Chapter 6: The Council’s Response

A heavy silence filled the grand hall of the divine realm. The gods sat on their thrones, their expressions dark. In the center of the chamber, kneeling on one knee, was Vael—his head bowed, his body trembling.

For the first time in millennia, the Warden of Judgment had failed.

The highest god, draped in celestial robes, stared down at him. His golden eyes burned with suppressed rage. "You mean to tell us that you, the strongest hunter of the council, lost?"

Vael clenched his fists. His pride stung, but he would not lie. "I never stood a chance."

The gods exchanged glances, unease creeping into their hearts.

"Explain," another god demanded.

Vael lifted his gaze, crimson eyes filled with something they had never seen before—fear. "He is not just alive. He is at full strength. Or perhaps… stronger."

Gasps filled the chamber.

"Impossible," a goddess whispered. "He was cast into the void. He should have been erased."

"He caught my divine spear with two fingers," Vael continued. "He shattered it like glass. I struck him with all my power—he did not move. And when he attacked…"

The memory sent a shudder down his spine. That overwhelming power. That absolute dominance.

"He could have killed me. Easily. But he let me go."

Silence.

Then, the highest god spoke again, his voice low but firm. "He let you go because he wanted you to deliver a message."

Vael nodded slowly. "Yes. He told me to tell you… your era is over."

The chamber erupted in chaos. Gods shouted over one another, their divine auras flickering with anger and fear. Some demanded war. Others hesitated.

"He's just one god!" one roared. "We should strike him down before he regains more power!"

"And what if we fail?" another countered. "If he could defeat Vael without effort, how many of us could he wipe out?"

The highest god raised his hand. The hall fell silent.

"Enough," he said. His golden eyes burned with fury. "We cannot take this lightly. Orvantis was once the ruler of all gods. If he has truly returned at full strength, then we are facing the greatest threat the divine realm has ever known."

A tense pause.

Finally, the highest god spoke again. "Summon the Archangels. Gather the Divine Champions. From this moment forward, Orvantis is the enemy of the divine realm. We will erase him before he becomes unstoppable."

The gods nodded, determination replacing their fear. War was inevitable.

Meanwhile, in the Mortal Realm…

Akira stood on the rooftop of a skyscraper, gazing at the city below. The lights stretched endlessly, a reflection of a world that had long forgotten the old ways.

He could feel the gods stirring. Their fear. Their anger. Their desperation.

Good.

He exhaled slowly. "The pieces are moving faster than I expected."

Footsteps echoed behind him. He didn't turn. He already knew who it was.

Selene.

The silver-haired goddess approached cautiously, her violet eyes filled with uncertainty. "You let him go," she said.

Akira smirked. "Of course. How else would the gods know to be afraid?"

She hesitated, watching him carefully. "They will come for you now."

"They were always going to," he replied. "Now, they'll come in force. It'll be more entertaining that way."

Selene frowned. "Do you… really intend to fight the entire divine realm alone?"

Akira finally turned to her. His golden eyes glowed faintly in the night. "Who said I'd be alone?"

Selene's breath caught. For a moment, she saw it—the power behind his words. The unshaken confidence of a king.

Akira took a step closer. "You don't serve them anymore, do you?"

She stiffened. "No. But that doesn't mean—"

"Then fight with me."

Selene's eyes widened. "What?"

"You ran from them because you knew they were corrupt. Because you knew they had lost their right to rule." His voice was calm, yet commanding. "You saw their weakness. And you know what happens next."

Selene swallowed. "War."

Akira nodded. "Yes. And in war, there are only two sides."

Selene looked away. Her heart pounded.

For centuries, she had wandered, refusing to bow to the council, but too afraid to fight back. Yet now, before her stood the one god who could truly challenge them. The one god who had once ruled them all.

And he was offering her a choice.

A chance to stand against the gods she once feared.

A chance to be free.

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath—then met his gaze.

"...What would you have me do?"

Akira smiled. "We start by gathering allies."

Selene hesitated for only a moment—then nodded.

The war had begun. And this time, the gods would not be the ones to decide its outcome