Chapter 531: A God’s Expectations

Layla and the group set up camp outside the temple, in the courtyard. Several hours had passed since the bastard went inside.

“Master Luke is taking a long time,” Charlie said.

They had fully settled in, tents and all. Layla still couldn’t believe she was actually at the bottom of an abyss, that she had gone along with something this insane.

This is that bastard’s fault. He always drags me into trouble.

Angie, meanwhile, stayed on alert, her eyes never leaving the temple door.

“That guy is really taking his time. He drags me into every dangerous mess imaginable, and when it’s finally my turn to satisfy my curiosity and see what’s inside the temple, he goes, ‘chatty necklace, stay here,’” Artemis complained to herself.

Layla scanned what remained of the village, hemmed in by forest and the yawning darkness of the abyss. Just thinking about the snakes sent a chill through her.

I hate snakes. And forests.

Her gaze shifted to the bastard’s pet, a kind of baby dragon. She had seen a dragon once right after leaving the tutorial, but this one was different. That one had four legs. This one only had two.

“How did that guy even find you, pet?” Layla asked.

“I’m not a pet, you skinny rat.”

“Skinny rat? You might have tried to insult me, but being called skinny is a huge compliment.”

The creature lay stretched out on a tree branch near the tent, always staring in the same direction.

“I was just trying to make conversation. You keep staring at the temple door. I figured I’d try to ease your worries,” Layla said.

“Me? Worried about the human?” the creature scoffed. “I’m not worried about him. I don’t care about him.”

“Then why are you guarding the door he went through?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, skinny rat. I don’t like the human, I don’t like the food he makes for me, I don’t like his sister, and I don’t consider him my friend.”

There wasn’t much for Layla to do. Charlie was on watch and was clearly far stronger than she was. So they waited, hour after hour, until the temple doors finally opened.

They all stood, weapons in hand. But only the bastard came out. Not a scratch on him.

“My lord, did you find what you were looking for?” Angie asked.

“I did. Something far beyond what I expected,” he replied.

“So what now, are we all climbing out of this abyss like spider-men?” Artemis asked.

The bastard started explaining that he would need to stay there a while longer.

“I still have some things to finish inside the temple to fully claim the reward. You’ll see me going in and out a few more times.”

“I hope you get what you want, Master Luke. Can we enter the temple to help you?” Charlie asked.

“Unfortunately, only I can enter,” he said.

“That’s fine by me. I’ll wait as long as you need,” Angie replied.

The others nodded in agreement.

“And me?” Layla demanded.

“Oh, right. You’re here too, Layla,” the bastard said.

“Yeah, bastard. I got dragged into an abyss because of you. Where does that leave me?”

“You’re free to do whatever you want. Good luck trying to get out of the abyss,” he said, already walking away from the temple.

“Hey, hey. I don’t have wings, and I can’t climb. I need to know how long we’re staying here,” she said, stepping in front of him.

“We’ll be here as long as necessary,” he answered, walking past her again.

“Wait, bastard. At least tell me what’s inside the temple.”

“A super ancient demon god conqueror so old that some gods don’t even believe he still exists,” he replied without stopping.

“Sure, bastard. If you don’t want to tell me, you don’t have to lie,” she said.

And with that, the bastard went down the temple steps, crossed the village, and headed toward the forest. Before leaving, he had muttered something about monster parts and cores.

***

Vaelor walked through the interior of his temple. It had been a long time since he’d truly gotten his hands dirty. These days, his existence was buried in meetings and bureaucratic decisions. His main body remained in another universe, left on autopilot. It would handle simple tasks there while the bulk of his consciousness stayed here.

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He lit several torches, adjusted the forging equipment, and began laying out everything he would need. He was about to do something he hadn’t done in ages: create a Spectral Beast Core. He needed to feel the magic of the process again, to remember it in his bones.

It had been several Eras since I last taught this or forged a core like this myself.

Still, he would not let this opportunity slip by. The Primordial of Darkness himself would be judging his work, and Vaelor intended to impress him. He would make Luke Moon forge the most powerful core possible.

“What do you think of my son?” a voice asked.

It was ancient. Deep. So deep that for a brief moment Vaelor dropped the tools in his hands.