God Ash: Remnants of the fallen.

Chapter 223: Ambition.

"Even if you threatened to kill me, I would never agree with you!" Li said as he stood up from the ground shaking. He felt as though all the bones in his body had been broken and then put back together with glue.

He knew that if Cain hadn't been holding back, his present condition would be much worse. That only seemed to make him even angrier.

"Li, it's over. Just let it go..." Sue was still bound by the golden chains Cain had used to bind her.

"Shut up! You don't know anything!" Li yelled back at Sue, causing the latter to frown.

Turning back to Cain, anger bubbled within his eyes as he maintained eye contact.

'This... He's much different from before.' Cain thought to himself.

The first impression Li had given him was that of an extremely intelligent person, who was cunning, but would never do anything to harm those he loved and wanted to protect. Now, he seemed just like a vengeful spirit.

Cain didn't know why he wanted to fight him so badly. It was almost like he had done something to offend him in the first place.

"There's nothing left to say. If you want to make me submit, bend my knees yourself." Li said, his flames burning fiercely.

Realization sparked within Cain's eyes. Looking at the expression on Li's face, Cain felt the almost uncontrollable urge to burst out laughing.

'So that's what all this is about? Fine then. Let's see this thing through.'

"Get ready then..." Cain said in a dark tone as he took a step forward.

Getting into a half-squat, Li positioned his punching arm at his hip, ready to throw it forward. The air around his body immediately ignited, creating a bulbous pillar of flames.

"Sun God's Wrath: First form, Pulse Plasma!"

A fist made of pure plasma was launched at Cain. The heat was so potent, that the Ice bridge surrounding them began to melt at an alarming rate.

In response, Cain readied his attack. This attack was just as strong, if not stronger than the attack he had received from Jenny earlier. If he wanted to intercept it, he would have to put as much backbone as possible.

"Je-nny s-stop him!" Stan said, staring as Cain and Li clashed.

"He won't kill him," Jenny said calmly, gazing at Cain's fiercely burning eyes.

Seeing Jenny's expression, Stan heaved a sigh and let his head drop back down to the ground.

Cain's mind spun as he began to reason the perfect skill or spell to use in his situation. A grin made its way onto his face as he decided to throw all caution to the wind,

"Imploding Stars!"

Balls of collapsing flames appeared all around him and were launched at the incoming fist. They repeatedly smashed into it, wearing its energy out.

However, the energy in the first was still too much, and they were unable to completely disperse it before it reached Cain.

However, Cain never wanted that in the first place. That was because he was planning to face it head-on. Balling his fists, a deep crimson energy seeped out of his pores.

His body looked as though it was consumed by flames that didn't burn him. His eyes took on a golden glow as they locked onto the approaching fist.

Taking in a sharp inhale, Cain twisted his hips and legs, snapping his most forward like a whip.

BOOM!

His fleshy fist collided with the fist of pure energy and broke through it as though he were shattering glass.

A small smile escaped from the side of Li's mouth as he stared at the result of their clash.

'He really is amazing...'

Cain's hair fluttered in the wind, and the slight char on his glowing skin made him look as though he had come back victorious from a long battle.

"Damn... He is one of a kind, isn't he..." Steve said, his eyes filled with sparks of excitement. Susan simply stared on in silence, her eyes and mind already miles away...

"I guess you win..." Li said, his face still looking unresigned.

Plating along, Cain took slow steps until he stood before Li, "Then will you accept my leadership?"

"I don't really have a choice, do I?" Li said with a mischievous grin, causing everyone to raise their brows a bit in confusion.

"I suppose you don't. Hahaha!" Cain said with a laugh.

Turning to the people who stared at both Cain and Li with wide eyes, he began to speak,

"You all... You all are also under my care. However, as I will not be able to protect you forever, I will instead grant you the power to protect yourselves. All I ask is that you exercise a bit of patience and try not to die..." Cain said to the group of people.

"Mr. Cain, what should I do?! You remember me, right?" A familiar old man walked out of the crowd, a complicated expression on his face.

"How could I forget you, Old Man Ling..." Cain said with a smile.

"Ah! That's good." The old man said with a smile as well, a few tears hanging at the corners of his eyes.

"I want to make a promise to you all." Cain continued. This time, they all seemed to realize he was talking to every single one of them.

"If you wish, I will grant you grant you the ability to preserve your lives. I will give you the power to grasp your fates in your own hands. Even if I have to burn my body a hundred times, crawl through hell, or destroy my body a thousand times over, I will keep my promise..."

Cain was glad he had picked up on Li's intentions quickly.

'I guess I did underestimate his intelligence.'

If his hypothesis was correct, then that would prove many things. He figured that since Li shouldn't have any problems with him, then there must have been a bigger issue at play.

In order words, Li was planning for him to finally take full responsibility. Previously, he had avoided it and had found it too presumptuous of him to group them all under one banner and say he wanted to have authority over them.

Now, he realized that what he should have done a long time ago...

In the world they currently inhabited, those who didn't know when to bow their heads would be in for a treat. Most people didn't care about others, and would never give them help unless there was something to receive.

Cain was just like that as well...

He was no saint, and he had no moral code to keep. If you want to receive from him, you must be ready to give. Li had provided him with the stage he needed to show every single one of them that he was capable enough to give them what they so desired...

Power just like his...

Sustainance...

A safer life...

Only those with sufficient power could possess all these things. Those who lacked power craved it. This is a universal truth that Cain was about to use to his advantage.

"B-but what do you want in exchange?!"

"If he can grant us power, I don't really care about anything else. Although the sea god, Levron's powers can extend our lives, we are still under constant threat without them around."

"Yeah...if they leave, us, we are all doomed..."

Indistinct murmurs seeped out of the crowd, telling Cain he had gotten them by the horns. Only by asserting his superiority would he gain sway in their hearts.

"And how do you plan on doing that?" Maya, who was part of the crowd of normal people said.

Although the blessing she received from the sea god, Levron, was more than the rest, in the eyes of Cain and the others, she was still classified as a normal human with slightly more powers. Old Man Ling on the other hand was the most powerful amongst the normal humans as he had absorbed Ice power from Cain when he had encountered the remnant of the War goddess of Ice, Lyros.

Even so, his ice power wasn't even half of that of Dan. The only reason he was able to create the ice bridge, was the hundreds of potions he had consumed, and the energy of the Warrior goddess of Ice.

Understanding where Cain was going, Old Man Ling quickly asked the vital question,

"What do we have to give in return?"

Cain took a moment to take in all their expressions before answering, "Your complete allegiance to me. Once you agree, you will become my subordinates."

Cain immediately noticed their twisting expressions, so he spoke quickly to clarify,

"This offer is only for those who want to know what it is like to use their hands to grasp their fate. No one will force you to make the choice..."

His eyes scanned through the crowd of people like a hawk, placing uneasiness in the hearts of those he gazed upon.

"In that case, I will be the first to swear my allegiance to you. I will do whatever you ask of me, and lay down my life for you to use as you please." Old Man Ling said slowly.

Cain turned to the old man and nodded with a smile.

"I as well..." Another person echoed from the crowd.

"Me too!" said another.

One by one, their voices split through the winds and reached Cain's ears.

"I also swear fealty..." Steve said, his eyes twinkling brightly as he stared at Cain with his head slightly lowered.

"Since you beat me, I guess I have no other choice," Li said as he also bowed his head.

Seeing Li bow his head, a confused expression appeared on Stan's face, but after giving it some thought, he simply shook his head. Standing on the ice bridge, he put an arm across his chest and bowed his head as well.

"I'm accepting this only cause you are strong, Scarface..." Sue said with a toothy grin as she bowed as well...

'This kid...' Cain couldn't help but smile wryly.

Jenny and Susan stared at one another for a while. Their eyes met and as though reaching a mutual understanding, they both bowed their heads simultaneously.

Seeing this, a determined expression floated onto his face. He couldn't afford to be half-hearted now. This was the beginning of it all...

If he wanted to not only survive but gather enough power for his lofty goals, this was just a small step to take.

After all, defeating The Golden Heavenly Emperor wasn't going to be easy...