When Arin's existence exploded, there was no sound.
No light.
No destruction.
There was only… silence.
A silence so absolute that even nothingness seemed to disappear.
For a brief moment, the universe forgot how to exist.
Then—
A single heartbeat echoed.
Boom.
Reality returned.
At the center of the battlefield, a new figure stood.
He looked like Arin.
Yet he was no longer entirely Arin.
His hair flowed like liquid starlight.
His eyes contained galaxies.
Golden, crimson, and white laws intertwined around him like living constellations.
Heaven's rules bent in his presence.
Fate unravelled at his feet.
[SYSTEM ALERT]
State Achieved: Pseudo–True God
Realm: Beyond Laws (Incomplete)
Duration: Unknown
The God-Hunter froze.
For the first time since its creation—
It felt fear.
"Error… error… target… transcended…"
Arin lifted his hand.
No technique.
No command.
No law.
Just will.
"End."
The word resonated through all dimensions.
The God-Hunter's void armor peeled away.
Its core was exposed.
A twisted mass of divine hatred and stolen laws.
Arin closed his fist.
Crack.
It shattered.
Not into fragments.
Not into dust.
Into absence.
It never existed again.
No trace remained.
[SYSTEM ALERT]
God-Hunter: Permanently Deleted
Threat Level: Eliminated
Across the cosmos, Heaven trembled.
Palaces collapsed.
Altars cracked.
Divine rivers reversed.
Countless immortals fell to their knees.
"He… destroyed it…"
"He broke Heaven's weapon…"
"He's… beyond us…"
True God Gate Opens
Above Arin, a massive gate appeared.
Made of pure origin.
Covered in eternal runes.
It radiated endless temptation.
Ascension.
Completion.
Perfection.
[SYSTEM ALERT]
True God Ascension Available
Accept? (Y/N)
Arin stared at it.
He felt it.
One step…
And he would become untouchable.
Immortal beyond eternity.
Above fate.
Above love.
Above family.
He turned.
Looked at Elara.
At Auren.
At Ardyn.
At the unborn child glowing softly.
At Lyra.
At Seren.
At Mira.
At his people.
He smiled.
Then shook his head.
"Not yet."
[SYSTEM ALERT]
Ascension Deferred
Hidden Reward: Fate Sovereign Seed
The gate faded.
Heaven sighed in relief.
And fear.
Power Returns
Arin's form slowly dimmed.
Starlight receded.
Galaxies faded.
He collapsed.
"Elara!"
She caught him.
Held him tightly.
Tears fell.
"You idiot…"
"Don't scare me like that…"
He smiled weakly.
"…Worth it."
Reunion
Auren hugged him.
"Papa won!"
Ardyn clung to his arm.
"Ba!"
Lyra knelt, crying openly.
"You chose us… over godhood…"
Seren wiped her eyes.
"…Damn it."
Mira smiled softly.
"Probability… impossible."
New Era Begins
Across Frostwind, bells rang.
Citizens cheered.
Children laughed.
Life continued.
Stronger.
Brighter.
Freer.
High Heaven — Ruins
An ancient being stared at the broken sky.
"…We created our own end."
Arin recovered slowly.
One week later, he stood on the palace balcony.
Holding Elara.
Feeling their child's heartbeat.
The stars felt closer now.
Not as rulers.
As equals.
He whispered.
"Let Heaven come again."
"I'll be ready."