Only God-Chapter 524 - 450 The Real Taboo

God of Lies and Deceit, Slaier, like an undying specter, reappeared before Baird.

He laughed heartily at the Hero before him as if he were the sole victor.

"Baird, poor Baird,"

"Just one step away, and you would have returned to the Mortal World and bid farewell to the agonizing Netherworld.

But you ultimately broke the taboo, lost not only your victory but also your dignity."

Baird’s ears were full of Slaier’s mockery, the Divine entity that ruled over lies and deceit trampled recklessly on the Hero before him.

Because of the Divine wager, Baird fell into death and entered the Netherworld where he lived like a walking corpse for thousands of years. Now, having faced all the tribulations of the Netherworld, he was about to embrace the hard-earned reward, yet he was just one step shy of leaving the Netherworld.

Slaier moved from in front of Baird to behind him, his presence like a haunting specter. The chilly wind of the Netherworld approached slowly, like invisible ropes binding Baird’s limbs, dragging the deceased Hero back into the depths of the Netherworld.

"Baird, what are you thinking? Returning to the Mortal World? Are you trying to escape death?"

"No, no one can escape death. In that distant ancient nation of Lipo, there was a King who longed for Eternal Life, he was even the progeny of the Fire God, but what became of him? Nothing but void."

"Even Demigods must face the cruelty of death, even they, after all, come to naught, must understand they are nothing more than human!"

Slaier’s sarcasm and scorn stung like needles piercing the heart, relentlessly perforating Baird’s dead spirit.

The Hero knelt on the ground, staring straight ahead at the beautiful Mortal World, like a statue.

In that Mortal World, his name was passed down through generations, countless people sighed with admiration at his legend, and numerous others set off for the battlefield inspired by his heroic deeds. Minstrels sang of his name as though singing of an immortal Divine entity.

Baird knew how they praised him.

Oh, Baird, a Hero like the Divine.

Mortals showered praise upon him like this, his name even more magnificent and radiant in the annals of history than many Divine entities.

But what of it in the end?

He still had to submit before the Divine.

Himself...

Just a human!

Slaier had succeeded, once again, his previous wagers had sent Baird to death, and now his trap prevented Baird from being reborn.

Such was the power of the Divine.

Those Divine Statues that stood high in the Temples symbolized a chasm that mortals could not cross.

"You’ve succeeded... you’ve succeeded..."

Baird muttered almost trance-like.

Slaier revealed a cruel smile,

"Yes, I have succeeded, and I always will for I am Divine, and you are but a mortal."

"Go back, Baird, enjoy your afterlife."

"Mortals must always follow the arrangements of the Divine."

Following the Divine’s arrangement...

How true those words were.

The Divine were the creators of mortals, exalted and powerful enough to control their every being.

Baird stared blankly at the Mortal World before him.

That world... was so beautiful, as if within reach.

Yet, yet...

Baird profoundly felt remorse.

But what could he do?

He was nothing more than a mere mortal.

It was time to return to the Netherworld.

Baird rose to his feet like a walking corpse, as Slaier’s silhouette swayed before him and mocking laughter lingered in his ears.

Compared to the Hero’s towering stature, the God of Lies and Deceit seemed quite frail.

This scene caught Baird’s glance.

On the outside, that didn’t look like a Divine entity, but rather like a feeble mortal.

Baird was somewhat astonished.

Could it be... the Divine were born so feeble?

He had worshiped those high Divine Statues, their stone forms far more solid than flesh, their meticulously carved expressions far more solemn than any human face, but now, they seemed to be made of the same flesh and blood as himself.

The Hero felt bewildered.

Why, before this, before breaking the taboo, had he never perceived the Divine as frail?

Yes...

Frail, flesh and blood, yet far weaker than himself.

A touch of madness, unprecedented, slowly filled the Hero’s eyes.

Since the taboo had already been broken... then why not, why not...

He had endured all the trials of the Netherworld, received the Divine’s blessing, and thus earned a chance to leave the Netherworld. But he didn’t genuinely thank the Divine; because of them, he received grace but also encountered death.

Baird gazed straight into his heart.

There, in that deepest place, was an indelible hatred...

And,

The desire to break the taboo.

A taboo... that no mortal had ever broken.

From the very beginning of creation, it had coursed through their blood, a taboo deep within their souls...

Slaier stood before Baird, seemingly waiting for the Hero to return to the Netherworld under his mocking gaze.

But in that instant,

Baird fiercely drew his Longsword from his waist and thrust it towards Slaier’s chest. The slicing sound of the blade tore through the space where Netherworld and Mortal World intersected, and then Divine blood fell from midair.

Slaier’s eyes widened, as if unable to believe what was happening before him.

With a twist of his hands, Baird drove the sword deeper, piercing through the feeble body.

The frail body struggled as it looked at Baird, finding no trace of reverence but endless rage and mockery for taking a life.

The Hero’s gaze seemed to say:

You are not worthy to be my enemy.

As Baird tightened his grip on the Longsword, pinning Slaier like nailing him to a wall, gradually the God of Lies and Deceit ceased to struggle, his limbs went limp, and his breath ceased entirely.

Godslaying...

It was the world’s most terrifying taboo.

And also...

An unforgivable sin.

Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m