Chapter 2 – When Gods Speak, I Don't Listen
The sky over Endgrave wasn't supposed to crack. But today, it did.
A jagged rift opened high above the spire-city, spitting out golden fire and thunderous pressure. Citizens screamed. Sirens echoed. Defensive towers aimed skyward.
A being descended—cloaked in solar flame, wielding a hammer forged from time. Eight wings of crystallized essence flared behind him.
> "I am Itharos, Herald of the Divine Sovereign," the god roared. "Kneel, mortals. Your purpose is now service."
The ground itself bent under his voice. Buildings crumbled. Elite hunters and System-Wielders collapsed, bleeding from their eyes.
Everyone knelt.
Everyone… except one.
---
Kaian stood on a rooftop, hands in his pockets, wind brushing through his silver hair.
A small smirk played on his lips.
> "You talk a lot for someone who just lost."
The world seemed to pause.
Itharos turned. His god-eyes scanned Kaian. Nothing.
No data. No system. No aura. No threat.
> "You're nothing."
> "Exactly," Kaian whispered. "And nothing is where everything begins."
---
Itharos struck first.
In less than a second, he shattered space, accelerated time, reversed causality, and brought his divine hammer down with the weight of a small star.
The impact atomized the rooftop—and most of the city block.
But Kaian was gone.
No flash step. No teleport. Just gone.
Then—
> "Try again."
The voice came from behind Itharos.
Kaian stood on air, barefoot, hands still in his pockets.
The god turned, fury blazing.
Kaian tilted his head, studying the hammer. "Nice toy. I'll take it."
He raised a finger.
The hammer disappeared from Itharos's grip and reappeared in Kaian's hand—only now it radiated his energy. Darker. Denser. Infinite.
> "Wha—That's divine matter! You can't just—"
Kaian snapped his fingers.
The hammer exploded into particles that rewrote themselves into a floating sigil behind him—a Crown made of broken stars.
> "You're right. I can't just take divine power…"
He stepped forward, eyes glowing white.
> "I overwrite it."
---
The god screamed, unleashing a system blast that could erase an army.
Kaian didn't move.
The energy wave struck him—and vanished. Consumed. Not even a ripple.
> "Impossible—what are you?"
Kaian finally took his hands out of his pockets.
Reality trembled.
The city went silent.
Even the laws of physics dared not breathe.
> "I'm your replacement."
He pointed a single finger.
The next moment, Itharos was on his knees, body crushed by gravity that didn't exist, soul disassembled into pure energy, all systems locked.
Kaian's voice echoed through the minds of everyone watching.
> "To the gods… this is your warning."
> "I'm awake now."
---
[End of Chapter 2]