Leon looked straight at the figure that was seated upon the throne on the other side of the massive hall. Perhaps due to his increased sensitivity, he could feel Michael’s Divinity much better than the last time Michael had physically manifested in front of him, but unlike that time, he felt no burn from the higher energy.
Michael used his fist to hold up his head as a playful smile was plastered across his face. He looked like a scientist observing a fascinating specimen that had been presented to him. Leon didn’t think his thoughts were too far off from the point, as from what he could remember Michael saying the last time they were here, Michael saw him as an ‘investment’.
“You are not particularly pleased to see me, hmm? It is quite surprising to see a lesser being think of a God like myself as lamely as you do.” Michael chuckled and stood up from his throne. He took a step forward, and Leon felt a mighty pressure slam against his skull.
‘W-what?!’ He stumbled back and fell to the ground in shock.
“I should put you in your place. I did not get where I am today by rolling over for those below me.” A sinister grin spread over Michael’s face, and the graceful features that made up his face morphed into something much darker.
Leon felt as if someone was driving a stake into his core. A cold fear gripped him, and his entire mind stopped moving for a moment.
‘A- a trick! He’s trying to scare me!’ Leon knew what Michael was doing, but that did not help him in any way. The flames that burned in his in his skull dimmed as he lingered on the verge of losing consciousness.
Whoosh!
The pressure smoothly leveled out and vanished as Michael calmly brushed off his tunic. He then looked at Leon before turning around and walking back to his throne. He had not wanted to do this, but the way Leon disregarded him had pricked his pride.
“I-is this what you do to your followers? To Rebecca and Darwin?!”
Michael thought that he had put an end to it, but was suddenly frozen in place as Leon’s words bounced around in his head.
“…What did you say?” Michael slowly turned around with wide eyes. Before Leon could even finish processing the God’s question, Michael was already standing in front of him and picking him up by the scruff of his collar.
“You heard me well.” He refused to give in. He was stepping on Michael’s toes, but he was certain that the God would not kill him. Leon had already come so far. If Michael did not want him to die when he was as weak as he had been before, merely straddling the barrier between D and C rank, then surely, he would be even more hesitant to kill Leon when he was Peak B rank.
“Hahaha! You are pushing my buttons, boy! Don’t think that because I do not want to kill you, I can not make you suffer.” Michael hissed through gritted teeth.
Before either of them could make another move, a bright light flashed behind Michael, and a soft hand laid on his shoulder.
“Take it easy, love. The boy is also frustrated.” Asteria’s mesmerizing voice soothed Michael as the words passed through his ears. Michael sighed and shot Leon one more glare before releasing him. But he still had plans to handle Leon later. Just not at the moment.
Leon stumbled backways and held his neck. His bones felt a bit stiff after being gripped so tightly.
A few tense seconds passed as Michael stared at him before the God regained his composure. He returned to his throne while Asteria sat on the armrest, her hand on his shoulder, and her eyes on Leon.
“Do not take me lightly, Leon. You have no idea what has happened in the past. Now, tell me what you know about Rebecca and Darwin.” Michael said after he had calmed down.
“You can ask Rebecca yourself.” Leon said and summoned Dibella, the Dark Abyss Spider queen.
“What?” Michael was confused for a moment before using his Divinity to peer into Dibella’s fate. While it had been warped and twisted after her transformation into a monster, he was still able to tell what had happened to her through the threads of fate that still tied her soul to this world.
“Impossible!” He gasped and shot to his feet. “Rebecca?!”
“Hello, Michael.” Dibella bowed her face slightly in respect. “I now go by Dibella. My past life has ended. Rebecca no longer exists.” Dibella said and looked up to Michael’s face, staring him right in the eyes.
“What happened to you?” Michael asked, his voice hollow.
“I do not know either. After you were taken by the Temple of Gods, I can not remember anything anymore. All I know is that I woke up like this. Leon, my new master, saved me when he conquered the Dungeon I had been enslaved in.” Dibella shook her head. As she spoke, her tone conveyed her gratitude towards Leon.
“The only one that could have done this to you is another God… I thought you all died…” Michael stepped forward until he arrived in front of Dibella, then he took her hands into his. “You do not know what became of Darwin?”
“No.” Dibella shook her head. “If anything, from what I became, I can only guess he was also turned into a monster. Who knows if he is dead too?” She bowed her head, overcome with emotions.
“Do not worry, I did not know you were still alive. I had tried searching, but I was not able to find anyone again. Tome Town was nothing but a crater when I returned, so I assumed everyone was dead.” Michael bowed his head. “I can trace your fate to find the others.” He tried to give her an encouraging smile.
Dibella simply nodded her head along with his words.