The priest looked the same as before, but he also looked different.
At six feet tall with golden, tentacle-like hair, the priest also wore a vest created with a mysterious fabric. He was full of dignity. But unlike the years before, Lagaope couldn’t feel any power coming from him this time.
He must have become an Alpha.
It seemed like nothing serious had happened, but he wanted to know about the ongoing fight between Lukras and Drakuns.
Lagaope asked,
<How is the situation?>
<Human, it has been a long time. We are still at war. But it is in balance… now the third power is opposing us.>
<Oh.>
<We did not intend for those beasts to become this strong, but it’s too late now. We can’t go down there anymore. This balance will stay for a little longer, unless we have something that breaks the balance. So I must ask.>
<Yes.>
<Have you succeeded? Do you think you will have such powerful being in your fold?>
Lagaope grinned.
<Yes. I will soon fill my duty as an ally. Don’t worry.>
The priest laughed.
<I will look forward to it.>
The priest then took the blessing and blood away from Lagaope and Lagaope felt something within him flowing again. The time that had been frozen within him began to move.
<You have about ten years left to live. I hope you find your result before you die.>
<Of course.>
Lagaope moved out of the mountain and came down to his world. He went onto find Lorvall. He was still at the Beta stage.
<So… our project really was a failure.>
He knew when he heard from the priests, but it felt bitter to see it in his eyes.
<Lagaope, by the gods… you were alive!>
Lorvall was shocked to see Lagaope, who should’ve died within ten years, come back after thousands of years.
Lorvall was sad to hear about what Lagaope explained.
<So this power that helped me the most… is the thing that blocks my right to become a God?>
<Yes…. But don’t worry. I found out a lot of things from that land.>
Lagaope explained about what he found and about Sian. Lorvall spoke.
<Bring him. We must make him our God.>
Lorvall had given up on himself already so he wanted to try for a possible chance. They needed to place the barrier and fight the Gerna to install the Ra-Shar-Roa and bring Sian over to this world. As they were preparing, they heard shocking news from Conrad who was out on repairing barriers.
<Hey. You know, the Sian guy? He’s here.>
It seemed Sian had jumped into Apental that Lagaope opened to escape through Chrona. He was now a third stage Beta after fighting his way through the place. Lagaope was astonished.
<Wow, he really is unlucky.>
It was amazing that Sian went looking for danger as if he was cursed. He sent Sian to <Aksarum> just in case, but it was too easy. Lagaope could have walked in and taken the core without any danger anytime, but he had been saving it for Sian.
Lagaope was then worried. There was no way to put Sian in another dangerous situation anymore. He was too strong. That was when Sian did it again.
Murakans suddenly evolved into second stage Betas and attacked Sian. It was unexpected but Lorvall’s quest window guided him on what to do. The cursed power taught him the right way to achieve his goal.
<We shall wait until he reaches the fourth stage and kills those Murakans.>
Murakans made Sian become the fourth stage and fortunately, it even gave them the extract of a third stage Beta. Thanks to Sian, everything was solved soon afterward.
Lorvall then reached the fourth stage. Lagaope then realized what he was thinking.
<Lorvall… are you…?>
<It’s time. If I die to create an Alpha among us… it’s worth it.>
<Are you trying to lose intentionally?>
Lagaope asked, but Lorvall shook his head.
<No, that will not work. And that will not allow Sian to become an Alpha.>
<But what if you win? That will turn you into Aksarai.>
Lorvall answered.
<Then that’s what it will be. But I will kill myself if I think I will win. My guess is that even we are at equal power… he will win.>
<It’s that hunch again?>
Lagaope mumbled as he heard that from the Lukra priest. He didn’t like that since he was a scientist.
<No. I am sure of it. Don’t worry.>
The Duke then walked into the core to undergo the final step.
<That’s where it ends. But I really didn’t do much. It was all you all along.>
“…”
Sian couldn’t find any words to respond with. These people had spent three thousand years to just make one Alpha.
“So, what do you want? I am an Alpha now, but what if I do not want to fill my duty as an ally? You should know about me already. Shouldn’t you like, beg me to do something?”
Lagaope laughed.
<Of course. That’s why I’m not asking you any favors. Would you help if I asked?>
“…”
<No. You value your life and your family above all else. I know this. You will not put your life in danger to fight against Drakuns or Harijans to protect all people. I need other ways.>
“Huh?”
<Thanks to you, we did earn safety. Only humans remain within this land.>
“Hmm.”
<You have destroyed the monsters within Apental and Aksarum. Its barrier was getting weaker so I was going to ask you to protect us from it.>
“…”
<You also defeated the Gerna of the north. Didn’t you also destroy the eastern peninsula? The monsters will not come over anymore. You also wiped out all the Narijas in the central region. There’s no other race than the humans here. The Swarms took care of the rest on their way.>
“But isn’t there south? Wasn’t it the reason why Lukra asked to be an ally?”
It seemed things went well within this land, but there was a bigger problem. Sian thought the south was a bigger problem. Harijans, Lukra, and Drakuns… they were fighting each other at the moment but if humans grew to become a threat, they would surely come after them.
<That’s yours to deal with now.>
“…what did you say?”
Sian looked at Lagaope.
<That’s up to you. I’ve helped you to become an Alpha. I can’t help you with dealing with those god-like races. Hahaha!>
“Ha…haha…”
Sian felt anger rushing through his veins as he watched Lagaope laughing from beyond the screen.
<I feel accomplished. I don’t have much time left… but I’ve done what I needed to do. It seems all my burdens are gone now. Oh, one more thing. Don’t just smack away people like that. Haha! I wanted to tell you this so badly for so long.>
“…”
‘I should go after him.’
Sian decided to find Lagaope even if he had to search through every part of the land. But Lagaope continued,
<I only have 5 years to live. Shouldn’t you let me have this vacation after 3000 years of work? Besides, you won’t have time to find me.>
“What do you mean?”
<Why do you think I installed that teleportation rune?>
“To go home…?”
<Yes. You need to go home now. I forgot to tell you one important thing.>
Lagaope then told Sian what he discussed with the priest before he embarked on his adventure down to the land of the beasts 3000 years ago.
