Chương 36: Chapter 35 – Traps and Dates

Gu Zhao took several precautions, just to be sure. He used the silly crown that Joshua had left with him. If he didn't speak, at least he wouldn't start speaking in rhymes. With his divine aura completely changed, he hid two jade summoning pendants in the Void. If he got into trouble, they would immediately pull him back to his realm. He had brought two for exactly that reason. He even wore a mask that altered his voice and changed his hair color.

If anyone managed to recognize his divine aura, they would still have a hard time identifying him. Setting off toward the mysterious world, Gu Zhao flew through the Void instead of teleporting. He was very glad he did, because along the way he discovered six gods literally checking on the collector world. Sneaking closer was dangerous, but Gu Zhao needed to determine just how strong these gods were. To his surprise, almost all of them were below his level. There was only one exception.

The strongest among them was a bull-headed god who seemed to be in charge. Gu Zhao carefully moved a little closer, suppressing his aura as much as possible so he could extend his divine sense and listen in.

"I don't care if you're bored. We cannot lose another fat-cow world. We only have two left while our competition has dozens," the bull-headed god snarled.

"But Tsura, wouldn't just four be enough? At least let us do this in shifts."

"Just shut up, or I'll ask the boss to raid your planet for once." Tsura grabbed the small cat-like god by the neck and held her.

"Boss, let her go," a shark-like god spoke up.

"Besides, what is that fascination you and the big guy have with humans? Why not just use any kind of soul?"

"Wohurrak." Tsura shook his head.

"That is not important…" He suddenly stopped, his bull-like head turned sharply.

"Wait... someone is watching us." Gu Zhao's heart sank. Tsura's divine sense spread through the area with alarming speed. Gu Zhao immediately broke one of the seals on his jade pendant. Space warped around him, and in the next instant he was violently pulled out of the area. He didn't wait to see whether anyone had followed. The moment he arrived at his first escape point, Gu Zhao threw down a small object and activated it.

A mirage formation instantly spread across the surrounding Void, creating several false copies of his presence. Then he broke the second seal. Once again, space twisted around him, dragging him away. He wasn't sure if anyone had managed to follow his first jump, but he was certain of one thing. No one was following him twice. As soon as he was safely away, Gu Zhao removed the ridiculous crown and placed it inside his storage ring. He then teleported directly back to his own realm.

"This is way bigger than I anticipated." He stood in silence for a moment, thinking through everything he had seen.

"I must ask Joshua... and maybe pool some other gods who care about humans too." He nodded to himself.

"Cloud City has many righteous gods. Surely some of them will be willing to help."

"Great Ancestor." Gu Zhao looked down to see Li Yali approaching. His most adored disciple bowed deeply before him.

"You look troubled." Gu Zhao smiled and floated down toward his sect.

"It's just something that only gods can handle." His answer clearly did not reassure her. Seeing the concern in her eyes, Gu Zhao added, "I am not planning on throwing my life away, so no worries." He gave her a gentle nod. Li Yali relaxed slightly, though she still looked unconvinced. Inside his home, Gu Zhao sat down and took out an empty scroll. Rather than writing a conventional letter, he placed his hand against the surface and began transferring his memories directly into it.

Every detail was preserved exactly as Gu Zhao had experienced it. When he finished, the scroll glowed faintly. Gu Zhao looked at it for a moment before giving a small sigh.

"Joshua... you're going to hate this." He opened a passage through the realms and sent the scroll through. It vanished into the distance, carrying not merely a message, but everything he had seen and heard directly into the hands of his sworn brother. - - - - - - - - - - - - Joshua landed softly on the massive open field prepared for him just on the outskirts of Maurapia. The temple built for him stood beside it, surrounded by a lush garden that had become a common place for him to rest whenever he visited.

He had grown quite fond of the city, which was home to Baukk, Humans, and Servoma living alongside one another. Not only was this his very first city inside his own world, but the citizens had also taken to him surprisingly quickly. Joshua had never asked anyone to bow, pray, or do anything in his name. In fact, he had made it clear that they were free to live their lives however they wished. He even walked through the city in his human form without making a spectacle of himself.

By now, most citizens simply bowed or waved when they noticed him, treating him less like an untouchable god and more like a strangely friendly neighbor who happened to be divine.

"Boss!" Euripa came running down the temple stairs, only to trip halfway down, tumble several times, and roll to a stop directly in front of him. Joshua stared down at her.

"I see you are as clumsy as ever." He reached down and helped her back onto her feet. Euripa's nose twitched, but she wasn't embarrassed in the slightest. Ever since receiving her divine blessing, her body had become considerably stronger, she still occasionally struggled to control all that extra power, both physical and magical.

"I am so glad to see you, Lord Steel! Did you get me another book?" Euripa asked, her tail curling and uncurling excitedly behind her.

"I sure did." Joshua waved the second book of The Lord of the Rings in front of her. Euripa's eyes practically lit up.

"But first, I want to know how you're handling the divine energy." Joshua's expression became a little more serious.

"I can sense that your divine strand has developed into a seed. I should warn you that if you continue growing stronger, the Eternal Council might summon you to a god trial."

"You already told me all about it." Euripa began playing with her fingers.

"I just... don't wanna be a god. Can that be arranged?" Joshua paused. He had honestly never considered that particular problem.

"You know, I never thought about asking." He handed her the book. He looked away thinking about how to address the Eternals. By the time he looked up again, Euripa was gone. Joshua slowly turned his head toward the temple stairs, where the large cat was already sprinting upward with the book clutched tightly against her chest.

"At least she's consistent..." he muttered. He smiled faintly before looking down at his empty hands.

"I really wanted to pet her, though. I guess I can pet Princess when I get home…" He hesitated. There was something about Euripa's fur that looked incredibly soft.

"Lord Steel!" The charming sound of a woman's voice cut through the air.

"Oh boy..." Joshua sighed and slowly turned around. To his surprise, the blue dragon shifted into her human form, and her clothes were... completely out of place compared to what he had seen her wearing before. Amistare wore a modern summer outfit with a large sunhat and sunglasses. Her shirt was made of fine silk, while her skirt allowed her legs to be easily seen. A light touch of makeup softened her features, including a subtle hint of powder on her cheeks. She gave him a lovely smile.

"I was wondering if you might give me a chance for a date. I promise I will do my best not to come across as pushy." She tilted her head slightly.

"Also, just call me Amy for short." Joshua needed about five whole seconds to reboot his brain. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. The woman standing in front of him was stunning in all the best ways. Her skin had a beautiful warm brown tone, something one might imagine from the Mediterranean regions, if not slightly deeper. Her sapphire-blue hair was long and curly, framing her face perfectly, while her purple eyes were striking against her skin.

The soft cream-colored summer outfit suited her far more than Joshua was prepared to admit. The sunglasses resting on her head and the wide sunhat only added to the impression that she had stepped straight out of a summer fashion magazine. Her eyes and hair were really the only things that betrayed what she actually was. Joshua slowly swallowed.

"This is a... new side of you, Miss Amy. I, uh... did not expect this." He cleared his throat, desperately trying to regain his composure. Amistare's smile widened. Joshua looked away for a moment, trying to think.

"Hm... I have a nice place made on an island a small flight away."

"So it's a yes?" Amistare asked, her hopeful smile immediately becoming brighter.

"A yes to a date," Josh quickly clarified, paused and added "... But at this moment, I'm not entirely sure what I just agreed to." Amistare giggled.

"That is perfectly fine." Joshua had a feeling that somehow, he'd just walked directly into a trap. And judging by the smile on Amy's face, she knew it too. - - - - - - - - - - - - - The resort island Joshua had created was shockingly full of life. What had originally been nothing more than a private getaway was now full of his own people including his daugher which made him suspicious. A live band made up of six of his living armors was already playing near the beach.

Behind the cocktail bar stood Tobias, his usually dirt-covered gardener now rocking a surprisingly well-tailored suit. From somewhere behind the main building, Joshua could hear the clattering of dishes and smell freshly prepared food. His cat maids had clearly taken over the kitchen. As they landed and shifted into their human forms, Joshua crossed his arms and wore a knowing smirk.

"This smells like a setup from a hundred miles away."

"Good day, Sir, Madam." Luna walked out from the hotel wearing a neat hotel uniform, her expression far too innocent to be convincing.

"We are so pleased that you chose this hotel for your date."

"Luna? Just what are you planning here?" Joshua asked.

"Oh, nothing really. Just trying to make sure you have a fun day." Luna giggled.

"My colleague will show you to your table." Almost immediately, Sophie appeared wearing the exact same style of uniform. She gave them a polite bow and motioned toward the dining area.

"This way, please." Amistare had to cover her mouth with one hand. She had been in on the plan, but seeing the two girls actually committing to their little performance made it feel almost unreal. Her smile grew wider by the second, and she even had to cough once to keep herself from laughing.

"Shall we?"

"Fine. I'll play along since Luna seems to be behind this." Joshua shrugged.

"Also, I can smell salmon, and Kate's cooking is to die for." He followed Sophie toward the table. The band immediately started playing a slow, romantic song, with Quatro stepping up to the microphone. He even removed his helmet before singing, so his voice would sound clean. Joshua glanced toward the band.

"I think the two girls watched one too many movies."

"As long as you like it." Amistare nodded.

"Honestly, I'm also just rolling with this. Most of this was Sophie's idea." The food soon arrived, carried by both Luna and Sophie. Drinks were prepared and poured, and the two girls hurried away afterward, only to hide behind a nearby pillar where they could casually peek around the side and watch. Joshua noticed them and promptly decided not to acknowledge it. If he did, they would only become even more ridiculous. Instead, he focused on the meal and the company.

"So, our previous meetings were rather awkward," Joshua admitted.

"I have no idea about your likes and dislikes. Though I figure your favorite color is blue?" Amistare slowly nodded before putting down her glass.

"Actually, it's purple. But everyone guesses blue at first. It's a safe guess, to be fair." She smiled.

"How about you?"

"Well, I'm very much in favor of mint green, though I also like purple." Joshua tasted the soup and smiled.

"My daughter also has purple eyes."

"Indeed. I heard she is a Silk Song Dragon who has no fire breath. That must have been harsh growing up..." Amistare's expression became genuinely concerned.

"I hope she wasn't bullied."

"Actually, she's very young despite her appearance, and there weren't any other dragons around to tease her, so no. She had a pretty good childhood."

"I am glad to hear that." From behind the pillar came a quiet whisper.

"See? Its working..."

"Shhh!" Luna whispered back. The conversation continued, and before long, it began to flow far more naturally. They talked about their worlds, their experiences, their favorite foods, and some of the strange things Joshua had encountered since becoming a god. Amistare spoke about her life before the war and what she remembered of her lost homeland, while Joshua shared some of his own experiences, carefully avoiding the more absurd stories that would probably make the date last until next century.

Both of them eventually realized that the awkwardness from their previous meetings was disappearing. There was no grand romance or dramatic confession. Instead, a friendship was quietly forming. After the meal, they spent the afternoon enjoying everything the island had to offer. They sunbathed on the beach, swam in the crystal-clear water, and even flew together in their dragon forms for a while. Amistare made sure not to advance on Joshua at all, deliberately respecting the boundaries he had set.

For once, she wasn't trying to make him fall in love with her. She was simply enjoying his company. And, to her surprise, that might have been even better. Several hours later, Luna and Sophie were still hiding behind their pillar.

"Yes!" Sophie whispered, giving Luna a high five.

"It was perfect!" Luna jumped in excitement.

"I must say, ladies." Tobias appeared behind them and gave an elegant bow.

"This was a fantastic idea."

"Indeed!" the entire band shouted together. A little later, Sophie stretched her arms and looked toward the setting sun.

"Sophie..." Luna said.

"Aren't your parents going to be mad that you haven't gone home yesterday?"

"I don't mind. They already know that I'm in good company. At worst, I get a stern talking-to." Sophie gave a wistful sigh.

"I also want to find a man I could get together with."

"Maybe start acting less like a nerd at college." Luna teased. Sophie gasped.

"Excuse me?!" She immediately chased after Luna.

"Come back here you…!" Luna burst out laughing and ran across the grass, with Sophie close behind her. - - - - - - - - - - - - - Tsura was absolutely fuming. The spy had escaped him... Not just merely escaped, but made him feel like a fool too. The first time Tsura had managed to lock onto the deity's signature, he had followed it through the Void with complete confidence. He had expected to find the intruder hiding somewhere nearby, perhaps attempting to mask their presence. Instead, he had found a forest.

A massive, completely impossible forest floating in the middle of the Void. In it many laughing deer people, none real. Trees stretched endlessly into the darkness, their branches twisting together overhead while mist rolled across the ground. For several seconds, Tsura had simply stared at it. Then he had realized what he was looking at.

"An illusion?" He had immediately spread his divine sense through the entire area. The forest resisted him, twisting and folding his senses back upon themselves. Every path seemed to lead somewhere different, and every time he thought he had found the center, the scenery changed. Tsura had snarled and begun tearing the illusion apart piece by piece. It had taken him far longer than he would have liked. And when he finally broke through it, there was nothing. Finding no sign of the spy made his blood boil.

As the assigned foreman of Pehuma, the harvesting planet, Tsura could not afford mistakes like this. He had seen what happened to the last god who managed the bug world. His boss had torn that god apart. There had been no trial, no warning, and certainly no mercy. The major god was ruthless, but more importantly, he was fast. If something went wrong under one of his subordinates, he didn't waste time asking whose fault it was. He simply punished whoever was responsible.

Tsura had no intention of becoming the next example. That meant the lesser gods beneath him would have to suffer instead.

"If they want to sneak around my world," Tsura muttered as he returned to Pehuma, "then I'll make sure they come to me." He hovered above the planet for a moment, staring down at the vast world below. Normally, his job was simple. Guard the harvesting operation, make sure the soul collectors continued working, and report anything unusual to his superior. But simply guarding the planet was beginning to feel like standing outside a house with a stick and waiting for someone to break in.

"No. Let's make this interesting." He began preparing the trap. The first thing he did was fold the Void around Pehuma for the lesser gods to hide and confuse escape routes. Soon, the space surrounding the planet had been subtly distorted into layers of overlapping Void, each one connected to another. Anyone attempting to teleport away would find themselves entering one of the folds instead, giving Tsura plenty of time to intercept them.

"Everyone, hide your auras." The lesser gods immediately obeyed. One by one, their divine presences vanished until the entire planet seemed strangely quiet. Tsura left only two lesser gods visible. They stood in the middle of an open region of Void, apparently guarding the planet. Their divine auras were deliberately left exposed, making them look like exactly the sort of careless guards a spy might expect to encounter. Around them, Tsura placed a series of traps.

The spells were intentionally not particularly powerful but they littered the area. If he made the traps too strong, an approaching deity might notice them immediately. Instead, they were carefully concealed, layered into the Void itself so that they would only activate once someone stepped into the designated area. Tsura looked over his work.

"Perfect." His hidden gods waited in silence, their auras suppressed. More lesser gods were positioned farther away, completely undetectable unless someone knew precisely where to look. And Tsura himself wasn't anywhere to be seen. He held up a small divine object and activated it. His massive bull-like body disappeared completely.

"Heh... come on, little spy." He folded his arms and floated silently within the Void. He already had a plan for what would happen when the intruder returned. The two idiots who had ruined the bug world were going to be captured alive. Tsura would personally drag them before his boss and let him decide their fate. And perhaps, if everything went well, Tsura might even receive a reward. At the very least, he would prove that he was competent enough to keep his own harvesting world safe.

He started to enjoy his work a bit. Because this time, the hunter was waiting for the prey.