Chapter Thirty: Shen Ce, Stolen Kiss

Chapter Thirty: Shen Ce, Stolen Kissed

Though he was a priest, far more suited than an assassin to inherit a divine spark of the Light, Shen Ce could not comprehend how Sylos seemed utterly disinterested in godhood. Truly, if such arrogant words had come from any other player, Shen Ce would never have believed them. Yet spoken by Sylos, he found himself instinctively convinced—perhaps because Sylos’s actions always set him apart from the ordinary.

For a long moment, Shen Ce gazed silently at the white crystal in his palm before finally raising his head to address Sylos. “If that’s the case, I’ll use it now.”

A shadowed look flickered in Sylos’s deep eyes. The corners of his lips curled slightly, a faint smile playing there. “Then I’ll wait to see you become a god.”

Both knew well that the power within this divine spark was but a thousandth of its former strength, yet Sylos spoke as if it were whole, as though he truly anticipated the outcome.

Shen Ce nodded, gripping the white crystal tightly in his right hand. In an instant, the stone was crushed to powder, and an unbelievable scene unfolded—the white dust vanished into his palm, disappearing into his flesh and blood.

Shen Ce’s features twisted slightly; a strange and surging power rampaged through his body. His eyes flew wide, veins bulging on his hand as he struggled to withstand it.

Suddenly, golden light erupted from him, radiating out in all directions. The sand at his feet trembled, the world seemed to pale, sun and moon dimming before that gleam, which gradually faded away.

The wind howled, fierce as a beast baring its fangs. Sand whirled in the air, whipping the robes of Shen Ce and Sylos, their forms solemn and dignified against the vast and empty plain.

Shen Ce’s limbs went weak, and he could barely support himself as that alien force violently took root in him. His body felt heavier and heavier, nearly buckling to the ground. In a daze, he recalled the old priest’s warning: some who received a god’s legacy perished instantly, their bodies unable to bear it. Would he be among them? He refused to accept such a fate!

He began to channel light magic, sensing the turmoil of the elements and straining to suppress them. After nearly ten minutes, the raging elements of light slowly calmed, winding around him like gentle streams—placid and tranquil.

His hair whipped in the wind, and a dreadful aura radiated from him, soaring towards the heavens. He stood tall upon the sand, exuding the kind of dominance and poise possessed only by the strongest.

Then something extraordinary occurred—a silvery rune appeared upon his brow. In that moment, he became one with heaven and earth, his self and the world indistinguishable. Slowly, his body rose into the air, holy radiance bursting forth, dazzling golden light scattering like meteors.

No one knew how much time passed before the aura around Shen Ce finally faded. He descended from the sky, divine and resplendent, more brilliant than the midday sun.

The ordeal had left him utterly exhausted, his spirit drained. He could sense a profound change within himself, but the new power was elusive, impossible to command.

“So beautiful.”

The words startled Shen Ce. He lifted his eyes to see Sylos approaching, a trace of obsession flickering in those abyssal eyes—deep and unfathomable as the darkest night.

What could Sylos be looking at?

Shen Ce was in a poor state, barely conscious, and could only dimly make out the man behind the silver mask before him.

“The rune of divinity. Excellent.” Sylos pressed his hand to the pale silver rune on Shen Ce’s forehead, his voice low and intimate beside his ear, like the murmur of a lover.

The stranger’s presence unsettled Shen Ce, who was already dazed and weak. His eyes were glazed, and in the blankness of his mind, only a few words surfaced: “Sylos, move away a little.” Even uttering this much seemed to exhaust him. He was but a mortal; the trial of the divine spark had drained him utterly.

In his confusion, Shen Ce realized Sylos had no intention of letting go. Weary, he tried to wave him off, but his frailty sent him stumbling backwards, and he lost consciousness entirely.

Sylos bent down and swept Shen Ce into his arms. Gazing at the dazed, vulnerable face—so different from his usual sharpness—Sylos couldn’t help but smile, his lips curving in satisfaction.

Shen Ce struggled faintly in Sylos’s embrace, his eyes shut, brows furrowed, eyelashes trembling in a rare display of fragility. He was nothing like his usual calm strength—now he seemed lost, vulnerable.

The air shifted, heavy with something unspoken. Sylos stared at Shen Ce’s quiet face, his eyes glimmering, as if starlight flowed in their depths.

At last, Sylos pressed his lips to Shen Ce’s. The kiss was not long, nor was it fierce. He brushed lightly over Shen Ce’s lips, but Shen Ce’s brow only knit tighter. In a troubled dream, Shen Ce seemed to be buried in darkness, pursued relentlessly by a beast in the night from which he could never escape.

Sylos held Shen Ce’s slender frame firmly, and the two of them lay down as the wind and sand raged around them—yet nothing could draw near.

Still, Shen Ce struggled subconsciously against the monster pursuing him in his dream, waving his hand in frustration to beat it away, only to feel an even greater pressure. Sylos watched his every move, a touch of amusement in his eyes. He sensed Shen Ce’s displeasure, but had no intention of letting him go.

His gaze lingered on Shen Ce’s face—from his closed eyes, to the delicate bridge of his nose, to lips pressed tightly together.

Sylos smiled silently, then once more let his lips brush Shen Ce’s in a fleeting kiss. The cool, clear scent that belonged to Shen Ce pleased him greatly. As for what Shen Ce might think, he had no intention of caring.

The sky had darkened; there were no clouds, no stars. Silence reigned, broken only by the wind. The empty wilderness swallowed them both, as if time itself had been forgotten—and so too would they be forgotten by time.

When Shen Ce awoke again, he found himself far from the ancient battlefield. Pressing his hand to his forehead, he noticed his lips were slightly swollen, though he thought little of it. His body felt as if it had been torn apart, his head pounding—he had no energy to spare for these small oddities.

Was this the aftereffect of the divine legacy?

He had clearly set his pain sensitivity to the lowest possible setting! Could it be that spiritual exhaustion could not be adjusted?

Frowning, Shen Ce stood up. He glanced in confusion at the antique Western furnishings around him, then looked out the window. The sky was blue, trees lush and endless. It seemed he had returned to the manor Sylos had purchased.

Suddenly, Sylos entered, and though his expression was hidden behind the mask, Shen Ce instinctively sensed his good mood—perhaps because they had completed the first stage of the S-rank Divine-Demon War quest, Shen Ce thought.

He offered Sylos a wry smile. “Sylos, I didn’t know inheriting a god’s power would be so painful. I feel terrible now.” After what had happened, Shen Ce truly accepted Sylos as a friend. Though the other man could be arrogant and wild, he was, curiously, not the least bit unlikable.

Sylos regarded him calmly, his voice utterly level. “That’s normal. Even though most of the Light’s divine spark has been used up, it’s not something a human can bear so easily.”

Shen Ce nodded lightly. “Sylos, we’ve completed the first part of the quest. Should we go to the Temple of Light to report?”

“Like this?” Sylos’s voice was slightly hoarse, his deep gaze flickering over Shen Ce’s still-weary face, a brow arching in ambiguous refusal.

Shen Ce was momentarily taken aback, then quickly cast a few support spells of light upon himself. At last, he felt a little better, color returning to his cheeks. “As long as I’m not dead, I’ll be fine. Let’s go.”

Sylos’s dark eyes lingered on him a moment longer before he nodded. “As you wish.”

Before the grand and imposing Temple of Light, Sylos halted, as if admiring the view.

Shen Ce looked at him in puzzlement. “Is this your first time here?”

Sylos shook his head, offering a languid, inscrutable smile. “Not the first time, though it’s the first time in this fashion.”

Shen Ce was left uncertain by his words, but didn’t ask further. Instead, he led Sylos directly into the sanctuary of the temple.

The old high priest, hair white and face even more gaunt than before, greeted them. His cheeks were sunken, arms thin as dead branches, yet his eyes still shone with loving wisdom. “Young believer, have you come to bring me good news?”

Shen Ce greeted him with respectful ceremony, while Sylos stood unmoved at his side. Shen Ce had meant to have Sylos join in the rite, but thought better of it—there was no point. “High Priest, I have successfully completed the quest for the divine legacy.”

He then turned to Sylos. “This is the partner I have chosen.”

The high priest nodded, his gaze lingering on both of them. Shen Ce expected a comment on his choice of companion, but the old man said nothing. Instead he stepped directly to Shen Ce.

He studied the silver rune on Shen Ce’s brow, his expression so joyful it seemed he might weep. “Child, I knew I was not mistaken about you. You have done well.”

Author’s note: [Shen Ce just got taken advantage of by the boss o(*////▽////*)q, why do I feel a bit giddy…]