Against The True Gods-Chapter 56: Elura(II)-Childish

"Their plan was rather simple. Attract a member of the alliance here to gain their so-called legacy, then, at the last moment, pull them into this place."

"This place where we’re currently in is called a Soul Prison. By trapping the member here, they planned to overtake their body and slowly infiltrate the alliance."

"But things changed. The day they settled and created the realm, they were ruthlessly suppressed by the World Will Eye, which recognized them as foreigners."

"Then, the various factions of the world attacked and annihilated them, destroying their physical forms and leaving them on the brink of extinction. But such possibilities were the reason I was required in the first place."

"Using my abilities, I salvaged parts of their souls and conserved them, storing them here, ready to attack and take over anyone who was compatible enough."

"This prison, which had once been intended to create a double agent, became their last hope—a final chance to revive and find vessels before the fragments of their souls inevitably collapsed and they truly ceased to exist."

The implications were clear—Caine would have to battle these so-called Elemental Lords if he ever wanted to leave this place alive.

Yet, despite the gravity of the situation, Caine remained unshaken. His mind felt startlingly calm, free of the complexities that might normally weigh him down in such a moment.

He didn’t know why, but he felt incredibly liberated. Unrestrained.

His thoughts flowed like a gentle stream, smooth and unbroken, while his heart seemed immune to fear or hesitation. It was as if he could process everything clearly, act decisively, and remain untouched by doubt.

Perhaps it was the mutations that had occurred during his fusion with Elura. Or perhaps it was because his Soul Form, unbound by the limitations of his body, now stood at the forefront. Whatever the reason, he felt good.

Elura fluttered her wings lightly and flew over to perch on his shoulder. The tension she had once felt in his presence was gone, replaced by an inexplicable comfort. It was strange—a sharp contrast to the fear she’d been consumed by earlier.

But unlike the delicate, almost chaotic dynamic Caine shared with Lilith, this bond was different. It felt natural, clear. Elura was now undeniably a part of Caine, as though she were his kin, his blood.

Updated from freewёbnoνel.com.

The suddenness of the transformation might have alienated her, yet she found herself at ease with it. What had felt unnatural moments ago now seemed like it had always been.

Caine, too, was at peace with her presence, though for entirely different reasons. He understood that, as his Bond, Elura was incapable of harming him. Though he had no desire to do so, he could read her memories at will or even take control of her actions if he wanted.

But he wouldn’t. The advantage of having a Bond like Elura, with her unique origins and vast knowledge, was far more valuable than any power play. She was a treasure trove of insight—a living, walking encyclopedia.

And though he mourned the loss of his five baby Bonds, he couldn’t deny the trade-off had been worth it.

"Une de perdue, cinq de retrouvées," he mused wryly. Though, in this case, the reverse seems to hold true."

"When will these Lords show themselves?" he asked, rising to his feet.

Elura froze mid-flutter, clearly shaken by the question. "You plan to confront them? That’s… suicidal!" she exclaimed, darting around his head like a panicked moth. "Let’s find another way to leave! There must be an escape—"

"No." Caine’s tone was firm. "I already have ideas for what I want to do with them. I’ll face them."

"They are far beyond the Realm of Blood!" Elura cried, her wings flapping frantically as she hovered in front of him. "Not only are they FAR beyond the Realm of Blood, but they also have millennia of experience! You have no idea what you’re up against!"

"Did you not say this would be a battle of the soul?" Caine asked. His crown flared into existence atop his head, casting an oppressive aura that washed over the space.

"When you look at me…" He gestured to himself. "…does it seem like I’m lacking in that department?"

"Yes!" Elura retorted without hesitation. She was no longer affected by the pressure he exuded, now fully adjusted to their bond. "I didn’t say it would be a battle of the soul! I said nothing about the type of battle you’ll face!"

She flew closer, jabbing a tiny finger toward him. "This will be a battle of the mind—a challenge you are not prepared to face."

Caine raised a brow. "There’s a difference between the mind and the soul? That’s news to me."

Elura froze, staring at him with wide eyes. In an instant, she remembered how little Caine knew about the broader workings of the universe. No, it wasn’t ignorance, she realized—it was isolation. His world had kept him confined, cut off from the greater truths of existence.

Caine noticed the revelation dawning on her but chose not to comment. He could guess what she was thinking.

It all came back to the nature of his world. The fact that his world had a name—The Five Brilliant Sky World—implied the existence of others. After all, if there were no others, why not simply call it existence?

Caine knew other worlds existed. He even understood how they formed, at least conceptually. But he had never seen, heard, or encountered anything beyond his own world and the Three Realms. The isolation of The Brilliant Five Sky World was absolute.

Why this isolation existed, he didn’t know. But it was clear Elura understood more than she was letting on.

She exhaled deeply, visibly composing herself. "The details are… complicated," she began cautiously. "But the crux of it is this: the battle ahead will test your mind. And the mind can only be tempered by time."

"No matter how talented you are, this is a gap you cannot bridge—conventionally. Even unconventional methods would take years to achieve the level of preparation needed to face them."

"Battling them would be suicidal," she concluded, her tone resolute. "No matter how powerful your soul may be."

Caine nodded, and for a brief moment, Elura relaxed, a small smile tugging at her lips. But then he crossed his arms and grinned—a mischievous, almost childish expression that sent a chill down her spine.

Her heart sank.

At that moment, Caine looked like a stubborn toddler, his shit-eating grin broadcasting one unmistakable message: My stance won’t change.