Chapter 409: The Age of Gods and the Rise of Churches
Two years later.
Calm Belt, Rusukaina Island.
The world was in chaos, reshaped by forces that defied comprehension. Two years had passed, and on the tranquil Rusukaina Island, Kai wandered through an ancient forest, its silence broken only by the soft rustle of leaves. A gentle breeze carried the scent of damp earth and gorilla, while crystal dewdrops glistened on the foliage, catching the light as they fell to the ground.
His footsteps echoed lightly, a steady tap-tap against the forest floor. At last, he paused and turned his gaze upward to the sky.
"Two years," he murmured with a leisurely smile. "The system is nothing if not precise."
Two years had elapsed since the world was set ablaze by the Great Proclamation of Martial Arts. Kai's system, long quiet, had finally stirred, granting him the chance to create a new Avatar. With a casual movement, he settled onto a moss-covered stone, his thoughts drifting to the monumental changes that had swept across the seas.
He opened the Avatar selection interface, his mind sifting through the events of the past two years. The Great Era of Martial Arts, ignited by Hisoka's bold actions, had unleashed a wave of transformation across the world. New powers had risen, and with them, beings revered as gods. These divine figures now commanded the attention of all, their influence reshaping the very fabric of existence.
Not long after Hisoka launched the Great Era of Martial Arts, he faced Orochimaru in a duel that would echo through history. The clash was nothing short of cataclysmic, a spectacle that captivated the world. While Hisoka's power lay in the intangible realm of consciousness, invisible to most, Orochimaru's raw, destructive might stole the spotlight.
At the battle's outset, Hisoka drew Orochimaru into his domain, a world of pure consciousness, intending to trap and defeat him in a realm where he held the advantage. But Orochimaru's mythical beast, the Yamata no Orochi, had reached an SS level, its power woven into his very soul. Even in Hisoka's domain, Orochimaru's defenses were formidable, making a quick victory nearly impossible.
When the fight returned to the physical world, the tide shifted. Orochimaru's ability to attack with all eight heads of the Yamata no Orochi overwhelmed Hisoka, whose diverse abilities and damage immunities kept him alive but couldn't match the sheer ferocity of his opponent. The battle reached its climax when Orochimaru unleashed his ultimate technique: the Yamata Shine.
A terrifying black light wave surged across the sea, rippling outward like a tidal wave, obliterating everything in its path.
Mountains too close to the battlefield were reduced to ash, their peaks shaved down by hundreds of meters. Those unfortunate enough to have settled on high ground were erased, their homes and lives swallowed by the devastation. Only the Holy Land of Marijoa, perched atop the towering Red Line, escaped destruction, spared not by fate but by the planet's curvature, which allowed the deadly wave to pass overhead. The Celestial Dragons, shaken, realized only later how narrowly they had escaped death.
The battle ended in a draw, but its impact was profound. Orochimaru was crowned the Yamata God, and Hisoka was dubbed the Extreme Evil God. Morgans, ever the herald of change, proclaimed the dawn of a new era: the Age of Gods.
The clash between Hisoka and Orochimaru was merely the beginning. Other monumental battles followed, each leaving its mark on the world. Giada and Esdeath clashed in a fierce confrontation, and though Esdeath was defeated, her ice froze nearly half the planet's seas, triggering widespread environmental and societal upheaval. Later, Unohana Retsu challenged Giada, their battle further destabilizing an already turbulent world.
The global consensus was clear: the Age of Gods had arrived. Nearly all of Kai's Avatar, save for the enigmatic Iori Yagami, who remained detached and had yet to display divine power, were now revered as gods. Their actions, whether deliberate or incidental, had reshaped the world, giving rise to a new phenomenon: the Age of Religion.
The Great Era of Martial Arts, combined with the fallout from these godly wars, had plunged the world into chaos. Amid this turmoil, the Kingdom of Corti, led by the King of Miracles, Artoria, emerged as a beacon of hope. Situated in the Wamy Islands, this land of miracles became a sanctuary for those afflicted by famine and disaster. Under Artoria's guidance, the kingdom offered refuge and sustenance, its actions radiating compassion and strength.
Miracles seemed to follow the kingdom. The Wamy Islands began to expand, new land rising from the sea. Crops planted in this newly soil bore fruit overnight, a phenomenon that occurred only once but inspired awe and reverence. The weather around the kingdom turned idyllic, with clear skies and gentle breezes, a stark contrast to the chaos elsewhere.
These miracles were the work of Jin, Artoria's companion, who wielded the power of hope. Finding amusement in playing the role of a deity, she used her abilities to bolster the kingdom, enabling it to support millions of displaced people. In a short time, the Kingdom of Corti's population swelled to millions, and its generosity extended beyond its borders, with food donations reaching nations in need.
The people, grateful for their salvation, began to worship the gods of this miraculous land. From this gratitude, a new religion was born: the Church of Holy Light, led by Bello Betty, a short-haired, purple-haired girl and one of the kingdom's twelve holy knights. The church's influence grew rapidly, its teachings spreading hope and unity.
Artoria's legend grew when she faced Esdeath, the Ice Goddess, in battle. Emerging victorious, she earned the titles of God of Radiance and One Near God, cementing her divine status. Her triumph sparked a wave of religious fervor, leading to the rise of other churches: the Demon Sect, the Ice God Sect, the Sun Sect, the Yamata Sect, the Extreme Evil Sect, and the Chaos Sect, among others. Morgans declared this the Great Age of Religion, a time when faith and power intertwined to reshape the world.
As the world grappled with its transformation, two new organizations emerged to address the rising tide of power and chaos.
The Great Era of Martial Arts had elevated the strength of people worldwide, while the spread of magical energy gave rise to new, anomalous races. In this volatile climate, Artoria, now a near-god, spearheaded the creation of the Hunters Association. This loose organization aimed to regulate the growing power of civilians while fostering balance in a chaotic world. By offering a path for the strong to serve as hunters rather than pirates, the association sought to channel their ambitions constructively.
The World Government, recognizing the potential to curb piracy, joined the initiative. Other powers followed, including the Kingdom of Corti, the Chaos Realm led by the Chaos Goddess Giada, Dark Curtain and various underground organizations led by Morgans. Together, they established the Hunters Association, which quickly spread across the globe, offering structure and purpose to a world on the brink of anarchy.
The World Government, eager to maintain control, initiated another organization: the Magic Pattern Association. This group targeted users of demonic magic, individuals who gained extraordinary abilities through Demon Crests. However, the World Government could not act alone. In regions like West Blue, now a stronghold of Giada's Chaos Realm, or South Blue, dominated by the Dark Curtain, cooperation was essential. North Blue's powerful gangster networks, backed by the Dark Curtain, posed further challenges, while East Blue became a new base for the Revolutionary Army after their withdrawal from West Blue.
The New World remained a chaotic battleground, and the Grand Line was heavily influenced by the Kingdom of Corti's growing presence. Unable to dominate alone, the World Government forged alliances with these superpowers to establish the Magic Pattern Association, ensuring its influence while sharing the benefits with other factions. The Revolutionary Army, however, was excluded from participation.
As Kai sat on the mossy stone, reflecting on these changes, he felt the weight of the new era. The world was no longer the one he had known two years ago. Gods walked among mortals, churches rose to guide the faithful, and new organizations sought to impose order on a world spiraling into chaos. The seas were alive with possibility and danger.
With a thought, he activated the Avatar selection interface. The system hummed to life, ready to grant him a new avatar. As he prepared to make his choice, he couldn't help but wonder: what role would his next Avatar play in this ever-changing world?
The Age of Gods and the Great Age of Religion had begun, and the future was filled with uncertainty.
( End of this chapter )