The dead god's heart pulsed.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
Each beat shattered space.
Dark-red cracks spread across the realm.
The Gate of Ancient Gods began to open.
Ancient Ruins — Battlefield
Corrupted Immortals descended like shadows.
Their bodies stitched with cursed runes.
Eyes empty.
No pain.
No fear.
Only orders.
"Protect the gate."
"Capture the heirs."
Kharos laughed softly.
"Come, Emperor."
"Show me why Heaven fears you."
Arin moved first.
Dragon wings thundered.
He vanished.
Reappeared inside enemy ranks.
One punch.
Boom.
Five Immortals erased.
No explosion.
No remains.
Just…
Gone.
[SYSTEM ALERT]
Authority Overwrite
Existence Deleted
Seren charged.
Crimson flames wrapped her blade.
"Crimson Sever!"
She spun.
A storm of fire blades erupted.
Twenty enemies fell.
Screaming.
Burned from soul to body.
Elara raised both hands.
Moonlight descended.
"Lunar Sanctuary!"
A dome of silver light covered the children.
Deflecting every attack.
Mira activated her array.
"Heaven-Sealing: Domain Mode!"
Runes expanded.
The battlefield bent.
Enemies slowed.
Allies accelerated.
[SYSTEM ALERT]
Battlefield Control: Absolute
Auren and Ardyn
Inside the barrier…
Auren clenched his fists.
Golden scales shimmered.
"I help."
Before anyone could stop him—
He stepped out.
Dragon energy surged.
"Dragon Guard!"
A golden shield formed around Ardyn.
[SYSTEM ALERT]
Heir Skill Awakened
Dragon Guardian
Ardyn's eyes glowed.
Crimson-gold flames formed wings.
"Ba!"
A tiny phoenix-dragon burst forward.
It burned through enemies.
Everyone stared.
"…They're fighting," Seren muttered.
Kharos Steps In
Clap.
Clap.
"Marvelous."
Kharos appeared behind Arin.
Space twisted.
A spear of void formed.
"Void Burial."
Too fast.
Too deadly.
Elara screamed.
"Arin!"
Arin turned.
Eyes cold.
He caught the spear.
With bare hands.
Crack.
Shattered.
[SYSTEM ALERT]
Law Resistance: Absolute
He grabbed Kharos's face.
Slammed him into the ground.
Boom!!!
The ruins collapsed.
"You talk too much," Arin said quietly.
Kharos coughed blood.
But laughed.
"You think… this is my body?"
His form cracked.
A projection.
Real Kharos — Gate Core
The true body stood at the gate.
Hands raised.
Blood sigils activated.
"The key opens!"
The gate roared.
A colossal eye opened inside.
Ancient.
Hungry.
Mad.
[SYSTEM ALERT]
Ancient God Fragment Awakening
Threat Level: Extinction
The realm screamed.
Gravity inverted.
Time wavered.
Arin felt it.
Something older than heaven.
Stronger than Immortals.
Watching.
He looked at his family.
At Elara.
At Seren.
At Mira.
At his sons.
And smiled.
"Stay behind me."
Golden authority exploded.
"Then…"
"I'll fight a god."