Planet Earth, Year 2130
This is the era where humanity made a breakthrough after discovering an alien civilization and unlocking their potential. They gained the wisdom to harness universal energy and evolve. But who knew this discovery would become humanity's nightmare in the upcoming future?
After 25 years…
Earth's surroundings were thick with the scent of blood and the remains of war as explosions enveloped countries and their natives. Desperate cries of people and children echoed everywhere. People watched their civilization crumble before their eyes.
The sky was enveloped in flames as broken warships fell like meteoroids. The ground began splitting apart as hot molten lava emerged from within.
In this event, 80% of the total population was wiped out, and the remaining were desperate to survive.
Suddenly—
Boom…
A huge explosion rang out as a burst of energy was released with immense pressure.
From the explosion, a figure was suddenly thrown out and collided with the ground—
Bang
—creating a deep pit.
As the dust settled, a figure came into view. He wore striking red-blue Armor, now half torn, revealing his black hair and golden Iris eyes. His body was bleeding profusely. Beside him lay his blade, shimmering with energy.
This figure was none other than Earth's strongest war god—"Kael."
The genius who, in all of history, achieved the legendary level of War God.
Throughout humanity's discovery of alien civilizations, a cultivation manual was uncovered. This manual contained information on how an ordinary species could rise to become a being capable of destroying a city with a mere punch. It included various techniques such as elemental control, sword techniques, and more.
Only a few people got the chance to inherit this manual and cultivate—and one of those candidates was Kael.
Since birth he was an orphan who lived a life full of hardship, yet he crawled forward and endured his miserable existence, fighting to the end to become Earth's strongest War God.
Since childhood, he had a knack for cultivation. His instincts were unusually sharp, and his countless near-death experiences helped him lay a strong foundation, allowing him to cultivate faster than others.
But even in the present, an exceptional genius like Kael was struggling.
Kael was breathing heavily as he stared at countless dead bodies lying beside him… and the echoes of people who were desperately begging him to save them still rang in his ears.
Kael was half-kneeling as blood flowed from his body, but his eyes burned with cold fury as he coldly stared at the figure in the sky.
The figure was majestic, carrying an air of superiority, and behind him lay several interstellar ships and 50 elite warriors clad in blue-white armor. Each of them was exceptionally strong, and behind them stood hundreds of soldiers, each capable enough to wipe out a city on their own… their presence not only overwhelmed Earth's defense forces but also shifted the atmosphere, as if a calamity had descended upon Earth…
Then the figure slowly and gracefully descended from the smoke-filled sky.
He resembled a human… but not quite.
Two obsidian-black horns curved upward like a crown. His eyes glowed jade-green, like a dragon's. His armor was seamless—metallic yet organic—pulsing faintly with alien runes.
He landed gently.
But his presence was so overwhelming that the moment his feet touched the surface of Earth, an energy ripple spread like a wave, tearing apart the ground as if it were nothing. Beneath his presence, Kael felt insignificant… like a speck of dust in comparison to Earth itself.
He looked at Kael.
Expressionless.
"Impressive," the alien said calmly. His voice carried no emotion—only superiority.
"For a primitive species, reaching half-step Planetary Level in merely twenty-five years… remarkable."
"Shut… up," Kael retorted, meeting the alien's eyes.
The alien tilted his head slightly.
"You are the anomaly. The one they call 'War God.'"
In the alien's presence, Kael forced himself to stand. His body trembled as he grabbed the blade beside him and raised his head to meet the alien's gaze. They stared at each other…
Then the alien narrowed his eyes, his voice devoid of any emotion, yet cold.
"I see you still haven't grasped the reality of the situation… and the gap in power."
His voice turned even colder.
"I can wipe you out of existence—and your entire civilization—in an instant."
His expression shifted slightly as he narrowed his eyes in annoyance.
"I don't like the expression in your eyes… that flame of determination and hope."
As he said that, an overwhelming pressure descended upon Kael.
Kael felt a sudden shock, as if his internal organs and bones were about to shatter at any moment. His body trembled. His eyes were bloodshot. His grip on the blade tightened, the weapon trembling as he channeled his energy into it.
The blade shimmered under his power… as if responding to its wielder's fury.
Kael's blade was no ordinary weapon, but a relic from the fallen ruins of an ancient tomb—"Jin"—discovered by Kael himself. Its origin was unknown. Since Kael discovered it as a reward, the blade had been given to him.
The specialty of this blade was that it responded to the user's emotions. Not anyone could wield it—only its master, bound through blood.
Kael's blade roared as violent sparks ignited around him…
His voice was not loud—but cold—as he barely suppressed the fury raging inside him.
"You came to my planet," Kael said hoarsely. "You slaughtered my people."
His energy flared violently as he roared,
"How dare you… think you can take everything from us and still stand above us like a god?"
The alien's jade eyes narrowed faintly as he noticed the sudden shift, yet he remained expressionless.
"This planet now belongs to the Draveth Dominion. Your resistance was… statistically irrelevant."
Kael's aura flared even more as he raised his blade, its edge shimmering with violent energy and murderous intent.
"As long as I breathe—Earth does not fall into your hands."
The alien sighed. His voice remained calm, even in front of Kael's fury… as if he were dealing with something insignificant.
Kael, without waiting another second, sliced forward… a semi-blade arc manifested, then transformed into a tidal wave of pure energy.
It traveled at astonishing speed and struck the alien directly…
A massive explosion engulfed him.
The ground shattered, and the pressure of the blast collapsed several nearby buildings within a ten-mile radius. The energy soared into the sky, brightening the darkened atmosphere…
People, after witnessing the attack land directly on the alien—and the sheer scale of the explosion—felt a sliver of hope…
But Kael's expression remained serious as he stared at the explosion.
Suddenly—
Everyone witnessed a vertical crimson slash.
A perfect vertical cut.
In an instant, the explosion was divided in two… split open.
And from within the explosion, the alien walked gracefully toward Kael. Behind him, the explosion burst apart…
His expressionless face remained unchanged, as if it had no effect on him.
His voice boomed—
"You are at 9.7% compatibility with our base combat unit. Admirable… but still insignificant."
Then he raised one hand.
Hundreds of alien stellar ships adjusted their formation. Their cannons pointed toward the planet, each pulsing with condensed energy.
The alien spoke, his voice slightly colder—
"Your species… is the reason you fight so desperately? The reason for your determination?"
Then he snapped his fingers.
"Then allow me to erase that reason."
Kael stared at the interstellar ships, their pulsing cannons sending ripples through the atmosphere… an ominous feeling settled in his heart. But before he could speak—
A thunderous sound resounded across the sky.
The alien stellar ships began firing. Several hypersonic beams shot toward Earth with calculated precision.
The sky filled with terrifying condensed energy. Each strike erased hundreds of miles of civilization. A series of explosions rang out as the sky lit up, and Earth was swallowed in a storm of flames…
Cities vanished.
Mountains shattered.
Entire regions were wiped from existence.
But not a single beam was aimed at Kael. He and the alien stood at the center of it all…
Kael watched as people were abruptly torn apart… reduced to ash in an instant. Their desperate cries echoed in his ears, yet he remained standing…
This massacre was beyond his capabilities. He didn't know who to save… or how.
He was powerless. Outnumbered. Alone.
And yet—all hope was pinned on him.
The alien's expression remained unchanged, as if he were watching insignificant bugs crumble beneath his feet. Then, a sarcastic voice echoed—
"Look closely, War God… this is the weight of your defiance. Every life lost—because you chose to stand against us."
Hearing this—seeing all of this—
Kael's aura flickered as sparks spread like spiderwebs around him. Suddenly, he dropped to his knees… his expression turning grave. He touched the surface of the Earth—it was burning hot.
The alien—Dravis—watched in silence.
Then, with sudden fury, Kael drove his blade into the ground. His eyes burned with rage.
The ground pulsed.
Kael's energy surged like waves, pouring deep into the Earth. A vast amount of power spread outward as the ground erupted with energy.
From the surface, beams of energy soared into the sky. Massive chunks of earth rose, forming a shield against the incoming beams…
But the energy consumption was terrifying.
Kael was breathing heavily, then spat out a mouthful of blood. Exhausted… yet still holding his ground.
He let out a defiant roar.
In response to its master's will, the blade burst with terrifying energy…
The alien seemed somewhat amused, watching Kael endure such immense pain.
Kael bit his lip until it bled.
His eyes turned bloodshot.
His body trembled violently…
Then—after what felt like an eternity—
The attack from the interstellar ships stopped.
Kael immediately ceased channelling his power. Weakly, he pulled his blade from the ground…
He looked around.
Everything was gone.
The land was completely ruined—strewn with bodies… shattered arms, severed heads, and burned corpses lying cold.
In the distance, he could hear it—
The silent weeping of those who had lost everything…
And the cries of those still in pain.
Kael glanced at them. He could clearly feel their hope crumble… and despair wash over them.
Kael steadied his body and raised his blade. His voice boomed—
"Don't sink into despair! I know this crisis seems like the end for us all… but sitting idly won't help us now. Even if this is the end, I have no regrets. I will fight until my last breath!"
A powerful burst of energy soared into the sky—like a symbol of hope.
Kael could feel his core reaching its limits… constantly trembling. Clearly, his foundation could not bear much more—but Kael ignored it. Even so, the strain was beginning to show on his body…
Then he pointed his blade at the alien.
After witnessing the massacre, his killing intent surged… it broke through to a new level—but at a cost. The price was his people… dead.
A terrifying killing intent manifested, making the atmosphere turn solemn and heavy.
The alien noticed… but remained calm.
Kael tightened his grip on the blade and dashed toward him.
"You bastard—!"
But the alien stood there calmly.
In the next moment—
Energy began to gather around his finger as he manifested a domain…
Gravity compressed.
Kael's body went completely stiff. His eyes widened…
His killing intent collided with the gravitational force—sparks erupted as the two forces clashed. The atmosphere itself seemed to split apart. Extreme wind pressure burst outward, and a huge tornado formed, roaring with thunder…
Kael felt his killing intent being overwhelmed… suppressed.
In the distance, the alien stood expressionless.
Then—
He snapped his fingers.
The gravitational force tore through Kael's killing intent as if it were nothing. The pressure condensed around Kael…
He felt his bones crack under the crushing force.
His body was slammed violently into the ground.
The alien stepped forward.
"Your actions were futile. You can do nothing but watch your civilization crumble… and witness your people become our slaves."
His jade eyes gleamed as he looked down at Kael.
Then he gave an order to his kin—
"Kill the elderly humans. Enslave all teenagers."
Kael, suppressed and unable to move, watched helplessly.
He tried to scream, pushing his core to its absolute limits… but under the gravitational force, his efforts were futile.
He watched the alien soldiers mercilessly slaughter the elderly.
He heard their screams.
They called his name… begging him to save them.
Young children cried in terror as they were dragged away in chains.
Kael desperately tried to break free from the suppression.
Veins bulged across his body.
His teeth cracked from the force of clenching.
Then—
The alien stepped toward him.
His body pulsed with overwhelming power as he lifted his palm toward Kael's chest.
Energy gathered.
A killing strike.
But—
Before the strike could descend, one of Kael's comrades—Mia—stepped forward… and shielded him.
She took the attack.
Yet, she showed no expression of pain.
Instead, she looked back at Kael with a smile, as tears streamed down her face.
She whispered softly—
"Please… run away…"
Kael watched as her body was abruptly torn apart…
Her head rolled down toward his feet.
Kael stared at her bloodstained face…
She still wore that unusually gentle smile—one that carried sorrow, despair… and warmth.
In that moment—
Kael's world stopped.
She was the most kind-hearted warrior… his comrade. The one who was most afraid of dying.
She was always cheerful, always messing around, always carrying that bright personality…
And now—
The one who feared death the most… died like this.
Kael's eyes trembled.
He had already lost all his comrades defending the planet…
He didn't want to see any more of them die.
Then—
Badum… badum…
Kael felt a sudden shock within.
His heartbeat grew faster.
Heat spread throughout his entire body… as if something was awakening inside him.
Kael clutched his chest… feeling the burning surge within.
At that moment, the alien spoke, sighing—
"A worthless loss. She could have been a perfect experimental subject."
But he didn't notice the change in Kael…
As he once again raised his hand—
And pointed his next attack at him.
But Kael did not notice it, as he was consumed by his own consciousness…
It felt as though he was being taken over by another presence—one that was familiar to him, yet at the same time different… ancient.
Suddenly, his eyes began to shine bright gold, etched with runes.
He stood up—despite the heavy wounds covering his body.
The air around him began to shift…
The ground started trembling.
The intensity of the atmosphere grew more and more violent, until the sky itself was surrounded by a raging whirlwind—with Kael at its center.
The alien watched all of this…
For the first time, a flicker of emotion crossed his face, betraying his composed demeanor.
"Who are you…? Why has your presence suddenly changed…?"
Kael remained silent.
For the first time, the alien sensed that something was wrong.
He summoned his weapon—
A sleek, modern alien sword manifested in his hand, bursting with a dangerously intense energy.
Its mere presence split the sky and mountains, thunder rumbling as the ground trembled beneath its intent.
Then—with a single, powerful motion—
He unleashed a slash.
A terrifying arc of energy.
For a moment, it felt as if the world itself had gone still.
Then—
Zing.
In an instant, the blade was only inches away from Kael's neck.
But Kael remained unmoving.
He was enveloped in his own world… unaware of the incoming attack.
To him—
Everything had gone silent.
The entire atmosphere had stilled.
Then suddenly—
Darkness.
Everything before his eyes collapsed, replaced by an unknown void.
In the next moment, he found himself standing upon an endless ocean… surrounded by absolute darkness.
As he tried to understand where he was—
The darkness began to condense at a single point.
Space itself started to crack… like glass.
Then—
Boom.
The space shattered apart.
A radiant golden light burst forth from within the cracks, spilling into the void.
And just as suddenly—
The darkness restored itself.
But the golden energy that had escaped…
Merged into Kael.
His core was wrapped in golden light.
A glowing symbol manifested around it—ancient, powerful.
Kael felt it.
This new energy…
It was strengthening him—
Rebuilding his very foundation.
Now, in the present—
The alien's sword was just inches away from Kael's neck…
Then—
A violent golden energy began to erupt from Kael.
The air itself vibrated under its pressure. The ground cracked, forming fractures across the earth.
The alien's expression suddenly changed…
His instincts screamed at him to run.
Kael opened his eyes.
A pure golden light flared within them.
He saw the incoming sword arc… then glanced at Dravis, his expression calm.
To Kael—
The atmosphere felt distorted… as if time itself had fallen into disorder.
He stepped aside gracefully.
Each step left behind several mirages…
Then—
Time snapped back to normal.
The sword arc collided behind him—
With a violent burst, it split a thirty-floor building into nothingness, along with several nearby structures and even distant mountains.
The alien watched…
His aura flared as the ground beneath him cracked, and the wind howled like thousands of ghosts.
For the first time—
He became truly serious.
The energy Kael was releasing was suppressing him.
The alien was a half-step into the Astral Vein Initiate stage—far beyond Kael's previous Planetary Level 1 strength. He himself stood at Planetary Level 9 peak.
The difference between Level 1 and Level 2 alone was vast… let alone Level 9 peak.
And yet—
Kael's power was suppressing him.
That could only mean one thing—
Astral Vein Initiate.
A god-like realm.
But the alien refused to believe it.
For a lower being from Earth to reach such a stage… impossible.
He concluded it must be an ancient technique—something that temporarily boosted Kael's strength.
Still—
"To leap across so many stages in one instant…" he muttered.
The alien did not think further.
He would rather accept death than accept that a lower being had surpassed him.
He tightened his grip on his sword.
The blade roared with terrifying killing intent.
Just as he was about to engage—
Kael calmly took a step forward.
The entire atmosphere shifted.
In an instant—
Kael stood directly before him.
Looking at him coldly.
Calmly.
That gaze…
Made the alien uneasy.
He stopped mid-motion—then instinctively stepped back.
One step.
Then ten.
Cold sweat formed on his forehead.
He didn't attack.
Everything… came to a halt.
A sudden silence fell.
It was unnaturally still—almost suffocating.
Then—
Kael bent down.
The alien did not dare move.
Kael placed his palm on the ground.
Instantly—
The surface of the Earth lit up with golden energy.
Layers upon layers of massive formations spread across the planet.
Then—
With a catastrophic rumble—
Pillars of golden light shot into the sky.
The alien immediately created a protective barrier around himself.
Beyond Earth's atmosphere—
A series of explosions erupted in space.
Screams—cruel and filled with pain—echoed through the void.
Almost all of the interstellar ships… along with hundreds of soldiers… were wiped out of existence.
Then—
Silence.
Everything settled.
The alien stared at the destroyed fleet.
For the first time—
His expression was completely exposed.
He understood.
If he didn't go all out…
He would be the next one erased.
The alien stepped forward.
"I will ask again… who are you?"
"The power you are displaying… is not something your race is capable of."
Kael remained silent.
As he extended his hand…
Then slowly lowered it, gently—
His voice, devoid of any emotion, spoke—
"Zerstörung."
A small arc manifested—
Then expanded at immense speed.
Everywhere it touched—
Destruction followed.
Everything burst apart.
The alien's expression turned serious.
He instantly stepped forward and extended his sword.
The blade hummed with energy.
Behind him, a beastly specter manifested—
A colossal entity.
It roared.
As the alien swung his blade—
The beast's claw followed, crashing directly into Kael's attack.
Boom.
An explosion rang out.
A thunderous tornado spiraled into existence, dancing with pure destruction.
As the dust settled—
The alien had been pushed ten steps back.
A slight cut appeared on his body.
In the distance—
Golden energy flickered.
Kael stood there—perfectly unharmed.
The alien's expression darkened…
But a hint of malice crept into his voice.
"Now this is getting interesting…"
He raised his blade and gave a command—
"Crimson Dominion: Eclipse Severance."
His blade—an ancient, true-tier artifact—hummed with overwhelming power.
As he raised it, multiple blade specters manifested, rising into the sky.
With a thunderous rumble, each specter connected—forming a massive formation, with the alien's blade at its center.
It resembled a crimson solar eclipse in the sky.
Then—
A terrifying sword intent spread outward like a domain, covering everything.
The alien's expression was calm… a faint smirk forming on his lips.
"The War God of Earth… Kael. I acknowledge you as a warrior—for making me use this technique."
"In return, I shall honor you with my blade."
"My name is Dravis—the genius of the Draveth."
"Now… you can die."
Kael remained expressionless.
He looked at Dravis…
Then slowly scanned the surroundings.
No one remained within the domain.
The humans—
Were either already dead…
Or enslaved.
At that moment, Dravis tightened his grip.
As he swung his blade—
The air howled like a thousand ghosts crying.
The ground split apart.
The sky itself seemed to shatter.
Then—
A terrifying explosion erupted, like a star descending upon Earth.
Several pillars of energy shot into the sky, destroying everything in their path.
A shockwave spread across the planet, collapsing the remaining buildings.
The oceans roared, tides crashing violently onto the land.
And in the center of it all—
Kael remained motionless.
He faced the incoming attack…
His golden eyes locked onto Dravis.
Then the attack completely engulfed him.
—
When it ended—
Everything within the domain had been reduced to nothing.
The domain faded.
Dravis descended to the ground, breathing heavily. This attack had consumed a large portion of his energy.
He looked at the massive crater—
Filled with rubble and dust.
He believed Kael had been completely erased from existence.
Turning to leave—
Suddenly—
An overwhelming pressure descended upon him.
Dravis instantly turned his head.
His pupils contracted.
Inside the crater—
Kael stood there.
Perfectly fine.
Not a single bruise on his body.
Golden energy flowed around him.
Dravis gritted his teeth, gripping his blade tightly.
His smug expression vanished.
For the first time since birth—
He felt inferior.
Humiliated.
His strongest attack… had done nothing.
"You lesser being—today, I, Dravis, will show you the true extent of my power!"
His blade—a top-tier artifact—began to tremble.
Energy spiraled violently around him like a raging cyclone.
The blade split into countless fragments, dancing around Dravis before soaring into the sky.
Each fragment connected, runes flowing between them—
Forming a colossal specter.
A behemoth.
Its size alone covered nearly forty percent of the Earth.
As it manifested—
A terrifying killing intent spread across the world.
The behemoth let out a furious roar—
Shattering the sky and lifting the ground itself.
Dravis smirked.
"Let's see how you survive this."
He raised his right hand, which gleamed with terrifying energy—
Then pointed toward Kael.
The behemoth mirrored his movement.
It raised its massive claw—
Then, with a furious roar—
It struck down toward Kael.
The Earth trembled.
The sky burned.
As the colossal claw descended—
Kael looked at the incoming attack.
Expressionless.
Then Kael raised two fingers…
He muttered a single word—
"Schwertwille."
A condensed golden light gathered at his fingertips…
Then expanded.
And expanded.
Two forces clashed—
One: a heavenly claw tearing down the sky like a calamity.
The other: a simple golden arc, rising calmly toward the heavens.
Both twisted the atmosphere—
One violent…
The other calm.
Dravis sneered.
"Do you think you can rival my Beast God: Starfall Slash technique… with something as simple as that?"
For the first time—
Kael answered him.
His presence was different now…
He carried an air of absolute superiority.
"You claim to understand sword intent?"
"That strike of yours wouldn't even qualify as a beginner's practice."
"In your hands… the blade is nothing but useless steel."
Dravis was taken aback.
Someone he considered a lesser being… had just called his technique child's play.
Kael ignored him.
He turned his gaze toward the sky—
As both attacks collided.
The Beast God: Starfall Slash crashed into Kael's golden arc—
A blinding light erupted.
A terrifying sword intent spread across the Earth, splitting its surface.
Explosions rang out, erasing what little remained of civilization.
For a moment—
Dravis's attack overwhelmed Kael's.
Dravis watched, satisfied.
He mocked, his voice dripping with arrogance—
"Now… do you still think my sword technique is child's play?"
Kael stared at the clash of the two forces…
Then slowly extended his hand.
His expression shifted—
As if he were gazing into the past.
"Remember this well."
"A sword technique without soul… and without unyielding will… is nothing more than a dazzling but empty blade."
"Intent is eternal… and will is the soul of the sword."
"The true intent of a blade mirrors the heart of its wielder."
"A swing may split mountains… but when true intent awakens—"
"Even the heavens tremble."
He looked at Dravis.
"Your sword intent… is hollow."
"Just like you."
Then—
He snapped his fingers.
A single click echoed amidst the chaos.
Then—
Kael's attack, Schwertwille, began to overwhelm.
Its golden light intensified…
Brighter and brighter—
Trembling violently.
It began to resist the Starfall Slash.
Dravis's expression shifted.
Then—
With a silent, high-pitched screech—
Schwertwille burst forth.
A catastrophic sword intent erupted, enveloping the behemoth like billions of condensed, terrifying slashes.
Dravis felt it.
An overwhelming sword intent descended upon him.
His pupils trembled violently.
Then—
A sound echoed.
Sharp.
Calm.
Yet unbearably chaotic.
In a single instant—
The behemoth let out a painful scream…
And was cut into billions of pieces.
It faded away.
But the sword intent did not stop.
A deafening, catastrophic sound echoed—
Snapping Dravis out of his daze.
He turned—
And froze.
The moon…
Was gone.
In its place—
Millions of asteroids.
Shattered.
Then—
A soul-shattering pressure descended upon Dravis.
It felt as though countless invisible blades had carved through him a billion times in a single instant.
His mind screamed.
Every nerve burned with phantom agony.
Dravis staggered back, frantically checking his body—his trembling hands running across his chest, his arms, his throat.
No wounds.
His breath came out ragged.
"…Alive… I'm alive…"
And yet—
The terror in his eyes remained.
Because in that moment…
He had truly felt death slice through his soul.
He instantly looked toward Kael, his voice trembling—
"Who… who are you…? How can you bear this much power…?"
Now, Kael's presence in his eyes…
Was like that of a god of death.
A being who could erase him with a single thought.
Kael stepped forward.
His voice was devoid of emotion—
Yet carried absolute superiority.
"Your mind was never meant to comprehend my existence."
"One who shakes the cosmos must also endure the burden of that power."
Dravis panicked, stepping back in fear.
"Wh—what are you talking about…?"
Kael ignored him.
His eyes glowed with a brilliant golden light.
Suddenly—
The Earth trembled.
The sky shifted—replaced by a vast, star-filled night.
The ground beneath them shook violently.
Then Dravis heard a voice from his communicator—
"Senior, immediately retreat! A region spanning 44.6 million kilometers is being uplifted from Earth!"
Dravis stared at Kael in horror.
"I do not wish to cause further catastrophe on this planet…"
"…as the owner of this body is attached to it."
Dravis's voice trembled.
"Telekinesis… you possess it…?"
Kael said nothing.
He looked toward the shattered fragments of the moon.
Then—
With a mere thought—
The massive asteroids ignited…
And began to fall toward the surface of the Earth
Dravis gritted his teeth, staring at the falling asteroids.
He made a final decision.
Tightening his grip on his blade, a dangerous glint appeared in his eyes.
Then—
A burn mark formed on his forehead.
His energy began to flicker violently around him…
Thunder sparks enveloped his body.
"Beast God… release your wrath upon the cosmos. For the Eye of Chaos, born of my flesh and blood, shall devour this world in its gaze… as it screams beneath the price of blood."
Suddenly—
His body cracked.
Fresh blood began to flow.
But Dravis maintained a grim expression as he spoke—
"You said my attack had no will… no soul…"
"Then you'd better brace yourself—because in this attack… I pour everything."
"My killing intent… my will… my very existence."
Kael felt it.
An ominous killing intent filled the atmosphere.
Then—
From Dravis, a violent crimson energy surged upward with a catastrophic rumble.
It formed a massive specter—
A monstrous gaze in the sky.
The entire atmosphere was dyed in crimson.
Dravis raised his blade.
"Break it for me…"
A blinding beam shot out from the beast's gaze—
Connecting directly to Dravis's blade.
The energy condensed along its edge.
Then—
He swung.
A calamitous blade arc tore through the falling asteroids with a deafening boom.
One by one—
They were obliterated.Then—
He pointed his blade forward.
The weapon shattered into millions of fragments…
Each piece rising toward the monstrous gaze.
At the center—
A massive, terrifying sword specter formed, merging with the beast's gaze.
As it manifested—
The atmosphere turned deathly still.
Darkness flickered with a crimson hue, coiling around the sword specter.
Dravis stood there—
Exhausted.
Weak.
Blood still flowing from his body.
Yet he raised his hand and pointed toward Kael.
The colossal sword specter began to descend.
Toward him.
Kael stared at the incoming attack.
Then—
He felt it.
His heartbeat rising.
Something deeper…
Awakening.
"…Guess it's time."
Then—
A bright light glinted in Kael's eyes.
Suddenly, space itself was laid bare before him…
Like a vast net.
A network of space and time.
With his telekinesis—
Kael suppressed it.
The very fabric of space and time fell into disorder.
The incoming attack—
Froze.
Mid-motion.
Within a radius of ten miles—
Everything… stopped.
Time.
Space.
All of it—frozen.
Then—
In the next moment—
—
Inside Kael's consciousness—
He was unaware of everything outside.
He stood upon an endless ocean, surrounded by darkness…
A void.
Wrapped in a golden glow—
The same energy that had slipped from the shattered void earlier… now slowly merging within him.
Then—
A voice echoed.
"Looks like you're about to be done…"
Kael was stunned.
"There's… someone else here?"
As if reading his thoughts, the voice replied—
"Yes. I've always been here. You just never knew."
Kael frowned.
"Who are you? Show yourself. Where is this? What is all of this?"
The voice let out a faint chuckle.
"So many questions…"
"It's regrettable that I cannot answer any of them."
"…But I can show myself."
From the darkness—
A figure emerged.
Like a shadow.
But its form constantly glitched… unstable, flickering between existence and non-existence.
"Well… my existence is a threat to the origin."
As if reading Kael's mind again, the figure stepped closer.
"No more questions."
"Just remember one thing…"
"Now that you've awakened a small part of your bloodline…"
"You must be careful."
"And grow stronger… as fast as you can."
"Before you catch the attention of those beings."
A pause.
"Because things are far more… ugly than you can imagine."
Kael listened.
Thousands of questions surged within him—
But he chose not to interrupt.
The shadow figure turned.
Its expression could not be seen—
But its voice carried the weight of ancient eras.
"My time with you… Kael… has come to an end."
Kael's eyes widened.
"Wait—you're leaving? At least tell me about this 'bloodline' you mentioned—"
The shadow figure paused.
"Your bloodline… you ask?"
Its tone shifted—
Almost… amused.
"Even the heavens are not qualified to stand before you…"
"At the mere mention of your bloodline… the cosmos trembles."
"That… is the kind of bloodline you possess."
A brief silence.
Then—
"Remember this one thing—"
"Transcendentem."
Kael felt a sudden tremor in the ocean beneath his feet…
At the mention of that single word—
The shadow figure stepped toward him and stretched out a finger.
"This is my farewell gift to you…"
A beam of binding golden light shot into Kael's forehead.
The shadow figure stared at him and whispered—
"My lord… I have completed your last wish… to protect *********."
Then—
The shadow figure slowly began to fade away.
Kael noticed.
And, in respect—
He bowed his head in farewell.
He didn't know why…
But his heart was suddenly overwhelmed with grief.
As the shadow figure disappeared—
Into nothing.
—
Then—
Reality returned.
Kael opened his eyes.
The suppression faded.
Space and time resumed.
To Dravis—
It was as if nothing had happened.
But he noticed something…
Kael's presence had changed again.
The overwhelming, god-like aura was gone.
What remained—
Was simply the War God.
Dravis was confused…
But he did not dwell on it.
He was confident his attack would erase Kael for good.
Kael, too, was confused—
What had happened inside his consciousness?
Why did Dravis now appear so… pitiful?
But he had no time to think.
The catastrophic, monstrous sword specter was descending upon him.
Then—
Suddenly—
Kael's body began to glow.
Sparks enveloped him.
A mark appeared on his forehead.
From it—
Streams of golden light spread across the Earth.
Once again—
The entire planet was covered in layers of golden formations.
A chilling pressure descended.
Dravis instinctively stepped back in fear.
"What… what kind of heavenly-defying technique is this…?"
"How can he be capable of such power…? Not even the ancestors could achieve this…"
Then—
From the formations—
Golden chains began to emerge.
They shattered outward with explosive force—
Yet instantly stabilized and surged forward.
And just like that—
Dravis's ultimate technique…
Collapsed.
Broken.
The golden chains moved swiftly—
Wrapping around Dravis.
He retaliated instantly—
But it was futile.
The formations suppressed everything.
Then—
With a sharp, piercing sound—
The chains impaled his arms and legs.
They pierced through his comrades as well.
Screams of pain echoed across the battlefield.
The chains dragged them all together—
Binding them in one place.
Dravis found himself completely helpless.
Kael muttered softly—
"So… this is the farewell gift that shadow figure spoke of…"
Dravis could feel it clearly—
The formation was suppressing him.
His power.
His cultivation.
Everything—
Sealed.
Then—
At the center of the formation, a massive sword manifested.
A sword of judgment.
It glowed with a blinding light…
Carrying a terrifying murderous intent so intense that the surroundings began to tremble.
The atmosphere turned deathly still.
With a single gesture from Kael—
The sword began to descend.
Dravis muttered under his breath…
Then, with a sinister grin, he looked at Kael.
"Kael… I hope this attack of yours doesn't become your lifelong regret…"
Kael froze.
For a brief moment—
He was dumbfounded.
Then—
His pupils contracted.
He bit down on his lower lip.
"You despicable bastard—!"
Kael roared.
In an instant—
He changed the direction of the descending sword.
Because—
Behind Dravis—
The remaining twenty percent of humanity still lived.
Their screams echoed—
"War God, please save us!"
"I don't want to die—!"
"Kael… please… we're begging you—!"
The descending sword shifted—
Then struck the ground miles away from Dravis.
A terrifying explosion erupted.
A golden pillar of light shot into the sky.
The ground melted into molten magma beneath the impact.
From within the aftermath—
Dravis felt it.
The suppression of the formation… weakening.
Kael knew it too.
The power he was using—
Was only temporary.
Then—
A low rumble echoed.
The formation faded away.
The chains vanished.
Dravis was free.
Without hesitation, he pulled out a glowing purple pill—
And swallowed it.
A star-like energy enveloped his body.
His wounds began to heal—partially.
About twenty percent restored.
Then—
Dravis moved.
He grabbed a small girl.
She trembled… crying in fear.
He held his blade against her cheek—
A thin line of blood sliding down, staining the edge of his sword.
Dravis smiled.
A cruel, menacing smile.
"You know…"
"This is your weakness."
"Your sentiments"
Kael stared at Dravis with cold contempt.
"How pathetic… resorting to this."
His voice was calm but filled with disgust.
"And you still dare call yourself the genius of your clan?"
Dravis sighed, almost amused.
"You call yourself a warrior, yet you cling to childish fantasies—'the true warrior's path', 'staying true to yourself'. Worthless sentiments."
He slowly spread his arms.
"Power and survival… those are the only truths in this universe."
He pointed at the world around them.
Everything was in ruin.
Cities burned like funeral pyres.
The ground had split open as molten magma burst from the earth.
Rivers of blood flowed between countless corpses.
"Look around you." Dravis smirked.
"Your righteousness did this."
His voice turned mocking.
"Tell me… where did it get you?"
Kael let out a faint, chilling laugh.
"Interesting."
He looked directly into Dravis's eyes.
"Coming from someone who was begging for his life just moments ago… seconds away from being erased."
His smile widened slightly.
"And as for the destruction and massacre you've caused…"
His voice became colder than ice.
"…I'll show you what a real massacre looks like."
Dravis scoffed.
"I don't know where you got that power earlier, but it's obvious you've already exhausted yourself."
He raised his weapon.
"One strike."
His eyes sharpened.
"That's all I need to kill you."
Kael said nothing…
In the next moment—
The air began to tremble.
Kael could feel it—
His body…
His sea of consciousness…
And his core—burning like a blazing star.
Around him, golden streams of energy flowed.
This was his newly awakened bloodline…
Even if only a fragment of it.
Then—
Suddenly—
A portion of energy from his consciousness, his core, and his bloodline began to merge.
Kael was activating an ancient technique—
The Astral Burning Technique.
A forbidden art he had obtained while exploring the ruins of an alien civilization—"Jin."
A technique that granted unimaginable power…
At an equally unimaginable cost.
As the three forces merged—
Kael felt a terrifying surge of energy erupt within him.
His body was engulfed in a golden glow.
A burning golden mark appeared on his forehead.
Dravis watched, amused.
He released the girl from his grip and stepped back.
Then he gave an order—
"Move all the slaves away from here."
Several of his subordinates immediately began dragging the enslaved humans away.
Their cries echoed—
Tears streaming down their faces.
Kael looked at them and spoke—
"Don't worry… after I deal with this…"
He pointed toward Dravis.
"I will save you."
The enslaved humans…
Chose to believe him.
Once again.
"War God… you must avenge your fallen brothers…"
"And the deaths of the innocent…"
After that—
They were dragged away.
Dravis smirked.
"Pretty confident, aren't you…?"
Kael picked up his blade and imbued it with his energy.
It was instantly enveloped in a golden glow.
Then—
They stood facing each other.
A silent standoff.
Their energies collided—
Golden and crimson.
The air howled like a thousand ghosts crying.
In the next instant—
Both dashed forward at the same time.
Their speed was insane.
Their blades collided—
Boom.
A thunderous explosion erupted.
The wind cracked.
The surface tore apart, forming a deep crater beneath them.
Neither of them stepped back.
Dravis smirked.
"Oh… you've improved."
"But it's still not enough to kill me."
Kael's energy flickered.
His eyes burned with intense killing intent.
"We'll see about that."
Dravis's smirk widened.
"Then let me show you the true extent of my power."
His blade glowed with overwhelming killing intent.
It was, in fact, a true treasure artifact—
Giving him a clear advantage in battle.
Dravis roared—
"Witness the wrath of the Beast God!"
Crimson energy erupted violently.
Kael felt the sudden shift in the atmosphere.
Dravis's blade hummed with a terrifying surge of power.
Then—
A massive explosion rang out—
Forcing Kael back twenty steps.
Kael steadied himself…
Noticing his trembling hand.
But before he could react—
Dravis had already moved.
"Beast God: Nine Claws of Annihilation!"
As Dravis swung his blade—
A single vertical slash cut through the air.
It manifested into the specter of a colossal claw, traveling at hypersonic speed…
Cleanly tearing across the surface.
Kael reacted almost instinctively—
Barely dodging it by an inch.
The attack struck the mountain behind him—
And in a single instant—
It split into nine terrifying slashes.
The mountain was carved into nine massive chunks.
Kael glanced sideways.
I have to be careful…
He's heavily injured and can't perform high-caliber attacks… but even his casual strikes are deadly.
He tightened his grip on his blade.
Then—
Kael dashed toward Dravis.
His sword glowed with intense golden light.
Inside—he roared—
"32-Star Cleave Strike!"
Dravis welcomed the attack with a smirk.
Kael unleashed the strikes—
One after another.
Thirty-two slashes.
Each one flowed like a violent ocean tide—
Simple… yet terrifying.
Dravis easily handled the first eighteen strikes—
But after that—
Each strike grew stronger.
More intense.
It wasn't overwhelming him—
But it was no longer easy.
Dravis frowned.
What's happening…?
I've faced this technique before… I broke it easily…
Why are his strikes getting stronger?
Something is enhancing them…
He gritted his teeth, countering each blow.
Then—
Kael leapt into the sky.
His blade trembled—
As if it were about to burst from the power within.
He gathered all remaining force—
Merging the previous thirty-one strikes into one.
The final—
32nd strike.
Kael roared—
"Final Strike—Star Cleave!"
A star-like energy formed—
Then shot toward Dravis at terrifying speed.
Dravis clenched his sword tightly.
It shattered into fragments—
Forming a defensive barrier around him.
This barrier can withstand an explosion capable of wiping out a continent…
I don't believe his attack can break it—
Then—
Impact.
A massive explosion erupted.
The barrier trembled violently.
Cracks began to spread across its surface.
Dravis's expression changed—
Shock flashing in his eyes.
The barrier—
Shattered like glass.
And the 32nd Star Cleave—
Came crashing down upon him.
But in that same instant—
Dravis reacted.
Almost impossibly fast—
Launching a counterattack.
Dravis felt the impact of Star Cleave as his body had both big and small marks… and the surface beneath was cut into 32 chunks. Blood overflowed from his wounds.
Dravis's expression was smug… as Kael was still in the sky.
Suddenly, Kael saw a behemoth specter open its jaw with sharp fangs.
Kael thought, "Impossible… he countered my attack in such a short interval…"
The next second, Kael felt intense pain in his chest as three deep, long wounds appeared… blood flowing like a fountain.
In the distance, Dravis's body was also covered in blood and broken veins… as he suddenly spat a mouthful of blood.
The attack he performed destabilized the flow of his energy, causing internal damage…
But Kael was in a much worse condition than him.
Dravis felt the impact of Star Cleave as his body had both big and small marks… and the surface beneath was cut into 32 chunks. Blood overflowed from his wounds.
Dravis's expression was smug… as Kael was still in the sky.
Suddenly, Kael saw a behemoth specter open its jaw with sharp fangs.
Kael thought, "Impossible… he countered my attack in such a short interval…"
The next second, Kael felt intense pain in his chest as three deep, long wounds appeared… blood flowing like a fountain.
In the distance, Dravis's body was also covered in blood and broken veins… as he suddenly spat a mouthful of blood.
The attack he performed destabilized the flow of his energy, causing internal damage…
But Kael was in a much worse condition than him.
But they both stubbornly held their ground…
Kael looked at Dravis, his thoughts confused:
"My attack, Star Cleave, should not be able to injure him… not to this extent. I know he is not in his best condition, and I am using the burning technique of Jin to enhance my power, but I wasn't expecting to inflict this much damage… what's going on… could it be… that a part of my bloodline has awakened?"
Kael stared at his body, enveloped in a golden glow…
"Dravis has a higher level of cultivation than me… so for me to fight on equal footing… it may be because of my bloodline… just what is my origin?"
Thinking this, Kael dashed toward Dravis—this was the only opportunity he had.
They both collided once again. Sparks ignited…
Slash after slash, they exchanged hundreds of attacks before going for a final critical hit…
Kael and Dravis, at the same moment, took their stances.
Their energy resonated violently. Sparks flew.
Then, with a burst, they dashed forward.
Kael's blade and Dravis's sword collided with near-perfect precision—edge to edge.
As they clashed, a catastrophic sword intent roared… tearing apart everything around them.
Kael's blade, which was wrapped in his golden energy, began to crack…
In front of a true-tier artifact, Kael's modern-edged blade could not hold its ground.
And with a violent, raging sword intent, Dravis's sword pierced Kael's blade…
The core of the blade made a last roaring burst of energy… before it shattered into pieces.
A violent explosion rang out…
But Dravis's sword didn't stop and pierced Kael's chest.
The sword exerted a terrifying pressure behind Kael… as massive chunks of land were wiped out.
Kael loosened his grip on the broken blade… as hot blood flowed.
Kael spat a mouthful of blood.
Dravis had a smug expression, as he had finally won against the lesser being he despised…
But then—
Kael gripped Dravis's sword.
His eyes burned with fury.
Dravis tried to pull out his blade… but, surprisingly, Kael's strength seemed to be increasing.
His energy grew more intense.
Kael muttered under his breath—
"It… is the last technique of Jin…"
Kael's soul and his core began to resonate… and began to burn.
A pure white form of energy mixed with the golden energy…
Both energies intertwined.
Kael's body began to shine brighter and brighter… like a star emerging.
The atmosphere suddenly shifted—eerily.
A pillar of white and gold soared into the sky, tearing apart the dark clouds… like a final judgment.
Dravis's eyes visibly trembled as he stared at Kael's furious and determined gaze.
A cold smile appeared on Kael's face.
Dravis's energy flared once again as he desperately tried to get away.
He was already seriously injured…
But found himself suppressed by Kael's energy.
Kael stared at Dravis firmly.
Then—
Everything flashed white.
A binding light, so terrifying, covered the whole of Asia.
Dravis's comrades could only scream in panic, as they were not capable of facing this level of power.
The explosion caused the sky to ignite with fire.
The ruined buildings melted, and immense pressure swept everything away.
Then—
As the explosion cooled down—
Two figures were revealed.
One was Kael.
His body was cracked, with molten-like veins… suffering from severe burns, breathing heavily.
In the distance—
Dravis.
One of his arms was completely useless.
His armor was torn and burned.
As he stared at Kael.
Then he let out a furious roar—
"I've had enough…!"
His eyes were completely bloodshot.
"Now I will end this once and for all!"
Kael roared back—
"That's not for you to decide!"
Dravis didn't answer.
He simply raised his blade.
It hummed with power.
"Ancient formation… assemble."
Dravis's comrades stepped forward one by one.
Each carried a solemn expression.
They knew the meaning of the ancient formation—
They had to sacrifice their cultivation.
Dravis spoke—
"Do not be disheartened. I promise to compensate for your loss… and your names will be written in the history of our clan."
There were twenty-two of them.
Each one nodded… and closed their eyes.
Then—
With Dravis's blade as the center—
It soared into the sky.
Dravis smirked.
"This is a true-tier artifact, passed down through generations…"
"Now witness its full potential."
Kael could feel the sudden shift in the atmosphere.
A massive formation manifested—
Large enough to cover half the Earth.
The twenty-two warriors became its source.
Darkness began to spread.
Dark red, pulsing runes connected all twenty-two of them to Dravis's blade.
Each of them screamed in pain…
As their cultivation and energy were being drained.
Then—
The true-tier artifact revealed its true form.
A black blade—
Engraved with crimson runes.
Surrounded by menacing energy…
And immense killing intent.
…suppressing Kael… its influence on the surroundings was so strong that it began to affect gravity… even Earth was losing itself under its gravitational influence…
Kael stared at the true-tier artifact…
Dravis, without wasting time, unleashed the full potential of his sword. A hypersonic beam of black and red energy descended toward Kael, as everything it touched was either reduced to nothing or burst apart… even the ocean split…
Kael took the attack head-on…
As the hypersonic beam struck him, Kael gritted his teeth… roaring. No matter how much he struggled, he was at a losing end. The power was simply too overwhelming…
Dravis watched, his expression grim.
"Struggle more…"
He raised his hand.
The interstellar ships above Earth—each cannon pulsing with terrifying intensity—fired. Several beams, enough to wipe out cities, also descended toward Kael.
He was resisting both—
No, more accurately…
He was going through hell itself.
His hands could barely withstand the power… slowly breaking under the pressure…
But Kael didn't back down.
He knew he could not win—
But he would not go down easily without inflicting serious damage…
As Kael endured this hell, he used his telekinesis—recently developed thanks to the shadow figure—to stop the two lesser beams.
To some pitiful extent… it worked.
But it took a heavy toll on his mind.
He felt as if his mind was about to burst…
His eyes turned bloodshot…
Blood overflowed from them…
He gritted his teeth… extending both hands forward.
Dravis smirked.
"All your efforts are futile…"
Kael focused on his internal energy.
In one hand—golden energy flared.
In the other—pure white energy.
Then, remembering all the past events…
His killing intent surged.
As he merged the two energies—
They began to resonate…
But the strain was overwhelming for Kael.
But despite that, it was his will and determination that kept him going.
Then suddenly, sparks flew around as both energies merged.
In the sky, a thunderstorm cyclone manifested…
Then—
A bright miniature star lit up in Kael's hand…
As Kael stared at the miniature star, he poured everything into it—his energy, his will, his hope… his life.
The miniature star in Kael's hand was so powerful that it began tearing apart his arms…
But he simply stared at it…
As if the whole world had stopped.
Then he closed his eyes in finality—
"Everyone… forgive me… I wasn't strong enough… but I tried my best till the end…"
A single tear fell.
Then—
The attack, which was somewhat stopped by telekinesis, completely descended upon him.
Dravis was ecstatic.
The attack caused a huge explosion…
Just as Kael was about to be engulfed by the explosion—
He released the miniature star.
Kael was swallowed by the explosion.
A pillar of black energy soared into the sky…
Shaking the entire area.
Everything was enveloped in darkness, with thunderous rumbling displaying catastrophic power.
And just as everything unfolded—
Dravis noticed it.
A small, bright miniature star—
Rising into the sky.
Tearing apart the darkness.
-Nyros Ember