Chapter 6: Chapter Six: Moment of Truth (1)

Chapter Six: Moment of Truth (1)

There were many legends about the god's palace, and one of them spoke of the statues of the gods. These statues contained the legacies of the gods they represented.

To claim a god's legacy and fully awaken their talent, one needed the acknowledgement of the chosen statue.

For Dusken, the path to awakening his talent lay ahead: traverse the desert at night, reach the god's palace, choose a statue, gain its acknowledgement, and claim the legacy.

The steps sounded daunting, and the sheer weight of the task made Dusken massage his temples in frustration.

'There's a saying: the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,' Dusken reminded himself, as the biting night breeze struck his face, sharp and cold.

Here, that single step meant reaching the palace before dawn.

Failing to do so would mean reliving the torment he had endured today; an endless trek under the scorching sun, with thirst eroding his being. It was a suffering he wasn't eager to repeat.

Dusken retrieved his bone weapon, now spoting faint cracks - echoes of his battle with a level-one awakened creature.

He ran his hand along the weapon's surface, careful not to hurt himself.

Testing its sharpness, he stretched the tip and pricked Kyle's unsuspecting arm, drawing a bead of blood.

"Ouch!" Kyle yelped, glaring at Dusken with undisguised malice.

"Haha, it's still sharp, I guess. Sorry about that," Dusken chuckled, gripping the weapon tightly.

"Can't you test it on yourself? Why use me as your test subject?" Kyle snapped, his gaze turning cold and steely.

Dusken's expression darkened, and with it, the shadows around them seemed to deepen, amplifying the tension in the air. Kyle noticed the subtle shift, his eyes darting nervously.

Dusken shook his head and sighed bitterly. "Let's not fight now. The palace is already in sight. Don't let such a tiny, insignificant wound ruin our focus, okay?" He patted Kyle's shoulder, a seemingly casual gesture, but one laden with layered meaning.

Kyle clenched his fists, his knuckles whitening as veins bulged beneath his skin. He gritted his teeth in silent rage, but Dusken ignored him. A faint smile tugged at Dusken's lips, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes.

Without another word, Dusken broke into a sprint toward the distant cliff. Dawn was his enemy; if the sun rose before he reached the palace, his chance at salvation would slip away.

He would have to wait another night—if he survived that long. Facing a single creature today had been taxing enough. What if he faced an entire horde tomorrow?

Too much was at stake. Even more dangerous than the desert's challenges were the humans lying in ambush near the god's palace. Dusken couldn't afford to lose his chance tonight, no matter what.

A frown crept onto his face as he ran. Something felt off. The darkness seemed to expand his perception, making him acutely aware of the cold night breeze brushing past his skin.

He could sense Kyle's movements behind him as though the shadows themselves whispered Kyle's position.

The sensation was indescribable but not unpleasant. It felt as if the darkness was part of him, and he was a part of it.

Kyle followed behind, his steps faltering slightly - an almost imperceptible hesitation that didn't escape Dusken's heightened senses. A ruthless glint flickered in Dusken's eyes.

Unbeknownst to him, Kyle's expression hardened. A ferocious, bloodthirsty look flashed in his gaze, though he struggled to suppress it.

If Dusken had noticed, he might have sighed with both relief and regret.

The cliff drew nearer with every step. Time lost meaning as Dusken focused solely on his goal. Occasionally, he and Kyle would pause briefly to catch their breath before pressing on.

The bone-chilling cold of the night desert slowed their progress, but soon, the faint outline of buildings appeared on the horizon.

Dusken's eyes lit up with recognition. The town - constructed by those who had visited the god's palace before - served as a resting place for humans preparing to ascend the cliff.

It was safe from attack, as only humans could perceive the palace's presence. Creatures, demons, and other races would remain oblivious even if they stood directly in front of it.

Dusken stopped and turned to face Kyle, who had halted some distance behind him. Sweat dripped from Kyle's face, and his ragged breathing filled the silence.

"H-how did you know?" Kyle whispered hoarsely, glaring at Dusken.

Dusken crossed his arms, his eyes cold and calculating.

"So, you've figured it out," he said, slowly approaching Kyle with light steps. "I had my suspicions, but I wasn't sure. Now, it's confirmed. How do I know you're not human? Don't worry; we'll hear all about that soon enough."

A cold smile spread across Dusken's face, though internally, he felt a wave of relief and exhilaration as his dark thrill for excitement burst forth.

"Y-you…" Kyle stammered, gritting his teeth. Black veins began to appear beneath his jade-white skin, spreading ominously.

Dusken's grin deepened.

The red-haired boy suddenly let out a grating, inhuman laugh. "Good, Dusk. You dare poison me with soul-devouring poison? Not bad. I guess I underestimated you. Maybe killing you earlier, as planned, would have been smarter."

Dusken shook his head slowly and said with ridicule: "You didn't underestimate me. You overestimated yourself."

He had indeed poisoned Kyle. The bone weapon, coated with the venom of the creature he'd slain earlier, had transferred the toxin when he pricked Kyle's skin.

Dusken laughed aloud, his voice carrying a hint of triumph. Twenty years of experience from his previous life had taught him well.

Schemes like this were commonplace in the novels and movies he'd consumed. How could an overconfident creature with limited intelligence hope to outsmart him?

'Such fools are everywhere in this new world,' Dusken mused inwardly. Kyle's arrogance reflected the many others he had observed in his current life.

They mistook a little strength for invincibility and forgot that the strong can fall to the cunning.

'You're a creature, yet you dared to go against me? I lived more than twenty years in my previous life. Seeking joy doesn't mean I'm a fool,' Dusken thought with a smirk.

The shadows around them thickened, cloaking the area in oppressive darkness. Dusken's smile deepened as he prepared for what was to come.