Rise of The Anti God

"It must be because I look like a human. It's only natural," Damien said, making Akira nod with a sigh, "Maybe, but it's not only because of that. Let's leave, and I will tell you something."

Damien took one last look at the giant serpent fiend and was still in awe of its majestic size and aura.

"Don't stare too much unless you want to satisfy her hunger, not that you can anyway," Mira sarcastically remarked as she saw him staring at the Thunder Guardian.

Damien chuckled as he turned around and followed Akira along with Mira.

"The Thunder Guardian is no longer the same as before," Akira said as they came out of the cave, making Damien wonder what had happened to such a powerful fiend.

"In our clan, since ancient times, the Thunder Guardians were majestic, powerful fiends who were not only the proud symbol of our clan but also even allowed the most worthy one in our clan to use them as a mount. I could still remember the day when my mother, your grandmother, took to the skies by riding on the Thunder Guardian. The entire city would come to a standstill upon seeing our guardian, and people would start worshiping her on the spot. My mother was the strongest in our generation. Our clan was flourishing, and everything couldn't have been better. It feels like all those things happened recently yet too long ago as well," Akira said as she reminisced about the good times of the past.

"My grandmother? What happened after?" Damien assumed that this grandmother must have died from old age.

Akira's expression became heavy as she said, after a moment of silence, "She was ambushed by the Salvation while on a mission with some Daemon Lords from the Daemon Horn Continent. She managed to kill everyone, but it was too late when Silwi, our Thunder Guardian, got to her, and she was the last to see her alive," Her expression became cold as she added, "This is why I hate them to the point I want to obliterate every single one. Even now, I can't understand why your father fell in love with your mother despite what happened to my mother. He had every reason not to."

Damien's expression became complicated as he had no idea his aunt had gone through a lot of tragedy because of the humans in this world. It would make sense why she would hate them so much and found it even more surprising she wasn't repelled by his human side.

Akira placed her hand on Damien's arm and said, "But in the end, I am thankful that at least one good thing came out of it...You. Even if I was given a chance to change the past, I wouldn't do anything that would erase your existence. After my mother died, you were the one who helped me stay afloat instead of giving in to my pain of loss."

"How did I help you? I must have been only just a--"

"A baby? Yes. But that was enough. Whenever you smiled at me and played with me, I felt happy...more than I ever expected," Akira said with a subtle smile that looked beautiful enough to put Damien into a daze for a second.

Mira, who was walking behind these two, wondered what they were talking about. She pressed her lips together, seeing how fond of Damien, her Master was. But then she saw how her Master seemed happy whenever she talked with Damien.

She had never seen her like this and felt that maybe Damien reuniting with her was a good thing, considering everything her Master had been through.

But thinking about how he had human blood in his veins made her fingers curl.

"But because of my mother's death, Silwi has never been the same. She doesn't even listen to us and simply sleeps there all the time. If something that threatens the clan directly happens, she will intervene. But other than that, it's like she doesn't have the will to do anything. It's not that surprising since my mother and Silwi were so close that they were practically inseparable. She must be blaming herself for what happened to my mother and doesn't want to serve anyone else anymore. I am afraid she might even pass away without leaving behind an egg, and that could really mean the end of our clan," Akira said with a grave look.

Damien didn't expect this fiend to be so intelligent and emotional. But he did hear of beasts who lose the will to live after losing their masters.

"She can produce an egg on her own?" Damien asked since he never saw a male serpent like her.

"Some fiends, especially those of her bloodline, can do it. But if she continues to be depressed like this, then she will never produce one," Akira said with a subtle shake of her head.

She then turned to the side and held Damien's arms as she said in a voice loud enough for Mira to hear, "This is why I can't let anything happen to you. You are the future of this clan, but you need time to become something that would make our people recognize you. Before that, if you tried to fly, they would cut you down. You are the only family I have, and I can't bear to lose you too. Do you now understand why I want Mira to accept it for now?"

Mira's fingers clenched her clothes, though she knew her Master was right. It wouldn't be wise to expose Damien now.

Damien closed his eyes briefly and then glanced at Mira before looking at his aunt, "I understand...But I still want to fight him. Even if you say that Mira can regain her hands later, it would take years, and living without hands for such a long time would not only be a disgrace for her but quite depressing."

Mira raised her eyebrows, not expecting him to be still adamant about it. This time, she had no doubt he was being serious and not simply trying to pretend before his aunt.

"Damien!" Akira didn't expect him to still be adamant after everything she said.

Damien said as he raised his finger, "Hear me out about one more thing before you scold me..."