Pov: Nigun Grid Luin
There was a solemn silence in the semi-darkness of the majestic church located in the heart of the capital of the Slaine Theocracy. Only the faint rays of light coming through the stained glass windows barely illuminated the vast space, leaving most of the room in shadow.
In front of the altar, standing on one knee, a young man bowed his head. His name was Nigun Grid Luin, and he was one of the strongest mages of the Slaine Theocracy, a member of a special unit known as the Sunlight of the Scriptures. His face, hidden in the shadows, expressed humility and devotion.
He waited patiently, not daring to move, not uttering a single word. He knew his time would come, and he must be ready to carry out any order, no matter how difficult or dangerous.
On the altar, shrouded in a thick cloud of incense, sat the Pope of the Slaine Theocracy. His face was hidden under a deep hood, and only his hands, thin and pale, gave away his age.
He watched Nigun silently, as if assessing his loyalty and willingness to serve.
Nigun could feel the Pope's gaze on him, and his heart pounded harder.
He was ready for any challenge, ready to give his life for his faith and for his country.
Finally, the Pope spoke. His voice was low and hoarse, but he felt great power and authority in it.
"Nigun," - the Pope said. "I have a task for you."
Nigun, hearing these words, raised his head and looked at the Pope with undisguised attention. He waited for further instructions, ready to carry out any order.
The Pope, breaking the lingering silence, began to speak about the task he was about to assign to Nigun. His voice was quiet, but at the same time firm and decisive, not tolerating any objection.
"Nigun," - the Pope said, his voice echoing through the church.
"You are commissioned to kill Gazeph Stronophus, the strongest warrior of the Kingdom of Re-Estiz."
Nigun, upon hearing these words, was surprised and slightly alarmed. He knew who Gazef Stronoff was and realized that he was a very dangerous opponent. He had heard of his strength and skill, and knew that defeating him would not be easy.
Raising his head slightly anxiously, Nigun looked at Pope, trying to understand why he was the one assigned this task. He was sure that there were mages in the Slaine Theocracy who were stronger than him, and who were better suited for this mission.
But he dared not make a sound. He knew that one must not cross the Pope, and that he must accept any assignment, no matter how difficult and dangerous.
But he was not afraid.
The Pope, noticing the alarm on Nigun's face, slowly slipped his hand into the folds of his cloak. For a moment his thin, pale fingers flashed in the semi-darkness, and then he pulled out something that shone dazzlingly.
It was a huge, precious crystal, emitting a soft, pulsing light. Its facets shimmered with all the colors of the rainbow, as if it contained magic itself. It was beautiful and awe-inspiring at the same time.
Handing the crystal to Nigun, the Pope said:
"This crystal contains the power of the gods. Use it when necessary. It will help you win any battle."
Nigun, upon seeing the crystal, held his breath. He knew of the existence of these artifacts, but he had never seen them in person. He knew that they had incredible power and that they could change the course of any war.
He took the crystal from the Pope's hands and felt his body fill with energy. He felt invincible, as if god himself had touched him with his hand.
All the doubts that tormented his soul instantly vanished. He believed in his own strength, believed that he could accomplish this task.
"Yes," Nigun thought, clutching the crystal in his hand.
"With the power of the gods, I can defeat any enemy. I am Nigun Grid Luin, and I will accomplish this task in the name of God and in the name of the Slaine Theocracy!"
Nigun was a deeply religious man who believed in the power of God.
"God is with us," he thought.
"Which means we are invincible."
The picture has changed.
Now Nigun stood in front of his army, which had already surrounded the village, preparing to attack. The warriors of the Slaine Theocracy, clad in shining armor, stood motionless like statues, waiting for orders.
The sun was already setting over the horizon, and its last rays were coloring the sky with purple hues. The wind quietly rustled the leaves of the trees, creating an oppressive atmosphere of anticipation.
Nigun, holding the divine power crystal in his hand, felt his body overflowing with energy.
Raising his hand, Nigun spoke in a loud and confident voice:
"Warriors of the Slaine Theocracy! Today, we will fight the enemies of our faith! We must protect our people and our lands from evil!"
"I know that many of you are afraid," Nigun continued, trying to speak to each of them.
"But I want you to know that God is with us! He will give us the strength and courage to win!"
"Entrust your souls and bodies to the Lord!" - Nigun proclaimed.
"Trust in his power, and you will be invincible! Go forth, warriors! In the name of God!"
The warriors, hearing Nigun's words, raised their swords upward and shouted at the top of their voices:
"In the name of God!"
Nigun, seeing their determination, smiled.
Now all that was left to do was wait for Gazef Stronoff to come out to meet him.
Several languid minutes passed. The warriors of the Slaine Theocracy froze in anticipation like statues, ready to rush into battle at any moment. Nigun, who stood in front, stared, trying to make out anything.
Finally, a lone silhouette loomed on the horizon. It approached them slowly and confidently, as if it felt no fear. This made Nigun frown.
The mages surrounding the village immediately activated their defense spells. They were ready to summon the angels for battle if need be. They knew that Gazef Stronoff was a dangerous opponent, and they did not want to underestimate him.
The warriors stood behind the mages, ready to engage if Gazef's troops broke through the magical barrier. They were confident in their strength, but they also realized that they were not facing mere mortals.
Nigun, watching the approaching silhouette, raised an eyebrow. He didn't feel any threat coming from this person. He thought it was most likely a messenger sent by Gazeph to negotiate. Perhaps he wants to surrender or offer a truce.
"Is he really that stupid?" - Nigun thought, with slight contempt in his voice.
"Does he really think he can negotiate with us? He underestimates our strength and our resolve."
He was sure that Gazef would soon realize his mistake, and that he would have to pay dearly for his foolishness. Nigun was already anticipating his victory and dreaming of how he would be praised for his feat.
Unfortunately for him, he was wrong.
There will be no negotiations. This silhouette approaching from the darkness will bring no truce proposals. It will only bring death and destruction. Nigun will find out soon enough.
Pov: Saitama
Saitama, sighed. He had managed to convince the captain that he didn't need help, and that he was confident in his abilities. Gazef, though somewhat hesitant, agreed to stand down and wait for developments.
Saitama, headed in the direction where the very people he had seen from afar were standing. He could see that they were not ordinary monsters, but creatures that looked more like mechanical robots with wings.
He had killed them countless times already. These angel-like mechanisms gave him a lot of trouble. They kept appearing in one beautiful place that Saitama liked to visit very much.
There was a very large wall in that place... but it was obviously unfinished, and there was a huge hole. Saitama was always cursing at the workers who couldn't finish the job and kept letting those pesky "flying tin cans" in there.
But back to the present. Right now, Saitama needed to deal with these mechanisms that had decided to attack this village. He could already feel the irritation mixed with deja vu awakening in him.
Saitama walked leisurely towards the enemies, his face calm and unperturbed. He knew they posed no serious danger to him, but he foresaw that something more serious might lurk behind them.
He was anxious to get home.
Saitama, almost reaching the group of men, felt an attack. A light spear was hurtling towards him, at an incredible speed. Instinctively, he simply moved aside, letting the spear fly past, leaving behind only a bright trail in the air.
"Wow, no respect at all," Saitama muttered, a little annoyed by the sudden attack.
Finally, he reached a group of people. They were all dressed in identical, close-fitting suits that completely hid their faces. These suits made them look like faceless ghosts.
But one man clearly stood out from the crowd. He was wearing the same costume as the others, but without the mask. He had blond hair, neatly slicked back, and piercing blue eyes. But what caught his eye most was the huge scar that ran across his face from forehead to chin. It gave his face an expression of stern determination and strength.
Saitama looked at this man carefully, sensing that he was the leader of this group. He wondered who they were and what they wanted.
The leader, seeing that Saitama had dodged his attack, grinned and spoke first.
"I didn't expect a buffoon... what's your name... to be able to dodge that spear," the leader said, a sense of surprise in his voice.
"I must admit, I'm impressed."
Saitama looked at the leader without the slightest interest. He didn't care if he was impressed or not. He didn't understand why they had attacked this village, and he wanted to end it all soon and go home.
He ignored the leader's words about his 'buffoonish' appearance and simply said:
"I don't know what group you're from or what you want, but that one over there," Saitama pointed his finger toward Nigun, who was standing in the distance, "clearly needs to be checked out by a doctor. His eyes give away his condition. He has some kind of problem."
Saitama, as usual, paid no attention to details and said whatever came into his head.
Nigun, hearing the bald man's words, tensed up. His heart pounded harder and his palms were covered in sweat.
"Did that bald man really feel the power of the crystal?" - A thought flashed through Nigun's mind.
"No, it can't be... it's impossible. How did he know? How could he see what is hidden from the eyes of ordinary mortals?"
Nigun quickly reconsidered his attitude towards this man. When he first saw his silhouette, he thought it was a messenger sent by Gazeph to negotiate. Then, when he was able to get a better look at him, he decided that he was just a foolish buffoon who posed no danger.
He ordered his mages to launch a light spear at the man to test his reaction and kill him. But the jester dodged the spear with such ease that it made Nigun think twice.
Now that the man was talking about his " eyes", Nigun realized that he had underestimated him. He was standing in front of a warrior with strength, and observation.
"Even if he knows about the crystal, it doesn't change anything," Nigun thought, trying to remain calm.
Saitama spoke again with a sigh, hoping he could avoid an unnecessary battle. He was tired of these battles and just wanted it to be over soon.
"I ask you to retreat," Saitama said, looking straight into the leader's eyes.
"You are frightening the villagers. Leave, and I promise I will not pursue you."
Nigun, hearing Saitama's words, only grinned. He had no intention of negotiating with this bald man.
"I have no intention of negotiating with you," Nigun replied, his voice cold and ruthless.
"You must all die. Magi, summon more angels! Destroy that bald man!"
Hearing Nigun's order, the mages began to recite spells, summoning more angels from the higher realms. The sky above the village filled with a bright light, and figures of powerful beings began to appear in the air.
They descended upon Saitama with fury, knowing no mercy.
The man, hearing the rejection and seeing the summoned angels, only sighed and lowered his head, hiding his gaze.
Nigun smirked smugly. Finally this annoying jester realized the seriousness of the situation. After seeing all this power of divine summoning, he must have realized his mistake in coming here alone. His foolishness would cost him his life.
"Now you will know the power of the gods!" - Nigun thought, clutching the crystal in his hand.
But something incredible happened, something that made Nigun speechless and feel the ground go from under his feet. When the angels, in all their majesty and radiance, rushed to the attack, ready to pierce the bald man with their swords, they... they simply shattered into pieces.
As if they had been struck by an invisible force of immense power. As if they weren't powerful creatures of light, but fragile glass figures. They shattered into tiny particles of light, vanishing without a trace, as if they had never existed.
And the bald man stood, still as calm as before. Only his slightly extended fist and irritated expression gave away that he had just done something incredible.
Nigun couldn't believe his eyes. It was impossible! How could this mortal be able to destroy the angels with a single blow? He couldn't understand what had happened.
All his plans, all his confidence, all his hopes crumbled in an instant.
Nigun, seeing the destruction of the angels, began to stutter, his voice shaking with fear and disbelief.
- Nigun whispered, his mind refusing to accept reality.
"E-this... k-how...?"
As if possessed, he shouted:
"Everyone, all angels! Attack him at the same time! Destroy it immediately!"
All the angels summoned by Nigun and his magicians descended upon Saitama with fury and power, but the result was the same. With one swing of his fist, the bald man destroyed them all as if they were made of cardboard.
This caused panic among the spellcasters. Their confidence and courage evaporated, leaving behind only fear and despair. They realized that their spells and summoned creatures were useless against this man.
They began firing dozens of spells at the bald man in panic, hoping to stop him somehow. But the man stood as if nothing had happened, his face expressing only boredom.
"What interesting salutes you have," Saitama uttered, looking at the spellcasters with an indifferent look.
Realizing that their spells were having no effect, the spellcasters retreated two steps back, their eyes full of terror and disbelief. They didn't know what to do, or how to stop this man who was stronger than they could have imagined.
The panic among the mages was growing by the second.
Nigun, on the other hand, as he watched what was happening, felt his hopes crumble. He was desperate, but at the same time anger was boiling up in him. He couldn't afford to lose, he couldn't let this man interfere with the plans of the Slaine Theocracy.
Clutching the crystal in his hand, Nigun took a step forward, his eyes burning with determination. He realized that he would have to risk everything to defeat this monster.
"You're all cowards!" - Nigun shouted, turning to his mages.
"You are afraid of death! But we must fight! We must defend our faith! We must destroy this enemy!"
He realized that everything now depended solely on him. He had to use the full power of the crystal to defeat this bald man. He had to show everyone that the power of the gods was above all else, and that he, Nigong Grid Luin, was worthy of being their servant.
He raised the crystal high above his head, and a dazzling stream of light erupted from it, illuminating the entire surroundings. The light enveloped Nigun, giving him an unearthly glow.
"I will destroy you!" - Nigun shouted, his voice no longer sounding the same as before. It was full of rage and determination.
"For the faith! For the Slaine Theocracy! For God!"
"I summon you!" - Nigun shouted, his eyes full of madness.
"Come to me, angel of the highest level! The angel closest to God! Grant us your power!"
And his prayer was answered. After the spell was completed, the entire area around them lit up with a holy white bluish light, so bright that many mages had to close their eyes.
When the light faded slightly, everyone saw a huge figure floating in the air in front of them. It was an angel of the highest level, a being of unimaginable power and beauty.
He could be seen to have many shining wings shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow, and hands holding a plaque engraved with complex symbols emitting divine energy. Instead of a head, at the front of his body, a glowing divine magic circular symbol could be seen pulsing with energy.
Many spellcasters, upon seeing the top-level angel, began to sigh in awe, their faces expressing delight and adoration. They realized that a being at the very top of the angel hierarchy had appeared to them, and that with his help they would be able to defeat any enemy.
"Now you will see the power of the gods!" - shouted Nigun, his voice full of triumph.
"You will not be able to stand against a top level angel! You will be destroyed!"
Nigun, reveling in his power, glared at the bald man, expecting to see even a hint of fear or surprise on his face. But to his horror, he saw nothing. The man's face remained as unperturbed as before.
This caused Nigun to feel a chilling fear. He swallowed hard, his throat dry.
A thought flashed through his mind, so horrible that he wanted to shrug it off. But he couldn't deny the obvious. This man was not afraid of the power of a top-tier angel. What if...
"F- in front of us... stands the storm of all mankind," Nigun said aloud.
Gathering the last of his strength, Nigun ordered the angel to attack, hoping that at least now he would get lucky. And then, turning to the bald man, he said with hatred and despair in his voice:
"You underestimate us! You are about to experience the full power of the seventh level magic! Feel the power that defeated the demons! Feel God's justice!"
Nigun was confident that this magic used to destroy the most powerful demons would be able to stop this bald monster. But in the back of his mind, he felt that it was a false hope.
A huge beam of light composed of pure divine power rained down from the sky on the bald man. Nigun stared breathlessly at this spectacle, hoping that it would end now. He trembled, unable to tear his gaze away from the place where the full power of level seven magic had collapsed.
He waited for the light to dissipate and the picture of destruction to appear before him. A picture that would be proof of the power of the gods and punishment for the heretic.
The seconds stretched unbearably long, like years. Then, slowly, like a veil, the light receded. Nigun, unable to believe his eyes, saw him. He was standing there.
As the light dissipated, Nigun and his troop darted their eyes around in horror. The bald man's silhouette remained in the same place, he hadn't even fallen! He stood there as if nothing had happened and looked at his hands with a sort of pensive look.
In the ringing silence came his voice. A calm, mundane voice, as if he were talking about the weather.
"Hmm," the man uttered, examining his palms.
"It's... quite warm. Not hot, but warm."
Hearing those words, Nigun felt his world crumble. All his faith, all his hopes turned to ashes. If even level seven magic couldn't hurt this man, then what could it even do?
The angel's spell ended, and the bald man sighed. There was no triumph or gloating in that sigh. Only weariness and disappointment.
"I expected more from a higher level angel," the man said, shaking his head.
"Too much I guess I expected too much."
Then, before anyone could react, he delivered his blow. In one motion, quick and light, as if swatting away an annoying fly. He didn't even put any force into that blow.
And the angel, the strongest angel, a being close to God himself, simply disappeared. Shattered into millions of luminous particles, which slowly sank to the ground like ashes. There was nothing left but emptiness and a feeling of irreparable loss.
Along with the top level angel, Nigun's entire world collapsed.
The horror that gripped the hearts of the warriors and mages of the Slaine Theocracy was indescribable. They saw with their own eyes how their faith was crumbling, how the power they thought invincible was being defeated. All their confidence, all their courage evaporated, leaving behind only a primal fear of death.
Their discipline, their training, everything they had been taught was forgotten in an instant. They dropped their swords, their shields, their staffs, all the things that prevented them from moving quickly. They tore off their heavy armor, hoping it would help them run faster.
And like wild animals fleeing from a forest fire, they rushed away, into the darkness, away from the bald monster who had shattered all their conceptions of the world. They ran without looking back, without caring about their comrades, thinking only of how to save their own lives.
Nigun, on the other hand, remained standing still as if paralyzed. He could not move, could not utter a word. His thoughts wandered in chaos, finding no footing on anything.
He saw his warriors fleeing, his mages scattering in panic, his plan crumbling, but he could do nothing. He was broken, shattered, destroyed from within.
Nigun's mind clung feverishly to scraps of knowledge, trying to find some explanation for what was happening. He remembered how once, as a young novice, he had been given an ancient scripture to read that was said to have been written by one of the Six Great Gods who had founded the Slaine Theocracy. Access to these texts was strictly limited, and Nigun was honored to read them only through his talent and devotion.
That scripture recounted events that took place long before the Six Gods came to this world. A time when the universe was very different, full of danger and horror. And of a creature that had once invaded their world, threatening its very existence.
The text was written in complex, ornate language, full of metaphors and allusions, but the point was clear: a creature born of a mistake had come to their world. What this error was, the writing did not specify, but it was described as a Virus, wandering the worlds and destroying them with its mere presence.
It went on to describe how the gods banded together to fight the Virus. They even formed an alliance with demonic beings, their longtime enemies, realizing that only together could they stand against this threat. But all was in vain. The gods perished one by one, their powers insignificant before the power of the Virus.
In Nigun's mind, the lines of an ancient scripture rang like thunderclaps. After the death of the gods, after the mention of the alliance with the demons, there was a hopeless statement of fact: the world could not be saved.
The virus, this force born of error, like a deadly Poison, had infected the entire fabric of reality, penetrating every corner of the world, destroying everything it touched. There was no hope left. The world was doomed to total annihilation.
But even in the face of impending doom, the gods did not give up. In a last desperate attempt to save something, to preserve at least a spark of life, they performed an act of incredible power and self-sacrifice. They created a new world. The world in which Nigun and all the people of the Slaine Theocracy now lived.
This world was created from the shards of the old one, from the remnants of hope and faith. It was hidden from Virus like a jewel hidden in the heart of an impregnable fortress.
But even the creation of a new world did not guarantee salvation. The virus was a danger that knew no bounds, a force that could break through any barrier.
All the gods could do was pray. Pray that the virus would not find their new world. Pray that their sacrifice would not be in vain. To pray that humanity could survive and thrive in this new, fragile world.
After a whirlwind of memories, after realizing the magnitude of the impending disaster, a description of Virus from an ancient scripture surfaced before Nigun's eyes:
"A bald man with an inexpressive face who hides the power of a thousand gods behind a mask of weakness..."
"He who kills all with one blow..."
These words echoed in his mind, filling his soul with terror. Everything began to fall into place. All the puzzles came together into a single picture, horrifying and inescapable.
He stared into the bald man's eyes, those lifeless, empty eyes that reflected not a shred of emotion. And in that lack of emotion he saw the most terrible threat.
There was no more doubt. There was no more hope. He realized the depth of his delusion, the futility of his efforts.
"The virus... found us..." - Nigun whispered, his voice barely audible. Those words sounded like a verdict, like a funeral bell ringing throughout humanity.
And now, thousands of years later, the nightmare the ancient scriptures had warned of had become a reality. The Destroyer had found their world. And stood before Nigun, ready to destroy everything that had been created with so much labor and at the cost of so much sacrifice.
This was the truth that the Slaine Theocracy tried to hide from its citizens.
He saw before him not just an enemy, not just a monster. He saw the end.