Chapter 26: The Gods Take Notice
Jin stood amidst the rubble of the shattered arena, his breath steady, his power surging. The Trial of the False God was over. Arkiel had been erased—his so-called divine might reduced to nothing in the face of Jin's newfound strength.
But the system wasn't done.
> [WARNING: Host has exceeded projected power limits.]
[Fate recalibration… FAILED.]
[Emergency protocol activated.]
Jin exhaled. "Tch. They're really panicking now."
Aerin approached, her voice barely above a whisper. "Jin… this isn't normal."
Jin turned to her, eyes burning with an unseen fire. "Yeah? Good. Normal is just another way of saying 'controlled'—and I'm done being controlled."
Before Aerin could respond, the air shuddered. The remnants of the golden gate shattered into dust, revealing a path bathed in eerie silver light.
And beyond that path…
Something watched.
---
The Council of Gods
Far beyond mortal perception, in a realm of shimmering constellations and infinite void, divine beings gathered.
Twelve thrones of pure celestial energy formed a circle, each occupied by a figure radiating immense power.
At the center, a vast mirror displayed Jin's form, standing defiantly amidst the ruins of the trial.
A god with silver hair and piercing golden eyes narrowed his gaze. "He is not bound by our rules."
Another god, his body wreathed in serpentine shadows, let out a low chuckle. "Fascinating. A mortal who walks without chains… How did we not foresee this?"
A woman draped in robes made of flowing galaxies spoke, her voice an echo of countless fates. "Because he is no longer part of fate."
The gods fell silent.
A new path had been created. A path outside of their control.
And for the first time in eons…
The gods felt fear.
---
Jin vs. The System
Jin took a step forward, crossing into the next trial's domain. The moment his foot touched the silver-lit ground—
> [EMERGENCY INTERVENTION INITIATED.]
[HOSTILE ENTITY DETECTED.]
[DEPLOYING SYSTEM ENFORCERS.]
Jin's instincts screamed. He leapt backward just as three figures descended from the sky—cloaked in silver armor, their faceless helmets reflecting nothingness.
> [SYSTEM ENFORCER: CLASS-5]
Tasked with eliminating anomalies that threaten the balance.
The Enforcers raised their hands, and blades of light materialized.
Jin cracked his knuckles. "Finally, some action."
The Enforcers vanished—blinking through space at impossible speed.
But Jin was faster.
> [Path of the Unshackled: Acceleration Unlocked.]
His perception expanded, time slowing as he twisted past the first Enforcer's slash and countered with a devastating punch.
BOOM!
The Enforcer crashed through the ground, shattering stone.
The second one lunged, its blade humming with divine suppression.
Jin grinned.
> [Nullfire Ignition.]
The black flames erupted from his palm, clashing against the Enforcer's blade. Instead of parrying, Jin let the flame devour the weapon entirely.
The Enforcer froze.
Jin took the opening—grabbing the faceless helm and slamming it into the third Enforcer.
CRASH!
Both were sent flying, their forms glitching.
> [SYSTEM ERROR. ERROR. ERROR.]
Jin stood over the fallen Enforcers, his voice calm. "I thought you guys were supposed to be tough?"
The system shook.
The gods watched.
And Jin?
He was just getting started.