My Substitute CEO Bride (Nash and Hera) novel Chapter 1911

"Their lives aren't part of the 'deal'," Zaafea immediately said.

At this moment, the usually silent Hexstar suddenly spoke up, "Then why did you save Nash?"

"I can only say that no matter what happens, that guy can't die yet. His role might be even bigger than Xealoth's."

"Then that's fine. This doesn't violate our deal."

Hexstar stood up, his black robe trailing on the ground as he struggled toward Zaafea with his back hunched and leaning on his cane.

"I leave it to you then, Ruin."

"Your soul is mine, kid," Zaafea said harshly before leaving.

...

Hexstar trembled and almost fell over when Battlestar came and supported him.

"Thank you," Hexstar said weakly.

"We're... doing the right thing, aren't we..."

"Maybe..."

...

Ruin was the name the world gave him. He was an immortal whose age he had forgotten himself. He was an undying being, a god who did as he pleased.

It was not that he was captivated by Zaafea, but rather, Zaafea was the only one who still remembered him.

Decades later, Zaafea told his children a story as he lay on his deathbed. It was the story of Ruin. He claimed to have come across the story in an ancient book, bolstered further by some of Ruin's own memories.

However, there was part of the story that even Ruin himself did not remember.

"Once upon a time, the earth was so hot that all life withered. The people were in great suffering. That was when a god who could no longer bear to see them in such misery stole a precious gem that brought wind, rain, and lightning to the mortal realm.

"To avoid being detected by the other gods, he swallowed the gem and sealed himself in the mortal realm..."

Before Zaafea could finish the story, however, he took his last breath.