The smile that stretched across Oscar's face as he looked at Hazel held unwavering belief. "I never doubted you for a second."
Ashton moved towards Hazel, his gaze intense. "Same here."
Darwin clutched at his neck, a phantom pain flickering in his eyes. "What the hell are you saying? I died." The memory of it still clung to him like a shroud.
Mia's cheeks flushed a delicate pink as she turned to Darwin. "Shut it. At least you're here now."
A slow nod spread across Darwin's face as he joined Ashton's approach towards Hazel. "Well… I guess you're right."
Ashton's eyes raked over Hazel, a hint of surprise in them. "That new look is definitely killing."
Alexa remained rooted to the spot, the icy grip of her recent death still paralyzing her. Fear, raw and visceral, held her captive.
Then, a stark message materialized before them, hanging in the air like a decree:
[Bow to your master to claim the reward of becoming a sovereign.]
Mia, Darwin, Ashton, and Oscar shifted, their intent clear. They were about to kneel before Hazel. But in a blink, Hazel was gone, reappearing beside Alexa. She stumbled backward, the memory of her demise sending a fresh wave of terror through her.
"I'm here," Hazel murmured, his voice a low reassurance as his hand gently rested on her head. "And as long as I am, no one will hurt you. Not even death itself."
A sensation unlike anything Alexa had ever known bloomed beneath his touch, a warmth that pushed back the lingering cold of the void. It was a strength she hadn't possessed moments ago. Driven by this newfound power, she lowered herself to one knee before Hazel.
[Requirements met.]
[You have bowed to the Sovereign of death.]
[You have claimed the reward of becoming a sovereign.]
[You have become the Sovereign of assassination.]
[Achievement unlocked: Pride of the Assassin.]
A visible shift rippled through Alexa. Her clothes shimmered and reformed into something new, something powerful. An aura of deadly grace now surrounded her.
"Isn't that partiality?" Darwin blurted out, a hint of annoyance in his tone.
"Shut up," Mia snapped, her eyes still fixed on Hazel with a newfound respect.
Hazel reappeared before the others as swiftly as he had vanished. Simultaneously, a series of notifications flooded their vision:
[Requirements met.]
[You have bowed to the Sovereign of death.]
[You have claimed the reward of becoming a sovereign.]
[You have become the Sovereign of pride.]
[You have become the Sovereign of fire.]
[You have become the Sovereign of time.]
[You have become the Sovereign of speed.]
[Achievement unlocked: The Guild of Sovereigns.]
A palpable dread washed over Doom as Hazel turned his attention towards him. "Now, as for you…"
Terror, colder and more profound than he had ever experienced, seized Doom. "Please! I beg of you, have mercy! I will be your slave. I'll do anything you want, please!" His voice was a choked plea.
"I don't need your pleading," Hazel said, his voice devoid of emotion. "All I need is for you to suffer."
With a curt nod, Hazel turned to the newly crowned sovereigns. "Guys, the rest is up to you." He left them to their judgment.
Doom's screams echoed through the space, a symphony of agony as they took their revenge. He was beaten, his body bruised and broken, the arrogance that had defined him replaced by whimpers of pain. The flames seared his flesh, the relentless assault leaving him a broken mess on the ground. Finally, Alexa stepped forward, her eyes devoid of the fear that had gripped her moments before. A cold resolve hardened her features. This was the man who had ended her life, and now, she would end his. With a swift, decisive movement, a dark energy coalesced around her hand, and with a final, silent strike, she ended Doom's miserable existence.
~The system's message to the entire country~
[This season is drawing to a close.]
[There are now a total of 30 sovereigns.]
[The event shall proceed.]
~End of System message~
Confusion rippled through the populace. Whispers of "What's going on?" spread like wildfire as some braced themselves for an unknown future.
"I guess it's time," Hazel murmured, his voice barely audible before a transformation washed over him, returning him to his original form.
"Time for what?" Alexa asked, her voice still carrying a trace of awe as she and the others gathered around Hazel.
"It's time for the true god of this realm to battle with the other gods," Hazel revealed, his gaze sweeping over them. "With us."
"Wait, what?" Oscar stammered, disbelief etched on his face.
"You'll understand soon enough," Hazel replied, a hint of grim anticipation in his eyes.
Turning his attention inward, Hazel focused on the system. "System, who is the god of this country?" The privilege of the sovereign granted him this direct inquiry.
[The god of this country, now known as the Forbidden Realm, is a forbidden god known as Glitch, the disaster amongst gods.]
[Note: The questions of your subordinates are now yours to use.]
"We are in for more trouble than I thought," Hazel muttered, a shadow crossing his face.
"Stop leaving us in the dust with your cryptic information," Ashton said, frustration lacing his tone.
"Oh, my bad," Hazel said. "System, share this information with all my subordinates."
[How many of them?]
"All of them," Hazel confirmed
[Information shared.]
"Shadow, bring everyone out," Hazel commanded.
From the edges of the visible world, figures began to coalesce, emerging from the shadows. These were all those under Hazel's protection. During the brutal confrontation with Doom, when the odds seemed stacked against Hazel, he had instructed Shadow to take them to the relative safety of the Shadow Realm.
There were twenty individuals in total, including the newly awakened sovereigns. Fifteen of them, close to Hazel's age, were merely title bearers, lacking the immense power of a god's title. In a true battle, they would be little more than liabilities. Among these fifteen, five possessed the ability to create barriers, while the rest were warriors of varying skill.
As they fully materialized, Hazel stepped forward. "You have stayed with me, and you have remained safe. But things are escalating. The chances of survival dwindle with each passing day. You all received the system's message. We don't know what the next scenario will bring. The only way you will survive is if you become stronger. So, I am giving you a choice. You can stay with me, and I will put you through unimaginable training to forge you into something greater. Or, you can leave now and try to survive with the limited power you currently possess. If you choose to go, I won't stop you, but you must also leave this guild."
The weight of his words hung in the air. After a tense silence, six individuals stepped forward, their faces a mixture of fear and resolve. Four remained: two barrier makers and two warriors.
Hazel nodded, accepting their decision. A smaller group meant fewer he had to protect. "Alright then," he said to those who remained, a new intensity in his eyes. "Are you ready for your training? We start immediately."
A chorus of determined voices answered him. "Yes, sir!"