C490
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**The Law of the Hunt**
Cale (he) remained silent, without uttering the phrase on the tip of his tongue, and fixed his gaze on the wanderer Ryeon (she).
—Hearing it from someone who hunts for a living makes it sound different —murmured Cale (he) with a half-smile.
The hunter family that has come to hunt the loners: the Five-Colored Family, and their wanderer Ryeon (she) as the leader. For her to mention the method of killing a god was equivalent to declaring that Ryeon (she) and Cho (he) were severing ties with the Five-Colored Family.
The Third Emperor (he) looked at her with barely contained fury.
—Why are you trembling so much —said Cale with disdain, but the Third Emperor did not respond and only stared intently at Ryeon (she).
That stare caused Ryeon's (she) body to tremble in small spasms.
However, Cale added:
—Continue.
Ryeon (she) opened her mouth to speak, but at that moment —
—Aren't you afraid of the First Emperor? —the Third Emperor interjected.
Ryeon fell silent, unable to continue.
Then Cho (he) broke the silence in a loud voice:
—In the Heavenly World, there is a sanctuary called "Wings of the Heaven"
Ryeon looked urgently at her brother Cho. Cho (he) took Ryeon's (she) hand and stared firmly at the Third Emperor (he).
—Officially, that place is closed, but there was information there about "the law of the hunt." The First Emperor obtained data there on the annihilation of gods —said Cho.
—Cho, damn you! —roared the Third Emperor, and Cho (he) responded with a shove.
As the Third Emperor, Ryeon (she), and even Cale were stunned by the impact, Cho kept talking.
—You, a bastard who lost to that Demon King and got beaten to a pulp, what right do you have to come here and say you're going to kill my sister! —said Cho, looking with rage.
The Third Emperor tried to retort, but Cho (he) turned his gaze towards Cale (he) and suddenly asked bluntly:
—Hey. Are you going to save us?
—Yes —Cale responded without hesitation.
Cho (he) seemed surprised by the direct answer, but remembering Cho's trembling gaze from before, Cale added:
—Explain more.
—Alright —said Cho, swallowing saliva.
Cho hesitated for a moment and then requested:
—But first, could you shut that guy up? —he pointed at the Third Emperor (he).
Cale glanced discreetly at the Demon King. The Demon King nodded.
Soon, a muzzle was placed on the Third Emperor, a shackle that not even a god could undo, and he was forced to listen to the conversation in silence. His eyes were bloodshot with rage, but no one paid attention. No one was concerned about him.
The hunt has its hierarchies: even someone among the three fingers of the hunter family could influence the entire Divine World, the Heavenly World, and the Demon World. But in that place, no one paid attention to the Third Emperor (he).
Cale took a piece of steak offered by Raon and began to chew.
The Third Emperor's eyes gradually lost their spark until they became empty. Cho exhaled, and then began the explanation in earnest.
—The First Emperor has all the information about the law of the hunt. We will only tell you what we know —Cho began.
The sanctuary "Wings of the Heaven" in the Heavenly World.
—Although it seems closed down, it is actually the place most heavily guarded by the celestials. The First Emperor infiltrated it and made contact with the law of the hunt. That's how he learned how to annihilate a god —said Cho.
Cale slightly raised an eyebrow. "Made contact" sounded strange.
—We don't know the details of the process. Only that what Ryeon (she) said earlier is part of the written explanation there —added Cho (he).
«Nothing is eternal. All creatures have natural predators. The same goes for gods. The Principle created the world and also sowed within it the seed capable of killing gods. It is a formless law, a rule of the Principle. If a god's arrogance crosses the line, that law will activate. That is why it is called the law of the hunt».
When Cale (he) recalled what Ryeon (she) had said, Cho added:
—A god does not perish even if their heart is torn out.
It was true: even the God of Death did not die, although his appearance was disastrous.
—Then how can a god be killed? —asked Cale.
The answer was quite simple, according to Cho. A slight smile appeared on his face.
—A seed that carries a specific possibility is needed. That power alone is enough.
The Principle sowed the seed to kill gods in the world. That seed, when the god's arrogance exceeds the limit, sprouts and develops that possibility.
—What is that possibility? —asked Cale (he).
Cho stared at Cale, as if studying him, and then spoke:
—Cale Henituse, why do you think it's called exactly "law of the hunt"?
Cale stood still. Why was it called that. Cho took a step and looked at the plates on the table, then spoke slowly.
—Cale Henituse. Hunt. Why do we hunt?
Cale (he) felt a chill run down his spine, as if he suddenly understood something.
The law of the hunt. The name fit.
Cho's low voice reached Cale's ear:
—What is the most primary and elementary reason a hunter catches their prey?
Cho was still looking at the table, and Cale understood that the answer was right where that gaze ended.
—To eat it —said Cho (he).
The reason for hunting is to eat. Cho's (he) gaze shifted from the table to Cale.
—Cale Henituse. You said you have the talent to kill gods —whispered Cho—. That means you have the possibility to devour a god.
Cale (he) heard someone swallow behind him; it was probably the advisor or the guard captain. But it didn't matter; what Cho said had captured all of Cale's attention.
The talent to kill a god was equivalent to the possibility of devouring it. Cho looked at Cale intensely.
—A god does not die even if their heart is ripped out, but what if they are devoured? What if their very existence is devoured?
If that happened—
—Then that existence perishes. It disappears.
At that moment, Cale heard the Demon King's laughter behind him, almost a mix of disbelief and curiosity. The Demon King seemed to find the idea strange and amusing.
Cale's eyes sank into a more serious depth. Cho (he), calmly, stepped back, leaving that phrase hanging in the air:
—In other words, you have the possibility of devouring a god.
Cale remembered when the Demon God's ruins reacted to him for the first time.
«Sky Eating Water» (she). When the water that devours the sky tried to confront the Third Emperor, the Demon God's ruins responded to Cale.
«And…» Cale remembered.
The water that devours the sky. That power gave itself that name to defeat the heaven, the god, specifically to defeat the God of War.
The God of War called that water "Water of Judgement", confined it under the lake, and imposed limitations on it. More than guarding the seed of the talent, what the God of War did was control and repression.
Cale (he) wondered why the God of War would have done that, and although he didn't find a definitive answer, something gave him a clue today. The God of War, who now supported the God of Chaos and contributed to the disorder in the Divine World, perhaps knew about the law of the hunt. Maybe that's why he treated Sky Eating Water (she) that way.
—They are conjectures, but not without basis —Cale told himself, organizing his thoughts.
The faces of those watching him showed varied reactions. Cho, who had spoken the words, swallowed saliva while looking at Cale attentively.
—It seems it exists. You really do have the possibility of devouring a god —murmured Cho to himself.
If it weren't so, his significant expression wouldn't make sense. His frown deepened more and more. Cho, the advisor, and even the Third Emperor hardened their expressions. Even the Demon King (he) showed a different expression.
At that moment, Cale (he) had to listen to the voice of Sky Eating Water (she). Its tone was different from the purity he remembered.
—So, can I really screw over the gods? That damn God of War? —a laugh was heard from within, a shameless and boastful tone from Sky Eating Water (she).
Cale sighed at such stridency.
Then the Demon King (he) spoke, seriously:
—Are you going to kill gods?
Cale felt he had to answer. The Demon King's gaze hardened, and Cale (he) replied immediately:
—Are you crazy? Why would I fight with the gods?
The Demon King's eyebrow rose slightly. Cale remembered how the Demon King had slapped the Third Emperor as if dusting him off on a rainy day.
—Well, of course I have issues with the God of Chaos and with some other gods. I'm not going to say exactly how, or give guarantees —admitted Cale.
Cale (he) added that he would prefer to avoid fights and live in peace if he could. If only, he thought to himself, there were fewer problems because of the hunters and the God of Chaos, maybe he would already be enjoying the darkness of the Henituse estate, sleeping and eating without a care.
—How unfair —thought Cale, somewhat irritated—. Who would want to go through this if they like peace?
Everyone fell silent. Cale didn't seem bothered and looked at the Demon King with a certain expectation.
—I will prepare a battlefield for you that won't be boring —said Cale.
Cale (he) cast a questioning look at the Demon King (he), and then Raon and Hong offered him more food.
—When you're stressed, eat —said Raon.
—This is also tasty —added Hong.
Cale chewed while Ron (he) handed him a handkerchief. Cale wiped the sauce from his mouth and declared:
—Tomorrow I will start the purifications again.
The advisor reacted:
—The purification tour throughout the entire Demon World?
Cale heard it and smiled inwardly. "Tour throughout the entire country" sounded like a joke to him, and he responded:
—Yes. That's why I want to go to the Demon God's ruins tonight itself.
Cale (he) had to investigate that gray color that had amplified his power without adverse effects.
As the advisor opened his mouth to speak, the Demon King (he) interrupted:
—I'm going with you.
The corner of the Demon King's lips curved slightly.
—It seems fun —said the Demon King.
Cale felt uncomfortable, but he had no reason to refuse to go with the Demon King.
—Why fun? —Cale wondered.
Cale continued with his own business:
—And will you take care of the Third Emperor?
The Demon King (he) nodded.
—After obtaining the information, we will handle it. The name of the Third Emperor will not be heard outside this prison again.
The Third Emperor's face turned pale as he understood the implication of those words, but no one paid attention.
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When the wheelchair carrying Cale arrived at the entrance to the ruins, the gray tree tribe came running out and prostrated themselves before him, shouting: «Savior, savior, savior».
The Demon King laughed behind him. Cale (he) began to understand why the Demon King said this would be fun.
«Silver Shield Prince», «Silver Shield Prince» —he remembered the cheers he had received in the Roan Kingdom. This seemed to be an even more fervent welcome.
Cale avoided the gazes of the gray tree clan and looked towards a corner with a strange expression.
«Right?»
—Yes —a voice answered.
Sky Eating Water (she) responded.
Very close to the entrance of the Demon God's ruins, in a discreet puddle, a water dragon reduced to the size of a snake barely poked its head out. It was the wyrm of the Dragon King, with most of its strength stolen; its eyes reflected an almost supplicating despair.
«Its gaze... is truly supplicating» —thought Cale.
Just then, news spread of the "Demon World national purification tour" that would start the next day.
«Prepare a grand welcome. We can finally be free from the gray disease» people said everywhere. Some talked about encountering the legend of the gray rain or that this person was the one chosen by the Demon God; they wanted to pay him honors.
The demon people rejoiced. Although the gray disease was being contained, the fear of a possible future catastrophe remained, so the news filled them with hope.
Everywhere, people discussed how to repay that favor. Some proposed noble titles or honorary rewards for saving the entire Demon World.
Meanwhile, a priest approached Cale (he) with the utmost courtesy:
—Oh savior. The Demon God is waiting for you.
At the same time, a voice resonated in Cale's ear:
«You have returned… oh, you who possess the ability to kill gods…»
The voice sounded shy.
«I have missed you… so much…»
Cale (he) felt a chill. Upon hearing that shy voice, his expression suddenly became uncomfortable.
