
"You can," Goddess Exceria replied gently. "But you must set aside all your unholiness and divinity. If you want to experience this wonderful feeling, then you must be reincarnated as a completely mortal being—without your powers and invulnerabilities."
"Is this why you chose to have a mortal body despite being an Outer God like us?" I asked, curiosity tinged with understanding.
Exceria remained silent, her eyes distant as she placed a hand over her chest, as if reminiscing about the precious, rhythmic beating of her heart.
“My first husband as a mortal being... the Dragon King,” Goddess Exceria began, her voice tinged with a bittersweet longing. “Even though we fought side by side to destroy your First Ascension, I still failed to save him. Somehow, despite you being our enemy, I find myself wanting to save you too.”
“Please help me then, oh Goddess Exceria,” I implored, my voice trembling with desperation. “Please let me understand how to live like a mortal. Please let me have a taste of this wonderful feeling that you call love.”
Goddess Exceria smiled, a gentle, knowing smile that seemed to hold the wisdom of the ages.
“Someday, for sure,” she assured me softly. “The King of Humanity is destined to summon you into a mortal form. It is written. You will live like a normal person, born into a completely ordinary family, and you will fall in love—and experience the power of the Vesryn Pulse. I promise, it will grant you a surreal feeling that no Outer God can ever know.”
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“I can’t wait,” I murmured, anticipation stirring within me.
As the light began to dim and recede, the goddess too disintegrated into tiny particles of light, scattering like stardust in the void.
I will hold onto Goddess Exceria’s promise until the day I am reincarnated as a mortal being. The Demonic Cathedrals of the planet will be enough for the King of Humanity to execute my Final Ascension.
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LYSANDER FARADEISS
I awoke to the sensation of a sweet kiss on my lips. As my eyes fluttered open, I saw the woman I loved lying next to me in bed. She gave me a carefree smile, her cheeks tinged with a blush, and her elven ears turned a delicate shade of red.
"Hiraya..." I muttered, still half-dreaming.
"Ahaha..." Hiraya chuckled softly, her laughter like a gentle melody. "I was planning to surprise you with a kiss, but something unexpected happened instead."
The dream I had just experienced felt surreal, almost as if it were a glimpse into a past life. To confirm my suspicions, I needed to ask her.
"Do you mean the dream? Did you see it too?" I asked, searching her eyes for understanding.
Hiraya nodded, her smile unwavering. "It's not technically a dream for me; it's more like an Oracle's Vision. The kiss I just gave you must have triggered something from back when we were both gods and goddesses, hehe. Maybe we are truly meant to be with each other once we both become mortals."
Her words sent a rush of warmth through me, and I found myself blushing at Hiraya's remark. Although I had no recollection of my memories as the Outer God Necross, I felt an inexplicable connection to Goddess Exceria, as if our destinies were intertwined long ago.
However, the reality of our situation quickly brought me back to my senses. There was still one looming threat—humanity and its King. As long as bloodshed remained unresolved, both Hiraya and I had no future to look forward to.
Even though I had already resigned myself to having no future, I wanted more than anything for Hiraya to live a long and happy life. That was why I was willing to sacrifice everything for her. That was why my hands were stained with blood—so that hers could remain clean.
I slowly raised myself from the bed, feeling the soreness in my scarred body, and gently pulled the blanket away. Hiraya kept the blanket wrapped around her, covering her naked form, and looked at me with concern in her golden eyes.
"Lysander..." she muttered, her eyes shimmering with a pleading expression like that of a begging puppy.
"Hiraya... I’m sorry. This is for the sake of the Altered Regression Plan. Someone must play the role of the villain to defeat a greater evil," I said softly, the weight of my decision heavy on my conscience.
"I understand," Hiraya replied, her gaze shifting to one of determination. "Even if I'm completely against it, even if I don't want you to hurt yourself any further, I will still support you. I know this is the only way."
"Thank you," I said, a small, bittersweet smile playing on my lips as I met her gaze. "I've finished executing Gazelle Lockwood's Purge of Humanity plan. The human population has been reduced to ten percent, and my powers as Necross will complete the task. The last settlement is at the southwestern edge of Alterra, and I will destroy them before they can strike against the Yggdrasil Tree."
"Good luck, Lysander," Hiraya said with a faint, wavering smile. "But before you go, let me ask you one question..."
"What is it?" I asked, bracing myself for her words.
"Did you really kill our friends?" Hiraya asked, her voice laced with worry. "Did you really kill Kate? Charlotte? Gaeun? Meike?"
I stayed silent, the words I wanted to say trapped in my throat. I didn’t want to lie to her, but I wanted her to hate me. Yet, no matter how many times I tried to push her away, I knew I would fail. Her love for me was unwavering and unconditional. I looked down at the ground, wrestling with what to say.
"No, never mind," Hiraya said, shaking her head. "I know you're well aware that I already know the truth."
I took a deep breath and sighed, trying to ease the tension coiled within me.
"Wait for me here. After tonight, everything will be over. The King of Humanity will die, and the Altered Regression Plan will commence," I said, determination hardening my voice.
"Okay then, honey," Hiraya replied with a teasing lilt in her voice. "Just come back early so that we can have lots of love together."
"Uh, honey?" I asked, forcing a smile despite the turmoil inside. "Can we please have normal sex tonight?"
"No. Turn yourself into Necross Mode," Hiraya scolded, a playful glint in her eyes.