Chapter 143: Strange Skeleton

It was bright, lighting up the whole system of planets, bringing the warmth and energy needed to sustain life. The inhabitants of each planet felt its presence daily, relying on its steady light for their growth and activities.

It was not just a source of light, but a symbol of hope and continuity, a constant reminder of the interconnectedness of all the celestial bodies in their orbit.

As the bright star illuminated the vast expanse of space, it cast a golden glow that painted the skies in a spectrum of colors, inspiring awe and reverence among those who gazed upon it.

"The Sun..." Zenkichi muttered as he gaze upon the brilliant celestial body. Its radiant beams seemed to reach out and touch everything in the system, filling Zenkichi with a sense of wonder and purpose. The Sun's golden glow reflected in his eyes, casting a warm, amber hue on his face.

He blinked and the scene before him changed.

It was hell, literally.

Blue flames and scalding brimstones surrounded him, the air thick with the stench of sulfur and the cries of the damned. The ground beneath his feet cracked and shifted, spewing jets of molten lava that illuminated the darkness with an eerie, otherworldly glow.

Zenkichi's heart raced as he took in the hellish landscape. The contrast between the serene, life-giving Sun and this chaotic inferno was jarring. He struggled to comprehend how he had gone from basking in the Sun's warmth to standing in this nightmarish realm.

"Ack! W-What's with the air?!" He muttered, chokingly.

The air was thick and heavy, not like it was polluted, though it very much look like it. No, it was more than just that.

It had substance.

The air had some sort of strange energy that seemed to seep into his very being, weighing him down and making it difficult to move or even think clearly. It was as if the atmosphere itself was alive, pulsating with a malevolent force that sought to overwhelm him.

He thought he was going to get crushed... but as he took a deep breath, the strange energy flowed naturally within him.

"What...?"

His mind raced, searching for answers. Was this a vision? A nightmare? Or had he somehow crossed into another dimension? The heat was oppressive, each breath burning his lungs, which didn't make any sense since he had just came from space where it should've been impossible for him to survive...

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm and focused.

"This can't be real," Zenkichi whispered to himself, though the scorching pain he felt seemed all too tangible. He narrowed his eyes as he observed his surroundings, feeling the malevolent sensation wash over him as if he was being covered in some sort of cloak.

He blink and his eyes widened, 'What...?!'

The scene before him changed once more. He was in a dim and dark chamber, with tall pillars all around him.

But his attention was mostly on the throne before him, resembling the iron throne from GOT. But Zenkichi's mind didn't make the connection immediately as his eyes, slightly widened, were fixed on the figure seated on the throne.

They wore a dark robe with some semblance of armor like pauldrons on his shoulders that seemed to glimmer with an otherworldly light. The figure's face was obscured by a hood, but Zenkichi could feel the weight of their gaze upon him. The air in the chamber was thick with an oppressive energy, making it hard to breathe.

Although the mysterious figure on the throne was giving off an aura of danger and the threat of certain death, Zenkichi strangely felt a familiar sensation as he stared at the figure. He couldn't quite place it, but there was something oddly comforting beneath the layers of intimidation and malevolence. It was as if, deep down, he recognized this presence.

He could feel it, within in his blood, it was calling out for the person on the throne.

"Who are you?" Zenkichi finally asked, his voice steady despite the overwhelming atmosphere.

"...."

Silence stretched between them, Zenkichi furrowed his brows.

However, upon taking a closer inspection, Zenkichi was shocked to see that the figure on the throne was a corpse! His hands were skeletal, clutching the armrests of the throne with a deathly grip. The armor that had once gleamed now seemed to be rusted and tarnished, and the robe was tattered and frayed.

Zenkichi took a cautious step closer, his breath catching in his throat. The oppressive energy still hung in the air, but the initial fear began to wane as curiosity took over. He reached out a trembling hand, intending to touch the skeletal figure to see if it was truly real.

Before his fingers could make contact, the figure's eyes suddenly flared with a spectral light. The corpse jerked upright, and Zenkichi stumbled back, heart pounding.

"....Not enough..." a eerie voice echoed through the chamber, sending chills down Zenkichi's spine. The skeletal figure seemed to be animated by some otherworldly force, its empty eye sockets glowing with an unnatural light.

"Not enough... what?" Zenkichi managed to ask, his voice trembling despite his efforts to remain calm.

"Sin.... evil... demon... life..." the eerie voice continued, the skeletal head slowly turning to face him fully. "And death... Young one, you shouldn't be here. You still haven't completed your trials and become a Demon God, much less a true demon."

"The flames of Gehenna burns within you, but not as brightly and strong like your siblings." the corpse added.

Zenkichi's eyes widened, realization flickering in his eyes and he immediately took another step closer, his body instinctively shifting into a combat stance. "You... what's your relationship with Satan and Gehenna?!"

The corpse let out a rasping chuckle, its bony frame shaking with the effort. "I am simply a guardian, a sentinel of this forsaken realm," it intoned, the spectral light in its eye sockets flickering like dying embers. "But since you have arrived here, perhaps I shall reward you something..."

It raised its skeletal hand and pointed at Zenkichi's chest.

"Gah!" Zenkichi gasped, falling to his knees. Cold sweat perspiring down his back as he felt an intense pressure on his chest, feeling his Demon Heart throbbing intensely within him, feeling as though it was about to burst.

He clutched his chest with his hands tight, grinding his teeth as he looked up at the emotionless figure before him. The pressure on his chest intensified, as if probing his very essence, seeking something deep within him.

"W-What... did you do...?"

"Merely accelerating the true awakening of your demonic heritage—hm? Well, isn't this interesting? You have a divine authority; and it's the Sun with other smaller domains. That's pretty good. Though, this feels a bit unnatural... you stole it? Hahahaha! As expected, you are your father's spawn!" The figure on the throne chuckled ominously, the sound reverberating through the chamber like distant thunder.

"Though, I have to say, it's pretty smart of you to not merge your divine and demonic powers together. With how your demonic state is still incomplete and your divine nature at its infancy, it would have lead to a chaotic and potentially self-destructive outcome," the skeletal figure remarked, its voice carrying an unsettling blend of amusement and ancient wisdom.

Zenkichi struggled to maintain his focus, the pain in his chest becoming unbearable as if his very essence was being squeezed out of him. His vision blurred momentarily as he fought to stay conscious, the pressure on his chest intensifying with each passing second.

The skeletal figure watched with an almost detached curiosity, as if studying a specimen under a microscope.

"Live, young one. And try to take your rightful claim of the throne in the upcoming festival of demons..."

Zenkichi's eyes grew heavy and he inevitably succumbed to the overwhelming pressure. Darkness encroached on his vision as he slumped forward, consciousness slipping away despite his desperate struggle to resist.

In the depths of his mind, fragmented visions and memories flickered like distant stars in a vast cosmos.

The warmth of the Sun appeared before him, the giant star filling him with an unimaginable sense of power and resolve. It was as if the Sun itself reached out to him, offering strength and clarity amidst the chaos that threatened to consume him.

Its power was vast, boundless! Yet, he could tell that the Sun wouldn't give him more.

For he lacked faith, of followers. What was a God, if no one believed in them?

"Thief...." Suddenly, a strange voice sounded through the maelstrom of his thoughts. This voice cut through the darkness like a blade, sharp and commanding.

Zenkichi's vision shifted into a dark, foggy realm where shadows danced eerily around him. The voice echoed again, clearer this time, reverberating with an authoritative tone that sent a chill down Zenkichi's spine.

"Faker..." the voice intoned solemnly, its source obscured by the murky surroundings. Suddenly, the shadows began to twist and contort, forming into a vague, shifting figure that seemed to resemble an undead looking woman with a mangled face.

Zenkichi's eyes widened, 'Is that... Amaterasu?!'

The apparition floated closer, its form becoming more distinct. The spectral figure bore a striking resemblance to that of Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess. However, her visage was twisted with anger and pain, her once-beautiful features now marred by an ethereal corruption.

Before Zenkichi could say anything, the corrupted Amaterasu charged at him.

Gasp*!

Zenkichi opened his eyes with a jolt, heart pounding and breath ragged.

"What... what just happened...?" Zenkichi muttered, he looked up to see thick foliage.

[Ding!]

...

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