Reborn With the Infinite Gods System

The voice echoed once more, cutting through the silence of the night. Axel\'s eyes shot open, his heart racing. He could immediately recognize the deep, foreboding tone. It was a voice he had come to associate with one of his closest allies—and his greatest fears.

Standing before him, a shimmering form that only Axel could see, was Velerium.

The sight of the ancient being sent a shiver down Axel\'s spine. Velerium looked more haggard than usual, his skeletal form etched with deep cracks, as though the very fabric of his being was falling apart. His once-menacing presence seemed fragile, barely holding together.

"Are you alright, Master?" Velerium\'s voice quivered, an unusual tremor betraying his usual composed demeanor.

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Axel blinked, trying to clear his groggy thoughts. His eyes darted around the room, taking in the peaceful scene. The others, Wukong, his companions, and Trisha, lay scattered around him, all sound asleep on their futons. He could hear the soft breathing of Trisha beside him, her presence calming yet stifling, knowing how close they were.

Despite her proximity, Axel felt the weight of the conversation that was about to unfold, knowing it could change everything.

Velerium\'s appearance in such a fragile state had to mean something serious. Axel turned his attention back to the ancient being. "*Velerium,*" Axel whispered through their mental link, *"I\'ve missed you. It\'s been too long since you last responded."*

A low growl escaped Velerium, more of a strained chuckle than the beastly sound it usually was. His burning eyes flickered briefly, showing a hint of surprise at Axel\'s sudden appreciation. Axel was never one to display sentimentality, but perhaps he had grown during the time they\'d been apart.

"I apologize for my absence, Master," Velerium\'s voice was edged with regret. "But the matter I must bring to your attention has… escalated."

*Escalated?* Axel\'s brow furrowed. He hadn\'t expected this.

Velerium nodded grimly. "I must explain… the full nature of the *Devourer Curse* that you carry."

The words sent a chill down Axel\'s spine. The Devourer Curse… the same power he had used to defeat Mictlantecuhtli, and the same curse that gave him those dark, terrifying urges. The whispers. The hunger. A force that tugged at the darkest corners of his mind, tempting him to cross lines he dared not approach.

"I\'ve managed to suppress it for now," Velerium continued, his voice tense. "As long as your HP doesn\'t hit zero, you will maintain control. But beyond that, there\'s little more I can do. The curse feeds on your essence, growing with your power. A permanent solution will come, but it will not be easy. The only ways to suppress it further are to find a new job class… or defeat the Shadow God."

Axel\'s heart pounded at the implications. Defeat the Shadow God? That was nearly impossible, and Velerium knew it. But the alternative—living with the curse and the constant threat of losing himself—was just as daunting.

He let out a shaky breath, his thoughts swirling in confusion. *"Neither of those options sound possible, at least not anytime soon."* His voice was a mix of frustration and concern.

Velerium\'s tone softened. "Master… do you know what a *God Candidate* is?"

Axel blinked, his confusion deepening. He had heard the term before but never truly understood it. Velerium\'s question felt like a knife carving deeper into his worries.

"A God Candidate is someone like you—someone with a system and a job class. There are others out there, and they will come for you. But in their pursuit, there is an opportunity. Absorbing their system and god energy can make you invincible to the effects of the Infinite Gods System. It\'s dangerous, yes, but it can provide the strength to resist… and perhaps, break the curse."

The revelation hung in the air, heavier than any of the secrets Axel had uncovered before. *Killing a God Candidate?* The mere thought sent his heart racing. These were no ordinary opponents; these were individuals chosen by the gods themselves, imbued with powers akin to his own. It wouldn\'t be as simple as defeating regular enemies.

Axel clenched his fists, feeling the weight of the decision. His humanity was already slipping with every battle, every dark urge he repressed. Could he truly sacrifice what was left of his soul for the chance to break free of this curse? Could he kill to survive?

Velerium\'s eyes softened as though sensing Axel\'s turmoil. "For now, I can no longer restrain the full force of the system\'s effects, Master. As you can see," he gestured to his cracked, deteriorating form, "I\'m fading. I won\'t be able to help you for much longer."

Axel\'s heart clenched at the sight of his companion\'s crumbling state. The being who had protected him from the worst of the system\'s horrors was now barely holding on. His time was running out.

"Why did you do it, Velerium?" Axel whispered through their link, his voice thick with emotion. *"Why risk your very existence for me? You took the brunt of the system\'s side effects when you didn\'t have to. You\'re—"*

Velerium cut him off with a faint smile, his eyes dimming as his form began to fade into the shadows. "I suppose… being with you made me feel wanted. Needed." His voice trailed off, echoing softly in the stillness of Axel\'s mind.

Axel watched helplessly as Velerium vanished into thin air, leaving behind only a lingering sense of loss. His eyes scanned the room once more, settling on the peaceful faces of his friends—Wukong, Trisha, and the others. The weight of his promise, his need to protect them, pressed down on him like an iron vice.

A low snarl escaped his lips. *"If it means sacrificing my humanity…"* Axel\'s voice was barely audible, a low, dangerous growl. His gaze hardened with newfound resolve as he whispered into the night, *"Then fuck it all. I will protect them, even if I have to become a god to do it."*

With that thought burning in his mind, Axel lay back down, his mind buzzing with determination. He knew the path ahead would be treacherous, but if it meant saving the people he cared about, then he was willing to pay any price—no matter the cost to his soul.