Rebirth : The Alchemist's Path

"Have they finally arrived?"

The sound of the wind whistling through the barren demon lands was the only other noise accompanying Sylvus's voice as he stood tall on a rocky outcropping. His gaze was sharp, piercing through the distance as he spotted the figures approaching. With a casual flick, he spit out a sunflower seed shell, his lips curling into a faint smile.

There was something almost peaceful about the moment, though anyone watching closely would sense the brewing storm beneath his calm demeanor.

Among the group approaching, one figure stood out to Sylvus — Horace, the Temple Master of the Temple of Radiance. His presence here, while somewhat surprising, wasn't completely unexpected. Sylvus tilted his head slightly, pondering the situation. Of course, the Temple of Radiance would be involved in this.

After all, they were known for their righteous crusades, always seeking to eliminate what they considered the remnants of evil.

As Sylvus watched, Horace's expression flickered with hesitation. The Temple Master had a complex look on his face, one that spoke of inner conflict. What kind of situation was this? Running into Sylvus here, of all places, in the heart of demon territory? It felt like fate was playing tricks on him.

If things escalated into a fight, Horace mused, what should he do? Should he intervene? Should he stand aside? There was no clear answer. The odds were stacked against him either way. If he stepped in and fought, he might very well be signing his death warrant.

Sylvus was no ordinary opponent, and Horace knew that better than most. Yet, if he chose not to fight, what would happen when they returned to the temple? The Divine Lord would certainly not let him walk away unpunished for failing his duty. The thought of that punishment sent a shiver down his spine.

"Human? Boy, are you waiting here for us?"

It was Larl, the Temple Master of the Dark Temple, who broke Horace's chain of thought. His voice was laced with suspicion, as if the very presence of Sylvus here disturbed him on some deep, instinctual level. Larl's gaze narrowed as he studied the lone figure standing in the middle of demon territory.

"This is the demon clan's land. Why would we find a human here?"

Larl was genuinely puzzled. Not only was Sylvus human, but he didn't exude the aura of the demon race, nor did he show any signs of fear in the face of such overwhelming force. It was unnatural, and that made Larl uneasy.

Standing beside Larl, another figure stirred. Lars, a close ally within the Dark Temple, had a gleam of mischief in his eyes. If a battle was inevitable, perhaps he could find a way to send both Sylvus and some of their more expendable soldiers to their deaths. That way, he could avoid dirtying his own hands while reaping the rewards later.

"You shouldn't have come," Sylvus said simply, shaking his head. His voice was calm, but there was a subtle undercurrent of warning.

"Arrogant!" Larl snapped. "You, a mere human ant, dare to speak to us like that? Do you honestly believe you can stand alone against all of us?" His voice echoed with disdain. Larl was a Deity Emperor, and behind him were over twenty others of the same level, not to mention the hundred Deity Kings and the three Temple Masters. They had come in full force, an army that could conquer worlds.

"You're welcome to try," Sylvus replied, his smile never wavering.

Despite the immense power arrayed against him, Sylvus felt no fear. His resources were limited, true, but he still had one trump card up his sleeve: the One-Word Mantra Technique. It was a powerful skill, one that had saved him in dire situations before, and he was prepared to use it again if necessary.

Larl's frown deepened. The human showed no signs of backing down, no fear at all. Could he possibly have some hidden method to deal with such overwhelming odds? It seemed impossible. But then again, Larl knew better than to underestimate his opponents.

"No, it has to be a bluff," Larl thought to himself, clenching his fists. "He can't possibly take us all on."

Above them, inside the demon fortress, three figures were observing the unfolding scene. From a small, barely noticeable window, Maken, along with his two companions Maide and Maki, watched with bated breath.

"Big brother," Maki whispered, his brow furrowed in concern. "Do you think Brother Sylvus can really handle this? What if something goes wrong?"

Maken's gaze remained fixed on the scene below. "The three Temple Masters are here, and they've brought so many top-tier experts. Even if something does go wrong, there's nothing we can do. We'll just have to hope Sylvus can hold out for a little longer."

Maken's voice was tinged with bitterness. They were all powerful in their own right, but against such overwhelming force, even if they transformed into nine-star Deity Emperors, they wouldn't stand a chance. The only hope they had was in Sylvus, but could he really turn the tide?

Horace, meanwhile, had his own reservations. As he exchanged glances with the two other Temple Masters—Tans of the Temple of Light and Larl of the Dark Temple—he couldn't help but feel the weight of the situation. Larl seemed eager to throw himself into the fray, but Horace was far more cautious. This wasn't just about Sylvus. There was something unsettling about the entire situation.

"Larl, we were dragged here as your cannon fodder. If anyone's going to charge, it should be your Dark Temple leading the way. The Temple of Radiance won't take the lead," Horace said firmly.

Tans, who had been about to speak, hesitated. Horace had a point. While the human boy didn't seem like a threat, they were standing on the threshold of a demon fortress. Who knew what traps and dangers lay within? If they charged in recklessly, they could be walking straight into disaster.

"That's right," Tans said after a moment. "If anyone's going to charge, it's your Dark Temple that should go first."

Larl scowled. He hadn't expected the other two to band together like this. Normally, the temples of Light and Radiance were at each other's throats, but today, they seemed united against him. It was frustrating, but he had his reasons for bringing them along. The truth was, Larl wasn't sure how dangerous the demon fortress was, and he needed someone to act as cannon fodder.

But now, Horace and Tans had turned the tables on him.

If Larl backed down now, the other two temples would likely retreat as well. And when they returned to face the Divine Lord, Larl knew he would be held accountable for their failure.

"Fine," Larl grumbled. "Dark Temple soldiers, attack! And as for that boy—anyone can take care of him."

With Larl's command, the soldiers of the Dark Temple surged forward, their combined aura like a tidal wave crashing toward Sylvus. From within the crowd, a Deity King expert shot forward, moving at incredible speed, his intent clear: to kill Sylvus with a single blow.

Sylvus watched the approaching figure with a hint of amusement in his eyes. He had expected this. "You're the ones who started this," he muttered under his breath, just as the Deity King was about to strike.

In an instant, Sylvus vanished, leaving nothing but a faint ripple in the air where he had stood.

The Deity King expert blinked, his hand outstretched toward empty space. "Where did he go?" he muttered, confused.

Larl's eyes widened as he scanned the battlefield. With his nine-star Deity Emperor strength, he should have been able to track Sylvus easily, but the boy had simply disappeared.

"They're finished," Horace thought to himself, swallowing nervously. He was the only one who hadn't bothered to look for Sylvus. He knew from past experience how futile that would be. Once, on Giant Spirit Peak, Horace had spent an hour searching for Sylvus in a sealed space, using every technique at his disposal, but to no avail.

And now, here he was again, watching the others search fruitlessly.

"I'm right here. What are you all looking for?"

The voice came from above, light and mocking.

Everyone looked up to see Sylvus floating in the air, looking down at them with a smirk.

Larl's face twisted in anger. "You have some skill, but let's see if you can survive against me!"

With a burst of blood-red light, Larl charged at Sylvus, his speed almost too fast to follow. His eyes gleamed with a sadistic hunger as his fangs glistened in the light.

"Don't worry, boy. I won't kill you. I'll imprison you, torture you for a thousand years, and make you wish for death!"

Sylvus remained still, his expression calm as Larl closed the distance. There was no fear in his eyes, only a quiet resolve.

"So, you're a vampire," Sylvus said with a chuckle. "I've never seen someone so eager to die. If that's what you want, I'll grant your wish. And I'll send a few others with you for company."

"Arrogant fool! Die!"

Larl's hand shot out, his nails extending into sharp claws as he aimed for Sylvus's heart.

Inside the demon fortress, Maken, Maide, and Maki watched in horror. They couldn't bear to see what would happen next.

They shut their eyes, unable to witness the inevitable bloodshed.

"Die!" Larl roared.

But in that moment, a calm, clear voice rang out.

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