The Annihilator: Killer Of Gods

Karsha followed behind the five elders, the shadow guards, and Lady Illo, all while cradling Starr in his arms. The small snake child had surprisingly wormed her way into his heart. Karsha, who had always preferred to stay away from small humans, found himself growing fond of Starr.

The reason for his aversion was rooted in painful memories. He had missed the births of both his first and second children, a regret that had led to him sleeping outside for a whole week. Every time he saw small human children, he was reminded of those unfortunate moments.

However, the little snake child had managed to change all that. Starr not only altered his view of her but also transformed his perspective on children in general. Karsha found himself becoming a devoted lover of small animals and children, his heart softening in ways he hadn't thought possible.

But while that is good and all, at the moment, though, Karsha's focus wasn't on Starr but on the five elders moving ahead of him. Thanks to his newly acquired Silence skill, he was able to observe them closely without drawing attention. The skill allowed him to look at people and remain undetected, a useful ability given the situation.

None of the elders seemed to notice his gaze, or perhaps they chose to ignore him. After all, they were snakes with senses far superior to those of humans and most beasts.

He sensed the weight of their presence, but something else caught Karsha's attention. The elders bore a striking resemblance to the previous shadow guards of the Purple Tail Anaconda race. It struck him suddenly: these five elders were the very mentors who had trained the current generation of shadow guards.

Though he hadn't used his third eye, Karsha discerned the similarity between the elders and the shadow guards he had spent a week observing. One was nearly invisible, her movements elusive and eerie—a true assassin who had once trained Ayarr, the current stealth expert.

The second elder, a graceful woman with a lithe frame, moved with the precision of a swordmaiden. Her calm and swift demeanor mirrored that of the first elder but lacked the unsettling aura. Clearly, she had once mentored Dhaka, now the leader of the shadow guards.

The third elder, also a woman, exuded the grace of a mage. It was evident to Karsha that she had been the mentor of Tifa, the mage among the current shadow guards.

Then there was the slim elder, agile and sharp-eyed. Karsha deduced that this elder was an archer and the one that trained Alida—the succubus-like snake lady—in the arts of marksmanship.

The appearance of the last elder struck Karsha differently. While the others resembled ordinary humans, this elder resembled a mountain giant, towering at nearly three meters tall with a massive, muscular build suited for wielding heavy shields and weapons.

His intimidating presence and formidable appearance indicated he was a shieldbearer, akin to Killian, the humorous member among the current shadow guards.

Despite not being adversaries, Karsha instinctively began profiling the current shadow guards. His past life as a soldier ingrained in him the necessity to stay several steps ahead of potential foes and even further ahead of allies, who might betray him unexpectedly. Observing the five elders only intensified his curiosity about their origins and the race they belonged to.

Were they part of the unknown race cursed by the unknown emperor and somehow managed to resist the curse, or were they merely inhabitants of this island while the Uknown race were distant visitors? Perhaps they hailed from a forgotten era, or maybe even the future. After all, the Unknown emperor said he sent them way and left them at the mercy of time. He has many theories.

However, Karsha decided to table these theories for now. There would be time to ponder them later. His immediate concern was deciphering the elders' intentions and navigating their inquiries without revealing too much. Ideally, he hoped the questions would come from the male elders, given his vulnerability to the curse he had willingly accepted from the unknown emperor through the necklace.

But he knew he couldn't control that. So, as always, he began strategizing how to manage the truth. His keen intellect was well-equipped for such challenges. Additionally, he needed to understand why the elders sought this conversation and where they had been during his first and second visits to the Sanctuary.

Soon after, they entered the white room and took their seats. Lady Illo naturally assumed her place on a throne-like structure, while the five shadow guards positioned themselves behind her. The elders settled into the remaining chairs, Karsha noticing a new addition—a vacant chair awaiting him.

"I'm sure you know who we are, given your keen interest," the lady sword maiden spoke, her words confirming that they had indeed noticed Karsha's scrutiny. Thankfully, there was no hint of hostility in their demeanor.

'Damn this stupid skill,' Karsha cursed inwardly, thinking about his [Silence] ability, before allowing a small smile to appear on his lips. He knew the skill is too good to be true, but then he knew he was just too weak making the skill not live up to expectations.

"My apologies. I tend to analyze everything I see. I couldn't help but notice the similarities between you five and Ayarr, Alida, Dhaka, Tifa, and Killian. Are you the previous generation of shadow guards?" Karsha inquired politely yet with evident curiosity. Fortunately, the elders appeared receptive rather than probing, showing interest in his observational skills.

"You're quite astute. Indeed, we were the shadow guards before these youngsters took over. We passed on our roles to them approximately fifty years ago and have since focused on our own cultivation," one of the elders responded, surprising Karsha, though part of him had suspected this since their first meeting.

The shadow guards Karsha had spent a week with were noticeably older than him, both spiritually and physically. However, learning that the current generation had assumed their roles fifty years ago left him slightly unsettled.

'I suppose it's only natural seeing this is a cultivation world' Karsha sighed inwardly before posing the question that had been weighing on his mind, "Why have we gathered here today?"

"We wish to learn more about you and your intentions regarding the 10 Savages," the sword maiden, evidently the leader of the elder generation of shadow guards replied.

"I am Karsha Damon, a human, and a Grandmaster stage cultivator, what you refer to as Tier 5," Karsha began, considering his response carefully. "I specialize in swordsmanship and alchemy, and I'm currently learning to become a RuneMaster. As for the Overlords, my goal is nothing less than killing them and breaking the curse on this island."

The curse from the Unknown Emperor made it so he would always look for the truth and also have less resistance when asked to speak the truth by a lady. Because of this, Karsha nearly divulged more than he intended. Despite his efforts to restrain himself, a minor detail slipped out, piquing the interest of Lady Illo and the five elders.

"You... you know about the seal," Lady Illo reacted first, her voice tinged with surprise and curiosity.

"Yes, three seals, to be exact. I suspect they are what have bound this place, the inner island, and possibly the core island under the curse," Karsha replied, carefully omitting any reference to the unknown race from his answer.

"And how do you intend to break the seal?" The shieldbearer's deep voice rumbled through the chamber, making Karsha subtly tense. He kept his composure, though, determined to impress the elders.

"Each Overlord holds a key. Gathering them will lift the curse, allowing your ranks to ascend and grow stronger," Karsha explained confidently. The elders, Lady Illo, and the shadow guards now look at him with a newfound respect.

Initially skeptical of a mere Tier 5 existence, the elders now regarded Karsha with newfound respect. They sensed there was more to him than met the eye; perhaps if she were to be a beast, he would have qualified to be a dark mutant or even a Terror Mutant.

"You five, step forward and stand behind him," commanded the sword maiden, motioning to the shadow guards. Dhaka and his team obeyed, standing staunchly behind Karsha.

"You know your duty. Our ancestors foretold this day: 'When the Annihilator appears, the shadow guards shall be his army, restoring the island to its former glory,'" Karsha reminded them solemnly.

"You've sworn an oath. May the Purple Tail Anaconda guide you, even unto death." The Elders said in Unison.

"We won't fail Our Race and we won't fail the Annihilator" the shadow guards vowed in unison, their arms crossed over their chests in a gesture of determination. They are about to fulfill the role they've trained for. They will be Karsha, who is bound to become the Annihilator's guard.

< Ding! Your bond with the five shadow guards has deepened. >

< Ding! You have formed a close bond with five individuals; Shadow Guards >

< Ding! The shadow guards are now your personal guards. They can be summoned by you from anywhere >

< Ding! Because of your bond with the shadow guards, you can bestow techniques, skills, weapons, Avatar, and many more to them without any issue >

Karsha smiled politely as he read the messages. This unexpected turn of events had placed him in a position he hadn't anticipated, but he knew it was a golden opportunity, one he intended to capitalize on fully.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The Shadow Guards were revered as the pinnacle force of the Purple Tail Anaconda, and now they were pledging themselves as his personal protectors. It was a significant honor, and Karsha pondered what he could offer them in return for their loyalty.