The Gods' Ultimatum
A Divine Warning
The battlefield remained silent long after Valerius disappeared. His presence had been overwhelming, but the fact that Su Chen had forced him to retreat sent a clear message—mortals were no longer mere insects in the eyes of the gods.
The soldiers still trembled, but their eyes burned with determination. They had witnessed Su Chen defy the divine, wound an Oracle, and remain standing.
Yet, Su Chen wasn't celebrating.
His gaze lingered on the sky, his mind replaying the battle.
Valerius had held back.
That much was clear.
And if the gods had merely been testing him, it meant that the next encounter wouldn't be a warning—it would be an extermination.
A voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Commander, what now?" Wang Jun asked, his fists clenched.
Su Chen turned, his expression unreadable.
"They'll be back. Stronger. More prepared."
A murmur ran through the awakened soldiers. They all knew he was right.
The gods had underestimated them today. They wouldn't make the same mistake twice.
"We need to push forward with our training," Su Chen continued. "The moment the next phase begins, we'll be fighting not just Oracles—but actual gods."
The gravity of his words settled in. Tier 3 warriors had struggled against a single Oracle. How would they fare against a true deity?
For the first time since the awakenings began, fear truly gripped the camp.
---
A Meeting with the Higher-Ups
A few hours later, Su Chen sat in a high-security conference room in the heart of the military base. Across from him sat Huaxia's top officials—generals, strategists, and even a few politicians who had finally started taking him seriously.
"You fought a god's messenger today," an older general said, rubbing his temples. "And you survived."
"Barely," Su Chen corrected.
The general let out a dry chuckle. "Still, that's more than anyone else on this planet has done."
A younger strategist leaned forward. "What do you think their next move is?"
Su Chen didn't hesitate. "A direct show of force."
"They sent an Oracle first, likely to judge our capabilities. Now that they know we can fight back, they'll escalate." His fingers tapped on the table. "The question is—how much force will they use?"
Silence filled the room. No one had an answer.
One of the intelligence officers spoke up. "If they send a lesser god, can you hold them off?"
Su Chen thought about it carefully.
Valerius had barely used a fraction of his power, yet his casual attacks had overwhelmed most Tier 3 awakeners. A true god wouldn't just be stronger—they would be faster, more resilient, and wield divine authority.
"…I can't say for sure," he admitted. "But I won't let them win."
It wasn't a reassuring answer, but it was the truth.
The older general exhaled. "Then we better prepare for the worst."
He turned to the military advisors.
"Accelerate training. Get every awakened fighter combat-ready."
Then, he looked at Su Chen.
"You hold the line, Commander."
Su Chen met his gaze.
"I will."
---
The Gods' Next Move
Far above the mortal world, the divine pantheon held a meeting of their own.
The great celestial hall was filled with radiant beings, each seated on a throne forged from their domain—thrones of fire, ice, darkness, and light.
At the center, the six-winged deity Zephiron stood, his voice booming across the chamber.
"The False Prophet has defied us."
The gathered gods murmured among themselves.
"The Oracle was wounded," a goddess of storms hissed. "By a mere mortal."
Zephiron's golden eyes burned with fury. "This is an insult that cannot go unanswered."
A war god clad in bloodstained armor leaned forward. "Let me descend. I will break him."
But a voice interrupted.
"No."
A figure draped in shadows spoke—a god whose face was obscured.
"We cannot rush this."
Zephiron turned sharply. "Why not? The longer we delay, the stronger he grows."
The shadowed god's voice was calm. "If we act recklessly, we risk more than just a failed strike. We risk changing fate itself."
Murmurs of unease filled the chamber.
The gods believed in fate. But Su Chen was not following it.
The shadowed god continued, "We must not just kill him. We must break his will."
Silence.
Then Zephiron spoke.
"How do you propose we do that?"
A cold, cruel smile spread beneath the shadowed god's hood.
"Make him choose."
---
The Ultimatum
The next day, a golden pillar of light descended over Huaxia's capital.
Unlike Valerius, this divine presence was overwhelming from the moment it arrived. Millions of people felt it, their souls trembling under the sheer weight of the divine aura.
A voice echoed across the entire nation—no, across the entire world.
"Mortal world, hear this decree."
The heavens themselves seemed to vibrate as the words rang out.
"You have defied the gods. You have rejected our mercy. But we are not without compassion."
Silence.
Then, the voice continued.
"We offer you a choice."
"Deliver Su Chen to us."
"Or watch as your world burns."
The entire world froze.
---
Su Chen's Reaction
Inside the military base, the command center was in chaos.
"Damn it! They're threatening the entire planet just to get to you!" Wang Jun growled.
"Of course they are," Luo Qian muttered, fists clenched. "They're trying to turn the people against him."
Su Chen remained silent, staring at the screen that displayed the golden light over the capital.
The gods were done playing games.
Now, they wanted blood.
Zhang Wei, another trusted officer, turned to him. "What do we do? People will panic. Governments will consider turning on you."
Su Chen exhaled slowly.
Then, he smirked.
"Let them come."
Everyone turned to him, shocked.
Su Chen stood, his aura flaring.
"They want me? Let them try to take me."
He turned to his commanders.
"Prepare the soldiers. Train them harder. If the gods want a war—we'll give them one."
And as he spoke, the entire base felt it—the shift in momentum.
The gods had declared their ultimatum.
But Su Chen?
He had already decided.
If they wanted his life, they'd have to come and take it themselves.
And he'd make them regret trying.
---
End of Chapter 16