Awakened: Evolving to Godhood

Oliver Charlotte was no doubt annoyed with Elliot's carefree attitude. It was hard for him to understand how a person could remain calm and composed even while knowing that the members of the worst criminal group had confined them in this place, intending to hunt them down. Anyhow, he wasn't going to let him sway himself and his teammates. Word to word, He told the three girls what they found out from Elliot's mouth.

"After examining what's wrong with the life-saving treasure, he found out that a barrier is locking us up in this forest, and the ones that erected said barrier are none other than the Serpentine devils. The only way for us to survive is to either complete the trial or destroy the barrier, an act that would allow us to escape from this place by using our scrolls. However, with our current strength, both are nigh impossible." Oliver explained to them.

Julian found it hard to breathe after hearing his words. She was already mentally scarred because of the things she had experienced in the last few days, but what she heard just now weighed on her heart like a boulder on an egg. She found it hard to even breathe in the air around her. Lucy stood next to Oliver and Arthur, a composed expression on her face. She knew that panicking wouldn't help them right now. It will only make the situation worse. With a hurried glance at her teammates' downcast faces, she realized that this was no joke.

Meanwhile, Tia's lips trembled as if she had heard the worst thing of her life. She had just managed to collect herself, but after hearing Oliver's words, her face cracked up in desperation and fear. She was so desperate and horrified that she refused to believe in his words. "That can't be happening, right?" Tia's words were soft-spoken, and her teary eyes were filled with fear at this moment, making her appear extremely pitiful in the eyes of the magic knights. "You guys are trying to prank us, right? Please just tell me that's the truth."

Oliver and Arthur couldn't help but pacify the trembling rabbit. Not only did they patted her head and wiped away her tears, but they also told her that everything would be fine as long as she stays strong as long as they stay strong.

"Panicking won't help us in any way; refusing to believe our predicament will lead to us facing upcoming adversaries without any preparations," Elliot said as he stood up and patted the dust off his ripped pants. He was wearing his extra set of clothes, a hoodie, and blank pants, loose and comfortable just the way he likes it.

True, preparing themselves to fend off the hunted was the most appropriate move in this situation, Lucy and magic knights thought so. However, who among them didn't know of the infamy of the serpentine devils. They were beasts in human form, ones who don't blink an eye while gutting humans and enslaving them to later rear them like pigs on a farm. They were the worst of the worse, humans that lacked basic human decency and had embraced the seven Cardinal sins along with madness. Just hearing about them gave them the chills. Would they be able to lift their swords against them and fight them on equal grounds? Most likely, not!

Julian's eyes twitched, the rims of which were already red. "What proof do you have, master?" The others also looked at him, suspiciousness brimming in their eyes. Her sentence caused them to realize that everything was based on Elliot's statement and made them think that there was a chance for it to be a lie. They were humans in the end, and when in desperate situations, humans tend to take everything as a value as long as it's not presented right in front of their eyes. But by that time, it becomes too late to regret.

'Truly a dumb broad that knows only to make trouble for me,' Elliot angrily berated Julian in his mind but kept a cool and collected expression on his face. Now wasn't the time to sow a seed of discord among his slaves and bound to be companions by scolding one of them.

"Time will tell." He said as he started to walk towards the crater.

"Is that all? Is that your so-called proof?!" Oliver pressed on, not knowing that he had fallen prey to Julian's antics that caused him to think that Elliot had fooled him.

"I don't have time to waste like you guys," Elliot said as the horrifying mandrake tried to climb up his shoulder by using nothing else but its teeth. When It reached his waist, Its master grabbed it and placed it on his shoulder.

"Master, I've brought good news." Its words caused his ears to perk up in curiosity.

"Oh, tell me about it," Elliot replied, intent on hearing what it has to say.

It was about to tell its master about its findings, but before he could do so, a voice came from behind them, interrupting it from saying a word.

"Wait, let's come with you." Lucy caught up to him, walking beside him.

Elliot didn't stop walking, but he did say the following words. "Yes, of course, you can join me."

"What about the rest?" Lucy asked.

The rest of them were walking behind them, meaning they were following after Elliot. Why. It's because sticking with the strong in a sticky situation was the subconscious and conscious act of sane humans.

"Except for my slaves who must accompany me, the rest can do as they wish." Elliot motioned Julian, Tia, and the rest of his slaves to follow him. He wasn't going to let them die as he had invested a magic scroll in all of them! Seven of them were going to be his informant in the future, so how could he let them die in this place?!

They did, and that too without any hesitation. Even Oliver and Arthur choose to follow him. He wasn't to their liking, from his attitude to his actions, they disliked him. However, they couldn't deny that the chance of them surviving would drop to zero if they split up with him and their teammates.

Looking at the people following after them, the monster with no gender wrinkled its nose in disgust. Why did my master allow dead weights to follow us? We would be better off leaving them to die!

"So, what kind of good news were you going to tell me?" The horrifying Mandrake woke up from its thoughts after hearing its master words.