Single Wish: Rise Of The Omniscient Paragon

(Minutes before Corey and Ryan's arrival)

The air above the crab-like Goliathspawn was tense, and the heavy silence between the two groups was broken only by the distant sound of waves crashing against the Goliathspawn's shell.

Azhrun stood with his trident resting casually against his shoulder. A faint smirk could be seen on his lips as his swirling silver eyes fixed on Melissa.

His gaze was shameless, lingering far longer than it should have and at places where they should not have landed. His words came in a tone that was both teasing and provocative.

"Melissa, was it?" he drawled, with a soft chuckle in his voice.

"You're quite the sight, even in this dreary place. A woman like you doesn't belong on a battlefield. You should be somewhere… warmer. Perhaps my bed?"

Melissa's hand immediately moved to the hilt of her daggers, her eyes narrowing into a deadly glare. "Say that again, fish boy, and I'll make sure you regret it."

Azhrun's smirk widened, and his expression remained unbothered by the threat.

"Feisty. I like that."

He took a step forward, his robes rippling like ocean waves, but the moment his foot touched the ground, a faint, sickly green mist curled up from the surface.

Azhrun paused, his gaze shifting to Old Man Poison, who leaned lazily on his staff. The old man's sharp eyes gleamed with amusement as the poisonous mist thickened around him.

"That's close enough," Old Man Poison rasped, his voice dry but carrying an edge of menace.

"Another step, and you'll learn what it feels like to drown from the inside out."

Azhrun raised an eyebrow in amusement as he glanced at the swirling green mist, but a second later, his gaze shifted to his fingers.

His smirk faltered for just a moment when he saw a growth appear on his left index finger. The growth did not last long before it disappeared, barely three seconds, but it was enough for Azhrun to take the poisonous mist seriously.

'Interesting.'

Azhrun clenched his fist, and then he chuckled as he gazed at Old Man Poison.

"Why so stingy old man? It's just a little fun."

"Call it what you want," Old Man Poison replied, and his grip on his staff tightened slightly. "But I don't share."

Azhrun's gaze flicked to the twins, Mira and Lyra, who stood a few meters away from him. His smirk returned, sharper this time as he regarded them with a predatory gleam in his eyes.

"And what about you two?" he asked with a lighter tone but still dripping with mischief.

"A pair of beauties like you…" He paused, and his eyes roamed their bodies with a lecherous gaze. "I could make room for both. What do you say?"

Mira's expression was cold, her grip tightened on her Genesis Armament which was a staff. She took a light step in front of Lyra, wanting to protect her from Azhrun's perverted gaze.

"We didn't come here for your games, Azrhun. If you're done embarrassing yourself, perhaps we can focus on why we're here."

Lyra said nothing, but the faint disgust in her gaze spoke volumes.

Azhrun shrugged, completely unfazed by Mira's icy tone. "Suit yourselves. The offer's always open."

"Why don't you focus on me instead?" Kaelan's voice cut through the tension, it was both bold and direct. He stepped forward with a wide and challenging grin as he gazed at Azhrun.

Azhrun tilted his head, his swirling eyes lazily shifting to Kaelan. "That's gay. I'm not interested in men."

Kaelan was taken aback, and he could not find the words to retort what Azhrun had just said.

Azhrun placed his fingers together with a genuine smile. "Women are like wine, and trust me, I love wine so much… Wine and women are the best together."

Everybody, including Kaelan, was taken aback by Azhrun's words, and for a few seconds, there was nothing but silence.

However, the silence was broken by Kaelan.

He rested his hand on the hilt of his sword, and then he gestured toward Azhrun. "You humiliated me last time, but I've gotten stronger. This time, I'll show you who's really the strongest here."

Azhrun tilted his head, his swirling eyes expressed the indifference and laziness he had towards Kaelan.

"Oh, Kaelan. Always so eager to prove yourself. It's almost adorable."

Kaelan's grin faltered for a moment before his eyes narrowed. "Don't underestimate me."

"I'm not underestimating you," Azhrun, replied, his tone nonchalant. "I'm just not interested. Find someone else to spar with."

"Spar?... You called our battle a spar?"

Kaelan's jaw tightened, and his eyes flashed with anger as he gazed at Azrhun's lazy expression. Before he could say anything, Mira quickly spoke up.

"We don't have time for this," she said firmly, her gaze shifting between the groups.

"From the information we've all gathered, we know that there's a very powerful item or object at the top of the waterfall. I'm sure we're all here for the item, but every moment wasted brings us closer to unnecessary conflict."

Azhrun yawned dramatically, and his trident glowed faintly as he tapped it against the ground.

"Always so serious, Mira… But you're right about one thing, there's a very powerful object at the top of the Eternal Waterfall, and I'm interested in it… Also, unnecessary conflict is such a bore."

"Since it seems like all of you are interested in this 'powerful and important object', you can leave us behind and go on your way. We're not interested in the object at all."

Old Man Poison spoke, his voice cutting through the dark green poisonous mist that swirled around him like a living entity.

Azhrun chuckled with visible disdain as he gazed at Old Man Poison and Melissa.

"Even if you were interested in it, do you think you'll be allowed to have it? You prisoners of the Underworld are all cattle that's meant to fatten us, the Chosens… Know your place, cattle."

Azhrun smiled harmlessly, and both Old Man Poison and Melissa frowned when they heard his words.

"Enough."

Kaelan stepped forward with a growl and narrowed eyes that contained visible anger.

"We'll have a different type of battle, Azhrun."

Azhrun turned towards Kalean with his eyebrows raised lazily.

Kaelan continued, "We'll have a competition. The person that's able to obtain the item at the top of the waterfall would be the strongest of us four. What do you say?"

Azhrun smiled, and then he chuckled. "Sure, why not? Should be interesting."

Kaelan turned toward Mira and Lyra, and the twins looked at one another before nodding their heads at Kaelan.

"Great." Azhrun clapped, and then he waved his hands at Old Man Poison and Melissa like he was chasing away flies. "You may leave. But I'm still interested in you, Melissa."

Old Man Poison and Melissa narrowed their eyes, but they didn't take a single step back or move from their positions, and when Azhrun noticed this, he raised his brows in confusion.

"What's wrong?... Oh, do you think we'll stab you in the back if you leave now?"

Azhrun chuckled, and then he smirked as he turned his attention to Melissa.

"Don't worry, darling. I'd never stab you in the back… unless you asked nicely."

The instant Azhrun said these words, Melissa was about to explode, but then a voice drifted into each of their ears. Continue your saga on empire

"Just as perverted as always you sick bastard, Azhrun."