A shadow stretched across the horizon like a wound carved into the world.
Liam stood on the ridge with Elira, Kaelion, and Seriel at his side. Before them lay the City of Shrieking Veils—a forbidden ruin surrounded by twisted spires of obsidian, hovering mirrors, and streets that slithered like serpents when looked at directly. The land choked with fog, and screams echoed faintly through the haze—some human, some not.
The air itself resisted their presence.
"Once a city of knowledge," Seriel whispered. "Now, a cathedral of madness. Malentha twisted it into her sanctum."
Liam's fingers tightened around his staff. His aura, usually bright and warm, burned darker now—threads of crimson laced through gold.
"She waits for me," he said. "Let's not keep her."
---
GOD SYSTEM – STATUS
Level: 19
Faith Points (FP): 146
Followers: 209
Angels: 31
Devotion Bond: Elira (Tier I – Strengthened)
New Objective: Defeat Queen Malentha of Despair
STATS:
• Strength: 35
• Speed: 36
• Endurance: 38
• Divine Power: 65
• Willpower: 45
• Charisma: 36
• Perception: 34
Perk Gained: Veilpiercer
> Passive: Illusions and glamours are 50% less effective on you and your angels.
---
They crossed the threshold at dawn.
Liam raised his staff and whispered, "Sanctify," releasing a pulse of light that pushed back the initial wave of despair pressing on their minds.
Even so, every step was agony.
Streets folded inward. Shadows danced in corners that didn't exist. The buildings around them whispered Liam's name in a dozen voices—some his family's, others unknown but familiar.
At the center of the city stood the Mirror Cathedral, a jagged structure reflecting the sky like broken glass.
That's where she was.
Where Queen Malentha ruled.
---
A woman blocked their path near the cathedral gate.
She wore a gown of eyes. Each blinked independently, whispering doubts and fears in alien tongues. Her face was covered by a cracked porcelain mask.
"Elira, don't look her in the eyes," Liam said quickly.
The woman tilted her head. "Divine child. Malentha dreams of you."
"I'm not here for dreams," Liam replied. "I'm here to end them."
She lifted her arm, and the world around them shimmered.
System Alert – Battle Initiated!
> Malentha's Apostle – "The Gazer"
Level 40 | Type: Illusionary Sorceress
---
The apostle raised her arms, and shards of illusion pierced the air. Liam's angels fell into hallucinations—one wept beside a fake version of his dead brother, another screamed as if aflame. Kaelion charged the apostle, but his blade passed through her like smoke.
Only Liam stood untouched.
Will of Flame activated.
His aura surged, dispelling the illusions around him in a fiery burst.
The Gazer shrieked and materialized fully. Liam wasted no time. He sprinted forward, slammed his staff into the earth, and roared:
"Judgment Flame: Heavenfall."
A celestial lance descended from the sky and impaled the apostle. Light erupted, tearing away her mask and reducing her to ash.
The angels regained clarity one by one, gasping and trembling.
"Thank you…" one of them whispered. "I was drowning."
Liam didn't answer. He was already staring at the cathedral doors.
---
Inside the cathedral, the walls were mirrors—each reflecting Liam, but warped. Some showed him older, others monstrous. In one, he stood as a tyrant surrounded by corpses. In another, a god worshiped but utterly alone.
Elira touched his shoulder.
"You don't have to face this alone."
He looked at her. "I do. But knowing you're here… that makes it bearable."
They moved together.
At the altar stood Queen Malentha, cloaked in darkness.
She wore no crown. Her hair was void, her skin translucent, and her eyes were black holes that pulled light into them. Voices spoke from her mouth in tandem—dozens of personas layered atop one another.
"God-child. Flame-bearer. Pain-made-flesh. You walk with purpose and pride. Shall I show you truth?"
"No."
He raised his staff. "You'll see mine instead."
---
System Alert – Boss Battle Initiated!
> Queen Malentha of Despair
Level ??? | Unique Entity | Reality-Altering Class
Warning: Divine intervention not available. Proceed with extreme caution.
---
Malentha raised her hand, and Liam was flung backward, crashing into a mirrored pillar.
Reality bent.
He stood alone—again.
A reflection of himself appeared.
"I am you," it said, smiling. "But without the pain. Without the weight. Don't you want peace?"
"No," Liam said, pushing to his feet. "I want vengeance."
The mirror shattered.
Another vision: his mother, arms outstretched, begging him to stop.
He closed his eyes and whispered, "You're not her."
Fire burned the image away.
"Your illusions are clever," Liam said, rising again in the real world, bleeding from the nose. "But I've already faced worse than you."
He activated a new skill:
"Divine Incineration."
Gold-red fire surged around him. The cathedral quaked as the aura purified every mirror, reducing them to dust. Malentha shrieked, her form faltering.
"You cannot—! You are not—!"
"I am God-born, Malentha," Liam shouted. "And your time ends now!"
---
With a final surge, he called upon all remaining Faith Points.
System Alert – Faith Points spent: 146
> Angelic Descent: Arch Flame Form Unlocked
Liam's body ignited with holy flame. Wings of fire burst from his back, his voice echoed with divine resonance, and his eyes glowed like miniature suns.
He flew toward her, staff spinning.
Malentha raised a wall of darkness—but it cracked upon contact with his divine aura.
She screamed.
And he struck.
Once.
Twice.
A third time.
Each blow seared her essence, unraveling the darkness from within.
"I curse you!" she hissed, falling to one knee. "I curse your love. She will betray you!"
Liam hesitated.
Elira shouted from behind, "Don't listen!"
"I don't," Liam said coldly.
And drove his staff through her heart.
---
Silence fell.
Malentha collapsed, her form disintegrating into black ash and crumbling mirrors.
A warm light filled the cathedral.
Peace… if only for a moment.
---
GOD SYSTEM – UPDATE
Boss Defeated: Queen Malentha
Faith Points Gained: +210
Level Up: 19 → 22
Followers: 275
New Commandment Added:
11. Let no illusion hold dominion over truth.
New Title Earned: Breaker of Despair
New Ability Gained: Mirrorbane
> Once per day, reflect any mental or spiritual attack back to its caster at 200% potency.
---
As the angels sang a victory hymn, Liam sat on the cathedral steps. Elira approached, her armor streaked with blood and grime. She sat beside him, quiet for a moment.
"She said I'd betray you," she murmured.
"You won't."
"Are you sure?"
"I trust you."
Her hand found his.
"I'm not afraid of the gods," she whispered. "But loving one? That's terrifying."
Liam turned to face her. "Then let's be afraid together."
She kissed him.
The fire inside him, once fueled by rage, burned warmer now.
Not weaker—just… more human.
---
But in the shadow of a distant volcano, a pair of crimson eyes opened.
A voice rasped:
"So… the boy kills despair. Then let Wrath greet him next."
---
[End of Chapter 22]