The snow-covered mountains stretched endlessly, with a narrow, winding path cutting through the white expanse.
Without warning, a burst of flame tore through the freezing wind. Axel stepped out of it, his leather shoes sinking into the snow.
He paused, feeling the soft crunch beneath his feet. Snowflakes settled on his shoulders as he scanned the unfamiliar forest around him.
"What the hell is this place? I'm still on Earth… right?"
He crouched, scooped up two handfuls of snow, and pressed them together, shaping a neat, round snowball. Holding it for a moment, he chuckled to himself before tossing it aside and continuing down the path.
Just moments earlier, he had been dealing with the chaos of his debut, and it had left him irritated. Homelander had managed to turn simple instructions into a disaster, killing several people while trying to follow a basic example.
Axel clicked his tongue.
"Unbelievable. I hand him something simple, and he still messes it up."
Still carrying that frustration, he had taken a step and ended up here, in a completely different environment.
Though the path ahead had no clear destination, his senses picked up something unusual. Roughly eighty kilometers away, a fight was breaking out. The sounds of clashing, shouting, and crude laughter carried faintly through the air.
He listened for a moment, uninterested at first.
Then a phrase caught his attention.
Something about reaching enlightenment together and indulging in pleasure.
Axel's expression shifted.
"Well, now that sounds worth checking out."
He changed direction and walked toward the source.
He did not rush. Closer by, he sensed another group, their voices clearer. Along with them came the smell of food, rich and familiar.
It reminded him of something he had eaten before.
Drawn by curiosity, he approached.
A few kilometers ahead, at a snowy crossroads, several Yaksha demons sat around a large pot, eating and talking.
One of them gnawed on a massive leg, grease running down his chin as he laughed.
"Being outside the temple is better. That place is full of lunatics. Blind fools running around, trying to control everything. Even without their eyes, they still won't shut up about eating human flesh."
Another Yaksha, chewing on what looked like a human head, nodded.
"True, but watch your mouth when we're back there. Ever since the Yaksha Kingdom fell, we've had nowhere else to go. If the temple hadn't taken us in, we'd be dead by now."
He swallowed another bite before continuing.
"We worked hard to learn their methods just to earn this position. If you anger the higher-ups and get us thrown out, where do you think we'll find food like this again?"
The Yaksha called Great Support scoffed.
"You're the one talking nonsense. Master said to follow your desires. Indulge yourself, and you'll reach enlightenment faster."
He tore another chunk of meat free.
"I enjoy eating and cursing, so I do both. Whether that leads to enlightenment doesn't matter. What matters is I feel good doing it."
Another Yaksha snorted.
"That's not what I heard. Master said if you enjoy killing, then kill. That's the truth."
He pointed at the pot.
"You're eating what I hunted. Without me, you'd have nothing. Maybe you should start respecting me instead."
"Oh, brothers, having a feast?"
A relaxed voice cut through their argument.
The Yakshas turned sharply.
Axel stepped into view, his short hair neat, his clothing completely unsuited for the freezing environment.
He walked over without hesitation and sat down on a nearby stump. Finding it uncomfortable, he shifted slightly, nudging one of the Yakshas aside.
Then he took off his shoes and held them near the fire, letting the snow melt.
Water dripped onto the ground as he smiled at them.
"Why did you all stop? That conversation was getting interesting. Keep going."
The Yakshas stared at him.
He did not seem affected by the cold at all.
They exchanged glances, quickly realizing he was not ordinary.
Without another word, they stood and drew their weapons, pointing them at him.
"Who are you?"
Axel slipped his shoes back on and looked at them with a grin.
"I'm your dad."
The Yakshas stiffened.
Great Support stepped forward, forcing confidence into his voice.
"This is the territory of Little Western Heaven. We serve under its Buddha. State your name and purpose, or we will kill you and throw your body into the pot."
Axel blinked once, then laughed.
"So that's what you want? My flesh?"
He stood, stretching slightly.
"If it's something that simple, you should've said it earlier."
Before they could react, he grabbed his own left arm with his right hand and pulled.
With a wet tearing sound, he ripped it off.
Blood burst out violently, splattering across the surrounding trees with enough force to punch holes deep into the trunks. Birds and animals scattered in panic.
Axel held the severed arm, steam rising from it.
Without hesitation, he took a bite.
As he chewed, he tossed the rest toward Great Support.
"If you asked sooner, I would've shared. Go on, try it. You won't regret it."
His teeth were stained red as he smiled.
The Yakshas trembled.
Great Support caught the arm instinctively. His legs gave out, and he dropped to his knees.
Holding the arm up with shaking hands, he spoke carefully.
"Great… Great Sage… I failed to recognize your status. If it pleases you… would you still like to hear our story?"
I've been dealing with exams lately, so updates have been a bit slower than usual.