Healing System

"Now, you do understand we can't quite do that," Dionysus said with a conflicted tone. "As sick as Zeus is, he ordered us not to alter his fate."

"Fate?" Michael tilted his head. "Don't you think it's fate that I came here in the first place?"

"That's..."

"I agree... I think we should let this guy see him," Artemis added, slightly fidgeting. "As a being of great valor, Zeus wouldn't ask for help no matter what we do, so I believe it's best we take matters into our own hands."

Dionysus narrowed his eyes. "You're speaking of treason, Artemis."

"So what if she is?" Michael chimed in. "If there is no Zeus, then there is no treason."

"..."

Dionysus could not say a word, but his thoughts were obvious.

As reluctant and loyal as he was, if Zeus were to die, then their loyalty would fall onto the next possible candidate, which Michael could assume was Hermes.

"Take me to him, and I will have a little chat. That is all," Michael suggested for the last time.

At the same time, he spread out his mana, trying to act menacing.

And it seemed to have some sort of effect, as translucent mana began spreading out of his body—to even his own surprise.

"You're a candidate?" Artemis tilted her head with a furrowed brow. "The candidate selection is not due for another four years."

"I have no idea what you're talking about, but I became this so-called candidate not too long ago," Michael replied with a shrug and tossed Hermes over. "Take care of him. In the meantime, Dionysus, care to lead me to Zeus?"

"Do it..." Artemis instructed with reluctance, and Dionysus nodded.

"Very well... But if I see you do anything stupid, I will kill you myself."

"Suit yourself," Michael replied and began following Dionysus's lead.

The entire Olympus was just one massive city, and if he was being honest, it didn't look that great.

Some people were malnourished, while others were weak.

For beings to be so weak and malnourished in the great Olympus was not something he would expect to see.

But of course, it all made sense if their leader, Zeus, was on the verge of death.

Which, frankly, he was.

Nonetheless, they soon arrived in front of a grand golden palace, and immediately, Michael could sense the actual power of Zeus.

And it was surprising, since such a being—even if injured—was still a Tier 19 existence.

It really made Michael think if there was something higher, or if Tier 19 was like the buffer for Tier 20, where you actually become some sort of absolute being.

Despite his thoughts, though, Michael sped up his pace, walked past the slow-walking Dionysus, and arrived at a peculiar throne room.

There were broken round tables scattered all around, and coupled with that, multiple bloodstains tainted the ground.

Some food was mashed all over the pillars, and of course, the man behind it—Zeus—was sitting on his throne, acting as if nothing was out of the ordinary.

"Zeus." Michael nodded at him.

"Michael," Zeus grumbled. "To what do I owe this visit?"

"Nothing, really," Michael said with a shrug. "Just came to tell you your son Hermes didn't do anything wrong. I was the one who broke into the Garden of Souls."

"I see. You may go now." Zeus attempted to dismiss him, but Michael didn't back away.

After all, he knew for a fact Zeus couldn't even hear what he was saying.

Despite being such a strong being, he was deaf, and more importantly, it seemed like his eyesight was lacking too.

Therefore, he likely tried interpreting Michael's words—and obviously failed.

"You're a shithead." Michael tested his suspicion.

Zeus looked him up and down before nodding. "Mhm. I see."

"No, you can't, idiot." Michael sighed before stretching out his mana and healing Zeus's sight and hearing.

It was a simple process; however, the effects weren't that favorable.

For some reason, Zeus immediately shot a massive bolt of lightning straight toward Michael, prompting him to dodge.

However, the sheer speed of the attack was far too great. The only thing he could do was block it.

Covering himself with a radiant shield, Michael braced himself as the bolt crashed into him, sending him skidding backward. The air crackled with residual electricity, his arms tingling from the impact.

"Interesting," Zeus muttered, standing from his throne. "It's been a long time since I felt a touch of true light magic."

"And it's been a long time since I had to block a lightning bolt," Michael grimaced. "Is this how you greet everyone you meet?"

Zeus chuckled. "It was a test, and you survived."

"But you won't," Michael stated flatly. "You're going to die soon, and from what I can see, no one is trying to stop it."

"And you are?" Zeus tilted his head. "I don't wish for much, and frankly, I don't exactly care if I die. I've lived a fruitful life and have a lot of children who will look after the people after I'm gone."

"That sounds pretty hollow, old man." Michael scoffed. "I need your help, and I believe you need mine."

"Help?" Zeus mused. "Why would I help you?"

"If you had a conscience, then you would." Michael chuckled and narrowed his eyes. "I want to kill the actual gods, and I need more information regarding them. In exchange, I will heal you."

"It doesn't seem like I'm getting much out of this deal aside from my life." Zeus sat back down on his throne. "Just leave me be, Michael. I don't care for such trivialities."

"I see." A smile appeared on Michael's face. "Then we'll have to do this another way."

The moment Michael's words fell, he suddenly retracted the lingering mana he had left on Zeus's body—especially his eyes and ears.

At the same time, he ruined Zeus's eyesight and hearing further, but of course, that didn't matter much.

Despite Zeus not seeing or hearing, if he were to actually focus and use mana, then Michael would be screwed.

Nonetheless, it didn't seem like Zeus wanted to fight back. Instead, it was almost like he was readying himself for death. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire

"Do you think I'm going to kill you?" Michael scoffed.

"I know you won't." Zeus chuckled. "But I can't show you my memories any other way, so do what you must, Michael."

"...Why are you being so reasonable?" Michael asked, puzzled.

"You will see. I had a conversation with the you of the past, and let's just say, you might have left a tiny message inside my mind," Zeus replied.

Michael furrowed his brows as he quickly looked through his own memories. "I don't remember doing that."

"Of course you don't. You weren't alive." Zeus stated before leaning back in his throne. "Do what you must."

"..." Michael carefully approached while also paying attention to Dionysus, who was creeping not too far away.

"If you interfere, I will kill him," Michael warned.

He did not receive an answer, but since Dionysus stopped approaching, he took this as his chance to look through Zeus's memories.

Michael placed his hand on Zeus's head, and in the very next moment, peered straight into his eyes.

Instead of the casual feeling of being in control, however, Michael felt as though he was being guided.

But since the guidance didn't feel ominous, Michael didn't bother to resist it. Is this what he meant?

After a few moments, Michael found himself in some sort of white plain, with the only thing in front of him being the vivid appearance of an identical copy.

"Mikhail?" Michael called out and tilted his head. "No... You don't even exist, so—"

"No, I do exist. You just can't seem to fathom it," Mikhail replied bluntly. "I'm like a split personality of yours at this point. Your delusions made me exist."

As Michael's eyes widened, Mikhail suddenly let out a chuckle.

"Just kidding, you idiot. No, I don't exist. I just left a piece of my consciousness inside this guy's mind."

"...Yeah, you're as annoying as I remember," Michael sighed. "So what now? Are you going to give me some grand prophecy?"

Mikhail shook his head. "Not exactly. You need to eliminate a few obstacles before you can face the gods. They are beings who easily surpass Tier 20, and you most definitely don't stand a chance."

"So tiers above 20 exist?" Michael asked plainly before letting out a sigh. "I thought they did."

"It's not exactly tiers per se, but more like realms. I've never seen them, as the only time I had even come into contact with an actual god aside from our own, I was immediately killed, as you might have already seen," Mikhail added. "You need to kill their followers."

Michael nodded. "Evangelists, I assume?"

"Everyone. Demons, Angels, Evangelists. All of them contribute to the power of the gods," Mikhail said. "But of course, there is a workaround."

"What is it?" Michael asked, and as he did, a massive grin appeared on Mikhail's face.

"What better way to fight gods than to become a god yourself?"