Chapter 309: Destiny Has Been Broken

"True enemy? I’ve never met that man in my life. I don’t know the first thing about him or what he can do!! I don’t even know his name!!"

Cane sighed deeply and turned away.

"All you need to know is that he is the one you should worry about. Everything that is happening right now, everything that has happened before, it’s all because of him. However, I don’t know what it is, but somehow something is different."

"Everything that has happened before? Something is different now? You’re talking like you’ve lived multiple lives or something."

Cane gave Slimo an odd look, refusing to say anything to his comment. Slimo’s brain started moving at light speed.

"Wait a moment. If what you are saying is true, then-!"

Cane hushed him with his finger.

"Don’t say it, don’t think it, or your sister’s death will mean nothing. Forget I told you anything in the first place."

Even though Slimo wanted to run his thoughts to himself, he had no choice but to listen to Cane. The only reason he felt like listening to Cane was because of his intuition screaming at him to trust the same man who murdered his sister, something that he would never think possible in all his years of living.

"I... okay. I won’t."

"Good. Listen, I know you came to seek me out in search of strength, but I cannot increase your power any more than you have yourself. There is simply no way for me to do that because of your limitations as a human."

Slimo pouted, his hope slightly diminishing by the second.

"However, since I can’t give you strength, I will make your other weapon more powerful: your knowledge. I’m sure you out of all people know how valuable knowledge can be in a battle."

Slimo raised his head hopefully.

"What kind of knowledge can you give me?!"

"Knowledge on how to kill a God. Are you willing to listen?"

Slimo eagerly nodded his head.

"I am. Please, tell me."

Cane straightened his back confidently.

"Something special has appeared on this planet in the past few weeks. It feels like the Great Serpent has finally awoken from its eternal rest. If you don’t know, its powers directly oppose Zalo’s."

"I’m aware. That’s my son you are sensing. He was born merely two weeks ago."

Cane turned his head.

"Your son is The Great Serpent’s vessel? And he’s only a few weeks old?"

"Not... really. He forced his body to grow to that of an adult so it could hold his power. Also, he said that he is not the Great Serpent but did absorb his powers."

"Fascinating. However, that makes what you have to do all the more tragic."

Slimo did not like to hear where this was going.

"Just tell me what needs to be done to get rid of Zalo. I’ll make it work."

"In order to defeat Zalo in the state he currently is in, you need all three powers of this world: corruption, light, and neither. Once you combine all three together into a single transformation, you create an entity or attack so large, Zalo has no hope of ever surviving it. However, the transformation would kill everyone involved in the process."

Slimo shook his head.

"A person with no power, that would be me. My son would be the person with light powers. Are you saying I need to combine with Maria or Jacob for this to work?"

"If you are referring to the two with the skull marks on them, I am afraid you cannot. Especially if their transformation becomes complete, you cannot hope to combine with them."

"Then, who could we combine with? We don’t know anyone else who has corruption in them."

"Ah, but you do. I could sense it in all of your blood. Those folks of Iron Kingdom. Their blood is special. Each one is steeped in Zalo’s blood. That means as long as you have someone in your group who is from Iron Kingdom, they will be the third sacrifice with you."

Slimo wanted to jump off the cliff hearing Cane talk. It was madness. He was telling Slimo he had to choose between his wife, Squabee, or Sarah to join in his sacrifice. In addition, his son didn’t have a choice in being sacrificed. He and Slimo were necessary for its completion.

"I... can’t do this. There has to be another way. We’re all strong. We don’t need this stupid transformation for it to work. My wife has light powers, but... I can’t simply choose between her or my son."

Cane didn’t move or say anything. He simply stared at Slimo mournfully.

"You don’t have to listen to me. Knowledge is still a tool. It is ultimately up to you whether you decide to use this tool or not. As for your wife, she cannot be a vessel of light power. It has to be the Great Serpents. His blood is the purest."

"Absolutely not. There’s no way I can make such a sacrifice. There has to be something more you can tell me. Zalo has to have another weakness somehow!"

"I already told you before what his weakness was. His followers are his conduits of power. The more followers you kill, the weaker he becomes. However, you can’t kill Zalo by simply getting rid of all of his followers, it would only make him weaker."

"What if Jacob and Maria do complete their transformation? My son and wife directly oppose his power as well! Would we stand a chance then?"

Cane narrowed his eyes.

"I’m not saying that the solution I gave you is the only one. I was simply trying to expand your options. However, when your back is against the wall and desperation grasps your heart, even the most stubborn people in the world will do what they can to protect those they care about."

Slimo groaned as Cane placed a firm hand on his shoulder.

"Remember, Zalo isn’t your true enemy. I would even argue he is merely a millionth of the power you must face after him. When I say that what I am telling you may be the only way for humanity to live on, for everyone to be free, I truly mean that with all my heart. Every action from every person matters."

He leaned into Slimo’s face, getting uncomfortably close before whispering something under his breath.

"Because destiny has already been broken."

Slimo’s eyes widened hearing his last sentence, mumbling to himself under his breath.

"Destiny... has been broken."

Cane turned away and sat on the edge of the cliff, looking out into the vast frozen sea. Suddenly, a shockwave rippled the ground underneath them. Cane laughed feeling its power.

"It seems like it’s time for you to get ready. You better hurry back before you’re late."

Slimo hesitated, an ominous feeling passing through his soul.

"Catch this."

Cane tossed Slimo a strange bracelet. He studied its strange structure before sliding it on his wrist. Slimo’s strength exploded tenfold. He could feel his energy condensing in his blood. It felt like he could move an entire continent if he wished.

"What did you give me? I thought you said you couldn’t make me stronger?"

"A parting gift, and I meant I couldn’t make you nearly strong enough to face Zalo. That bracelet will simply help you get back and give you the upper hand when facing his goons. Now hurry back before the fight starts without you. It’s been a pleasure meeting you, Slimo. I won’t forget about you for all of eternity."

Slimo nodded and turned back around, facing north. He took in a deep breath, planted his feet firmly on the ground, then disappeared into the wind, leaving behind nothing but a trail of dust.

Cane sighed and wistfully looked off into the distance.

"Please, don’t lose. I can’t wait another three eons for someone like her to appear again. I wish to see beyond this view... even if just for a moment."

Slimo’s body exploded through tens of thousands of monsters as he ran. Blood rained in the air like a tsunami.

"We will defeat you, Zalo. I refuse to sacrifice anyone for this victory. We will find another way."

His mind drifted to Cane’s final words.

’Zalo isn’t your true enemy... the real enemy is millions of times stronger than Zalo.’

The mere suggestion that such a being existed was beyond unfathomable in Slimo’s head.

"That bandaged freak can’t be that powerful. He’s hardly any larger than I am. We’ll kill him and Zalo no problem. You just watch, Cane."

Sitting high above the clouds, the bandaged man floated in the air, watching Slimo zip across the continent at incredible speeds. His dark chuckle shook the air around him.

"My, is there anything more tasteful than despair? Oh, dearest Slimo. You have always been one of my favorites in the end. This may be the most entertaining I’ve ever seen you. Perhaps, there have been some good things in these changes that have come about. If that pitiful god, Zalo can’t show you what it truly means to lose everything..."

His covered fingers grabbed the collar of his suit and pulled tightly.

"Then I will."