My Family in the Novel?

Chapter 281: Holy war 19

There were many factors to take into account upon this ongoing war. Behind the rampant violence and death, the list of tasks and responsibilities was ever-growing. As the conflict dragged on, it became increasingly clear that hands were full most of the time.

And yet...

"Why am I stuck here?"

Luwanal, the god of storms, sighed as he looked at the bright skies above him. Although he was a battle god himself, he found it absurd that he was in this peaceful place, surrounded by forests and a naturally beautiful garden, assigned to protect a mere mortal.

He couldn't help but scoff in annoyance. Even if it was the goddess's orders, wasn't his situation a bit too much?

"Haah!"

With a loud sigh, he yawned as he waited for something fun to finally happen.

"The queen should've just sent me to war," he muttered.

The notion of having him protect a human was absurd enough, but to have him protect some tainted human was beyond comprehension. His hands crackled with electricity as he grew more annoyed just thinking about it.

There were many more fun things to do out there.

"Should I just kill the girl and blame it on the doves?" he pondered, his eyes glowing blue as he scanned the distance, focusing on the sleeping mortal. Though she might be protected by the goddess's angels, compared to him, they were nothing.

If he killed her now, surely the goddess wouldn't notice, right? Considering the myriad things she was busy with, keeping track of a single human wasn't something she would prioritize. After all, why would she send him here in the first place?

Of course, Luwanal knew the importance of the mortal girl as a contingency plan in case of an all-out war from the other side. But why was the goddess acting so cautious when the war was already nearing its climax? Contingency or not, safety or not, the war was bound to escalate until the entire pantheon had to intervene themselves.

It wouldn't be long until the gods got involved, and the true meaning of a holy war would commence. So why prevent the inevitable? Wouldn't it be more beneficial to damage the enemy now by killing this mere mortal right here and now?

He continued to mull over this, his fingers twitching with the anticipation of action. The girl, lying there so peacefully, seemed to be an easy target. Her existence felt like a mockery to him, a god of storms confined to a guardian role.

The idea of eliminating her was tantalizing. It would be a decisive blow, a move that could potentially accelerate the end of the war.

The enemy would be caught off guard, scrambling without their key piece.

"Lord Luwanal."

Letting his eyes drift away from the mortal woman, Luwanal turned his attention to the call from his side.

"Marvey, huh?" Luwanal's annoyance was evident as he looked at the angel beside him. "What do you want, dove?"

Out of all the angels here, Marvey had been the only one meticulously taking care of the woman, and Luwanal's irritation was palpable. If Marvey had neglected her like the rest of the angels assigned to her, surely the woman would have perished from hunger or some other misfortune. But this damned angel wasn't just loyal to his orders; he was downright perfect in his execution, ensuring the woman's well-being and even providing her with the best accommodations possible.

Quite the opposite of his brother, Harvey. Although the two were twin angels, they were complete polar opposites. Luwanal wondered if their differences had something to do with the way the goddess created them.

"What do you want, Marvey?" Luwanal repeated, his voice tinged with impatience.

Marvey bowed slightly, his wings fluttering softly. "I merely came to check on our charge, my lord. The goddess entrusted us with her care, and I wanted to ensure everything is in order."

Luwanal scoffed. "Everything is in order, as you can see. The girl is safe, well-fed, and breathing. Your meticulousness is unnecessary."

"Tsk… As always, the dove is quite persistent when it comes to the woman," Luwanal muttered under his breath. It didn't really matter to him anyway; all he wanted was to get rid of the woman right now.

But with this dove being around, that was almost impossible for now.

After all, the guy in front of him might be just an angel, but he wasn't any ordinary one.

He was a direct creation of the goddess herself—a son, per se.

And knowing the goddess's personality, she was quite aggressive toward those insolent beings who dared to touch what she considered hers in the first place.

"There have been reports of misconduct, you see… So I just came here to report and confirm it with you, my lord."

"Misconduct, you say?" Luwanal looked at Marvey as if he were saying something ridiculous. "Are you blaming me for something right now, dove?"

"I believe I only mentioned it to you, Lord Luwanal. The word of blame came from your own mouth…"

"…? Hoh? Hahaha, you sure say the funniest things now, Marvey. Did your position within the goddess's ranks get to your head, perhaps?"

Marvey's expression remained calm, unruffled by Luwanal's mocking tone. "I serve at the pleasure of the goddess and follow her orders without question. It is my duty to ensure that everything within our purview is running smoothly, and any irregularities must be addressed."

Luwanal's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flashing within them. "Irregularities, you say? And what sort of irregularities do you think you've found here?"

"There have been rumors," Marvey began cautiously, "of certain… frustrations among the ranks, particularly regarding the assignment to protect the mortal woman. Some say that you, Lord Luwanal, have expressed displeasure at this duty."

"Rumors are just that—rumors," Luwanal replied, his voice edged with irritation. "My duties are clear, and I fulfill them. My personal feelings on the matter are irrelevant."

"Of course, my lord," Marvey replied, his tone placating but firm. "However, it is my responsibility to ensure the goddess's commands are followed to the letter. Any hint of dissent must be investigated."

Luwanal scoffed, turning his gaze back to the sleeping woman. "Dissent? From me? Don't be absurd. I am here, am I not? Guarding this mortal as instructed."

"I see…. Please do forgive me for my rudeness," Marvey said as he bowed before Luwanal.

"Tsk. If you know you were at fault, stop bothering me and go pester that woman or something," Luwanal snapped.

With that, Marvey fluttered his wings and left.

"That dove… He's scarier than I thought," Luwanal muttered as he watched Marvey depart. Although their conversation had been subtle, he felt the pressure was on him rather than on Marvey. He had even released his divinity during their exchange, and yet Marvey had remained completely unharmed.

Luwanal sighed deeply, realizing he had gotten on the bad side of someone destined to become a god someday—and a god more powerful than a third-generation god like himself. "Hahaha," he laughed hysterically as he plopped down into his empty chair. What was the point of his existence as a god that brings about storms if he was to remain stuck here?

"Haah… oh gods of fate, please let me experience the taste of war," he screamed aloud as he stared at the empty skies.

He was supposed to be a god that conduits the chaos of storms in the world, and yet none of that could be fulfilled now, even though a war was raging on.

The serenity of the garden around him only amplified his frustration.

He was surrounded by lush greenery, the gentle rustle of leaves, and the tranquil song of birds—elements that were the very antithesis of his nature.

The peacefulness felt like a prison, binding his destructive power and leaving him restless.

The memory of his past glories filled him with a pang of nostalgia.

He remembered the roaring tempests he had unleashed, the exhilaration of combat, the sheer power he wielded as he tore through enemies like a force of nature.

Those were the days when he truly felt alive, when his purpose was clear and his actions impactful.

He felt like he was reduced to a mere babysitter right now.

Not to mention, a damn angel who was supposed to be just his subordinate was subtly bossing him around.

It was an irrefutable notion that he couldn't help but find incredibly annoying.

And he didn't like it one bit.

"Haah, oh how I miss war," he muttered to himself.

"Oya, you miss it?"

Surprised by the sudden voice, Luwanal turned around, only to find a smiling boy staring at him. Alerted, he immediately stood up as lightning crackled around his massive body.

'When did he get close to me?' he wondered, unable to detect the boy's sudden approach. This was clearly a sealed place; not even the gods of space could enter here without being noticed.

"Who are you?" he demanded.

Although the one in front of him was clearly a child, the energy he emanated wasn't that of a mere child. It was something ancient, as if he were looking at an ancient god from old times. Despite the cute and innocent appearance, the child had the aura of a god that represented apocalypse.

"Hmm~? Is it really important to know my name?" the boy said casually, smiling at him. "Shouldn't you be more worried about your back?"

"Huh?"

Grr!!!!

Startled by the growl, Luwanal turned to see a massive wolf behind him, its eyes glowing with a sinister light. Although he only locked eyes with it for a few seconds, he felt it immediately with just a glance.

'DEATH.'

He knew the ending of his existence was imminent.

The wolf's presence was overwhelming, a primal force that sent shivers down his spine. Its fur bristled with dark energy, and its teeth gleamed like deadly daggers. Luwanal could sense its ancient power, a power that dwarfed even his own.

"What... what is this?" Luwanal stammered, trying to keep his composure.

The boy giggled, the sound unnervingly cheerful given the situation. "This is my son. He doesn't like it when people are mean to me."

Luwanal took a step back, his eyes darting between the boy and the wolf. "What do you—"

"Haah~haah~ and here I thought you reminded me of Thor, turns out you were just a coward."

Snapping his fingers at the last second, the child looked at Luwanal with disdain. The next moment, he screamed in pain as the wolf's large jaws clamped down on his right arm, ripping it away. Blood sprayed across the ground, mingling with the golden light that began to emanate from the wound.

"At least make it fun for him, okay? Well then, bye-bye~"

With a nonchalant wave, the child left, trailing golden light behind him. The wolf, now holding the severed arm, turned its gaze towards Luwanal, its eyes burning with a predatory hunger.

Luwanal's heart pounded in his chest as he stared at the grotesque scene. The child's departure left an eerie silence in its wake, broken only by the low growl of the wolf. Despite the pain he had inflicted upon himself, the boy had walked away as if nothing significant had happened, leaving Luwanal to face the beast alone.

The wolf dropped the arm, its eyes never leaving Luwanal's. It took a step forward, its massive paws making the ground tremble. Luwanal's mind raced, his usual confidence shattered by the bizarre encounter.

He was a god of storms, yet this situation had him questioning his own power and resolve.

And the wolf smiled at him, as it liked the blood of it's jaws…. It's been countless milenia's since the taste of divine blood entered his mouth.

…..

Meanwhile, back at the snowy white castle, golden lights flickered as a young boy appeared atop a table.

"Did you proceed as planned?" a man asked, seated across from the boy, his eyes fixed on a gigantic map spread out before him.

"Yes~ Yes~ Fenry is having fun as well. Although he was annoyed at being used as bait, when I mentioned he would be fighting a god of Thor's nature, he seemed quite happy at least… although I doubt that dumbass was even close to Thor's level though."

"I think most gods don't come close to his level," the man replied, his gaze still focused on the intricate details of the map.

"Hmm, I guess so. Anyway, what are you going to do now? Will you go there yourself? Or do we proceed as planned?" the boy asked, hopping off the table and circling around the map, his golden light dimming as he moved.

"I'll go there myself," the man decided, his voice calm and resolute.

The boy's eyes sparkled with interest. "Ooh, that sounds exciting! What will you do when you get there?"

Adrian wondered why he was asking the obvious but soon smiled, looking at Loki's eager face. "I'll eat him, of course."

With his comment, Loki laughed hysterically. "Truly, the monstrous anomalies born from war are always the best," he exclaimed, wiping a tear from his eye. "Make sure to send Elizabeth to take care of the doves."

"Sure~ sure~," Loki replied, still chuckling. "Make sure to eat them all, king."

"Yeah…"

With those words left behind, Adrian's human form began to deform, twisting and merging with the surrounding shadows until he became one with the abyss.

His body dissolved into an inky blackness that spread out like a dark tide, engulfing the room in an eerie silence.

The air grew thick with an oppressive energy, and Loki watched with a mix of amusement and admiration as Adrian's transformation completed.