On The Other Side: I Quit Being Human

With bated breaths, everyone waited for what to come next. Layland remained unfazed even as God’s Divinity filled the air. It was so thick that one might as well breathe in Divinity. The said God, despite facing Layland, did nothing but stare at him. He could have done something that no one could prevent to Layland but didn’t.

God’s action puzzled everyone. At one point, they wondered if the two were communicating but given Layland’s complete disinterest, they immediately concluded they weren’t. Then, what could cause God to not do anything? Was he hesitating? Why was he? The more they wondered, the more puzzled they were about their God.

Layland himself was quite puzzled but he wasn’t entirely clueless. There was a big chance that God might have figured out what his Origin did. God’s hesitation might come from the fact that he would survive his attack which would help him grow immensely. If it wasn’t the case, God might be afraid that Ilschevar would join in the fight.

By that time, the other Demon Kings might team up to beat Ilschevar, but God would have been dead. As a selfish individual, God must not want it to happen. Therefore, he hesitated. It was highly likely he was thinking about how fast he could end Layland’s life.

In the end, all of the speculations Layland made ended up being useless. God didn’t want to do anything to him. Instead of wanting to attack him, God was admiring him. He couldn’t see what face God was making but was sure about it. It was sickening to feel God’s sincere curiosity that was directed at him. However, it didn’t fully repulse him as he could also feel something familiar about God.

An appendage covered by golden light moved toward Layland and stopped before touching his mask. Layland quirked an eyebrow at the gesture before unmasking his face and flashing the existence whom everyone called God a smirk. He was taunting God to do something to him. He dared God to bet on his survivability.

Quetzalcoatl watched the scene from behind the Magic Barrier with a frown. The Demon’s audacity irked him to no end. It was one thing messing with him, but messing with God was not something Layland could afford at the moment. He thought so because he believed Layland still had his child’s soul bound to him. He could care less about Layland if it wasn’t the case.

“That punk better not be dead. I don’t mind raising my grandson, but I can’t let my granddaughter be a widow at such a young age,” Quetzalcoatl muttered before letting out a steaming breath from his nose. “He is powerful, but he is delusional to think he can take on God.”

“Should we break this Barrier and save that lad?” one of the Dragons he brought asked.

“No. God is doing his thing again—something which we will never know. If he had planned to kill that punk, he would’ve done it long ago. Though, he might do it if we get out of this Barrier. His message is clear; don’t disturb his moment with that punk.”

Hence, the Dragons kept themselves in the air and watched as the “interaction” between Layland and God unfolded. It was not until a minute passed in silence did Layland lose his smirk. At this point, he was wondering what God wanted. He questioned himself if he should touch the extended appendage. When he came to the answer, the said appendage was retracted.

The previously overwhelming yet calm Divinity that filled the air was replaced by wildly raging Divinity that lashed on everyone regardless of the side they chose. It was as if God had changed his personality. As he keenly observed God to figure out what happened, God extended his Divinity-covered appendage. The wild Divinity that scattered around suddenly became concentrated.

At this, Layland relaxed his body. His plan had worked. God would retreat. Taking his eyes away from God, his eyes met Jacques’. The said Paladin Master glared at him intensely. It was very apparent Jacques would want to have another match in the future. Layland flashed Jacques a sneer before willing his mask to cover his face.

Hum!

The air vibrated and a blinding golden light flashed. When the light died down, God disappeared with the Luxibrae Army that they had been fighting. God’s disappearance made everyone let out the breath that they had been holding. Most of the Warriors even plopped to the ground in exhaustion as they had done their best to prevent God’s Divinity from corroding their bodies.

The situation had calmed down slightly but none of them relaxed. Their main adversary might have left, but they still have an uncontrollable variable in their territory—the Dragons. As if oblivious to what could happen, Layland nonchalantly walked toward Quetzalcoatl and his entourage. This prompted the available to Warriors move to his side.

Stopping in his tracks when he thought he was close enough, Layland looked up at the fourteen flying Dragons. The fourteen Dragons looked down at him for a few seconds before deciding to descend the sky all at once.

When they reached the ground, Layland jumped into the air and kept his body suspended in it. Quetzalcoatl refused to lower his head and Layland didn’t want to break his neck by looking upward too much. That way, he was at the same eye level as Quetzalcoatl. They stared at each other silently for a few seconds before Quetzalcoatl broke the silence with his snort.

“Hmph! Your audacity never ceases to amaze me.”

“Should I feel honoured?”

“You should take that mask off before I break it for you,” Quetzalcoatl harrumphed. “Your heavy voice irritates me.”

“You should have heard your voice before you said that,” Layland countered.

“I am aware of my heavy voice. I don’t hate people with a heavy voice. I don’t like people who don’t let me hear their true voices. You are doing that.”

“That is quite a valid reasoning.”

Layland nodded his head, easily agreeing with Quetzalcoatl. He tapped the side of his neck but kept his mask on.

“What about now?” he asked with his normal voice. “You see; given the fact that I can change my voice whenever I can, it is hard to determine which is my ‘true voice.’ It can only be my true voice when I deem it one, but it may vary given my mood.”

“This punk…”

Quetzalcoatl was slightly in disbelief. He had thought Layland was being cooperative with him for once, but he was wrong. The Demon remained as defiant as ever. If Layland was not in any way related to Aurelia, he would have killed him long ago.

“Just take off your mask, so I can see your face.”

“You could have just said that from the beginning.”

Layland immediately willed his mask to uncover his face, causing it to morph into a necklace wrapped around his neck. Layland was an incredibly attractive man. His looks made Quetzalcoatl think that the only quality Aurelia saw in him was his face. Quetzalcoatl didn’t blame Aurelia but was quite disappointed by her shallow view.

“Now that we have helped you, you should fulfil your promise,” Quetzalcoatl stated. “Erase the Seal, so I can take Aurelia with me.”

“There is nothing to erase.” Layland’s matter-of-fact tone irked Quetzalcoatl but he elaborated before Quetzalcoatl exploded. “There is no baby to mind, to begin with. I was just using my close relationship with Aurelia as bait to make you come.”

“Are you joking with me?” Quetzalcoatl asked solemnly, blasting his killing intent at Layland.

“Do I look like I am joking?”𝒐𝒱𝗅xt.𝚌𝚘𝓂

Boom!

The ground sank in as Quetzalcoatl’s Mana burst forth. He couldn’t imagine he had been tricked by such a young Demon. Layland did him no harm, but he made him get out of his hidden world. Layland had brought him back to the world that he had sworn to leave.

He wouldn’t be so enraged if Aurelia had truly had such an intimate relationship with Layland. He wouldn’t easily accept it, but he wouldn’t say anything as he brought Aurelia back with the child in her belly. The truth, though, was different. Layland was just using his granddaughter to lure him out of his hidden world to achieve his goal.

Quetzalcoatl might be an old Dragon, but he was still a Dragon. His pride didn’t allow him to be disrespected like that.

“Aurelia is free to go with you. I am not even keeping her hostage since the beginning.” Layland raised his hands.

“You, punk; do you think I will let you off the hook?” Quetzalcoatl spat venomously.

“You wouldn’t want to make an enemy out of me, Quetzalcoatl. You may die but I will remain alive as your soul reaches the Oblivion.”

“Your arrogancy will kill you!”

Burst!

A fire breath came out of Quetzalcoatl’s mouth, engulfing Layland point-blank. Everyone was appalled at the scene, but no one dared to make a sound. Even Eliseus who was always confident in Layland’s ability to survive couldn’t help furrowing her eyebrows. It was not until Aurelia recovered from her shock was the silence broken.

“Old man, what are you doing!?”

Her shout tore through the air, causing Quetzalcoatl to immediately stop spewing fire. Layland’s figure could immediately be seen. He was wrapped in a pair of black wings that were decorated by glowing blue veins. Most of the wings’ membrane was burned, but it recovered quickly. His red, hot armour also immediately cooled down and regained its black colour.

Quetzalcoatl returned his gaze to Layland. He could feel something different from the Demon. It was subtle, but he could sense Layland had gotten stronger. Was Layland hiding his true power? It made him wonder if it was the reason why Layland was so confident.