GODZILLA- CH-26. The God of Lava and Earth has returned

His body was shaking, his mind in a daze, and his vision was filled with images of God.

He was going to die.

However, this world may always be full of luck and miracles.

Or perhaps God sensed that His only long-standing believer was on the verge of death and thus awakened, returning to him.

As the dim, sand-filled world suddenly trembled, the dinosaur elder, previously dazed, suddenly opened his eyes, now filled with vigor as if energized by a final burst of life.

"What's happening? Are we under attack from a swarm of burrowing demon insects?"

"Quick, protect the elder!" Shouted one of the priests, who rushed to the dinosaur elder's side, attempting to support him.

But in that instant, the elder suddenly stood tall.

His previously hunched body straightened with a crackling sound, surprising the priest beside him, who had never seen him appear so formidable.

The elder's eyes were brimming with tears—tears of excitement and reverence. He did not leave the platform beneath the statue but stood there, waiting silently, tears streaming down his face.

In that moment, all the priests seemed to understand. They too trembled with excitement, following the elder's lead and waiting in quiet anticipation.

Strong winds couldn't shake them, sandstorms couldn't blind them, and even the threat of falling rocks didn't diminish their resolve.

Meanwhile, underground, a terrifying roar grew louder. But the epicenter was not on the plain—it was the modest mountain upon which the statue of the God of the Plains stood.

With a thunderous crash, the entire mountain range collapsed. The statue and its platform plunged into the earth, and along with them, the dinosaur elder fell.

From Black Rock City's walls and skyline, figures filled with fear watched the astonishing scene unfold.

The once-tranquil plain began to heat up, the towering mountain statue crumbled to dust, and the priests' figures disappeared in the collapse.

Without warning, the plains within dozens of miles transformed into a blazing sea of lava.

"Roar!!!"

A deafening roar echoed, powerful enough to leave every living being in stunned silence, unable to stand or fly properly.

Its head was like a mountain, its arms like claws that could reach the sky, and its body towered like a massive fortress.

It was a creature engulfed in flames, creating such intense heat that the plains, even those parts untouched by lava, burst into flames.

In Black Rock City, the temperature reached a critical point. The river below began to boil, with fish and shrimp floating lifelessly to the surface.

Shark-people fled in panic, some diving headfirst into the boiling river. Winged creatures, whose delicate wings turned red-hot, could no longer sustain flight.

The snake-people managed to endure the extreme heat, but countless dinosaur-people across the city stood in shock, staring at the towering figure against the distant horizon.

"Father...Father God...!" They murmured in awe, "It's Father God!"

"Our Father God, ruler of lava and earth, has returned!"

As the first dinosaur man whispered in awe, the realization spread. Soon, the entire crowd broke into tears of joy, embracing one another in excitement.

And when the first dinosaur man knelt down in reverence, the rest followed, bowing to their God.

"Oh, Great Father God! You are the embodiment of lava and earth! Majestic as the stars, may your light illuminate the world!"

The praise rose in waves, and the whole world seemed to become a palace of worship for their mighty God.

The other three tribes watched in stunned silence. They glanced at the dinosaur-men, then at the colossal figure in the molten sea of fire, overwhelmed with disbelief.

Why was this God of Molten Flame so immense?

Their own gods had never grown so terrifyingly vast over millennia. Why?

---

"Finally, I got out. Just how many meters underground did I dig before falling asleep?"

Breathing in the unique air of the planet, James felt a rush of comfort.

Though the underground lava had been soothing, the tight squeeze had been restrictive.

It was night, but the entire sky was illuminated with a bright red glow from his fiery presence.

After a long, cathartic roar, James finally surveyed his surroundings.

"I was right—this is the place I was looking for. But why does this city seem so much smaller than the last one I built?"

He looked down at the nearby city and saw its tiny inhabitants, the dinosaur people.

It wasn't the city that had shrunk, nor had the dinosaur people. It was he who had grown larger.

In that instant, he realized, "I must have slept for years, maybe centuries, so it makes sense I'd be bigger now."

The previously empty city was now crowded with stone houses, spilling out beyond the city walls. Clearly, the dinosaur people and the other tribes had flourished in his absence.

After glancing at the distant city with interest, James examined himself.

His appearance hadn't changed much, but his flame-covered body now bore intricate patterns, especially across his chest, where a ring of star-like runes glowed.

The rays of light formed a circular shape, filled with twisted lines, mysterious symbols, and characters he couldn't comprehend.

As he took in his transformation, James grew even more curious about the mysteries of this world.

But he didn't dwell on it. He'd explore and grow stronger in time; one day, he would uncover all the secrets this world held.

This confidence came from his incredibly powerful body.

This time, James's awakening was different—not just in power, but in control over his energy.

With a thought, the molten heat spread over the land began retracting back into his body. The ground cooled as he absorbed the fiery energy, with the blazing surface dimming.

As he absorbed the energy, it pooled within his chest, seemingly vanishing into an unknown space.

Just as the land returned to normal, a small, glowing light appeared in front of James—a dot of light so small it could easily be missed.

But somehow, it caught his eye immediately, and he couldn't look away.

In a daze, James extended his large, flaming hand and touched the light with a gentle fingertip.

Instantly, the tiny dot of light ignited, expanding into a fireball. In its blazing core, James glimpsed the faint image of a dinosaur man.

The figure's eyes were closed, its body trembling from the intense heat, yet it wore a serene expression, seemingly at peace.

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