Chapter 221: Presence of Other Gods!
The words lingered in the air, "Other Gods."
The words didn’t echo, and Jax didn’t react outwardly, but his eyes sharpened with interest. While he had been contacted by the Goddess of Light, Kayle, that made a-lot more sense since she was the direct opponent.
However, other, perhaps unaffiliated Gods coming to interact with him was very interesting to Jax, but before he could make a response to what the Goddesses said, the space around them changed.
Not violently or abruptly, but seamlessly. The radiant expanse of the Divine Realm folded inward, the endless sky compressing into something more contained. The drifting landmasses faded, replaced by structure.
They stood now within a vast, circular chamber suspended in the void. It was a discussion room.
The walls were formed from translucent crystal that shimmered with layered divine energy, revealing glimpses of distant stars and flowing mana beyond. Pillars of light rose from the floor to the ceiling, each one inscribed with glowing runes that pulsed slowly, like a heartbeat.
At the center was a low, circular table formed from polished white stone veined with gold and crimson.
Four seats were clearly prepared.
"More comfortable for conversation," Sona said calmly as she took her seat.
Skadi dropped into another with zero ceremony, leaning back and kicking one leg over the other.
Lilith didn’t sit immediately. Instead, she watched Jax, waiting and inviting him to take a seat.
Jax smirked faintly and walked forward, taking the final seat without hesitation.
"Alright," he said, resting his arm casually along the table’s edge. "Let’s hear it."
Lilith’s smile widened slightly. Then she finally sat down. For a moment, none of them spoke. Not because there was nothing to say, but they all were momentarily lost in their own thoughts.
This was the kind of conversation that required precision after all, and there was no need to rush things either.
Sona finally began after a while, "You’ve already realized part of it."
Her amethyst eyes locked onto his, "Your actions are no longer isolated."
Jax leaned back slightly.
"Yeah."
She continued.
"The alliance with the Faeries. The restructuring of the Demon Kingdom and the subjugation and manipulation of two of the heroes."
Each point landed cleanly, "This is causing a-lot of widespread attention towards you and the Demon Kingdom, and altering the balance of Terra. A more powerful Demon Kingdom will cause a-lot of shifts in balance,"
Jax didn’t deny it, "...Good," he said simply with a slight nod.
Skadi grinned, "That’s what I like about you, straight to the point,"
Lilith leaned forward slightly, resting her chin against her fingers, her crimson eyes fixed on Jax with an intensity that was both playful... and deeply calculating.
"Just be careful."
The words were soft, but they carried weight.
Jax raised an eyebrow slightly as Lilith rarely spoke like that, without any sort of teasing tone.
Her gaze didn’t waver.
"I know you," she continued, her voice smooth but quieter than before. "You don’t hesitate. You don’t doubt. You don’t slow down."
A faint smile returned to her lips.
"And that’s exactly why you’ve come this far."
She tilted her head slightly.
"But those same traits..."
Her eyes gleamed faintly.
"...are what will draw the most dangerous attention."
Jax leaned back, arms resting casually, completely unbothered.
"If they’re dangerous," he said simply, "then they’re worth dealing with."
Skadi let out a sharp laugh.
"Damn right."
She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees, grinning like a wolf that had found a worthy hunt.
"That’s the mindset you need."
Her golden eyes burned with excitement.
"If some god out there thinks they can step in and push you around..."
Her grin widened.
"...I’d love to see them try."
Sona, however, remained composed as always. She folded her hands neatly atop the table, her expression calm, but her gaze sharp.
"Confidence is not the issue."
Jax glanced at her.
"Then what is?"
"Awareness."
Her answer came immediately.
"Understanding what stands before you... before you act."
She leaned forward slightly.
"You are entering a domain where not all battles are won through force alone."
Her amethyst eyes narrowed just slightly.
"Some will attempt to bind you."
"Some will attempt to deceive you."
"Some will attempt to manipulate you into serving their interests."
A pause.
Then, "And some will smile... while planning your destruction."
Jax didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he tapped his fingers lightly against the table once. Then stopped.
"...Then I won’t give them the chance," he said calmly.
Lilith’s smile returned fully at that.
"There it is."
She straightened slightly in her seat, her tone lightening just a bit.
"I’m not worried about whether you can handle them."
Her eyes softened, just slightly, "I’m saying this because I want you to win properly."
Jax smirked faintly.
"I always do."
Sona allowed a brief moment to pass before shifting the conversation.
"Now."
Her tone returned to its earlier precision.
"The Heroes."
Jax’s eyes sharpened slightly at that.
Skadi leaned back again, crossing her arms.
"Still a problem."
Lilith hummed softly.
"A manageable one. You’re already kind of destroying them Jax,"
Sona nodded as she heard that, "Two are already under your influence. Natasha and Alexi."
Jax didn’t react outwardly.
But there was a faint glint in his eyes.
Sona continued.
"The remaining members of the Hero Party are unstable, and increasingly dependent on their own internal dynamics."
Lilith’s lips curled slightly.
"In other words..."
"...they’re weakening."
Skadi grinned.
"Which means now’s the time to break them."
Jax leaned forward slightly.
"That was already the plan."
Sona met his gaze.
"Good."
She paused.
Then added,
"But do not rush it."
Jax raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
Lilith answered this time.
"Pressure them."
Her voice was soft.
Deliberate.
"Turn them against each other."
"Exploit their flaws."
Her smile sharpened.
"Make them collapse... instead of simply defeating them."
Skadi cracked her neck slightly.
"Way more fun that way."
Jax smirked.
"I agree."
After that, a couple hours passed as the Goddesses and Jax remained in discussion about the Hero Party, the various Kingdoms and more.
The Goddesses spoke and Jax listened, absorbing all of the information available while also adding his own perspective.
The plan wasn’t just to defeat the Heroes. It was to destroy their foundation completely.
Eventually, the discussion slowed because everything that needed to be said...
Skadi stretched slightly, rolling her shoulders, "Tch. That was productive."
Sona nodded once, "Yes."
Lilith leaned back in her seat, her expression far more relaxed now. Her gaze drifted toward Jax again.
"Mm..."
A soft hum escaped her lips.
Jax noticed and he raised an eyebrow slightly.
"What?"
Her smile deepened, "Nothing~"
Clearly, it wasn’t nothing as Lilith slowly stood up, her movements were smooth and deliberate. Her wings shifted faintly behind her as she stepped away from the table.
Then she turned and looked directly at Jax. Her crimson eyes glowed softly. "Actually..."
Her voice dropped just slightly.
"I do have something else to discuss."
Sona’s gaze flicked toward her briefly.
Skadi smirked.
Jax leaned back slightly, watching her.
"Oh?"
Lilith’s smile turned... dangerous.
But not in a threatening way.
In a way that promised something far more personal.
"Come see me later."
A pause.
Then she added,
"My chambers."