The Pieces Begin to Move

The colossal gateway in the sky pulsated with an ominous glow. From within, towering silhouettes stirred, their divine auras leaking through the crack between realms. The ground beneath them trembled—not from fear, but from the sheer weight of the divine presence pressing down upon Blue Star.

Su Chen tightened his grip on the Spear of Divinity. His newly refined power surged through his body, his very existence evolving beyond mortal constraints. He could feel the presence of those beyond the rift, watching, waiting.

"The first piece has moved. Now, let the next turn begin."

The voice still echoed across the battlefield, its tone laced with amusement and condescension. Su Chen knew what this meant.

The gods had just made their first true move.

Then—

A thunderous boom erupted as the rift split wider, unleashing a blinding golden light. From within, three figures emerged, each radiating an oppressive divine energy.

The first was a warrior clad in crimson armor, his frame large enough to make even the most seasoned Awakened warriors seem like children before him. He carried a jagged battle-ax that crackled with raw destruction.

The second was a woman draped in ethereal robes, her form flickering like a mirage. She held no weapon, yet the space around her distorted as if she could bend reality itself.

The third was a hooded figure, faceless and silent, yet its very presence made the air cold and suffocating. In its hand, a blackened staff pulsed with an eerie, deathly glow.

Trial Gods.

Su Chen's expression turned cold.

The gods weren't descending all at once—but they were sending their minions. These three were merely the beginning.

His eyes flickered toward the soldiers around him. Fear had taken hold of many. Even the strongest among them, those who had reached Tier 5 and 6, trembled beneath the overwhelming divine pressure.

Even Huaxia's strongest warriors weren't ready for this.

But Su Chen was.

With a single step, he vanished, appearing high above the battlefield, directly between his forces and the descending gods. The air crackled as divine energy rippled from his form, his Tier 11 strength now fully manifest.

The crimson-armored god sneered. "Ah, a mortal who dares touch divinity. How… intriguing."

The robed woman smirked. "Shall we test his resolve?"

The hooded figure remained silent, but the dark energy around it flared ominously.

Su Chen's lips curled into a smirk. "Test me?" His voice was calm, yet filled with overwhelming confidence. "You're three turns too late."

Then, he moved.

With a burst of speed, he launched himself at the crimson-armored god. His spear slashed through the air, tearing through space itself as he struck.

BOOM!

A shockwave erupted as their weapons clashed, sending ripples of energy across the battlefield. The sheer force of Su Chen's strike dented the god's armor, something that should have been impossible for a mortal.

The armored god's eyes widened in shock. "Impossible—"

But Su Chen wasn't done.

Before the warrior could react, Su Chen twisted his spear, summoning a wave of divine flames that engulfed the battlefield. He wasn't just using raw power—he was using technique, refined through the memories of his past life and the newfound strength he wielded.

The robed woman raised a hand, attempting to distort space and dodge the attack—

But Su Chen anticipated it.

He vanished, appearing behind her in an instant.

His spear thrust forward—

Piercing straight through her chest.

For the first time, the divine beings felt something they had never expected from a mortal.

Fear.

The hooded god finally moved, its blackened staff rising high as it summoned a vortex of death energy. The very air turned into decay, corroding the ground itself.

But Su Chen's gaze remained calm.

With a flick of his wrist, he infused his spear with divine energy and swung.

A crescent-shaped shockwave of power tore through the vortex, splitting it apart as if it were nothing but mist. The hooded figure staggered back, its faceless form turning toward its comrades.

The armored warrior was injured.

The robed woman was barely standing.

And Su Chen was unscathed.

A slow smirk crept across his lips. "Still want to play this game?"

For the first time, the Trial Gods hesitated.

And then—

BOOOOOOM!

The sky above them shattered.

A new voice echoed from beyond the heavens.

"Enough stalling. Send in the real warriors."

The rift began to widen once more.

More were coming.