Chapter 4: The Heroes, The Gods

Felix felt the weight of the seemingly impossible task grow even more challenging with the revelation. "So," he began to question, "I have to collaborate with the Heroes, keep my true identity concealed from all of them, and they'll hold the advantage of experience and age over me?"

The God's eyes flickered with a hint of surprise. He had anticipated that the soul before him might outright decline the offer after his previous revelation. After a brief pause, the God posed a question of his own, "Before I answer you, do you still want to help me defeat the Demon King?"

Felix regarded the God with a determined expression. "Of course," he replied. Felix couldn't even believe the words coming out of his mouth today. 

In a most peculiar way, Felix couldn't help but feel that the God's eyes, despite their lack of a mouth or other expressive features, conveyed emotions. He sensed a mixture of relief and even a touch of joy in those enigmatic eyes. It was as if the God of Life had glimpsed a glimmer of hope in Felix's unwavering resolve.

'How the hell does he even do that?' Felix was bedazzled but threw that thought to the side as the God begun to speak again

The God of Life answered Felix's earlier inquiries with a solemn nod. "Indeed, Felix, you must work in unison with all of them, as the faintest glimmer of hope to vanquish Azazael is a cause worth pursuing." His voice resonated with a deep sense of determination, underscoring the gravity of the task at hand.

However, a spark of hope ignited in the God of Life's enigmatic eyes as he continued to divulge his plan. "But there's no necessity for you to conceal your true identity from all of them. The Goddess of Light has, in a discreet manner, reached out to me. She recognizes that the Gods cannot attain victory without the collaboration of all elemental forces. Hence, she's willing to extend her cooperation to us. She has proposed that you might join forces with the Hero of Light, potentially adopting the role of a devoted follower. The Goddess will issue instructions to the Hero to ensure the safeguarding of your true identity."

As Felix absorbed this revelation, the God of Life granted him insight into the recent developments in Mangera. Vivid scenes unfolded in Felix's mind, unveiling the grim and harrowing fate of the six other Heroes. Their lifeless bodies lay strewn on the battlefield, bearing the marks of a cruel and ruthless battle. The scenes progressed like a nightmarish slideshow, each image a haunting testament to the heroes' sacrifices.

With a heavy heart, the God of Life commented on the tragedy. "The Hero of Fire, The Hero of Water, The Hero of Earth, The Hero of Wind, The Hero of Light, and The Hero of Darkness met their untimely demise together in a brutal and devastating encounter, alongside their loyal forces. This catastrophic event unfolded as they traversed between the empires, falling victim to an intricately coordinated ambush orchestrated by a Thorn and his formidable army of demons. These malevolent beings exploited a prearranged portal for their sinister purposes. The Hero of Life, on the other hand, had already met a similar fate long before the occurrence of this calamity."

Felix was reminded of how dangerous this planet, Mangera was. Life could be snuffed out when one least expected it, perhaps this was a true dog eat dog world?

Yet, as he spoke, the eyes of the God of Life gleamed with a sense of anticipation and enthusiasm, revealing a glimmer of hope amid the prevailing despair. "The heroes are set to be reborn in parallel for the first time in eons, all destined to coexist within the same era. This unique alignment of their destinies presents us with an extraordinary and unprecedented opportunity as the other six Gods have decided to go all in and I shall follow their example."

The God of Life, after revealing the information about the rebirth of the Heroes, added with a note of urgency, "However, this also means that the Gods will be engaged in a race against one another to secure every resource, artifact, and treasure that will provide their Chosen with the highest possible chance of success."

He continued, "They will undoubtedly instruct their followers to aid the Heroes, of course. But we, unfortunately, do not have that luxury anymore. The Empire of Life, along with my loyal followers, has been erased from Mangera. We must put in unrelenting effort right from the very beginning.

With those words, the God of Life appeared right beside Felix, his hand coming to rest on Felix's shoulder. Before Felix could question his behavior, he felt a strange sensation washing over him. It was as if the world around him was unraveling, and a sense of impending darkness crept in. Panic surged within him, and his last conscious thought was, "Not again!" before his world plunged into obscurity once more.