Chapter 27: The Gods Make Their Move
Jin stood over the fallen System Enforcers, the air humming with residual energy. His knuckles still burned from the clash, and his body thrummed with the aftereffects of his newly awakened powers.
> [SYSTEM ERROR: ENFORCERS TERMINATED.]
[CRITICAL WARNING: HOST CONTINUES TO BREAK THE BALANCE.]
[DEPLOYING HIGHER AUTHORITY.]
Aerin tensed beside him, her silver eyes flickering with concern. "Jin, that doesn't sound good."
Jin rolled his shoulders. "Yeah? Well, neither did 'Eliminate the anomaly,' and look how that turned out for them." He gestured at the glitching, fading remains of the Enforcers.
But before Aerin could respond, space itself cracked open.
A golden rift formed above them, wider than any portal he had seen before. Blinding celestial light poured from within, and an overwhelming pressure descended on the battlefield.
And then—a figure stepped out.
---
Arrival of the God-Killer
Unlike the Enforcers, this being wasn't faceless.
He stood tall, clad in ornate silver armor, engraved with inscriptions that pulsed with divine energy. His long, flowing hair was a brilliant gold, and his piercing blue eyes seemed to reflect entire galaxies.
But it wasn't just his appearance that made Jin pause.
It was his presence.
Absolute. Crushing. Inescapable.
A notification flared in Jin's vision.
> [NEW ENTITY IDENTIFIED.]
[NAME: SERAPHIS, THE GOD-KILLER.]
[RANK: BEYOND MEASUREMENT.]
Jin exhaled slowly.
Aerin took a step back, her voice a whisper. "Jin… that's not just a god."
Seraphis unsheathed a radiant greatsword, the blade humming with power that made reality itself tremble.
He looked down at Jin with an expression of calm authority. "You have defied the divine laws, mortal."
His voice resonated across dimensions.
"And now, you will be erased."
---
The Battle Begins
BOOM!
Seraphis vanished—then reappeared in front of Jin in a flash of golden light. His sword descended, slicing down with divine speed.
Jin barely had time to react. He twisted, his instincts screaming, and raised his arm—
> [Path of the Unshackled: Instant Adaptation Activated.]
A barrier of black flames erupted around him, clashing against the divine blade.
CLANG!
The impact sent shockwaves through the ruined arena. The very sky cracked, and the earth splintered.
Jin gritted his teeth. "That all you got?"
Seraphis narrowed his eyes. "No."
And then—Jin was gone.
---
Inside the Celestial Domain
Jin's vision blurred. The world around him shifted, twisted, and realigned.
When he landed, he wasn't in the arena anymore.
He was somewhere else.
A place of endless golden plains, where time and space seemed to stretch infinitely. The sky was an endless canvas of swirling galaxies.
A notification appeared.
> [WARNING: YOU HAVE ENTERED THE CELESTIAL DOMAIN.]
[ESCAPE: IMPOSSIBLE.]
[SURVIVAL RATE: 0.02%.]
Jin let out a slow breath. "Tch. Always with the bad odds."
A voice echoed.
"Your defiance ends here."
Jin turned.
Seraphis stood before him, his divine aura expanding, his sword raised for the final strike.
And this time…
There was nowhere to run.
---
End of Chapter 27