"What do you think about gods?" Adrian asked.
I gave him a dumbfounded look.
He sighed, shaking his head. "To be more specific, what do you think gods are? And no, I'm not kidding, so give me a serious answer."
I exhaled and thought for a moment.
If he had asked me this before, I would have said, 'A being who sees us mortals as playthings, dictating our lives for their own amusement, expecting us to kneel before them—like our patron god, who only saw me as a convenient tool to nourish that woman.'
But knowing what's at stake, knowing their role in maintaining balance, I couldn't say I still held that same, bitter perception. It had changed. Slightly.
After some thought, I gave him an answer.
"Gods… are simply beings that exist with a higher magnitude of abilities, abilities we cannot grasp or comprehend. That alone makes us revere them, makes us believe their powers are miracles. But beyond that, there's some sort of… symbiotic bond between gods and mortals. Maybe our faith, our belief, strengthens them. Maybe it extends their lifespan. That would explain why they rely on mortals through prophecies and revelations. And why they can't directly interfere with us, there must be rules preventing them from doing so."
I met Adrian's gaze. "That's the best answer I can give you."
A slow smirk formed on his lips. "Not bad," he said. "Most mortals in this world just say, 'they are beings of higher magnitude and bringers of miracles.' But it looks like your thought process has evolved a little, thanks to my influence."
I rolled my eyes, but he continued.
"That was exactly what I thought when I first came here. But then came the next question."
His smirk faded. His expression turned sharp.
"What's the difference between a warrior who has reached the pinnacle of strength and a god?"
I frowned.
"A warrior at the pinnacle should have unparalleled abilities, ones that can defy the natural order. An extended lifespan, immunity to disease, limitless power. So what makes them different from a god?"
He leaned back slightly, as if reminiscing. "I thought about that for a long time. And then I met her."
My eyes sharpened.
"You met that person?" I asked immediately. "Who is it?"
Adrian only smirked. "Don't worry about it," he said. "You'll meet her soon enough. You are her favorite, after all. But it's not the right time yet. Just trust me and be patient."
I scowled, but he ignored it, continuing.
"Ahem. As I was saying, after consulting her, I finally grasped the truth. To put it simply, it's not as easy as 'we're all pieces on a chessboard and gods are the ones moving us.' If fate is a system meant to keep our lives on a predetermined path, then gods are the moderators of that system."
His words sent a chill down my spine.
"They can twist it, turn it, even destroy it… so long as it doesn't contradict the system's original goal. For example, the birth of a Demon King, it's a major, fixed point in fate. It cannot be changed, no matter what. As long as you're within the system, that point in time will happen. The gods can create paths leading to that event, extend them, or cull them… but the event itself is inevitable."
I felt my hands clench into fists.
"In conclusion, gods are beings that exist, but godhood is a concept."
His eyes locked onto mine.
"As long as that concept exists, so will the gods."
I swallowed hard.
"So… godhood is a concept," I murmured. "But what does that have to do with us? If avatars are major points in fate and my destiny is bound to them, then that means—"
"You can't change your future."
Adrian finished my sentence, smirking. "If my hypothesis is correct, then your fate cannot be rewritten."
My heart sank.
"So you're telling me all this just to say I'm screwed?" I snapped. "That there's nothing I can do?"
"Relax, brat," Adrian said, waving me off. "Would I go on about this if there wasn't a way? Just listen."
I exhaled sharply, forcing myself to stay calm.
"There are other concepts in this world," Adrian continued. "The Demon King, the Riders of the Apocalypse, the Avatars, all of them are extensions of the godhood concept."
I frowned. "Demon Kings and Avatars exist, sure. But what about the Riders of the Apocalypse?"
"The day the Demon King is born, the Riders will appear," Adrian said. "They will each spread War, Famine, Death, and Conquest. And they cannot be stopped, no matter what."
I felt a shiver crawl up my spine.
"Why is that?" Adrian's voice dropped, his tone deadly serious. "Both Demon Kings and Avatars can be killed. But the Riders? They can't."
I stayed silent, listening.
"The reason is simple," Adrian continued.
"War, Famine, Conquest, and Death aren't just 'concepts' made by people's belief in them. They have existed since the beginning, from the very first moments of existence itself."
A sharp inhale left my lips.
"They are rooted into the very core of every mortal and immortal being. They will exist as long as people do. And because of that, fate cannot grasp their concept."
Adrian's grin widened.
"In other words, they are beyond the shackles of fate."
A heavy silence filled the space between us.
Then, Adrian's voice turned eerie.
"There was one guy," he said. "One person who, against all odds, managed to kill a god."
My breath hitched.
"He awoke as the concept of a Godslayer," Adrian said. "And in that moment, his very existence became a rejection of the godhood concept. He became a new concept entirely."
My heart pounded in my chest.
"And so, brat," Adrian leaned in, his smirk turning wicked. "Here's my final question for you."
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"What would happen… if you somehow managed to kill an unknown concept?"