Ray stood still, blood crusted at the corner of his mouth, staring down the robed priest who had once pretended to be a servant of light. His voice, sharp with restrained fury, cut through the silence.
"Where are they? My friends—where did you take them?"
The priest merely scoffed, his hollow eyes filled with contempt. To him, Ray was still nothing more than a filthy demon—barely baptized, a fledgling vessel for the so-called 'coming of the Demon God.'
"Why should I tell you?" the priest spat, voice rising with righteous arrogance. "Do you truly believe your recent taste of power grants you authority over me? You're still just another pawn!"
I stepped forward, aura simmering with suppressed wrath. "So that's a no?" My voice dropped an octave. "Then allow me to extract the truth from you—by force."
I clenched my fist. I wasn't going to simply read his mind or end him quickly. Not after what he did to those children. His sins ran deeper than blood and fire, and I had just the technique suited for someone like him. I'd let him drown in the same agony he inflicted upon others.
"I will never tell you!" the priest shouted, defiant even as the edges of fear crept into his voice. "You can torture me or kill me—it won't matter. My soul is prepared!"
I raised my hand, eyes glowing coldly. "Then feel every ounce of pain you've ever caused. [Eternal Pain and Death]."
The spell unleashed a cascade of ancient torment. The priest's eyes bulged, veins straining in his temples as the technique took hold. Invisible horrors crawled over his skin, torturing him with every method known to mankind. He screamed—no, wailed—until his voice cracked and his body convulsed.
"STOP! STOP! I'LL TALK! I'LL TELL YOU EVERYTHING!" he shrieked, tears streaming down his face.
I released the spell with a flick of my wrist and placed a boot on his chest, pinning him to the ground. "Then talk. Now."
"Y-Yes... I sold them... sold the children to a slave auction in Charlotte County. Please... please make it stop..."
I stared down at the whimpering shell of a man. "Spare you?" I asked, voice like steel. "You—who preyed on the innocent and betrayed the trust of the weak? You deserve no mercy. I don't care if your god descends himself—I'll strike him down the same way I'll send you to the deepest pits of hell."
With a final touch to his forehead, his body crystallized into a giant emerald, preserving him as a monument to his sins. It was my first time killing a human—but strangely, I felt nothing. Was it hatred that numbed me?
Turning to Ray, I softened my expression. "Shall we go rescue your friends?"
Ray shook his head, eyes filled with resolve. "No. I will go alone. Your training has strengthened me, God-sama. It's time I prove myself."
"Are you certain?" I asked. "You've yet to receive the full extent of my teachings."
"I'll continue sharpening my blade in your honor. Once I've saved them, we will build a statue in your image—so our prayers of gratitude will never be forgotten."
I nodded, impressed by his growth. "Very well. Then take this sword—it was one of my first in the Martial Road."
I handed him a katana, its edge whispering with ancient qi. Ray bowed, said his goodbyes, and left. I dismissed Ghost, knowing his presence would not be needed for a while.
The next morning, I departed the forest, heading toward a forgotten village—one abandoned by the gods. According to the system panel, faith was one of the core sources of divine power. My goal: to reforge my presence as a god and uncover knowledge beyond the system's reach.
As I neared the outskirts, I saw a dire scene: a horde of demon beasts assailing a village defended by poorly-trained warriors. Their coordination was sloppy, and their weapons barely scratched the beasts' hides.
"Oh gods above," the village chief cried, clutching a broken staff. "If any god hears us, please protect us! We will offer you everything!"
Perfect timing.
I ascended into the sky, letting my halo blaze like a second sun. My yin and yang aura thickened until it suffocated the land in holy pressure. The villagers below fell to their knees in awe and terror.
"The heavens have answered!" the chief cried. "A god walks among us!"
"Fear no more!" I shouted, my voice echoing like thunder. "Swear your eternal worship, and I shall become this village's god!"
"We swear it!" the villagers cried in unison.
At once, the demon beasts turned tail and fled into the forest, overcome by sheer divine pressure. The villagers rejoiced and offered up their food in celebration. The chief stepped forward, trembling with reverence.
"Oh great one, may we know your name?"
"I am Angel, the Martial God who reigns above the stars!"
But far across the skies, a colossal dragon stirred from its slumber.
In the Luminos Kingdom, a knight burst into the palace throne room, out of breath and wide-eyed.
"Your Majesty! Urgent report!"
King Joseph Bryton III turned calmly. "Speak, Clovis."
"The western dragon—it's awake. It was seen flying east. Toward something... powerful."
The king narrowed his gaze, his expression grave. "A demon? An angel? Or..." He looked out the window, sunlight haloing his crown.
"Do you mean... a god?" Clovis whispered.
"Yes. Prepare a reconnaissance team. I want eyes on the dragon's destination immediately."
Back at the village, shadows darkened the land. The dragon's vast wings eclipsed the sun, and the villagers panicked, falling to their knees again.
"O divine Angel! Protect us again!"
I extended a hand toward the heavens. "[Heaven's Dragon: Shenpan], heed my command."
A magnificent dragon coiled into view, its white scales gleaming, its golden mane flowing like celestial fire. Shenpan roared, shaking the skies, and met the intruding dragon mid-air.
Two titanic breaths clashed—one of yang-infused light, the other of corrupted fire. Shenpan's breath obliterated the other in a storm of divine radiance, reducing it to ash. The village erupted in praise.
Knights from the Luminos Kingdom arrived moments later, awestruck by Shenpan's presence and my unwavering divine form.
Then, I summoned them—my faithful, the divine pantheon of my new order.
"Appear before your lord."
In an instant, a concealed formation activated. From beams of light and crackling portals, they descended:
"I, Allocer, answer your call."
"I, Chronos, uphold your will."
"I, Azazel, stand ready."
"I, Baal, bend to none but you."
"I, Ganesha, am yours to command."
"I, Manasa, heed the divine call."
"Ares, ready for war."
"Okami greets the divine."
"Raijin stands by."
"Thor, present."
"Odin, greets the Allfather."
"Ryujin, master of tides, answers."
"Boreas, wind of the north, kneels."
"Silvanus, spirit of the forest, bows."
"Marionette, servant eternal, obeys."
"Hephaestus, bringer of forge and flame, stands ready."
"Susanoo, wielder of storms, arrives."
"Ghost Amaterasu, your shadow eternal."
"Akuma, devourer of sins, answers."
"Guan Yu, the sacred blade, kneels."
"Fujin, swift as thought, obeys."
"Savitr, charioteer of light, greets."
"Abaddon, celestial of judgment, arrives."
"Indra, lord of thunder, presents himself."
"Apollyon, of the Demon Clan—the strongest celestial—bows to no one but you."
My pantheon had arrived. And so began the rise of a new religion—one forged by power, fear, and awe.
The age of Angel had begun.