Staged Betrayal

Solomon's face contorted in confusion. There hadn't been a new god ascending on his own in… Well, in forever.

"What do you mean, you don't need one? Did you make a deal with them to leave you alone in exchange for your help later?" Solomon asked, trying to find rhyme and reason.

Alex sighed at his fumbling.

"No, Solomon. I don't need one because I've consumed part of one… I skipped steps, according to Aravelle. And if I can fill in all the other requirements for ascension, I'll ascend with no need for their help."

Solomon frowned at him.

"Boy. What you are telling me makes no sense… Consumed part of a god? How would you even do that? No god would ever willingly give up a part of their essence to a mortal, much less one so far from the realm of legends."

Alex didn't want to waste time explaining this to him, but he wasn't sure he had a choice with the demons around oozing hostility.