Smoke twisted in the air, thick and suffocating, its acrid scent clinging to the ruins of the village. The flames devoured homes with relentless hunger, casting flickering shadows over the bodies strewn across the dirt, their blood pooling like ink in the moonlight.
Navia stood frozen, her breath shallow as she stared at Eryx's unmoving form. His stillness mirrored the void inside her. Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, laden with dread, she asked,
"What… What do you mean by 'beyond gods and mortals'?"
Her mind grasped at the edges of understanding, but the words unsettled her.
"Mortals—I get that. He surpasses them. But gods? What do you mean?"
Her gaze snapped to Atlas, demanding answers, but before he could speak, a figure stumbled into the ruined square—a slayer, wide-eyed and breathless.
"Captain... there's someone—" He choked on his fear. "We found the body of a young girl. When we approached it... It vanished. One moment, it was there—then it was gone."
Atlas and Navia stiffened, their bodies going rigid as they exchanged a glance. A spark of unease crackled between them.
"That girl," Navia murmured. "The boy was holding her. She's gone."
Atlas exhaled sharply, turning to the slayer with steely resolve.
"Search a ten-kilometer radius. If there's anything—anything at all—related to this incident, report back immediately."
"Understood, Captain." The slayer wasted no time, disappearing into the thick night.
Atlas folded his arms, his fingers brushing his chin, lost in thought.
"Navia... did you see her vanish? Did you sense anything unnatural during the fight?"
Navia's pulse drummed in her ears. The air, thick with tension, felt heavier somehow.
"No," she admitted. "I didn't." She searched his face. "Did you?"
Atlas held her gaze, his tone as unreadable as the darkness beyond.
"Yes."
The air grew dense with an unnatural weight, pressing down on the ruined village. Flames coiled around the houses, their embers dancing in the suffocating heat. Atlas and Navia stood amidst the inferno, while Eryx lay motionless on the scorched earth.
Navia took a step forward, shaking her head, her voice unsteady.
"What… what did you see, Atlas?"
Atlas didn't turn. His gaze remained locked on the blaze, unreadable.
"The summoning power," he murmured. His hands clasped behind his back, his posture unyielding. Without pause, he continued, his voice devoid of hesitation.
"It was a summoning ability. The girl's body was brought forth, but the power was lacking. Incomplete. As a result, she was displaced outside the village before being summoned again… by the one who invoked her."
The fire crackled, but to Navia, the world had gone silent.
A voice drifted through the smoke, distant yet firm.
"Hey, you two."
Atlas and Navia turned, their eyes narrowing as they searched for the source. A girl with elf-like ears approached, waving as she stepped into the ruined village. Her golden hair danced in the breeze, and her glowing blue eyes burned with an unsettling intensity. The air around her trembled—bending, shifting—as if it answered to her command.
Beside her, creatures cloaked in abyssal black followed, their presence sending a chill through Atlas's spine. His breath hitched as he muttered,
"This mana… This can't be… Those beings in black… they're... Devils."
His voice wavered, struggling to remain steady under the weight of the energy before him. He turned to Navia, his grave.
"Navia—don't lower your guard. If we do, it'll be dangerous."
Navia gave a curt nod, eyes locked on the approaching figure.
The elf-eared girl finally reached them, her presence carrying both curiosity and urgency.
"Hey, what happened here?" she asked, her tone a mix of excitement and seriousness. "I sensed something familiar, a god, so I came to investigate."
Atlas's gaze hardened.
"Yes… She calls herself the God of Flames."
Before he could elaborate, the girl cut in, her voice tight.
"Iris. So she broke the seal… She is strong."
Navia's brow furrowed.
"How do you know her name? Have you met her?" Her words were heavy with shock. Then, narrowing her gaze, she asked, "Who are you?"
The girl smirked.
"Me? I'm Mariya—the leader of the Devils. And as for Iris… I know her better than anyone."
As she spoke, her eyes flickered toward Eryx's still form. The moment her gaze settled on him, her breath caught.
"Mo… Moretti."
Her expression twisted into one of disbelief. Turning to Atlas and Navia, she demanded,
"Who did this?"
Atlas and Navia exchanged a glance before recounting everything. As Mariya listened, she exhaled sharply, then stepped forward, kneeling beside Eryx. She cradled his head gently, holding him close.
Navia hesitated before speaking.
"Why do you call him Moretti? Is that his name? How do you know?"
Mariya's grip tightened slightly before she answered.
"No… and yes. I don't know the name of his body. But I know his other soul. And..."
She paused, choosing her words carefully.
"He is someone closer to me than anyone. He is… the most important person in my life."
Atlas and Navia held their silence, watching as Mariya finally looked up, her expression unreadable.
"According to the gods from Cosmos, he is the son of Celestia Malenia."
Atlas stiffened. Navia inhaled sharply.
"Celestia Malenia," Mariya continued. "Not a sealed deity like Iris. A veritable god—the one who shaped this world, the one who made life possible."
Silence stretched between them, suffocating. Atlas and Navia exchanged uneasy glances, struggling to process the revelation.
Then Mariya rose, signaling her devils to take Eryx. As they moved, she turned back to Atlas and Navia.
"That's all you need to know for now. And don't tell anyone. Not even him." She grinned slightly. "I'm taking him with me, but don't worry—we'll stay in touch. We'll work together, Captain. If you don't mind."
Atlas's gaze darkened.
"Fine. But where exactly are you taking him?"
Mariya brushed a strand of hair from her face.
"Nowhere dangerous—I'm just treating him. You, however, will be the one going with him on every mission."
She sighed.
"I have my side to handle. I need to find a way to enter the Realm of Dragons. We still don't know when he'll control his power. We need help to stop the gods—the seal I placed 300 years ago won't hold them forever. Iris is the strongest among them. If she has broken free, the others will follow."
Navia clenched her fists.
"Then what do we do now?"
Mariya's lips curled into a small smile as she extended her hand.
"Shake my hand."
Navia frowned.
"Why?"
"Don't worry—it's safe. I just want to see how strong you are."
Hesitating only for a moment, Navia grasped Mariya's hand. A flicker of recognition flashed in Mariya's eyes.
"You're strong. You have crystal mana."
Navia raised an eyebrow.
"Crystal mana?"
Mariya nodded.
"My mother once told me she created one of the rarest mana cores—something only possible through sheer imagination. But she only made one before she ascended into the Cosmos. No one knew who inherited it. Until now."
Navia smirked.
"That's pretty awesome. But I'm not just 'girl'—I'm Navia. Get it?"
Mariya laughed.
"Okay, okay. You're funny too. But you've got a spirit of fire in you—that'll take you far."
Her expression softened as she reached into her cloak, producing a bracelet.
"Here. This will let us stay in touch. You'll receive holograms from me through its power, and you can send your own if you find anything unusual."
Atlas took the bracelet, pressing it once. A hologram of Mariya flickered to life, mimicking her movements in real time.
"This is incredible," Navia muttered.
Atlas exhaled slowly.
"You mentioned your mother earlier. Who is she, if you don't mind me as king?"
Mariya's smile faded into something softer—something almost nostalgic."She's the same as his mother."
Atlas still. Navia's breath hitched.
"The god of freedom."
Shock flooded their expressions.
— Chapter 2 Ends—