NOVEL NEXT Chapter 26: A Curse That Will Never Fade
After just under five minutes, the entirety of the Spirit Pagoda and the earth itself was gone in a square hundreds of meters wide and thousands of meters down. It didn't seem like anything had ever been there, rather nothing could be there.
The surrounding earth and even the atmosphere had been contaminated by his annihilation energy. If it weren't for the barrier surrounding it the contaminated earth would begin spreading and soon the entirety of the Dou Ling Continent would be unbeatable.
"I guess I'll have to leave the barrier here for a while. A month should be good enough don't you think?" Imort asked his senior Slayer, receiving a simple nod in response. Seto was much too preoccupied with being amazed by his God's power to give a proper response.
It was amazing however it meant that they would have to leave the barrier until another force could create their own or perhaps sustain theirs. It would potentially be dangerous if their energy could be traced but it was essentially formed of just natural energy so it wouldn't be helpful.
And even that energy had been contaminated by the annihilation of their god making it even harder to trace back to them. Even if somebody could in theory examine the barrier and find their soul power, they would most likely instantly die or at least evoke permanent damage by the rampaging annihilation energy still remaining.
Suddenly a tear in space formed in front of them. Bowing deeply toward the portal the two Slayers held nothing but infinite respect and joy upon finding out that their God was safe from any harm, self inflicted harm being their biggest worry.
Following their actions Subject 13 bowed deeply in respect toward his savior, the one who helped him when he required it, and enacted revenge when he was not capable of it. Behind him, the other thirteen new FUG members bowed at their leader and savior.
"Hm. You've gotten stronger." Tang Wulin praised the other two current Slayers sincerely, his words sending the two into a world of pure bliss. Such a simple compliment made them feel as though they could defeat the Dragon God himself.
"Thank you, my God!" The two thanked him sincerely, tears building in the corner of their eyes. Two of the youngest Title Douluo in history, Hyper Douluo at that, were crying because of the complement of a single nine year old child.
"Raise your heads." Tang Wulin demanded from the fifteen children. The oldest was similar in age to Subject 13 however most were roughly the same in age as his body. They were all children who had seen too much, experienced too much.
There were many things he could do with the children, they were all talented, but, he did not have the right to force them into FUG. They had just escaped a life of suffering and pain, as a reward for such an impressive feat… he would give them whatever they desired.
"I shall once more give you two options." Tang Wulin began, the eyes of the children filling with confusion. "Join FUG, or…" He paused, waiting out the sudden bout of pain attacking his body courtesy of the Universal Order.
However as a result all fifteen of the freed children looked at him worriedly, concerned over what he could possibly be saying. They had already resolved themselves to join their savior so there should be no issue but it still worried them.
"Or, you can live a life of luxury. Live your life to its fullest for my sake, that is your only requirement." Tang Wulin finished, already acclimating to the pain. It was quite bad as he had been forced to enter |Level 3| to survive his own rampaging annihilation but it was manageable.
"Huh?" Subject 13 let out a noise of pure bewilderment, perfectly voicing the thoughts running through all fifteen of their minds. Ignoring their determination to join their savior, no their god, for the moment, it was still a ludicrous offer.
In order to save them FUG had destroyed a branch of the Spirit Pagoda and in effect destroyed their reputation as an invincible, untouchable force. Such a thing was worse than slapping their High Lord in the face in front of the world!
Not only had it put a target on their back from the Spirit Pagoda but it had also gotten the attention of every powerful force in the world onto them. They had done that for them yet they would simply let them go and even fund them for life?
"I refuse." Subject 13 disagreed without hesitation. It was an offer any normal person would jump at but if being normal meant taking advantage of his savior and God he didn't want to be normal.
"Why?" Tang Wulin questioned him. Truthfully, he didn't expect him to refuse. Then again, perhaps it wasn't all that surprising. Subject 13 was tortured all his life and he could do nothing about it because he was weak.
With the help of FUG, it would not be impossible for Subject 13 to grow in strength at an unheard of rate. In a way, it was the most logical thing he could do to further his goal formed from emotion.
Perhaps Subject 13 wished to save others in similar situations, perhaps he wanted to use them, or perhaps he intended to sell their information to the highest bidder. No matter what he had planned Tang Wulin had no intentions of declining him.
Subject 13 was a valuable asset, a human with untold potential and the most versatile healing typing martial soul in the world. His future was boundless and all organizations around the world would be fighting over him, that's why FUG got to him first.
Yet Tang Wulin had an ulterior motive besides that. In the past, Tang Wulin once shared a similar fate as Subject 13. In the end, he survived but there was never a day that he did not pray to be saved, to be allowed to survive.
He prayed and prayed until finally… it broke him forever. It was a tiny bit of selfishness that even Tang Wulin didn't know he had, but he didn't want the children in front of him to follow in his path. He didn't want any child to go through that.
Awaiting for a response Tang Wulin watched them closely, his eyes widening slightly as all fifteen of them suddenly bowed before him.