Since The Beginning

The rifts expanded, and the massive tentacles of Ulgath'khal emerged, lashing out at Ur in unison. But as Soul found himself about to be struck by a lightning bolt, the tentacles swiftly moved to shield him, forming a protective roof overhead. The lightning dissipated into the thick air, leaving behind only wisps of smoke and the grotesque smell of burning flesh.

Hyun-Ki and Ji-Hye sprang into action, gathering some of the prisoners onto their shoulders and carrying them to safety. Meanwhile, Nia cast a buff spell on Soul, enhancing his agility and allowing him to leap greater distances. Lilith and Ayame positioned themselves behind Soul, ready to defend against Ur's next attack. Sensing that a direct confrontation with the god would be unwise, they maintained a cautious distance, waiting for an opportunity for Soul to take decisive action.

"Be ready to attack." Soul said to Lilith and Ayame. "I'll distract him."

"Got it."

"Okay."

A woman lurking behind them released an arrow, narrowly missing Soul's head. Ayame acted quickly, conjuring a basic barrier that caused the arrow to crack upon impact. When they turned to face their assailant, Soul recognized her instantly. It was the woman from the Family Match, the one who had nearly killed him by trapping his head between her thighs.

"You think I would choose such an idiot as my champion?" Ur jeered, his laughter echoing through the air. "Keep dreaming, void spawn."

Soul shifted his gaze to Ur, his expression unreadable. "Why did you choose her?"

"She's Marcy's cousin. The bloodline of Sirenar's champion runs strong in their veins," Ur explained. "There was no one more suitable to serve as a champion for a god like me."

"Hmm. It's a shame I'll have to kill her."

"I don't want to fight." The woman said. "If – if you stop and give in to his…"

"No." Soul refused. "If you drop your sword, you won't have to die."

"I can't. He has my sister." The woman drew her daggers from her belt. "I can't give up and let her die."

Soul's expression remained impassive as he listened to the woman's explanation. "So you know his true face?" he asked quietly. "You know how he was torturing those poor people all along?"

The woman shook her head. "No... When I was fighting alongside Marcy, I didn't know," she admitted. "But after Ur blessed me, I found out. He thought I'd rat him out or back off as his champion. So... he took my sister."

"Sometimes you have to do unspeakable things to maintain balance," Ur interjected. "I'm not sorry for my actions. I don't have to be sorry for my actions. I'm a god."

"We've got the prisoners!" Hyun-Ki exclaimed, rushing towards them with Ji-Hye. "My sister and I will hold the champion off! You focus on Ur!"

Soul nodded in agreement.

Ji-Hye swung her sword, but the champion evaded and countered with swift dagger strikes. Ji-Hye parried one dagger with her blade and dodged the other by ducking and delivering a kick to the champion's leg. The champion stumbled to one knee, and Hyun-Ki capitalized by delivering a powerful kick to her face, sending her crashing into the rotting wooden door. Their battle spilled into the corridor.

Meanwhile, Soul dashed forward, drawing his bow and releasing two arrows. Ur easily deflected the arrows and charged forward. As Ur swung his sword downward, Soul quickly formed a blood shield to block the strike. The impact sent a shockwave through Soul's body, causing him to stagger, but he managed to roll behind Ur.

"You're delusional," Soul said calmly. "You're trying to become another Take. The new monster."

"I'm better than Take," Ur retorted. "I'm actually helping people. Trying to make the world a better place."

"How?" Lilith interjected. "Please, do indulge us, old man. How?"

"I cure diseases. I heal my people, I help my people, I make them talk to their deceased loved ones!" Ur shouted. "Every night he would have his way with you, I was the one who stopped him! I made excuses, saying we needed him for something or something needed to be done. I've even persuaded Dierman to heal you!"

"The hell you did!" Lilith yelled in anger. "You monster!"

"He was the monster, not me!" Ur insisted. "I'm trying to be the better god! Yes, what if I torture unbelievers? The other gods take the people I've blessed and do the same things as I do! I had to do it! I had no choice!"

"That's such a cliché," Soul remarked coldly. "Saying 'I had no choice.' You're pathetic."

"Maybe I am... Maybe I am pathetic, Soul. But at least I don't open rifts to the Void and endanger the people of Redhaven – the people I love."

"Hmm..."

"These people you rescued – nearly all of them were criminals," Ur stated calmly. "The mother you rescued? She stole two loaves of bread from the market. The kid? She tricked the vendor, allowing her mother to steal the bread. The man with the long hair? He was caught murdering a family. The girl with the burnt face? She set fire to her ex-boyfriend's house."

"Then they should be imprisoned," Soul responded, shaking his head slightly. "Not tortured into praying to you."

"But what happens after that?" Ur pressed. "They get out of jail. They keep doing what they do because humans don't change. They don't."

"Everyone deserves a second chance," Ayame interjected. "Even them..."

"Trust me..." Ur's gaze drifted, as if lost in memories. "Second chances don't matter. Humans don't change."

"What about gods?" Lilith interjected. "Do they deserve a second chance? Do they change?"

"I have no answer to your question, Lilith," Ur replied. "I don't like you, I hate you, you whore. If it were up to me, I'd have killed you on that battlefield instead of taking you hostage. But know that I didn't take pleasure in seeing you suffer every night. I would have preferred to give you a peaceful death. No pain, no suffering. Just... a swift blade to your neck. That's it."

"Should I thank you for that?" Lilith asked.

"No... but you should change the image you have of me in your head. What did you think I was doing? Cracking jokes with the other gods and drinking while you were suffering?"

"You keep telling yourself that, monster," Lilith said, flames dancing in her palm. "Maybe you can convince yourself that you can change and be a better god than Take."

"I don't expect you to understand me," Ur responded, as lightning crackled in the sky. "I just wanted to tell you how I feel. Is that wrong?"

"Since when can you distinguish right from wrong?" the Demon Queen asked.

"Since the beginning." He replied. "Oh, but don't worry. I'll teach you what's right, and what's wrong, demon."