Alex was led inside by Penelope.
As Alex walked inside the room at the end of the hallway, he saw five guys sitting at a table with solemn expressions.
Alex stared at the five protectors with a profound gaze.
"Lord Protectors, please accept this humble person's greeting."
Maxi, The Protector of Elves.
Marcus, The Martial Saint.
Dryad, The Elder Of Dragon Clan.
Kosuru, The Legendary Blacksmith.
And finally Pope Issai.
"Oh, My God! This son-in-law of mine is so dashing."
Startled, Alex squinted his eyes at the old man caressing his long beard with a suave expression.
"Son-in-law, what shameless thing are you boasting about, you fake Priest, "Dryad screamed.
"What do you mean by that worm?"Issai screamed.
"Athena is my granddaughter whom I have raised with good care?"
"Alex let me tell you, she had taken my intelligence and my looks. When I was young, I was so dashing in the eyes of ladies that they lined up from all over the world just to see me."
"Ha...those days."Pope Issai spoke with regret.
"Shut up...you fake priest."
Dryad glared at him who returned the same hateful gaze.
Alex, who was caught up in between this old man, turned his gaze to look at others.
It was then his eyes failed in Marcus.
Marcus' deep blue eyes drew Alex into him.
Alex's vision distorted and the world turned pure white. His lips curled upwards and a deep sigh escaped from his lips.
'These old men. Why can't you just take a rest?'
'Why are you always eager to test the generations?'
'This is annoying.'
The world around Alex started to change.
A parched cracked ground appeared from which weapons of various kinds started to sprout out.
The sky turned red and broken shards of weapons stained with blood filled the whole area. At the centre, a ridge was formed over which, a man wearing a white robe swaying in the wind stood folding his hands behind his back.
"This is my soul world."
A hoarse voice echoed.
"In more than a thousand years of my life, I have mastered various types of Martial Arts."
"From a mere Knight under Kinley, I have grown into one of the finest warriors of this world."
"When I was in the Demi-God realm even without the Goddess's blessing I could take head on and hold my own against the True Gods but as my life span increased, my vitality started to deteriorate. Wounds piled up one after another, injuries were all over my body."
"I wanted to fight more. I wanted to stand on the apex without any other help. I wanted to break that wall but what I lacked was time. The Darkness realm attacked and was surrounded by enemies from all sides, I just had one choice."
Marcus' eyes were filled with regret.
"Either die or accept the hands of the heavens. I did not accept the blessing for power rather I for the future."
"I promised to protect this world until someone who can surpass me purely by himself appeared who did not need Goddess Power faith to advance so at last, I accepted the Goddess of War deal and became the Martial Saint."
"I have taken a few disciples, your father was also one of them. Your father had so much potential alas he also lacks time and when he had intercourse with your mother, her powers were transferred to him."
Alex's lips twitched uncontrollably.
'This guy is too frank.'
"But you came as the last ray of hope."
"I did not understand your words, Saint."
Alex, pondering for a moment, replied frankly"I am here because of the Goddess training. Even I had to take their help otherwise who knows where I would be crawling. Moreover, I am half God so I can't even break my limit."
"Tsk....."
"You are wrong," Marcus spoke with a faint smile.
"You broke through without your effort. You still haven't taken the power of faith. Even if you think that as failure but what about this body."Marcus pointed at Alex.
Alex's eyes widened.
"Yes, this. This body might be a puppet but it's real and it is not the body of half God even if you made it with the help of others. The new cultivation method and the powers in it have shown a new way."
A sudden realisation struck Alex.
His star cultivation is based on dark energy that's why it's restricted but if he changed it into light wouldn't that mean the problem of restriction is solved?
"It seems you understand what I meant to convey."
"You are experienced."
Alex laughed.
It seems this guy is the oldest and is even years ahead of him.
"Before you enter the Darkness realm, I want you to inherit my skills and pass them on to others after you return. It may not be much compared to the ones you have but at least it can help you sharpen yourself and add some skills into your arsenal."
"But before that...
Alex accepted his suggestion but frowned seeing him keeping a condition.
"Show me your soul world."
"Oye...Can you handle that?"Alex asked in disbelief.
Even Alex was horrified by his world so would not this guy wet his pants.
"Just show it to me."
"I have fought many, but all the Gods from the Darkness realm are puny cowards that have been boosted with artificial powers."
"They are disgusting."
"I accept that."
"Now show me."
"Okay!"Alex sighed.
As his world falls.
The world started to change.
A hazy mist covered his sight followed by trembling of grounds.
After the mist disappeared as soon as Marcus' eyes fell on the scene his body started to shiver uncontrollably.
His jaw dropped wide as huge flashes of thunderstruck all around the sky breaking it apart.
The huge sky cracked followed by shades creeping from the ground.
The weapons that struck previously were picked by the shadows that were followed by screams and shrieks echoing like drums of war reverberating in his ears.
