Leonis didn't scream.He wanted to. Should have.The crystal shard—what remained of a fallen godling's essence—had fused directly into the bone of his right hand. The skin there was now veined with silver, pulsing like something alive. Every breath sent tremors of pressure spiraling down his spine.Kael sat crouched a few feet away, arms resting loosely on his knees, blood dried on his temple.He said nothing.Which was worse than talking.Leonis blinked sweat—or something colder—out of his eyes and looked down at his hand. The runes from the crystal shard still glowed faintly under the skin, moving. Not fading.Moving.Then the System spoke.But it didn't sound the same.Not machine-like. Not clean. Not distant.Now, it felt closer. Personal. Conflicted."…Corruption event registered."
"Revenant Core compromised."
"Code fragment: 'GØD-3αT3R' detected."
"Protocol integration… accepted.""Congratulations."
"You have unlocked a forbidden path."Leonis sat back against the cold slab. His breath came shallow, like he'd run a mile uphill through smoke."What the hell does that mean?""New Skill Unlocked: Soul Severance."
"Type: Active – Anti-Divine"
"Function: Target's soul-thread can be severed from source essence. Divine protections ignored. Hostility required."Kael finally stood, brushing dust off his tunic."Soul Severance," he muttered. "That sounds friendly."Leonis flexed his hand.The silver-veined fingers responded like they weren't his."I felt it," he said. "When I touched the shard. I saw the gods… but more than that. I saw what they fear."Kael narrowed his eyes. "You sure that wasn't just the tomb whispering lies?"Leonis turned his head slowly."I don't care."Kael's smile returned—but slower now. Less mocking."I'm starting to believe you might actually pull this off."Leonis didn't smile back.He was staring at the air—no, through it.Because something… had shifted.Not in the tomb.Not physically.In the pressure.Like a door had opened. A curtain pulled back.Like something far above—so high it was practically conceptual—had turned and looked down.The Revenant System flickered again."Caution: Divine Network Alerted."
"Host is now visible to Pantheon Eyes for 30 seconds."
"Recommendation: Obscure or flee."Leonis whispered, "They know."Kael drew a dagger. "What does that mean?"Leonis stood slowly. "It means they'll send something.""Send what?"But Leonis didn't answer.Instead, he moved to the slab where the First still lay.Its eyes were closed again. Breathing slowed. Sealed.But its voice—fainter now—spoke once more, directly into Leonis's skull."I am forgotten, but I remember."
"Tell them, Revenant. We are not dead."The tomb lights dimmed.Kael said, "Time to go."Leonis nodded, eyes never leaving the slab. "Yeah."They returned the way they came—through the folding door that sealed again behind them, leaving the tomb in darkness once more.As they climbed the spiral back toward the corpse vault, Kael broke the silence:"So you've got a god-killer system inside you. What's step two?"Leonis didn't look at him."Step two is letting the gods know I'm awake.""System Alert: Divine Scout approaching."
"Manifestation: Inquisitor-class Celestial Apparition."Kael drew both daggers.Leonis cracked his neck."I hope it's strong."