Against The True Gods-Chapter 177: Visions of Horror(IV)—Defiance

Caine caressed his chin, deep in thought.

While this revelation was surprising, it wasn't entirely outlandish. He had already established that the forces of the Five Skies weren't natives but rather remnants of old allies, ancient warriors who had settled in these lands after the fall of the original humans. Given that, the presence of an external force like the Alchemy Hall made sense.

Yet, despite the logical conclusion, a frown settled on his face. Something about this felt strange. A sinister undercurrent ran through it all, something hidden beneath the surface, something crucial that tied everything together.

His instincts screamed at him, an almost primal whisper in his soul warning that the missing piece was linked to the beasts. And given that Caine's instincts were deeply tethered to his Primal Will, he was inclined to trust them.

'The Alchemy Hall is linked to external forces of incredible power… The Void Trading Alliance is deeply intertwined with the Cult and the ancient humans while also being an ally of the Velios… The Timeless Alliance is fractured and most likely corrupted… The Chaos Heaven Pagoda wants to abduct me… and the Red Sky Heavenly Temple is the strangest of them all…' His mind spun, unraveling one thread after another, yet never reaching the center of the web.

'And then there's the cult itself, the beasts, the heavenly creatures, the possible existence of demihumans, Lady Gaia, my parents…' His thoughts continued. 'But beyond all that, there's also Nova, Augustine, The Sinner…'

Caine sighed. 'What is going on? There's a key truth I'm missing… I'm so close…'

But belief alone wouldn't yield results, and he knew better than to get lost in aimless speculation. He slotted these thoughts to the back of his mind, placing them alongside the countless other pieces of the puzzle he had been uncovering bit by bit.

Exhaling, he ran a hand through his long, mane-like black curls, slicking them back. He cast one final glance at the tablet before moving away.

As he walked through the plains, lost in thought, something caught his attention. Or rather, he finally noticed something that had been there all along. Behind him, a tiny winged spirit hovered, its luminous eyes filled with curiosity. He glanced to his left—another.

To his right—more. A horde of them, all watching, all following in silent fascination.

'Have they been following me all this time?'

The moment the thought formed in his mind, all the spirits around him nodded in unison, as if they had plucked the question straight from his thoughts.

Caine was stunned.

"Hello," the spirits spoke, their voices overlapping in a chorus of warmth. "Hello, hello, hello."

Their voices were unlike anything he had ever heard, a sweet and soothing melody that seeped into the very fabric of his aspects, massaging them, easing them into a state of euphoric calm.

"Hello," Caine finally answered.

The mere echo of his voice sent waves of visible shudders through the spirits. They trembled in joy, then burst into movement, twirling and spiraling around him in a chaotic dance, their giggles like the chimes of celestial bells.

"You are a Spiritual," they said, their voices a song of innocence. "But you live like a Human."

"Why?"

Caine froze. At that moment, a deafening BOOM! went off in his mind. It was as if something had ruptured inside him, something fundamental. His thoughts scattered, his consciousness blanking for an instant before snapping back.

He exhaled sharply, steadying himself. The spirits continued to giggle, as if their task had been completed.

'I see.'

One of the reasons he had undergone the ceremony was this—an inconsistency.

In what world would someone as meticulous as him have ignored his own race for so long?

In what world would he not have studied his bloodline in depth? In what world would he have so easily accepted his bond with Elura without question?

The feeling that had gnawed at the back of his mind for so long had finally become clear—there had always been something wrong, something forcing him into a box that wasn't of his own making.

This content is taken from freёnovelkiss.com.

And just now, he had almost fallen back into it.

What was even happening? What were these visions? Where was he? Was he dead?

'How vicious.'

The moment of clarity made it obvious. Part of what was happening here was an attempt to undo the ceremony, to drag him back into the shackles he had fought to break free from. If not for the spirits, he would have been bound once more.

But now that he had fully awakened, now that he had regained clarity, it was over.

He was free—partially. After all, this was only the first of three ceremonies he intended to complete.

WHOOOOOSH!

The spirits scattered, flying away in all directions as the world around him dissolved.

Once again, Caine returned to the abyss.

***

'I wonder, what does it mean to have a mind unchained by the Heavens?'

He felt amazing, and yet, in some ways, he felt exactly the same. It was strange. He could tell something profound had changed, something that defied all known laws, but he couldn't yet grasp the full extent of it.

'If I go back to my understanding of the aspects, this is most likely due to two things—my body and comprehension. I need to strengthen my body further and study myself in depth before I can fully tap into whatever this is.'

But even with that limitation, he could feel it—this overwhelming, indescribable sense of clarity, of power.

Suddenly, a ripple spread through the abyss. Caine instinctively knew that this would be the last vision.

The darkness beneath his feet transformed into cold silver metal, etched with intricate golden runes. Around him, massive tribunals began to materialize—colossal structures housing unfathomable entities, each cloaked in overwhelming auras.

Caine's gaze swept beyond, taking in the impossible sight. The metal floors stretched endlessly, forming the foundation of a floating asteroid drifting through a vibrant, star-filled void.

At the center of the tribunals stood three figures.

One was a young woman, clad in a dark blue military uniform. Her long, wavy blonde hair framed her face, contrasting her piercing azure eyes that burned with unfiltered hatred and contempt.

In front of her, two figures were bound to crosses, their arms outstretched and nailed in place, their bodies naked and covered in blood. The white chains that shackled their ankles burned with black flames, endlessly consuming their flesh.

One was a young man, his long white hair stained red from the wounds carved across his body. The other was a young woman, her jet-black hair cascading down her back, her crimson eyes staring ahead with unshakable confidence.

Caine's heart shook.

'Is… this…'