Snow fell over the Obsidian Steps—ashen flakes landing gently atop Liam's crimson-gold cloak. The wind here howled like a mournful wraith, each gust whispering forgotten names. The northern wastes were no place for men… but Liam was no longer merely a man.
Behind him marched a host of twenty-six angels, three loyal companions, and over a hundred fervent followers who had begun calling him Divine Flame. His divine aura pulsed stronger with each step he took toward vengeance.
They ascended the ancient stairway carved into a mountainside of black crystal. Far above, hidden beneath a bleeding moon, waited Vaelith, the Crimson Seraph—once an archangel of purity, now corrupted and commander of the cult that had slaughtered Liam's family.
---
GOD SYSTEM – STATUS
Level: 16
Faith Points (FP): 55
Followers: 148
Angels: 26
Devotion Bond: Elira (Tier I)
STATS:
• Strength: 30
• Speed: 31
• Endurance: 34
• Divine Power: 55
• Willpower: 38
• Charisma: 31
• Perception: 28
New Ability Unlocked: Divine Infusion
> Temporarily empower one follower or angel with a portion of your Divine Power.
---
Elira trudged beside him in silence, her bow slung across her back. Snow melted the instant it touched her armor, burned away by the faint flame of Liam's aura.
"You're quiet," Liam said.
"I'm remembering," she replied. "The stories my mother told about angels like Vaelith—how they wept when the gods fell silent."
"Did your mother believe in the gods?"
"She believed in truth. Which meant she trusted no gods."
"Wise woman."
Elira smirked. "Then why are you trying to become one?"
Liam's golden eyes narrowed. "Because they gave up on the world. I won't."
---
They reached the summit as the first light of dawn crept across the sky, casting a blood-red hue over the mountaintop.
Waiting before the obsidian gates stood six figures—tall, robed in crimson and black, each wearing a mask of bone. Cultists.
One stepped forward, his voice hissing like steam.
"Divine Flame... Our Lady has waited for you."
"I'm not here for words," Liam said. "Open the gates or be broken."
The cultist's smile twisted.
"So eager. So angry. Just like her."
He raised a hand. The others did the same—and the air shimmered as a ritual circle formed beneath them.
---
System Alert – Ritual Barrier Detected
> Cursed Seal: Binding Gate
Effect: Delays access to enemy stronghold until seal is broken.
Estimated Time to Break by Force: 12 minutes.
---
"Angels," Liam ordered, "break the seal. Leave the cultists to us."
As his angels took to the sky, wings blazing with divine light, the cultists drew twisted blades and lunged.
Rennan blocked the first strike with his warhammer, sending one skidding across the snow. Kaelion vanished in a blur of flame, reappearing behind another to land a killing blow. Elira loosed arrow after arrow, each one alight with divine fire, piercing throats and hearts.
Liam faced the lead cultist directly.
"You killed my family."
"I gave them to the Crimson Flame," the man spat. "You should thank us. Their deaths made you this."
A blast of searing gold light erupted from Liam's palm.
The cultist's mask shattered as he screamed, face melting away into glowing ash.
"I will thank you," Liam said coldly, "by burning everything you believe in."
---
Twelve minutes later, the gates of obsidian cracked, then collapsed into rubble.
Beyond them stood a vast cathedral of crimson crystal, its spires like jagged fangs stabbing the sky. Dark-robed worshippers chanted within, their eyes wild with fanaticism.
And at the far end, upon a throne of bleached angelic bones, sat Vaelith.
Her wings were vast and serpentine, made of blood and light. Her halo was black iron, and her eyes burned red.
She rose as Liam entered, smiling like a goddess of ruin.
"You wear divinity well, boy."
"You wear your sins like a crown," Liam answered.
"Good," she said. "Then we both understand power."
---
System Alert: Divine Threat Detected
> Crimson Seraph – Vaelith
Class: Fallen Archangel
Level Estimate: 25+
Warning: Equal combat not advised unless supported by full divine host.
---
"Rally the angels," Liam commanded. "Form Heaven's Arrow!"
His angelic host shifted into formation—two dozen wings spread wide, channeling energy into a single devastating beam.
Vaelith laughed, raising her hand.
Her cultists began to chant louder.
And from the depths of the cathedral rose her own forces—corrupted angels, grotesque fusions of flesh and rune, their halos twisted into brands of servitude.
"Do you see now?" Vaelith said, her voice thunderous. "The gods have abandoned their flock. I simply gathered the strays."
She hurled a bolt of crimson energy, slamming into Liam and launching him across the cathedral. He struck the wall hard, coughing blood.
---
System Alert:
-6 Endurance
-8 HP (23/31)
---
Elira ran to his side, helping him up.
"She's strong."
Liam wiped the blood from his mouth. "So are we."
He stood, eyes blazing.
"Infusion: Elira."
---
System Ability Activated – Divine Infusion
> Elira gains +10 to Speed, Perception, and Divine Power for 60 seconds.
---
Elira shimmered with divine light. Her movements became blurs of gold and red as she loosed a storm of arrows at Vaelith. Each arrow carved symbols in the air, disrupting the corrupted angels mid-flight.
"Kaelion! Cut through their left!"
"Rennan, guard the circle!"
Seriel flew to Liam's side. "She's trying to turn your angels! I can feel the runes taking hold."
"Then burn the runes out," Liam growled.
He lifted his staff high.
"All angels—cleanse your will! In my name, by my flame!"
---
The cathedral filled with light as divine fire burst from the hearts of Liam's angels, scouring corruption from their wings and minds.
Five fell. Nineteen held strong.
The Heaven's Arrow fired.
It pierced the cathedral in a golden beam, blasting through cultists and striking Vaelith directly.
She screamed—but did not fall.
Instead, she laughed, blood dripping from her lips.
"You think you're the first to challenge me?"
Liam walked forward, his staff ablaze.
"I'll be the last."
---
They clashed—staff against corrupted sword, light against crimson flame. The ground shattered beneath their power. Runes exploded across the floor. Statues crumbled. Angels died.
But Liam refused to fall.
He saw them—his followers, their eyes wide with belief.
He heard Elira's voice, calling his name with fear.
He remembered his family's corpses on the floor.
---
With a roar, he struck Vaelith's blade aside and plunged his staff into her chest.
Golden-red light erupted from within her.
"You are not a god!" she screamed.
"I don't need to be a god," Liam said, "to kill a monster."
---
Vaelith burned.
The Crimson Seraph was no more.
---
When the light faded, the cathedral was in ruins.
Angels wept.
Cultists fled.
Liam stood in the center of the destruction, staff still smoking, blood on his lips—but alive.
Seriel dropped to one knee. "You did what no god dared."
Rennan grinned. "That was insane."
Kaelion nodded. "And it worked."
Elira walked to him, placing a hand on his cheek.
"You kept your promise."
He looked into her eyes. "I'll keep every one."
---
GOD SYSTEM – UPDATE
Level Up: 16 → 18
Faith Points Gained: +35 (Total FP: 90)
Followers: 179
Angels: 31
New Commandment Added:
9. No flame shall kneel to corruption.
---
In the shattered bones of the cathedral, Liam claimed Vaelith's corrupted halo, now cleansed by his flame.
It pulsed in his hands.
A trophy.
A warning.
And a symbol of the war yet to come.
---
[End of Chapter 20]