[363] Filvis

By the time August left Freya Familia, it was almost noon the next day. It had probably been his last time with Freya, so he had indulged a bit more than usual.

Now, there was only one final target left: Dionysus, the god of wine, and his last remaining follower, Filvis.

Thanks to prior reconnaissance, August easily found the location of the Dionysus Familia. As he entered, the first thing he saw was Dionysus, casually sipping tea. Honestly, anyone who didn't know better would never guess that this seemingly benevolent man was responsible for so much destruction in the city.

"Would you like a cup?" Dionysus asked with a smile, showing no surprise at August's arrival.

"Tea?" August responded, his tone calm.

"That's right."

"Then sure, I'll have a cup."

Despite being there to kill him, August sat down without hesitation across from Dionysus. The god poured a cup of tea and gently set it in front of him. Anyone watching would have thought they were friends, not enemies.

"You're a little late," Dionysus commented, taking a sip of his tea.

"Well, Freya got a bit wild last night, so I overslept," August replied nonchalantly.

"You're quite something—connected to both Loki and Freya. The two kings of Orario, both linked to you."

"Not bad, right?"

"Indeed," Dionysus chuckled.

At that moment, Filvis, dressed in white, approached. The moment her eyes landed on August, a flash of killing intent sparked within them. August, however, paid her no mind. Even with her powers combined, she was no threat to him.

"Are you here to kill me?" Dionysus asked with a smile.

"That's right. I'm curious to see if a god can be killed."

"Impossible. When we receive a mortal wound, our divine powers are unlocked. The gap between gods and mortals is simply too vast."

"Well, I suppose I'll just have to try. Success or failure doesn't really matter."

"You're an amusing human, daring to attempt deicide."

"Correction," August said, leaning back slightly, "I'm not human."

"My apologies, but to a god, anyone in the lower realm is a mortal, regardless of species," Dionysus replied with a casual arrogance that was unmistakable.

This wasn't just Dionysus—every god held the same view. Unlike mortals, gods were supreme beings, merely playing games in the mortal world. Everything here was nothing more than a diversion to them.

"Alright then, God, would you kindly die for me?" August asked, his voice laced with a subtle edge.

"That depends on my child here," Dionysus gestured toward Filvis.

With a loud boom, a second Filvis appeared—a clone. She then spoke an incantation:

"End the fantasy, reunite the soul—thy body shall not be torn asunder!"

With that, the separate entity of her clone began to merge with her, and a tremendous aura burst forth, reaching the limits of a level 7, almost nearing level 8.

August smiled and raised a hand. A barrier formed from his dark magic, enveloping the entire Dionysus Familia. He had no intention of letting anyone interfere or even notice this battle.

This fight needed to end quietly.

"I'll kill you!" Filvis roared, her voice seething with rage as she finished her fusion.

August simply stood up, motioning for her to attack.

"Scourge all enemies, holy staff of destruction, Great God's Wine Staff!"

"Raise the cup as a shield, chalice of salvation, Great God's Holy Grail!"

Filvis cast a lightning-based offensive spell, while also covering herself with a defensive spell. But as the raging lightning shot toward August, he casually raised a hand and caught it.

With his Insulated Claw, any magic that wasn't significantly stronger than his was meaningless.

Whoosh!

Seeing her spell fail, Filvis lunged at August, her short sword in hand. August didn't even move, allowing her to come at him.

As Filvis closed the distance, shadows suddenly took shape around August, forming into sharp blades that effortlessly blocked and parried her attacks. Despite her fierce assault, August merely stood there, exuding a pressure so intense that it was almost suffocating.

Dionysus narrowed his eyes slightly. He had already suspected that August had surpassed any adventurer in history. But witnessing his overwhelming strength in person still left the god stunned.

The power he wielded now was a result of the divine power crystal given to him by Uranus. The goal was clear: to forge a new hero, one who could confront the ancient monster that had once destroyed both the Zeus and Hera Familias. That monster still lived, and only a human hero could slay it.

Even those mighty Familias had failed. What hope did others have?

"Damn it!" Filvis growled, her frustration growing with each failed attack.

August had crushed her magic with a mere flick of his hand, and now her sword strikes were blocked by his shadow blades. Even after fusing with her clone, she wasn't his match. The gap between their powers was enormous—like the difference between heaven and earth.

From the start, August had been toying with her.

"Filvis, you're friends with Lefiya, aren't you?" August asked suddenly.

"Huh? What are you trying to say?" she replied, confused.

"You initially didn't want to, but eventually, you became her friend. That must have been hard for you."

"Bastard! Are you mocking me?"

"No, I'm simply trying to set you free."

Thud!

Suddenly, pain exploded in her chest. She looked down in shock to see a dark shadow blade piercing straight through her torso. Blood began to drip down the blade, staining her white outfit.

Cough, cough!

She coughed violently, blood splattering from her mouth. Memories of her life flashed before her eyes—like a film reel speeding by.

She recalled becoming Dionysus' follower, slowly developing feelings for the elegant god. Then came the tragedy years ago, where the god she loved had turned her into a monster. And now, she was being killed.

Her life, in the end, seemed so empty. She had achieved nothing, gained nothing.

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