Game World's Awakening

He turned around systematically until he was face-to-face with an authoritative but friendly-looking Nurotaur.

His bearing reminded him clearly.

Damn. He hadn’t changed a bit. His face was identical. His body still radiated power and curiosity.

"Haha..." He suddenly laughed. "So you were always so close, but you didn’t come to visit me, old man."

The Nurotaur smiled, shrugging his shoulders. "Don’t ask too much of me, old ghost. The war isn’t over. Even though you fell, our war isn’t over."

"Do you plan to continue that foolish war? Don’t you ever learn, you old fool?"

"I am steadfast in my conviction, old ghost. We were comrades, leaders of our races or forces. You, the Leader of the Cleric Gods, should understand that I cannot abandon it. We were destined for this, and it will not end until the end."

"Crazy old man." The ghost moved a little closer to him. "I understand your convictions. But you, as leader of the Nurotaurs, must understand that there is nothing good there. You are a Nurotaur, remember? Is there any race wiser than you? Is there anyone who understands your power better than you? Why insist on an impossible mission?"

Soac finally shrugged. "Tsk, old ghost, no matter how much you insist on this. We are Nurotaurs. We are not humans, griffins, nor belong to your race. We are Nurotaurs. Our race is our pride, and our power is our way. We will not allow everything we have built to go down the drain without consequences."

The old ghost frowned. "Our strength was very different then, but we were eliminated so easily that you couldn’t even foresee it. You will die."

"So be it, old friend." Soac smiled. "It’s true. The Clerics fell. All the races of our Age met their end. But we are still here."

"Do you know how long it’s been?" Soac asked.

The old ghost shook his head. "I’ve lost track of time."

"Haha, that’s normal. But we haven’t lost it. We’ve been counting the sun all this time. And it has turned a total of 933,231,091 times. That’s how much time has passed since our fall. And so far, only one of our own has fallen."

The old ghost was perplexed.

More than 900 million years... A ridiculous amount of time to think about. It was too long. It was... unimaginable.

And they had been at war ever since, but only one had fallen?

The 100 Nurotaurs, now 99.

An impressive number. Even though they were fighting against something unimaginable, they were still there.

As impressive as it was, it made sense.

They are Nurotaurs.

Who on earth could kill a Nurotaur?

ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ɴovel(ꜰ)ɪre.nᴇt

Even in that era, if all the Cleric Gods joined forces in battle against them, they would have to fight all against one to kill it.

A Nurotaur, under no circumstances, can be judged by the standards of any of the races.

And this is a great example.

The astronomical number of time was still impressive to him, leaving him speechless.

He ended up sighing.

"I can’t force a stubborn old man to do what he doesn’t want to do." He smiled. "Back then, we followed you, and even though we fell, I haven’t left because I’m still waiting for your victory. Then I can die in peace and join my old companions."

Soac chuckled a little. "Old friend, soon you will be able to rest. As the leader of the Clerics who has kept his conscience in this world for so long, you deserve a satisfying ending. Don’t worry, trust this old man."

"Well, you’re the only one I can trust. We got involved in the war for you back then, and it will always be that way. I hope for your victory, Leader of the Age."

Soac smiled and sighed. "Now you can only call me Soac the Fifth, and that’s it."

"Have you been the leader for over 900 million years?"

"Nothing to be done. I can’t pass my leadership on to anyone else."

"Tsk. Damn invaders."

"Well, well."

The old ghost looked behind the Nurotaur, sensing a gaze fixed on him for some time.

There was a... griffin.

He was trembling, in shock.

The old ghost looked at Soac.

"Did you become the protector of griffins after we lost?"

"Hahaha, no. But since master and servant are reunited, why don’t you greet him? He’ll only be here for a short time."

At that moment, the griffin prostrated himself face down on the ground. He did not know the man in front of him. But the elders of his clan had told him that... at some point in history, they had served masters.

They were great.

First-class gods.

They belonged to a race very similar to humans but were winged and more powerful.

They called themselves...

Gods and Witnesses of Our Own Power.

Cleric Gods, from Clark Castle!

The man before him did not have the wings the elders had told him about, but he could easily recognize him thanks to his aura. And also thanks to the way he spoke to a Nurotaur. The leader of the Nurotaurs, no less.

"Whose son are you, little one? Are there any left after all this time?"

"S-S-Sir... I am the last of the Sons of the Great G-Garner." Although he stuttered, the ghost could understand him.

"Oh. Is Garner still alive? That little one is impressive."

"Y-yes, sir. Although... he may die soon. He’s not in very good condition after fighting some powerful humans."

"Hmm. It’s a shame I can’t see him, but I hope he manages to recover. Insist on this guy here; he surely has ways to help your father."

"Y-yes, sir. T-thank you for your advice."

After that, the griffin remained in that crouched position. He said and did nothing else.

Then, the ghost looked back at Soac.

"Old friend, tell me how your life has been lately. And how did a griffin end up in this place?"

"Haha, that little guy came chasing after a couple of humans who came here a while ago..."

"You mean Elliot Clark and Jenna White, right?" He interrupted him, causing Soac to look at him and nod.

"Yes, I think that’s what they were called. Do you know them? Speaking of which... Clark..."

"Heh." The old ghost grimaced in annoyance. "It happened a while ago. Some idiots took our name as their surname. That boy is the son of that family. They’ve been using our castle as their ancestral lands."

"Hm? So they were cursed, then?"

"Yes. And something big will likely happen in that family soon."

Soac frowned. That was problematic.

"Do you have a way to remove that curse on someone in particular?"

"Are you interested in that boy’s life?" The old ghost was surprised.

Soac smiled. "I’m more interested in his growth. He’s too talented for his own good."

"This is the first time I’ve seen you interested in races like that. I don’t think humans are impressive enough for you to pay so much attention to them, do you?"

"Well, lately I’ve been interested in humans. Their cunning will help us, and I believe they have immense potential."

"Potential?" The old ghost frowned.

He remembered Lee, who had visited him a few times in the past. Lee was undoubtedly a man who had exploited his potential to the fullest.

Not only was he powerful, but he also had impressive intelligence and was very young. Too young.

’Although their way of becoming strong differs from that of the ancient era, they shouldn’t be able to become so strong in such a short time,’ he thought.

He hadn’t thought about it before. But now that he thought about it, he could see that they were quite incredible.

"Well, then, I have the bad news that I have no idea how to break that. If I were still a God Cleric, I might have been able to do something. But right now, I can’t. The power of the Castle is greater than my power."

Soac shook his head. "Well, I guess it all depends on that boy and his luck then." He looked back at the griffin. "This boy stayed here because they have to come and get him. Last time, they beat me in a small battle, and I promised them anything. Ultimately, they asked for him as a reward, so I had to keep him here until they were strong enough to take him away."

"Hahaha, so the little griffin is just here against his will."

"Well, we should know that our will doesn’t always get done how we want it to. So maybe it will help him grow in the future," Soac joked.

Then, the ghostly body of the old ghost suddenly shuddered backward. He frowned.

"It seems it’s time for you to leave," Soac said.

"Well, now that I know you’re still alive, I’ll keep praying to your power so that you can win. If I can do that, maybe I’ll visit you soon."

"Very well, old friend. Return to your dwelling and wait for our news."

"Haha, I’ll trust you, Leader of the Age. I await your victory."

After that, the old ghost flew backward, as if being pulled abruptly by something. He crossed enormous portions of land very quickly.

In a moment, he was already in the dark room he had grown accustomed to for more than 900 million years.

His ghostly spirit swirled around the statue that belonged to him and finally entered it.