The monstrous hands of the one-eyed creature tightened around Kent and Grizzac, leaving them struggling to breathe.
“Hehe… I, Kaban, have found my meal again!” the monster’s guttural voice boomed, echoing through the dunes. Its single, glowing eye swirled with cruel delight. “Haha… I thought no one would be foolish enough to wander into my domain, but every day, new idiots come here to die.”
“Meal?” Kent grunted, his body straining against the creature’s crushing grip. His demi-god-like strength barely made a dent in the creature’s hold. “I’m no snack, you oversized freak!”
Grizzac, held tightly in the other massive hand, roared in frustration. “Lad, do something! I can’t channel my mana! This thing’s grip is blocking my energy flow!”
Kent gritted his teeth, his muscles bulging as he forced his arms apart, creating just enough space to move. His body radiated a faint golden glow as he began to channel his mana. Discover hidden stories at My Virtual Library Empire
“Chera dwi Cheda Maha Kalasha” Kent muttered the spell with gritted teeth.
Just as Kent completed his spell, the air above them cracked with lightning, and with a thunderous crack, two massive axes materialized, their gleaming blades descending from the sky like divine judgment.
“Die!” Kent shouted.
The axes sliced through Kaban’s enormous hands in a single, fluid motion. The severed limbs crashed to the ground, releasing Kent and Grizzac from their suffocating prison. Both men tumbled to the sandy floor, gasping for air.
Kaban’s dismembered hands lay motionless on the ground, but the creature itself didn’t scream in pain. Instead, a booming laugh erupted from its gaping mouth.
“HAHAHA! At last! Someone did it!” Kaban’s voice thundered, filled with an unsettling mix of joy and desperation.
Kent got up, his bow already summoned in his hand. “Why are you laughing? Shouldn’t you be crying in pain?”
Kaban’s massive eye swiveled to look directly at Kent. “Because, human, you’ve given me hope. I got my divine sense. Now, burn me! Burn me to ashes!”
Kent blinked in confusion. “Burn you? Why would you want that?”
Old man, Grizzac, stumbled to Kent’s side, his face pale. “What kind of monster begs to be killed?”
Kaban’s voice softened, almost pleading. “I am no monster, mortal. I am a god, trapped in this wretched form by a cruel curse. If you kill me now, you will free me from this torment. Please, I beg you!”
Kent’s bow lowered slightly, his eyes narrowing. “A god? And we’re supposed to just believe you? What trick are you planning now?”
Kaban shook his head fervently. “You must kill me! This is no trick. I was cursed by the Heavenly Emperor himself, cast into this forsaken monster form and banished to your lower world. For centuries, I’ve been stuck here, feeding endlessly, unable to die.”
“And what exactly did you do to deserve a curse like this?” Grizzac asked in a skeptical tone.
The creature hesitated for a moment before speaking. “I… I made a terrible mistake. One that cost an innocent life. But please, end this torment first, and I will explain everything.”
Kent glanced at Grizzac, who gave a reluctant nod. “If it’s lying, we’ll find out soon enough,” the old man muttered.
Kent stepped forward, his body enveloped in a golden flame that grew brighter with every passing second. The Origin Nirvanic Flames, an ancient power known to burn through even the toughest of magical beasts, ignited in his palms.
“Alright, Kaban, get ready to die. But if this is a trick, you’ll wish you stayed cursed.” Kent said firmly.
Kaban’s massive body trembled with anticipation. “Thank you, human. Thank you!”
The flames shot forward, engulfing Kaban’s monstrous form. The creature let out a deafening roar as the fire consumed it, but there was no pain in its voice—only relief. The flames burned for what felt like an eternity, fueled by the layers of fat accumulated over centuries of gluttony.
Finally, Kaban’s body collapsed into ash, and the desert fell silent.
As the last embers of the fire died out, a radiant figure emerged from the ashes. The being was tall and regal, clad in flowing white robes that shimmered with an ethereal light.
A golden crown adorned his head, and intricate golden ornaments adorned his arms and chest. His face was impossibly handsome, with sharp, symmetrical features and a serene smile.
Kent and Grizzac stared in awe as the figure bowed deeply before them.
“Thank you,” the figure said, his voice resonating with a calm authority. “You have freed me from an eternity of suffering. You can call me God Kaban.”
Grizzac crossed his arms, his expression skeptical. “Alright, Kaban. Start talking. What kind of god ends up cursed like that?”
Kaban straightened, his smile fading slightly. “The curse was the work of the Heavenly Emperor, a punishment for my youthful arrogance. In my world, I was renowned for my breathtaking beauty and my power to shapeshift. I used the second gift recklessly, often taking on monstrous forms to frighten commoners and amuse myself.”
Grizzac raised an eyebrow. “Sounds like a real stand-up guy.”
Kaban sighed. “One day, I took the form of this one eyed monster to scare the daughter of the heavenly Emperor. She was riding her seven-headed horse near the cliffs of Bongu Fire Mountain.
My intention was only to startle her, but she lost her grip and fell into the flames. The mountain consumed her completely, leaving nothing behind.”
Kent’s eyes narrowed. “So your prank got someone killed.”
Kaban nodded solemnly. “Yes. The Heavenly Emperor used his power to teach a lesson to me. I was cursed to take the very form I used to frighten his daughter, banished to this lower world, and condemned to live as a monster.”
Grizzac scratched his beard thoughtfully. “That explains the curse. But what kind of god are you, anyway? There are 33 demi-gods, one supreme war god, and seven old gods. Which one are you?”
Kaban laughed, a deep, booming sound. “Do not insult me by comparing me to those insect gods. I am far beyond their kind. You, mortals, dwell in Svar-Loka, the third world among the 14 Loka’s [Loka=world/realm]. Seven are for gods, and seven for demons. I hail from Satya-Loka, the seventh and highest of the godly worlds.”
Kent exchanged a glance with Grizzac. “Satya-Loka? The apex of the realms? I never heard about them.”
“I also didn’t know about the 14 worlds. No one even wrote about them!” Grizzac added in surprise.
Kaban’s smile returned. “Precisely, the lower realms insects won’t have any idea. Because they won’t have time. Suppose, if you take the time to pee in my world, a generation passes away here. Where I come from, real gods like me live with wisdom and power. But I have been humbled by my time here.”
Kent rubbed his chin, his skepticism giving way to curiosity. He had hundreds of doubts in his head. But one thing became clear to him. The person before him knows the big picture. Kent can escape this lower realms circus and can find his own path.
–
*Don’t worry, No major changes in the current-path of story in this arc!