(Imprisoned Deity POV)
'Damn those gods... especially Solarus! That sanctimonious bastard chained me here himself!' Follow current novels on novel·fiɾe·net
My teeth clenched as I sat shackled—naked, wrists bound, back against cold stone. My body, though divine, was bruised by centuries of stillness. My breath came heavy, eyes narrowing with hatred as bitter memories played on a loop in my mind.
'It's been over four hundred years... Four hundred years in this forsaken pit.'
The moment I shifted, the chains tightened—digging into my skin as if to mock me. They responded to thought, not just motion. They knew when rage filled me.
And rage always filled me.
I remembered the war.
The day the Outer Gods descended—uninvited, alien, merciless.
I, one of the last of the Native Gods, fought alongside the others to defend our dominion.
Some of us were slaughtered.
Others... like me... were sealed away.
Imprisoned deep within the bowels of this realm—never to see the world again.
A sharp pulse of divine energy escaped me in a grunt. My fury surged, a volatile storm of power I could barely contain.
'Just you wait... you bastards... I will have my revenge. I will take back everything you stole from us!'
With a desperate growl, I braced and strained against the chains—forcing every bit of power into my limbs.
Worse, they tightened, sinking deeper into my skin.
'Damn these chains... I've been trying to break free for 410 years... They're forged from divine ore mined in the Higher Realm—designed to drain me physically, mentally, spiritually.'
If this goes on much longer...
'At this rate, I'll be completely drained in another five thousand years... and in just two thousand, I'll forget everything—my name, my memories, my wrath...'
I'll become nothing but a soulless puppet.
"No..." I whispered hoarsely, voice cracked. "If I don't escape within two thousand years, there'll be no one left to take revenge..."
"Huh?" I muttered. "My imagination again? These damn chains... they mess with my mind..."
I tried to shake it off—but the steps grew louder.
My eyes snapped open, wide.
A shadow fell across the chamber.
And there—standing before me—was someone.
A person... someone actually made it in here?!
"Wh—What? Someone... someone made it in here?!"
My heart thundered—not from fear, but disbelief.
I stared at the stranger.
Those horns—small, red, peeking from his forehead.
'No doubt about it... he's a descendant of that deity...'
My eyes narrowed, confusion tightening in my chest.
'What is he doing here? No—how is he even alive?'
All the descendants of the old gods were supposed to be wiped out.
'Solarus and the other two made it clear—every bloodline tied to the Native Gods would be purged... erased from existence. That decree was absolute. How could anyone have survived...?'
I stared at the figure before me, mind racing.
'No... there's no way someone like him should still exist—not after four hundred years...'
I pushed the thoughts aside, gritting my teeth.
'What matters is that someone made it in here. Someone strong enough to get past the divine barrier. Someone who might actually be able to free me.'
For the first time in centuries, hope flickered.
Then I heard his voice.
The name caught me off guard.
"...Neo?" I echoed, blinking in disbelief.
Who in the world is this boy... and why did he call me that?
Arthur stared intently at the chained deity before him—not out of awe at the divine being's presence, but at something far stranger.
'This guy... he looks exactly like Keanu Reeves. How the hell is that even possible?'
He squinted, studying the deity's face and features. The resemblance was uncanny. Same sharp jawline, same intense yet haunted eyes.
A slow grin crept onto Arthur's face.
'If he really does look like Keanu... maybe I can cast him as an actor later.'
His thoughts were interrupted by the sudden clinking of chains. The imprisoned man stirred, struggling slightly against his bindings as his voice rang out.
"You...!" he growled—and then paused, narrowing his gaze. "Descendant of Aides!"
Arthur's brow furrowed. 'Aides? Who the hell is that supposed to be?'
Before he could speak, the deity's voice took on a different tone—more composed, tinged with hope.
"You must be powerful to reach this place," the chained man said, a faint smile forming. "Strong enough to withstand the pressure. Strong enough to pass through the divine barrier."
He leaned forward slightly, chains creaking. "And perhaps... strong enough to free me."
Arthur said nothing, watching him carefully.
"I can teach you a divine spell," the deity offered. "A rare one. One that can shatter these bindings. If you help me... I'll reward you handsomely."
Arthur tilted his head, resting his chin in one hand. "And why would I care about that?" he replied calmly. "A reward doesn't interest me."
He raised a brow. "Besides... if you know a spell that can break the chains, why don't you use it?"
A cold laugh escaped the deity's lips.
"These chains," he said, his tone grim, "are imbued with «Divine Silence». They nullify my magic. I can't cast anything—not even a whisper of divine power."
He tugged at his restraints to prove the point, the runes glowing faintly in response, tightening further.
Arthur's gaze sharpened. But he said nothing.
'Hmm... Freeing an unknown deity, huh?' Arthur mused inwardly, eyes narrowed in thought. 'He looks exactly like Keanu from my past life—but I can't be certain of his nature. If he's violent... if he's unstable... I might not be able to control him.'
The risk was obvious.
Still, he considered it.
The chained deity watched him closely and noticed the hesitation. "I know what's holding you back," he said, his voice strained but earnest. "But believe me—I won't harm you. I swear it."
Arthur chuckled quietly to himself.
Even if the deity before him regained a sliver of power, Arthur was confident he could restrain him. He was more concerned about the trouble the man might cause than his strength.
"Don't get me wrong," Arthur said flatly. "I'm not afraid of you. I'm just debating whether freeing you is worth the potential headache. A deity is still a deity."
Without further warning, he stepped forward and reached toward the chain.
"Wait—!" the chained man called out sharply. "Don't touch—!"
Arthur's fingers brushed the metal.
Instantly, the chain responded—hungrily drawing in his divine energy. Arthur's eyes narrowed as he felt the pull, like thousands of tiny mouths sucking at his skin. It didn't hurt, but it was irritating... itchy.
'So that's why he warned me...' he thought. Still, his smirk returned.
A glint flashed on his hand.
The golden ring on his finger shimmered, and from it, faint golden wisps of power curled outward like smoke.
Arthur let out a soft laugh. "Heh. So you want to eat, huh?" he whispered, eyes glinting with a hint of madness. "Then let's see how much you can take."
The «Devourer Ring», a Level 6 artifact, stirred with boundless magical energy. It could store and circulate an unlimited amount of mana—and now, Arthur unleashed it all in reverse, flooding the chain with magic.
The chains responded instantly—glowing, vibrating, devouring.
The imprisoned deity's eyes flew wide. "What are you doing, kid!? Are you trying to kill yourself?! You're feeding the chain—it'll drain you dry!"
Arthur's grin widened.
"If it manages to suck me dry, then I'll be impressed."
The ring pulsed again, power surging. Mana flooded through him, into the chain like a roaring river.
"...I should add more force," Arthur muttered, his tone casual.
The ring blazed with divine light.
"You... you're insane!!!" the chained deity shouted, both stunned and horrified.