Chapter 387: The Tree's Dungeon

The trial gave no clue beyond that, but Kael felt like he knew what he needed to do next. All he had to do was survive the upcoming plague that would start taking out the gods.

The lady of fate started to walk toward him, and she lightly touched his shoulder. He felt like everyone was looking at him, and when he tried to open his mouth, he suddenly felt like he was being nudged backwards.

“What—”

The last thing he saw was that face-like hook looking back at him. The black mass under the hood was telling him something, but he was too far away to hear her.

By the time he regained his senses, he felt disoriented, and he was back in the same seat from where he governed his world.

But now he knew—that death was coming for him and the other gods.

And this death was what would drive things to this desperate state.

“What should I do?”

A few plans started to pop into his mind, but his first priority and instinct was to protect the planet that was his home and responsibility.

It wouldn’t survive long without divine protection, and that was a fact. The very nature and resource loop of a world was based on their god’s power.

So if he died, someone else would need to inherit his authority…

But that was the path that the previous god had taken. He needed to take a new one that would not burden the people.

After all, this was a trial, and Kael had one advantage.

“My predecessor was a god, but I am still human to a degree. If I preserve myself in a way where the god-slayer can only see a human in me, won’t it not kill me?”

There was a chance things might not go his way, but Kael had to at least try.

So he spent his time suppressing and separating his parts. He had no idea how long it would take for the god-slayer to arrive, but he was ready.

…

Gods did not dream, and that was a known fact. And yet, when Kael closed his eyes, he felt like he could see into the past and stand in the body of someone else.

He was vaguely aware that he was dreaming. But it was lucid at the same time.

He was in a faraway kingdom, in a body that was struggling even more. And yet, he had to kneel in front of the emperor, who was looking back at him with greed in his eyes.

“My dear fourth son, rejoice. Your life will finally serve a purpose besides wastage. You will become our greatest pride and joy. Do you accept this honor?”

The emperor asked in a greedy voice, which made Kael flinch. He wanted nothing to do with this greedy emperor.

But the person whose body he was in was different. He could feel the love and need to be accepted inside the gentle soul.

“It would be my honor, Father.”

His mouth spoke, and Kael tried his best to resist. But he felt hands holding him down as something was pressed against his lips.

“Since you feel honored, make sure you serve me well. This shard of the world tree will transform you into the ultimate life form. You shall become our weapon and free us from the shackles known as gods.”

Kael felt himself pale at those words and that confidence. He even tried to struggle, but this stupid and useless body refused to act. It was far too subservient.

The shard went down and down his throat until it hurt. Breathing was impossible, and his insides were churning.

He was going to die here.

But the body wanted to live and prove itself to be useful. Despite the agony it was in, the will to live was stronger.

For the first time in his life, Kael felt like he was being burned from the inside and outside. His very body was being reformed, which made him want to fall unconscious. And yet, the pain did not grant him that right.

His form twisted and turned until it turned into a sword. And not just any sword, a sword with a will and purpose—to kill the gods.

There was a mirror for Kael to be able to see his new form. He could neither move nor do anything else. All he could do was lie there in sorrow and horror as he looked back at his metallic body.

“Finally, you have proven yourself to be useful, my son. Now, with this new power, we shall conquer those arrogant gods and establish a new rule for humans. Your noble sacrifice shall be etched in flames for all to see.”

Various emotions passed through the sword, but the most prominent were betrayal and anger. And those emotions were directed toward everyone, be it the gods, the humans, or even this very world.

The sword only had one purpose—to destroy it all and to get its revenge for what happened. And so, a new rule of the mad kings began.

Kael watched the scene unfold, unable to look away even as the memories began to fade.

The sword was taken away and placed inside a grand chamber, where countless scholars gathered to study it. They spoke of its potential, its power, and the glory it would bring to their kingdom.

Not once did they speak of the person who had been sacrificed to create it.

‘So this is how the god-slayer came to be.’

Kael finally understood why the gods had been so afraid. This was not merely a weapon created to kill them. It was a weapon born from hatred, one that had been given every reason to despise the world.

And now, that same hatred was coming for him.

But there was something else that bothered him.

If this was the past, then why was he experiencing it?

More importantly, why did he feel the sword’s resentment as if it were his own?