Chapter 25: The Path of the Unshackled Begins
Chapter 25: The Path of the Unshackled Begins
Jin clenched his fists, feeling the weight of the truth settling into his bones. The system—the very thing that governed reality—was a lie. A tool created to suppress, not empower.
And now, he was armed with knowledge that could tear it apart.
Aerin still looked shaken. "Jin… What happened in there?"
Jin exhaled, his breath steady. "I saw the truth."
The golden gate before them loomed, radiating divine energy. Beyond it lay the next trial—the next step toward power. But now, Jin saw everything differently.
This was all a cage.
And he was about to break free.
---
A System on Edge
> [WARNING: Unregistered knowledge detected.]
[Host has acquired forbidden records.]
[Adjusting fate calculations… ERROR. ERROR.]
Jin smirked as the system's messages flickered, glitching.
> [New Path Unlocked: The Unshackled One]
You are no longer bound by divine restrictions. Your growth is now limitless.
Jin felt it—a shift in reality itself. The invisible shackles around him snapped, and a surge of raw power flooded his veins. It wasn't a mere level-up. It was freedom.
---
The Trial of the False God
The Keeper of the Forbidden Floor stepped forward. His golden eyes scanned Jin, his expression unreadable.
"You have seen what was not meant to be seen," the Keeper said. "You stand at the edge of rebellion. Do you truly wish to walk this path?"
Jin smirked. "I've already taken the first step."
The Keeper nodded. "Then face your next trial. The Trial of the False God."
With a wave of his hand, the golden gate shattered.
Beyond it, a vast arena of white marble appeared. Towering statues of gods stood around the battlefield, their eyes glowing with judgment.
In the center, a being descended from the sky. A humanoid figure clad in golden armor, radiating divine energy.
> [TRIAL BOSS: ARKIEL, THE FALSE GOD]
A being created by the system to test those who seek the power of divinity.
Arkiel raised his hand, and a massive golden spear formed in his grasp. His voice echoed across the arena.
"Mortal. Prove your worth, or be erased."
Jin cracked his knuckles.
"Alright, let's dance."
---
Breaking the Chains of Fate
Arkiel lunged forward, his spear slicing through the air at impossible speed.
Jin barely dodged, feeling the wind pressure slice through the marble behind him.
> [DANGER! Enemy attack contains divine suppression.]
Jin clicked his tongue. "Oh, so that's how it is."
Before, the system's suppression would have slowed him down, forcing him to fight within its limits. But now?
> [Path of the Unshackled Activated.]
[Divine Suppression… NULLIFIED.]
Jin vanished—moving faster than the system could calculate.
BAM!
His fist collided with Arkiel's chest, sending the False God skidding back. The statues around the arena cracked from the impact.
Arkiel's golden eyes widened. "Impossible… No mortal should—"
Jin didn't let him finish. He blurred again, appearing behind Arkiel, his leg swinging in a devastating kick.
CRACK!
Arkiel was sent flying, smashing through one of the divine statues. Divine energy sparked from his shattered armor.
The system glitched.
> [ERROR. ERROR. ERROR.]
[Host's power is exceeding projected limits.]
Jin smirked. "Yeah, you gods really should've seen this coming."
Arkiel staggered to his feet, his form trembling. "I… am a god. I cannot fall to a mortal."
Jin's eyes burned. "Then let me show you what a 'mortal' can really do."
He raised his hand—and summoned a power the system couldn't recognize.
A black flame erupted in his palm.
> [New Skill Created: Nullfire]
A flame that burns through divine restrictions, erasing even the gods.
Arkiel's expression turned to pure fear.
Jin vanished—reappearing above him.
"Burn."
He slammed the flame into Arkiel's chest.
The False God screamed as the black fire devoured him—burning through his divine existence itself. His golden body cracked apart, his screams fading into nothing.
And then—
> [Trial Boss Defeated.]
[Divine Suppression Shattered.]
[Host has taken one step closer to becoming something beyond gods.]
The arena shook. The statues crumbled.
The system panicked.
> [DANGER! Host is disrupting fate itself!]
Jin grinned. "Good."
He turned to Aerin, who stared at him with pure shock.
"Jin… What are you becoming?"
Jin flexed his fingers, feeling the power surging through him.
"Something they never expected."
He turned back to the shattered gate, where a new path had opened.
The next floor awaited.
And Jin was ready to tear through every goddamn chain in his way.