[Skill: Shadow Movement] [Description:] The old gods were amoral—beings older than the very concepts of right and wrong, good and evil. For mortals who dared to call upon them, the worst fate was for those gods to answer, for their will was unknowable, their actions beyond comprehension. Even when they meant no harm, their mere presence could shatter lives. Their reign should have been eternal, stretching endlessly through the void… until the true gods rose…. From mortals. Boundlessly powerful, these new gods understood mortality and the emotions that came with it. Yet, along with their wisdom, they carried the flaws of mortals within their hearts. [Effect:] Allows the user to physically move within shadows, stepping from one patch of darkness to another within a limited range. Movement requires a continuous connection between shadows. [Type:] Active [Cooldown:] 3 sec Damon took a deep breath. This was startling information. It was terrifying to realize that gods weren't born as gods. They had once been mortals who usurped divine authority from the old ones—beings far older than emotions or even some fundamental concepts. Damon couldn't even comprehend how something could predate concepts themselves. Worse, these unknowable old ones had been crushed and defeated by the new gods—or rather, the true gods, who were boundless. Damon recalled hearing a priest reading a gospel, calling the Goddess of Doom a true god. He began making connections. His theory was simple. The new gods were of two kinds: the normal gods, who were not as powerful, and the true gods, who were boundless. He held his chin. "Which would mean they're all-powerful beyond even concepts… I mean, they defeated the old ones..." Damon shook his head. Why was he thinking about something far beyond him? This was not something he would be involved in. He frowned. Then there was the Unknown God, the one who gave him the system. Where did he stand? Was he a true god or an old one? Damon shook his head again. The old ones didn't understand mortals, but the Unknown God seemed to have a firm grasp on them. The fact that both he and Lilith received power from him was a good example. "Then he is a true god, then…" he narrowed his eyes. "If so, then why does it seem like the Goddess and the Unknown God don't get along?" There was too little he knew, and even if he did find out, it was probably better not to. Who knew what horrors he might unlock with forbidden knowledge? And yet… he was curious. He sighed. He had been so focused on the power of the gods and their origins that he had forgotten the skill's actual ability. Shadow Movement was simple enough to use. It consumed shadow energy, but its function was straightforward: it allowed him to physically sink into shadows and move through them as if they were a pool of water. He couldn't teleport through them, but as long as two shadows were connected, he could move between them. He sighed again. The world of gods was so far removed yet so terrifying. "The gods were mortals once…" If that was true, did it not mean they were imperfect?" It was as if the Unknown God was trying to imply that very thing. Damon's face paled, his heart pounding. He wasn't a person of faith, and he was defiant, but even someone like him felt that even thinking such a thing—that the gods weren't perfect—was a grave taboo. He shook his head, taking a deep breath, his eyes wide. 'Is… is that what the Unknown God wants to show me? That… the gods aren't perfect? That they carry the flaws of mortals in their hearts…?' This was the most blasphemous thought he had ever formed. He took another deep breath and opened the next skill. [Skill: Bloodletting] [Description:] For centuries, troll-kind were persecuted by the goddess-faithful, enslaved and abused for no fault of their own—simply for their hulking nature and vast vitality. Their resentment festered until Mugu offered them an alternative—a new god to swear their faith to, serving what would later become demon-kind. Eventually, they came to revile the cruel goddess races and the suffering they endured under the faith of the goddess. [Effect:] Inflicts deep, lingering wounds that bleed excessively, sapping the target's stamina and weakening their endurance over time. The more they bleed, the slower their movements become. If the target possesses regeneration, Bloodletting disrupts the healing process, making wounds take longer to close. [Type:] Active [Cooldown:] 10 sec The skill itself wasn't bad—an active ability that inflicted a bleeding effect, forcing enemies to weaken over time while even slowing their healing. But what really caught Damon's eye was the name. Mugu. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚 This was the second time the system had mentioned that name, and Damon couldn't shake the feeling that Mugu was important. He had been present at the founding of the demon race… which meant the goddess race's claims and propaganda were correct. The demons were not originally created by the goddess. 'Are they an alien race…?' He shook his head. No, that was doubtful. The demon race was definitely a native race to their world. The text had said, what would later become demon-kind. Yes. That was it. Demon-kind hadn't always existed as a separate race—they had been born, or rather, mutated, from one or more of the existing goddess races. That would explain why the goddess races hated them so much… It could also be the reason the war began. He placed a hand on his chin, deep in thought. The war was ancient—so ancient that no one even remembered how it had started. And this Mugu… he must have played a crucial role in the rise of the demons. Mugu. The Unknown God. What was the connection? "Mugu… and what would later become the demon race…" Damon muttered, his expression darkening. He needed to share this with Lilith Astranova. 'What have we gotten involved in…? This… is bigger than both of us…'