The silence that followed Auron's emergence was thicker than death.
Liam stared at the boy—no older than seventeen, though his silver eyes held millennia. Chains dangled from Auron's wrists and ankles, each etched with runes that pulsed in time with his heartbeat. The black orb that once imprisoned him had shattered, and dark mist now curled across the floor like serpents.
"Elira—" Liam knelt beside her. Her eyes fluttered open, dazed but alive. "Are you hurt?"
She sat up slowly. "No… but I saw into him. Into Auron. He's not a threat… not exactly."
Rune floated closer, her glow dim and wary. "He's not Varkareth."
"No," Auron said quietly. "I was his prison. The anchor that held his soul in the void. For centuries, I've endured—half-divine, half-forged. I am the First God. The first to receive the system you now wield."
Liam's breath caught. "You… had the God System?"
Auron nodded. "Before the world knew what gods were, I was chosen. But I failed. Varkareth tricked me—used my power to break through the veil. I sealed myself in the Black Orb to keep him bound."
---
[STATS UPDATED]
Name: Liam Carson
Level: 15
Faith Points: 1,090
Followers: 319
Divine Rank: Lesser Divinity
Stats:
Strength: 46
Speed: 52
Endurance: 49
Intelligence: 57
Charisma: 38
Divine Energy: 740/740
New Passive Unlocked:
Echo of the First God (Passive): All divine abilities have +10% potency. Unlocks unique insights when interacting with older divine artifacts.
---
"You sealed yourself to stop Varkareth," Liam said, rising slowly. "That means… the cult—"
"Failed," Auron confirmed. "They awoke me, not him. But the chain is weakened. He will try again, and next time, he'll be smarter."
Talia, still glowing with angelic light, stepped forward, spear at her side. "Then we strike now—find where he's hiding and destroy him."
Auron shook his head. "You don't kill a god like Varkareth with brute strength. You burn him out… by replacing him."
Liam's brow furrowed. "Replacing?"
Rune gasped. "You mean… to become the true god of this world?"
Auron looked at Liam with quiet finality. "Only a god of equal or greater influence can rewrite the divine balance. You must ascend higher. From Lesser Divinity… to God Sovereign."
---
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
> New Quest Unlocked – Path of the Sovereign
Objective: Gain 1,000,000 Faith Points
Requirement: Raise 3 Angelic-Class followers
Challenge: Defeat a Greater Demon Champion
Reward: Ascend to God Sovereign
Progress:
Faith Points: 1,090 / 1,000,000
Angelic Followers: 1 / 3
Greater Demon Champions Defeated: 0 / 1
---
Liam stepped away, pulse hammering in his ears. "A million Faith Points… three angels… and a demon strong enough to swallow mountains."
"It's not just about power," Auron said. "It's about belief. Fear made Varkareth strong. But love… devotion… faith—those are your weapons."
Liam clenched his jaw. "Then I'll make the world believe."
---
Two Days Later – Camp of the Golden Flame
The fortress of Kareth's Spine had been cleansed. Demonic corpses were burned in sacred fire, and blood-slick stones scrubbed clean. In their place rose a new banner—red and gold, bearing Liam's symbol: a burning sun with a sword through its core.
He stood in the center of the camp, golden light radiating from his staff. Hundreds gathered—new converts, rescued villagers, former mercenaries, and wandering exiles. They knelt before him, murmuring prayers.
Rune floated beside him, unusually solemn. "They love you now."
He looked over the crowd. "They don't love me. They love what I give them—hope."
"It's the same thing, Liam," Rune whispered.
Elira approached, hair braided and face painted in divine war ink. "You're building more than an army now. You're building a nation."
He turned to her. "Then I need generals."
---
[ANGELIC ASCENSION OPTIONS AVAILABLE]
> Candidates: Elira, Davon, Reyla
Cost: 800 Faith Points each
Ascend all three? [Yes/No]
Liam closed his eyes. "Yes."
> [Faith Points -2,400]
[Angel Count: 4/3 – Quest Complete]
New Angelic Followers:
Elira, Angel of Balance – Wields both divine light and corrupted shadow.
Davon, Angel of Valor – Tank-class, gains strength based on number of nearby allies.
Reyla, Angel of Flame – Ranged artillery-class, uses explosive divine fire.
---
The camp trembled as divine light tore through the sky, forming three pillars that burned crimson and gold. When it faded, the angels stood reborn—wings blazing, eyes aglow with divinity.
The people screamed in awe. Dozens fell to their knees, weeping. Others raised their hands in worship.
> [Followers +420]
[Faith Points +4,200]
Liam breathed in deeply as the system flashed once more.
> You are becoming more than a god. You are becoming a symbol.
---
Later that night, Liam sat at the edge of a cliff overlooking the valley, the moon casting a silver glow over the land. Rune hovered beside him in her small form.
"You're changing," she said quietly. "You're not the boy I met in that forest."
"I can't be," he said. "Not if I want to protect them."
Rune hesitated. "And what about you? Who protects you?"
He didn't answer.
Soft footsteps approached. Elira sat beside him, her newly-formed wings folded tight behind her.
"You did it," she said. "Three angels. An army. You're halfway to Sovereign."
Liam didn't smile. "That's still half away from stopping Varkareth."
Elira leaned in slightly, her voice gentle. "Even gods need to breathe."
He looked at her, surprised by the closeness. "Do angels get tired?"
She chuckled. "Only when they're near impossible men."
He laughed under his breath, and for the first time in days, his shoulders relaxed.
"You've become something incredible, Liam," she said. "And I'm honored to stand beside you."
He met her gaze, and something lingered between them—unspoken but undeniable.
"Thank you," he said softly.
Then Rune cleared her throat—not loudly, but enough to make Elira smirk and rise.
"Duty calls," she said, walking back to the camp.
Liam looked at Rune. "You jealous?"
Rune rolled her glowing eyes. "Please. I'm literally made of light and sarcasm. Romance isn't in my coding."
He smiled.
But then… the wind shifted.
Rune tensed. "Something's coming."
---
In the Shadows
Far away, deep beneath the world, in a pit where no light reached, Varkareth stirred.
Chains cracked. Flames hissed. A thousand demon cultists knelt in a circle, bleeding from the eyes, chanting.
The Black God smiled in the dark.
> "You ascend, child. But know this—I was born from the fear of gods. And when you fail… I'll be reborn from yours."
---
End of Chapter 27