The beam of light pierced Earth's outer space and sped toward the distant sun.
Watching it disappear, countless people finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Had the Bright King truly left? That question lingered in everyone's mind. While some wished the divine giant would remain forever, many more hoped he would never return.
After all, few people wanted a god standing above humanity. To them, such a being represented the greatest possible threat.
Watching the giant vanish from sight, Nick Fury absentmindedly rubbed his ear.
He knew the divine voice had spoken directly into people's minds rather than through sound, yet he still couldn't help the gesture.
"So... a god who preaches kindness instead of demanding blood sacrifices. I suppose that's better than the usual eldritch horrors. Should I even thank him for making my job easier?"
Maria Hill wisely remained silent.
With Fury in this mood, anything she said would probably be wrong. Better to wait until he moved on.
Sure enough, after a moment Fury asked,
"Do you think he'll appear again?"
"Very likely, sir."
Hill answered without hesitation.
"If he's shown himself once, there's every chance he'll do so again. But compared to that, I think we have a much bigger problem."
"What problem?"
"His revelation."
She brought up the recording.
"Compared to the god himself, I'm more concerned about the messengers and the soul-reaping demons he mentioned."
"There may be only one Bright King—but there could be countless servants carrying out his judgment."
"If that happens..."
She intentionally left the sentence unfinished.
Fury immediately understood.
The consequences would be enormous.
On the surface, the Bright King's doctrine challenged every legal system on Earth.
Instead of courts deciding guilt or innocence, divine judgment would determine who deserved reward or punishment.
That alone undermined governments worldwide.
But the darker implication was even worse.
Imagine someone declared guilty by the courts praying to the Bright King and receiving divine blessing.
Or someone acquitted by the justice system invoking his name only to be slain by a "shadow in the light."
Such events would tell the entire world one thing:
Human justice had failed.
The legal system itself would lose legitimacy.
And if presidents, prime ministers, kings, or powerful officials suddenly died after invoking the Bright King's name...
Entire governments could collapse overnight.
As someone responsible for maintaining global stability, Fury couldn't allow that.
"This is a serious problem," he said.
"Do you have a solution?"
Hill nodded.
"Declare his faith a dangerous cult."
"Ban people from speaking his name."
"Outlaw the spread of his teachings."
Fury immediately shook his head.
"Impossible."
"If anyone tried that now, they'd be torn apart by angry believers."
"You have no idea how many people have already become his followers."
"This isn't fighting a religion."
"This would be fighting the entire world."
Hill considered for a moment before proposing another option.
"Then we have only one choice."
"We establish contact."
"Either with him directly..."
"...or with whatever organization forms around his faith."
"If negotiations succeed, perhaps we can influence how this religion develops."
Fury thought carefully.
"Do you really think he'll found a religion?"
"He publicly announced his name to the entire world."
"That wasn't accidental."
"If he had no intention of gathering believers, none of today's spectacle would have had any meaning."
Fury slowly nodded.
"I think you're right."
He stood up immediately.
"I'm meeting with the World Security Council."
"We need a unified response as quickly as possible."
He paused before giving his final order.
"Until I return, command is yours."
"I have only one instruction."
"Do not provoke conflict."
"Show as much goodwill as possible."
"But don't reveal any official position until we've reached a decision."
"Yes, sir."
Hill saluted.
Fury hurried away.
The situation had already become too complicated for S.H.I.E.L.D. to handle alone.
While S.H.I.E.L.D. mobilized, Zhou Yi and Lilith were making moves of their own.
The Bright King turning into light and flying toward the sun had merely been an illusion.
In reality, Zhou Yi had returned with Lilith to the ruins of the destroyed castle, where they reunited with the vampire elder Anvena and Lilith's attendant Selene.
Both women had arrived when Lilith awakened.
However, because the Witch Dimension had enveloped the area, neither had been able to enter.
Only after witnessing the Bright King's worldwide manifestation did they finally understand what had happened.
Selene felt overwhelming relief.
Anvena, meanwhile, had been deeply anxious.
Fortunately, the final outcome exceeded their expectations.
Lilith and Zhou Yi had formed an alliance.
Temporary though it was, they were not enemies.
At least for now.
Everything depended on the conversation between the two gods.
Fortunately...
That conversation was going rather well.
Having returned to his normal appearance, Zhou Yi entered Lilith's realm.
Selene stayed close behind him.
Ever since learning they were literally inside Hell, she had remained visibly tense.
The endless crimson landscape filled her with instinctive dread.
Although vampires belonged to the supernatural world themselves, Hell was on an entirely different level.
Without Zhou Yi beside her, shielding her from most of the overwhelming pressure, she wasn't sure she could even remain standing.
Lilith noticed immediately.
"So this is your attendant?"
"She seems rather nervous."
"But don't worry."
"My Hell is much gentler than those ruled by Satan or Mephisto."
Her scarlet eyes shimmered with irresistible charm.
Even Selene, despite being a woman herself, felt her will wavering.
Almost unconsciously, she began walking toward Lilith.
She had taken only two steps before Zhou Yi rested a hand on her shoulder.
His calm voice followed.
"Don't you think that's rather rude, Lilith?"
"Trying to enchant one of my people..."
"Are you provoking me?"
Lilith smiled and lowered her crimson gaze.
The hypnotic pressure instantly vanished.
Selene snapped back to reality and hurried behind Zhou Yi again.
Seeing this, Lilith chuckled.
"It seems you're quite fond of this girl."
"What an enviable child."
"Is she one of your followers?"
"Not yet."
"But she will be soon."
Zhou Yi looked directly at Lilith.
"Is that why you invited me here?"
"To discuss trivial matters?"
Lilith only smiled.
"You really should be more patient."
"Especially with women."
With a graceful wave of her hand, two magnificent thrones rose from the endless sea of blood.
She seated herself upon one and gestured elegantly toward the other.
"Please."
"What we need to discuss is important."
"It deserves careful consideration."
Zhou Yi took his seat.
He genuinely wanted to hear what this ancient goddess had to say.
Unlike him, she possessed thousands of years of divine experience.
Seeing his attentive expression, Lilith smiled brilliantly.
"Your Majesty, Bright King..."
"I imagine you've already decided to establish a faith."
"But..."
"Do you actually know how to build one?"
Zhou Yi simply shook his head.
"No."
"I'm not familiar with creating religions."
"But I don't see what that has to do with you."
Lilith wasn't offended.
Instead, she smiled with faint melancholy.
"You know..."
"I've been sealed away for thousands of years."
"During that time..."
"The Sumerian and Canaanite pantheons collapsed."
"Almost none of the old gods remain."
"And even those few survivors..."
"...may not welcome a woman like me back."
She paused before continuing.
"So I've decided..."
"I won't return to an old home."
Instead, she looked directly into Zhou Yi's eyes.
"What if..."
"We created a new pantheon together?"
"Your power."
"My experience."
"Together we could establish an entirely new divine system..."
"...and build a brand-new kingdom of gods."
Her voice grew increasingly excited as she imagined the future.
Just then—
Zhou Yi interrupted her with a single sentence.