The Outergod's Avatar-Chapter 57: Traitor

Izikel was just as shocked as Sophia to see the Legion Commander.

Admittedly, he was just as relieved, but only for a few seconds. This was Flavius Argenthex, the man who cut of his head.

"You all are lucky I was waiting at the village entrance," Flavius said, his tone flat as he placed Sophia gently down beside Izikel and Lyzah. By now, the wolf had already disappeared, fading away like a ghost.

"I’m glad to see you are okay, Lord Izikel. Just give me a moment... let me handle this."

He stepped forward, turning to face the beast that loomed ahead. The monster was powerful—enough to tear apart soldiers like paper—but it hesitated now, wary of this new presence.

Izikel blinked, unsure of what to believe.

The commander hadn’t even unsheathed his sword. He stood there completely calm, shoulders squared, hands empty. Yet the beast hesitated, snarling, its claws flexing nervously.

"What are you waiting for, mister? We don’t have all day," Flavius said with a flat tone, his voice almost bored.

As if enraged by his words the beast finally charged.

There was no hesitation now. With a roar, it lunged at Flavius, jaws wide open to crush him in a single bite.

Flavius didn’t flinch.

He simply took a firm stance, grounding himself.

Then, with inhuman strength, he caught the monster’s open jaws in mid-air—one hand on the upper jaw, the other on the lower. The force of the impact sent dust and leaves flying, but Flavius held firm, stopping the beast cold.

With a grunt, he shoved the creature back and flung it aside almost like it weighed nothing.

The monster rolled, got back on its feet with a snarl, and charged again. But this time, Flavius didn’t even let it get close.

He stepped aside, dodging with graceful ease, and retaliated with a punishing series of punches—each hit causing tremors in the ground beneath them.

He wasn’t just fighting the beast. He was winning.

With only his fists.

Izikel couldn’t believe what he was witnessing. Flavius himself—stood alone, fighting a beast that had taken everything they had to escape from. A monster that could easily snap a man in two. And Flavius hadn’t even lifted a blade.

Just how powerful is this man?

Then another thought struck Izikel. Something small—but deeply unsettling.

’Wait... did he say village? Then how did he get here so fast?’

Izikel turned to glance in the direction of the village. It was far—very far. Much farther than anyone could travel in such a short time. Even on a fast mount, it didn’t make sense.

No matter how the monster attacked—slashes, bites, stomps—the Legion Commander dodged and countered with brutal precision. It became clear, very quickly, that the beast was outmatched.

And the beast realized it too.

With a final snarl and a bloodied limp, it turned and sprinted back into the forest, tail tucked in retreat.

"Seems like it got away," Flavius said, brushing dust off his armor.

"Too bad, if it were night time, I would’ve ended it with a single strike." He sighed, a note of disappointment in his voice.

"Well, at least it looks like everyone is safe."

But just then, Sophia collapsed.

Izikel and Lyzah both rushed to her side, concern written all over their faces. Flavius knelt beside her and checked her pulse.

"Don’t worry," he said calmly. "She’s just tired. She’ll wake up after some rest."

He gently picked her up in his arms, as if she weighed nothing at all, and stood.

"Let’s go."

No one argued.

They began walking back toward the village, still far off in the distance. The journey was quiet, but Izikel couldn’t stop thinking.

He looked up at Flavius again, this man who had just saved their lives, who had stood against a monster without breaking a sweat. It made sense that he was this strong, after all he had already overcome two trials in his second stage of Divinity, just one more and he would enter the next stage.

Comparing his strength to that of Sophia who is also a Blessed saint in the second stage of Divinity but hadn’t passed any trial, showed just how much stronger he was.

But that wasn’t all he was thinking about. He hadn’t told Sophia about his suspicions, about Flavius’s possible involvement, because he had no proof. Only that strange dream. A dream he couldn’t explain. A dream that felt like a warning.

Now, after what he’d seen... he wasn’t sure anymore.

Maybe Flavius really was innocent. Maybe whatever Raynoel was involved in, the commander had no part of it.

Then what did the dream mean?

He was torn. If he told Flavius about Raynoel’s betrayal and the commander was involved, it could get them all killed. But if he stayed quiet and did nothing, the truth might never come out, which might end up putting him in even more danger.

And that uncertainty gnawed at him.

They walked in silence until the village rooftops finally came into view, tiny and distant against the green.

"Lord Izikel," Flavius said suddenly, glancing over his shoulder, "are you not going to tell me what happened?"

Izikel hesitated. His mind ran in circles.

"I understand if you’re scared," Flavius said, his voice softer now. "But by the grace of the Lunar Goddess, I promise you—no harm shall come to you."

Izikel looked at him. There was nothing threatening in the commander’s expression. Just calm. Steady. Controlled.

And the truth was, if Flavius had wanted them dead, they would’ve been dead already.

With a heavy breath, Izikel gave in.

He told the commander everything. As much as he could remember. From the moment they ambushed, to the betrayal, to their escape from the heretics, giving Felvin and Sophia most of the glory for their escape in order to avoid any suspicions.

Flavius listened silently, his expression unreadable.

When Izikel finished, the commander didn’t say anything at first. But there was a flicker of something in his eyes—doubt, perhaps. Or anger.

But it wasn’t directed at them.

When they finally reached the saint quartes, Flavius handed Sophia off to a healer and gestured for Izikel and Lyzah to follow him to his office.

"I know you both would want to rest after such a troubled experience," he said, now standing tall, his arms folded. "But this isn’t a matter that can wait."

Before Izikel could answer, there was a knock at the door.

"Come in... Raynoel," Flavius called without turning.

The door creaked open. Raynoel stepped inside, but froze the moment he saw Izikel and Lyzah. His face dropped.

"Fuck," he muttered under his breath.

"I suspect you know why I called you?" Flavius asked, his voice colder now. A heavy silence fell over the room.

"N-no, commander. I have no idea," Raynoel stammered, beads of sweat already forming on his brow.

"Okay then. Lord Izikel, repeat what you just told me."

Izikel didn’t hesitate.

"Oh, I said you sold us to heretics," he said, staring straight into Raynoel’s eyes. "Why are you playing dumb?"

"LORD IZIKEL!" Raynoel shouted, voice trembling. "How can you say that?! I would never betray my goddess like that!"

"Liar!" Lyzah screamed, tears threatening in her eyes. "You gave us away to those people, and because of you, Felvin died! You’re a monster!"

"Why would you do that?" she cried, her voice breaking.

Raynoel stepped back, visibly shaken. "Little girl, stop saying things like that! I’m the First Captain of the 17th Legion. I would never—I belong to the Argenthex noble family! I don’t know what kind of plot you children have come up with, but I won’t allow you to insult me like this!"

"Uncle, you shouldn’t believe a word they say," Raynoel added quickly, turning to Flavius.

"They must have been brainwashed when they were captured! I already told you what really happened, when we ambushed the heretics the children vanished... yes, that was what happened,"

"And what were you doing at that time?" Flavius asked, voice flat.

"M-me? I... I was fighting the horned beast. Yes, I—I and Sophia—"

"Keep my name out of your evil mouth."

The room turned to ice.

Sophia stood behind him, eyes shadowed, her voice like a blade.

Raynoel turned pale.