I Reborn as a God Within a Statue, And You Ask Me to Enslave All Gods?-Chapter 146 --Massacre of the Spellbeasts

Above the quiet rooftops of Annasi Town, the sky was cloaked in a sinister shade of black.

Thick, rolling waves of smoke surged across the heavens like an ominous tide, painting the air with dread. The fog wasn’t natural—it pulsed with malice, carrying the dreadful aura of spellbeasts, the type of presence that could make even experienced warriors falter. It was dense, oppressive, and soaked in a putrid stench—raw blood, rotting flesh, and something older, fouler... like ancient hatred reborn.

The air grew heavier as the black smoke thickened. It wasn’t long before several currents of it began to twist together. Within that chaos, powerful silhouettes started to emerge—spellbeasts of tier-6 and above, their monstrous forms hidden by the fog yet impossible to ignore.

Among them, tension rippled.

Then a cold voice broke the silence.

"Dark Shark, shouldn’t you be back in the Red Sea, scouring your precious underwater ruins? What are you doing this far inland? Reaching a bit too far, aren’t you?"

Another voice followed with sarcasm laced like poison: "Weren’t the ruins off-limits to others? And now you come strolling into our lands like you own them?"

From the dense shroud of sea mist emerged a creature unlike any other—Dark Shark, a terrifying colossus whose body shimmered like polished steel beneath layers of vapor. Towering and serpentine, its gills opened and closed as if still submerged in the sea. Mist curled around its long tail, and its jagged maw parted in a wide grin, baring rows of shark-like teeth.

Facing him was a land-based beast of equal menace: a One-Eyed Blood Wolf King, its jet-black fur rippling with power. Its lone crimson eye stared daggers at Dark Shark, a deep, vertical scar running from brow to jaw. The eye shimmered with killing intent.

Dark Shark chuckled, the sound deep and guttural.

"The ruins are rich in treasure," he said smoothly, "but too many eyes are already locked onto them. And they’re dangerous, far more than they’re worth. This human genius, on the other hand... much easier to capture. Much more rewarding."

Though sea spellbeasts rarely ventured away from the ocean depths, today was an exception. The emergence of a human who could elementalize at such a young stage had shaken even the deep-sea clans.

After all, this time... the treasure wasn’t a mineral, relic, or herb.

It was a human.

A once-in-a-generation prodigy.

Seizing a person didn’t break the ancient codes—or at least, not explicitly. Even if it did, who would dare challenge them?

"To the strong go the spoils," Dark Shark said, eyes glinting. "Rules are for the weak."

"Still arrogant as ever," came another growl.

From a cloud of green, venom-laced mist emerged the Venomous Scorpion—a massive creature whose chitinous shell shimmered with toxic hues. Dozens of tiny legs moved beneath it like a machine of death, and its barbed tail glistened as it swung behind its back, ready to strike.

"You sea beasts never change. But this time, you’ve come too far."

It fixed its many glimmering eyes on Dark Shark.

"Entering our territory to steal from us? Bold move. But I say we strike you down first, then divide the human among ourselves. What do you say?"

The One-Eyed Blood Wolf King growled in agreement, eye flashing with anticipation. Though they were rivals by nature, this situation called for temporary unity. If word got out that a foreign spellbeast had stolen a human prodigy from under their noses, their reputations would be destroyed.

All around them, other spellbeasts—some clad in bone, some veiled in stormlight—closed in, their killing intent thick as tar. The air felt ready to crackle with violence.

Dark Shark’s expression darkened.

Though he feared no single spellbeast here, even he could not survive being besieged by so many.

He narrowed his eyes.

"You think I came here empty-handed?"

His voice was low, dangerous, like thunder before a storm.

"You want to fight me? Fine. But are you prepared to die with me?"

A chilling silence followed.

"I’ve brought not one," he said slowly, "but two portions of ’Resentment of the Dead.’ You know what that means. If you think you can survive... go ahead and try."

As he finished speaking, an eerie light bloomed within his eyes.

Twin blood-red skulls floated in his pupils—each one grotesque, pulsing with thousands of tiny, writhing black runes. They weren’t just markings. They moved, alive like parasites, like worms that squirmed and gnawed. Their very sight made flesh crawl and spirit recoil.

Even the hardened Venomous Scorpion instinctively took a step back, its tail trembling ever so slightly.

"Resentment of the Dead?!" someone hissed.

That curse artifact was infamous. Forging even a single portion required rare ingredients and a hellish trial—bathing in demonic flames, enduring hours of spiritual corrosion. And this monster had two?

Venomous Scorpion’s voice dropped, cautious now. "You really did it... Survived the hellfire..."

Dark Shark grinned, revealing saw-like fangs. "We sea spellbeasts don’t survive by playing nice. We survive by being ruthless."

Unease rippled through the gathering beasts.

"Resentment of the Dead" didn’t kill outright. But it was worse—an infection of soul and flesh, a leech that never let go. Even tier-6 spellbeasts had been brought to their knees by its torment.

And Dark Shark had two doses.

One might wound.

Two might kill.

Seeing no one step forward, Dark Shark’s smile deepened.

But the moment was broken by Venomous Scorpion, who suddenly turned and said, "Fine. Let’s do it the old way. Whoever gets the human first—he’s theirs."

Without waiting, it lunged, trailing a poisonous storm.

The others followed, wings flaring, claws shining, elemental forces lighting up the sky as they dived toward Annasi Town like a wave of judgment.

But something odd happened.

The humans... didn’t run.

They didn’t scream.

They stood on the streets, gazing upward—not in fear, but in curiosity. Some even pointed at the spellbeasts, as if watching a parade.

No panic. No trembling.

Just silence... and faint amusement.

It was deeply unnatural.

In every other town, humans had scattered at the first sign of spellbeasts—crying, fleeing, hiding in terror. That was the norm. That fear was intoxicating. It reminded the spellbeasts of their place as predators.

But these humans?

They didn’t flinch.

They smirked.

"...What’s going on?" muttered the Venomous Scorpion, slowing mid-air.

Its instincts began to scream.

Only days ago, spellbeasts that entered this region—some even tier-5—had vanished. No bodies. No clues. Just... gone.

And now, here they were—stronger, yes—but was that enough?

Moreover, that human prodigy, the one capable of elementalization... why was he here, of all places?

Such talents were usually raised within the protection of vast human sects or hidden families—not in remote towns.

This wasn’t a coincidence.

It felt like a trap.

Venomous Scorpion abruptly reduced its speed, deciding to observe rather than lead.

It wasn’t cowardice—it was caution.

Humans were cowardly creatures, yes. But they were cunning. When they acted fearless, it wasn’t bravado.

It meant they had something... or someone to rely on.

And then—

"THERE!"

A wild howl rang out.

It came from the One-Eyed Blood Wolf King, whose eye had locked onto a lone figure in the town center.

In the middle of a crowd of human devotees, that person stood tall.

Calm. Unafraid.

From his body radiated waves of power—elemental energy, raw and wild, too strong to contain. It glowed like a flame in a world of shadow, impossible to miss.

"The human prodigy!" the Wolf King howled. "He’s right there!"

Excitement surged.

The target had revealed himself.

And so began the battle for a single human—one who might change the fate of beasts and men alike.