Chapter 301: Doubt in the Divine
Seeing the stunned expression on Eldros's face, Zaroth couldn't help but chuckle."Yes, I am a godkiller, though sadly the thing that I killed was a false demigod that had just been born. But still, the fact that I have killed a deity is still true," he explained.
Taking a shallow breath, Eldros put one of his hands on his face, still keeping Zaroth in his line of sight. "This is hard to believe. But if the Eye doesn't detect a lie, then I have no choice—I must believe it, whether I want to or not," he admitted.
His voice and eyes both grew colder. He was no longer considering an attack. It was pointless. No matter how strong he was, he couldn't hope to defeat a godkiller. "But this is even more so—I am a follower of the Purifiers and the Judgmental Gaze is with me. There is no way I will agree to bind my soul to you. Death would be a more honorable end to me."
Having said that, Eldros unsheathed one of his swords and was about to drive it towards his own heart.
Zaroth's eyes narrowed in shock.'Fuck! He is going to kill himself, and due to the pressure I can't move fast enough to stop him!' he thought. With no other option, he did the only thing he could.
"Now, now—my master has use for you. You can't just kill yourself, you know?"
Eldros' sword was about to pierce his own heart but was stopped by a mysterious woman that materialized from nowhere.
Seeing that he was able to summon her fast enough, Zaroth let out a sigh of relief, "Thanks, Luna."
Gripping Eldros's two swords and hurling them to the side, she flashed him a smile."Anything for you."
Eldros was left stunned. Wherever that woman appeared from, he knew one thing—she was deadly. He doubted that even the elders of the Purifiers would be able to beat her. Not only that, but another thing struck him.
The Judgmental Gaze did not affect her at all. 'Does this mean she bears no sin whatsoever? But if that is the case, why is she with this man?' Eldros wondered.
"This is Luna," Zaroth began, sensing it was wise to explain if Eldros was to join him. "She is my first and strongest summon—she is a dragon."
"Originally, she was dead, but thanks to my blessing I was able to resurrect her and tame her."
Seeing that Luna no longer needed to intimidate, she sat on the ground beside Zaroth, leaning her back against him with a wide, mischievous grin. "So, do you see now how my master was able to kill a god?"
Eldros froze, his mind was working in overdrive. 'This man is a beast tamer? He is able to resurrect and tame the dead? He is a godkiller? Wait, a dragon is of the Mythical tier and she is under his control? Why does the Judgmental Gaze not affect her?' Countless questions filled his mind in mere seconds.
Eldros wanted time to think, but he was afraid he didn't have that time. "If the Eye hasn't reacted, then it must all be true. But I still don't understand. Why would someone who seems so much like a villain want me—a follower of the gods—to bind my soul to him?"
A smile crept on Zaroth's face. "Why do you assume I'm a villain? Does killing a god automatically make me evil?"
"Yes," Eldros replied firmly. "There is no worse sin than this. Even a genocide would pale in comparison. I can see now why the eye harbors these feelings of hatred."
Luna's eyes darkened momentarily, sending a shiver down Eldros's spine—but she didn't move.
"You said the Eye can tell if I'm lying, correct? Then let's play a game. I'll tell you how that so-called demigod came to be… and what it did."
Zaroth recounted how Draconis made the demigod's body, what he did to achieve it, and the death and destruction it caused the moment it was born.
As he spoke, Eldros's expression grew darker and darker. Not just because of the story—but because the Eye never reacted. Everything Zaroth said was true. It had really happened.
By the end of the tale, Eldros was left speechless, looking at the ground. 'A god can be created like this? Nevertheless, it caused such a death toll? The way this man told the story, it appeared like he was the hero, not the villain… but if that is the case…' He turned his attention to the eye above his head.
The Judgmental Gaze was still looking at Zaroth with pure hatred. 'Does that mean it is wrong?'
"Does this mean that the Judgmental Gaze is wrong?" Zaroth spoke out loud Eldros's thoughts. "Despite your clear connection with the gods, I want to prove to you that they are not the mighty beings that could do no wrong."
For the second time in his life, Eldros found himself doubting everything. Could everything he had been taught from birth be a lie?
"I see that my words seem to have made you think—that is good," Zaroth said as he stood up and took a few steps closer.
"This isn't the only thing I want to talk about. Now that I think about it, why are you here? You said you are with the Purifiers, right? Then why are you a slave here with your soul bound to a master? Why hadn't they prevented it from happening? You must be strong enough to be worth it, or…"
A smile appeared on Zaroth's face."Let me guess, the reason you are here is because of them, right? They have betrayed you."
Eldros's eyes widened. This man had read him like a book. Seeing that the conversation was going in a clear direction, he began to think deeply. "Then tell me—what is your goal?" If Zaroth was to become his master, Eldros needed to know his true purpose.
Zaroth scratched his chin for a few moments. "First, I'll buy you. Then I'll enter the auction house and find the elf. After I free them and make them indebted to me, I'll bring this city to its knees. Then the empire will follow. And finally… I'll do the same to the gods."
"So, you're planning to kill the gods?" Eldros asked, his voice sharp.
"Yes, I am. And I'll do the same to anything and anyone that stands in my path. That's why I want you. You're strong and useful. In time, I believe you'll see that the gods aren't worthy of the blind faith people give them."
"…And if my opinion never changes?" Eldros challenged.
"Then you can try to kill me," Zaroth said simply. "If you succeed, you'll die in the process—but if your devotion to the gods is so deep, then sacrificing your life to stop a threat to them is the greatest honor you could hope for, isn't it?"
Eldros scratched his chin, his gaze lingering on the eye floating above him. After a long pause, he exhaled slowly. "So, you're offering me a chance to change how I see the world. Maybe I will… or maybe I won't. And if I don't… then one day, I might have the chance to kill you—an enemy of the gods."
Eldros rose to his feet, then bowed his head with clear resolve. "Then I accept you as my new master."