Book 7, Chapter 62 (1/2)
Horns of War
“How would you like a chance to become a complete being?” the broodmother suddenly asked Zangru.
The demigod fell silent for a while, contemplating something before giving his answer, “What do I need to do?”
“Become one of the Eternal Warriors of the Night. Fuse with Asura; it will become a part of your body, and I will complete your soul. That will rid you of your life as a bastard demigod, but your contract with Master will still be in effect. At the same time, you will become one of my own subordinates and my commands will supercede even his.”
“So what’s different?” Zangru shrugged, “I’ve wanted to give up this damned life for a long time.”
“Are you certain? You will lose your immortality.”
A bitter smile crawled upon his face, “Immortality? What is that even worth? A long life is just more misery; I got my chance to kill everyone in that bastard’s harem, my goals in life are complete. I would have killed myself if this damned body let me; even that saint of rot under Raymond didn’t have much effect. I ended up having to escape because I realised he would be left with no choice but to keep me alive.”
“I can kill you whenever I want,” the broodmother said casually.
Zangru jumped in shock for a moment, “Ah, no! I haven’t lived this new life long enough yet. I think Asura suits me well!”
He knew just how treacherous the broodmother was. If he took her words to be true, she would just burn his mind and keep his body alive to draw blood from everyday. The true torture came from the fact that his body considered pain to be pleasure; he didn’t want such a life.
However, he didn’t expect an actual laugh coming from her, “Well, I won’t be drawing any more blood from you. I have enough in store.”
“Hmm? Didn’t you want to create more of these half-demigods?”
“I have enough for now, I will not have to rely on them too much in the future. I am more eager for the Eternal Warriors of the Night.”
“But that needs complete souls, it’s an enormous amount of divinity. Those two other demigods you ate won’t be enough, how will you get the rest?”
“That is my problem to worry about,” she dismissed.
Zangru then raised his head to look towards the sky as well, “Broodmother… Are you lonely?”
“Do you think that is even possible?” she replied icily.
“Heh, freedom and loneliness are two sides of a coin. Sometimes… being bound to someone is just better. Whatever, I think that Asura thing suits me quite well. Remember to use all your divinity, don’t be stingy!”
“… I will not give you a single additional unit.”
“So you won’t give me less than I’m worth? Hahahaha—GLUG!” his voice was interrupted by a thick tendril.
…
“Master, I am ready to advance. I will need about a month,” the broodmother’s voice rang in Richard’s mind.
Still lying in bed in his laboratory, so tired he was barely even awake, Richard sprang up to his feet, “That fast?”