Free Web NovelChapter 335: Meeting Sol
"God... You all know how to ruin a good mood." Damian let out an exhausted sigh as he leaned farther into the couch.
Only moments ago he had been enjoying the realization that he had achieved something unprecedented. For the first time in centuries, someone had openly positioned themselves as the dominant figure in Earth’s divine faction war. He had every reason to celebrate. Instead, everyone around him was calmly explaining why that achievement had painted an even larger target on his back.
He rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"At least let me sleep with the good news before reminding me everyone wants my head."
A pair of soft hands settled gently upon his shoulders.
Hazel had quietly walked behind him and now massaged the tension from his muscles with slow, practiced movements.
"You don’t have to worry about everything all at once," she said softly. "Even after this declaration, the demons will still exercise restraint because of Pride. Your brothers will not recklessly interfere with anything that belongs to him. The only faction capable of focusing their full attention on you without worrying about political consequences is the Commandment of Piety."
Damian’s eyes immediately brightened. Only then did he remember Sol.
Ever since the assassination attempt and the confrontation with Belial, there had not been another large scale attack against him. At first he had dismissed it as coincidence. Now the pattern became obvious. His eldest brother had unknowingly become the greatest shield protecting him from the rest of Hell.
The realization instantly eased much of the pressure weighing upon his shoulders.
Racheal slowly sat upright on his lap before turning to face him.
"While Pride keeps your brothers in check, use this opportunity wisely." Her pink eyes gleamed with excitement. "Erase the Church from this planet. Destroy every foothold Piety has left on Earth."
She leaned closer.
"This is your chance to kill Corbin."
Damian’s pupils slowly contracted. The more he considered it, the more perfect the opportunity became. If Sol truly intended to restrain the princes, then Piety would be isolated.
A slow grin spread across Damian’s lips as his gaze lowered toward Racheal.
"Corrupting your husband should honestly be a crime punishable by three straight days of rough, sweaty sex."
Racheal’s cheeks instantly turned bright red. Rather than arguing, she buried her burning face against his chest and mumbled quietly.
"I don’t mind..."
Damian chuckled.
He gently tilted her chin upward and lowered his face, intending to kiss her.
Then he froze.
Several murderous gazes stabbed into the side of his head.
Looking up, he found Hazel, Ruby and Rah glaring directly at Racheal with expressions capable of freezing lava.
Racheal simply glanced toward them before sticking out her tongue mischievously causing Hazel’s eye twitched and Ruby cracked her knuckles in responsea
Before the brewing war could erupt, another voice echoed through Damian’s consciousness.
"Human..."
Buzz!
The entire world shattered.
It resembled a giant mirror exploding into countless fragments. Every person, every wall and every sound dissolved into floating shards before disappearing into endless darkness.
For several silent moments nothing existed.
Then another world slowly assembled itself.
Golden fragments drifted together one after another, piecing themselves into towering pillars, polished marble floors and magnificent walls decorated with intricate carvings. Gigantic statues depicting a single heroic figure stood proudly throughout the palace, each sculpted with perfect proportions, flowing long hair and the physique of a Greek God.
Damian instinctively looked toward the end of the vast hall.
He found him immediately.
A man with long golden hair sat calmly upon a throne carved from radiant gold. He wore immaculate white robes without a single ornament or piece of jewelry, yet no king could compare to his presence. A brilliant golden halo floated quietly behind his head while divine radiance flowed endlessly from his body, making him impossible to ignore.
What surprised Damian most was something else entirely. Looking directly at Sol caused him no pain whatsoever. His eyes neither bled nor burned.
"You are..."
"Aurelius Sol." The man interrupted calmly. "Sin of Pride and God Of Humanity."
Damian slowly nodded.
For the first time he stood face to face with the man who had unknowingly saved his life on multiple occasions.
"Damian Hill," Damian replied respectfully.
Sol casually waved the introduction away. Names clearly meant little to him.
"You made a bold move claiming your planet’s source of faith." Sol rested one elbow upon his throne. "Surely you understand such an action attracts unwanted attention."
His tone carried no accusation. He merely stated a fact.
Damian shrugged.
"Does it matter?" he asked calmly. "Everyone is already trying to kill me. I might as well remove every source of faith they possess on this planet while I’m at it."
Silence filled the palace for a moment and then Sol slowly nodded. There was unmistakable approval in his eyes. Only the truly strong remained indifferent before overwhelming danger.
"I brought you here to strike a bargain."
Damian blinked. Of every possibility he had imagined, negotiations had not been one of them.
"What do you have in mind?" he asked curiously.
Without hesitation Sol raised one hand and spread all five fingers.
"Five years."
His voice echoed throughout the palace.
"For five years I shall restrain our brothers from interfering with your affairs on Earth."
He lowered his hand slowly.
"In return, every nonhuman upon that planet must be exterminated and their factions uprooted."
His golden eyes narrowed slightly.
"Demons, Angels.... Every last one. They must never again be permitted to set foot upon that world."
Damian quietly studied him. The hatred described by Lin Qui and others was no rumor.
It burned within Sol more fiercely than any sacred flame.
Fortunately Damian had never intended to leave competing factions alive anyway.
"Of course."
He nodded without hesitation.
"I was discussing the extermination of Piety’s forces moments before you summoned me."
For the first time since their meeting, genuine surprise appeared on Sol’s face.
"Oh."
He had expected ignorance. But clearly the human before him had already begun thinking like a ruler.
"In that case," Sol said calmly, "I guarantee none of our brothers will be able to interfere with your planet for five years."
He offered no contract. To Sol, his word alone was absolute law.
Damian accepted that immediately. Then another thought crossed his mind.
"And what do you gain from all of this?"
The question pulled Sol from his thoughts. He remained silent for several moments before finally answering.
"To secure a universe where humanity may explore without fear."
His gaze drifted beyond the palace walls as though looking across countless worlds.
"A universe where humans rule their own destiny. So that our families... our friends... every human soul destined to reincarnate... will always awaken in worlds fit for mankind."
His eyes slowly closed.
"Humans will be free."
Damian understood immediately.
After learning Sol’s past, he knew exactly why the man despised every nonhuman race. Never again would humanity share its worlds with vampires, werewolves, demons and monsters.
At first glance It truly sounded like paradise. But Damian could see the flaw of that plan better than everyone else.
Damian leaned back and slowly crossed one leg over the other.
"But will that really bring peace among humans?"
Sol’s eyes shifted back toward him and the atmosphere changed instantly. The palace grew noticeably warmer and the golden light surrounding Sol intensified as his eyes slowly narrowed.
"What do you mean?" he asked quietly.
