Atlas and Lilim made their way through the chaotic crowd. After what felt like hours of weaving through noise, chatter, and flashing lights, they finally reached a peaceful street — eerily quiet, with barely a soul in sight. The sudden silence was almost unsettling, a stark contrast to the chaos they had just escaped.
Atlas glanced around, his gaze lingering on the empty storefronts and dim lamps. "Walking sure sucks," he muttered under his breath. "Isn't there a more convenient way to travel?"
He hadn't expected a response, but Lilim tilted her head slightly and answered with that soft, melodic tone of hers. "Actually, Master, there is a better way. I would have mentioned it earlier, but I assumed you preferred walking."
Atlas raised an eyebrow at her. "I only walked because I assumed we had no other choice," he said dryly. "What other option is there, then?"
"We could fly," Lilim replied matter-of-factly, folding her hands behind her back as she walked beside him. "By using our divine power, we can craft fitting wings onto our backs. Or," she continued, glancing up at the faint glow of the night sky, "we could simply use divine energy to levitate and then manipulate gravitational magic to control our flight. Both methods are effective — it depends on which one you prefer."
Atlas exhaled through his nose, half annoyed and half intrigued. "I don't know any gravitational magic," he admitted. "So I guess we'll use the first option." He paused, rubbing the back of his neck as he added with faint irritation, "Another skill I have to learn… great."
Lilim smiled softly at his tone — it was rare to see her Master express mild frustration instead of cold confidence. "You'll master it quickly, I'm sure," she said reassuringly. "You're already far more attuned to divine essence than most Deities I've ever known."
Atlas shot her a sideways glance. "Flattery, Lilim?"
"Honesty, Master," she corrected gently, her faint smile unwavering.
He chuckled lightly, shaking his head. "You're quite the charmer when you want to be."
"Only when it concerns you," she replied without hesitation, her voice soft but genuine.
Atlas stopped walking for a moment, his expression unreadable as he studied her. Then, faint amusement touched his lips. "Alright," he said, finally relenting. "Let's see if you can teach me how to fly."
Lilim's eyes brightened slightly, her usual calm composure tinged with excitement. "Yes, Master," she said, stepping closer. "It's easier than it seems — once you understand the concept."
The air around them began to stir, faint traces of divine power rippling outward from Lilim like a soft hum of static. Atlas could feel it — her energy was pure yet dense, refined to an almost unnatural degree.
"Watch closely," she said, her voice calm and deliberate.
Atlas did.
He watched in quiet awe as Lilim's wings unfolded — sleek, black, and radiant with a faint metallic shimmer that rippled like oil beneath starlight. The wings were vast yet graceful, each movement stirring the air with soft, melodic currents of divine energy.
"Beautiful," Atlas murmured unconsciously, his eyes tracing the symmetry of each feather.
Lilim's cheeks flushed a faint shade of crimson at her Master's words. "T-thank you, Master," she said softly, her wings twitching slightly at the compliment.
"Show me how to do it," Atlas said.
Lilim stepped closer, her divine aura brushing against his like a silken veil. "It's simple," she began. "You must first envision the concept of freedom — not the physical act of escape, but the divine expression of being unbound. That emotion anchors the wings. Once that's done, channel your divine essence to the point between your shoulder blades. Let your divinity take form naturally — don't force it."
Atlas closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. He followed her guidance, focusing on that primal, intoxicating sense of freedom — the feeling of being above everything, of looking down upon the world like a supreme god who authors the stories of all beings.
Moments later, the air around him shimmered. Dark and light tendrils of divine energy spiraled behind his shoulders, coalescing into tangible form. A pair of wings began to emerge — vast and regal, but unfinished, their structure wavering like a mirage.
"Good," Lilim said softly, admiration coloring her tone. "You're doing wonderfully, Master. Now... stabilize them with your will. Remember — the wings are an extension of you. They obey your command, not your doubt."
Atlas's jaw tightened, his focus absolute. The flickering energy solidified, and with a soft whump, two enormous crimson wings burst into full existence.
Lilim blinked in awe. "They're… magnificent," she whispered. "Different from mine, yet perfect. Yours feel commanding. They suit you perfectly, Master."
Atlas flexed them once, feeling the power surge through his spine. A smirk touched his lips. "Hmm, not bad."
He crouched slightly, and with a single powerful flap, the wind around them exploded outward. Dust scattered, trees trembled, and Atlas shot into the sky like a spear of crimson light.
Lilim quickly followed, her wings slicing the air as she joined him above the city skyline.
The view was breathtaking — an endless sprawl of lights, moving cars, and metallic towers stretching to the horizon. Beneath them, people continued their small lives, oblivious to the deities gliding above their world.
"Even with all their technology," Atlas said, looking down, "they still crawl instead of soar."
Lilim flew beside him, her expression soft but reverent. "Perhaps that's what separates gods from mortals, Master — they look up to the sky and wish, while we simply take it."
Atlas chuckled darkly at her words, glancing at her mid-flight. "Well said."
Then, with a gesture, he tilted forward and accelerated, his wings leaving a faint trail of crimson sparks in the air. Lilim followed close behind, her laughter echoing faintly through the clouds — divine, haunting, and strangely serene.
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After indulging in the thrill of soaring through the open skies — the wind cutting against his face and the rush of power coursing through his veins — Atlas finally remembered why he had come to this realm in the first place. The freedom of flight had nearly distracted him from his true purpose: killing the spirit guardian of this realm.
"Lilim," Atlas began, his voice calm but carrying that ever-present undertone of command, "let's go buy some clothes quickly — don't forget that we still need to destroy this planet and its realm."
"Yes, Master," Lilim replied, obedient as always, her voice carrying a soft melody beneath its submissive tone.
They soared together through the clouds once more, this time with purpose. Atlas kept his eyes sharp, scanning below for any place that looked suitable — a gathering point of mortals, perhaps, where they could easily blend in for a short while.
It didn't take long before he spotted one — a massive structure alive with glowing lights and a ceaseless hum of energy.
"There," he said, lowering his altitude. "That should do."
Without another word, the two descended from the heavens, the wind spiraling around them as their beings broke through the air. The moment they landed — with all the elegance of fallen stars — gasps erupted from the crowd gathered near the mall's entrance.
"Woah…" someone muttered, awe-struck.
"Did they just fly down here?" another voice whispered, half in disbelief.
Atlas didn't spare them a glance. Neither did Lilim. Their wings folded in unison before vanishing entirely — dissolving into faint wisps of divine energy that left the air shimmering.
Standing tall amidst the murmuring crowd, Atlas's expression was one of quiet amusement. "Who would've guessed," he said, his gaze sweeping over the neon signs and glass doors ahead, "that technology would advance this much after my death."
The light reflected off his crimson eyes as he took in the sight — holographic advertisements, automated sliding doors, and the strange hum of human innovation.
Lilim, standing beside him, looked around curiously, her divine aura faintly suppressing itself to keep from overwhelming the mortals nearby.
"They've built quite a fascinating civilization," she observed softly. "Almost as if they're trying to imitate divinity with machinery."
Atlas chuckled faintly at her words. "Humans have always tried to replace what they can't understand."
With that, they entered the mall.
Every pair of eyes turned toward them — drawn to the surreal beauty and commanding presence of the pair. Conversations halted mid-sentence. Phones were subtly lifted to capture photos, though most didn't even dare approach.
To the eyes of onlookers, they were an impossibly beautiful couple — regal, ethereal, and out of place in a world made of glass and steel.
Lilim walked half a step behind Atlas, her hands clasped neatly in front of her, her every motion graceful and precise.
Atlas, meanwhile, walked with the natural composure of a monarch — his gaze calm, detached, yet suffused with an unspoken authority that made people unconsciously part ways before him.
"Where should we begin?" Lilim asked quietly, her eyes darting toward the rows of glowing stores.
"Anywhere that sells what's necessary," Atlas replied, his tone casual but steady. "We don't need to draw more attention than we already have."
Lilim nodded, then, as they walked deeper into the mall, added softly, "Even among mortals, Master, you still stand out. It's almost… poetic."
Atlas smirked faintly. "Maybe. Or maybe it's just habit."
And with that, the pair disappeared into the heart of the mall.