The atmosphere around them hummed like a whirring whistle, a foreign power that engulfed and it wasn't only the tree present in the small island within the pond. Neither did it thrum exclusively in this small cove within the cave—but the entire place.

What earthquake and tremble that they felt earlier was something minor.

It was only an expression of annoyance and pittance at Li Yang's sore attitude earlier.

That had disappointed the goddess earlier, but now divine energy circulated within their midst and brought them to their knees. A pressure that was stronger than anything he encountered, even when he met Aurora's vessel in person.

This metaphysical realm allowed beings to establish their dominance within this place far more than on earth or physical domain. This goddess was in complete control of the surroundings and Li Yang had overstepped his boundaries.

Quite literally in this sense.

.

Li Yang shared a quick look with Thana and noticed her uneasy expression, the struggle apparent in her face as she was quickly defeated and brought into this stance. The Grim Reaper who promised a deadly encounter with him back on earth was at the mercy of someone else.

"Do you really think that you can just leave here without my permission? You're in my domain."

The CEO glanced back at the goddess and finally answered. "We are indeed in your domain and Thana and I will be leaving in order to let you keep your peace—"historical

"You've trespassed."

"I did not see a sign that told me to keep out."

"There were murderous skeletons and undead creatures that were trying to chase you out, how wasn't that a sign?"

"If that's the point then we'll start leaving now to finish the job," Li Yang said. His gaze flickered around their surroundings and he glanced at the still open doorway. "This was in my way and I'm in a hurry—if you're going to kill me now, then just do it or let me out, goddess."

The goddess stayed silent.

He was calling her bluff.

That was as simple as it was—and so it seemed like the goddess knew that it was the case. She let out a breath and gave him a crossed look. "Fine, I've stalled you for long enough—others are unwilling to let this come to pass, but I'm rooting for you to save her."

So it boiled down to this kind of situation, he was fortunate enough to not encounter someone who's actively going against his plans.

Li Yang gave her a firm nod and rose to his feet, "I'll do that. Thana let's go."

"Oh wait, but before you go, Mister CEO—" The goddess snapped her fingers.

Thana shakily stood up on her knees and used her scythe as a rod to keep her from falling prey to the atmosphere. It was fair to say that she still couldn't believe and fathom that the goddess was actually letting them go.

Was this truly how the heroes of old and glorious age managed to leave their bewitching but temptress that sought to pursue them?

The tree behind the goddess resumed its normal and safe form. Gone were the dangerous branches as it resumed blossoming in splendor once more. A great viridian color to its foliage, thickness to its trunk and finally a beautiful multi-color of the fruits that grew on it.

One of the fruits suddenly flew into her palms and she offered it up to him.

A gentle smile was on the goddess face as she looked at him, as if the raging goddess was nothing more but a flicker in one's memory. "Please replenish your strength with this fruit, consider it as a reward for your labor. A just compensation for all of your travails, Li Yang. It has been a delight meeting with you."

Li Yang stared at the tender fruit and shook his head politely. "You honor me with your words and gesture. However, I have to decline the fruit, but you have my gratitude."

"Huh?" The goddess blinked and stared at him in surprise. "Why?"

"You know the reasons as much as I do. Goodbye."

Without waiting for another reply, Li Yang rushed out of the sanctuary with Thana immediately in tow. There was a sound that came from within the place, something that sounded like a laugh, but he didn't pay any heed to it.

He had already wasted enough time trying to get out of there.

It was a good thing that there were no more creatures that arrived from their surroundings to attack them. A small token gesture of the goddess to no longer hinder them from leaving her domain.

Li Yang wished she had done it earlier.

But it was hard to grasp the preconceived notions and thoughts that flitted through the deity's mind.

Once the two of them ventured further away from where the goddess was, the Grim Reaper threw him a look. "You really disrespected her by not accepting what she was trying to give you. That's quite a foul—you've committed too many trespasses."

"Would you rather I stay here for good?" Li Yang asked.

The Grim Reaper blinked at his sudden question. Her deathly pale skin suddenly took on a touch shade of red as she shook her head. "That's a ridiculous question. Where did this come from—"

"Are not people of your nature associated with a particular pantheon or such?"

"No."

Li Yang had been almost certain that Thana was someone of a Greek descent or followed them, but he just shook his head. "That fruit could have very well been an invitation to remain here forever. It was a crafty method."

"And yet you didn't fall for it—"

"It was risky as you said, to decline a gift from the gods and the chances of incurring her wrath despite her kindly nature was likely.. but if I can get away with offending them now and creating minor disturbances and grievances, I might as well do it."

"You're much bolder than you look," Thana said. There was an amused tone in her voice as she glanced up at him, taking note of his appearance a little more carefully. "The aura of death hovers close to people of your nature."

"It's always present for mortals—death will always be a risk."

"Oh you see it that way?" Thana asked. "Death as a danger?"

Li Yang focused on the light ahead of them as it resembled what he expected it to be at the end of a tunnel. This was probably the closest thing he'd ever seen to anything pertaining to it.

He gave the Grim Reaper a shrug before he continued moving forward. "For others, death is the end of all things and may as well be a sweet release.. but that's not possible for me at all. I doubt that everything will be over once I die, so either way, nothing matters to whether I live or not."

Thana gave him a silent look.

She didn't say a word.

Li Yang was not privy to her pondering, but it didn't matter as he reached the end and finally exited the sanctum of death. Terrible and ghoulish screeching welcomed his ears as the two of them arrived into a forest with trees overcasting and an empty sky save for what blotted it with darkness.

Monstrous fiends of birds gathered together in the air, a catastrophic aria and tune singing and crooning to a deathly feast.

All of them caught up and were focused in one place.

Li Yang raised his sword and concentrated the qi available within his body. A powerful energy swept and poured out from his meridians and enshrouded his sword—his will and concentration focused in a singular moment.

Even if his own life's existence were for naught—others were not.

The man's gaze hardened on the flock of creatures in the air. The thread that flowed out from his body disintegrated at this place and there was nothing else in the stretched silence.

Thana did not utter a word, she tightened her grip on her own scythe and glanced at the man who did not fear for his life. Whether that was actually the case, it mattered not to her.

He slashed into the air from a distance.

It was unnoticeable at first, and to any who may have seen him, it was as if he was striking futilely at thin air. But the invisible attack made its presence known and reached the herd of the Sluaghs.

A visible distortion appeared and tore through the air and right into the creatures.