Chapter 5: The Challenger Approaches

Velgrath's Resolve

The wind howled through the empty plains as Velgrath stood at the edge of the battlefield, his eyes burning with a fierce light. His hand gripped the hilt of his sword, the blade forged from the very heart of a dying star. He could feel the power pulsing through him, a power he had never known before. The gods had always claimed dominion over such forces, but now, it was his.

He had no name among the gods, no grand title, no noble bloodline to trace. He had once been a forgotten soldier, fighting for causes that didn't matter. But now, in this new era, he mattered.

And he had a singular goal: to face Zon K.

The gods would tremble. The mortal realm would rise. But he? He would become a legend. The first to challenge the new Overlord, the first to prove that a mortal could stand against the forces of destiny itself.

"Zon K… Prepare yourself," he muttered under his breath, as his figure blurred, disappearing into the shifting winds. The ground cracked beneath his feet as the earth itself seemed to bend to his will, a reaction to his newfound strength.

Zon K's Eyes

Zon K sat atop the ruins of the Celestial Dominion, the once-grand palace now a pile of debris beneath him. His golden eyes were closed, but his mind stretched across all of reality.

He could feel the change. The universe itself was adapting to his existence.

And yet, something else stirred in the distance. A small, insignificant flicker in the vastness of his domain. A presence. A mortal, no less, who dared to challenge him.

A faint smirk tugged at Zon K's lips.

How amusing.

He opened his eyes, his golden irises glowing like twin suns. His aura surged, causing the very fabric of the universe to tremble in response. He was not worried. After all, he had erased the boundaries of existence itself. Nothing could harm him, not in this world.

But this mortal intrigued him. The audacity. The resolve.

Perhaps it would be… interesting to see how far this human could push against his might.

"Let him come," Zon K murmured, his voice like thunder in the silence. "I will show him why mortals should never challenge a god."

Velgrath's Journey

Velgrath traveled for days, moving through shattered kingdoms and desolate landscapes. The laws of reality had fractured, causing once-immovable mountains to shift and rivers to twist into unnatural shapes. The very sky above him seemed to pulse with energy, a sign of the world's breaking.

But none of that mattered to him. Every step he took, every breath he drew, was dedicated to one purpose.

To reach Zon K.

As he moved through the land, word spread. Whispers of a man—an ordinary soldier turned godslayer—began to echo through the mortal realm. He was a symbol of rebellion, of defiance. He was not the only one who had felt the stirrings of newfound power, but he was the first to rise with it. To stand.

His journey was not just about reaching Zon K. It was about sending a message to the world. That the Age of Gods was over. That no being, no matter how powerful, could stand unchallenged. Even Zon K—the Overlord—was not invincible.

The Confrontation

It was in a clearing, miles away from the remnants of the Celestial Dominion, that Velgrath finally saw him.

Zon K stood alone, as if waiting. The sheer presence of him was enough to make Velgrath hesitate for just a moment. The air shimmered with energy, a force so oppressive it felt like it could crush him on the spot.

But he stood his ground.

"You… You're Zon K?" Velgrath called out, his voice filled with both awe and defiance.

Zon K didn't answer at first. He merely observed the mortal before him, his golden eyes unreadable.

"I am," Zon K said after a long pause, his voice calm, but it carried an authority that seemed to shake the very ground beneath them.

Velgrath's grip tightened on his sword. He had come this far. There was no turning back.

"I've come to challenge you. To show the world that mortals can stand against gods," Velgrath declared, his voice unwavering.

Zon K raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? How interesting. You are the first mortal to ever think to challenge me. You think you can win, don't you?"

Velgrath didn't hesitate. "I won't be the last. This is for all of humanity."

Zon K chuckled, the sound echoing like a distant storm. "Very well," he said, stepping forward. "Show me what you've got."

The Battle

The moment Velgrath moved, the air seemed to warp around him. He dashed forward at speeds that shattered the sound barrier, his sword raised high. He swung with the weight of an entire army behind him. The blade, glowing with the power of a dying star, cut through the air toward Zon K's neck.

But Zon K didn't flinch.

He raised his hand, a simple gesture, and the blade stopped in mid-air.

Time itself seemed to freeze for a moment.

Velgrath gasped. The power of his strike was like the force of a hurricane, but Zon K had… stopped it. With nothing but his will.

"You're strong," Zon K said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But you lack one thing."

"What?" Velgrath demanded, struggling to push his sword forward. His muscles screamed with the effort.

Zon K's eyes burned brighter, and a soft smile played across his lips. "You lack the understanding of what true power is."

With a single motion, he flicked his fingers, and Velgrath was sent flying backward, crashing into the ground like a ragdoll.

Velgrath struggled to stand, blood dripping from his mouth. His sword lay shattered on the ground.

He stared at Zon K, his heart pounding, but he still felt it—the fire. The belief that he could still rise.

Zon K took a step forward, his eyes glowing with amusement. "You fight well for a mortal. But this is where your journey ends."

The Final Choice

Velgrath forced himself to his knees, the pain almost unbearable. His vision blurred, but his spirit was unbroken. He lifted his gaze to Zon K, determined to keep fighting.

"I… I'm not finished," Velgrath muttered, his voice weak but filled with resolve.

Zon K paused, studying him for a long moment. "You are resilient," he said slowly. "Perhaps there's more to you than I thought."

He reached out his hand, and Velgrath expected a final blow. Instead, Zon K's fingers glowed with divine power.

"If you truly wish to challenge me," Zon K said, his voice heavy with intent, "then I will offer you a choice, Velgrath. Join me. Embrace the power of a true god."

Velgrath's heart raced.

Would he submit to this unimaginable power, this being who was beyond anything mortal? Or would he remain true to his defiance, even at the cost of his life?

🔥 End of Chapter 5 🔥