The Cult in the Shadows

The moment Su Chen confirmed that only 15 days remained before the gods' descent, his mind shifted into high gear. There was no time for hesitation—the cult had to be wiped out immediately.

Through his intelligence network, Su Chen had pinpointed the major cultist hideouts. Though they were weaker than before, they still operated in secrecy, like rats hiding in the dark. Their fanatical devotion to the gods made them dangerous, even if they lacked direct power.

"Tonight, we begin the purge," Su Chen declared to his most trusted allies, standing in a war room filled with maps and reports. "The cult may be fractured, but remnants remain. We cannot allow them to sabotage humanity's preparation."

Ye Meng, his right-hand man, nodded. "We've located four key strongholds. If we take them out in one sweep, their influence will be completely severed."

Luo Qian, a top strategist, spoke next. "Our main concern is that they might still have hidden trump cards—artifacts, forbidden techniques, or even spies within our ranks."

Su Chen exhaled, his golden eyes sharp. "Then we hit them hard and fast. No mercy."

---

That Night – The First Assault

Su Chen and his elite team arrived at the first stronghold—an abandoned factory on the outskirts of the city. Through the shadows, they could see cultists gathered, chanting in low voices.

"Oh great ones, guide us through the darkness. Your descent shall cleanse this world..."

Su Chen's presence alone sent a ripple of unease through the air. He raised a single hand, and in the next second, a forbidden spell erupted—

Shadow Chains!

Dark tendrils shot from the ground, wrapping around dozens of cultists, squeezing their bodies with immense force. Cries of terror filled the air.

"Traitors to humanity! You will not live to see your gods descend!" Su Chen's voice boomed like thunder, sending shivers down the spines of the remaining cultists.

Some tried to fight back, drawing upon strange blood rituals to boost their power, but Su Chen was already prepared.

Flames of Purgation!

A roaring inferno engulfed the entire stronghold, burning everything—their texts, their symbols, their existence. Su Chen's mana reserves were limitless, and he unleashed his power without restraint.

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A Surprise Revelation

As the fire died down, Su Chen approached a dying cultist leader, his eyes filled with disgust. The man coughed up blood but grinned.

"You think this is over? Heh... you've only seen the surface. The true believers lie deeper in the shadows..."

Su Chen narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"

The cultist's grin widened, his lips moving in a whispered chant. Before Su Chen could react, the man self-destructed, his body turning to ash.

Ye Meng cursed. "Damn it! These fanatics are insane!"

Luo Qian picked up a half-burnt parchment from the ground. Su Chen took it, scanning the contents. His eyes darkened.

"The High Order remains hidden in the underground sanctum. The game has only just begun."

Su Chen clenched his fists. "So there's another layer to this cult... Then we dig deeper and finish them all."

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The Final Sanctuary

Just as Su Chen turned to leave, a golden light flickered in the distance. He looked up, feeling an overwhelming divine presence press down on the battlefield.

A cold, mocking voice echoed through the night—

"We see you, Su Chen. You think you can stop our game? Heh... Let's see how long you last."

Su Chen gritted his teeth. The gods were watching. The real battle was about to begin.