Zach was confident in his recovery. That was why he thought that he would eventually win. Although his opponent’s divine energy made the air around him shimmer, Zach believed in his world essence energy.

Even if the man’s fists were heavier and faster, and even if the man’s face was harder, Zach didn’t think he had no hope. As long as he could hold out, there was a chance to win.

After all, blood splattered, and things cracked and crunched whenever Zach hit the dark-haired man.

The ringing thuds and thumps from the repeated collisions between fist and face echoed like drums in Zach’s head. Each strike sent ripples across Zach’s blurry vision, wearing down the borders of his sight.

His brain couldn’t take much more of a beating and was shutting down. His limbs still moved, but only because of the world essence energy coursing through them like it had a mind of its own.

Zach blinked.

The next time he opened his eyes, he was inside, tucked into bed and wrapped in bandages. The only thing that hadn’t changed was the dark-haired man’s face right in front of him.

"That felt good, didn’t it?" He asked enthusiastically.

"Ah," Zach grunted in pain as he tried to move his arm to continue the fight.

"Woah, woah, calm down, kid. The fight’s over. You lost, but you fought valiantly. I haven’t had that much fun in years!"

Zach frowned and tried to shake the firm hand off his shoulder without success.

"Who are you? What do you want with me?"

The man smacked his lips in disappointment.

"You’re back to being like that? Fine." He sighed before continuing.

"I am Karsas. I want you to be my Apostle."

Zach’s frown deepened.

"N—"

Karsas put a hand over Zach’s mouth and stopped him from finishing that word.

"Don’t decide right now. Take some time and think about it. You can always reject me in the future."

"...Two things."

"Go ahead."

"I am a summoner."

"So what?"

"Do you still want me as your Apostle?"

"Why wouldn’t I? If anything, it only makes me want you more. The ceiling of your growth is among the stars."

"I thought summoning was frowned upon by gods."

"Most gods are narrow-minded like that."

Zach’s doubts weren’t entirely washed away, but he could tell Karsas wasn’t ordinary. He let it go for now.

"Are you a god?" He asked. Why else would Karsas want Zach as his Apostle?

However, Karsas shook his head.

"Not yet. If I were, I wouldn’t be allowed to do what I just did. If we’re being technical, I’m a Demigod. Halfway to being a god."

Zach’s eyes widened. That was the first he heard of that term. But more than that, he was shocked by what Karsas was implying.

Zach wasn’t sure what he thought gods were before since he hadn’t seen one been born or heard of how they came about. But Karsas’ words revealed that they weren’t born. They were grown.

Based on what he had sensed from Karsas, a god was someone who accumulated enough divine energy to transform their body and soul. Their vessel and their essence.

"Interesting," Zach remarked, sinking into thought. After a few moments, he looked up at Karsas.

"Divine energy is transforming your body into something beyond human, right?"

Karsas nodded, not even slightly surprised.

"How?" Zach asked. His body was strong, thanks to the world essence energy and the training he had done with it.

But there was something different with Karsas’ body. It had an inherently different quality that Zach couldn’t quite put his finger on. It was just better.

"Time and accumulation," Karsas answered in a serious voice.

"I can tell that you’re refining your body as well, although I couldn’t figure out what energy you’re using. But I must warn you that, firstly, this isn’t something that can be rushed. Secondly, trying to imitate the effects of divine energy with something else rarely works. I urge you to be cautious if you attempt it. But I am curious to see what you’ll do in the future, so I also urge you to try."

Zach nodded along, pretending to listen.

’Time and accumulation.’ It wasn’t wrong. Over time, Zach’s body would grow stronger and stronger if he continued training with his world essence energy the same way he had over the past weeks. It would grow stronger even if he didn’t do that. Eventually, his body would be incomparable to that of an ordinary human.

But unlike what Karsas had said, Zach was pretty sure that this was something he could rush, or at least speed up.

Time wasn’t what had made him this strong this fast.

World essence energy differed from divine energy.

Zach had a feeling that while raw world essence energy had more of a spirit than pure divine energy, it was also more malleable and adaptable.

They were both endlessly variable and powerful. But divine energy was lofty. Over time, it would transform a lowly mortal body by being in contact with it.

World essence energy was natural and breathed life.

One was a mighty bird high up in the sky that would grant wings to those capable enough to grasp its tail.

The other was a wild bull between one’s legs. Fail to tame it and get tossed off and trampled to death. Tame it and you’ll run wild alongside it like the land is your playground.

"Thanks for the advice. Can you leave now so that I don’t ever have to see your face again?"

"Haha! I can leave, but I don’t decide the future, even more so now that the threads of fate have connected us. We’ll meet again, Zach. Hopefully, by then, you will be strong enough to make me use my weapons." Karsas smiled and took his leave.

Zach didn’t relax until long after he stopped sensing the Demigod’s presence.

***

In one of the many shadowy alleys of Emberise, a hooded figure stood deep in the corner, hiding a glowing crystal ball with their body.

"He’s here. He’s in Kuros. We can finally make a move."