Crossroad of eras

[You have learned the truth of the world, You shall be purged]

[System error 07461 : The player body is protected under Admin authority]

[The Absolute gods are gazing at you with animosity]

''What's this situation...?''

Grid who had just finished the trial was confused while staring at the system messages. Purge? Admin authority? animosity? Are the gods omniscient that they are able to penetrate even the barriers of the system and check his quest?

''This is getting more complicated...''

His assimilation time with Madra would soon be over and Baal was only getting stronger. Even though Madra had the advantage in the battle so far, Baal did not fall. Additionally, Grid couldn't risk madra's soul being snatches away by Baal, he had to end the assimilation fast. But the system messages made it more complicated, Why did he have to be a hero who protects others? Since when was it his duty? Didn't Irene say she loves him for who he is? Then why did she ask him to be a hero?

Questions flooded Grid's mind as he contemplated everything that had happened until now. It was then that a system message appeared:

[You are the hero and lantern of Humanity , please do not show hesitation to act]

[You are the hope of humanity, you have the duty to protect it]

[You are the god of virtue, punish the sinful]

''...''

After the curse of wrath was blocked, Grid's mind was clearer than ever.

''Why do I have to be a hero? Is it for the power you grant to maintain your so-called balance? So far everything you have granted me only took things away from me, not once did it give anything to me.''

[...]

[The system asks you not to doubt your position as it is the basis of your status]

''Shut up''

[...]

''If all you want is a pawn and agent that acts according to your will, then your so-called ''Hero''can go f*** himself''

[The system is disappointed with your words.]

[The system warns you that your status will drop if you continue denying your position]

''Then take it away''

[!!!]

''Take away those shitty titles and powers, if I am going to do what I want to do, I will do it with my own power without being interrupted.''

[!!!!!!]

[The system thinks you're making a big mis-]

''The hero you want is not a hero, it's a hypocrite slave.''

''The Irene I love, the Irene I know, My wife, cared about me and our family more than anything else...''

[...]

[The system says the change implemented in her was necessary for the survival of the world]

''You dared touch her so that you trick me into being the hero you want...You...YOU!!''

Slowly, Grid reverted back to his old self, the memories of the last few decades passing through his mind, since when was he being manipulated? Since when has Irene been tampered with? He realized how foolish he was for dedicating everything to a world where he would never be in control.

''Then take that you asshole, you want a hero who protects the balance of your utopia? Then I will be the one to fight the whole world you created, those who dared touch her...I will...destroy you all...''

[...]

[Your choice has been confirmed]

[The title 'Lantern of humanity' has been lost]

[The title 'God of virtue' has been lost]

[The path to recovering your divinity has been blocked]

[Your god status and partial race have been lost]

[Stats have been reorganized and the golden ratio is lost]

[The stats and skills generated by the lost titles and status will be removed]

[Your race reverts to 'Human(Base)' and your status depends solely on your existence]

''... was this the right choice, Irene?''

Grid's melancholic eyes gazed at the empty void as he was slowly drawn out since his assimilation with Madra would soon come to an end.

''?''

Just as he felt himself regaining control over his body, flashing notifications appeared and blocked his view.

[The penalties are too great, the balance of the world is lost]

[The world chooses another hero to fight the calamities and restore the balance]

[Rebecca looks at you with pitying eyes]

[Yatan looks at you with an annoyed expression]

[Hanul is smiling]

[Your status is fading away, your name and presence in the world's history are fading away]

[However, you are one who has witnessed the absolute truth, all information about the core events will be revealed]

[The new hero has been chosen as 'Lord Steim', the new pioneer of the era]

''What...? No, NO, NOOO, STOP!''

However, regardless of how many times he cried, the system remained silent, his status, and thus his importance in the worldview had mostly disappeared, what he was left with was neither his reputation nor his feats, but only his existence.

''My son...Don't you dare...My son...''

In a world where he was alone, where he didn't need to keep a fake front and act fine anymore, some memories passed through his mind, the memories of loss.

'Khan...Irene...Braham...Mercedes...Piaro...Now Lord too...Why?WHY? WHY?!'

The agony created by imagining the bloody bodies of the people he cherished overwhelmed him. He threw away everything, focusing on stopping whatever threatened them.

His actions were not just led by emotions, rather, he was blinded by them. If the curse of wrath led him to act in a rational way to obliterate certain threats, the current Grid was one who saw slaughter as the only path to success, his virtuous self was no more as the blade was aimed at the world itself, to avenge his loved ones, he had embraced it, the path of an avenger.

'I can no longer help you, Kid, do what you must, and survive through it all.'

Madra's last words could be heard as the light reached Grid's eyes again. He had regained full control of his body, in front of him was the scenery of destruction and chaos. Baal, whose body was covered with grave wounds, was slowly healing as his demonic energy seemed to be infinite.

''Ho? so you're back, Pagma's successor? HAHAHA''

His laugh as wicked as ever, Baal looked at Grid with eyes as deep as the abyss itself. It felt as though he was penetrating his soul, but he could never, for the current Grid was not the same.

''...Abandoning everything? It seems you're a true coward, even more so than Pagma himself, pathetic.''

This time, though, no reaction could be seen from Grid. His black eyes gazed back at Baal as he slowly walked towards him.

''Well, I have no time to waste on you, have fun playing with this little guy.''

The body of a black-haired handsome man appeared as the condensed demonic energy was drawn to him and rushed to strengthen him further.

''Settle this with your predecessor, Pagma's successor.''

Said Baal with a smirk as he left the scene towards an unknown destination.

'Come back you bastard!'

Although he did not utter a word, Grid rushed towards Baal, but alas his path was blocked by the black-haired man who wielded a magnificent black and red sword.

'He reacted to Shunpo that easily...?'

Grid was surprised but couldn't speak as the man's sword aimed at his neck with a trajectory that devoured all of Grid's attacks.

[The final class quest 'Pagma's rest' has been triggered]

''Pagma...''

Yes, the man who stood before Grid was none other than his predecessor, Pagma. Though it was definitely his body and prowess, the man's eyes were as dead as a corpse, showing that he was but an empty vessel whose soul's screams were echoing deep within his body.

''Linked Dragon Pinnacle Kill.''

Grid's strongest single-target 4 fusion dance rushed towards Pagma who stood still before leaning forward and exhibiting a marvelous dance.

''Linked Flower Revolve.''

Grid's eyes widened as the space around him was suddenly filled with sword energy from all directions, as opposed to Yatan's swordsmanship which nullified his attacks, Pagma's dance Overwhelmed him from all directions.

'I need to use Beyond!'

''Divinity. Beyond!''

...No reaction as the hundreds of blades around Grid became closer. He had forgotten an important fact, as he denied his own status and divinity, the skill divinity, which had become the basis of his fighting style, disappeared along with it. Grid hastily began his dance as he tried to recognize every single sword energy blade with the world of transcendence.

''Flower Revol-.''

''Splendor''

But Pagma was one step ahead, he unfolded the dance which blocked vision, The most effective weapon against transcendents as it hindered their senses and use of Shunpo.

[You have received 13,057,472 damage]

[A myth does not fade easily, the remnants of your myth allow you to persist]

[You will be invulnerable for 10 seconds and your HP is fixed at minimum until the duration of invulnerability comes to an end.]

'FUCK!'

Grid's mind was in turmoil as he realized the invulnerability's effectiveness has been decreased a lot due to his lack of vision caused by the Splendor dance. He recalled his training with Lee Jeong's set and attempted to rely on hearing but it wasn't nearly as effective.

''Pagma...Pagma ..PAGMAAAAA''

He was the only one who truly understood Pagma. A man who was tricked by the gods and demons, a man who wished for true peace, a hero, and a hypocrite one at that, it reminded Grid of his past. Pagma had done unforgivable actions, but at the end of the day he had also saved the world, as his successor, Grid had a conflicted heart. How would he even measure up to him while Pagma's morality completely disappeared? Only one thought remained in Grid's mind. He needed to fight, he needed to find his son, the only person he still cared about even though he was only a part of a game, the son he would cherish for eternity as a tribute to his beloved wife.

[The tale starts in a barren land]

'?'

Grid, still blinded, showed a puzzled expression as a blue window appeared before him, as if time stopped, not a single sound could be heard around him anymore, even the wind.

[He met the one whose will he carried]

'Is that an epic? why is there no notification about it?'

[He had chosen a different path, a noble one]

[In a dark cave the roads had split]

[A friend for one, a traitor for another]

'Braham...?'

[His story starts in a dark cave]

[The winds of blood carried away, the tears of loss and grief]

[A banished son among his siblings, whose burning will would never fade]

[He roamed the world until he reached the last stage]

[He was finally free, a true relief, but deep down he was alone]

[He sought more power, betrayed and killed, then regretted all he's done]

[Braham awakened when he met Pagma, a friend of his, a light in sight]

[However one does not simply escape their fate]

[As once he was blinded, Pagma was too, and his life came to an end at his very hands]

[Lying in slumber, planing his vengeance, he met a man]

[With him he ventured and built a bond, with him he laughed and cried along]

[The man who cried and the man who lied, they were 2 sides of the same coin]

[one day reunited they shared their hearts, and soul companions they had become]

[Today they fight, against all odds]

[Their life on the line, under the bloody rain]

[They share their hearts, their soul and pain]

[Today they signed, the pact of years]

''Bah, you should have told me you were struggling if you were, weakling.''

The voice which soothed his heart carried worry deep within.

''I...Will protect you...All of you...''

Grid's resolve was strengthened by his appearance, he might have lost a lot, but he would never give up, he was the one who walked towards a world of peace.

''Bah, stop talking nonsense!''

''Braham...''

When Pagma's eyes fell on Braham's face, light appeared in his eyes for a moment.

''You...even after death you dare threaten us...''

Braham's angry tone as he switched his eyes back on Pagma carried deep resentment. Hundreds of magic missiles appeared out of thin air and aimed at Pagma, but all was futile as he had grown far beyond what Braham could remember.

''Pinnacle Flower Revolve.''

The breathtaking dance swallowed the magic as it aimed it back at Braham.

''Tel-''

''Splendor Restraint.''

''Pagma! Damn it!''

Braham struggled as he was unable to move while his eyes were blinded by the pure white sword energy.

''Pinnacle Kill.''

As he appeared behind Braham using Shunpo, Pagma's dark ruby sword pierced through Braham's heart, reminiscent of a scene from a past that they didn't wish to remember. Braham felt it deep down...He was no match for the one whose betrayal he could never forget.