Chapter 144: When Godhood Shivers

The moment the pact completed, echoes spread beyond their reality. In dimensions not mapped by angels or devils, in realms the dragons feared to name, something shivered.

A god that had never fallen—but never been born—twitched.

---

Realm of Lost Divinities — Temple of the Uncrowned

A hall of mirrors stood in total silence. Not reflections of the self, but reflections of what the self could've been.

Vildras walked barefoot across black crystal, his form more concept than flesh. Where he stepped, the past bent.

"They dared to bind Flame with Song," he whispered. "They made resonance political."

A broken throne floated before him, formed from teeth, regret, and broken oaths.

He touched it.

And the universe buckled.

---

Flame Academy — Inner Council Room

Rei sat with his nine flames rotating calmly around him.

Noira read a report. "Vereth's signal is gone. Not destroyed—dispersed. His Loom's threads fell silent an hour ago."

Eirenne frowned. "Meaning?"

Mireille leaned forward. "He let go. He wanted us to think he was defeated. But he just unanchored himself. Became something more abstract."

Liora touched her heart. "There's a new presence beyond the veil. It sings in contradiction. It knows sovereignty, but does not accept it."

Rei nodded. "Vildras."

The name dimmed the room's light.

---

Fragment Convergence — Shrine of Breached Light

Naeva knelt in the circle of spirit stones. Her flames no longer flickered—they moved with conscious intent.

"I see him," she said. "He's not coming to fight. He's coming to unmake."

Eirenne drew her halberd. "Then let's prepare."

"No," Rei said.

They turned to him.

"We don't prepare for Vildras. We invite him."

Mireille's eyes widened. "You're going to force a collapse? Here?"

Rei stood, his steps echoing with growing resonance.

"Yes. On our terms. Not his."

He raised both hands.

"System—prepare integration field. Spirit Circuit Override. Override Parameters: Welcome Flame-Class Entity. Filter: Vildras Only."

> [System Alert: WARNING. Entity Class — Cataclysm Root. Sanctioned Integration: High Risk. Proceed?]

"Yes," Rei said.

---

Invocation Field: Sealed Flame Circle

The world turned blue. Time turned sideways.

And Vildras appeared.

A being of perfect stillness and unrelenting momentum. His body looked like Rei's—if carved from obsidian grief. His eyes held the weight of stars that never ignited.

"You dare summon a god?" he said. The voice was both external and internal—heard and felt.

Rei didn't blink. "You've been singing too long without harmony. It's time you joined the choir."

Vildras moved.

Not toward Rei.

Into him.

A flash of reverse-light. Threads screamed. Flames inverted.

---

Inner Mind — Rei's Soulscape

They stood on an endless mirrored plain.

Vildras's voice echoed. "You think you can house me? You, who doubts even your own peace?"

Rei's voice was calm. "I doubt. That's why I survive."

Vildras laughed. "Then survive this."

He unleashed entropy.

Time bled. Space split. Rei was shown every failure he had never lived—but could have.

And then—he forgave them.

Not Vildras.

Himself.

He extended a hand. "We are not fragments. We are choices."

Vildras stilled.

For the first time in eternity, he wept.

> [Integration Request: Vildras — Flame of Irreversible Ruin. Classification: Forged Cataclysm. Proceed?]

"Yes," Rei whispered.

> [Slot 10 Engaged. Sovereign Core Stabilized. Final Flame Integrated. System Sync: 99.8%. Caution: Host Overload Threshold Nearing.]

---

Flame Academy — Central Plaza

The sky burned gold.

Ten flames danced in harmony. Rei stood, head bowed, body trembling—but intact.

Liora approached. "How do you feel?"

Rei looked at his hands. "I remember everyone now. Even the ones no one ever was."

Noira smirked. "So… what's next?"

Rei turned to the distant mountain range where the final light flickered.

"Now… we build the world that deserves to keep singing."