Chapter 201 - Sarkist Cult

Trese returned to her home finding it the way she left it and entered inside finding her Godfather, Hank bewildered by his appearance that had long hair and different air around her.

"Bossing!? What happened to you!? Why has your hair suddenly grown this long!?"

She didn't say anything and quickly hugged her father figure who was taken aback by her action but returned the gesture by doing the same thing. He doesn't know what's going on but felt that she had been on a long journey like before. 

After a while, Hank prepared some coffee and took a seat to learn what happened to Trese who gave an honest story about going to a fictional world. His expression turns a wide array of disbelief. 

She showed her power by summoning a shadow shoulder awaiting her command much to her godfather's shock. 

"Y-You really foughts gods!? And your boyfriend is god!!? What the hell!?"

'I guess that's a normal reaction but I wish Ryuu the best of luck on his part.'

"*Sigh* I guess I can't do anything about that besides Wow."

He was too speechless, unable to find the right word to describe how the story affected him. Her Goddaughter was now a literal god slaying machine. 

It made him oddly proud that she had become far stronger than her predecessor and would be able to keep the balance more easily. Soon, Trese headed to her room when Emissary came to visit her.

"What do you need, Emissary? Perhaps to ask questions about where I have been and how I've changed?"

"Unfortunately that is not the reason why I am here. I'm merely passing a message to you."

"And what would that be?"

"The goddess of Death, Ibu, has a sense of a living god far stronger than the chief god within our faction. As of right now, she intends to show that it could be related to you and wishes to be no part of the other gods' plot."

'We've only returned for a few hours yet they are already taking a stance.'

Trese thought to herself but understood knowing the authority over the life and death within their country was within the goddess, Ibu's grasped.

She wonders if her soul does not connect to the afterlife anymore knowing how powerful she had become and even controls the soul of death with her shadow and darkness. 

"She had vaguely guessed that it had to be connected to your lover and wished to be on good terms with him."

Trese knows that there might be ulterior motives in them and remains on guard if needed, giving the emissary a nod.

"As long as you don't intend to get in his way then it would be fine."

She understands Ryuu's personality and would flip the whole world if someone dares hurt them or make him an enemy. Though, she wasn't scared anymore since he was an embodiment of evil and evil intention.

The Emissary bowed since she already felt that one move could be the end of her life despite being spirit. Trese saw her disappear and receive a phone regarding a case. She decided to join in and swiftly change the accord. 

==========

"I don't think I can…"

"Then we just need to keep going, Jin-Ah"

"No, I might lose my mind."

Jin-Ah was anxious looking at Ryuu while he gave her a reassuring smile.

"It's going in…"

"What the hell!? You two are just playing a crane game!? People might misunderstand!"

Tawata shouted at the two watching them play a crane game struggling to gate one of the stuffed toys. They were looking intently at the crane as it picked up, lighting back their spirit slowly closing in to gain their reward only for it to squash and fall right back.

"Noooooooo!!!!"

The two fell to the ground, defeated that their hope was stepped on and spit on. 

"Crane and Gacha are the root of all evils!!"

Ryuu said being ironic considering he embodies Evil. He couldn't win against the addictive power of Gacha and arcade games. 

"It's best to give up and try another game, Jin-Ah, Ryuu."

Cha Hae-in said who was close by as the two stood back up feeling depressed at their defeat.

"You mean this time. Well, let's go and grab dinner then."

Ryuu took them to a seafood restaurant where they had lobster and other sea life. They were chatting and having fun as Ryuu appeared to where his base of operation of Sarkist was located where Ion was preaching to his followers.

The hideout looked like gothic victorian style with many fleshy things around the building.

"We value flesh, it is holy and divine."

Grand Sarkist Ion had already somehow made a doctrine in how their philosophy works and their faith. They are cultists who believe that flesh is pure and divine and tainting is blasphemous.

There are Key beliefs with five principal steps of Sarkicism:

Apotheosis: Becoming a God. Proto-Sarkites believe that only over time and through the Yaldabaoth can this be achieved.

Will: The driving force of a man. 

Theophagy: The sacramental consumption of a God or in other words a piece of Ryuu's Disease like the blacklight virus. 

Sacrifice: Either sacrifice oneself for the benefit of the many (Proto-Sarkites).

"To Shepherd the Flesh": Cultivate organic matter. 

However, Ryuu interfered and told them not to take things seriously and just value their life's more but they misinterpreted it. He doesn't mind as long they don't go around spreading their beliefs to others.

Ryuu ironically still worships a god since in the Philippines they worship the Christian gods. He told this to the people and was somewhat worshiped as well. The false god and the true god, an irony of it.

Though there are obviously many gods in the world and he knows it. Ryuu can peer through their divinities excluding the good natured ones. 

"Ion…"

He appeared as Yaldabaoth and now that his omnipresence so long the concept of evil exists then he'll appear. 

[ A/N: I'll still call him Yaldabaoth to separate him from Ryuu ]

They saw him appear in his black trench coat and newly cut hair having the same appearances alucard from Rosaria vampire. 

"My Lord!"

They all bound and kneel before him, sensing their reverence made Yaldabaoth warily smile.

"What do we owe the pleasure of meeting us?"

He spoke in sheer devotion that Ryuu could just hear Demiurge from the overlord in Ion. 

"I am just here to give you a body guard and underling."

Yaldabaoth brought out Klavigar Orok and resized himself around 3 meters two towering over them. Ion was surprised to see another companion in his endeavors but appreciated it.

"Orok, you shall be under Ion commands and do as he told you. Protect him if needed and assist him if needed."

"It shall be done my Lord."

His booming voice was heard and remained kneeling, not daring to disrespect his master. Yaldabaoth nodded  knowing it's best if his hideout is protected until he is able to find a better place for them. 

"Is there anything you need of us, My Lord?"

Ion asked eager to perform any task imaginable for his god whole Yaldabaoth shook his head and said. 

"At the moment, there is nothing beside doing what you are doing but please don't force anyone."

Yaldabaoth doesn't want them to start kidnapping people and using them as a sacrifice.

"Of course My lord, all of these people are willing to seek their salvation."

Ion said while the others agreed since most were lost and had found their way to their cult. They became healthier and happier having been saved by their grace. Yaldabaoth nodded and soon vanish as they all whispered upon being in the presence of their god. 

Meanwhile Ryuu felt his Yaldabaoth god form appeared in the world having his own divine realm looking through the eyes of his worshiper and hearing their prayers.

His Yaldabaoth god form doesn't have any necessarily to represent a part of their world but he places one that focuses on mindless monsters in dungeons and flesh of life. 

His divine form governs life and flesh while also a small part of strong emotion which allows to help people's morality. He may have disgusting power from Mutation and Depravity/Corruption but it mostly applies to the sinful. 

Regardless, he used his power to bring a blessing to Ion who began to spread his name. Ryuu had long given permission for Ion to be the grand bishop of his church to control them from getting out of hand. 

He then senses something ever since they arrive and turns to the sky, understanding that the ones who were spying on him were the Gods of this world. 

'Thanks to [ Root ] skill, I am to reflect their gaze. Not to mention, I am omnipresent.'

Ryuu stared intently before grinning, seeing that the gods flinched in fear and stopped their observation. He could learn that the goddess of death Ibu is neutral and wanted to be on good terms.  

He could see that Zeus is occupied by his lost lightning that made Ryuu frown, learning that he is petty enough to end the world until his lightning bolt is returned.

'If that rapist did try that then I'll devour him.'