Chapter 1

The air was heavy with the stench of sulfur and blood as the gods soared toward the blackened castle that loomed over the desolate land. The battlefield beneath us was littered with corpses—both mortal and monstrous. This was it. The end. Either we triumphed today, or the world would fall to eternal ruin.

"Does everyone remember the plan?" the God of Creation called out, his voice carrying both authority and desperation. His golden armor glowed faintly, a beacon amidst the oppressive darkness.

We all nodded in unison, our resolve unshaken. Yet, when his gaze turned to me, my heart trembled.

"Death?" he asked, his tone softer, as if he understood the weight I carried.

I met his eyes, a flicker of confidence masking the storm within. "You are the only one who can do this," he reminded me, his voice steady.

I nodded and tightened my grip on my scythe.

We charged.

The castle doors burst open, and a flood of demons, beasts, and otherworldly horrors surged toward us. The ground trembled beneath their weight. For hours—or was it days?—we carved through their ranks. My scythe sang as it cleaved through armor, flesh, and bone, the very essence of death emanating from its blade.

At last, we reached the heart of the castle. The throne room was vast and shadowy, illuminated only by the eerie glow of crimson runes etched into the walls.

A deep, resonating voice echoed through the chamber, sending chills down my spine. "So, the foolish gods who still believe they have a chance have arrived..."

The Demon Lord emerged from the darkness, his monstrous form towering over us. His crimson eyes burned with malice, and his aura of raw power was suffocating.

The God of Creation stepped forward, his anger palpable. "We offered you salvation. We offered you the authority of a god. But you chose greed and destruction. You have no place in this realm."

"Greed?" the Demon Lord's lips curled into a sinister grin. "So that's the tale you tell yourselves? Very well. Let us end this farce."

A massive sword materialized in his hands, lightning crackling along its edges. The ground beneath him shattered as he stepped forward.

The battle was chaos. Time seemed to blur as blades clashed, spells erupted, and the very fabric of reality trembled under the weight of our power. The gods fought valiantly, but the Demon Lord was relentless, his strength seemingly endless.

It wasn't until months of battle had passed—though it felt like mere moments—that we saw the tide begin to turn. The Demon Lord's movements slowed, his attacks losing their edge. The God of Creation glanced at me, his expression grave.

This was my moment.

Channeling every ounce of my power, I began forging the weapon of the gods' fear. Sparks of lightning crackled around me, flames danced in my palms, and the elements converged in a violent symphony. Light and darkness intertwined, forming the scythe—the ultimate weapon.

"Death, now!" the God of Creation roared.

The Goddess of Fate and the God of Time acted in unison, binding the Demon Lord in place. Their bodies burned under the strain of his aura, but they held on, unwavering.

The Demon Lord's eyes widened as he saw the weapon manifest in my hands. His voice was a low growl, tinged with resignation. "So, this is the end..."

I hurled the scythe with all my strength. It cut through the air with a deafening roar, shattering the Demon Lord's chest and destroying his core. The light of his life flickered out, and he collapsed.

For a moment, there was silence. Then, cheers erupted as we realized the impossible had been achieved.

The God of Creation approached me, a weary but triumphant smile on his face. "I knew you could do it, Death!"

But before I could reply, a searing pain tore through my back. My breath hitched as I looked down to see a crystalline blade piercing my chest.

Gasps filled the room as the gods turned to see the Demon Lord, his body broken but his spirit unyielding. "At least... I will take one of you with me," he rasped before finally collapsing, lifeless.

The God of Creation caught me as I fell. His hands trembled as he cradled me, his golden aura flickering. "No! Stay with me! You'll be fine—just breathe!"

The God of Time tried to reverse the damage, but the poison coursing through my veins was relentless. Crystalline patterns spread across my skin, and my body began to harden.

"No! I won't let this happen!" the God of Creation cried, pouring his power into me.

I smiled weakly, placing a hand on his. "It's okay," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

"Don't say that!" he shouted, tears streaming down his face.

The Goddess of Fate placed a hand on his shoulder. "She's right. We can't defy the balance. We'd become no better than him."

The God of Time paused, his expression torn.

I looked up at the God of Creation, his pale face etched with grief. "We won, didn't we?" I asked, my voice trembling.

He nodded, choking back a sob.

"Then... this is enough."

I leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek. His tears fell freely as he hugged me tightly.

As the last of my body crystallized, I whispered, "Thank you... for believing in me."

The world faded to darkness as my soul slipped free, leaving behind nothing but a lifeless crystal shell.