Ex rank talent Awakening: 100% Dodge rate

"Village chief! The evil god is back!" the elite warrior of the demonic goblins reported.

"Cumba, gather the sacrifice!" the village chief, Erisu, commanded, feeling aggrieved in his heart.

The demon realm was an extremely large realm, as vast as Earth. It was divided into two parts: the domain of the so-called civilized demons, who were more reproductive and developed, and the wilderness, where demonic creatures ran rampant—home to weaker demons and those exiled for their wrongdoings.

The demonic goblins were among the unlucky demons who lived in the wilderness, with no form of protection. Unlike those in the demon empire, who were under the rule of the demon god and safeguarded by its executives, the goblins in the wilderness were abandoned, left to fend for themselves against predators.

For many years, the demon goblins had been attacked by the demonic sand worm. Their first battle had ended in a crushing defeat, forcing them to find another alternative—offering sacrifices to appease the creature and fill its stomach. The frequency of the sand worm's visits was completely random, making it impossible to predict. Sometimes, it came once a month; on rare, fortunate occasions, it appeared only once a year. But there were also times it emerged every single day, forcing the goblins to prepare sacrifices in advance.

The goblins chosen for sacrifice were branded, and attempting to escape was a grievous offense. Any offender caught was locked up, and their entire family was offered to the sand worm alongside them. Even if they managed to escape, survival alone in the wilderness was nearly impossible, discouraging others from attempting to flee.

The goblin chief left his hall and stepped outside, looking at the chosen sacrifices with great pain and sadness. Cumba, the elite warrior of the demon goblins, watched his leader, feeling deeply ashamed of his own weakness—his failure to kill the evil god.

"I'm sorry that you have to die and be sacrificed to the evil god, but for the sake of our survival, I pray you forgive me and the rest of us for our selfishness," the village chief said, on the brink of tears. The villagers about to be sacrificed simply smiled, fully aware that their deaths were the price of their weakness—their inability to slay the evil god themselves. They all awaited their fate, hoping that one day, a god would save them from the constant hell of losing their loved ones.

The demonic sand worm opened its mouth, ready to devour the sacrifices it had grown accustomed to receiving. But before it could swallow, a sharp pain shot through its body, forcing it to roar and burrow into the ground. It dug deep, but the pain persisted, growing stronger, forcing it to resurface. It swung its body aggressively, desperate to rid itself of the agony, but the torment only intensified.

The demon goblins and the sacrifices scattered, fleeing to avoid being crushed by the evil god's rampage. Confused, they watched in shock, wondering why the creature was in such agony—praying that perhaps, at long last, they would be saved.

The entire demon goblin village bore witness to the sand worm's desperate struggle. It thrashed wildly, burrowing and resurfacing repeatedly, its cries growing louder and more agonized. Then, they saw it—a blinding dark light tearing through the evil god from the inside out. The aura surged forward, obliterating everything in its path without slowing, until it finally disappeared from sight.

And there, emerging from the belly of the slain evil god, was the divine being who had answered their prayers. His presence radiated an aura so pure, so pristine, and yet so overwhelmingly powerful that they fell to their knees in reverence. Their god had arrived.

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******

Cain had little time to play Apocalypse—his pursuers were constantly on his trail. He had to change cities regularly, never staying in one place for more than a week before being found. It was clear that he was now at the top of the bounty list.

Running, killing, and evading his hunters had completely drained him. It had reached the point where he swallowed his pride and asked Nemesis for help. To Cain, it was a small price to pay if it meant surviving and growing stronger—strong enough to resurrect his love, Maria. Yes, Cain had not given up on her. He firmly believed that, once he was powerful enough, he could bring her back. That belief was the only reason he continued playing Apocalypse so persistently. His first goal was to never be stepped on again. His second was to bring her back.

Nemesis had agreed to help, instructing him to go to Blue City in the country of Mer. Using the money he had exchanged from Apocalypse coins, Cain booked a flight from his home country, Binania, to Mer. He successfully boarded the plane, arriving a few hours away from the designated location. Renting a car, he drove toward his destination.

"Shit!" Cain cursed, spotting Viper's men ahead, blocking the road with their cars. He tried to reverse, only to realize the exit behind him was also blocked.

"Cain, Cain, Cain... I must say, I'm pretty impressed," a voice called out. "You evaded me so well until now—I almost lost hope of catching you. Boss Viper was already planning to have my head a few days ago for failing to find you. He feels threatened by your Apocalypse character. Well, who wouldn't? After all, look at what Nemesis has done."

Cain gritted his teeth as the speaker stepped forward—Mad Dog. The man grinned widely.

"I was super lucky, really. One of my lackeys happened to spot you boarding the plane. After that, tracking you was easy. A few bribes, a little intimidation, and suddenly, everyone was willing to help us keep an eye on your location and intended destination," Mad Dog explained, smug.

"Mad Dog, you bastard!" Cain spat.

"I know, my bad," Mad Dog replied mockingly. "Because of me, you lost your sweetheart. Trust me, I've already received enough from Boss Viper for that. No need for yours too. But tell me, Cain… Did you watch them do it, or were you not so lucky?"

"I will kill you!" Cain snarled. But deep down, he forced himself to stay cool-headed. He wasn't going to fall for Mad Dog's provocation.

Without hesitation, Cain quickly locked the windows and doors of the car before Mad Dog could react. The car he had rented was bulletproof.

Inside, he sat still, heart pounding.

All he had to do now was wait.

Wait, and hope that help arrived in time.