BOOK 2/53 - The Creator Goddess vs The God Slayer

Hildelith did what any sensible person would do when faced with a being who smiled so confidently while squaring off against a Creator God—she used Appraisal.

For the first time, she appraised something before engaging it. It was a testament to how much this individual unsettled her.


[NAME - Auzule Bali]
[RACE - Original Lie Netherling]
[TITLE - Son of Ozdane the Sixth, Harbinger of the Nether, First Guard of the Accursed Gates, God Slayer]
[BEING - Devil]
[LEVEL - 35]
[AFFILIATION - SACRILEGE]
"After what was considered his failure to bring in the head of a rather famed god, Bali was eternally assigned to guard the Accursed Gates, ready to enact his vengeance and blow the great horns on the day their seals finally crack."

[PERKS]:

[Lie Affinity]

[Silver Eye]

[Beyond]


[Lie Affinity]
"Lies are useless against such a being. Truth is a must. Yet, to twist and deceive is a dish devils prepare with utmost sincerity."

[Silver Eye]
"The hold of heresy. Capable of sullying even the most devout with the smog of the Nether. Effective only on those with divine touch or divinity."

[Beyond]
"From the Nether deep. Enhances movement skills in Nether realms. Allows instant return to its home plane. Capable of teleportation-like speeds in movement. Reduces movement skill efficiency by 30% outside the Nether realm."


“God Slayer,” she muttered aloud.

Bali paused, then sighed, shaking his head as annoyance flickered in his silver eyes.

“Trust me, that was just a fluke. Those gods weren’t even powerful, I swear. It was just a few hundred. Nothing major. Maybe one or two Creator Gods, but that was just me being lucky, I assure you.”

There was an odd hopefulness in his gaze as he looked at her, his palms pressed together in a plea.

“Just… one or two,” she echoed, stunned. Her streak of victories had to end eventually, she thought grimly, glancing at the devil whose frozen, sheepish grin revealed fangs that shone brilliantly white. Her left eye glowed green. The ground beneath Tora rising and embedding her into a golem. The goddess tried to argue only for a stone to block her mouth. Frowning she was dragged to the end of the room, far from the two.

“So, no trembling in the boots?” Bali’s gaze dropped to her legs.

Hildelith fought the urge to squirm. Why did this guy unnerve her so much? She had faced bigger, deadlier opponents—Molliwag with its towering frame and endless fangs, and the Elf whose lethality had been unparalleled. Yet, this devil made her want to flee.

Focusing back on him, her gaze lingered on his designation: Origin Lie Netherling.


[ORIGINAL LIE NETHERLING]
"The first true race of the Nether. These beings are strengthened further by the hidden titles 'Children of the Nether' and 'Netherborn,' granting them near-immortality within their plane."

[DEVIL]
"Once a ∆¶•°¶. Their perfect imperfections have corrupted their cores, creating what they are now—ironic beings who twist truth while hating lies."


“No... I’m not,” she admitted quietly, barely realizing she’d spoken aloud.

Her response seemed to relieve him immensely.

“Good, good! I feared I broke you. No fun to fight a scared girl,” he said, clapping his hands with childlike glee before spreading his arms wide in a theatrical gesture.

“So, if you don’t mind, shall we?” Bali asked, impatient and eager.

Hildelith exhaled, bracing herself.

“If you somehow manage to slay me, you get a boon. Sounds good, right? That should be motivating enough. Then let’s begin!” Bali tapped his foot, excitement radiating from him.

A boon? The realization struck her—this space was currently a dungeon. But did the boon fall under the system’s usual rewards? Her question was soon answered.


[MISSION: An Old Feud]
"The gods have been slighted one too many times. Put the Devil in its place. Show the might of the divine."

[REWARDS]: [Unascertained]
[FAILURE]: Loss of five levels. Devil Kill Mark. Gain negative title: The Sullied.


That answered that, she thought. But how does one kill a God Slayer?

Her eyes snapped to Bali just as his wings began to burn brighter. Silver flames cascaded from them, condensing into a massive bastard sword that he regarded with open admiration. His gaze shifted to her, and she instinctively stepped back.

Then he vanished.

You don’t slay a God Slayer. You run from one.

Hildelith barely managed to raise her arms in defense before a tingling sensation brushed her nose.

BANG.

The impact sent her flying. The room spun around her as she hit the ground and rolled several feet before coming to a stop. Dazed but still alert, she staggered to her feet, her senses quickly reorienting. Bali stood where she had been moments ago, his grin stretched wider, his expression brimming with amusement.

“YOU SURVIVED. GOOD, GOOD. THIS WILL BE FUN,” he boomed.

“F*ck,” Hildelith cursed under her breath. Bali was too fast, too dangerous. Here she was again, fighting for her in-game life. It was exhausting.

His peculiar nature was the only reason she had even survived this long. She inhaled deeply, trying to calm her nerves and come up with a plan.

Looking at Bali’s unsettling grin, she shook herself mentally.

“Your strength is unparalleled, Bali,” she began, her voice steady. “May I call you Bali?”

He squinted at her, clearly suspicious of her intent.

“Indeed. Bali is fine,” he replied.

“Well, Bali, I am Hildelith, Creator Goddess of… the universe,” she said hesitantly, unsure if revealing the name of her universe might endanger it.

“At this moment, I am powerful but unskilled,” she added, feigning sadness with an aggrieved expression. Not that she had to try hard—her lack of skill genuinely bothered her.

“It would be troubling if you defeated me like this. Surely you’d prefer the true victory of slaying me at my best.”

Bali froze, his arms dropping as his smile faltered.

“Indeed, indeed. Very bothersome. Unworthy of a true feat. Must amend. How to amend?” His eyes darted around wildly before settling back on her.

“I reckon the esteemed goddess has a solution,” he said, his tone cautious yet intrigued.

Hildelith hesitated, carefully plotting how to sway him into agreeing. In the end, it was surprisingly easy.

“Of course. Your attack just now showed me my faults. Unlike my various siblings, I am always ready to admit my errors. If Bali could be so kind as to allow me the honor of polishing my blade against his skills…”

"Siblings," Bali murmured.

Hildelith smirked inwardly. Got you, she thought.

"Pardon?" she muttered, fighting to keep a victorious smile off her face. While she knew next to nothing about Devils, she had already pegged Bali as prideful and a perfectionist over the course of their conversation.

In what, one might ask?

Himself. The very fact that he sat at the gate for who knew how long, awaiting its opening simply because he failed to kill some god, showed it. If his claims about killing Creator Gods were to be believed, he found it annoying that those gods, for some reason, had been weak.

It meant he desired the title or honor of slaying a Creator God at their fullest strength. Such a feat would only hold meaning if the work was done properly. Therefore, Bali would insist on facing her at her best.

If that wasn’t enough of a temptation for his perfectionism, then the mention of supposed siblings was the perfect bait. Siblings to a Creator God would have to be Creator Gods too, right? His reaction confirmed her theory.

This brought Hildelith to his pride. Flushing away an entire horde of devilings with a wave of her palm was no small feat. Yet Bali had declared she would die, not as a question or probability, but as a fact.

He either trusted his strength that much, or his pride would not allow him to view himself as weaker than her. Perhaps her equal, but never weaker.

One thing Hildelith banked on was that all the Creator Gods Bali had managed to kill had been either weak or not at full strength. This must have scratched his pride—no, it must have done far more than that.

It was evident as she watched the gleam in his eyes while he considered her plan. Or perhaps that gleam was simply the glee of knowing there were more like her out there. How sweet to know her kind was loved. Hildelith barely suppressed a shudder.

"I accept," Bali said finally. "Bali will let Goddess Hildelith strike true and good for as long as she needs while also attacking. Until I deem you equal to or greater than me, only then shall your head roll. The Goddess will also have to tell Bali how she arrived here. Do you accept?"

Hildelith had never been one for contracts, but dealing with a devil was rarely a good thing.

I just have to make sure I slay the devil first, she thought.

"I accept," she said aloud.


[Contract formed]
[Contract between Devil Auzule Bali and Creator Goddess Hildelith Fearghal]


A thin line formed between them, a silver and golden thread. It forged itself into both of them before sizzling away.

"There. Done. Now, Goddess, come at me. Don’t hold back either."

A sly smile rose inconspicuously at the corner of her lips. Unbeknownst to Bali, the terms of the contract had numbed his desire to kill her. Though he would attack at full strength, he would subconsciously withhold at the last moment, keeping her alive long enough to grow stronger, allowing him to gain his desired title and learn how to leave the gate.

Hildelith, on the other hand, had no such limitations. She intended to use this to her advantage.

"A prideful man might just be a useful thing," she hummed, prepping her blade. Exhaling, her eyes ignited in a golden light as energy filled her body. Her skin shifted into the familiar form of an Argat.

With a fierce, determined roar, she leaped at Bali.

Off with his head, she thought.

Their clash was explosive. The ground beneath them shattered, creating a chasm as the wind from their blows made the pond of primordial waters splash like a turbulent sea.

Bali deflected her blade, not enough to break away but enough to slide his own blade along hers with a screech. Using the momentum, he spun and aimed an attack at the right side of her neck.

Hildelith defended, absorbing the force as she studied his movements. Mentally, she smiled. What could the great Harbinger teach this humble goddess? she wondered. Their auras exploded outward, bathing the lair in golden and silver light as their equivalent energies collided.

Hilde had a goal. The contract now in place allowed her to practice her insights.

The first insight she focused on was her golem Earthen Grace: Golem armor. It had been a while, since Aswingnir, that she'd used it. She experimented with alternating between heavy, thick defensive stone armor and lighter, more agile versions for offense. She learned to reshape parts of the armor for additional offensive capabilities, such as spiked gauntlets, boots, and stone blades that extended from the golem’s knuckles like claws. She also practiced firing stray rock bullets of varying sizes.

Hilde trained relentlessly, striking with both Daemon's Fist and a massive earth gauntlet that encased her knuckles. Her aim was to destroy or at least disrupt Bali’s Liquid Silver, observing how both Devil’s Fire and Divinity interacted. Their reaction was like the opposing poles of magnets, pushing against each other—a phenomenon that raised even more questions. However, she set those questions aside, focusing instead on her immediate bout.

Next came Mellifluent. This time, instead of creating water from within herself, Hilde manipulated the Primordial Waters of the pond. She realized that using her insights required equal parts understanding and imagination, shaping whatever she desired from the water while adhering to the patterns and rules of the insight.

She first crafted a wall of water to block Bali’s silver sword slash. The wall then shrunk and lashed out at the devil, who dexterously leaped over it. Hilde bent backward in a motion her real body could never have achieved, nearly touching the ground with her head. Placing her weight on her left palm, she spun in a fluid somersault, whipping her leg toward Bali’s jaw. Unfortunately, his reflexes were too sharp; he leaned back just in time to avoid the strike.

However, devils, while prideful and powerful, were neither tricksters nor as devious as demons. The water whip swept round her like half of an infinity symbol lashing out at Bali’s head, sending him flying into the ground. Wasting no time, Hilde manipulated the waters of the pond to drag him down as he tried to stand. For a brief moment, the ground beneath him glowed green. Anticipating an earth strike, Bali leaped into the air, but his ears twitched at the sound of a blade cutting through the wind. Liquid Silver swiftly reshaped into a blade, blocking the strike aimed at his neck. A gust of wind followed, revealing a feathered wing flapping.

Bali was faster. Liquid Silver dissolved into a lasso, which wrapped around Hilde’s feet and flung her into the ground. A sharp hiss of pain coursed through her as her Argonnean wings broke from the impact. Gasping, Divine Purity surged through her, instantly mending the broken bones and torn muscles of her wings. But Bali did not relent. She rolled away just in time to avoid his crushing stomp. Her wings folded back into her skin as she stomped her foot as well, unleashing green energy in ripples that shattered the ground. Rocks and spikes erupted in tandem, aiming to displace the devil.

Hilde skidded to a stop and crouched, leveling her gaze on Bali. The God Slayer hovered in place, his wings flapping as a silver flame shield blocked the ascending projectiles. Hilde frowned. From the start, Bali had dictated the flow of the battle. Her attempts to attack or defend played into his hands, and her attempt to engage him in the air had failed when he targeted her wings.

As she exhaled deeply, Hilde suppressed the fear of falling here, calming her heart. I can't show too much prowess, not until I'm close enough to take his head without him knowing, she thought. One last exhale steadied her before she stood straight, mentally reviewing her arsenal of skills. She dismissed her sword, and the Bane of Heroes formed in her left hand. Bali’s expression froze briefly before a gleeful smile spread across his face.

“Stronger? GOOD. GOOD. Now I come,” he declared, vanishing from sight.

A tingling sensation at the back of her neck caused Hilde to react instinctively, dodging left as Bali reappeared, narrowly missing her with his blade. She used the moment to unleash an explosion of earth, raising dust and debris. Bali chuckled as he emerged from the fading smoke. His head tilted back as he inhaled deeply.

“I smell your strength, goddess,” he said, his shoulders trembling with glee. “Enticing,” he added, licking his lips. He darted toward the divine energy he sensed.

WHOOSH. An arrow whipped past Bali’s face.

WHOOSH. Another sliced his left bicep, drawing a hiss of pain before a third arrow, glowing blue, slammed into him. Bali raised his palm to block it, but frost climbed eagerly up his arm.

“Lucky,” he muttered, his eyes narrowing at the fast-moving goddess. She was quick, but not quick enough. Soon, she would be ripe for plucking, ready to cement his true title. Wreathing his arm in Devil’s Fire, Bali prepared to strike.

Hilde suddenly froze as a crawling sensation spread over her skin. It felt like a million insects burrowing into her flesh.


[You are being sullied.]
[Status Effect – Nether Corruption.]


The invasive sensation brought Hilde to her knees. Bali descended swiftly, striking her face with his flaming fist. She crashed to the ground, gasping as the corruption wreaked havoc inside her. Purple veins snaked across her skin, and her face turned blue as if deprived of oxygen.


[Divine Purity]


Focusing on the insight helped her channel it. A scream tore from her lips as searing heat surged through her body. Bali observed with interest as steam poured from her pores and armor. The purple veins receded, vanishing entirely, and the golden glow in her eyes grew brighter.

Bali sighed, his smile returning. “Was worth a shot,” he said, chuckling with a nonchalant shrug.

A sudden waterspout struck Bali, immediately followed by a fist-sized rock slamming into his head. Hilde was already rolling away, putting distance between them as she switched bows and fired several arrows from her bow.

Two of the arrows hit their mark, exploding on impact and forcing Bali back a few steps. But the devil merely cackled as he stepped forward through the smoky aftermath of the explosions.

"I'm a devil. Fire is my thing," he sneered.

A quick glance revealed his target perched atop a distant rock. How she got there didn’t matter to him.

With a flap of his wings, Bali ascended into the air, diving toward the golden-haired goddess like a predator closing in on its prey. A sharp whooshing sound beside him made him twitch mid-air.

"She grows bolder. Good. Good," he muttered.

Reaching a height that allowed him to look down at her, Bali paused. His trademark smirk spread across his face before he folded his wings, diving straight down like a hunting eagle.

Hilde dismissed the Bane of Heroes. Her legs shifted, transforming into those of an Elder Divine, Elder Devil wings unfurled from her back. She exhaled deeply, preparing herself.

Her body burst upward, the sheer force of her jump shattering the ground beneath her feet in a golden blast. The earth seemed to embrace her, green energy glowing as it encased her in the Golem’s Armor. Her bat/ dragonic wings flapped with explosive power, propelling her toward the descending devil.

Dust swirled around her feet, hiding the faint spark of golden flames ignited to add velocity to her ascent. The earth shifted once more, encasing her feet in solid stone as she raised her right arm. From her shoulder to her fist rapidly darkened, cracks tearing open her arm and spewing golden flames from within. Her left hand turned the purest while. Her torso warped into the white skin of an Elder Force with the scales growing out beneath stone and armor.

Bali watched her approach with a predator’s calm, his perception slowing as he observed the monstrous change she'd undergone. His lips curled into a sadistic grin as he poured more of his Devil Fire into his wings and liquid silver weapon, reinforcing them.

The moment they were inches apart, stone fully encased Hilde's head, leaving only her glowing eyes visible. Her left hand lifted slightly from the sword, leaving her right hand to grip it alone.

Bali struck.

Hildelith punched with both fists..

Immortal Frost and Eternal Flames roared in response.

Primordial Ice, Primordial Fire and Devil Fire clashed with a deafening screech, the two energies battling for dominance. The force of their collision created shockwaves, each fighter forced to adjust mid-air.

Bali howled as searing pain shot through his back. Hilde landed heavily, rolling several feet away as a blast of Devil Flame incinerated the spot where she had just been.

No time to waste, Hilde thought, already moving. She saw Bali descending, his expression no longer playful.

Can't let him reach the ground, she resolved, propelling herself forward with fire flickering at her soles. The Golem’s Armor crumbled away, revealing her strained figure as she raced toward him.

A shockwave rippled through the area as she pushed herself even harder.

Hilde frowned as she accessed the system mentally, allocating her unspent stat points with precision: 25 to Strength, 40 to Agility, and 25 to Will.

The world seemed to blur further as her speed surged.

Bali’s eyes widened as he saw her flicker before his gaze.

Hilde cursed silently. It still wasn’t enough.

'I can’t stop now. He might think this is all I have. I won’t fail here. All out.'

“TITAN'S FORM!” she roared, the sound making Bali’s spine tingle. His smile returned, wild and eager.

"Yes! Yes! She grows STRONGER. I feel DANGER!" he bellowed with unrestrained glee, folding his remaining wing to accelerate his descent.

His liquid silver weapon lengthened into a bastard sword, its edge shimmering with the remains of his Devil Fire, which fought against the dampness coating his body.

But then, Bali felt the world shudder.

“This feeling...” he muttered, his grin vanishing as his gaze shifted to Hilde.

The power the goddess blazed with vanished. All the changes twisted. Her form stretched, her shape grew.

“Impossible!” Bali choked out.

It was too late. The world froze. Bali shivered, his eyes shook. He tried to grasp what he was seeing. Tried to understand.

Hildelith murmured. "Titan's Step".


[Titan's Form]
The true incarnate. The glorious embodiment of aether and will.


Hildelith had learned many things, done many things. Several choices had opened many skills to her. But none of them, she knew, were as great or powerful than the big three. Aether, Primordial Chaos and Nothingness.

Now, with no other choice, she unleashed it fully.

Bali felt the oppressive presence increase . Death, and fear loomed over him, jolting his mind back into reason His eyes searched frantically for a way out, darting across the battlefield.

There was none. She filled the cavern, her body a gigantic mass of white mist, stars glowing within her form. Her left foot hovering inches from the ground. Her head part of the roof.

The overwhelming lethality of her presence was undeniable.

“She must die now,” Bali whispered, his voice devoid of his earlier playfulness and filled only with dread.

The game was over.