Chapter 788
Episode 194: An Unexpected Encounter (2)
Shinu, the God of Fire.
Alongside Solderet, he was the deity most revered by all magicians.
And Keliak Ziphl was the magician who had received the greatest favor from Shinu among all the fire contractors in history. In this era, Keliak was the only one who had ever directly sensed or conversed with the god’s true presence.
Now, that very god was manifesting before Jin and his companions.
The incarnation of Shinu appeared as a colossal humanoid figure made entirely of flames.
“Fwoooosh…”
As Shinu exhaled deeply, the group involuntarily swallowed dryly. Suddenly, the oppressive heat and thirst one might expect in the middle of a desert at noon pressed down on them. Just gazing into Shinu’s fiery eyes made their bodies feel as if they were about to be consumed by fire.
Unlike the others, Jin did not avert his gaze from Shinu. Though he wasn’t completely immune to the overwhelming presence, strangely enough, he felt no fear at all.
[Jin Runkandel…]
“That’s right. I am Jin Runkandel, Shinu.”
[I’ve heard much about your exploits. Indeed, you are a remarkably strong and arrogant child.]
“Is that all the praise you have? How dismissive. Especially coming from someone who came here to ask me for a favor.”
From the very start, Jin spoke boldly, completely disregarding Shinu’s mood. His comrades glanced at him in surprise.
No matter how daunting the opponent, if the leader stands tall, the group regains confidence.
Jin’s provocative words actually helped ease his companions’ tension. One by one, they began to meet Shinu’s gaze head-on.
Shinu remained silent for a moment.
During that pause, Jin studied him more closely—and realized Shinu carried the same scent as Pai. The smell of blood, ash, and war. It seemed Shinu had just been through a fierce battle.
“Looks like you’ve been in a fight. You smell exactly like that young dragon, Pai. The scent of blood and ashes, the stench of war. I can’t help but worry—has your domain, the Land of Fire, been attacked?”
[Ha ha, impressive.]
“No matter how much a god tries to hide it, it’s useless. To me, you look like a severely wounded patient.”
[You’re right. I just finished dealing with those who trespassed into my domain.]
“Who dared invade?”
[If you agree to help me, I’ll tell you.]
“Very well. I’m curious what kind of help you need that’s so urgent and desperate. Why did you send Pai first? If you were going to reveal your true hand so soon, why bother with him?”
[It was a gamble. If you accepted Pai’s negotiation, I wouldn’t have had to risk manifesting myself.]
“Tch, a god who sends a young dragon on a wild hope. Now I understand why Ziphl is the way he is.”
Despite Jin’s relentless provocation, Shinu showed no sign of offense. Instead, he smiled as if intrigued.
[Let me be blunt. I want you to stop what the Sun Priestess is planning—and if possible, to kill her.]
“Oh, how refreshing. But that’s something I’d do anyway, even if you didn’t ask. You wouldn’t come to me just to ask me to do what I would do on my own. You must have some information about Sanna. If I face her without knowing anything, it won’t be efficient.”
[Good, you understand well.]
“We’ll see if this conversation continues to go smoothly. While it’s my job to deal with Sanna, if taking her down benefits not only me but you as well, I’ll have to think it over.”
[There’s nothing in it that will harm you. I swear it in the name of fire.]
Suddenly, a massive fiery seal appeared in the air. Unlike anything Keliak or Veradin had ever shown, this was a true seal formed by the God of Fire himself.
Though no words were inscribed on it, Jin and his companions felt an absolute certainty. They believed Shinu spoke no lies—just as Rosa had felt when she first saw the prophecy’s script.
Jin nodded.
“For humans to gain trust from others—especially enemies—it takes immense effort. For gods, it seems much simpler.”
[Not all gods possess such power.]
“But I have one question. Pai said Sanna approached Ziphl claiming she would heal Keliak. Were you really fooled by that and stabbed in the back?”
[Sanna was accepted not by me or Keliak, but by Veradin. If I had intervened then, the priestess wouldn’t be in that position now.]
So Sanna had swiftly infiltrated Ziphl’s ranks during Shinu’s absence.
“Are you saying Veradin is being used by Sanna?”
[You seem worried about your friend. But he probably no longer considers you a friend.]
“You all ruined him. I suggest you don’t speak ill of Veradin, Shinu. Otherwise, he might just cut you down.”
For the first time, Shinu’s expression turned serious.
[You cannot cut me down. But I could reduce this place to ashes in an instant.]
“Hahaha, do you think I’d be scared by such words? The seal may grant you power, but I doubt you’re in a position to use it recklessly. So spare me the disgusting posturing. Suddenly, I’m reminded of a question I once posed to my father as a child—whether humans could ever defeat gods.”
Surprisingly, Shinu shrugged and took a step back.
[I spoke out of turn. I apologize.]
The more they talked, the more Jin sensed Shinu’s situation was far worse than expected.
“There won’t be a second chance to settle this peacefully. I hope you approach this conversation with your position clear.”
“Warning to the god! Lord Jin is just too cool…! Ugh, ugh!”
Quikantel quickly covered Enya’s mouth. Shinu glanced briefly at Enya, then locked eyes with Jin.
[Veradin and Sanna likely have a relationship of mutual use. Veradin probably hoped you would find the Tower of Stories and uncover information about Sanna.]
“If Veradin is using Sanna, it’s probably to keep you in check. He’d also want to advance knowledge about the magic swordsman golem and the sanctuary. What about Sanna? What does she hope to gain through Veradin and Ziphl?”
Shinu’s answer was somewhat unexpected.
[Jin Runkandel, do you know where the Demon Realm is?]
“The Demon Realm?”
[Yes, the land where the so-called demons dwell. Humans say it exists in another dimension. Not entirely wrong.]
“What connection does Sanna have with the Demon Realm?”
[A deep one. At the very depths of the Demon Realm lies the Altar of the Sun God. That altar is the most powerful means to resurrect the Sun God.]
Jin’s eyes widened.
“Go on.”
[Sanna is searching for the Demon Realm. She must find the entrance to reach the altar of the Sun God. For that, she needs the power of Ziphl.]
“Where is the entrance to the Demon Realm?”
[That, I do not know. But one thing is certain.]
Shinu pointed downward with his index finger.
[Underground. Somewhere beneath this world lies the gate to the Demon Realm. Though it exists on the same planet, it’s unreachable by normal means—almost like another dimension.]
“Orgal must know its location.”
[Yes, but knowing the location doesn’t mean anyone can open the gate. Only a special being blessed by the Demon God can open it and bring demons into the human world. Ziphl suspects that person is Vishkel Ibliano from Kinzel.]
—Vishkel Ibliano! I’ve long wondered why the Kinzel captain favors you so much. Today, I might glimpse your power. I hope it’s worth this humiliation.
—Demons… Could it be that you opened the gate? So this is your ability, Vishkel Ibliano!
These were the words Octavia spoke when she saw Vishkel with Ainas during the Sota Desert incident.
Jin hadn’t heard them then, but since that day, Ziphl had suspected Vishkel was the one who could open the Demon Realm’s gate.
Unfortunately, Vishkel had no such ability—and neither Shinu nor Ziphl knew this.
“Vishkel Ibliano? Somehow, I think his younger brother, Margiela, is more likely.”
[Whoever it is, Orgal definitely possesses someone who can open the Demon Realm’s gate.]
“Wait, then Orgal is currently the closest to the Altar of the Sun God?”
Shinu sneered.
[He doesn’t even know the altar lies beneath the Demon Realm.]
That was because Shinu had erased Orgal’s memories of the altar with the ‘Flame of Oblivion.’ He didn’t tell Jin this.
[So from now on, be careful what you say when you meet Orgal. If he learns of the altar’s existence, the resurrection of the Sun God will accelerate—and neither you nor I want that.]
“There’s a lot I don’t understand. Right now, the fastest way for the Sun God’s followers to find the altar would be for Sanna and Orgal to join forces.”
[They can’t cooperate because their goals and methods for resurrecting the Sun God differ. The sects of the Sun God’s faith fiercely guard against the realization of other sects’ beliefs. They might ally with non-believers, but never with rival sects. Depending on which sect succeeds in resurrecting the Sun God, the world will take a different shape. And none of those outcomes will be good for either you or me.]
“There’s a lot of arguing even among lunatics. Anyway, Sanna is trying to find the gateway to the demon realm through Jiple… So, are they planning to use Jiple as a proxy to negotiate with Orgal?”
[Sanna is more likely just trying to use Jiple’s power to locate it. Imagine there’s a forest called Jin Runcandel, and somewhere inside it lies something you need to find and destroy. What do you think is the quickest and easiest way to do that?]
“To tear the whole forest down.”
[Exactly.]
Shinu’s gaze hardened as he added quietly,
[Sanna will stop at nothing—even if it means destroying the entire world—to find the gate to the demon realm.]