The Fury Wave's last embers faded into smoke, leaving the Ascension Trials quieter than it had any right to be.
Too quiet.
Haru Cyrius and the battered alliance—Clara, Leonhardt, Wildane, Luna, Mireille, Rhaizen—stood on a half-shattered island, chests heaving, weapons dripping gold and beast blood. Their Crests glowed hotter now, hidden powers teasing at the edges like a promise… or a trap.
The scoreboard hovered huge in the crimson sky:
FIGHTERS REMAINING: 2,612 TIME LEFT: 17:03:41 HIDDEN CREST POWERS UNLOCKED – USE WISELY
Haru flexed his fingers. The chains were gone completely. Raw spiritual energy crackled around his fists, golden and wild. "Feels like I stole my destiny back… for five minutes."
Clara's spear hummed holy light, healing everyone slow but steady. "Don't jinx it."
Leonhardt cracked his neck, lion mane wild. "We're stronger. That's what matters."
Wildane stared at the horizon, wind still swirling restless around him. "Strong enough to punch a god in the face?"
Before anyone could answer, the sky changed.
The crimson clouds didn't part—they peeled back like flesh, revealing a massive golden eye staring down. One single eye, bigger than mountains, pupil slit like a serpent's. Divine pressure slammed everyone to their knees. Air turned thick as syrup. Hearts skipped beats.
The announcer's voice cracked for the first time—nervous, almost scared.
"UHH… FOLKS, WE GOT COMPANY. A CELESTIAL THRONE IS WATCHING LIVE! NO INTERFERENCE PROMISED… BUT WHO KNOWS WITH GODS?"
Whispers exploded across the battlefield. Fighters froze mid-fight. Beasts whimpered.
Then a second eye opened beside the first. Then a third. Ten in total—each a different color, each radiating power that made the Divine Seeds look like kids with sticks.
The central eye focused on Haru's group.
A voice—not the announcer—boomed inside every fighter's skull. Deep, ancient, amused.
"Mortals. Sacrifices. Entertainment. You glimpsed the seal. Clever. But the game continues. Prove you are worthy keys… or worthless fodder."
Haru gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stand. "Show yourself, coward!"
The eyes laughed—thunder that rattled bones.
Golden light spears rained down—not attacks, but spotlights. They pinned ten fighters across the Arena, forcing epic poses whether they wanted or not.
The god-voice announced like a twisted host:
"Behold the current favorites—the ones who might break my seal!"
First beam: Azra, mid-rampage, black fire wings spread, claws dripping divine beast blood.
"THE NAMELESS BEAST—PROTOTYPE OF DESTRUCTION!"
Second: Xyphira, floating seductive, whips cracking pink lightning.
"THE FALLEN GODDESS—MY NAUGHTY EXILE RETURNS!"
Third: Yura Zahdavel, shadows coiling, blades void-black.
"THE SILENT EXECUTIONER—GOD-HUNTER WITH MY SCENT ON HIM!"
Fourth: Akira Qadrawi, runes orbiting chaotic.
"THE CURSED MAGUS—HERALD I DID NOT ASK FOR!"
The list went on—Christine, Lady Sakura, Yuzde, Armane… until the tenth beam hit Haru dead center.
Golden light locked him in place, arms spread, spiritual energy flaring unwilling.
"AND THE STOLEN HERO—WHOSE FATE I BORROWED. WILL HE RECLAIM IT… OR SERVE ME STILL?"
Haru roared, trying to move. Couldn't. The eye zoomed in on his face, broadcasting it huge across the sky for every fighter to see.
The god-voice whispered just to him: "You were meant to be mine from birth, boy. The thief? My hand. Run far… you still end here."
Rage exploded. Haru's Crest burned white-hot.
Across the Arena, the spotlights triggered something.
Hidden Crest powers fully unlocked—whether fighters were ready or not.
Azra's Eclipse Beast Mode evolved—horns grew longer, black fire turned void-purple.
Xyphira's wings spread wider, temptation aura turning hypnotic.
Yura's shadows deepened, blades gaining red edges.
And Haru? Golden spiritual energy turned celestial gold—pure, blazing, chains reforming but now weapons.
The gods laughed again.
"Gifts. Or shackles. Now… entertain us properly."
The spotlights vanished.
Pressure lifted.
But the Arena shifted hard.
Islands collided. Gravity flipped in zones. New beasts—no, avatars—spawned. Mini-god constructs wearing the faces of the watching eyes.
The real fights began.
Haru's group got swarmed first.
Five avatars—humanoid, golden armor, weapons of pure divine light—dropped around them.
The leader wore a mask shaped like the central eye.
"Prove your worth, sacrifices."
Wildane charged first. "Tempest King's Wrath—Storm Sovereign!"
Full-powered now—winds turned into a hurricane crown. He slashed, tornado blades carving avatars.
One parried effortless, countering with light spear.
Leonhardt intercepted. "Lionheart Awakening—King's Roar!"
Shockwave clashed with divine light—explosion rocked the island.
Clara thrust. "Sanctum Reversal—Holy Ascension!"
Spear glowed angelic, reversing avatar wounds into self-damage while healing allies.
Luna wove. "Silver Eclipse Wave—Lunar Judgment!"
Silver waves crashed, barriers turning offensive—moon blades slicing armor.
Mireille danced. "Silver Thorn Strike—Eternal Bloom!"
Rapier blurred into hundred thrusts, thorns exploding inside divine metal.
Rhaizen erupted. "Light Purification Burst—Dawnbreaker!"
Sacred blade became sun itself, burning avatars from inside.
Haru stood center, new celestial chains whipping like living gold.
"Celestial Breaker—Destiny's Fury!"
He launched—slow-mo epic. Chains lassoed two avatars, yanked them close. Double fist slam—golden supernova.
Avatars cracked but reformed.
The eye-mask leader laughed with the god's voice. "Better. But not enough."
It raised a hand—reality warped. Time slowed for everyone except Haru.
The god whispered again: "Watch them die, stolen hero. Then choose—serve or perish."
Avatars struck lightning fast.
Wildane took a spear through the shoulder.
Leonhardt's armor shattered.
Clara's healing faltered.
Luna's barrier cracked.
Mireille bled from a dozen cuts.
Rhaizen's light dimmed.
Haru screamed—no sound in slowed time.
Rage peaked.
His Crest exploded white.
New power surged—something stolen returning.
"Celestial Breaker—True Awakening!"
Time shattered back to normal.
Haru blurred—faster than eyes. Chains turned into golden dragon arms. He grabbed the leader avatar, crushed its mask.
"Tell your god—this hero's done being stolen!"
He slammed it down—island cracked in half.
The other avatars hesitated.
Across the Arena, similar chaos.
Azra tore avatars like paper, roaring at the eyes.
Xyphira whipped them into submission, laughing manic.
Yura decapitated one after another, shadows swallowing light.
Akira overloaded runes—cataclysm deleting constructs.
Christine burned them with phoenix fury.
Every Divine Seed powered up, fighting not just to survive—but to defy.
The gods' eyes narrowed.
Pressure returned heavier.
The central eye spoke final words:
"Defiance noted. The seal enjoys rebellion… it makes the breaking sweeter. One hour remains in Ascension. Then only 1,000 walk forward. Choose who dies next… carefully."
The eyes closed.
Sky sealed shut.
Silence.
Then the scoreboard glitched hard.
FIGHTERS REMAINING: 2,312 TIME LEFT: 16:59:59
Haru dropped to one knee, panting. His group barely standing, wounds deep.
Clara coughed blood but smiled weak. "We… pissed off actual gods."
Leonhardt laughed rough. "Good."
Wildane clutched his shoulder. "They're scared."
Luna looked up fearful. "Or amused."
In the distance, shadows moved—Yura watching. Azra roaring challenge at the closed sky. Xyphira blowing a kiss upward.
Haru stood slow, eyes burning celestial gold.
"One hour. Then the real blood starts."
He looked at his alliance—bleeding, broken, defiant.
"Anyone backing out?"
Silence.
Then Wildane grinned bloody. "To the end."
They nodded.
But high above, unseen, the seal cracked wider.
A single tentacle of the Void Eater slipped through—just for a second.
Whispering one name.
Haru.