Reborn With the Infinite Gods System

Chapter 136 Void Walker Soul

Troy's boots echoed softly in the dimly lit cavern as he approached the exit of the Beast Gem haven. The air felt thick, charged with the weight of decisions that could alter the course of their lives. He glanced over at Ham, who stood vigil by the mouth of the tunnel, his eyes locked on the jagged rocks overhead.

"Is this spot good enough, Troy?" Ham's voice was low, almost hesitant.

Troy's sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, taking in every nook and cranny, every uneven surface that could serve as either an advantage or a death trap. He nodded solemnly. "Yes. We have to block this entrance. We can't drag them into something they don't even know exists. This is our mess, not theirs."

Ham's grip tightened on his sword as he looked back at the tunnel, the shadows playing tricks on his tired mind. "And what might that be?"

Both men turned in unison, their faces pale under the faint glow of the cavern's light. Loki stood a few feet away, his expression unreadable. His presence was quiet, but the tension in the air spiked. The calm before the storm.

"You really think I'd just let you two wander off and decide our fate without even giving me a say?" Loki's voice was steady, but it carried a sharp edge. His eyes glinted with a dangerous mix of curiosity and suspicion.

Troy sighed, a deep and weary sound, as if the weight of the situation had finally settled on his shoulders. "I knew you'd catch on eventually. Fine. You're right—we planned to trap you, Josh, and Axel here. But believe me, it's for a reason. A good reason.

We can't let you leave."

Loki scoffed, crossing his arms. "You expect me to believe that? You really think I'm going to stand here and let myself be buried alive without knowing what the hell's going on? Start talking. Now."

Troy's face darkened with guilt, his brows furrowed as if the words were painful to say. "We made a mistake."

Loki's eyes narrowed. "What kind of mistake?"

"We alerted something… something far worse than we could've ever anticipated. We alerted a Voidwalker's soul," Troy said, his voice barely a whisper.

Loki blinked. "A Voidwalker? I thought those were myths—dark creatures from ancient times that scour the universe, devouring everything in their path."

"A Voidwalker can split its soul into three factions, each one as deadly as the main body. And it uses those fragments to search for energy, to consume life. We woke one up, Loki. It's headed here. It's already close," Troy explained, his voice growing more frantic with each word.

Loki's heart raced, but he kept his face neutral. "So, you blocked the tunnel to keep us from getting dragged into your mess. But why is it still coming for you? You've been suppressing your energy the whole time. Something doesn't add up. What did you do to piss it off?"

Ham and Troy exchanged a look, their expressions dark with guilt. Loki didn't need an answer; their silence told him everything.

Loki clenched his fists, stepping past them with a determined glint in his eye. "I'm coming with you."

Ham's face twisted in disbelief. "Are you out of your damn mind? You heard what we said! Even a Voidwalker's soul is strong enough to wipe us out, let alone you! If you face it, you'll die."

Loki didn't slow his pace, walking past Ham with a confident stride. "I won't die. Trust me."

The words echoed in his mind, a bold claim now ringing hollow as he lay on the cold ground, his body aching and his vision blurring. 'I won't die,' he had said. But now, with every passing second, he wasn't so sure.

Blood pooled in his mouth as he spat onto the rocky floor, struggling to get back on his feet. The Voidwalker Soul, a twisted, demonic silhouette made of writhing shadows and fire, loomed over him. Its eyes—pits of endless darkness—sucked the very life out of him, draining his strength with every breath.

Loki's legs wobbled, barely holding him upright. He couldn't feel his Mana. It was as if the creature had siphoned away all his power, leaving him hollow. His mind raced through his limited options. He wasn't a powerhouse; he wasn't a heavy hitter. If brute force wouldn't work, what the hell could he do against this thing?

'Think, Loki. Think.'

The Voidwalker Soul's eyes locked onto him, its hollow gaze piercing straight through his defenses, straight into his soul. Every step it took toward him drained more of his willpower. It moved slowly, deliberately, as if savoring the inevitable kill.

"So… you came for revenge," Loki rasped, trying to stall for time, though deep down, he had no plan. No escape.

The creature didn't respond. Instead, Ham's mangled corpse dissolved into nothingness at its feet, as if the Voidwalker Soul had grown tired of playing with it.

Loki's heart pounded in his chest. His limbs felt heavy, like they were being pulled into the earth itself. His vision swam, but he forced himself to focus. He couldn't die here. Not like this.

'I can't die. Not until I've… I've protected them… Thor, Hera, Annie… Axel… I have to stay alive. They need me.'

Gritting his teeth, Loki pushed himself off the ground, his legs shaking but standing nonetheless. "You think… you can take me down that easily?" His voice cracked, but there was defiance in it.

The Voidwalker Soul paused, tilting its head as if curious. Its monstrous form radiated raw, consuming power. Its gaping mouth split open in its chest, a horrifying void that spoke with a voice that felt like it came from within Loki's own mind.

"You reek… of hatred," it said, its voice a low, guttural growl that sent chills down Loki's spine. "Darkness festers within you."

Loki recoiled, gasping. It wasn't talking to him—not just to him. He turned, his eyes widening in shock.

Josh and Axel stood on the other side of the debris, their bodies radiating dark, ominous energy. The tunnel hadn't collapsed fully. Somehow, they had found a way through.

Axel's gaze locked onto the Voidwalker Soul, pure rage burning in his eyes. Seeing Loki battered, bloodied, and on the verge of death sent a wave of fury coursing through him.

"You're dead for hurting my sister's friend," Axel growled, his voice trembling with emotion.

The Voidwalker Soul's mouth twisted into something resembling a smile. "Such hatred… Give me more."

The tension in the cavern reached a fever pitch, the air crackling with the dark energy swirling around the three hunters. As the Voidwalker Soul took a step toward them, the ground trembled under its weight. But this time, Loki wasn't alone.