“Gege! Don’t go out there, gege! It’s flooding soon!”

Min Cheng called out. He was only 8 this time, his gege was 9. He was inside his gege’s house, while he was outside.

“I need to find it! It might get missing or washed away!”

“It’s not worth it, gege! Come back here, the flood will wash YOU away!”

His heart had been palpitating wildly since earlier. He was just planning to make a visit to his gege’s house near the old train station, a small squalor of a house by the side of the tracks.

He couldn’t believe anyone could live in such a place. He was used to living in a beautiful mansion with several other houses that looks exactly the same for miles.

And whenever he watches movies, it always shows those kind of houses or if not then condominium units. Even in the foreign ones from America, they call this living condition ‘middle class’.

He doesn’t believe he was rich at all because his parents say so. That they still have a lot of money to earn that’s why they’re always working and working.

But in truth, ‘middle class’ was all a lie. There a large majority of people living like his gege, he had just never visited those places before.

“It could be worse, I mean…. We could be living on the streets. Getting chased and kicked by the police for begging.” His gege told him. “I think our house is fine enough as it is.”

Min Cheng frowned. “I don’t like it here, gege. It’s loud when the train passes by and your walls and roof are so thin like paper.”

“My mom promised that she could earn some more to get us a better house once she paid her debts.” His gege told him. “But—-“

Then it started raining. Hard.

They thought it would pass, but soon enough…

It started to flood just in an hour or so. The roof leaked and water rose from the ankle then to the knees of the young children real fast.

“Is your father not going back at all!? Shouldn’t he be worried!?” Min Cheng exclaimed as he helped his gege lift heavy objects above the beds and the sofa so they won’t get wet.

“Haha, my dad’s probably out drinking again like my grandpa. They won’t be home even if the flood reaches to the waist. Especially not then.”

“So they’ll just leave you behind here!?” Min Cheng could not believe it. “You should come with me once our family car take me home then!”

“I can’t leave our house behind.” His gege said. “Who will look after our family possessions if I leave?”

But they don’t even have that much possessions. A bunch of cheap and faulty appliances, patched up clothes, dirty decor that costs less than a dollar….. To Min Cheng’s eyes, they look like garbage.

But his gege looked after them like his treasures.

“Oh no! My mom’s rosary!” He exclaimed, and chased after it as it fell into the water.

That was the reason why he was wading now into the flood outside even with the water reaching up to his waist.

“Gege, please come back!” Min Cheng yelled, barely able to see him as the windows had fogged up and the wind kept on surging.

He can barely see his gege’s figure in the rain. He was so worried that the water would soon drown him and wash him away too, as it had knocked so many objects already.

A tree had fallen over too just nearby, what more could it do to a small child?

Was one rosary worth one life?

Min Cheng thought that maybe if gods were real, Christian or Buddhist or whatever, they will have mercy and let his gege find it safely and return.

But he didn’t.

That day, his gege almost died.

There was no god to honor his faith.

And in Magecia, it seemed to be the same thing. These gods do not value the people’s faith at all besides the fact that it gives them power.

Ronin tried to stop him, but he was only able to grab a handful of the prince’s long hair as he rushed forward, as fast as the light!

“GRAHHHHH!!!!!” He yelled, his sword bursting through to impale the two blue gods.

Vesuvius and Pallas managed to dodge it by sidestepping on opposite directions. Still, Vesuvius’s left cheek was grazed, and Pallas’ right cheek was also bleeding.

They were startled by this, a mere mortal’s sword drawing a god’s blood.

“How dare you….. How dare you!?” Cermin was breathing heavily, his anger almost at the same level as Ronin’s Magmatic Rage.

“Seeing humans as nothing but cattle to feed on…. You’re no gods, you’re demons!”

“A Gold Heartstone human….” The god Pallas had seen through the disguise. “A follower of Aurion. You must be prince of Scirocco then.”

“The one who stopped the Astral Shower on his 4th year of existence.” Vesuvius said, preparing to strike with his sword. “I don’t care if oracles see greatness in you, this is an attack towards the Highest Order itself if you dare draw your sword on the two of us!”

Vesuvius went forward, aiming to slice Cermin in half.

But the prince managed to parry on time, and grit his teeth under the weight of the god’s sword clashing with his. He maintained a steady footing for a good three seconds despite Vesuvius being much taller and larger than him…..

“Grah!” With a shout, he managed to knock him off with strength alone!

Ronin had never seen him this alert in a fight before. Pallas summoned a similar energy ball as his followers, only larger.

There were countless glyphs swirling around it, varying from all the different languages in Magecia itself. He muttered in the ancient tongue and his words moved around to Cermin…

Covering him and trying to paralyze him with words alone!

But the golden hero still broke out of it, despite looking like he was wading through a strong river current!

“Shield of Solace!” He yelled to protect himself from further attacks.

It was supposed to be an unfair fight. Two powerful gods, one of War and attacking ruthlessly, one of Peace and giving him a strong defense.

And yet one human prince continued to put up a fight with all his strength in the name of mankind!

However, Pallas’ words went to become his and Vesuvius’ own shield, and the hounds joined in the fray.

They pounced on Cermin, ripping his clothes that resembled that of a follower of Pallas.

Cermin’s body seemed to be tensed at the sight of them. Still…..

He no trouble kicking a dog away and making it hit the wall as it tried to chew his arm off!

Ronin does not believe this was the same Cermin anymore, the same Min Cheng. He was not one to harm people, and especially not animals even when he’s scared of them.

Even killing the Silver Wolf required too much of his effort.

No, this was more similar to the Cermin who hurt gripped his wrist tightly as if to break it when Ronin hurt a Phoenix trying to attack him back in that cave.

This was Aurion overtaking Cermin’s mind.

“You arrogant prince! Who do you think you are!?” Vesuvius sliced forward again, then kicked at the golden dome protecting him.

It made a crack on the dome, but Cermin was not alarmed. Instead, he was indignant and spat out:

“Who do you think you are to decide whether human lives should be taken swiftly or slowly!? The very same humans who believed in you no matter the calamity, no matter the suffering!?”

“We’re gods, that’s why.” Pallas said apathetically, still attacking with his words and making that crack bigger. “Fate is in our hands, even if you puny humans believe that you control it.”

Cermin went to slash at him. “Then you’re the reason fate is cruel! You all deserve the cruel fate that you receive!”

Pallas simply stood there with a calm expression, knowing very well that Vesuvius would step in to kick at him.

The kick had finally burst through the strong golden shield, and went straight to Cermin’s gut!

Ronin furrowed his brows. These gods were able to identify Cermin despite the disguise. They would be able to identify who he was too, maybe not as the Lord of Darkness himself at first glance, but Ronin Zafeiri.

And the moment he uses any of his skills, they would know that this person was the vessel for the Lord of Darkness, not Maellan.

They would go after him and even ask the heroes to look for one Ronin Zafeiri even if they somehow manage to escape here.

But at the same time, Cermin would not be able to survive this on his own.

His rage strengthens him, but that’s it. It’s still an unfair fight between two immortal and undying gods and one human.

He calculated his move, clenching his fist…..

But there was no time to think. Cermin was spitting blood on the ground, laying there like a broken rag doll. His defense was shattered.

And Vesuvius raised his sword high, and Pallas’ flood of words came in a surge….

“Fuck it.”

Ronin activated his Illusive shift and dived straight to the flood, moving in front of Cermin before Vesuvius’ sword hit him!