The sky didn't just split—
It bowed.
---
Golden light poured down like judgment itself, swallowing the battlefield in an overwhelming radiance that forced everything—fire, smoke, even sound—to retreat.
The demon froze.
For the first time since its arrival…
It looked afraid.
---
"…No…"
Its voice trembled slightly.
"…Why is he here…?"
---
Kael lay on the shattered ground, barely able to move.
But even in his state—
He felt it.
---
That presence.
---
It wasn't like the god that killed his mother.
It wasn't like the ones that attacked the academy.
---
This was—
Different.
---
Heavier.
Colder.
Absolute.
---
"…So this is a real god…" Rex muttered, his voice unusually quiet.
Even his lightning had faded.
---
Aurora's eyes narrowed.
"…No…"
"…This one is stronger."
---
Lyra stood protectively in front of Kael despite her injuries.
Her hands trembled—
But she didn't step back.
---
The light condensed.
And then—
A figure appeared.
---
Tall.
Radiant.
Wrapped in golden energy that distorted the space around him.
His eyes—
Empty.
Emotionless.
---
But his gaze—
Sharp enough to pierce through existence itself.
---
"…You have caused enough damage."
His voice echoed across the entire battlefield.
Not loud.
Not aggressive.
---
But absolute.
---
The demon immediately dropped to one knee.
"…Lord—"
---
"Silence."
---
One word.
---
And the demon's voice disappeared.
Literally.
---
Its mouth moved—
But no sound came out.
---
Rex's eyes widened.
"…What the hell…?"
---
Aurora whispered:
"…Authority…"
---
The god stepped forward.
Each step—
Cracked reality beneath him.
---
His gaze shifted.
---
And landed—
On Kael.
---
Everything stopped.
---
Kael's breath caught.
His body refused to move.
Not from weakness.
---
From instinct.
---
"…So it's true…"
The god murmured.
---
"You survived."
---
Those same words.
---
From that night.
---
Kael's vision sharpened despite his condition.
"…You…"
His voice was barely a whisper.
---
"You're one of them…"
---
The god tilted his head slightly.
"…And you…"
A pause.
---
"…are the mistake."
---
The air collapsed.
---
Kael's body slammed into the ground as invisible pressure crushed him.
---
"KAEL!" Lyra screamed.
---
She tried to move—
But couldn't.
---
No one could.
---
Only one person remained unaffected.
---
Orion.
---
He stepped forward calmly.
---
"…That's enough."
---
The pressure vanished instantly.
---
The god's eyes shifted.
---
"…Orion."
---
Silence fell.
Heavier than before.
---
"…You're interfering again," the god said.
---
Orion stood between him and the others.
---
"…I warned you."
---
The god's expression didn't change.
But the space around him warped.
---
"You cannot protect him forever."
---
Orion's voice remained calm.
"…I don't need forever."
---
A pause.
---
"…Just long enough."
---
For the first time—
The god's gaze sharpened.
---
"…You think he can reach that point?"
---
Orion didn't hesitate.
---
"Yes."
---
The battlefield held its breath.
---
The god looked back at Kael.
---
"…Then let's test that belief."
---
Before anyone could react—
He moved.
---
Not fast.
---
Instant.
---
He appeared directly in front of Kael.
---
Lyra's eyes widened.
"…NO—"
---
Too late.
---
The god raised his hand.
---
Kael couldn't move.
Couldn't breathe.
Couldn't think.
---
Only one thing remained.
---
That presence.
Inside him.
---
"…Now…"
The voice whispered.
---
Kael's eyes widened.
---
"…If you don't…"
---
"…you die."
---
The world slowed.
---
The god's hand descended.
---
Kael's body screamed.
---
"…Move…"
---
Nothing.
---
"…MOVE—"
---
The glow exploded.
---
Dark-blue energy burst from his chest violently.
---
For a split second—
The blade appeared again.
---
More solid than ever before.
---
Kael grabbed it.
---
And swung.
---
CLANG
---
The impact shook the entire battlefield.
---
The god's hand—
Stopped.
---
Blocked.
---
By Kael.
---
Silence.
---
Everyone stared.
---
Rex's voice barely came out.
"…No way…"
---
Aurora's eyes widened slightly.
"…He blocked… a god…"
---
The god looked at the blade.
Then at Kael.
---
"…So this is it."
---
Kael's entire body trembled.
The pressure was unbearable.
---
"…I'm not dying here…"
---
He pushed harder.
---
The blade cracked slightly.
---
"…Not yet…"
The voice whispered again.
---
The god raised his other hand.
---
"…You're not ready."
---
Before Kael could react—
---
BOOOOOOM
---
He was thrown across the battlefield.
---
The blade shattered instantly.
---
Kael crashed into the ruins, blood spilling from his mouth.
---
"…Damn it…"
---
The god turned away.
---
"…Disappointing."
---
He raised his hand again.
---
This time—
Not for Kael.
---
For everything.
---
A massive golden formation appeared in the sky.
---
"…He's going to erase the entire area…" Aurora said quietly.
---
Lyra's eyes filled with fear.
"…No…"
---
Rex clenched his fists.
"…We can't stop that…"
---
But Orion stepped forward.
---
"…I will."
---
The ground beneath him cracked.
---
For the first time—
His power fully revealed itself.
---
The air around him distorted violently.
---
Even the god paused.
---
"…So you finally stopped holding back."
---
Orion didn't respond.
---
"…Leave."
---
The god smiled faintly.
---
"…Or what?"
---
Silence.
---
Then—
---
Orion disappeared.
---
And reappeared—
Right in front of him.
---
BOOOOOOM
---
The sky itself shattered from the impact.
---
The battlefield exploded into chaos again.
---
God against something equal.
---
Or perhaps—
Something worse.
---
Kael lay on the ground.
Barely conscious.
---
But his eyes—
Were still open.
---
Watching.
---
"…That's… the level I need…"
---
His hand twitched slightly.
---
The faint glow appeared again.
---
Weak.
---
But still there.
---
And this time—
It didn't disappear.