Chapter 533 - 533 (1/2)
Flash—!
Pazzzik, hisssss—
For a moment there, a blinding ray of light exploded.
Zeus's chopped waist reverted to how it was. The Thunderbolt in his hand was still there, but its form was unstable.
Drip—
Blood trickled down from his waist.
The extent of the wound was seemingly nothing more than a bit of scratch. However, it had been such a long time since Zeus was wounded like this.
”Shiva, your hand is surprisingly spicy, isn't it?”
”This is nothing much.”
”Still, it's only polite for me to respond in kind, isn't it?”
Rumble, bang—!
Clouds formed from the skies above—no—from the ceiling, and lightning cracked loudly. The ceiling up there was too low to be called the ”sky,” but things like locations didn't matter at all to Zeus.
Grrrrrr—
A low growl of a dragon reverberated throughout the surroundings.
[Thunder Dragon]
A massive golden-orange dragon descended from the clouds.
This massive dragon was long enough to fill up the place. The electrical current arcs filling the underground space began scorching the surroundings pitch-black with the sole exception of the tomb.
”At least you live up to the title of the Five Godly Sages,” Shiva smiled faintly while observing the Thunder Dragon.
His expression implied how amused he was by all this.
That was the face of someone who didn't feel threatened at all. Realizing the meaning behind Shiva's expression, Zeus's brows shot up. Then, he raised his hand in the air. ”Let's see how long you can keep that expression of yours,” he challenged.
Just before the Thunder Dragon heeded his hand gesture and descended, however...
”That's enough. Don't you think so?”
Shiva raised both of his hands.
His lighthearted gesture was meant to signal the end of the hostilities for now. Buddha, who was about to attack, acted unlike his usual self and began frowning rather profoundly, ”What's on your mind, Shiva?”
”I never planned to fight you two from the beginning. I simply responded to your threatening words.”
Indeed, it was true that Zeus spoke threateningly as soon as they met.
If Shiva merely responded to the threat, it kind of made sense. Without a doubt, Shiva could've lashed out with a more powerful attack, but he chose not to.
Zeus also stopped his hand by then. The Thunder Dragon stopped moving altogether to match him; its massive body coiled up as it floated in the air above.
Shiva continued to speak, ”Honestly, it's fine for me either way, but fighting you two right now will be a bit of a loss for me.”
”What do you mean by that?”
”Well, there's something like that. In any case, what's your answer?”
Zeus fell into a dilemma at Shiva's question.
Shiva—their main enemy who stood as the chief instigator leading this universe to its destruction—was right before his eyes.
Finding him proved to be a difficult task. Up until now, only Shiva's name and the meaning behind his existence had been known to them. Today would be the first time he appeared so openly like this.
Meaning this was a great opportunity.
Even so...
”Zeus, we should stay our hands.”
When Buddha's voice was transmitted inside Zeus's mind, the Olympian god nodded in agreement.
Fighting in this location was asking for trouble.
They would have to fight while doing their best not to damage the tomb in the current situation. They already didn't enjoy favorable odds against Shiva, so insisting on fighting here would only disadvantage them even further.
Pazzzzik—
The figure of the massive Thunder Dragon that filled up the underground space vanished without a trace.
Once Shiva realized that Zeus had no intention of fighting him, he withdrew his attention from the Olympian god. His gaze remained locked on the tomb where Brahma should be asleep.
”You did well by holding back, Lord Zeus,” Buddha's voice continued.
”Even if the location weren't here, it would've been the same situation.”
”Yes, I'm aware of that.”
The fact remained the same whether it was before or now—they had to find and kill Shiva. However, that didn't mean Zeus could start fighting Shiva without a plan.
”This ominous energy that sends shivers down my skin...”
The powerful aura Shiva began emitting after announcing his presence even made Zeus's body shudder.
”So, this is the being in possession of the Godhood of Destruction?”
Creation and destruction—these two opposing godhood were unique powers possessed only by the two Primordial Gods.
As for the true depths of the power of Shiva, a Primordial God in possession of the absolute authority called destruction, no one in the current era knew how strong he was, with the sole exception of Brahma.
One could only gleam his power through the remnants of the past universes destroyed by his hands.
”We need to amend our plans from the ground up.”
The Five Godly Sages had been underestimating Shiva. This creature was not something even Zeus and Buddha combined could deal with.
Just how many beings in the current universe would be strong enough to fight this monstrosity?
They could think up of one being, at least.
”The Bull Demon King!”
The Bull Demon King already possessed strength rivaling the Five Godly Sages even before his ascension, so he could be strong enough to fight against Shiva right now.
”If you never intended to fight us, why are you here?”
Instead of fighting, Buddha chose to converse.
Shiva, no longer interested in the two gods, replied while not bothering to shift his gaze away from the tomb, ”My reason is the same as yours.”
”You wish to confirm the result with your own eyes?”
Shiva nodded in answer.
Since he looked like he would merely watch and do nothing else, Buddha decided not to remain wary of Shiva for now.
However, he still had one more thing to say: ”You may not get the result you've been waiting for, Shiva.”
”Is that so?” Shiva pondered something for a little bit before the corner of his lips curled up as if something amused him, ”But that will also put you in a bind.”
***
”So, where should I even start,” Brahma frowned deeply as if uncertain about something, his lips pouting noticeably.
Su-hyeun couldn't get used to that sight, however. He believed that he now carried the air of maturity and seriousness, but to see the same face as his own making a child-like expression like that...