Word spread like wildfire.
"Iron Veil has fallen!"
"Aether is real!"
"He wields the System's own laws like a sword!"
All across the Lower Realm, oppressed cities lit signal fires, rallying under the mark of the Black Serpent. Even mid-realm nobles began whispering of change.
But in the sky, a Council of Overgods gathered — furious, afraid.
"He's breaking fate. The Law Thread itself is fraying!"
Zephyrion, the Seraph of Judgement, whispered:
"We must awaken... the Ascendant Enforcer."
That night, Aira wandered through the ruins of Iron Veil alone.
Her fingers trembled as she held her starlight bow.
She'd once been a loyal servant of the Divine System.
She had orders buried deep in her soul-code:
"If Aether ever becomes too powerful... you must be the one to kill him."
Suddenly, the moon split.
A spiritual projection of Nahida appeared before her.
"You love him," Nahida said softly.
Aira froze.
"But I loved him first," Nahida added.
"Would you still love him… when he forgets himself?"
Aira stepped forward, trembling.
"Even if he becomes a monster," Aira whispered,
"Then I'll become his monster too."
The spirit of Nahida smiled sadly… and vanished into starlight.
The rebellion moved next toward the City of Chains, guarded by Six System Knights, elite chosen warriors who hadn't been defeated in centuries.
One by one, they came.
Knight of Wind – slain by Oroboros midair.
Knight of Bones – disintegrated by Graveheart Surge.
Knight of Null – tried to erase Aether's existence... and failed.
Knight of Mirror – shattered by Aira's double-arrow.
Knight of Gravity – consumed by Beelzebubb.
Knight of Starfire – the last one standing.
This one paused.
"You… were a system bug once. But now you're the virus."
Aether smirked coldly.
"No. I'm the update."
He walked through the fire, killing the final knight with a snap of darkened light.
Aether gathered the freed prisoners in the courtyard.
But one of them — a young girl with black eyes — approached and knelt.
"You saved us… Thank you, Keiran."
Aether flinched.
Keiran… his old identity, before regression.
Before betrayal.
Before Nahida died.
"Where did you hear that name?" he asked.
The girl smiled — and transformed.
She became Aira's old commander, a divine soul-guard.
"Keiran was your real self. Aether is your corrupted form."
"No," Aira growled, summoning her bow.
"You don't get to manipulate him again."
The commander smirked.
"Then show him the message in your soul-mark. Show him your orders."
Aether's eyes narrowed.
"Aira. What is he talking about?"
Aira hesitated.
"Before I met you again… I was given a final command. If your power ever exceeds system limit—"
"You're to kill me."
Silence.
The rebellion froze.
Even Oroboros snarled lowly.
Aether's eyes glowed with shifting red-black energy.
"So what now?" he asked.
Aira walked closer.
She dropped her bow.
"Now I choose you. Not the system."
"Even if it means death?"
"Even if it means burning in your shadow."
Aether reached out and took her hand.
"Then we burn together."
They kissed — not sweet, not pure, but desperate. A moment stolen from the jaws of war.
Suddenly, the skies darkened.
A star blinked out.
Then another.
Descending from the heavens came the Ascendant Enforcer — a cosmic being shaped like a void knight with stars for eyes and a blade made of black holes.
"You have broken three divine laws," the being said.
"Prepare to be judged."
Aether's aura flared.
The System screamed.
WARNING: Divine Lawbreaker Detected
LIMIT BREAK UNLOCKED
Authority Access: Realm Editor
Ultimate Skill: "Delete Law"
He pointed to the Enforcer.
"You're not the law anymore."
"You're my warning."
The battle that followed ripped through reality.
Planets bent. Time slowed. Rebels watched from afar as their leader fought a being that shouldn't even exist.
And when Aether emerged—bloodied but standing—the world shook.
He walked to the rebels.
"We are no longer beneath the gods."
"We are the new system."
Behind him, Aira stepped beside him.
And above, Nahida's fading spirit whispered:
"You've become more than I ever imagined."