> "It was never a question of whether gods could die. Only how loud they would scream when it happened."
— Nero Caelum
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One Shall Descend
The Divine Council had spoken.
But not all dared act.
Among the Twelve True Gods, only one was reckless enough. Proud enough. Vain enough.
To descend first.
To meet the blasphemy head-on.
His name was:
Thornsoul, the God of Holy Agony.
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Profile: Thornsoul
Draped in an eternal cloak of barbed wire and sanctified chains.
Crowned with nails torn from saints' coffins.
His body is flayed eternally, skin regenerated every second and immediately peeled again.
His voice is a symphony of screaming martyrs.
Worshipped by inquisitors, executioners, and zealots across the Five Realms.
Powers: Pain Amplification, Absolute Torture, Soul-Bonding via wounds.
He believed Nero was just another rebel.
Something to be crucified, then displayed on his cathedral walls.
He did not believe in fear.
Yet.
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The Descent
He did not use a gate.
He ripped a hole in the sky.
A wound in the clouds.
Blood rained from it for miles. Angels screamed in terror. Reality curled at the edges, unable to contain his form.
As he landed on the bones of Seraphim, the very land beneath Nero's domain bled.
He stepped into the mortal realm — and the ground screamed.
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The God Meets the Monster
Nero stood alone atop a mountain of corpses — made from his own kills, each skinned, arranged into a twisted throne of faces and wings.
He watched Thornsoul descend like a meteor of pain.
Nero did not kneel.
He licked his fingers, coated in angel marrow.
Smiled.
> "Nice chains."
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The First Words
Thornsoul's voice scraped across every inch of space:
> "You defile the sacred Vaults. You wear the flesh of saints. You twist the organs of the divine."
> "You are a disease."
Nero tilted his head.
> "And yet… you came down to meet me."
Thornsoul extended his arms.
Chains shot from his body — living, hissing, barbed.
Each chain was etched with scripture.
They moved like serpents, striking for Nero's chest, throat, and limbs.
> "You will die by your own agony," Thornsoul said. "I will flay your soul."
---
The Battle Begins
Chains wrapped around Nero's throat.
Another sliced through his leg — black blood sprayed. His chest burst open, the dual-heart visible and exposed.
> "YESSS..." hissed Thornsoul. "FEEL IT. FEEL—"
Then Nero grabbed the chain.
And bit down.
The chain snapped.
It screamed.
> "You're used to screaming," Nero said, eyes glowing.
"Let's hear you beg."
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Fleshblade Awakens
The blade on Nero's arm twitched.
Then it grew.
An eye opened on its hilt — weeping golden blood.
It howled.
> [WEAPON EVOLUTION TRIGGERED]
Fleshblade of the Seraph Spine → Blade of Saint-Tongues
• Gains voice mimicry.
• Slices now infect divine nerves with madness.
• Can "speak" through wounds.
---
Nero charged.
Thornsoul summoned a forest of nails from the ground.
Nero ran through them, impaled multiple times.
Didn't stop.
He sliced Thornsoul's leg, and the wound sang a hymn of denial.
Then another cut.
Then another.
Until Thornsoul staggered.
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A God's First Pain
The god of pain…
…felt pain.
Real pain.
Not divine agony. Not orchestrated martyrdom.
The pain of dying.
Of being hunted.
Of being lesser.
> "W-what are you—?" he stammered.
Nero whispered.
> "I'm not a man anymore."
> "I'm what happens when you make a man a witness to god… and then leave him behind."
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The Binding Reversal
Thornsoul tried his ultimate attack:
The Binding Crown — a halo of scripture-wrought barbs that, when placed, locks the victim into an eternal loop of suffering.
He cast it.
It landed on Nero's head.
And melted.
Nero reached up.
Pulled the molten crown down.
And shoved it into Thornsoul's mouth.
> "Here. Wear it."
Thornsoul screamed.
> And it was beautiful.
---
Consumption Begins
Nero opened his chest wider.
Tendrils burst forth, wrapping Thornsoul's limbs.
He pulled the god forward — slowly — into his chest cavity.
> "What—what are you doing!?"
> "Feeding the garden."
The tendrils dug into Thornsoul's skin, through muscle, into bone, into memory.
And began absorbing divinity.
Chains screamed. Nails snapped. The realm quaked.
Aetherion felt it.
A god was being consumed.
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[GOD CONSUMED: THORNSOUL]
> Major Abilities Acquired:
• Crown of Thorns: Causes recursive pain in those who harm Nero.
• Martyr's Skin: Regenerates faster when wounded by divine weapons.
• Agony Loop: Can trap weaker minds in simulated endless pain.
• Chain-Song Voice: Every word Nero speaks now carries trace divine influence. Can command lesser angels with his tone.
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Echo Across Heaven
Aetherion shattered in echo.
The throne of Thornsoul crumbled.
His worshippers bled from their eyes. Cathedrals split. Scriptures caught fire in their bindings.
A god had fallen.
Not exiled.
Not wounded.
Eaten.
The remaining gods screamed in their temples.
> "HE CAN KILL US."
"HE IS DEVOURING THE SOURCE."
"HE MUST BE STOPPED."
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Nero's Message
He stood atop Thornsoul's skeleton.
Face and arms smeared in divine pulp.
He lifted the Blade of Saint-Tongues to the sky and shouted:
> "ONE DOWN. ELEVEN TO GO."
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