Hitman with a Badass System

1221 God vs God II

"You better be sure about controlling the Minotaur, Goddess Marli," Raphael voiced his concern amidst the tense atmosphere. In response, Marli snickered at Raphael's caution. "And where, pray tell, do you think Silvaris stole the Minotaur pup from?" she asked rhetorically, her smirk widening. "It was from my forest," she revealed, her eyes gleaming with a mix of pride and cunning.

The revelation took Raphael by surprise, as he pieced together the implications of Marli's claim. The Minotaur, which had grown up within the confines of the maze, was indeed born in Marli's forest. This detail added a layer of complexity to the beast's allegiance and potential control.

"Although the Minotaur was born before my ascent to godhood, it can still remember the forest of its birth. It remembers its essence, and that same essence flows through me, as I am now the goddess of that very forest." Marli elaborated, her voice laced with an air of superiority. Unable to contain his disdain for Marli's actions, Elrion taunted and cursed her for holding them as hostages. "This is why you have no title and only a handful of worshippers!" he spat, his words dripping with contempt.

After hearing him, Marli's reaction was swift and severe. She struck Elrion across the face, her hand moving with the speed of a striking serpent. "Shut up, mortal," she hissed, her laughter following the slap. "Once I apprehend the God of Darkness, I can choose any title I want and have as many worshippers as I desire."

The adventurers around Elrion were taken aback, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief at Marli's revelation. The name "God of Darkness" sent a ripple of astonishment through the group.

"Did she just say the God of Darkness?" one of the adventurers exclaimed, his voice laced with surprise and a hint of fear.

"No fucking way, I thought he was just a myth!" another blurted out, unable to hide the shock in their voice.

"A god? Here? And we're stuck in the middle of this shitshow?" a third adventurer muttered, the reality of their predicament sinking in.

The notion that the God of Darkness, a being many of them had heard of only in tales and legends, was not only real but also the target of Marli's ambitions, sent a wave of realization through the group.

A look of calm realization crossed Lysandra's face amid the unfolding chaos. She whispered to herself, "That's why I had that feeling," as if piecing together a puzzle that had long eluded her grasp.

"It's just a myth. There's no such thing as the God of Darkness," Elrion countered, his voice a mixture of disbelief and insistence.

Marli's response was swift and laden with mockery. "And who, pray tell, do you think the temples of the God of Darkness were built for if he's just a myth?" she snickered, her amusement evident.

Observing the exchange, Raphael couldn't help but shake his head slightly, a soft snicker escaping his lips. "Mortals," he muttered, his single word conveying a mix of amusement and pity for their ignorance.

On the other hand, Marli seized the moment and laughed openly before addressing Elrion directly. "The God of Darkness is very real, and he's been with you the whole time," she revealed, delighting in the shock and disbelief her words provoked.

A moment of realization swept through Elrion and the other adventurers as they recalled the black-robed figure they had encountered. The memories clicked into place, each detail sharpening their understanding of the situation they were in.

"Wait, the black-robed guy... that was him?" one of the adventurers muttered, his eyes widening as he connected the dots.

"Shit, you mean we've been playing into a god's hands this whole time?" another exclaimed, the revelation dawning on him with a mix of awe and dread.

"And we still have this damn mark of Morbus on us because of them," a third adventurer added, touching the glowing green mark on his forehead.

Piecing together the encounters and the implications of their current predicament, Elrion couldn't help but voice his realization. "So, the God of Darkness... he's been with us and playing us this whole time,"

As the group grappled with their newfound understanding, the maze itself seemed to react, trembling violently as the ground beneath them shook. The walls rattled, and dust fell from the ceiling, a foreboding sign of what was to come.

"What the hell is happening?" one of the adventurers cried out, his voice laced with fear and confusion.

"Is this place falling apart?" another asked, looking around in panic, seeking stability where there was none. In contrast to the growing chaos, Raphael remained the picture of composure. "The Minotaur is coming," he stated simply, his voice cutting through the noise with an unsettling calmness.

Amidst the rising tension, Lysandra's voice emerged clear and authoritative. "Let the others go," she insisted, her demeanor unshaken by the imminent threat. "The Minotaur will kill them if they don't escape now."

However, Marli was unmoved by Lysandra's plea. With a snicker, she dismissed the notion with cold indifference. "You are the bait I didn't want," she said.

As the walls of the maze continued to crack and tremble under the unseen force of the Minotaur's approach, the adventurers were caught in a maelstrom of fear and disbelief.

"Shit, are you telling me that thing's real?" one of the adventurers exclaimed, eyeing the deteriorating structure around them with wide eyes.

"I thought Minotaurs were just old tales to scare kids," another muttered, his voice barely concealing the panic that was starting to set in. "Fucking great, from myths to our executioner!"

Among the group, there were a few who had heard of the Minotaur, understanding its significance but never truly believing they would face one. "I knew they were real, but damn, I never thought I'd actually have to face one," a seasoned adventurer said, his usual bravado replaced by a grim realization of their precarious situation.

In the midst of their frantic discussions and growing dread, a sudden movement caught everyone's attention. Something—or someone—shot through the already cracked wall with incredible force, breaking it further and sending a cloud of dust into the air.

As the dust settled, the figure of Michael emerged, his appearance immediately drawing the focus of everyone present. "That's him," someone whispered, recognition dawning on their faces.

Upon seeing Michael, Elrion and Lysandra simultaneously acknowledged his true identity, their voices carrying a mix of awe and resignation. "God of Darkness," they said, their statement echoing in the tense air.

Unfazed by the dramatic entrance he had just made, Michael cracked his neck and stood up, brushing off the dust from his shoulder with a nonchalant gesture. Surveying the scene before him, his eyes locked on Marli and Raphael, he addressed them with a calm demeanor that belied the tension of the moment. "Marli, Raphael, what a pleasant surprise," he said, his voice steady and composed.

"Running away, were we? Didn't think you'd show your face around here again," Marli, unable to resist the opportunity to mock him, snickered at his greeting. In a dramatic gesture, she raised the Pandora's box she held in her hands, a dark aura emanating from the artifact. "Enjoy your freedom while it lasts," Marli declared, her eyes gleaming with anticipation and malice. As the reality of their situation settled in, the adventurers found themselves grappling with the shocking revelation that they had been embroiled in a plot to kill a god, and not just any god, but the God of Darkness himself. Their reactions were a mix of fear, disbelief, and desperation.

"Holy shit, we're in deep now. Trying to off a god? Are we fucked or what?" one of the adventurers exclaimed, his voice laced with panic.

Another, realization dawning, fell to his knees, his voice trembling. "Please, God of Darkness, forgive us. We had no idea—we're just pawns in their game!"

Amid the chaos, a few adventurers, still gripped by the fear of the green mark of Morbus on their foreheads, dared to demand. "You have to help us! That mark—give us a cure for Morbus's curse. You owe us that much!"

Raphael, observing the unfolding drama with a stoic expression, understood the urgency of the situation. His voice cut through the commotion, firm and authoritative. "Finish this before the Minotaur comes in."

As tensions reached their peak, the shadow of the Minotaur suddenly loomed large on the ground, a foreboding sign of its imminent arrival. The sight of it sent a ripple of fear through the gathered adventurers, but Marli remained undeterred, her confidence unwavering.

"Let it come," she said, her voice steady and filled with a chilling resolve.

With those words, Marli opened the Pandora's box she held, unleashing a torrent of dark smoke and tendrils that surged towards Michael. The tendrils, like living entities, coiled around him with a malevolent intent, binding him with an inescapable grip.

Michael struggled against the dark embrace, his efforts to break free proving futile against the box's ancient power. Marli's laughter filled the air, a sound of triumph as she watched her plan unfold. "Your game is over," she taunted, reveling in the moment.

The tendrils tightened their hold, pulling Michael closer to the box, and as the darkness enveloped him, the scene turned eerily silent. In a final, decisive movement, the box pulled him into its depths and snapped shut, sealing Michael within its dark confines.