Bloody Odyssey

Above the City of Roses, a surmountable number of eyes watched from beyond. The gods were aware. The world acknowledged.

Dax rose to his feet. Each step he took was deliberate and heavy, his feet pressing into the shattered earth with the weight of something that should not exist. Behind him, the hands that had held onto his robes let go one by one, releasing him as he stepped out of the crater.

His first sight upon stepping out was Kakarai — kneeling reverently, head buried to the ground. The broken man did not move. He did not breathe. He simply waited.

Dax drew his gaze away, scanning his surroundings. His eyes passed over the healed, the weeping, the praying. Finally, they landed on the black-robed figure facing Alfonzo.

The figure shook.

He could not remove his gaze from Dax. Something in his chest had seized, frozen, refusing to function.

Why do I feel such dread from this man? Did the Godfall ever have such a powerful figure like this?

His hands trembled beneath his robes.

I thought they were dying out. Why?

He clenched his fists until his nails bit into his palms.

I must alert the Emperor.

Alfonzo, on the other hand, knelt on one knee. His head was bowed. His heart — that stubborn, human heart — swelled with something he had never felt before.

Pride.

For the first time in a while, he was proud to be a member of the House of Fall.

—-

Dax parted his lips.

"Kakarai." His voice was calm, unhurried. "Take your master to Level 0 and Level 99."

He waved his hand. Behind him, the gate to his lab opened — wide, hungry, waiting.

Kakarai rose to his feet. He bowed once, deeply, then stood at attention.

"Lastly, tell Zero to return all data to Inerous. And tell Zero to let 99 play."

Kakarai bowed again. Then he turned and sank into the darkness of the gate. It remained wide open behind him.

The robed figure couldn't hide his shock.

I need to leave.

He reached into his robes, his fingers closing around a rune stone. His eyes never left Dax.

The world is moving in an unprecedented direction. First, the Blood River attack — though subdued already. But the act of reviving dead souls for healing… was only heard in fairy tales.

He crushed the rune stone.

It turned into a pile of nothing. Dust. He was gone like he was never there.

Alfonzo pointed at the empty spot. His gun was raised, his finger on the trigger. But Dax ignored him completely.

Maybe he doesn't see that mysterious figure as a threat.

Alfonzo lowered his weapon. He had learned to trust Dax's instincts.

—-

In the depths of Level 0, two figures argued.

A demonic figure in a perfectly sewn suit — tall, elegant, his features sharp as blades. And beside him, a little child with an abnormally large belly, his face twisted in petulant fury.

"Bro, I can't leave him all to you!" The child's voice was high, whining, demanding. "Master said we should work on them together! He even told me to give data to Inerous!"

He stomped his foot. The ground beneath him rippled.

"You wanting to experiment on him alone is very selfish, big brother!"

The demonic figure shook his head. "Big brother, because you are the first Master created, doesn't make you the perfect child." He sighed dramatically. "Sometimes, you need to relax."

The child's face darkened. His voice dropped to a baleful whisper.

"Anyways, Master said I should play."

Below them, unable to move — hands, legs, and wings fused to the floor — lay the Fifth Apostle of the Blood River.

His eyes showed no fear.

Instead, he tried to understand. He had been brought to this place — this impossible space — and since arriving, he had felt his connection to God sever. It was as if he had been plucked from the world and dropped into a void where divinity could not reach.

Kakarai walked out of the shadows. He smiled.

"Young Masters." He knelt on one knee. "Please, why don't you take turns? I assure you, my teacher is very resilient."

The two figures paused. Looked at each other.

Finally, they agreed.

Just then, Inerous walked in — her android form, wearing a long black robe that hid her curves. Her pink eyes glowed faintly in the dim light. She looked at them both with a dangerous smile.

They fell silent. Like children caught doing something bad.

"Zero. 99." Her voice was calm, measured. "You can do whatever you want to that thing."

She pointed at the angel.

"Before you damage his mind, make a copy of his memories for me. And in anything — we still need him to look like an angel."

Her gaze settled on Zero.

"So anything you do, reverse it." A pause. "That's not a problem for you, is it, Zero?"

He nodded.

Kakarai smiled. He skipped happily toward the bound apostle.

"Welcome to my heaven, Master."

His voice was joyous — but it didn't take long to be filled with pain.

Explosion.

Flesh filled every angle. Blood splattered across the walls, the floor, the ceiling. Bits of Kakarai painted the chamber red.

The apostle was stunned.

What just happened?

He had seen many horrors. Had committed many himself. But this — this was something else.

"Was that necessary?"

Zero turned to 99, but 99 was already fuming. The empty holes where his eyes should have been twisted in fury.

In a corner an eyeball rolled hitting the wall, just then a tiny hand burst out.

The eyeball was torn apart, revealing the growing image of Kakarai — coiled into a corner, murmuring unknown words, already regenerating, already returning.

—-

There is nothing good about war.

Just death. Just loss. The ones who gain are those with the biggest fist.

Losses are inevitable. Though this was a self-proclaimed war, it had affected people who had not chosen this. People who had simply been living.

When things like this happen, where are the gods?

Dax looked up at the sky.

Did they watch idly and do nothing? Or is it only what angers their pride that they react to?

The angelic spell crumbled.

The light faded from the sky, leaving the city healed but silent. Broken bodies had been mended, but broken hearts remained.

Many looked at the stars and wondered why this happen.

——-

[End of Volume 1: Corruption's Gentle Smile.]