Heading to the Frontlines

The stars above Gaea shimmered like watchful eyes as a breach tore through the quiet expanse of space. Dark, spectral figures began to emerge from the rift, a cold, otherworldly wind following in their wake. These were the Spirit Soldiers, warriors of the Spirit World, their hollow forms radiating an eerie luminescence as they descended toward the crimson surface of the planet.

Once known as Mars, Gaea was now a planet transformed. It pulsed with life, a thriving ecosystem reborn under Thomas's guidance and protection. But Gaea was more than just a flourishing world; it was sentient, a living extension of Thomas himself, bound by an ancient and mystical symbiosis. The planet served as his second body, a guardian with immense power and will of its own.

As the Spirit Soldiers began their assault, their target became clear: the three major cities of the Ceilea Star, vast hubs of life and trade within Gaea. They sought to dismantle the foundation of the planet's rebirth, aiming to weaken the will of Thomas himself.

But Gaea was not a passive target.

Beneath the invaders' feet, the ground trembled with an almost malevolent energy. Great fissures tore through the red soil, releasing plumes of molten lava. The skies darkened as storms brewed in mere moments, lightning crackling in dazzling arcs that scorched the Spirits mid-air. Towering forests seemed to come alive, ancient trees stretching their limbs to snatch the spectral forms, dragging them deep into the earth.

The Spirits fought back, their spectral weapons cutting through the elemental onslaught. Yet for every Spirit that resisted, Gaea unleashed an even greater force. Rivers surged and turned to torrents, swallowing whole battalions. The earth groaned as mountains rose and collapsed, forming labyrinthine traps. The planet was a titan of nature and power, using every element at its disposal to subdue the invaders.

Soon, the Spirits found themselves being pulled inexorably toward the planet's core. There, the temperature dropped drastically, and an otherworldly silence fell. This was no ordinary core but the heart of Gaea's consciousness, where Thomas's will was strongest. The Spirits had not merely been defeated, they were being dragged into an interrogation chamber unlike any other, a place where even their incorporeal forms could not hide.

Gaea had awakened fully, and it would have answers.

************************************************

Across the cosmos, the Demon Domain was embroiled in chaos. Ferrus, a world of crimson skies and jagged blackened terrain, the land where the selection for the Demon Sovereign is taking place. It was here that Thomas stood, his gaze turned toward the distant battlefields where the clash of titans shook the fabric of reality itself.

Amongst the many enemies, faint tremor reached Thomas, a signal from Gaea. The connection between his two bodies was seamless, a flow of information and awareness that allowed him to be in two places at once. Gaea's core had spoken.

The Spirit World's invasion was worse than he had anticipated.

The silver-eyed man. Thomas's thoughts darkened as the realization took root. The Chaos Soul Lord.

The name alone carried a weight that could shatter worlds. According to the fragmented reports from the captured Spirits, this being was not just a ruler of the Spirit World but one of the Twelve Lords of Chaos, entities so powerful they had overthrown the original Creator of all existence. The Soul Lord was a devourer of universes, feeding on dead souls to increase his power.

And now, this malevolent force had turned its eyes on their universe.

Why? That was the question that gnawed at Thomas. The Soul Lord was already a ruler of multiple universes. He was gathering power and keeping those loyal to him, why? Is he preparing for something else? 

Thomas's concern deepened as he thought of the impending consequences. The current universe was already on a collision course with another, a phenomenon that he had to stop, it was why he was given the Deity Index System. And if the Soul Lord intended to use that convergence for his own ends, the results could be catastrophic.

And worse still, there was another. A figure beyond the Soul Lord, watching from a distant, gleaming throne. Thomas could almost feel the presence, a cold and calculating gaze that saw all.

The consequences of failure weren't limited to this world or even this realm.

Thomas's thoughts were interrupted by a sudden, violent burst of energy. The tremor rippled across Ferrus, the air growing heavy with a palpable tension. Even the skies seemed to darken further, as though recoiling from the sheer power that had just been unleashed.

The battle had begun.

Thomas could sense the clashing forces. Far away in another star system, on the Seven Sins Demon Palace, The Sovereign and the Elders had engaged the Spirit World's leaders, and their power was immense. Ferrus's war-scarred surface was small in comparison.

Thomas closed his eyes briefly, reaching out with his senses. He could feel the energy signatures of the Sovereign and his most trusted Elders. Their demonic power flared brightly as they pushed back against the invaders. Yet, the Spirit leaders were not easily deterred. Their presence was like a void, an oppressive force that drained the very life from the air around them.

The Sovereign's forces were struggling.

Each clash between them sent shockwaves across realms, shaking half the galaxy. Thomas's connection to his other body flickered momentarily, a testament to the scale of power being unleashed. The situation was spiraling out of control, and the balance of power was tipping dangerously.

Thomas stood at a crossroads. To intervene now would mean revealing more of his power, risking exposure to the Soul Lord and other higher-realm entities. But to remain passive would almost certainly spell doom for the Sovereign and, by extension, the universe itself.

He checked his skills as he weighed his options, knowing time was running out.

Skills:

Passive: Great Magic Mastery, Divine Channeling, Olympian Runic Mastery, Polymorph, Resistance Against Eagles VI, Divine Precision, Eye of the Soul, Titan-God Craftsmanship, Proficiency with Spears I, Proficiency with Blades, 

Active: Minor Spatial Manipulation, Hyper-clock, Fires of Rebirth, Planetary Invocation, Projection, Titan God's Wrath, Titan God's Avatar, Minor Time Manipulation, Eternal Eclipse Transformation, Total Eclipse Domain, Weather Wielder.

Those were his skills in base form, without counting the use of his divinity. For one he had his physique, and Total Eclipse Domain. But it was unknown if it even worked on beings of higher realms.

 In close combat, Thomas was unrivaled, though his enemies until were only mortals. Another choice was The Book of Titanos: His greatest artifact, the system gave him to keep up with all the divinities within him. It contained the accumulated power, abilities, and artifacts of mythic beings, the Olympian Gods, Titans, and all who had descended from Gaea's divine lineage and all other fragments of deities he assimilated.

Thomas's gaze darkened as he pondered the Book. The Soul Lord, one of the Twelve Lords of Chaos, was bound to notice if he went all out. The last thing Thomas wanted was for a being capable of annihilating universes to focus his malevolent gaze on this fragile reality.

But the stakes had risen. Across the Demon Domain, the Sovereign and his elders were losing ground against the Spirit leaders. A prolonged battle could tear the realm apart, destabilizing the universe even further.

Thomas let out a deep breath. The choice was clear. He couldn't sit idly by while the Demon Domain crumbled.

"Lumine," he called.

A faint glow emerged from his body, the armor he wore sending a voice into his mind.

"I am here, Thomas," Lumine said, her tone gentle yet imbued with unshakable resolve. "Do you need something?"

Thomas nodded. "Yes. Shuttle Formation. We're heading to the front."

Lumine didn't hesitate. "As you command."

The Luminous Ark responded immediately, its enchanted mirrors disassembling into countless fragments of radiant glass. They floated around Thomas' glowing form, shifting and reforming with precision and grace. Within moments, the fragments coalesced into a sleek, shimmering shuttle, its surface rippling like liquid light.

Thomas stepped aboard the shuttle, his hand resting briefly on its cool surface.

Lumine's voice echoed from the shuttle's walls. "Setting the course. Setting off in 3... 2... 1..."

The shuttle began to hum with energy as Lumine prepared for departure. The tension in the air was palpable, but Thomas's resolve was firm.

Meanwhile, in the parallel universe nor far away, a swirling skeleton gate crackled with dark energy. From its shadowy depths, Clarisse emerged, her transformation evident in every detail. Her fiery red hair framed a face now marked by sharp, predatory features. Crimson eyes gleamed with ancient power, and her black-and-gold robes seemed to ripple with barely contained energy. She instinctively touched the red choker.

Waiting for her was a towering figure with long, flowing red hair and a beard like smoldering embers. His presence exuded power and command: The Blood Progenitor.

"Clarisse," he said, his voice both warm and authoritative. "You've returned."

Clarisse inclined her head in respect. "Grandfather."

The Progenitor stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over her with pride. "You've grown strong," he remarked. "Your training is complete?"

She nodded, her hand still resting on the choker. "Yes. The armor feels… natural now."

The Progenitor's smile revealed sharp fangs. "Good. Because it's time for you to return to the other side."

Clarisse's eyes narrowed slightly. "The other side?"

The Progenitor's expression darkened. "The parasite may have no power here, but the fools in your world have fallen for his lies. They march willingly toward destruction. You'll need to intervene before it's too late."

Clarisse straightened, her resolve unwavering. "I'll do what's necessary."

The Progenitor placed a firm hand on her shoulder. "Remember who you are. Your bloodline is your strength. Do not hold back."

As Clarisse turned and stepped back toward the skeleton gate, the Progenitor watched her go, his expression unreadable. The storm of war was building across universes, and the pieces were now in motion. His long lost divinity, now in the hands of another, one who bears the heavy burden of the entire god clan.