[Eh, I see tons of Gus crawling around your feet. Also, I know a powerful Gu that just eats fruits.]

"Ridiculous."

​​

[Ridiculous or not, it's true. Then again, you aren't devouring them either. What's the story behind that?]

"We cannot. We have the desire too, but not the capabilities."

[Oh? Why is that so?]

"Because our freedom has been lost. Because we are but the pet of a devious god. Because we fell for his trap."

[Wow. Bummer. Still, as they say, make peace, not war. But honestly, your way of life is flawed.]

"Outrageous! You should be worried about yourself human for we…"

[Hey, hear me out first. Think about it. What is the point of being the strongest if you are the only one to remain?]

"We need to be the strongest so no one can ever trample on us ever again."

[Why do I feel like you used to be a tiny centipede and then some random guy stepped on you and you're still holding a grudge?]

"How dare you! Give me one good reason why we shouldn't devour you!"

[Because you can't?]

"You seem to be mistaken, human. We cannot eat the other Gus but we can devour you without any issue."

[No, no. You're the one that's not listening. You can't.]

"Yes, we can—"

That's the exact moment that I decide to summon a raging inferno. Ah, but I control it just so it doesn't affect any Gu. I just want to intimidate not kill.

The giant centipede sees the fireball with divine energy I'm holding and promptly shuts ups.

[Any question?]

"You…are not human. What are you?"

[I'm human. I just happen to be able to use divine energy. No biggie.]

"This no biggie of yours is enough to threaten the balance of the entire universe and….or perhaps we are simply lacking knowledge. We have been stuck here for so long after all."

[Yep, definitely the latter. But seriously I'm telling you. Your path is wrong.]

"My path?"

[Yep, eating your brethren isn't the way to go.]

"?!?"

[Sure, it may make you a tiny bit more powerful, but there are better alternatives.]

"How are you so sure, human?"

[Do you think I achieved the little power I have sacrificing friends? Nope.]

"What does that have to do with…?"

[So what if you are a Gu? Why don't you just aim to comprehend divinity as I've done?]

"Comprehend divinity? A Gu like us?"

[Yep.]

"You bring an interesting point, human. We do not know if this is possible, however."

[The possibilities are endless in life. Especially in a world with magic. Oh, I'm not saying you'll be able to figure it instantly. You can take your time. Plus, you are stuck here anyway, right?]

"Yes, we are stuck here till eternity. All thanks to this accursed chain that binds us."

That's when he moves a bit, revealing a very weak-looking blue glowing thread that seems to be connected to the floor itself.

[This little thread is what's holding a big guy like you?]

"It is enchanted with divinity. I cannot break it."

[How about I try?]

I slowly start walking toward it. Should I try and make scissors out of divine energy? That could maybe work. Maybe not, who knows. In any case, I just need to try and….

*THUD!*

Don't ask me how, but somehow, I tumble over my own feet. This is kinda awkward. Oh well, it can't be helped. I quickly get up, looking at the Gu.

[Let us never speak of this again, alright?]

"How?!"

[What did I just say? How I fell isn't important.]

"I meant the divine chain…"

I turn around. While falling I somehow accidentally snapped the blue thread. Ah, talk about flimsy! I can't help but scratch my head.

[Honestly, it was just really weak.]

"B-but I've been trying to remove that for ages!"

[Wait, what happened to the 'we' instead of the 'I'?]

"This doesn't matter right now! I'm free! I'm finally free! After all this time!"

[Good for you! What do you plan on doing now? If you tell me pointlessly eat weak Gus for no reason I swear I'll barbecue you right away.]

"I'll try it. I'll try and cultivate into a divine Gu! Actually, I was just about to succeed back in the Earth realm. Back then I was devouring other Gus and heroes alike."

[Oh? Then what happened?]

"Well, before I could evolve and gain divinity I was captured by this asshole."

[I understand how you feel. It's like getting killed by a hacker. Very similar to getting spawn killed too. The point is, it sounds really depressing.]

"It is the worst! I'm glad you understand!"

[I wish you good luck with that. By the way, is there anything to see here?]

"Nothing than what one sees here."

[This is boring. What about the guy this place belongs to?]

"I'm not sure when he will come back. Perhaps in a few hundred years."

[Wow, that's a long time. I have trouble planning what I'll eat for dinner. I can't believe that someone could be gone for hundreds of years at once!]

"For the gods, this much is normal. The oldest deities can be unreachable for so long that almost everyone forgets their very existence."

[What about their followers?]

"I'm really not sure how this all works. I'm a Gu, not a God."

[Fair point. You just gotta work hard to become a Gu god then haha.]

"I will. I will for sure."

That is when I start sensing that feeling of weight that accompanies every return. It seems my time will soon be up. Oh well, it can't be helped.

[I gotta go.]

"Shame, I enjoyed meeting you. Thank you for saving me. I will forever remember this debt."

[What's with that attitude? What happened to Gus being demonic? Plot hole?!]

"If a goofy-looking human like you can use divine energy why can't a Gu decide to turn a new leaf? I may be a Gu but I know a lot about human customs. I am simply digging into that knowledge right now."

Wow. Now I can't help but picture a giant centipede as an exchange student. Just chilling in a random university, learning the culture. Yep, this scene would be hilarious.

But before I go…

[Here, let me give you a parting gift.]

"?"

[Close your eyes and try to feel it.]

I slowly make divine energy circulate in his centipede body. I'm not sure if this will help or not, but it's worth a try.

I can hear my new Gu friend purr has the energy course through him. Now, this is getting weirder and weirder.

Oh well, whatever. I finally end it. Then I simply wave him goodbye as I'm slowly disappearing.

I can see a Gu bowing with his entire body in my direction. I may not have met the god but this was nice. Guess that counts as a pretty satisfying walk. Now, where should I visit?...