Chapter 82: Clearing Up Misunderstandings
“Is the Lord of Nightmares the monster in the princess’s dreams?” Haina asked hesitantly, raising her hand.
But Alva seemed more informed. Before Abyss could explain, she said, “I know about the Outer Gods. Princess Givia’s nightmares are caused by the Lord of Nightmares. The monster in her dreams isn’t the Lord of Nightmares himself, but a creation of his power. He’s currently collaborating with Prince Kevin.”
As Captain of the Royal Guard, Alva had access to information unavailable to ordinary citizens. The fact that Givia was being tormented by an Outer God was a closely guarded secret, and Alva was one of the few who knew.
“So you’re aware of this. That makes things easier,” Abyss said, smiling. “Yes, my ultimate goal is to challenge the gods. You might think I’m powerful—and I am, practically invincible among mortals. But I’m not strong enough yet. I need to defeat the gods and claim their power! The Outer Gods are part of my plan. I will challenge them and turn them into my allies.”
His voice was filled with passion, his emerald eyes burning with intensity, as he spread his arms wide.
Haina couldn’t understand his enthusiasm, but Alva seemed to share his sentiments.
“I understand your intentions, Mr. Abyss. You want to free mortals from the gods’ control, to allow us to determine our own destinies, right? I’ve had similar thoughts ever since learning about Her Highness’s nightmares,” Alva said, her gaze steady, meeting Abyss’s eyes without succumbing to drowsiness. “These Outer Gods who invade our world must be contained. And the gods who allow mortals to be consumed by higher powers must be punished or replaced. Only then can our world be safe from destruction.”
Her words were audacious, bordering on blasphemous. Everyone on the continent worshipped the gods, and the Church had confirmed their existence. For a mortal to utter such words was more rebellious than challenging a monarch’s authority. If a Paladin were present, they would surely challenge her to a duel.
Haina glanced nervously at Flora, then realized that the former Saint, now Abyss’s companion, likely shared his views.
“You’ve grasped a part of my plan. I’m impressed,” Abyss said, nodding. “Yes, mortals’ destinies shouldn’t be determined by the gods. If they refuse to leave, someone has to force them out.”
“That’s… incredibly bold,” Alva said, stunned by the scale of his ambition.
Most powerful individuals aspired to become emperors, to rule the world. Their ambitions remained within the realm of mortals. Alva had never encountered someone who dared to challenge the gods, and what was even more astonishing was that he was actually acting on it. Although she didn’t know his methods, his confidence suggested he possessed extraordinary power.
The gods were the foundation of this world, everything belonged to them. Mortals were merely intelligent beings inhabiting their creation. In the eyes of the gods, even the most glorious human civilizations were fleeting, insignificant. Even if all mortals perished, as long as life existed, with the potential for intelligence to emerge, the gods would remain unchallenged. This was the Church’s doctrine. Centuries ago, people believed that gods needed mortals to exist. But three hundred years ago, an elven scholar had proposed and proven the theory of evolution, changing everything.
Now, mortals were even more fearful of the gods, knowing that while the gods ruled over them, they didn’t depend on them. The relationship between mortals and gods wasn’t that of subjects and rulers, but of grass and sunlight.
And now, a defiant challenger had emerged.
“Why are you telling us this?” Alva asked. She didn’t doubt his resolve. She had witnessed his power, his casual summoning of undead to destroy the Church’s invincible Supreme Golems. She knew his abilities were beyond her comprehension. But she was curious about his motives for revealing his plans.
“Because the gods can’t touch me yet,” Abyss said, smiling, shrugging. “And when they can, my secret will no longer be a secret. I’ve already taken action, and I’ve achieved some success. Telling you won’t change anything. Even if you reveal it to others, what good would it do? I’m telling you this to clear up any misunderstandings, to assure you that I’m a friend of Princess Givia. I have no ulterior motives.”
He was telling the truth. The Nine Gods of Hai-Teweru weren’t concerned about him, and the Creator God was absent, his whereabouts unknown. The Outer Gods might be wary of him, but they hadn’t considered him a threat yet.
If he successfully defeated the Lord of Nightmares, the other Outer Gods might become more cautious, but that was a problem for the future. He wasn’t concerned about it now.
Alva had suspected Abyss of harboring malicious intentions towards Givia, and perhaps even the Ossi Kingdom, because he was a necromancer. She had been terrified when she saw him with Givia earlier that day, although she hadn’t shown it. But now, after hearing his seemingly absurd explanation, she felt reassured.
She glanced at Haina, who seemed to have calmed down, Flora’s presence having a soothing effect on her. It seemed she also believed Abyss’s words.
“If confronting the Lord of Nightmares is part of your plan, I might be able to provide some assistance. If I’m not mistaken, you’ll need to use strategy, not brute force, to defeat a god, right?” Alva said. “As Captain of the Royal Guard, I’m familiar with the inner workings of the palace. I might even know things that the princess herself is unaware of.”
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