"Now, introduce yourselves, trespassers, for daring to break into my territory," Aegis of the Arctic Deity added.
After Aegis of the Arctic Deity responded, his mind reeled with countless questions. Vylkrspawns? He had never heard such a word before, and judging from what they had said; it seemed to have to do with the bizarre entity he had killed within the Village Chief's compound.
Nonetheless, since they are specifically here for that reason, then that means the beings before him are, in some way, related to Naka.
Hearing Aegis of the Arctic Deity's words, a surprised expression emerged on the trio's faces.
"A divine apostle? I see," said the man with ashen skin. It now made sense to them why the being before them was of the Divine but wasn't a god nor a Vylkrspawn.
However, he couldn't yet understand how a divine apostle could utilise primordial energy when only true gods could use it.
He then refocused on Aegis of the Arctic Deity and shook his head in response, "I would have introduced myself to you if you were a god. But unfortunately, as a 'divine apostle' who hasn't comprehended the divine mysteries, you are neither worthy to know my name nor to speak before me. Although I'll applaud your actions and confidence for being able to handle the Vylkrspawn bringer on your own, the consequence for killing one of my brethren is death, and you will not be exempted from it," he responded.
He stretched his hand forward, and a ball of crimson aura emerged, twisting the space, shattering it into broken glass and revealing a deep chasm surrounding his hand and the crimson aura.
'Breathen?' Aegis of the Arctic Deity thought as he scrutinised the beings before him again.
He hadn't thought about it before, but as he used this word to piece together the identities of the beings before him, everything began to make sense. If a Vylkr vine can evolve from one star to four stars, then who is to say that it can't also evolve into the entity he had previously destroyed with a bit of help?
Moreover, since they referred to it as their 'brethren,' doesn't that imply that the beings before him were in some way an evolved form of the Vylkr vines?
He couldn't rule out such a possibility, especially since they had recently discovered the emergence of a four-star Vylkr vine. Who's to say there isn't also a sixth-star Vylkr vine or a Vylkr vine that has evolved far beyond a typical Vylkr vine and become a Vylkrspawn?
However, as he thought about it, he couldn't help but feel a shiver run through his body as he tried to imagine the incomprehensible power that would be needed as a catalyst for such a thing to be possible.
Aegis of the Arctic Deity's eyes widened as he refocused on the trio before him, "Stop!" he expressed.
"What is it? Do you want to beg or perhaps list off how useful you'll be if spared?" asked the man with ashen skin.
Aegis of the Arctic Deity shook his head. "I simply want to ask if you are related to Naka," he asked.
At the sound of Aegis of the Arctic Deity's question, a thin silence descended, fraught enough to shatter at any moment yet holding immense depth.
Shocked and surprised, the trio scrutinised Aegis of the Arctic Deity's entire figure again.
The crimson aura before the ashen-skinned man dissipated into nothingness, and the cracks that had seemed to fracture the atmosphere gradually healed as if they had never existed.
"You know who the Sovereign is?"asked the man with ashen skin.
The name carried weight, known only to a select few who dared not speak it lightly. He wondered if the being before him was ignorantly brave, foolishly reckless, or genuinely informed about their Sovereign to mention his name boldly.
The other two fixed their gazes on Aegis of the Arctic Deity, eagerly awaiting his response.
Contrary to their expectations, Aegis of the Arctic Deity nodded. "Yes, although it's been a long time since our last encounter, I know him. We have met and conversed a few times in the past,"he responded with confidence.
Even though his memories were blocked, preventing him from recalling Naka's voice or appearance, his words rang true due to his past experiences with Naka.
However, although Aegis of the Arctic Deity was truthful and confident in his words, it didn't mean that the beings before him were willing to accept them without proof.
"Nonsense! Utter nonsense! You are lying! A lowly divine apostle like you dares to speak with such familiarity of Naka!! How dare you?!"declared the man with ashen skin, his fierce gaze boring straight intothe Aegisof the Arctic Deity.
The other two also fixed intense stares on Aegis of the Arctic Deity, waiting with scepticism for his response.
"I'm not lying. I've met and spoken with Naka,"Aegis of the Arctic Deity responded, shaking his head calmly.
"Okay, I'll believe your words on one condition: Describe your relationship with him and his appearance. I'll spare your lives and the territory under your protection if I find your words truthful. You'll then have the choice between seeking our protection or remaining isolated as you currently are,"said the man with ashen skin, his body relaxing slightly.
Noticing Aegis of the Arctic Deity's sudden emotional shift, he asked, "Don't tell me that you have no answer to that question?"
Aegis of the Arctic Deity remained silent for a few seconds before shaking his head defeatedly, "Unfortunately, I don't remember what he looks like, but I do remember my relationship with him,"he responded.
"What kind of relationship was that?"
"I and Naka once worked together on arranged agreements, and most times as friends…."Aegis of the Arctic Deity respondedas hereminiscedabout the past.
"ENOUGH!! LIAR! LIAR! YOU DARE TO CALL THE NAME OF OUR MAKER DIRECTLY! OUR FATHER!! YOU DARE TO TRICK US WITH HIS NAME!! YOU BASTARDS!! DO YOU THINK WHAT YOU'VE DONE WILL EVER BE FORGOTTEN!! I'LL KILL YOU... NO, I'LL TORTURE YOU! I'LL MAKE YOU REGRET YOUR WORDS!!" furiously declared the man with ashen skin.
