Just then—
BANG!
The doors of the Sanctuary of Surasthana were slammed open.
Nahida jerked her head up, instinctively shielding Amid in her arms.
A group of people filed in.
The one leading them wore luxurious robes, his face majestic yet gloomy.
The Grand Sage, Azar.
He was followed by a group of guards and several mercenaries from The Eremites, instantly surrounding the cage area.
Azar’s gaze swept over the container and landed on the tiny green figure in Nahida’s arms.
His brow furrowed.
“What creature is this?”
His voice was cold, carrying undisguised vigilance and disgust.
Amid poked his head out from Nahida’s arms, and after seeing who had come, a surge of anger immediately rose in his heart.
‘Azar!’
‘It’s this old geezer!’
‘The one who imprisoned Mama Nahida for five hundred years!
Working on some Project God-Making!
And trapping all of Sumeru in a Dream Loop!’
He wished he could rush up and give him two slaps.
But as soon as he moved, Nahida’s hands tightened, holding him firmly in her arms.
Amid was stunned for a moment and looked up at her.
Nahida wasn’t looking at him.
She was looking at Azar.
On that face which was usually always gentle, there was now a solemnity and…
anger that had never been there before.
“Azar,” her voice was soft but very cold,
“What do you intend to do, bringing so many people here?”
Azar didn’t answer her question.
He just stared at Amid in her arms, a sharp light flashing in his eyes.
‘This creature…
how did it get in?’
That cage was designed by Greater Lord Rukkhadevata; logically, no creature should be able to enter or leave.
But this little thing before him had indeed appeared inside.
What did this mean?
It meant it had a special ability.
It meant it could ignore the cage’s seal.
Then…
could it take Lesser Lord Kusanali and leave together?
This thought made Azar’s heart tighten.
His plan had only just begun.
The Project God-Making needed time.
At this critical juncture, he absolutely could not let this little deity run off and ruin things.
“Surround them,” he ordered in a deep voice.
The guards took another step forward.
Azar strode toward the cage, reaching out to open the door— This story is hosted at novelping.com.
“Stop!
Azar!”
Nahida’s voice rang out.
This time, her voice carried clear anger.
She shielded Amid in her arms, her small body leaning forward slightly like a mother beast protecting her young.
“Do not touch him!”
Azar was taken aback for a moment.
But in just an instant, he regained his high-and-mighty posture.
“Lesser Lord Kusanali,” he said with a fake smile,
“I only wish to see what that little thing that suddenly appeared by your side is.
After all, the Sanctuary of Surasthana is a forbidden area; any person or object entering or leaving here should be subject to inspection.”
“He is not a ‘person or object’,” Nahida said coldly,
“He is my child.”
Azar sneered.
“Child?”
He looked over the tiny Celebi in Nahida’s arms,
“Lesser Lord Kusanali, you can’t even take care of yourself, and you want to take care of a child?”
He waved his hand.
“Men, bring that little thing out.”
The guards took a step forward.
Nahida’s body was shaking.
Not from fear, but from rage.
She held Amid tightly, her eyes fixed on those approaching.
Though she wasn’t skilled in combat, dealing with some mortals was easy!
Originally, she didn’t want to raise a hand against her own people, but if they wanted to hurt Amid…
she would let them see that a god—is still a god!
Amid, in Nahida’s arms, looked at that old face getting closer and closer, the fire in his heart burning hotter and hotter.
‘Want to catch me?’
‘A mortal wants to catch me, a Celebi?’
A disdainful smile curled at the corners of his mouth.
He was indeed a newborn, indeed still very weak.
But no matter how weak, he was a Mythical Pokemon.
His Psychic power, while not yet enough to take on the entire Akademiya, was for dealing with these people before him—
More than enough.
But he didn’t act.
Because seeing Nahida’s protective posture, he thought of the Doctor who might have already arrived in Sumeru.
‘Can’t fight head-on.’
He took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in his heart.
Then, he raised his head, looked at that old face getting closer and closer,
And made a funny face.
Sticking out his tongue, rolling his eyes, and fluttering his little wings randomly.
‘Come and catch me, you can’t catch me~’
Azar’s face froze.
In all his years, no one had ever dared to make such a…
such a childish and hateful face at him!
“You—!”
He was about to explode in anger when he saw that little thing suddenly close its eyes.
The next second, an invisible force surged from its body, instantly enveloping Nahida and itself.
And then—
“Cele~!”
A soft cry.
A flash of green light.
The cage was empty.
Azar’s hand froze in mid-air.
“What?!”
He jerked his head around, looking everywhere.
Nothing.
Nowhere.
That little thing, along with Lesser Lord Kusanali, had vanished into thin air just like that!
“Impossible!” he roared,
“What ability is this?!
How could anyone escape from the cage?!”
The guards looked at each other, at a loss for what to do.
Azar’s face turned beet red, veins popping on his forehead.
In all his years, he had never been so humiliated.
That final face the little thing made was now replaying in his mind, like a silent mockery.
“Find them!” he almost screamed,
“Find them immediately!
Search the whole of Sumeru, dig three feet deep if you have to, but find them!”
The guards scrambled to obey the order.
He pointed at a Scribe beside him,
“Draw that little thing’s appearance!
Upload it to the Akasha!
Issue a wanted warrant!”
The Scribe nodded in agreement, then asked, “And what about Lesser Lord Kusanali?”
Azar didn’t answer, instead looking at him with cold eyes.
“Y-yes, sir!”
The Scribe was frightened and hurriedly responded.
Azar stood in place, his chest heaving violently.
His plan…
his Project God-Making…
“No matter where you run,” he gritted his teeth and whispered,
“I will catch you both and bring you back.”