The mask made the universe quieter.
Not silent — just… honest.
When Delta stepped out of Hell, reality did not resist him. It parted the way skin parts beneath a blade that has already decided where to cut.
The Deltonic Saber hung at his side, dragging shadows across existence. The mask hid his expression, but not his presence.
Gods felt him before they saw him.
Mortals felt dread without knowing why.
And somewhere — somewhere else — something watching the story leaned forward.
Delta paused mid-step.
"…You felt that too, didn't you?"
The void answered with nothing.
He smiled beneath the mask anyway.
TARGET: THE SOLAR THRONE
The Solar Pantheon existed in a realm of endless day — a false eternity where light never dimmed and shadows were outlawed by decree.
Delta stepped into the sky.
The clouds burned away on contact.
Golden towers trembled. Alarm sigils ignited too late.
Angelic legions mobilized, thousands strong, wings flaring, spears locking into formation.
A Seraph captain shouted, voice cracking with authority.
"IDENTIFY YOURSELF!"
Delta looked at them.
Really looked.
"You already know who I am," he said calmly.
The mask amplified his voice until it echoed inside their souls.
A murmur of fear rippled across the formation.
One angel whispered, "It's the mark…"
Delta tilted his head slightly.
"Oh. You still remember."
THE FIRST CUT
They charged.
Delta didn't rush.
He stepped forward once and drew the Deltonic Saber.
One slash.
Not wide.
Not dramatic.
Precise.
The sky split.
Light folded inward like dying stars. Five hundred angels ceased to exist — not slain, not destroyed.
Removed.
Their command signals vanished. Their oaths unraveled. Their names disappeared from memory.
Delta lowered the blade.
"That was a warning," he said.
Another presence stirred behind the sky itself.
The gods were watching now.
THE GOD OF DAWN
The sun dimmed.
A figure descended wrapped in blinding radiance — Helior, God of Dawn, bearer of the First Light.
His voice boomed across the realm.
"DELTA! You tread where even Night fears to walk!"
Delta looked up.
"You're loud."
Helior raised his staff, light bending violently.
"I MADE THE DAY THAT WARMS THIS UNIVERSE!"
Delta sighed.
"…You really think that matters?"
He vanished.
GOD KILLER UNCHAINED
Helior screamed as Delta reappeared inside his aura.
The god struck — blinding brilliance crashing down like judgment.
Delta took it.
The light burned.
The mask cracked — then healed.
"You see," Delta said conversationally, "this is the part where you monologue."
He drove the Deltonic Saber through Helior's chest.
The god froze.
Delta leaned close.
"And this is the part where the audience realizes you were never important."
He twisted the blade.
Helior didn't explode.
He collapsed inward, light folding into a dying point before winking out.
The sun above dimmed permanently.
Somewhere, a civilization experienced its first night.
THE FOURTH WALL CREAKS
Delta stood still.
The realm trembled.
He turned his head — not toward gods, not toward angels.
But elsewhere.
"You know," he said, voice low, thoughtful,
"this is usually where stories justify this."
The sky flickered.
"They give speeches. They talk about necessity. Or balance. Or destiny."
He wiped god-light off his blade.
"…But let's be honest."
He looked straight ahead.
"They deserved this."
A pause.
"And you're still reading."
The sky snapped back into place.
THE PANTHEON RESPONDS
Three gods descended together:
Aurelion, God of War
Seris, Goddess of Mercy
Kheph, God of Continuity
A desperate alliance.
Seris landed first, tears streaming.
"PLEASE," she cried. "This isn't you!"
Delta tilted his head.
"No," he corrected gently. "This is me without permission."
Aurelion roared and charged.
Delta met him.
The collision shattered continents.
THE SLAUGHTER SLOWS
This time, Delta didn't rush.
He fought slowly.
Methodically.
Every kill deliberate.
He let Aurelion swing — then removed his arm at the concept.
Let Kheph rewind time — then cut the rewind itself.
Seris tried to heal them.
Delta stopped in front of her.
She looked at her hands, shaking.
"I only wanted peace…"
Delta lowered the blade slightly.
"So did I."
He raised it again.
"But peace built on my obedience was never peace."
He ended her.
Mercy died quietly.
THE GODS FLEE
The pantheon broke.
Gods abandoned thrones. Realms collapsed. Prayer channels went silent.
Delta stood alone amid the ruins of false eternity.
He exhaled.
The mask did not come off.
HELL FEELS IT
In Hell, the forge screamed in approval.
Morvanna laughed hysterically.
Varkos roared for war.
Hades gripped his throne until it cracked.
"…He's not stopping," Hades whispered.
NOCTIS INTERVENES (ALMOST)
Stars folded.
Noctis appeared beside Delta as the last light died.
Her expression wasn't playful now.
"You're enjoying this," she said.
Delta didn't deny it.
"I'm finished pretending I'm not," he answered.
She studied him.
"You're starting to see beyond the story."
Delta looked at her.
"Am I wrong?"
Noctis smiled faintly.
"No," she admitted.
"…But that means the story will start pushing back."
THE VOID BREATHES
Deep beyond layers of existence, something immense shifted.
It felt the blade.
The mask.
The awareness.
A voice whispered, not to Delta —
—but around him.
GOOD.
BREAK IT.
ALL OF IT.
Delta stiffened.
For the first time, the mask didn't hide his frown.
"…That voice," he murmured.
Noctis' eyes darkened.
"That's not Hell."
Delta tightened his grip on the saber.
"Good."
The universe trembled as he turned away.
"Because I'm not done yet.