Against The True Gods-Chapter 113: The Mother
Caine landed heavily on wooden floors, the impact reverberating through the chamber.
Immediately, his body convulsed, and he vomited a thick stream of blood mixed with black goo that seeped from his pores.
Sweat drenched his frame as he shivered, his breath ragged. His body felt foreign, as if it were on the verge of collapse.
’What… What just happened to me?’
He understood, of course, that his actions had angered the world enough to summon a tribulation. But this… this was unlike anything he had faced before. The skies opening alone had almost killed him. He didn’t even dare to think about what kind of monstrosity had been forming in the heavens.
Within him, his life and death qi surged, clashing chaotically, the echoes of their conflict rumbling through his body as they worked to shatter the Demonic Will raging within him.
Slowly, the two qis separated, each taking its role—life qi rushed to heal his injuries, while death qi began purifying his body of the invasive substance.
His organ elements shimmered faintly, pumping their essence through him to aid the process.
Caine exhaled deeply, his breath shaky but steadying as calm returned to his mind. He collapsed onto his back, utterly spent, his body drenched in sweat and covered in foul black impurities.
’The number of times I’ve almost died since coming here is getting ridiculous.’
"Hello."
Caine’s eyes shot open, his body snapping upright despite the ache in his muscles. He frantically scanned the surroundings, trying to sense the origin of the voice. But in the void of his vision, he saw nothing.
’Am I hallucinating…?’
"No, you’re not," the voice replied, a melodious chuckle accompanying the words.
"Your eyes simply aren’t powerful enough to see me."
Then, beside him, a figure began to take shape.
A tall, breathtakingly beautiful woman emerged. Her skin resembled radiant bark adorned with leaves, veins of emerald qi coursing through her frame. Her hair flowed like a bouquet of vibrant flowers and petals, and her eyes shone with a warm, motherly light, their emerald hue radiating a profound serenity.
Her frame was imposing, her mature figure reflecting the vitality of someone in their prime. Robes of intertwining vines draped over her, and atop her head, nine stacked halos of thorny vines hovered, their quiet presence exuding an aura of majesty.
Yet, it was her aura that truly overwhelmed him. Majestic, pure, and boundless, it pressed against him like the weight of a celestial realm.
His body shivered uncontrollably, reacting in primal fear, even as his heart inexplicably warmed in her presence.
It was as if he stood before a higher existence—something beyond comprehension. And judging from the fact that he saw her as she was, rather than a bundle of qi, perhaps she truly was.
"That’s good," she said softly, her smile radiant. "Your True Will is at least solid enough to gaze upon my mortal projection without dying. You’ve made good progress."
As her words washed over him, the fear dissipated, shattered by the sheer purity of her presence. Her warmth healed not only his spirit but his body, which rippled under her influence. In an instant, he was whole again, fully healed without so much as a single lingering ache.
"Stand up."
Caine exhaled and pushed himself to his feet.
Even at his full height, he barely reached her chest, standing a dozen heads shorter than her. He tilted his gaze upward to meet hers, careful to remain composed.
Though her presence demanded respect, her words were gentle, even comforting. Clearly, this was not an entity he could afford to act rowdy with. The same way Laplace had commanded his submission, so too did she demand it—but not through force.
"You don’t have to worry, child," she said, turning and walking toward a distant table. "If I’d wanted to kill you, you would’ve never been born."
As she moved, Caine took the opportunity to observe his surroundings.
They were in a vast cavern made entirely of wood, its surfaces emanating a faint golden light as ancient runes danced across them.
From the smooth floor to the arched ceiling that stretched toward unseen heights, the chamber radiated an air of sacredness.
High above, intertwined vines formed an intricate canopy, their surfaces alive with tiny fairies that danced and played, their laughter echoing softly. These fairies shed sparkles of white qi, which fell like starlight, illuminating the cavern in a serene glow.
In the distance stood a colossal palace formed from a spiraling tree. Its leaves shimmered with every imaginable color, and veins of qi pulsed from the ground, snaking their way into its trunk.
The air was cool and soothing, the atmosphere peaceful in a way that felt almost surreal.
The woman walked to a wooden table in front of the majestic palace and sat, gesturing for Caine to join her. He approached and took a seat across from her, feeling the weight of her gaze.
"Do you know who I am?" she asked, her tone calm yet carrying an underlying power. She crossed her arms and folded one leg over the other, waiting.
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Caine froze. Normally, such a question would precede a grand introduction, but this felt different. It felt like a test.
For reasons he couldn’t explain, his heart thudded with anxiousness, like a child being scolded by a mother. His mind scrambled to respond, but nothing came.
He hated the feeling. And yet, somehow, it felt… natural.
Caine took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. His eyes shifted, attempting to read the world around her for clues.
BANG!
The attempt rebounded sharply, his senses overwhelmed by the force protecting her.
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He closed his eyes, his True Will sinking deep into his core. He tapped into his instincts, letting them guide him. Slowly, his lips moved on their own, as if the answer had been lying dormant within him all along.
"The Mother."
