Dread crowded their chests like storm clouds. Xiu and Alvis exchanged a long, wordless look.

Shock pricked his skin like cold needles. “Dark Deities were once human?” Xiu had never heard that before.

He kept his voice low, like speaking in a temple. “...No idea. First I’ve heard of it. If so, where does that power come from?”

Helplessness pooled like stagnant water. They had no answer. After a quiet moment, they turned the page.

— Time: Year 208, late January, clear skies.

— Ithel came again this month. He slipped through my window like a night breeze. He wore good clothes—black from collar to hem, matching his dark hair.

Confusion tangled like vines. He crouched by the sill and spoke first, warning me again not to become a follower of the Purification Deity. Then he vanished, swift as a shadow.

A hollow hunger gnawed like mice in the pantry. Was I ill, or was magic draining me too fast?

— Time: Year 208, February.

— People from the Church came. They told me to receive the Purification Deity’s Blessing. I followed to a great door, heavy as stone.

They made me remove my shoes, wash, and enter alone. I obeyed. Inside lay a pool of water, cold as glacier melt, up to my calves.

In the center stood a female statue, rising like a white lotus from the dark basin.

Wonder pricked me like nettles. Who builds a pool indoors? Why didn’t the water spill when the door swung open?

I took two steps. A flash sliced the air like lightning. A golden-haired woman stepped from behind the statue.

She was barefoot in the water, eyes blue as deep lakes. She smiled at me.

Shock surged like a wave. In our talk, I learned she was the Purification Deity. Do gods walk the earth?

I steadied myself like a tree in wind. Dark Deities walk among us—why be surprised?

Her voice was calm, like winter sun. She asked if I’d become her follower and fight Dark Deities by her side.

My heart leaned yes, like a bird to warmth. But Ithel’s two warnings tolled in my mind. As if bewitched, I shook my head.

The moment I refused, her eyes flushed blood-red. The air turned icy, like a wind from graves.

The clear pool curdled black. The statue warped. Her beauty twisted into something grotesque.

Then, in a blink, it all returned to normal. The Purification Deity smiled and nodded, respecting my choice, and let me leave.

On the way back to the dorm, unease stalked me like a cold tail. Magic probes found nothing.

Also, that hunger kept hollowing me, and sometimes I heard voices like wind in reeds. Maybe study has worn me thin.

— Time: Year 209.

— Fear dripped like cold rain. The hallucinations grew worse; so many whispers.

Only one message was clear: tell no one what I hear. Don’t even write it down. Too strange.

— Time: Year 210.

— Revelation struck like thunder. I finally understood what it was—so that’s how Dark Deities arrive?

So Ithel had already been one back in the village? He was always stealing things.

— Time: Year 211.

— Restlessness burned like a lamp at midnight. What are Dark Deities, and where do they come from? I must find the answer.

— Time: Year 213.

— Despair clawed like iron nails. I don’t want to die. I killed many, because if I didn’t, they would kill me.

Now I’m the Devouring Deity. Even so, I feel something above, always watching me, like an eye behind the clouds.

— Time: Year 213, July.

— Curiosity coiled like smoke. I found the Purification Deity’s secret. She mutters to herself, like speaking to someone unseen.

I can’t understand the language. I sensed no magic ripple. It wasn’t a transmission spell.

— Time: Year 214.

— Anger flared like dry straw. The Purification Deity must know I eavesdropped. Using my refusal of her Blessing, she branded me heretic.

She sent judges to hunt me. I killed them all.

— Time: Year 214, May.

— Scorn tightened like a fist. Dark Deities obey her? She sent two to kill me.

I devoured their Authority Power, both of them. Their Authority Power couldn’t harm me.

— Time: Year 215.

— Grief burned like salt in an open wound. She fears my Authority Power. Unable to beat me, she sent the Exemption Deity to slaughter my village.

They killed my parents. She wants to use Exemption against me? Hmph. We’ll see.

— Time: Year 215, April.

— Disgust rippled like oil on water. A Dark Deity of Knowledge and Wisdom appeared—just a giant eye, vowing to turn everyone into witless beasts.

It seemed ready to fight every Dark Deity. Even the Purification Deity paused her trouble, seeking to ally with that Wisdom Deity.

No way I’d let her succeed. Ithel helped me, and I devoured that great eye’s Authority Power.

The Purification Deity flew into a fury, like a storm tearing banners.

— Time: Year 215, May.

— Clarity settled like snow. Through the Wisdom Deity’s Authority Power, I learned about Dark Deities.

Those who look human haven’t lost control. Those who look monstrous have.

Loss of control isn’t loss of mind. They still speak. It’s more like another persona takes the throne, mixing into the original.

Dread crawled like ants under skin. By this knowledge, I’m not far from losing control.

I’ve used Authority Power too often, devoured too many Dark Deities with Authority Power. No wonder I’m worsening.

Not acceptable. I must find answers before I lose control.

Where do Dark Deities come from? Who gave these Authority Powers and rules? They can’t appear from thin air.

Where do I start?

— Time: Year 216.

— Emptiness fell like ash. I killed the Exemption Deity.

Again, I asked where to begin. I remember the Purification Deity seemed to be speaking to someone. Should I start with her?

I tried using Knowledge and Wisdom’s Authority Power to find answers.

But all I got was maddening noise, black chaos shot through with red images, like ink spilled into fire.

In seconds my head felt ready to explode. Terror rose without cause, and I felt myself creep nearer to losing control.

I dared not try again.

Exhaustion washed over me like low tide. I collapsed on the bed and asked Ithel when he first heard rules in his head.

He said he’d heard them since childhood.

A question lit up like a spark: who was the first to receive rules and become a Dark Deity?

— Time: Year 220.

— Ecstasy and horror tangled like lightning in a storm. I know now. I know it all.

Dark Deities aren’t the true dark. The real Dark Deities are above—watching.

No, they’re playing chess, playing games. Like us at a board, they use humans as pieces.

The world is their board of heaven and earth. They savor their fun and chase victory.

They are [scribbles, gibberish]. Their place is [scribbles, gibberish]. Curse it—I can’t write it.

But they have aims beyond play. Whoever’s pieces win will fully rule this world.

And outside—there seem to be other worlds, like lanterns beyond a wall.

Everyone who gains Authority Power and then loses control becomes a marionette on strings… including me.

No wonder I always feel eyes above. No wonder losing control births a second persona.

So that’s it. They use unknown means to pluck certain human desires, swell them, and drown us in them until we’re lost.

Purification… she was the first “Dark Deity.” I won’t let her win.

I must stop this. I’ll bar the true Dark Deities outside.

Don’t worry I can’t. I will. Even the weakest person gets at least one chance to strike.

The tie between hounds and humans mirrors ours with them. Power falls from a higher plane like a crushing avalanche.

A toothless hound, given new teeth by humans, gets one chance to bite.

It can wait for carelessness, for pride born of strength, and deliver a vicious snap.

It’ll be killed afterward, but the bite will draw real blood.

By the same logic, the arrogant Dark Deities gave me Authority Power—fitted me with teeth.

I’ll rip a piece of flesh from them, no matter what it costs.