บท 53: Life and Death

Third Person PoV

Later the night that Cain brought Scáthach with him, she woke up and found herself still alive and inside an unknown room.

She at first, was bewildered due to the fact that she thought she was dead but then she could feel her heart beating right now.

She carefully reached towards the door, her spear was not in the room but she was confident in her skills without it. Just as she was about to open the door. The door opened and Cain walked in, surprising her.

But being a veteran warrior she was calm and asked her murderer and most probably reviver.

"Care to explain, Lucifer?"

Cain hearing that, sighed and motioned for her to sit and himself sat down on a chair. Scáthach remained motionless but after another gesture, the maiden warrioress sat down on the bed.

After that Cain explained to her what he did and how the evil pieces worked. After hearing the explanation of Cain, Scáthach stayed silent for some time and then spoke

"So you deceived me? And if I deny to be your queen then what, will I be forced?"

"Yes. And no if you really do not want to work with me then I can take the evil piece out, and in a way such that it will kill you or leave you alive as per your wish."

Hearing that Scáthach again contemplated something but Cain spoke

"But from what I can see, you always lived your life confined by ideals imposed on you. Just because you are better capable and better than others doesn't mean you must rule them. Live for yourself."

"How would you know what a life of a ruler is like?"

"Oh, I do know. I am the ruler of the underworld. And I most of time i run away from my duties and thrust them on my friends, wives, family and servants."

Hearing that Scáthach looked at him in astonishment but before she could say something Cain again spoke up

"And their is another reason, you have lust for growing stronger."

Hearing that Scáthach looked shocked and Cain knowing he hit the mark continued

"You improved in the fight against me till the last, you fought so hard against me even after knowing I would win. If your wish really is to die, they why try so hard."

"That would not be a warriors death!"

"Come on! That just you deluding yourself. There are more than enough people out their who can kill you but you never sought them out but waited for them to come to you. And you continued to train even in the land of shadows."

Cain stopped to let his words sink in and then spoke finally.

"Give me a chance, I will show you what is life. Live as a woman and as a being of your own way not because of someone other's way. And you are a mortal, although with a very long lifespan."

" I will be tha judge of it."

Hearing that Cain internally highfived himself out of excitement. But outwardly he showed a sincere smile and said

"Alright, I will try my best to prove myself, your majesty."

Hearing that just for a moment a small but noticeable smile appered though it disappeared quickly, Cain saw it.

And then he said

"If you need anything, ask a maid. The silver haired one is Grayfia, my Lucifuge, the white haired one succubus is my mom I think you know her name. The red haired and blonde haired ones are my wives, Zeaira and Rayla. Also there are two other maids one with short black hair and a stoic face, Vanessa and the one with brown hair, green eyes and cheerful personality, Melissa."

"I will remember it."

But before he could go, he was asked another question by his newly made queen

"When is an another member for your peerage coming?"

"In a few weeks I guess, i will tell you before that. I hope you can play your role."

"Sure."

With that being said Cain went back to his work and decided the future members of his peerage.

Just after Cain went out of Scáthach's room, sometime later Lilith went inside the room. Her intention unknown.

...

Cain was lying in the bed with Rayla beside him. They were talking about the hell building plans of Cain.

"So have you decided who are you going to get as your next peerage member?"

"Yes, it's going to be Morgan LeFay."

"You sure are going for big names, first the godslayer now the black madonna."

" Yeah but before that I need to talk with a certain goddess, who owes me a favour."

"Is it about the time, when you went along with Zeaira and her friends?"

"She told you about that?"

"Yes, she pretty much tells me everything if I ask for it."

'Her family obsession is off the charts.'

"Oh. Yeah I need to ask for the favour now."

"What if she dosen't agree to it."

"I have other means, even though they less peaceful but still they work great."

"But who is that goddess?"

"Ereshkigal."

...

Cain was on his way to the forgotten and almost dead mesopotamian pantheon. He had planned to get the dimensional core of their pantheon, while simultaneously getting Ereshkigal on his side.

Cain took the easy way, first he went in the dimensional gap and then wished to reach Kur, the underworld of the Mesopotamian pantheon.

Reaching there he found himself infront of a massive gate, etched in ancient text was the line.

[ Answer the question to pass.]

Reading that Cain thought

'Even a almost dead pantheon has such conditions, but I can most probably force them.'

The first gate had the question written on it

[What sacrifice are you willing to make for the greater good?]

"Nothing, the only thing I will make a sacrifice is for my family and close ones. Greater good could die for all I care."

The gate opened and Cain went inside. Cain expected that he would be hindred or lose some of his powers temporarily but nothing happened.

'Looks like she doesn't have much power left, if she can't even fight me in her own domain.'

Seeing that Cain started giving out whatever answers he pleased and he thought were right without giving much care.

And within a few minutes he reached the last gate. The last question was

[What is the nature of true strength?]

Cain spoke confidently "True strength is the ability to impose one's will on the world."

And with that the final gate opened revealing a horrifying landscape. Rivers with souls flowing in them, large cages containing the souls who screamed for escape and the sky looking like a eternal burning hell.

But Cain remained unfazed and went directly infront of the throne on whom he wanted to meet was sitting.

The goddess of Kur, Ereshkigal.

...

Currently Ereshkigal was quite in a predicament. She never expected that Cain would be able to overpower the gates of Kur and come inside without weakening.

She had used the last remaing power of the dimensional core to use the powers of the gates but she failed.

She never thought that the young devil she met all those years ago would become this strong and come to her.

Last time she met with him they made a deal and she owes him a favour, now she is worrying what will he ask.

Cain was standing infront of Ereshkigal who was sitting in her throne. Even though Cain could feel that she was weaker compared to before, she still was prudent.

Now that Cain was standing near her he could see her beauty. Blonde hair, twin tails with red eyes. A very revealing clothing, paired with a single stirrup. If one might not know her much they may mistake her for Ishtar.

"No greetings? Someone visits your realm after all this time and you do this."

Hearing that Ereshkigal looked at the invader of her realm and said

"As you could see, neither I nor the mesopotamian pantheon is doing great. So state what you want and be begone."

Hearing that she wanted him to come to the point directly he stated his reason for coming here

"I came for the favour you owe me, I think you already guessed that. So my favour is that I want the dimensional core of your pantheon."

Hearing that Ereshkigal was shocked and looked at Cain like a owl and spoke in a shrill voice

"Are you mad? No, I can't give you that. That is the only hope, this pantheon and me have."

Saying so she took out her divine cage ready to fight Cain but he raised hands and said

"Calm down and listen first. Also put your weapon down, you will be dead before you know it, if I am serious."

Ereshkigal knowing that Cain can backup his statement composed herself and looked at him, gesturing him to speak his mind.

"I will take the dimensional core, make a new pantheon, Hell and I would give you the goddess position in it. Much more freedom than you have right now and ever had. You always wanted to go outside and see things right?"

Ereshkigal looked at Cain like he was a stupid guy and spoke incredulously

"Are you dumb? Gods and their divinities dont work that way. We need to have our legends, myths, followers. Only few gods have the divinity they are born enough with to be strong and sustain themselves. Those are true gods, born by the world not by faith."

"Oh, are they? But what is to say I can't replicate it. If the entire hell is a dimension and I am sole will and power of it."

"It doesn't work this way. Most gods are born without sentience they gain it as they grow stronger. Those who are born with are called the true gods. They can live without any followers or faith. But other can't as our very sentience and exsitence is based on our faith.

Even if you do so, I will only exist in hell not outside the same way as now. My myths make it such that I can't walk on the lands of the living."

"And? I have talked with a goddess much older than you and she said I can do it."

"Older than me, few gods are older than the gods of the underworld and death. Only the primordial and God kings are beings like that. And you talked to them? Even if you did then it was someone stupid."

"Then how about a gamble, give me the dimensional core, if I manage to make my words come true then you join me but if not then you can kill me."

"Dont play smart with me, I can't kill you and after I give you the dimensional core I will lose consciousness almost immediately."

Cain said to pacify the goddesses' doubt.

"What if I could keep you connected to the core even when it is out of the pantheon, on my expense of energy? Surely you can agree on that. To be fair i am being generous here because i have a use for you or else I would have simply taken it."

Hearing that Ereshkigal pouted but still reluctantly agreed with Cain. And this was only possible due to Cain showing his near perfect control to her.

...

Ereshkigal then took Cain to the center stone of the dimension in which the mesopotamian pantheon lived.

The dimensional core was a single golden orb, usually radiating immense amounts of energy but currently it was dull and lacking its usual luster.

Due to the apparent weakness of the mesopotamian pantheon and lack of faith to provide it energy.

Cain went near it and grabbed it and then destroyed all the connection this thing had with the pantheon only keeping the Ereshkigal one intact.

And then used his own energy to maintain the connection, he quickly took Ereshkigal out of the dimension and into the dimensional gap.

The dimension getting destroyed will attract the attention of many bigshots, including a certain destroyer and a giant ass red dragon.

Cain then teleported back to his castle and showed Ereshkigal her room and introduced her to everyone.

She hid behind Cain when she saw Scáthach due to her title of the godslayer. But after getting acquainted with her and Cain assuring her that she will not kill her she shook hands with her.

Cain mentally thanked that Scáthach didn't make things difficult.

After this Cain prepared to go for a trip to Europe in a few days to get another on of his important peerage members.

But before that her inquired about his future bishop, Ingvild with Grayfia and found out that she was almost tricked many times, but managed to get out on her own and sometimes with Serafall's help.

"Good, let her grow like this. And keep an eye on her at all times. And most most importantly do not let the GKF catch wind of her existence."

"Yes my Lord."

AN:- How's life? Mine is hectic due to exams. Anyways give the power stones.